The Cold, Hard Facts From the National Championship
40 comments so far
January 9, 2009 by
The National Championship game didn’t have a ton of drama and was pretty sloppy, probably from a five week layoff (see: Texas). Once you wipe off the grossness that is the media lovefest for Tim Tebow, you are left with two high-quality football teams with superior talent. As a Husker Fan, did this game show us how far of a road we have ahead?
Nebraska has good athletes but not to the level of Oklahoma and Florida. The speed was unreal between both teams. Florida ran a similar bubble screen type play that Nebraska ran on its first offensive play from scrimmage versus OU. Tonight though it wasn’t picked and returned for 6. It gained 15 yards. Oklahoma tried to do the same thing defensively but everything happened just a step faster and produced positive yards.
It all starts with recruiting. I love the classic walk-on story like the rest of the Husker Nation and those kids no doubt play with tremendous heart. But we need speed. We need playmakers. We need studs.
We are working towards it. I don’t know if we can recruit top 5 classes consistently. We are too far from Florida and are competing with too many other schools for Texas talent. I know Bo and Co. will get every ounce of talent out of every kid that wants to play at Nebraska, but will it ever be enough? One can hope. I will hope.
Nebraska can never take a day off from recruiting. The coaches have to be persistent, players have to be welcoming to the potential newcomers on weekend visits, and on-field results have to remain positive. Nebraska fights a lot of odds in getting the big name kids to Lincoln. It has been 11 years since our last national championship. That means that seniors in high school were roughly 7 years old when it happened. We will no doubt use those championships to our advantage but it simply is beginning to become story telling rather than a reflection of what we are today. We are starting from close to scratch. Thankfully the fan base and resources of the university are top notch and have been a big factor for some of the studs that are scheduled to sign with Dear Old Nebraska U next month. And of course, we have Bo.
So we ask you Husker fans, will it be enough? Can we win another one? How far away are we? The sad fact of the matter is that Thursday night’s game was the last one for 8 months. So here we are. Welcome to the offseason. Time to keep building towards our next national championship.
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Flatlander Jan 09 09
Without getting into a long position-by-position analysis, I'd say that NU is still a long way off _but_ things change quickly. U of Utah is a good example, and that school is bunkered in a city smaller than Omaha and faces many of the same obstacles (perhaps even more) to get kids to buy into their program. The important thing is our program is moving in the right direction, finally.
Next year may actually be a step back due to the kids we lose, and I hope people don't panic. If a couple playmakers step up it could be a fantastic year just as easily
zE bOp Jan 09 09
Well, Clemson arguably had more talent than us and more speed, not a huge gap, but their defense looked nearly as talented and fast as FL, OU, and USC. They just aren't nearly as well coached at this point.
NE's coaching gave us an edge in our Gator Bowl victory.
So, I doubt we ever get a roster that's as deep and talented as USC, TX, FL, OU,on a regular basis, but I don't think we have to, just get close enough, make sure we have at least a few difference makers and then just out coach those other teams.
It goes in cycles, those teams are not always going to have a seasoned top flight QB starting, the best back or CBs etc.
I think we can close the gap enough such that we become competitive on that level again.
Gonna take a few more years. We just gotta keep taking it step by step, just keep winning as many games as possible.
zE bOp Jan 09 09
Oh yea, one thing that we can be optimistic about is that I think NE CAN become regularly one of the best defensive teams in the country.
We have the right coaches for that. Our D should be significantly better next year, especially if Suh comes back.
We need SPEED though, across the board. AS I've been saying for the last few years, 4.4 just doesn't cut it anymore. 4.3, 4.2, that's where FL is at.
zE bOp Jan 09 09
My condolences to OU7: no OU8 this year.
I'm kind of depressed because OU had their chances in that game, just couldn't get over the top.
Plz Tim Tebow, go pro, I so sick of the socalled 'best player in CFB history'.
darren Jan 09 09
The margin between NU and the country's elite is more narrow than we might imagine it to be. Call me an optimist, but the relatively fast turnarounds at fallen powerhouses like Alabama and, yes, Oklahoma reminds me of what is possible.
We have *some* players who could have competed on that field last night. A handful. We need more of them, for sure. Then, it boils down to coaching and ((((player development))), which was so lacking prior to Pelini.
