The Dude
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Wistrom says selfishness of players "makes me sick"
- Thread starter True2tRA
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Count 'Bility
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This is kinda what I'm thinking. As much as I respect the opinions of the greats like Wistrom and Peter and so on, they really need to understand the circumstances of the dominance that they participated in. They were part of a perfect storm of mentality, physicality, and continuity that had been building for 20 years. They need to understand that the dynasty they played in was of the dominance that was never matched before, hasnt been since, and probably never will be. Hence, to be critical of today's teams nearly two decades later by comparing them to something that will never be matched, to me is not right. Now, it's fine to be critical and point to this and that. But dont compare to those great teams when doing so. Cuz those are literally insatiable expectations.
Yes, there still are problems with this team and program that need tweeked and fixed. But everytime one of these guys who played in the most dominant 5-year run in the history of the game comes out with their "back in my day we did this" commentary, it really doesnt do any good. It's not in any way constructive.
teachercd
Active member
teachercd
Active member
That is kind of my point. I mean...these guys had a great run but lets face it...anyone at NU at the time will tell you that these guys were out at the bars getting smashed up all the time...they were at house parties and hosting parties all the time and getting lit up. They were just sooooo freaking good at football that it did not matter. But, that is "selfish" in its own right, I guess, partying like that all the time.
I know that the article is not about that specific point but its just that these stories get a bit old...
True2tRA
Banned
Once again, the truth is always somewhere in the middle, people. Not quite sure why society today feels everything has to be extreme one or extreme the other. The fact is, reality is usually in the gray.
If anybody realistically expects Nebraska to return to the dominance of the "glory days" then they are kidding themselves. If any of you here feel like that's the message being conveyed by realistic people on this site, then I think you are wrong. I can only speak for myself for certain, but I feel like there's plenty of other people on this site who expect something in between what we are seeing now, and what we once were. I also don't feel like that's asking too much. Stop underselling this program. We have every resource necessary to be a top ten or top five program in the country at least once in awhile. It's been fifteen years since we've won our conference.
Blowout losses, 3-5 turnovers a game, tantrums by coaches, players giving up, and questionable decisions and play calling are things that happen every where. ONCE IN A WHILE. So far these things have happened consistenty every year for the past six years under Bo Pelini, and even before that with the guy 'whose name shall not be spoken' running the show.
How about we just get to the point where we are somewhere in the gray, and see what happens from there. More importantly, let's stop being our own worst enemy. Right now, from the coaches down to the pkayers, the football program creates their own problems.
If anybody realistically expects Nebraska to return to the dominance of the "glory days" then they are kidding themselves. If any of you here feel like that's the message being conveyed by realistic people on this site, then I think you are wrong. I can only speak for myself for certain, but I feel like there's plenty of other people on this site who expect something in between what we are seeing now, and what we once were. I also don't feel like that's asking too much. Stop underselling this program. We have every resource necessary to be a top ten or top five program in the country at least once in awhile. It's been fifteen years since we've won our conference.
Blowout losses, 3-5 turnovers a game, tantrums by coaches, players giving up, and questionable decisions and play calling are things that happen every where. ONCE IN A WHILE. So far these things have happened consistenty every year for the past six years under Bo Pelini, and even before that with the guy 'whose name shall not be spoken' running the show.
How about we just get to the point where we are somewhere in the gray, and see what happens from there. More importantly, let's stop being our own worst enemy. Right now, from the coaches down to the pkayers, the football program creates their own problems.
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QMany
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True2tRA
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Enhance
Administrator
I skimmed through most of this thread and read some good points.
Personally, I think there are a lot of things at play here. First, unless you find lightning in a bottle, these are the types of growing pains you can expect with a young head coach. It's been six years, and many of the seasons have featured a similar song and dance - turnovers, blowout losses and just overall not getting where we want to be. Every coach is not going to have all cylinders firing within a few years, and I bet there are many coaches out there that were fired a few years removed from having a really good product. It's possible Pelini is one of those coaches that needs more time than others. I don't want to get into how much time he needs or doesn't need. Just pointing this out.
Second, it's no secret that recruiting around here really wasn't that good for several years. Callahan, for all his faults, brought in some damn good players. Some of the players brought in after that point, not so much. It appears that Pelini is really amping up this part of the game, and it's important.
