Big 12 State of the Union: Nebraska
36 comments so far
January 18, 2008 by
In our second annual State of the Union series, we take another look at where each Big 12 program stands and appears to be headed. A lot has changed in a year. At this time a year ago, the Huskers were coming off of their best season in five years and seemed poised to take the next step back to prominence. Instead, things fell apart defensively in the third game of the 2007 season and spiraled out of control for the rest of the year.
Still, Nebraska’s worst season in 46 years had them in bowl contention in their final game and even sporting an 11-point halftime lead in that contest. Husker fans think they’ve seen awful, yet even “awful” at Nebraska might be considered promising at other schools. And as Osborne put it, “Adversity is not your enemy. Adversity is also your friend.”
The Husker defense will be better in 2007. That’s hardly a bold proclamation. Simple regression to the mean would probably have caused Nebraska to rise from their 112th defensive ranking. Add in a defensive leader in Bo Pelini who in five collegiate seasons as a defensive coordinator has never had a defense finish outside the top fifteen, and defensive improvement seems about as certain as the sun coming up each day.
Offensively, it’s more difficult to know what to expect. Nebraska’s offense ranked in the top fifteen as well but some of those numbers were tallied in garbage time. Add to that the tendency for Joe Ganz to throw interceptions in road games and you have to have some doubts about how things could go offensively. While offensive coordinator Shawn Watson has experience in his role, his results have been mixed over his career and head coach Bo Pelini has no offensive track record at the college level. The same can be said for the special teams. So for those expecting a continuation of Nebraska’s 54 point scoring average with Joe Ganz starting, it may be time to temper those expectations. Still, having seen it on the field, we know the potential for explosiveness on offense exists. Adding a greater element of ball control might further help the defense even if it further diminishes the total offensive output.
The longer term might depend as much on recruiting as simple coaching and the recruiting prowess of this group remains somewhat unknown as well. Considering that the recruiting cycle can take more than 12 months (some commits to the class of 2008 had taken place before even the end of the 2006 season), Nebraska fans will have to wait at least a year to see what they can expect in terms of recruiting. The addition of Tim Beck, a former high school coach in talent-rich Dallas, has to be an encouraging sign for Husker fans though. One thing is clear in the shorter term, the turnover in the coaching staff will likely negate or even reverse Nebraska’s recruiting advantage over Big 12 North rivals in the upcoming class and that can have fallout on the field in the next four to five seasons.
Given everything that transpired in the 2007 season, Nebraska is unquestionably in better shape than they were in November. Nebraska could not have found a coach with better defensive credentials or that would be as widely embraced within the state. They’ve retained some of the working pieces of the existing program (like assistants Watson and Gilmore) and found a recruiter in Beck that can challenge some of the Big 12 South schools in luring top Texas recruits. The 2008 season will be a baseline and a benchmark for the future. Even most fans of opposing teams would acknowledge that the odds are good for the Huskers to return to a bowl game next season. While contending for the division is possible, it might be too much to expect a return to the Big 12 championship game in the first year of a new regime. Longer term, the potential to contend in the division with the new staff clearly exists. But “potential” can be the most dangerous word in athletics.
Related: Read the 2007 State of the Union report on Nebraska
» Enjoy this article?
Send it to your friend or get Husker news by email!
Post a comment
huskerranger Jan 18 08
great article,
i would also like to point out, that while 5 and 4 star players sometimes do become great college athletes, they get alot of attention in high school. how does rivals.com even hear about a certain player? my guesing is that big name schools get more press about players than smaller schools. now i understand that yes some smaller schools do get some recognition. but part of being a great or even good player also coensides with your teamates. in high school if you play for a 1-8 team your less likely to get looked at than if you are 8-1. the point im trying to make is that i would take a 3 star with heart and physically passes the buck the a 5 star who is god to the media any day of the week. so i suggest that we not cut our new guys short or our coaches short, i mean how good is fundemental coaching in high school anyway, for the most part.
Steve Jan 18 08
To quote Bo Pelini in his talk to coaches that's gone viral on the internet, "when these kids arrive, they don't know sh--".
Mizzou Tiger Jan 18 08
Good Article!!! It's best to gently break the bad news to Husker land as you still don't know what it's like to lose....
I agree defense will be better, how can it get worse?? Still not enough to stop Mizzou, KU, TXTech and OK. That's 4 loses....VTECH is 5..That means somehow you'll need to beat K-State, IAState there, and CU...possible but win all three, I think not....say hello to Boise or Shreveport, I understand they have some real nice K-Mart stores there to spend your free time prior to reving it up for your bowl.....
steve Jan 18 08
Wow MT, classy post.
It's such a deja vu feeling. I went over 25 years without meeting a single K-State fan and then they beat Nebraska and lo and behold legions of "die hards" come out of the woodwork and started talking trash. And now, suddenly again they've vanished.