Ty Jan 09 09
Who else wishes so darn much that we retained the committment from Travis Lewis?
nu-isu-fan Jan 09 09
Yeah, he's a player alright. I think it shows you need solid players everywhere and some stars mixed in on both sides of the ball. (Unless you're USC and have stars everywhere)
I think NU's key is the lines. We have to have top notch lines, solid players at all positions, and some stars scattered throughout.
darren Jan 09 09
Ah...Travis Lewis. Yeah, it breaks my heart.
http://bigrednetwork.com/archives/2008/10/travis_lewis_is_still_breaking.html
zE bOp Jan 09 09
Will Compton's going to be a very good LB for us.
HuskerDeck Jan 09 09
Yes you need speed, but you also need people to tackle. It just amazes me how many times the first person that has the chance to make a tackle misses. I think the tackling especially in the secondaries is about the worst I have ever seen. It seems to me that all these kids want is the big hit and don't have a clue about wrapping up and it doesn't matter what kind of speed you have if you don't wrap up.
I also thought the OU coaches made two huge mistakes with not getting FGs in the 1st half when they had the chance. In my opinion a 13-7 halftime lead would have been big.
The ole Swede and Husker in South Arkansas
Scott Jan 09 09
You don't need a Top 5 class to win a National Championship.
P.S.-Tell Kiki I said hello.
Austin Husker Jan 09 09
I agree, TO never had a top 5 class according to the experts and we had plenty of chances to win NC and never got ran off the field.
Also I am surprised by how many people keep saying it is too tough to recruit kids to NE. Of course it isnt LA like USC, but come on who wants to go to Utah or Ohio State, or Michigan, or Cincinnati or Penn St or Boise St, or hell how about West Virginia or even OK.
They want to go to NU to win, and if you win they will come, always have always will. Great football players want to win.
Finally I think next year could be a better team. I worry about QB and WR but if Suh sticks around I am not sure both our lines wont we at least as good and I think some areas like LB and DB will be better. Plus you have a second year under the system.
Next year......
James Moore Jan 09 09
Can we win another one?
Without hesitation, yes. . .
How far away are we?
A long, long ways in some aspects and closer in some areas than many people would initially think. From the prospectives of speed, athleticism and depth of quality we are 2, maybe 3 years from being up to snuff. Our front 7 seems to be taking the quickest steps towards becoming elite units in a 2 year projection. The secondary will take time. The secondary will be the lagging indicator for the defense returning to elite levels. . .
Offensively, I think that we have good coaches and need to build that side of the ball from the trenches out. It was the line of scrimmage where the Clemson game was decided, and we must, and URGENTLY be able to run the ball, effectively & early in big games. When I see us come out and run early and effectively in big games I will know that we've taken some BIG steps forward. . .
I was told a long time ago in my basketball career from one of the best coaches in the Washington, D.C. area that "In essence, strategically, a team that full court zone presses on defense all the time is trying to hide the fact that they cannot defend a half court defensively after 2 passes." The no-huddle spread of a Texas Tech or a Missouri, tries to hide the fact that neither believes that it can credibly execute a long-term ground game, does not go vertical, and protect defenses that can't play assignment football. It's easy to pin your ears back and go when you're up 21, have the comfort of an offense that is humming along. You don't have to defend play action, a run game, and get used to being physical. In Bowl Games you must do all these things. It's tough to learn how to do that in one month, on the road, in your biggest game of the year. Florida won with a huddle, play in the trenches, defense, creating turnovers, and being more physical. That will become our eventual identity. That will have us uniquely prepared for Bowl Season vis-a-vis other Big 12 schools moving forward, watch. . .
What did we learn from the National Championship? Discipline, tackling, exection, and physical toughness determine the outcomes of these games. Texas won in 2005 stopping LenDale White on 4th and short. LSU beat the Ohio State offensive line man for man and got a crystal football. Florida won because they never abandoned the wiliingness to be physical offensively. When you peer through the National Championships, Tebow, the dazzling recruiting classes, the big plays, the speed, what you are left with is the reason why Florida is the best program in America for the moment. They are the toughest, most physical, and most hard-nosed bunch in collegiate football today. . .
