Greg Morrow Nov 04 07

"Disaffectation"
I knew the word, still had to look it up because I've never actually had to use it. So, I wanted to make sure it's contextually accurate.
I actually think one of the defensive coaches suffers from this emotional disconnection.
The influence of this coach or coaches over the season has caused the defensive players to take confusion and frustration (if not guilt) past normal limits and healing to a survival mode.
I suppose like refugees trapped in a totalitarian state, surrounded by unsympathetic neighbors.
Hopeless, in other worlds.
I'd love to be able to defend to coaches, but it's more the players who need to be protected (from the coaches).
Now, for the last two opponents who really LOVE Nebraska, who'll take an understanding viewpoint of Nebraska's plight, I'm sure!

cvldfg Nov 04 07

When does basketball season start? I now live in ACC country and would get mad every year when the sports talk radio and TV here would abandon the FB season so early and start talking about BB. It took away from the excitement of FB season. But now I understand why they were like that. It's not enjoyable to see such futility week in and week out. My whole life doesn't revolve around the program, but there is some true sadness to see what is happening to a once very proud program that garnered appreciation and admiration around the entire country. As I was watching at the bar yesterday, it hurt to hear people cheering the downfall of the program. Especially from A-holes whose programs have never won anything. Cosgrove should have the decency to see what he is doing to the program and resign now. Callahan should be fired for not seeing that Cosgrove wasn't getting the job done a long time ago. Just because our recruiting rankings rose over the years, doesn't mean we were better for it. We used to always get guys that were good fits for our program, not guys that improved our ranking. I truly believe that if we don't get this turned around now, we may end up being irrelevent. I don't know what else to say at this point, except for this, you win with defense first, ball control second. Our D is the worst in the nation and no matter how many you score you will never win.

cvldfg Nov 04 07

I would also like to point out this fact. The University of North Carolina did the smartest thing for their program last year and that was getting a jump on the coaching search before the end of the season. They told John Bunting last year with a few games left that they were firing him, but he got to finish out the season. They made the best hire in Butch Davis. You may not hear about UNC now, but wait till next year. They are the sleeper of the ACC and in 2-3 years they will be top 10 material. If they didn't make this choice, Davis was sure to be a head coach somewhere else. Can we take that chance? Should we take that chance? I think we should make this leap as well. Besides, it lets everyone know where they stand and the team can just go and let it all hang out.

ze bop Nov 04 07

Fear NOT Husker Fan,

We don't have much longer to be "resigned" to this year's historical and record setting showing of Big Red futility( I thought they'd gotten that out of their system in '03, '04, when was that again?). I'm not exactly sure what game this '07 team is playing--not tackling, not covering, not 'gapping', etc.--maybe it's a version of track and field.

There're only a few weeks left of this--actually we have a chance in the next two games with fellow cellar dwellers, and god forbid we become bowl eligible!--AND new coaches will be selected within a month or so, if not sooner.
I only hope the new coaching staff isn't what some fans want: all 'NE' guys, i.e., Turner as HC, Frost as DC, Rathman as OC, Craig as rb coach, Crouch as QB coach, Broderick Thomas as DE coach, yada, yada.
Get the best and most qualified guys, that is, start with BO P, yippeee! I'm gonna cry if we don't get THAT GUY.

Bill in Iowa Nov 04 07

Call me an optimist... As much as I would have loved to see the Huskers play national championship spoiler on KU, having them score 76 points on us only makes TO's decision an absolute "no brainer". There is no more debate about keeping Cali on and just firing Coz. If there was any debate, it's over. They are ALL gone by the end of November. A few weeks ago, NU fans were calling for Cali's head...now even the national press is so shocked at NU's demise, they are gleefully calling for his immediate firing.

And the debate about retaining this year's recruits? How many recruits do you think Cali could have retained after this blundering season? In fact, our best chance of securing a solid recruiting class is to name a coach recruits will be excited about and reassure them...things are going to change!