Now, Missouri has a nice year and all of a sudden we witness the "birth" of the Tiger fan and it appears he has K-State DNA. Question: Where do you see yourself in ten years? My guess? We won't be able to find you anywhere.
Meanwhile, Husker fans continue to abound. We're still here and that will be true for the next forty years or maybe the next four hundred.
doombob Jan 18 08
Oh no! Missouri Tiger's comment ruined my day! Somehow, I feel like less of a person, and as a Husker fan, I probably don't deserve to live. I shall go shop at a Kmart and expire into the night...
Darren Jan 18 08
Somehow, someway, NU has remained relevant enough for a Mizzou fan to visit a Husker site and comment on the state of the program.
Let me count the times I've taken a moment to go to a Mizzou site and offer thoughts on their team....uh, zero.
There are still just two stories in all of sports - big guy wins, or big guy loses.
To be clear NU = big guy. People talk when they win, and people talk when they lose. MU - and their empty, dusty, sad little football trophy case - has a hard time being nationally relevant even after a "banner" year.
Greg Morrow Jan 18 08
Once again, we venture into the unknown.
But, this becomes a "normal" team again, I have no doubt about that. In other words, the approach normal coaches take to physically train, teach and motivate kids, will be back in motion.
As Tom said, "something is missing." At the very least, those things shouldn't be missing anymore.
It comes back to belief. Nebraska players have to regain "justified" confidence in themselves, again. It can't be given, or instilled in them. However conditioning, spring and fall practices go, Nebraska will have to take games away from teams who will be just as confident they're better (like teams who've recently beaten Nebraska). Only then, will the team get that winning confidence.
The team has to have relentless effort on each play. When coaches identify a tired kid, or one who's confused, he's got to be temporarily replaced, with a fresh kid. Coaches will have to watch kids, evaluate them. Actually coach them. Not just have their faces buried in their play lists.
OU7times Jan 18 08
Wow, things are getting back to "normal" in Lincoln, as it would seem. Ever since the hire of Coach Pelini the smak is back. It's a sign things are looking up for NU when Darren brings up Mizzou's "empty, dusty sad little trophy case". Mizzou had a great year but I wouldn't have a good guess where Nebraska will be (win wise) in 2008. Could it be worse than 5 wins? I doubt it seriously as this years kids will believe in the head coach calling the shots as opposed to "the 4 year experiment gone wrong". I am anxious to watch BP and his "take no crap" attitude. It will be interesting to see how he pans out.
Greg Morrow Jan 19 08
OU7times
"Ever since the hire of Coach Pelini the smak is back."
Who's talkin' the smak? A "lazy eyed" troll named "Missouri Tiger".
I suppose Missouri would have an "empty, dusty sad little trophy case", if they actually had one. Darren gives them too much credit...
Though, I suppose their Independance Bowl and Insight.com trophies aren't so lonely anymore, after Mighty Mizzou defeated the headless Arkansas Razorbacks.
I wasn't going to respond to him, but you've popped in this fine blog before and seem to have some perspective, given the profile of your team. Besides, Steve, doombob and Darren made short work of him, anyway. And they're nicer than I would've been.
So, do share. Just remember, please share and not "teach". Just as I would if I visited "Okie Central's blog." (Which I never will)
I'm sure things are interesting in the not as cold Oklahoma plains, what with perceptions of a program that seems to have "plateaued".
OU7times Jan 19 08
Greg, easy, guy. I meant no disrespect to Darren or BRN. I just thought I'd comment on the comments made by Darren, that's all.If you don't come on to Oklahoma's several blogs I'm just sure they won't know or care. I'll take "plateauing" at 11 wins every year. Wouldn't you, Greg? Thanks for your interest though.
Greg Morrow Jan 19 08
OU7times
"I'm just sure they won't know or care."
Big sports blog world out there, room for everybody.
Go enjoy your team's pursuit of that elusive BCS bowl victory. And your team's "plateau".
OU7times Jan 19 08
Well, lets see...First of all OU does have one BCS championship under it's belt (along with Texas) and it was a real nice feeling. In fact it's a real nice feeling knowing that most years OU is in contention for the title. I would like to say in defense of this years and past years shortcomings (BCS) that fo anyone who might think it's easy to keep young people focused for a month or more between games and having assistant coaches hired out from under you causing distractions, then it's really a hard proposition to win, in most cases. Keep in mind that these are young people and young people explore their boundaries and don't always do the right things. These also cause distractions. Once again, I'll settle for one victory in six BCS games with the lone victory being a National Championship. Besides USC and LSU there are not alot of teams doing this. I do enjoy my teams "plateau", thanks.