Lastly, as far as the culture, accountability and leadership aspects are concerned, I think this goes back to point number one. This can take time in some cases, perhaps more time than we would like. It's all about getting the right players in here with the right mindset, talent level and willingness to learn. I don't think there's a single player on this team that doesn't care, that likes to get blown out at home or lose on national TV.
At the end of the day, I really think it falls back on the coaches and the way they try to implement a winning culture in all aspects. Sometimes they succeed and sometimes they fail.
Personally, I think there are a lot of things at play here. First, unless you find lightning in a bottle, these are the types of growing pains you can expect with a young head coach. It's been six years, and many of the seasons have featured a similar song and dance - turnovers, blowout losses and just overall not getting where we want to be. Every coach is not going to have all cylinders firing within a few years, and I bet there are many coaches out there that were fired a few years removed from having a really good product. It's possible Pelini is one of those coaches that needs more time than others. I don't want to get into how much time he needs or doesn't need. Just pointing this out.
Second, it's no secret that recruiting around here really wasn't that good for several years. Callahan, for all his faults, brought in some damn good players. Some of the players brought in after that point, not so much. It appears that Pelini is really amping up this part of the game, and it's important.
Lastly, as far as the culture, accountability and leadership aspects are concerned, I think this goes back to point number one. This can take time in some cases, perhaps more time than we would like. It's all about getting the right players in here with the right mindset, talent level and willingness to learn. I don't think there's a single player on this team that doesn't care, that likes to get blown out at home or lose on national TV.
At the end of the day, I really think it falls back on the coaches and the way they try to implement a winning culture in all aspects. Sometimes they succeed and sometimes they fail.
The Dude
New member
Certainly getting full effort from eleven guys at a time has occurred outside of that specific run from that specific team?
Wistrom's expectations are far more realistic than you're giving him credit for.
Whether it's a realistic expectation under the current coaching staff is another matter, I suppose.
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Count 'Bility
Banned
This is what I'm getting at. I'm not attacking your opinion or the posting of this in anyway.
I just feel that sometimes these guys need to have the perspective of what they were actually a part of. And not be naive enough to think it should always be that way.
Count 'Bility
Banned
I think you guys really need to step back and listen to what you are saying. When Bo walked in the door, Nebraska was back in most peoples minds. That he knew Nebraska and would get us back to winning, back to a stellar defense. He came from the SEC so would do a great job on the recruiting side.
He did get us back for awhile, but using the other coaches kids. He dropped the ball on recruiting is the word. But now by some instant change we will be back in the hunt. Reason being, we have one class that is top ten currently. It does not work like that. It takes years of great recruiting to get back.
Some have a timetable that is totally unrealistic, and have had since day one.
We need to see improvement, wins would be great, so would CC. But to think because we may have a top ten class turns the switch to instant success is drinking the koolaid from a tanker truck. We have more talent no question, but there are maybe three kids that would start at any of the other top programs is my guess. And some teams the might be as far down as third string. Still a long ways to go. I want to see this year end with a top 5-10 class. If it does, we have a toe hold and being nationally relevant. If not, more of the same will continue
He did get us back for awhile, but using the other coaches kids. He dropped the ball on recruiting is the word. But now by some instant change we will be back in the hunt. Reason being, we have one class that is top ten currently. It does not work like that. It takes years of great recruiting to get back.
Some have a timetable that is totally unrealistic, and have had since day one.
We need to see improvement, wins would be great, so would CC. But to think because we may have a top ten class turns the switch to instant success is drinking the koolaid from a tanker truck. We have more talent no question, but there are maybe three kids that would start at any of the other top programs is my guess. And some teams the might be as far down as third string. Still a long ways to go. I want to see this year end with a top 5-10 class. If it does, we have a toe hold and being nationally relevant. If not, more of the same will continue
Count 'Bility
Banned
I hate to bust your bubble now on this but it probably wont. This class will be relatively small. I think Sean Callahan has said 17-18 is about where we're gonna stand. With that said, we're already a little over half dun. Now that's great. But unless we nab the rest as very high profile guys, this class's ranking will begin to fade some as the season begins and as we get into the thick of the recruiting slate in December and january as other programs' numbers start to increase. it will be similar to the 2012, of which was only about that many, but had it been consistently talented throughout 23-25 committs, woulda been top 10 as well. And to me, that's the bs about recruiting rankings. Too much weight on number of signees that promotes a false sense of how talented or not talented a class actually is.
