How are you feeling, Husker Fans?

[Doc Fumble]

As some old-timers on the Scout board will recall, I've always been one of the sunshine-pumpiest, sunshine-pumpers you could ever find on a Husker site. I was confident Frankie would keep the Osborne juggernaut rolling. Then, when many were skeptical, I was 'all-in' on Bill Callahan bringing in all those hotshot, 4 & 5 star NFL-bound bluechippers to bring the program back. I was also a staunch "Bo-liever," all the way until a snowy blowout night in Madison. Mike Riley? A huge surprise? Yeah, it sure was, but, nevertheless, count me in, baby! Mike is clearly a future HOFer that SE cunningly plucked out of Oregon State obscurity.

But of all of our post-TO hires, if there ever was a surefire 'no brainer' in my book, it was Moos stealing away Scott Frost from one of the other big name programs to return his beloved alma mater to gridiron glory.

Four years later, I haven't given up on Frosty yet -- but I have to confess that after a 22 year conference championship drought -- and counting -- and 4 straight losing seasons, I'm not as 'automatically optimistic' as I used to be.

I still consider myself one of the Huskers' biggest fans but I don't automatically buy in to the North Stadium 'party line' the way I used to. I think a big part of it is the frustration I had watching last season's performances -- and the poor coaching on full display that was impossible to overlook -- weighed against the lofty expectations we all had for the program going into the third year of Frost's return.

Don't take this wrong -- I am still bullish about next fall -- particularly with the news of our new Big Dawg transfer RB from USC. YAY!!! But I've become a bit more "MRJFB-ish" (translation: I'll believe it when I see it) nowadays.

How about the rest of you?

 

[justino52]

It's almost March, which means Spring Ball is just around the corner. I'm already getting those football feelings because its the start of another year of Cornhusker football.
The season is only 6 months away. It's really not all that long. I'm already thinking about games and players and the excitement I get knowing that I'll be pulling for an undefeated, championship season. Will I be upset if that doesn't happen? I always am.
I'm not sure Scott Frost has learned how to win and play in the Big 10 but I do know that the defense is improving. And that's a good thing. I'm excited about some of those young guys on the offensive line. I hope they can improve as the year goes on. I still think about maybe the run game gets better and better and Nebraska can somewhat look like Nebraska of old and can pound the rock against teams. I know that's not the "now" offense and that Scott Frost doesn't seem to want to go the route of old school FBs, and wingbacks but if we can get that run game going, then maybe we can use the 900 TEs we have on offense. Maybe we can get some receivers that can make some plays and cause fear in the opponents secondary. Oh, and speaking of WRs, Zavier Betts is gonna be a good one.
Lets bring on some spring ball.

P.S. I love this site. As much as we disagree on some things and go off on tangents, I really do enjoy the info on here and the posters that provide that much needed Husker boost during the offseason. I know we're getting into the slow season but I hope come this fall we see a team that we can really enjoy and at some point in the near future, we can all be upset about how "bad" we looked when Nebraska only loses one game.
GO BIG RED!!!

 

[NorthwoodHusker]

Its been painful
Its been obvious
Its always hopeful
The only change we all can agree on, we want consistency
In our coaching staffs
For the kids
For the program
In our kids
No bone headed overuns
No whiffs
No keeps when it should be out of bounds toss
Why didnt he just cut?
Why did he go out of bounds
Why didnt he work his route deep enough for the first down

Is it the coaches?
Is it the players?
Is it the players that are no longer here that surely would have made THAT play?

The more I know, the less there is to see
Im astounded by what others see
Im astounded by what others dont see

In the end, its the most bestest thing going, period.
Theres things I'd want changed in a heartbeat, but those changes would likely screw things up I havnt seen.
So, in the end,at this time of year,I wouldnt be so enthralled if I didnt care, a whole lot, and in the end, it seems, that will never change

GBR!!!!

 

[RED ED]

I am very much lookin forward to this season. I firmly believe HCSF see’s what he needs in the B1G. And we all see the change in recruiting philosophy. I do not think the O will change at all. I do think it will be the same O but with an emphasis on the more physical side of what he wants ( remember he said husker power with west coast speed) i think at first he thought that was just big lineman, not anymore. Big and fast beats little and fast every time . And thats where we are headed. Our wrs are way bigger. Our backs are getting bigger ( last 2 classes ) and the lines ( which takes the longest ) are HUGE. I am jacked for the future at NU.