Greg Morrow Jan 19 08
OU7times
"Well, lets see"
Your team's last title and BCS victory was 7 complete seasons ago. Okie is venturing into the distant lands Nebraska occupies. Even Nebraska had a title shot, after Okie won it's last title. Nebraska hasn't been as bad as Okie was, in the late '90's. Nebraska was better for over 10 years from '91 through '01, than your team has been, this decade.
That Nebraska-Miami defeat was no more embarrasing objectively, than Okie and SC, Boise ST. and West Virginia. The Okie-LSU game wasn't as close as the score implies.
You've got your memories and for some reason, you still feel entitled to "teach".
On this blog, you're in no position to teach.
If you're a "friend" then be friendly.
If you think you know better (you have no clue).
"My" team is plenty interesting for me. I don't have the time to be "interested" in other teams, like you obviously are with ours.
I've read your posts, over the months.
I was going to point out some of these things at some point, anyway.
On more reminder. Feel free to share, but not teach. I would treat your team's fans blogs with the same respect.
OU7times Jan 19 08
Greg, you are a bitter soul. Keep in mind, this is an open forum. How you interpret is your entitlement/problem. If you feel I am on here to teach. OK, Whatever. Has "your" team losing made you this bitter? Chances are you've been called down before on being negative and then I wouldn't be the first to tell you. I've had lots of friendly conversation on this blog with others. It's not like I get on here and bash Nebraska but only to be objective. You love to tear the ass of someone (annonymous)who says something against "your" team and their opinion is not of yours."Mizzou Tiger" has every right to say what he says regardless of what you think. Get over it Greg, sooner or later you'll have to co-exist with persons who think differently than you. Oh, I'm sorry, did I just teach you something? Heh, heh.
Greg Morrow Jan 19 08
I'll take that as a concession, since you couldn't come up with a clean counter point.
As for bitterness, look to your troll within.
"Missouri Tiger" knows what he's about. Do you?
You haven't made any type of comment implying that you "know better".
You last post just reemphasizes that.
VarangianGuard Jan 19 08
Yeah! I love when people take things personally when a football team that they have no control over AT ALL wins or loses.
The bottom line is that the Big 12 needs NU to be good again. I am tired of the talk of the SEC or Big 10 being the best. When Texas, OU, and another south team is quality and the North has NU,K-State, and CU or KU having quality years, it is good for everyone.
OU7times Jan 19 08
Greg, there's AA or Gamblers Annonymous or any kind of support group for problems you might be suffering from. Find one and use it.
Greg Morrow Jan 19 08
OU7times
You reveal more of yourself, with each post.
I never really thought of your posts over the months as "friendly." More of a frontrunner's tone and now you've been "clipped" and we see how you really are.
"Naughty" people go onto other team's fans sites. We see it ALL the time.
You think you invented the wheel? As a poster, you need training wheels.
You've shown yourself to be both thin skinned and weak minded.
As Darren pointed out while checking "Missouri Tiger": Nebraska=Big Guy.
"OU7times"= marginally knowledgeable Little Guy.
Bill in Iowa Jan 19 08
Good article Steve. Did anyone catch Carl Pelini and Watson on TV last week? If you did you cannot help about getting excited about the philosophy and direction of the 2008 Huskers!!!
Watson's philosophy is multiple varied offense, simpler and quicker terminology (we may even get a play in before a delay of game penalty) AND getting the ball to playmakers(hello Mr. Lucky). He utilizes the tight end and fullback (possibly Glenn and Castille) a lot and runs 2 back sets (a return to power house running attack and smash mouth football!).
Yes, Gantz has a Bret Farve like mentality...taking chances and throwing interceptions, but he is young in terms of experience and may settle down. We also have 2 solid QB's behind him and they may compete for playing time.
With M. Lucky back (and a crushing o-line), this offense could easily be just as good as last year, possibly better, since Gantz can run. I think we can all agree that we will have a better Defense...how much better is the question. Even the coaches wont be able to answer that until we hit the field next fall. I can't wait!!!
Mizzou and OU...we may not beat you next year, but one thing is certain, it will take 2 to 3 weeks for your players to recover from the physical punishment they will take coming up against Big Red. The Huskers are going back to what we do best, agressive, attacking and violent football!!!
Dave Jan 19 08
Greg, I am a born and bred husker fan but I have to say I took no offense to OU7times earlier post. Furthermore I believe OU fans have as much history and reason to bleed red as those of us in husker land. Their program has been in the elite of college football for years and years just as we have. They deserve more respect than what you have given. Sorry Greg although your posts are eloquent and well written you are sounding as though drinking from the cup of sour grapes.