Renny Jan 09 09
There are a lot of reasons that people would love to go to Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Any SEC school, on and on. They are close to the talent. It is close enough for a player's family to come and watch and not have to hop on a plane. If you had 50 of the best players from Ohio vs 50 of the best players from Nebraska on a field, who would win?
I am not saying we can't draw top talent to Nebraska because we are right now and have in the past. But we always have to stay on top of recruiting every single day and be persistent in our recruiting while identifying the type of player for the system.
I think comparing Osborne's classes to current classes is comparing apples to oranges. It is easy to draw a top option QB to a school like Nebraska because at the time, there were very few teams doing what we did. Now that we seem to be running a spread, we will compete for a guy with the other 50 schools running a spread.
We have our work cut out for us but it is obvious that Bo can take a group of guys and get the very best out of them.
And yes, Scott, I'll tell Kiki hello. I saw him over Christmas
zE bOp Jan 09 09
Well, the spread offense was designed to be a great equalizer for teams that lacked in talent and toughness.
It's succeeded in that regard but hasn't proven it can take a team to a national championship.
I doubt that it will until teams running the spread can combine it with great defensive play, and a better running attack on the offensive side.
zE bOp Jan 09 09
from James Moore^^:
"...When you peer through the National Championships, Tebow, the dazzling recruiting classes, the big plays, the speed, what you are left with is the reason why Florida is the best program in America for the moment. They are the toughest, most physical, and most hard-nosed bunch in collegiate football today."
_________________________
Well, OU actually had good success rushing the ball from the 2nd qtr onward. It was their passing game that FL pretty much put the clamps on.
Tebow had some success and key plays running, but OU shut down the rest of their rushing attack.
zE bOp Jan 09 09
Oh yea, rgdg. recruiting, OU seems to get alot of great players instate.
Seems like there are alot of great players coming outta Norman, Tulsa, OK City, etc.
OU7times Jan 09 09
Thanks, Ze Bop,
Oklahoma did have their chances last night but you know, there is no stopping that team.
I thought, against Florida, that Sam Bradford was incredible. He had laser precision and frankly, the last int was more of a mid-air fumble by the receiver. What the hell was that...a double clutch of some kind??
There is so much to speed that really, a 1/2 step (or more) obviously made a huge difference.
OU was in it though until about 5 min left. We fans wanted this for Coach Stoops so much but you just have to know that the Coach has NO confidence in Jimmy Stevens (place kicker). This kid is just a horrible kicker and has missed lots of PAT's this season.
Husker Deck the old Sweede, field goals (if sucessful) were only going to be 'moral victories' against Florida, in my opinion. But I value your opinion though and who's to say?
Moral victories are a losers mentality and frankly, we are tired of losing bowl games. There are times where you just 'go for it'. Our coach is great and we love him. We will just have to sweat it out like the Husker faithful had to do with Lord Osborne.
It has to come full circle sometime.
Anyway thanks for the rooting section out there and we'll see you in the spring.
GBR!
HuskerDeck Jan 09 09
OU7times I couldn't disagree with you more on the FGs. I think in a close game like this the Gators being down and having the pressure of facing the Sooner offense in the 2nd half would have been a lot for them to overcome. I also think it would have taken some pressure off the Sooner defense. Take the points when you can the heck with moral victories those are real points and would have been big in the 4th quarter!!!!!!!
cvldfg Jan 10 09
I think OU lost that game more than UF won it!
zE bOp Jan 10 09
Yea, in a game like that you have to take whatever points you can, FGs are huge, just look @ the NE/Clemson game. I don't fault Stoops for going for it from the 1 yd line though given how well Brown ran the ball down the field. But they prolly shoulda did a play action to Gresham or something since FL just stacked the box.
Bradford's passing was great, the INTs weren't his fault, more just great DB play by FL. Didn't seem like OU's passing game ever got into a rhythm though.
The game went about as I expected with FL having a slight edge, but while watching it I really thought OU had an equal chance to win it. If they could have gotten up on them I think they would have won.
Wanted it for the Big 12, OU, and NOT FL!