Bleed Husker Red Nov 04 07

Thank the lord this season is just about over. The last time I lost my lunch during a Husker game it was from drinking too much.

I don't believe that t.o. would ever hire an all nebraska coaching staff. I do believe that he knows what quality coaches look like though.

Please let someone end this coaching fiasco and hopefully turn the page to the next chapter in husker football. Hopefully the Bo Pelini chapter.

OU7times Nov 04 07

Darren, that was halarious! Ze, you are the "poster child" for entertaining posts. You keeep it up, buddy. We need your humor, especially now. What a game, huh? I was having flashbacks of when Nebraska hung 70 plus on OU in the late 90's. Ouch! Everyone needs to take a deep breath and chill a little. Next year will be better folks, it's gotta be. KU will probably be the Big 12 Champ this year. Hey if it happens, they will deserve it.

Andrew Nov 04 07

This is the first game in my life that I was watching, but did not watch the end of it, I had to put on my hoody and leave the bar quickly without anyone seeing me.

James Moore Nov 04 07

Darren, I didn't know what to say or think either. All day I was getting calls from friends expressing their condolences as if a relative had died. Then I thought back to a battle called Teutoburger Wald fought in 9 AD. During it's battles for expansion into Germania the Romans had never been able to pacify the Germanic tribes beyond the Rhine. In an effort to do so the Roman Emperor Augustus sent his best legions to do so. Under the leadership of Varus, who had been proconsul to Syria, the legions advanced, unwittingly, into an ambush of immense proportions. The Germanic tribes led by Arminius, wiped out the Roman legions. When Varus realized that he would be annihilated and his legions lost forever, he turned to his slave and said "now kill me".

I mention this because Coach Callahan could salvage some dignity by stepping down NOW and clarifying the inevitable firing to come. He will not because he won't get paid. If he were to fall on the sword it would at least present the impression that he might actually care about Nebraska football and the special place it holds for so many of us.

I would like to add that in this loss some of the young guys showed some glimpses of the future: Burkes & Jones on the O-Line, Helu and Thenarse (loved that guy since the spring game). My optimistic side tells me that maybe this is our Mike Shula and the next staff will sort this out. I hope this is the case.

To Kansas, I hope you win the Big 12 North. Good luck with the rest of the year. You've had a great season and I hope it continues to be so for you this year. . .

James Moore Nov 05 07

OU7Times,

Just wanted to say I love watching Oklahoma's offensive line this year. THAT is a bunch of absolute killers in the trenches, and Duke Robinson has some great hands and moves once he gets the ball in space!!! Although it's a Nebraska site I also wanted to throw out there that it seems Oklahoma now is where the Huskers were in 1989-1993: disappointing performances in bowl games (LSU, USC & the Smurfs last year), consistently running up 9+ wins, but not getting the big one (since Heupel's bunch). I think you guys are about to go on a run like we did in the 90's and USC just did. Good luck with the reamining games and beyond. Nobody's talking about Oklahoma this year (like Oregon and LSU) and they should. . .

ze bop Nov 05 07

ou7,
T'anks! I like to interject ye ol' humor.

so, here's a copy of the rumor e-mail I got from my Uncle Harold the other day. I was told by another blogger that 'Mick Richards' does not exist, but I hope he does, so I can prove once and for all that said blogger is a big time jerk.

Maybe Darren and the gang KNOW! There's a link, so ya'll can verify for yerselves. Keep it real:

