Two Quickie Game Thoughts for a game NONE of you want to rehash:
Emmett Johnson. It's an absolute crime he wasn't selected as one of the Doak Walker Finalists. Of all the great RBs that I've watched play over the years, in my opinion, none of them developed more than EJ did from his first season as a Husker through to today (what will be his last.)
Officiating. I was spitting nails in the second half when the officials blew the game wide-open with their mind-boggling incompetence. When the Iowa player nailed Jacory who fumbled in the endzone for a safety, I told my son not to worry because they’d reverse themselves because it was a textbook case of targeting. Then when the officials huddled, I waited for the signal it was being overturned, then, after their huddle, they announced...yesssirree, it was a safety. Where was the ^%$#$#^ REPLAY???!? My understanding is that potential targeting is ALWAYS a reviewable play because the game wants to remove targeting. Hell, we routinely get all kinds of moronic targeting calls (that clearly aren’t) because they’d rather error on the safety side. SO HOW DID THEY MISS ONE SO OBVIOUS??? 90,000 people could clearly see it, how did they not? Okay, end of rant.
STATE OF THE PROGRAM.
I have to say that I’m surprised and disappointed by this 7-5 regular season. Over the next few weeks, I'm sure we’ll analyze the hell out of it, but here’s my initial ‘pop psychology’ take:
THE 'BROTHERHOOD' TOOK A COUPLE GUT PUNCHES. The players spent all Spring, Summer, and Fall talking about how close they were with one another and with their coaches. I believe it was true and hoped it was the kind of tight bond that could lead to great things come Fall. But I was also aware we were planning to play an awfully lot of young players which is one of those 'you never know what to expect' kind of deals.
THE SUN WILL COME UP TOMORROW. After these past two losses, I know it’s an automatic eyeroll to look at the positives, but there are many. Yes, there are plenty of concerns too but given the level of depression amongst the fanbase right now, me thinks we need to keep a few things in mind: 1) we had a young team that’s only going to get better: 2) Rhule is a defensive ball coach at heart and I know it really burned his butt to see a defense of his unable to stop teams like Iowa and Penn State--somehow someway, he will make damn sure its much better next year; 3) we are prepared with a quality recruitment staff, a quality GM, and a boatload of NIL money to hit the transfer portal hard next January; and 4) despite current opinions to the contrary, Matt Rhule is a quality head coach.
"GET RID OF THE BUM!" If you disagree with me about Rhule, that's fine. But know that I’m old enough to remember all the grief Tom Osborne routinely got from fans year after year after year. I saw fans who spent years telling anyone who would listen that ‘Osborne doesn't have what it takes’ and we should 'wise-up and fire his ass' would later hail him as one of the best coaches in the business. This kind of ‘head coach talk' will always follow blowout losses -- be it Osborne, Pelini, or Rhule, it goes with the territory.
Emmett Johnson. It's an absolute crime he wasn't selected as one of the Doak Walker Finalists. Of all the great RBs that I've watched play over the years, in my opinion, none of them developed more than EJ did from his first season as a Husker through to today (what will be his last.)
Officiating. I was spitting nails in the second half when the officials blew the game wide-open with their mind-boggling incompetence. When the Iowa player nailed Jacory who fumbled in the endzone for a safety, I told my son not to worry because they’d reverse themselves because it was a textbook case of targeting. Then when the officials huddled, I waited for the signal it was being overturned, then, after their huddle, they announced...yesssirree, it was a safety. Where was the ^%$#$#^ REPLAY???!? My understanding is that potential targeting is ALWAYS a reviewable play because the game wants to remove targeting. Hell, we routinely get all kinds of moronic targeting calls (that clearly aren’t) because they’d rather error on the safety side. SO HOW DID THEY MISS ONE SO OBVIOUS??? 90,000 people could clearly see it, how did they not? Okay, end of rant.
STATE OF THE PROGRAM.
I have to say that I’m surprised and disappointed by this 7-5 regular season. Over the next few weeks, I'm sure we’ll analyze the hell out of it, but here’s my initial ‘pop psychology’ take:
THE 'BROTHERHOOD' TOOK A COUPLE GUT PUNCHES. The players spent all Spring, Summer, and Fall talking about how close they were with one another and with their coaches. I believe it was true and hoped it was the kind of tight bond that could lead to great things come Fall. But I was also aware we were planning to play an awfully lot of young players which is one of those 'you never know what to expect' kind of deals.
- GUT SHOT #1. My sense is that the team had their confidence sorely shaken when the CFB world was telling them before the Minnesota game that their coach was the odds-on-favorate to be coaching Penn State next season. I will go to my grave believing THAT news story over the short week directly led to our poor play versus the Gophers.
- GUT SHOT #2. It happened again (IMO) following the UCLA win when the rumor mill started swirling through the locker room that "Psst, guess what? Looks like Dylan might leave." Folks, for all the money that’s now part of the sport, it’s still a game played by still-maturing, young men. You know, those kids are much more inclined to 'lose their sh*t' than all of us mature men and women of the BHF.
THE SUN WILL COME UP TOMORROW. After these past two losses, I know it’s an automatic eyeroll to look at the positives, but there are many. Yes, there are plenty of concerns too but given the level of depression amongst the fanbase right now, me thinks we need to keep a few things in mind: 1) we had a young team that’s only going to get better: 2) Rhule is a defensive ball coach at heart and I know it really burned his butt to see a defense of his unable to stop teams like Iowa and Penn State--somehow someway, he will make damn sure its much better next year; 3) we are prepared with a quality recruitment staff, a quality GM, and a boatload of NIL money to hit the transfer portal hard next January; and 4) despite current opinions to the contrary, Matt Rhule is a quality head coach.
"GET RID OF THE BUM!" If you disagree with me about Rhule, that's fine. But know that I’m old enough to remember all the grief Tom Osborne routinely got from fans year after year after year. I saw fans who spent years telling anyone who would listen that ‘Osborne doesn't have what it takes’ and we should 'wise-up and fire his ass' would later hail him as one of the best coaches in the business. This kind of ‘head coach talk' will always follow blowout losses -- be it Osborne, Pelini, or Rhule, it goes with the territory.
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