What To Do After a Husker Win

3 comments so far November 11, 2008 by Tom Cudd

As Nebraska Cornhusker Football fans and bloggers, losses make our writings the next week easier. It's usually pretty clear why our team loses a game, and we try to figure out what the coaches are going to do, or should do in order to pull out a win the next week. But after a satisfying, hard-fought, and hard-earned win, it's not so straightforward to put forth what the Huskers need to do to continue to win. A fan needs a gameplan himself (or herself) in order to move into the next week, so I've drawn out a mental map of what we should all be doing.

1. Celebrate

First of all, your Huskers have won mightily against a team many considered to be a superior opponent! Enjoy the time in the sun, because the off-season is only months away. But it could be worse – the season could have been over in a couple of weeks. I'm not guaranteeing a bowl game, but the chances look bright right now. I would suggest using phrases like “bowl eligible� as little as possible. I prefer “bowl ready� or “bowlward bound�.

2. Nit-pick

Usually after a party, there is a time when a person crashes. Instead of fighting it, embrace it and roll with the slightly sour mood. Find the things that annoyed you about the play calling or complain about that player that's always the target of your anger. Discuss how a tackle or block was missed on a key play, how poor technique led to a turnover, or how an unbalanced formation was the cause of a play that ended in a loss of yards. Extra points for picking on someone not in the secondary or Quentin Castille. In conversation, you can say “to get power, don't leave your feet� or “our LBs should be hitting their their guy lower�. Avoid “wrapping up�, “arm tackling�, or “securing the football�. These are only buzz words with no meaning. Don't linger too long on this step. You don't want to be THAT guy.

3. Discuss the Good

Come on! We're Husker fans, the eternal optimists! Let's talk about our quarterback's calm under pressure and his striking leadership. Look at how well our running back was able to evade that first tackle for more yards. Don't forget to “give the game ball� to someone on the defensive front four. This is Nebraska – our defense is supposed to be there to come to the rescue of a stalled Husker offense and stop our opponent when it counts on third downs. You can talk about our toughness into the second half and how we wear down opponents. Don't bring up “passing accuracy� or “tackles for loss�, instead, favor such phrases as “throwing mechanics� or “closing speed�. Don't forget that after every win our team cannot get caught up in the past. You a required to say that the Huskers must "continue to take of business". It's the law.

4. Focus on Next Opponent

It takes a small man to bash his next opponent, and a big man to praise what they're doing right. If they're a perceived superior opponent, always talk about what a stand-up job that coach is doing at that school. If they've decimated Nebraska in the past few years, talk about how they beat this or that top 25 opponent. Bring up some obscure statistic in which they dominate and point out how close Nebraska is to that stat.

In the case of this upcoming week, Nebraska is playing against a team whose players and coaches are down on their luck. It's OK to feel sorry for the players who came to play for a coach and could be left out to dry when a new staff rolls in. I recommend saying “Some team will snatch him up soon� or “Those players are really going to go out there and try to play hard for their coach�. Avoid discussing how terrible their defense is or how good their special teams are. Be as vague as possible when talking about their talent level. Bringing up “a lack of intangibles� is a good way to diffuse arguments. How can an opinion be wrong?

5. Focus on Championships

Take our progress and extrapolate it. Since we're fighting for second place in the Big 12 North, we have a legitimate chance of challenging for the North Division Championship next year. Bonus points if you tie in how wins now pick up the recruits that can win us our next Championship. Once a Division Championship is attained, move on to our timeline for wining the Big 12 and then a National Championship. Don't believe in the parity myth. I like to say “Tradition overcomes parity�. I know the cliche that “Defense wins championships� but an astute fan recognizes that “it all starts with the offensive and defensive lines�.

Now that the Huskers have put together a convincing victory, go out and try these techniques yourself. If you're not in Nebraska, start posting to message boards or comment on an news/blog article.

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