One Key to Success: Relish the @ Sign
7 comments so far
October 6, 2009 by
At start of the season, football fans and pundits alike knew that success for Nebraska required playing well on the road. Many of the biggest NU games are preceded by an @ sign, meaning: @ Virginia Tech, @ Missouri, @ Kansas. Nebraska showed guts on the road in Blacksburg a few weeks ago, falling just short. Now, it appears that experience is helping prepare them for what is sure to be a hostile environment in Columbia, Missouri in a few days. There has also been a not-so-subtle shift in the way the Huskers think of road games. It is no longer a matter of treating each game the same, but rather they are espousing a road warrior's mentality, and it might mean all the difference.
Coaches will claim that all games are created equal. Yes, they all count the same, but they are not equal. I'm not talking about playing ranked or unranked opponents. (we've seen how little that matters this year). I'm talking about how road games are not equal to home games.
The visitor must bring a smaller roster. They must travel and be out of their environment and habits. They must endure crowd noise. It all makes a difference in the game. You know it, I know it, and Vegas knows it. If you treat it like a home game, that's naive and it will eat you up. The key to victory is embracing it.
I used to love to hear former Husker Ed Stewart talk about how much he loved road games. He loved going in to another teams building and taking their heart out. That is the road-warrior mentality. And, I can see it starting to take shape again for NU, because it is Bo Pelini's mentality.
Learning From Experience, Embracing the Role
Many interesting things were said in yesterday's press conference. But the Husker players' comments about playing on the road jumped out at me most. You can hear them express their experience and their new way to approach games on the road.
Here is part of what Jacob Hickman had to say on the topic:
I just have to make sure the guys who haven’t been there know it’s going to be a hostile atmosphere, very hostile. I think a lot of guys played in the Virginia Tech game, it’s going to be loud, it’s going to be the same kind of thing, so we have some guys getting acclimated from that so that will be a good thing we can take with us.
This tells me the Husker players are experienced with hostile environments, both from Virginia Tech and dating back a few years to other games. There are enough players on the squad who have "been there before" to know how to handle it, and share that knowledge or experience with others.
Now, here's what Ndamukong Suh had to say:
It’s just like going to Virginia Tech. It was a hostile crowd and it was fun to go out there and be on the road. I personally like being on the road. It’ll be fun for me, but I don’t know if it is going to be anything different from being a Big 12 game and a non-conference game.
Key difference in Suh's comment? He LIKES going on the road. This is the first time in quite a while we've heard a player say it is something they enjoy. I think that says a lot.
Finally, here is what Roy Helu had to say about playing on the road in front of some not-so-hospitable crowds:
I never really bought into that ‘road mentality’ stuff until we went to Virginia Tech. The best football experience of my life. The environment. They were loud, they were jingling their keys. We were loving it on offense. The louder they got, the more focused we got.
Helu also said that he wouldn't mind all 12 NU games be road contests (with proper apologies to loyal Husker backers). His point? Going on the road is a special experience, and the crowd is something to feed off of. It's one more reason to *heart* Roy Helu, folks. This kid is the heart and soul of the NU football team, and he "gets it" when it comes to going on the road.
From Good to Great
Many people will debate at length what separates respectable or good football teams from the truly great or intimidating ones. One major difference is the ability to go on the road and bludgeon a good opponent. Think back over great teams in your mind, all of them did well on the road in tough spots. They relished the @ sign.
Based on what players are saying, maybe NU is starting to embrace that again, and it might be a big difference maker on Thursday night.
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WyHuskerFan Oct 06 09
Back in the day the Huskers and their faithful sea of red came into your town, took all your hotel rooms, ate all your food, drank all your beer and wooed all your women. To add insult to injury they humiliated you in front of the few hometown faithful who endured to the end of the game. Behind all the false bravado and pep talks, opponents didn't relish the opportunity to play the Huskers, they feared and envied them at the same time. It was those Husker teams other programs modeled themselves after. It was those Huskers that made the conference what it is today. It's time to be the same kind of Husker team again when @ Nebraska made opponents sweat, vs caused mysterious illnesses before gameday, fans penciled in a loss before the season ever began, and bloggers fondly reminisce about beating us once when their fathers were small boys. Road warriors who for 60 minutes are a methodical, merciless machine that physically dominates every facet of the game.
It's time to embrace your lineage and become the team you are meant to be.
GO BIG RED!
darren Oct 06 09
One other quote from Hickman, which I cribbed from today's OWH artilcle...
“It's the kind of place you want to play,” Hickman said. “If you can shut up that kind of crowd, it's definitely a fun thing to do.”
Interestingly, Hickman had beer poured on him at MU in 2007. All class, Tiger fans. All class.
WyHuskerFan Oct 06 09
The other quote I heard was the older players telling the youngsters to keep their helmets on even on the sidelines. About as classless as an OU basketball team at a volleyball match.
Bill in Iowa Oct 06 09
I was at the famous Husker-Tiger game where Matt Davison went into Husker history. A few little known facts about that game... Mizzou had a "sprinkler malfunction" the night before the game. The field was wet and muddy and helped even the playing field, literally, slowing down a speedy Husker team. Also, at half time the NU coaches in the press box happened to find themselves locked in. It took ten minutes before someone came up with a key to let them out. Obviously, making it difficult to make half time adjustments. Ever since that game I have absolutely hated Mizzou.
Dwayne Oct 07 09
Bill,
...the locked press box sounds like a life safety issue. Too bad the only thing that died that evening was Tiger hope. Mizzou had a sprinkler malfunction at the end of the game as well.
caveman99 Oct 07 09
Well I think the stadium there now has field turf like NU does so we should be "Safe" from a sprinkler mishap. I think liking playing on the road is a great sign and it takes a confident team to do that. I think a baseball analogy is appropriate here since playoffs begin today. Derek Jeter always says he LOVES playing on the road, the Boos are better than cheers for him. Nothing rattles him and that is why he is Captain Clutch. This NU team seems to be getting a similar mentality and I think a solid win at MU would put this team in another stratosphere confidence-wise.
Ty Hughes Oct 07 09
They may have another sprinkler malfunction on Thursday night when they see how fierce our defense is. They'll begin peeing down their legs when they see the Blackshirts are back!