Geez, if Tebow comes back next year that's all we're going to hear about...:(:(
OU7times Jan 10 09
OK,
Once again, Coach Stoops had NO confidence in his kicker. If the guy misses PAT's on a fairly regular basis he was not going to put the game in his hands. OU's offense is what got them this far into the season, not the kicking game. Florida has too many sub 4.4 forty speedsters ready to block kicks. This fact is proven by the one kick that was blocked later in he game.
Why wouldn't 'you' think that the most prolific offense ever in college football couldn't pick up 1 yard in 2 plays? I just thought that Florida was expecting a rush and we might have stood a better chance rolling out with the option to pass. The passing game was solid for OU all season long and besides, a jump ball to Gresham (6' 5")seems a lot better option than running to me.
Kicking a field goal as opposed to going for the TD is the difference of settling for MEDIOCRITY and not. That is showing the opposition that 'hey, we can't make 2 lousy yards in 2 downs against you'. So, we didn't but we did it on our terms.
OU was there to go for it. You know, going for it like going for the field goal that's 50 yards instead of throwing a 7 yard pass on fourth and 18 ala Bill Callahan against AUBURN.
Bob Stoops has several years doing his job. He is a professional at what he does. I have no years doing his job. I just bet he knows a hell of a lot more about his job than we do.
Florida has better athletes and won the game. Simple as that.
tom Jan 10 09
I can hear the headlines now: "Is Tim Tebow the Greatest College Football Player of All Time?" He'll probably win a Heisman and lose the National Championship next year (the curse continues). This game may have improved his NFL draft status, but it will be interesting to see if it hurt Bradford's. He made some mental mistakes in the game whereas Tebow only made mechanical type mistakes, like not throwing a tight spiral. Interesting game all around.
Dwayne Jan 10 09
Florida beat OU the other night because they made bigger plays when they had to. They held OU out of the endzone twice inside the five and they made a huge interception to end OU's drive in the 4th. I knew UF was going to run that play to score their last td and OU had it covered well, but like I said, UF made a bigger play by converting that for a td. They run that thing down there all the time and it's very difficult to defend. Florida also made very big third down and long conversions where OU was in position to get the ball and OU's defense couldn't get off the field. I put that OU loss on OU's offensive coordinator. I just don't think they used their TE enough. He's a big talent and presents opposing defenses mismatches. The difference between NU and the top 5 schools has always been about talent depth.
Dywane Jan 10 09
I thought OU should have kicked the FG up until I read OU7times comments. You have a kicker who is inconsistent on PAT's but you have a highly efficeint red zone offense? The decision to go for the TD seems obvious to me. An inconsistent kicker on PATS, that is a huge factor!
Is Tim Tebow the greatest college football player of all time? I think he is one of the greatest and love watching him play. I would still take Tommy Frazier over Tebow. And, I would love to have seen to Tommy Frazier run the spread, triple option offense.
I don't ever recall seeing a head coach so despondent as Stoops. His facial expressions really communicated how much he wanted this win for SoonerNation and his players. The emotion was raw and the respect I have for Stoops continues to grow.
Is kickoff for the Florida Atlantic Game here yet?
zE bOp Jan 10 09
If OU is scoring 60+ points for 5 games straight, and 58 in the other one, and 40+ in the other ones, isn't the guy kicking PATs?
zE bOp Jan 10 09
Maybe his leg was worn out from the season...:)
zE bOp Jan 10 09
Tebow has great intangibles and is a good runner and pretty good passer, but what they fail to mention is that HE IS SURROUNDED WITH THE BEST TALENT IN THE COUNTRY!
Touchdown Tommie was still better. Reggie Bush too.
Dywane Jan 10 09
Cold Hard Facts:
OU's Red Zone Conversion Rate: 95%
OU's Field Goal Percent: 72.7%
Florida Special Teams had 7 blocked kicked attempts in 2008. One against OU.
zE bOp Jan 10 09
Well, FL's defensive red zone stats just went up after that game....
Greg Morrow Jan 10 09
Tebow is the embodiment of the superiority of college football, as a spectator sport. I'm not enveloped in media, but I read the LA Times every day during the week (a fairly jaded group of scribes) and listen to the usual sports radio gibberish. As a person, Tebow's unbelievable, so he's not for everybody.
