Eichorst statement on Bo

[kchusker_chris]

It goes back to it seeming like the scale is just ready to tip over to 5 losses. We were so close last year, so many times. The comebacks the prior year - same way. It just seems like it's just a matter of time before we lose 5 or 6. I say that with a lot more certainty than I can say "it's just a matter of time before we only lose 2 or 3". That wasn't the case in 10', or 11', or going in to 12'. I felt like we were close.

I respect that opinion, I just happen to think the opposite. I believe it is more likely that we only lose 2-3 than dipping to 5-6 losses. It is OK to disagree.

I just don't like how some people on this site (not necessarily you) are so quick to jump all over any person who is somewhat positive/optimistic regarding the program/Bo. Isn't that part of the fun about being a fan? Instead, they are called "Sunshine Pumpers" or "Bo-lievers." It just gets old. I'm sure some optimistic fans are quick to jump on pessimistic fans, too. I just feel like supporting a team involves being supportive, and many fans on this site aren't supportive.

It could be 2-3, but if so I'm leaning towards it being more because of the schedule than an improved team. Although a shift back to a defensive dominated team and every game is within reach. So I certainly like where things are going. Just hate the fact that we can't pull all 3 phases together at the same time. Maybe this offense will surprise me. Certainly have some weapons.

 

[papersun87]

It goes back to it seeming like the scale is just ready to tip over to 5 losses. We were so close last year, so many times. The comebacks the prior year - same way. It just seems like it's just a matter of time before we lose 5 or 6. I say that with a lot more certainty than I can say "it's just a matter of time before we only lose 2 or 3". That wasn't the case in 10', or 11', or going in to 12'. I felt like we were close.

If the close wins of the last two years feel like the scale is ready to tip over to 5 losses, then I think it would be fair to say that the close losses should equally feel like the scale is ready to tip the other direction, no?

The recency effect might have a lot of bias in our brains but doesn't actually have a whole lot of impact on a team.

It might feel more like that if we HAD close losses. 41-21, 34-23, 41-28 (and let's be realistic, it was 41-21 with about :12 left), and 38-17 don't feel like they're on the verge of greatness. You could make that argument about the losses in 2009 (16-15, 9-7, 12-10) or 2010 (20-13, 9-6, 23-20).

While 2011 and 2012's losses were way uglier than 2013's, I still don't get what people see when they say the team is trending up. The losses are still bad and a lot of the wins are still ugly.

 

[Landlord]

While 2011 and 2012's losses were way uglier than 2013's, I still don't get what people see when they say the team is trending up. The losses are still bad and a lot of the wins are still ugly.

Depends on how zoomed in you are.

From August to January last season, there is an upward trend. There's not really any way to say otherwise.

 

[Count 'Bility]

But then when you look at 2013's issues in regards to youth and injuries...............

 

[Ulty]

Depends on how zoomed in you are.

From August to January last season, there is an upward trend. There's not really any way to say otherwise.

And if we start this season equally as ugly as we did the 2013 season, but improve later in the season, we'll be able to cite another upward trend, yet we'll still be in the same place. Prior to the '13 season, there was a lot of hype and expectation about somehow finally getting over the 10-4 hump. But then things started off very flat and disappointing. If we do it again, yet manage to get better at the end and still end up with 9 wins, are we going to be having these exact same discussions next year? 'Cuz we were having a lot of these discussions last year too.

But then when you look at 2013's issues in regards to youth and injuries...............

...and then will we have more of these excuses, or will there be new ones? The excuses are the only things that have changed from year to year.

There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic and supportive, but there is a difference between hope and expectation. We can all hope as much as we want, but right now, I don't think it's safe to put the expectations too high.

 

[sd'sker]

i guess you can say we saw an upward trend in 2013, even though losses became more frequent.

 

[papersun87]

But then when you look at 2013's issues in regards to youth and injuries...............

See, I get this, but it's hardly unique. Next season (2015) we lose Kenny Bell, Jamal Turner, Ameer Abdullah, Randy Gregory, Corey Cooper, Jake Cotton, etc and it'll be youth all over again. At some point a good team just has to overcome, and if they couldn't do it in 2013 with as easy as our schedule was last year, then when?

