Point Pelini: Herbstreit Now Loves the Huskers?
11 comments so far
August 26, 2008 by
The second first game of Bo Pelini's career at Nebraska is still four days away but you can already give him one win in 2008: He's made a believer out of Kirk Herbstreit
I know Nebraska fans have no love lost for the ESPN analyst thanks to his histrionics surrounding an Internet poll a few years ago, but I honestly find his analys as strong and insightful as anyone's on the Gameday set. True, he's up against Corso, Holtz, May and Howard, so that's sort of like winning the Big 10 of late but personally I have no problem putting stock in what he says and this year, based on his recently released Herbie awards, he's bullish on the Cornhuskers.
How'd that happen?
Well, hiring Herbstreit's former Ohio State teammate as our head coach probably didn't hurt anything, but I'd like to think that there's enough objective decorum in the ESPN offices--remember they have an ombudsman now--that personal relationships wouldn't swing the vote that much. No, I think that in his heart of hearts Kirk Herbstreit really does think that a) Nebraska has talent and b) has the right guy to groom it.
While it's somewhat distressing (but not surprising) that a Nebraska player only shows up once on the individual portion of Herbstreit's awards, the good news is that Joe Ganz was named as one of the "Household Names by the End of September."
In a lot of ways, this award/opinion is better than the other one I assumed Nebraska would be in contention for with Marlon Lucky as a "Best Veteran Running Back" candidate because Ganz is still mostly a question mark. Also, and this is just my read, you don't become a household name simply by beating the likes of SJSU and NMSU. You gotta beat someone of merit and that team is seemingly Virginia Tech, one of Herbie's six teams "Headin' on Down."
But what about the teams "Moving on Up"? Herbstreit's number one team is Nebraska, which is a new face among most pundits usual suspects of Notre Dame, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Miami, et al. That counts for something, but it doesn't end there.
Coaches who will exceed expectations? Pelini's number one. New coaches--instant success? Pelini's number one again.
Sure it's just one man's opinion, he states as much in the opening to the article, but it is a departure from the national consensus that has the Cornhuskers in the middle of the Big 12 North pack, and if you add it to the confidence expressed by the likes of Phil Steele and Dr. Saturday nee Sunday Morning QB, an objective underground movement of belief in Nebraska appears to be building.
Take that for what you will but I definitely didn't see it coming.
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Husker Mike Aug 26 08
Other than his "greatest team ever" hissyfit, Herbstreit has always been fairly complementary towards Nebraska. Maybe his issue was the fact that the final was 71 vs 95 Nebraska more than anything.
Of course, I recall Herbstreit was rather complimentary towards Bill Callahan, so Herbstreit's vote of confidence might not be so well placed.
cvldfg Aug 26 08
I have been saying this since the day BO was hired.
Our offense scored 33pts/gm, 323passing yds/gm, rushed for 145yds/gm and we were 9th overall in offense. Not much has changed. We have the same offensive coaches same system and almost the same players.
Our defense was putrid and basically quit after the Missouri game. With BO, and an entire def. coaches overhaul, THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN!!! He is easily in the top 3 of Def. coaches and the staff he hired is top notch for NU. We return the entire starting line. Linebackers, in BO's system are turn them loose and let them attack players, 2 of 4 db's return. We have the talent and speed. Our biggest problem the last 4 years was obviously the defensive, or lack thereof, coaches.
The problems I have with most "pundits" and magazine's are the mags come out in the summer and can only go off of last year and spring practice, which doesn't mean didley squat. I dismiss most pundits, especially ESPN ones, because they are almost always in the tank for their old schools or where people they are friends with coach. Herb is always in the tank for OSU, Corso for the Florida schools, May for Pitt, Holtz for ND and CBS announcers for SEC schools. It's the same every year.
I said day one and I will say it again: Don't take NEBRASKA lightly. 9-3 is my middle of the road pick. At worst, 8-4. At best, 10-2.
Bill in Iowa Aug 26 08
I think we are suffering a little from some sort of Post Traumatic Stress from being sold Cali, having faithful optimism, and then watching the team go down hill. We are scared it might happen again, but I for one, don't think so.
