Bo Sets the Bar
11 comments so far
January 16, 2008 by
When Collins Okafor spoke about his recommitment to Nebraska he quoted coach Pelini, including this gem, "I've never had a losing season and I'm not planning on having one now". You can appreciate that would play well with recruits, but given everything we know about Pelini, is there any reason to think he doesn't believe that himself?
And what that means is that Bo just set the bar at 6 wins. That could include a bowl (which might mean 7 wins) or perhaps a 6-6 season without a bowl (though it's hard to imagine a 6-6 Nebraska team being shut out of a bowl). It's also exactly where I said Nebraska needed to be for 2008.
True to his word, Pelini had said he liked being in a place where expectations were high and that he'd have even higher expectations of himself. And it sounds like he won't be satisfied unless he improves the team by at least one win next year and maybe more. Another Pelini quote that comes to mind is when he said, "there's talent here".
It's not the kind of thing the media will throw back in his face if things go wrong. It's not like he stood at a press conference and made a "guarantee". But if we had any thought that the coaches were going to write next year off entirely ("one game, one season". etc.), it doesn't sound like that's the mindset.
And for those of you who like to make a holiday trip to a bowl game, keep your calendars open. Because Bo's planning on being bowl-eligible.
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Andrew Jan 16 08
I think BO expects more than 6 wins....
doombob Jan 16 08
Funny thing about expectations... I expect 6 or more wins, but I hope for 9. I think people have lost sight that Nebraska fans don't expect a perfect, national championship season every year. We do, however, expect not to be the laughingstock and embarassment of the Big 12 or NCAA every year.
Steve Jan 16 08
Andrew,
I suspect you're right. But any number greater than six that Bo wants is guesswork. There's just no way you can take his statement and come up with fewer than six.
Mizzou Tiger Jan 16 08
Look at the schedule....6 is ALL they will do, If they do that well. They have 3 non-conference patsies. They lose to KS, OK, Mizzou, TXTech. They have to split with CO K-State, IA-State and is it Baylor?? VA Tech comes in and spanks them. I really liked this article.....justifying a 6-6 season.....Whoa is the Huskers....whoa is me......
POLINO just won't be able to make chicken salad out of a bunch of chicken ----!
Bill in Iowa Jan 16 08
This past year of football was so unpredictable, I really question the value of pre-season predictions. All I can say, this past year we all had high hopes that NU would compete for the Big 12 North...but after watching the first 3 games, it was very apparent to me that we had serious problems on defense. And of course, the season got ugly. We still can't say for certain what the problem was? Passion? Player development? Scheme? Teamwork? I tend to think our players have the goods and with Pelini's motivation and scheme, things may just turn around rather quickly. I guess we will find out. I think regardless, we can say its going to be a fun year to watch Big Red Football (as we have known it) back in action!!! And if we have that, I will be satisfied with just about any record. "Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory".
Laner Jan 16 08
Ah, the trolls have found BRN. Be of good cheer, Mizzou Tigger, unibrows may come back in fashion.
Clone Jan 16 08
We have the Huskers in our W column.....enough said.....we're going to Boise and the Huskers stay home in O8.....
donfl Jan 16 08
Mizzou Tiger, Having spent a considerable amout of time in the state of misery, I can understand the envy of a fan who has had to stomach a losing program since football became the national sport. Talk to the BIG RED when you can sport 5 National championships, the best winning record for the last 40 years, and number three in the country for total wins since the onset. Couple that with the fact that NE leads the nation in Academic All Americans, not to belittle you, but where do these toothless tiger stand. GBR
doombob Jan 16 08
I've been frequenting this site for over a year now, and I've got to say I wish all the teams we played had fans as classy and thoughtful as Oklahoma. Of course they have their share of knuckleheads, but even they bring some logic/stats/proof to the table. The majority of Mizzou, Colorado, Iowa State fans who bring insults and disdain to the table are overwhelming. Take for instance the quote "We have the Huskers in our W column." If you were to ask any member of the Cyclones coaching staff if they've marked off a Husker win already, you would get laughed at. As for Missouri, they will make one more good run at it all next year, but fall short and be out of the national picture for another 40 years once Pinkel leaves. Tiger fans be prepared. Michigan had many players decide not to enter the draft last year to try and make one more run at the title. Who's going to be your Appalachian State? In the mean time, the Huskers fortunes will reverse in a few years and we'll have another 40 years of going to bowl games and 9+ win seasons. Will you still keep all the fans that jumped on the wagon?
Greg Morrow Jan 17 08
6-6 isn't unreasonable. The team lost it's defensive "soul" and went 5-7. I'm thinking 8-4, this year, with the offense dropping off a notch and the defense being SO much better.
(You know, like a defense with some spirit)
Nebraska has got to get these teams (with their cute offenses) reacquainted with some smashmouth. Sincere, from the heart, the Nebraska way.
fairweather mizzou fan (yep) Feb 10 08
Pelini has a few games to get his kids acquainted with his scheme, and is imaginative enough to give some problems once he knows his personnel.
I watched Cally's play calling struggle almost every game he coached. No matter how good of an OC Watson is, if you had Cally calling plays... More power emphasis in the run game, add in a bit more spread wrinkles, offense simplified a tad= high power offense.
Cally did NOT coach tough, hard nosed, SM running to complement Ganz. Pelini demands it.
He demands it on Defense also. Don't count on Chase not ever worried about being chased this year. I can't imagine 3 guys rushing all night..
Pelini wants people to know you played a September game with Nebraska, by still feeling it in October. He will start that transition from day one.
That's MO about the new (old) NU. That's why I am here, talking about football.
So fair weather Mizzou fans, where did you all come from all of a sudden? Just one year away from saying Pinkel needs to go away, now you are showing up in droves, looking down on Nebraska? Where have you been the last 30 years? Just waiting to have one good year and disrespect each and every REAL program you can find ?
Enjoy your football team, be gracious when you win. Stop making your program, and state look like a bunch of big mouthed fools. And maybe teach your children how to be good fans in the process.
Your team, odds are, will probably struggle to repeat that awesome result of 2007. And you and your big mouthed friends will have to disappear once more, waiting for that fair weather my friend..