 

[NUinID]

All of those teams hired their way into championships eventually. Every example of success you gave got there by avoiding the status quo. None of them sat on a coach for 10 years to finally win. Bo Pelini is one of the longest tenured coaches in the Power 5. You'll have an almost impossible time finding a coach in a similar position. The only one I can think of is Richt at Georgia. And I'd say he's working on borrowed time as well. Spurrier maybe, but USC is winning 11.

exactly. that poster kept mentioning 20 years, well we are 15 years without a championship.

people act like patience will fix all. that just by the nature of waiting we will return to prominence. why? and how long should we be patient? what more do we need to see? and kchusker makes great analogies. how many here have scuffed at richt as being overrated and have no respect for georgia?

Those teams did hire themselves into championship coaches the difference between Nebraska and all of those schools is that they all had teams that really underperformed before they got their dream coach.

I looked it up and did a quick count so it may be off a little, but Alabama since Bryant retired in 1981 had 6 coaches before hiring Sabin they had 8 years of losing record 5 years of 7-5 records and 1 6-6 record with 2 separate instances of probation where wins were vacated.

In 6 years BP has won at least 9 games and not been on probation. No he hasn't won a championship yet, but neither has he reached the depths bad teams that other schools have had. His teams have been good so far, they just haven't been as great as everyone wants.

To me it is apples to oranges in comparison.

 

[Saunders]

If we had close losses, most certainly. UCLA got of hand in a matter of minutes. Michigan St. was not close. We were never going to allow ourselves to get into that game. Iowa ran away with it. Never felt like we had a chance. None of those 3 was ever within reach for this team. And Minnesota was a fairly solid beat down from the get go. 2 score win.

Literally every one of those games (besides UCLA) was a 1 score game halfway through the 4th quarter...

 

[kchusker_chris]

To me it is apples to oranges in comparison.

Then why are you trying to compare them?

 

[kchusker_chris]

If we had close losses, most certainly. UCLA got of hand in a matter of minutes. Michigan St. was not close. We were never going to allow ourselves to get into that game. Iowa ran away with it. Never felt like we had a chance. None of those 3 was ever within reach for this team. And Minnesota was a fairly solid beat down from the get go. 2 score win.

Literally every one of those games (besides UCLA) was a 1 score game halfway through the 4th quarter...

If only we'd had an improving defense to keep it within reach....oh wait.

The Minnesota, Michigan State, and Iowa losses were never really in doubt. Those games just had that feeling - where you know we weren't going to win. We got out played in all 3...by large margins.

 

[Saunders]

If we had close losses, most certainly. UCLA got of hand in a matter of minutes. Michigan St. was not close. We were never going to allow ourselves to get into that game. Iowa ran away with it. Never felt like we had a chance. None of those 3 was ever within reach for this team. And Minnesota was a fairly solid beat down from the get go. 2 score win.

Literally every one of those games (besides UCLA) was a 1 score game halfway through the 4th quarter...

If only we'd had an improving defense to keep it within reach....oh wait.

Uh, it did improve?

 

[Count 'Bility]

Depends on how zoomed in you are.

From August to January last season, there is an upward trend. There's not really any way to say otherwise.

And if we start this season equally as ugly as we did the 2013 season, but improve later in the season, we'll be able to cite another upward trend, yet we'll still be in the same place. Prior to the '13 season, there was a lot of hype and expectation about somehow finally getting over the 10-4 hump. But then things started off very flat and disappointing. If we do it again, yet manage to get better at the end and still end up with 9 wins, are we going to be having these exact same discussions next year? 'Cuz we were having a lot of these discussions last year too.

But then when you look at 2013's issues in regards to youth and injuries...............

...and then will we have more of these excuses, or will there be new ones? The excuses are the only things that have changed from year to year.

There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic and supportive, but there is a difference between hope and expectation. We can all hope as much as we want, but right now, I don't think it's safe to put the expectations too high.

Theyre not excuses. Theyre legit reasons. We had a defense full of redshirt freshman and 1st year starters. We lost our 4th year, returning conference player of the year QB for the season early. We lost our All-American Olineman midway through. But yeah, theyre excuses. Ok.

As far as putting the expectations too high. When Auburn can go from 3-9 to a minute away from a National Title, it's not out of realm to think such a jump can be made. And we werent 3-9 last year.

 

[Abdullah the Butcher]

Auburn hired an offensive guru who made SEC defenses look silly with his schemes. As far as I know we haven't changed our philosophies.

 

[NUinID]

To me it is apples to oranges in comparison.

Then why are you trying to compare them?

I am not to me they are completely different situations. You are saying that we should get rid of the coach that has won 9 or 10 games every season he has been at Nebraska because other schools fired their way into good coaches. I said they fired them because their football teams were losing.

In my mind the situations are different.