Harold
>
>
> >
> > The latest rumors. . .
> >
> > > From a reliable source. . .
> >
> > As you know my connection has been spot on with the other things I said
> so here are the next steps Phase II
> >
> > There are several people still close to Steve Pederson in his
> > administrative staff and provided the following information yesterday
> from TO's office coming and goings.
> >
> > Bo will be named head coach within days of the Colorado game if LSU is
> not in the SEC championship game. If they are they will string it out
> for a week talking about reviewing options etc. Then once Bo is named he
> can move quickly on getting with some of the recruits and keeping them
> in place. Bill Busch will be retained in some position to assist with
> this turnover.
> >
> > Although rough around the edges Tom thinks Bo reminds him of a Bob
> Devaney type and does not feel the new coach has to be just like he was.
> >
> > Tom Rathman who is now the RB coach for Lane Kniffen has been contacted
> by Bo Pellini and asked about taking the offensive coordinator job at
> Nebraska next year. The connections with Pellini and the kniffens has
> facilitated this possibly happening. TO however is possibly interested
> in keeping Watson but of course is open to letting Bo select some of the
> staff and as Rathman is a Nebraska guy he may get the nod.
> >
> > Bo is holding the D-coordinator job open at this point in hopes of
> getting Mike Stoops if he does not go back to Oklahoma. If not he is
> hoping that Marvin Sanders can find a way out of the contract to take
> the position.
> > (His current contract allows him to vest in the State of NC Pension plan
> and that is why he has not started working anywhere else yet.). Scott
> Frost will be brought back from Northern Iowa to coach defense in some
> way and to spearhead Nebraska in state recruiting primarily for the
> walk-on program. The new Tight ends coach will be retained possibly, he
> is a little familiar with Bo through some Ohio State connection.
> >
> > Most of the current staff will be relieved at the end of the season if
> not before, it could be as early as Sunday depending on the drive and
> motivation. Most of the team expressed willingness to help out with
> coaching through the end of the year.
> >
> > Strength and conditioning coach will leave as well and Bailey will come
> back from USC, he loved Lincoln and is not as happy with living in LA.
> although is being well paid by USC Doak Ostergard, Paul Miles and Paul
> Meyers have all been asked to return at the end of the year as well.
> >
> > Look for many ex-huskers to be on hand on the sideline trying very hard
> over the next several weeks to get these old players talking with the
> current players and getting the husker pride back.
> >
> > We were looking to include something about TO into the tunnel walk
> although Tom has asked us not to do it and to keep the focus on the
> team.
> >
> > I will let you know if I hear anything else.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Mick L. Richards
> > Senior Producer Husker Vision
> > One Husker Plaza
> > North Stadium Drive
> > Lincoln, NE 68510
> > Email: Mickr@huskermarketing.com

ze bop Nov 05 07

Wow, sorry that was so long, but it's interesting.

Anyhoo, so there're these two old geezers, Abe and Sol, who are life long Big Red fans.
One day they were sitting on a park bench in Lincoln--in clear view of the phallic capital bldg--chewing the fat of Husker fb, like they do everyday in their retirement.

Abe: "I sure loves my Big Red, but I can't stand the current coaches and hope some changes are made soon..."

Sol: "Me too. Ya know, Abe, I hope when I die I go to heaven and it is a 'Husker Heaven'; that is, I hope they have Big Red fb there!"

Abe: "Yeah. Tell ya what, let's make a deal that whichever one of us dies first comes back and tells the other one if there's a Big Red Heaven."

They shook hands and agreed and sure enough Sol found himself alone on the park bench the following Monday as Abe had had a heart attack over the weekend following the NE/KU game.

He continued to faithfully go to the park, however, and one day he felt a cold breeze on his shoulder and looked up to see the the ghost of Abe standing near him.

Sol: "So you died and went to heaven, Abe. Tell me, do they have Big Red there?!"

Abe; "Yes, I'm in Heaven, but there's some good news and some bad news.
First the good: they do in fact have Big Red here in Heaven and it's a beautiful thing, Bobfather is the HC.

Now the bad: I hate to tell you this, but Jerry Tagge went down last week and YOU are scheduled this Saturday as the backup QB....vs the Sooners....!"

ze bop Nov 05 07

(p.s., "Dang those 'Germaniac Tribes....!"

ze bop Nov 05 07

Delete it, I don't really care. I think Bo P is a candidate, is all. But if there is no Mick R., delete it. I certainly wouldn't want to hurt the program, that is, like I could at this point.