It helps when we hear people like Herbstreet and even Stoops recently step out on a limb and say "this guy (and his staff) can coach!". Can we believe them? I certianly do. Not only do we have their opinion, but also a lot of former Husker players and current players are Bo-lievers.
The only question in my mind is how quickly can he return NU into a national champion contender? Can he turn it around this year? The question seems to revolve around talent level, experience and depth (especially on defense). I think we have the talent, but certainly lack experience in key positions to provide depth. My concern is have the players been in Bo's system long enough, do they know it well enough to perform at a very high level throughout the 2 deep?
bnahusker Aug 26 08
cvldfg..........
Get your facts straight. Holtz is a homer for Notre Dame AND South Carolina! hehehe
I heard him a couple of nights ago, and had to hold my dinner down. It is a shame that FSN doesn't have an alternative for the 3 time zones west of the Mississippi.
The Sporting News has a daily E-Mag that you can have in your in-box every morning. They have been glowing on The Huskers as well.
BTW.......Your 9-3 does include a win over Mizzou, doesn't it? I may have to move back to Lincoln if they beat us up there. Is anyone hiring?
Have a great week!
GBR
Bob
darren Aug 26 08
The relationships between Kirk and Bo is an interesting one. On some level, it makes you think there is some sort of friendly favoritism going on.
One alternative perspective - Kirk's belief in Bo and NU could be based on ACCESS. There's fan access, then there is media access, then there is "friend access". There is a very good chance that Kirk is hearing directly from his friend about the condition of the team and Bo's unfiltered opinion on NU's chances in 2008.
If that is the case, I take Kirks optimism about NU is a very positive sign, because it is a reflection of Bo's honest optimism.
huskerdiva Aug 26 08
The way I see it, the only way we can go is up. Ganz had flashes of brilliance last year. In all my years of watching college and pro football, the one thing I've learned is that you can't put a pro coach in a college setting. It doesn't work. The Big 12 has be maligned for so long. I personally am so excited to watch well we all do this year. Bo rocks the house and Kirk, well, he's my favorite. Go Huskers!
Dwayne Aug 26 08
diva,
It doesn't have anything to do with that. Carrol is a former pro coach and frankly so is Bo. I think Carrol has faired pretty well.
Bill in Iowa Aug 26 08
A lot of coaches go back and forth from pro to college (assistants and head coaches), but not all of them adjust well. I think Cali is one of those whose personality is more geared to the pro game. He was and x and o type of guy who thought it was more important to practice 200 plus plays each week than to give the 2nd team guys reps. I think we could consider an entire list of changes in the way these players are coached, but one thing that sticks out is when Watson said they are only practicing around 60 offensive plays each week - a less is more philosophy. Another example, is Thenarse saying he didn't get any reps on defense last year. The more you hear how poorly this team was devoloped both physically, mentally, and emotionally, it is no wonder they fell apart. And it might be another reason Kirk is feeling optimistic about the Big Red this year.
bnahusker Aug 26 08
Great take on this Bill!
Husker greatness was always founded in repetition as well as the players and staff.
Other than the scouts, a lot of the rank and file players ran the same plays over and over and over. It was 3 years before some ever saw the field on Saturday. But when they got into a game, they knew what they were to do, and what the guy next to them was supposed to do. That machine must be rebuilt, tuned up, and given a year to work the kinks out.
97 hours and 50 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GBR!
Bob
Dwayne Aug 26 08
Repitition is one key to success that's for sure. I'm sure TO was awestruck when he witnessed how the practices were ran under the former. I remember growing up seeing scores of the JV and Freshman teams who I believed were coached by none other than Solich himself.
donfl Aug 27 08
Can we pease let the Callahan reference subside, he is gone thank God. He and Peterson were a disaster for the BRN but the Husker Nation did the right thing and fired both of them. This team is Pellini's and we need to let him try to mold this team into a perennial contender. Whether it happens this year or not is not the point. The point is does he and his coaches have the moxie to make this team play with the passion we were spoiled to accept? I for one think he can do it. GBR