The Ghosts of Nebraska

[cruelhalo]

At the beginning of the season when Nebraska was 3-0, the players were all uppity about how they played for the fans and how it was the fan's energy that drove them. A disappointing loss to Illinois was argued away as some things that just didn't go their way. The fans were in attendance but they could see a team getting punched in the mouth regardless of what the preacher had to say post game. So, now Nebraska is 0 fer in their last 4 games; is it the fans' fault? Was the moniker of "we play for the fans" BS? Or is it something else?

Perhaps it is time to send a message to the administration. Perhaps it's time to send a message to the preacher. Perhaps a different approach is necessary. But how many wash, rinse and repeat coaching scenarios does Nebraska go through before they start to realize that nothing has changed? Every season, we heard a hand full of players talking about how they want to bring Nebraska back to greatness. I have said it once and I will say it again, the ghosts of Nebraska's past are too strong. Every home game seems to be an homage to one of the old championship teams or an All-American on a team that had resounding success.

There is a psychological hold on this program. The players can't take two steps without being reminded about how great Nebraska used to be. They win a few games and everything is great. However, as soon as they lose one or two, their confidence goes to shit because they're disappointing the ghosts of Nebraska.

I don't know what the solution may be given the circumstances of yet another disappointing season. Several have suggested that people stop going to the games - that'll show 'em. Sure but then the players psyche seems beyond repair. Are they trying too hard? Is it something about the coaching staff? And heaven for bid, if they beat Wisconsin on Saturday with only 50,000 fans in attendance, it could turn into a "us v. them" scenario - which is only good for a game or two. So, what is the solution? Anyone?

 

[huskerfan1414]

FFS dude these are 20 year olds who just go out and play the game.
They are poorly coached plain and simple.

 

[king_kong_]

FFS dude these are 20 year olds who just go out and play the game.
They are poorly coached plain and simple.

it looks like our players are having zero fun

somehow our staff has turned the greatest experience of their lives into a job/chore

 

[goldencohusker]

FFS dude these are 20 year olds who just go out and play the game.
They are poorly coached plain and simple.

Rhule is on record of saying before the Illinois game "we're becoming a good team". Since then, they've gone 2-5 and proven the thing they are best at is playing at (or below) the level of their competition and finding ways to lose games just like prior Husker teams. Either Rhule can't recognize a good team when he sees one, he was blowing smoke about being good or they have digressed over the past 2 months into something less than a good team. Either way, its on the coaching staff - its not like things beyond their control - i.e. injuries, have decimated the team and derailed the season.

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

Rhule has turned into a head case like Bo and Frost. He just doesn’t seem mentally equipped to run a major college football program.

 

[timnsun]

Can someone explain to me the “preacher” moniker? Did Rhule claim to be a preacher at some point?

I know @king_kong_ gave him that nickname last year, but wasn’t it because his dad is a preacher? That would be akin to people referring to me as “Doc” since my dad is a doctor, even though I’m not.

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

it looks like our players are having zero fun

somehow our staff has turned the greatest experience of their lives into a job/chore

OT, but I just watched the Rhule PC from today, which I normally don't do.

In comparing his demeanor and words from the one I seen from a couple weeks ago, Rhule seems much more positive heading into these last 2 games.

I think having to move next year from the huge roster to 105 is really gonna take an emotional toll on the man. He clearly likes his players, and I think when he has to tell one there isn't a roster spot next year, its really gonna bother him.

Having said that, with @ 30 seniors leaving and probable transfers out, I imagine the roster we see next fall is gonna be completely different. Just the size and volume of the portal now gives a glimpse into what it might look like in another month. Its already massive.

I think the idea of being a "development program" may fall by the wayside out of necessity. Many of the guys you're gonna keep under that "development program" are likely gonna be the 3* kids who really aren't gonna be in demand in the portal anyhow.

The really good young talent NU has, Jacori, Carter, McGhee, Shavers, etc are likely gonna be gone after next year at the latest.

Last thing on today's Rhule PC. He had no trouble throwing Hill and Hartzog under the bus, which is something he only started to do recently. None of us, certainly not players, don't like that shit because it always translates into the coach passing blame to others. Hill and Hartzog, presumably know they effed up in coverage, its not necessary to publicly call them out on it. If he's gonna call out players publicly, then he better start calling out Dylan too.

Its one thing for myself or others in here to cast the blame of certain players during a game, its a whole lot different when the head man does it. Doesn't breed loyalty to that coach.

Far as I'm concerned, our whole secondary, Buford, Hartzog, Hill, Singleton and Gifford have had lousy years.

 

[king_kong_]

OT, but I just watched the Rhule PC from today, which I normally don't do.

In comparing his demeanor and words from the one I seen from a couple weeks ago, Rhule seems much more positive heading into these last 2 games.

I think having to move next year from the huge roster to 105 is really gonna take an emotional toll on the man. He clearly likes his players, and I think when he has to tell one there isn't a roster spot next year, its really gonna bother him.

Having said that, with @ 30 seniors leaving and probable transfers out, I imagine the roster we see next fall is gonna be completely different. Just the size and volume of the portal now gives a glimpse into what it might look like in another month. Its already massive.

I think the idea of being a "development program" may fall by the wayside out of necessity. Many of the guys you're gonna keep under that "development program" are likely gonna be the 3* kids who really aren't gonna be in demand in the portal anyhow.

The really good young talent NU has, Jacori, Carter, McGhee, Shavers, etc are likely gonna be gone after next year at the latest.