OU7times Jan 19 08
Get over yourself, dude. You, sir, are a name caller. It's important that YOU tell people where they are on YOUR food chain. Name callers are emotional people. Emotional people are not necessariy bad people except when they act exactly like(in your feeble mind) who they are calling out. That's when you become a hypocrit. Greg: "my team's better than your team", "my team's been better than your team during the "90's", "you have nothing to say on MY teams website" blah, blah, blah...Who's got training wheels now. You sound like a grade schooler. When you become an official BRN spokesperson then I will stop visiting this site (gladly). My guess is that you are not an official spokesperson (even in your own family) of any sort so...I guess I'll be around awhile. Mizzou Tiger has some substance and is alright in my book. He got your "goat" and that goes a long way in my book.
Greg Morrow Jan 19 08
Dave
"though drinking from the cup of sour grapes."
Sour grapes as to what?
I've got unconditional love for "my" team. Always have, always will.
Maybe, you should re-read the posts.
This guy latched onto my "normal" quote while commenting that Darren was talking "smak".
This is a blog, as you know, seeing you're associated with Huskerpedia, which I look at alot, but don't post on.
Again, who was talking the smak? On which team's blogs?
I don't think I've been too harsh. Maybe too "eloquent"!
OU7times Jan 19 08
BRN, sorry for the wasted space and annoyance to any other bloggers. This is over with as far as I am concerned.
James Moore Jan 20 08
Wanted to add (seems a little late) that OU7Times is a fine person who has always had sound judgements to contribute and able to articulate them very well. He's a regular visitor here and a welcome one too. Guys he's OK. Save your venom for Kansas State, Colorado and Missouri fans, they are far, far, far more deserving.
Jason Jan 21 08
I believe this is our first official off season dust-up. I certainly did not not expect it to occur between two frequent BRN commenters (Greg & OU).
Let's just chalk it up to the Mizzou fan stirring up trouble and move on.
Just kidding Mizzou. :) It's going to be a fun off season!
OU7times Jan 24 08
HaaaaHaaaaa...LOVE THAT POST!!!Would you please run for President??
Pfitz Jan 24 08
***[EDITED BY BRN] Pfitz, can we lay off the crude personal attacks? We'd like to keep it PG and about football. -Thanks, BRN***
. I'm a Nebraska native, NU Alum and will be a Cornhusker fanatic forever. But, one thing that has always bothered me is this ridiculous obsession with many Husker fans is this know-it-all..."my" team crap. ...really. When you suitin' up bro? Hell, did you even go to school there? Greg, I'm assuming you did; but there are a lot of Husker fans out there who have little to no connection to the university or higher education in general. It's a little annoying. I went to school there the first 4 years of the 60-3 run. I was incredibly lucky to witness "my" (I never as my, we, us, etc.) team (I paid fees) kicking the living crap out of so many opponents. What exactly makes anyone think they have the right to police a blog for opposing fans? What the rest of your life be like? Someone made the brilliant comment that, this is a game played by teams that you have no control over. Exactly. I used to take it so personally too. Yes, I am absolutely obsessed by Husker football...but not so much that I get mad at my wife...or talk shit back and forth to a rather logical OU fan for hours. OU7times and Dave are both correct. You need to back off. Stop acting like you're the sheriff of this blog.
OU7times Jan 24 08
Pfitz,I really appreciate the objectiveness...in MOST Nebraska fans.
doombob Jan 24 08
I'm not objective. I hate K State.
OU7times Jan 24 08
Yea, but you wear it well, doombob.
OU7times Jan 24 08
You know what's really funny about Pfitz's comments? The fact that he had appologized for the double post and not the "weenie" comments (edited out). HaaaaaHaaaaa. I'd still vote Pfitz for President. Best candidate out there. Heh, heh.
Greg Morrow Jan 24 08
Pfitz
Kindly (or not kindly, I don't care) point out what I wrote that wasn't factual. Read closely and clearly to each post by me and the other.
He tried to demonstrate the upper hand, (I assume be cause of the recent success of his team) I pointed out that he didn't have the upper hand.
His team is otherwise irrelevant to me, especially since it's in the southern division. The comparisons I made about each team were, to me, objectively factual.
He tried to "kick it up a notch," which I was too ready for.
As for blog posting decorum, "have some dignity, nancyboy."
OU7times Jan 24 08
Yea, you guy's!! Listen to "teeny weenie", he knows everything!! Yuk, yuk.
Steve Jan 25 08
OU7,
I realize it's a long off-season and college football fans of every stripe have their ways of coping with the withdrawal. But for you and Pfitz to obsess on another man's package is not the way to deal. Try ESPN Classic instead.
Steve Jan 26 08
Greg
Please...just stop talking. I read all the posts here, and I have to say, I got very tired reading yours. You seem to be the only person that takes offense to OU's comments. I became a fan of NU the moment I saw the class of Dr. Tom in an interview under very stressing conditions. Please try to emulate his example and respect other's opinions. If you can do that, then revisit my first sentence in this posting, and just stop talking.
doombob Jan 26 08
This is the thread that never ends. It just goes on and on my friends.