 

[NUinNC]

This team is sending mixed messages and it looks almost like we have two separate teams.

On dense everyone came back, wow and thank you. But I think it's because those players are buying into what Chinander is preaching. That set of coaches has gained the confidence in the players and the players are buying in.

On offense I don't think we have the same buy in. I think that is, in part, why some of the important members of the offense have chosen to leave. They lack confidence in the coaches and don't see the changes happening that might make a difference.

We have a collection of really large offensive linemen. The emphasis is on building their strength and size but then they are asked to play like dancing bears. I would like to see a run first offense. Use those giant lineman to HIT someone. Run to set up the passing game. Give the offensive players the chance to bloody the defense. Change the first play to a ISO run into the line instead of a pass to the flat that is most likely a backward lateral.

 

[Cigarman]

I for one was not surprised when Frost got his a$$ handed to him by the Big. He was a little league coach moving up to the bigs and his staff had no Big experience either. To me it looks like it took him 3 years to see the light. To me it looks like his arrogance has kept him from winning games.

I like the caliber of players recruited by SF. I like the player development under his coaches. I like the defensive improvement. I like the no quit attitude his team has. I don't like seeing key players leave. I don't like seeing repeated mistakes. I don't like seeing the poor job of game adjustments.

I want to see consistency. I want to see Special Teams making an impact. I want to see players playing to peak capability. I want fewer turnovers. I want more take aways. I want to see fewer penalties.

If SF is really a high caliber coach, it is time for him to show it. If he can't show a major improvement this season, it is time to send him back to the minors.

 

[Uenth]

I for one was not surprised when Frost got his a$$ handed to him by the Big. He was a little league coach moving up to the bigs and his staff had no Big experience either. To me it looks like it took him 3 years to see the light. To me it looks like his arrogance has kept him from winning games.

I like the caliber of players recruited by SF. I like the player development under his coaches. I like the defensive improvement. I like the no quit attitude his team has. I don't like seeing key players leave. I don't like seeing repeated mistakes. I don't like seeing the poor job of game adjustments.

I want to see consistency. I want to see Special Teams making an impact. I want to see players playing to peak capability. I want fewer turnovers. I want more take aways. I want to see fewer penalties.

If SF is really a high caliber coach, it is time for him to show it. If he can't show a major improvement this season, it is time to send him back to the minors.

What he said

 

[Uenth]

I've always maintained that if Frost can't do it, nobody can.

Sadly, I'm fast getting to where I feel like it can no longer be done. Like the magic of Devaney and Osborne has been lost and cannot be recaptured. Too much time has passed and the college football landscape has changed. We didn't keep pace and now we are not capable of catching up, much less leading the charge.

My heart is still saying Frost can do it but my head is saying too late can't be done. So I'm rapidly turning into a split personality.

I will say this though. If Frost doesn't do it this year, it's time to throw in the towel. I don't like change and I don't think the coaching carousel is good for anything but 4 years is very definitely enough time, in my book, for Frost to have proven himself. Honestly I would have said after 2020 but with the COVID-19 landscape you gotta just throw the season away and hope next year will bring change.

 

[Cigarman]

I've always maintained that if Frost can't do it, nobody can.

Sadly, I'm fast getting to where I feel like it can no longer be done. Like the magic of Devaney and Osborne has been lost and cannot be recaptured. Too much time has passed and the college football landscape has changed. We didn't keep pace and now we are not capable of catching up, much less leading the charge.

My heart is still saying Frost can do it but my head is saying too late can't be done. So I'm rapidly turning into a split personality.

I will say this though. If Frost doesn't do it this year, it's time to throw in the towel. I don't like change and I don't think the coaching carousel is good for anything but 4 years is very definitely enough time, in my book, for Frost to have proven himself. Honestly I would have said after 2020 but with the COVID-19 landscape you gotta just throw the season away and hope next year will bring change.

I disagree with the "If Frost can't do it nobody can" part. All great programs have down times. Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Southern Cal, all have had down periods. Nebraska has all the elements necessary to be a premier program again. That is why they are one of the winningest programs of all time. Nebraska's problem over the last couple of decades has been they have done a horrible job of picking HCs. This will irk some but much of this is due to one man. That man is Tom Osborne.