What he is, is a quarterbacking hybrid, just like his offense is a hybrid. Florida still looked like amatures running the option, but at the moment, they're at the pinnacle of what college teams want to do. Brooke Berringer, might have been similiarly successful in this style.
When Nebraska was recruiting option qbs, a big problem was the recruits knew they had no shot at the NFL, in Nebraska's system and it's pretty hard to convert to safety or receiver, as an NFL rookie. Kudos, to those who have.
Remember Solich trying to recruit Zbikowski? Nebraska also tried to recruit option qbs who wanted to be passers, like Odell James, Arnez Battle and ironically, Scott Frost. Osborne had a tough enough time getting top end athletes like that, he only got about 1, every recruiting cycle. Solich was fired because he couldn't.
I'd always fancied Nebraska as being a type of "Shaolin Temple" of football. Where football "purists" go to purify themselves- with swift blows about the head and body! And of course, to get away from distractions of Beijing and of course, Hong Kong.
Nebraska's selling point is what it's always been. Nebraska just needs to be good at what they represent- top shelf academic support and a coaching and athletic performance staff that gives a player the ability to reach their college potential. Like the Marines, Nebraska doesn't accept applications, just commitments!
As for Oklahoma, I took no pleasure in watching them lose. The game showcased and enhanced their athleticism, it didn't diminish it.
After the game, the camara panned to a dark eyed Okie girl with a tear down her sweet little cheek. That was sad. To focus on her was a little gratuitous.
I'd rather see cheerleaders cry, which is just as sad, yet hot!
Greg Morrow Jan 10 09
Though jaded, I meant to credit latimes Bill Plaschke for "getting it" regarding Tebow. http://www.latimes.com/sports/columnists/la-sp-plaschke9-2009jan09,0,2502100.column
But another guy, Jerry Crowe, asks "Why is more attention paid to who wins the Heisman Trophy than to who is the NFL's most valuable player? . . ."
A whole lotta "don't get it" with that comment!
James Moore Jan 10 09
Ze Bop,
Welcome back brother!!! You disappeared on us for a little bit. Great to hear from you again!!!
"Well, OU actually had good success rushing the ball from the 2nd qtr onward. It was their passing game that FL pretty much put the clamps on.
Tebow had some success and key plays running, but OU shut down the rest of their rushing attack."
Yes they kept it more or less in check BUT where they did lose control of the Gator ground game was in the 4th quarter. Florida managed the clock, stayed patient, and when it counted the Gator ground game was more than efficient. The Harvin counters were backbreaking. In a game where possession was huge and big plays premium, Harvin made them & Tebow kept it moving. As for Coach Stoops and Sooner fans, man his look at the end of the game was heartbreaking. He wanted this SOOOOOOOO bad for his kids. In hindsight I think that Oklahoma is riding a different kind of beast, and they kind of misused it. After all when something is new you still have to get used to working it. A little more patience with the ground game, a few more uptempo iso's were needed. It seemed to me that sometimes Oklahoma was outhinking itself. They needed to settle down, line up, and hit. At certain points, the changing of plays and tempo cost the Sooners initiative and momentum at times. Athlete for athlete, Oklahoma was more than a match for Florida. . .
Florida is special in this aspect. Start 5 wide (2 WR's, 1 WB & 1 TE) pre-snap and if there is one person in the box, then Tebow you get, and physically he is winning every matchup inside the box against collegiate LB's. If you cheat inside pre-snap, then you get a Demps, Rainey or Harvin motioned into the backfield and Tebow, triple-option, on the edge, with speed, speed, and some more speed waiting to hit the edge. The very real threat of a Tebow draw, iso, or counter buys a 1/4 second that no defense can afford to grant. One mistake, one bad angle or one slow step means big, big, big problems. Believe it, without Tebow everything changes. That's why Florida's biggest play is a Tebow PA to himself, rocker step, and ALWAYS the safety is beat with someone behind him. The LB corps of Cushing, Malaluga, Matthews is the only one that is big and fast enough to deal with him today. He's special, and his unique physical attributes create pressure points inside the box and on the edges not seen since Tommie Frazier. . .
If Tebow had Frazier's throwing mechanics he'd be the best option QB ever. Frazier and Donovan McNabb threw the prettiest balls of any mobile, option QB's in the history of college football. . .
zE bOp Jan 10 09
2 "Sri" Gr3g Morrow,
"...I'd always fancied Nebraska as being a type of "Shaolin Temple" of football....."
