So this is what the media wants us to be like.

StPaulHusker said:
NUance said:
StPaulHusker said:
Hedley Lamarr said:
What everyone here is asking for is some sort of relevance nationally. If that means winning 8 games then 12 then 9 then 7 then 14 so be it. I could give two craps about 9 wins against terrible teams
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Find me a better coach than Bo that is winning 9+ games against all good-great teams.
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I agree. But coaches like that are pretty rare. Since nearly every team schedules at least three tomato can games per year, a season with 9+ quality wins is an undefeated season. Usually not more than one or two of the 120 teams get through a season unscathed.
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Yep. You're right. Let's take a closer look at Saban. His non conference schedule this year is Virginia Tech-Close to UCLA, Colorado State-Close to Wyoming. And then he had the daunting task of going up against Georgia State and Chattanooga.

Alabama's opponents combined record so far this year is 58-65. Presuming they win against Auburn, that will go to 68-67. They will have beaten 6 teams with an above 500 record. One of those teams is in FCS. Other than Auburn, no record will be better than 8-3.

Nebraska's opponents combined record so far is 61-61. Presuming they beat Iowa, that will go to 67-66. They will have beaten 7 teams with an above 500 record. One of those teams in the FCS. Other than Michigan State, no other team has a record higher than 8-3.

2 outstanding differences- Bama has beaten 2 top 25 teams in the current standings. Nebraska-0.

Bama has won all of their games. Nebraska has not.

So my point is that Bo isn't playing inferior competition to pad his record. He just hasn't gotten over the hump yet.
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I think this is a great statement. Everyone wants to say NU's schedule sucks and we play no one, but when you look at mighty Alabama's schedule it is very similar. In fact if you look at most good teams their opponents have similar records. It is the way football is run.

Similar topic, everyone keeps pointing out that Iowa's losses are to teams with a combined 4 loses. Well NU's losses are to teams with a combined 7 losses. Not a whole lot of difference IMO. Just saying.

 
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Mavric said:
kchusker_chris said:
Yes, didn't mean to imply 11, 12, 13 was my standard. My point was, that we will never have to beat 9 good-great teams. We'll only play 4-6 a season, and I'd say 6 would have to be a pretty great year for the B1G. So more than likely each year we'll be favored to win all but 1 or 2 games, and go up against 4 good-great teams total. The other 8-9 "should" be very winnable games, which means all Bo has to do to get over the hump is step up in those 4 games. And it's been a long, long time since he's stepped up in one of those. Maybe once in the last 3 years? Bat .500, and don't lose to one of the 8-9. If we were following that script right now, he'd be 10-1. We still might not be making the championship game, but no one would be too upset with 10-1. And it doesn't seem so far out of reach. Split UCLA/MSU, don't lose to Minny. Does that seem so far off after what we've seen this season? UCLA, up by a wide margin, dominating the game. MSU, 5 turnovers and still within a score in the 4th. Not a stretch, and it wouldn't be such an issue if we didn't do the same thing year in and year out.
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Yeah, like two weeks even.
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The loss against MSU is stepping up?
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kchusker_chris said:
Mavric said:
kchusker_chris said:
Yes, didn't mean to imply 11, 12, 13 was my standard. My point was, that we will never have to beat 9 good-great teams. We'll only play 4-6 a season, and I'd say 6 would have to be a pretty great year for the B1G. So more than likely each year we'll be favored to win all but 1 or 2 games, and go up against 4 good-great teams total. The other 8-9 "should" be very winnable games, which means all Bo has to do to get over the hump is step up in those 4 games. And it's been a long, long time since he's stepped up in one of those. Maybe once in the last 3 years? Bat .500, and don't lose to one of the 8-9. If we were following that script right now, he'd be 10-1. We still might not be making the championship game, but no one would be too upset with 10-1. And it doesn't seem so far out of reach. Split UCLA/MSU, don't lose to Minny. Does that seem so far off after what we've seen this season? UCLA, up by a wide margin, dominating the game. MSU, 5 turnovers and still within a score in the 4th. Not a stretch, and it wouldn't be such an issue if we didn't do the same thing year in and year out.
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Yeah, like two weeks even.
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The loss against MSU is stepping up?
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We were underdogs at Michigan, were we not?

 
1995 Redux said:
Hunter94 said:
i am just glad we are still not in the Big 12.....we would have more losses......
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I dont know, Big 12 iz a strange league. Wed stillfair roughly the same. Bo knows hiw to defend against those teams even though hes a Big Ten alum, figures.
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I don't watch big 12 games with a lot of fear in my heart. They have some good team, I don't see anything elite. OU, Texas, are nothing special, Baylor showed that their offense can be shut down and Okie St. is probably the best overall and they lost to WVa.

I would think NU would be right in the mix with them.

 
All I wanted to add was - I hope there are coaching changes at the end of this season, no matter what.

Not necessarily at HC, but I think some of the other coaches are holding us back as well...

 
I think if you keep Bo, you let him make all the staff decisions. There's maybe a (non coordinator) assistant or two I'd like to see change, but other than that....keeping Bo means keeping the team he works best with. I think large staff changes are unlikely. And for all you Beck haters, he's one of the best things we have going for us
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Paps would be more under fire if we haven't been turning this D around lately. So I think if we give Bo another year, it's fair to not really demand a staff change while doing it.

 
zoogies said:
I think if you keep Bo, you let him make all the staff decisions. There's maybe a (non coordinator) assistant or two I'd like to see change, but other than that....keeping Bo means keeping the team he works best with. I think large staff changes are unlikely. And for all you Beck haters, he's one of the best things we have going for us
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Paps would be more under fire if we haven't been turning this D around lately. So I think if we give Bo another year, it's fair to not really demand a staff change while doing it.
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D has been turning around a lot lately. However, have we been really turning the D around? Or are we just not playing teams with similar speed of UCLA, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Georgia?
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Makes me wonder. Preparing and game planning a defense against the offenses of NW, Michigan, Michigan State, PSU and Iowa doesn't really change perspective. But I do like the effort and seeing the young guys gain the experience.

 
Addison Mode said:
zoogies said:
I think if you keep Bo, you let him make all the staff decisions. There's maybe a (non coordinator) assistant or two I'd like to see change, but other than that....keeping Bo means keeping the team he works best with. I think large staff changes are unlikely. And for all you Beck haters, he's one of the best things we have going for us
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Paps would be more under fire if we haven't been turning this D around lately. So I think if we give Bo another year, it's fair to not really demand a staff change while doing it.
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D has been turning around a lot lately. However, have we been really turning the D around? Or are we just not playing teams with similar speed of UCLA, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Georgia?
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It's probably a combination. But no other team with a good defense is doing that week in and week out either.

 
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