Osborne has now saddled us with Frost. Like it or not, he was not ready for this level of football. He is growing into the job at the expense of the program. That should not be the case for a program like this. We should not be looking for diamonds in the rough, coaches on the cheap, or one hit wonders for HC. We should be looking at proven winners.

 

[Hunchback Johnny]

 

[Jarhead Husker]

I see some reasons for optimism, and I see some things to very concerned about. I no longer have the same degree of faith in Frost, because of getting his a$$ handed to him by just about every Big10 coach there is. However, the staff is doing a decent job of recruiting, despite having all losing seasons. I think that we are getting enough talent to challenge for the West, but there are some glaring issues on Offense and in execution and game coaching in multiple areas of the team. I know Frost wants to return NU to greatness, and is working his a$$ off to do so, I'm just not sure he has the wisdom and is willing to do what is necessary (change coaches, change philosophy, or whatever is needed)
I am still looking forward to next season, but not with the same gusto that I used to. The long stretch of sh!tty Husker football, and the underachieving has taken some of the zeal away. At this point, I don't believe a damn thing that comes out of the football offices; I will only believe it if you SHOW me. Hopefully, Frost will show everyone next year that he has learned, the program is on an upward trajectory, and the last few years were a painful detour while he worked through some personal and professional growth.

 

[Doc Fumble]

Its been painful
Its been obvious
Its always hopeful
The only change we all can agree on, we want consistency

I dunno. Seems to me we've been pretty damn consistent the past four years.

Is it the coaches?
Is it the players?

For me, it's the empty trophy case this century.

Im astounded by what others see
Im astounded by what others dont see

I'm astounded that such a tradition-rich program could be this inept for this long.

But it's a new year and a fresh opportunity to turn things around!

 

[Nebraska99]

But it's a new year and a fresh opportunity to turn things around!

It's deja vu all over again!

 

[Doc Fumble]

I disagree with the "If Frost can't do it nobody can" part. All great programs have down times. Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Southern Cal, all have had down periods. Nebraska has all the elements necessary to be a premier program again. That is why they are one of the winningest programs of all time.

EXACTLY!

In my humble opinion, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what it takes to be successful at Nebraska. Let's review our coaches post-Osborne:

1) Frankie. A great guy and a damn good coach -- and he *might* have succeeded at NU if he'd had 6-7 good years at another program under his belt before he took over the Big Red. But he lacked a D1 HC demeanor and was straddled by Tom with a really tough assistant coaching situation from the get go.

2) Bill Callahan & Mike Riley. Anyone who had ANY real understanding of Nebraska football could have predicted these choices were going to turn out bad.

3) Bo. A damn good coach who didn't have the emotional maturity to be a D1 HC.

4) Scott Frost. To be determined. A lot rests on this year and our ability to Pound The Rock -- which would then open up the rest of the offense. A good offense with a much-improved defense might actually turn the program around in one season.

 

[Doc Fumble]

If I was Nebraska's AD and was tasked to hire a head football coach, the things high on my list would be:

1) Ability to recruit players at the highest levels;
2) A coach who recognizes the first building block in creating a consistent winner is a kick-butt offensive line. (Especially important because today's flag-football game would have you believe you can be successful without one.)
3) A coach who recognizes that a power running attack (patterned after Wisconsin's who (ironically) patterned theirs after our old teams) must be the strength of our Midwestern offense while surrounding it with a speedy, quick-strike attack to keep good defenses (of which there are many in the B1G) from 'loading the box' against us.
4) Someone who believes in an aggressive defense who plays a physical style of ball.
5) A coach with a proven track record of coaching disciplined and smart football.
6) Has a kick-butt staff of proven veterans ready to put into place.

 

[Uenth]

I disagree with the "If Frost can't do it nobody can" part. All great programs have down times. Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Southern Cal, all have had down periods. Nebraska has all the elements necessary to be a premier program again. That is why they are one of the winningest programs of all time. Nebraska's problem over the last couple of decades has been they have done a horrible job of picking HCs. This will irk some but much of this is due to one man. That man is Tom Osborne.

Osborne has now saddled us with Frost. Like it or not, he was not ready for this level of football. He is growing into the job at the expense of the program. That should not be the case for a program like this. We should not be looking for diamonds in the rough, coaches on the cheap, or one hit wonders for HC. We should be looking at proven winners.

I've often said that I could be wrong on the nobody can part but since this is coach #5 since Tom retired, I'm sticking with it.