K, like we are supposed to 'get' what the heck that's supposed to mean?! LOL! You are perhaps the only Big Red blogger on the planet that can make references to Far Eastern esotericism and 'Da Marines' in the same post!
California dr3amin', yo! ;)
LOL, yo' killin' me, yo....R3SP3KT(fist bump {0).
Anyhoo, whaddup Mr. James Moore?!,
yea, thanks, it's good to be missed......well, let's just say I've got some stories to tell....
But I thought OU DID establish the run but just couldn't get any rhythm in their passing(did I say that already?). They pretty much had no success going vertical. I didn't check the stats, but I would think that Chris Brown had 100+ rushing yds. But Iglesias and Gresham didn't accomplish much in that game, FL's DBs and LBs were lightz out, IMO. And yes, OU couldn't get the Tebonator off the field in the 4th.
I don't think Tebow could shine Touchdown Tommie's shoes in terms of being an option QB, but he's got "IT" probably as much as anybody. He's also gotta an incredible supporting cast who have "IT" on both sides of the ball which seems to be left outta Teboid conversations alot.
WtEvr, here's the dealio: Tebow is going to sell alotta advertising for networks and sportsgear for the 'gear' industry when he becomes a pro 'athlete' in the League. And that's the main story there. Tebow gonna 'reprezent' da consumer $$$. He's the Sally Struthers of football....
_________________
And, he's not the 1st guy to go to church and do a mission to areas of the world decimated by western capitalism either; last time I checked, those BYU cats have been doing that stuff for decades.(Last paragraph not directed to Mr. James Moore specifically).
zE bOp Jan 10 09
Well, I meant he's the 'Sally Stuthers' in terms of his missionary stuff....messed up there.
Greg Morrow Jan 11 09
zE bOp onomic
The Shaolin Temple is where the Monk Masters teach their young homies Shaolin Kung Fu. Remember when David Carridine learned Kung Fu, then kicked butt with that slightly amused look on his face? http://www.shaolin.nl/
I equate Nebraska with that. Masters of Football, 'cept Pelini has that slightly crazed look on his face! And Ekeler is slightly buck wild!
zE bOp Jan 11 09
Greg M.,
yea, I got that, I was thinking more Zen BO-ddhism, but if you say kung fu, we'll go with that--'glasshoppah'!
Bill in Iowa Jan 12 09
Tebow is a much more accurate passer than I thought. And his running style is more like a full back than an option QB, but he fights for his yards and makes good decisions with the ball. You also have to like his strong motivational leadership. I get sick of hearing the press gush after him, but I have to admitt, he's a stud.
Florida outrushed Oklahoma 247 to 106 and it only goes to prove in my mind the right direction Watson wants to take the NU offense. A QB who is an accurate passer and a solid run threat. And a mutliple offense that can run power, spread option and throw the deep ball. Even a fast defense like OU can't defend all of those threats at once without some breakdowns.
It's easy to say now, but I thought OU should have got their points and kicked the 2 field goals. Championship games usually are won by the smallest of margins. And how a national championship caliber team that fields so much talent in every position on the field can't have a guy on the team that can nail a 25 yarder 99% of the time is beyond me? Nothing against Stoops, but if he didn't have confidence in his kicker this season, he should have been looking all over the OU soccer fields until they found a guy. Alex Henry this year single handedly won the CU game for us and probably Clemson as well. If you want to win the dog fights, you better have a kicker.
JoeScar Jan 12 09
As far as recruiting studs determining Nebraska's national competitiveness, I can't see ANY reason we can't do just as well as Oklahoma, one of programs that set the bar as a national power.
We're both "hick" states with no special enticements or glamor factor. Both states have a small instate population base. Both pretty dull climate/geography: no beach, mountains, etc--heck Norman even has snow and cold weather! Both have great tradition and facilities--and N in some ways better with no probation and cleaner program. Both are average quality state University's--again probably a slight edge for N for those that value getting their degree.
zE bOp Jan 12 09
OK seems to get alot of great talent frome their own state, moreso than NE. Omaha and Lincoln seem a little disappointing in that regard.