Last thing on today's Rhule PC. He had no trouble throwing Hill and Hartzog under the bus, which is something he only started to do recently. None of us, certainly not players, don't like that shit because it always translates into the coach passing blame to others. Hill and Hartzog, presumably know they effed up in coverage, its not necessary to publicly call them out on it. If he's gonna call out players publicly, then he better start calling out Dylan too.

Its one thing for myself or others in here to cast the blame of certain players during a game, its a whole lot different when the head man does it. Doesn't breed loyalty to that coach.

Far as I'm concerned, our whole secondary, Buford, Hartzog, Hill, Singleton and Gifford have had lousy years.

I agree with all of this, but especially the "developmental program" piece.

I know people hate this guy - and also ignore the ridiculous prose in the body of this tweet - but this interview about recruiting in the NIL/Portal era stuck with me me:

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

I agree with all of this, but especially the "developmental program" piece.

I know people hate this guy - and also ignore the ridiculous prose in the body of this tweet - but this interview about recruiting in the NIL/Portal era stuck with me me:

View embedded media

We all use the "development program" because that's what Rhule envisioned.

In this day and age, coaches are not going to be allowed enough time to incorporate a development program. The time to win has become NOW.

 

[SickOfPractice]

I've gone from loving Rhule talk football to wishing he'd stop with the "we want other teams to fear us" and "we have 3 quarterbacks we can win with" and "championship mindset".

Now we've got DR saying we're going to skate into a bowl game. The fewer promises made, the better. This team needs to shut up & do their talking on the field.

 

[headcard]

The really good young talent NU has, Jacori, Carter, McGhee, Shavers, etc are likely gonna be gone after next year at the latest.

Why in the world would you say that?

 

[headcard]

We all use the "development program" because that's what Rhule envisioned.

In this day and age, coaches are not going to be allowed enough time to incorporate a development program. The time to win has become NOW.

I agree, and not just because people are impatient, but because you are no longer playing on an even playing field doing it that way, with NIL and the portal. I have always hated the developmental program stuff, because it always felt like that was the excuse for not recruiting at a high level (see Iowa). The truth is good programs do both.

That has been one of Rhule's biggest issues, he was very good at building a team in the old system, before the portal. Now things have changed and he hasn't adjusted, he is still trying to build the old way, which is putting him at a disadvantage.

Keeping all the old players had to feel good, as a person, but it has not helped this team. Taking a ton of HS players with upside and developing them better than everyone else, may have been the formula pre-portal, but right now it's putting you on a slow, uphill climb.

 

[huskerfan66]

OT, but I just watched the Rhule PC from today, which I normally don't do.

In comparing his demeanor and words from the one I seen from a couple weeks ago, Rhule seems much more positive heading into these last 2 games.

I think having to move next year from the huge roster to 105 is really gonna take an emotional toll on the man. He clearly likes his players, and I think when he has to tell one there isn't a roster spot next year, its really gonna bother him.

Having said that, with @ 30 seniors leaving and probable transfers out, I imagine the roster we see next fall is gonna be completely different. Just the size and volume of the portal now gives a glimpse into what it might look like in another month. Its already massive.

I think the idea of being a "development program" may fall by the wayside out of necessity. Many of the guys you're gonna keep under that "development program" are likely gonna be the 3* kids who really aren't gonna be in demand in the portal anyhow.

The really good young talent NU has, Jacori, Carter, McGhee, Shavers, etc are likely gonna be gone after next year at the latest.

Last thing on today's Rhule PC. He had no trouble throwing Hill and Hartzog under the bus, which is something he only started to do recently. None of us, certainly not players, don't like that shit because it always translates into the coach passing blame to others. Hill and Hartzog, presumably know they effed up in coverage, its not necessary to publicly call them out on it. If he's gonna call out players publicly, then he better start calling out Dylan too.

Its one thing for myself or others in here to cast the blame of certain players during a game, its a whole lot different when the head man does it. Doesn't breed loyalty to that coach.

Far as I'm concerned, our whole secondary, Buford, Hartzog, Hill, Singleton and Gifford have had lousy years.

I'd throw the linebackers in there too. DL hasn't played as good as I thought they would either this year at times

 

[Joedaly]

it looks like our players are having zero fun

somehow our staff has turned the greatest experience of their lives into a job/chore

That's what losing and the realization you might go 5-7 once again does to you. It can't be fun being 5-1 and then watching the season slip away every Saturday.

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

Why in the world would you say that?

LOL. Because its an opinion forum?

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

I agree, and not just because people are impatient, but because you are no longer playing on an even playing field doing it that way, with NIL and the portal. I have always hated the developmental program stuff, because it always felt like that was the excuse for not recruiting at a high level (see Iowa). The truth is good programs do both.

That has been one of Rhule's biggest issues, he was very good at building a team in the old system, before the portal. Now things have changed and he hasn't adjusted, he is still trying to build the old way, which is putting him at a disadvantage.

Keeping all the old players had to feel good, as a person, but it has not helped this team. Taking a ton of HS players with upside and developing them better than everyone else, may have been the formula pre-portal, but right now it's putting you on a slow, uphill climb.

An almost total disregard for the portal has cost Clemson big time.

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

I'd throw the linebackers in there too. DL hasn't played as good as I thought they would either this year at times

I agree, all the position groups have failed the overall team.

My point about Rhule starting to throw players under the bus is uncharacteristic of him. It's almost as if he's tacitly saying, "Hey, don't blame me the players aren't making the plays." Which is correct, but we wouldn't want to look at an inferior staff playing those players who continue no perform.

It reeks of passing the accountability to others to share in.