I've said before that Tom is responsible for this entire downward spiral. Frank is a great coach where he is but not so much at Nebraska. He wouldn't have lasted near as long as he did if we hadn't had Eric Crouch, who pretty much carried us his last two years.

I'm pretty glum about where we are. I know the sunshine pumpers are saying this is the year but this is the 4th year we've heard that so I can't just accept that as fact.

We'll juist have to see how 2021 plays out. I hope Frost turns it around this year but I remain unconvinced. :sigh:

 

[redfred]

I just can't give up. I get really, really pissed when stupid things happen in our program...….and I'm pretty vocal about them, but husker sports are just too imbedded in me to ignore. I've been really bummed about last years football team, this years basketball team, and I hate what the BIG did with this years BIG baseball tournament, but do or die...….I just gotta believe there is some way out of this.

 

[NorthwoodHusker]

If I was Nebraska's AD and was tasked to hire a head football coach, the things high on my list would be:

1) Ability to recruit players at the highest levels;
2) A coach who recognizes the first building block in creating a consistent winner is a kick-butt offensive line. (Especially important because today's flag-football game would have you believe you can be successful without one.)
3) A coach who recognizes that a power running attack (patterned after Wisconsin's who (ironically) patterned theirs after our old teams) must be the strength of our Midwestern offense while surrounding it with a speedy, quick-strike attack to keep good defenses (of which there are many in the B1G) from 'loading the box' against us.
4) Someone who believes in an aggressive defense who plays a physical style of ball.
5) A coach with a proven track record of coaching disciplined and smart football.
6) Has a kick-butt staff of proven veterans ready to put into place.

1 Likely cant get better than present until you win a lot
2 Getting whole new body types is the first step, when you were getting owned and too small, and, we out rushed wiscy this year btw
3 Quick blended with size and speed will work at wr, where your blocking at wr is imperative, but better yet, have that and some great TE play, of which weve seen some, but even more and better is on its way.
4 Its here
5 To be determined
6 Its coming along

The inexperience of the finer points are being learned by this staff, and should always continue to.
The times, they are a changin, kids are different nowadays, reshaping and recreating your recruiting and coaching approach is vital today, and many coaches are finding that out, and those unable to adapt to this will soon be gone.

 

[Cigarman]

I've often said that I could be wrong on the nobody can part but since this is coach #5 since Tom retired, I'm sticking with it.

I've said before that Tom is responsible for this entire downward spiral. Frank is a great coach where he is but not so much at Nebraska. He wouldn't have lasted near as long as he did if we hadn't had Eric Crouch, who pretty much carried us his last two years.

I'm pretty glum about where we are. I know the sunshine pumpers are saying this is the year but this is the 4th year we've heard that so I can't just accept that as fact.

We'll juist have to see how 2021 plays out. I hope Frost turns it around this year but I remain unconvinced. :sigh:

Frank was not a great coach. He could not recruit. His off the field exploits landed him in the dog house. He belongs at the level he is at. If he was actually a great coach another P5 team would have picked him up long ago. After that we took a pro coach with a West Coast offense for an offense without a valid QB or any receivers. Next, we took a snarly faced maniac who no thinking parent would want coaching their son. He came to town with a staff full of High School coaches, grad assistants, family and gold pros. Next, we took an old man looking for a feather bed to retire on. Now we have a one hit wonder with no coaching experience in the Big. That is why we are where we are at.

However, in my mind Frost can recover. He is a smart guy who can recruit. He understands football and his teams don't quit. I am hoping he can adapt his offense and make this program roll. I see a team with a number of difference makers who need to be unleashed. It is up to Frost to push the right buttons.

 

[Doc Fumble]

If I was Nebraska's AD and was tasked to hire a head football coach, the things high on my list would be:
2) A coach who recognizes the first building block in creating a consistent winner is a kick-butt offensive line. (Especially important because today's flag-football game would have you believe you can be successful without one.)

2 Getting whole new body types is the first step, when you were getting owned and too small

This is where I'm placing my continued hope: Faith that we're slowly, but surely, recruiting and building the right body types to make our OL a really good one again.

When you have an OL that can consistently create holes up the middle for a big powerful back (like, oh let's say, a brand-new, highly-touted Big Dawg transferring from USC), it opens up a lot of things for an experienced signal-caller like Martinez.

AM2 still has to step up his game and make quick decisions and hit his open receivers, but a powerful running back behind a good OL can solve a whole lot of problems.