BoNeyard
New member
I've felt burned when an outsider Callahan came in and changed the entire culture and identity of Nebraska football.
I felt relieved and excited to hear the news of Bo Pelini coming back to Nebraska, as to me it was someone who understood Nebraska football and was going to get us back to our winning ways. Looking back, the height of Pelini's career at Nebraska was after destroying Arizona in the Holiday bowl and he gave the speech that Nebraska was back and were here to stay. In the end, Pelini couldn't get the job done and although he managed 10-4 or 9-4 seasons during his time at Nebraska, they were maybe the most meaningless 9 and 10 win type seasons as we never beat better teams, beat the bad teams, and it was 50/50 on if we'd beat mediocre teams. The team and program had no identity.
I felt hopeless in hearing the news Nebraska hired an aging Mike Riley. Figured what a pointless hire given he was old already and nearing retirement, that even if he did turn things around, he'd be gone in a short time anyways for retirement. I held on to the hope that "He did a great job at Oregon State with nothing, imagine what he could do at Nebraska with all the resources Nebraska had." Also at this time I was hoping they'd invest in a young Scott Frost and give him a head coaching job.
When Nebraska hired Scott Frost I was overjoyed. A shock of 90's nostalgia was shot in my Husker fandom and obviously his success at UCF made me think he'd be able to turn things around at Nebraska just as fast. The reality is that has not happened, but doesn't mean it can't happen. Have we had rough seasons, absolutely, these have been some bad times. But the bottom line is, Scott Frost is a Cornhusker. When we lose and we go through these hard times, which we are currently experiencing, and although I get annoyed with the podium talk after each game that it seems we are being sold that things will turn around the following week, at least I know Frost is emotionally attached and is speaking truth in his mind and heart. He isn't just giving coach speak and collecting a check like any of the above mentioned coaches and just like any other coach that would replace Frost, that wasn't a Cornhusker themselves.
So that is why I'm willing and will continue to support Frost and give him as much time as he wants to try and turn this thing around. Because what else is out there? Folks, it's time to take the red colored lenses off, something we as a fanbase should have done in 2003. Reality is, we are Nebraska and this isn't the 80's or 90's anymore. The rest of the college football world caught up to Nebraska and the sport has become so huge and so popular that we've been left at just that, Nebraska. We are in the middle of the country and don't offer much of anything other than a die hard fan base, which can actually be a negative when you're in a losing slump, and amazing facilities (Which just about every one else has now).
I love Nebraska, I love Nebraska football, whatever becomes my final resting place I will request the Nebraska N be engraved on it. But the reality is, unless you have that connection to the state or the program, it offers nothing compared to other programs in the country and even Big Ten. It's hard for us to see since we are Nebraska fans and we have that connection, but top athletes across the country? There just isn't anything really here. No other coach is going to come in here and suddenly have the magic formula to turning us back into the dominant powerhouse we were 20 years ago. I still feel Frost is that guy and coach that can make this place special again.
I felt relieved and excited to hear the news of Bo Pelini coming back to Nebraska, as to me it was someone who understood Nebraska football and was going to get us back to our winning ways. Looking back, the height of Pelini's career at Nebraska was after destroying Arizona in the Holiday bowl and he gave the speech that Nebraska was back and were here to stay. In the end, Pelini couldn't get the job done and although he managed 10-4 or 9-4 seasons during his time at Nebraska, they were maybe the most meaningless 9 and 10 win type seasons as we never beat better teams, beat the bad teams, and it was 50/50 on if we'd beat mediocre teams. The team and program had no identity.
I felt hopeless in hearing the news Nebraska hired an aging Mike Riley. Figured what a pointless hire given he was old already and nearing retirement, that even if he did turn things around, he'd be gone in a short time anyways for retirement. I held on to the hope that "He did a great job at Oregon State with nothing, imagine what he could do at Nebraska with all the resources Nebraska had." Also at this time I was hoping they'd invest in a young Scott Frost and give him a head coaching job.
When Nebraska hired Scott Frost I was overjoyed. A shock of 90's nostalgia was shot in my Husker fandom and obviously his success at UCF made me think he'd be able to turn things around at Nebraska just as fast. The reality is that has not happened, but doesn't mean it can't happen. Have we had rough seasons, absolutely, these have been some bad times. But the bottom line is, Scott Frost is a Cornhusker. When we lose and we go through these hard times, which we are currently experiencing, and although I get annoyed with the podium talk after each game that it seems we are being sold that things will turn around the following week, at least I know Frost is emotionally attached and is speaking truth in his mind and heart. He isn't just giving coach speak and collecting a check like any of the above mentioned coaches and just like any other coach that would replace Frost, that wasn't a Cornhusker themselves.
So that is why I'm willing and will continue to support Frost and give him as much time as he wants to try and turn this thing around. Because what else is out there? Folks, it's time to take the red colored lenses off, something we as a fanbase should have done in 2003. Reality is, we are Nebraska and this isn't the 80's or 90's anymore. The rest of the college football world caught up to Nebraska and the sport has become so huge and so popular that we've been left at just that, Nebraska. We are in the middle of the country and don't offer much of anything other than a die hard fan base, which can actually be a negative when you're in a losing slump, and amazing facilities (Which just about every one else has now).
I love Nebraska, I love Nebraska football, whatever becomes my final resting place I will request the Nebraska N be engraved on it. But the reality is, unless you have that connection to the state or the program, it offers nothing compared to other programs in the country and even Big Ten. It's hard for us to see since we are Nebraska fans and we have that connection, but top athletes across the country? There just isn't anything really here. No other coach is going to come in here and suddenly have the magic formula to turning us back into the dominant powerhouse we were 20 years ago. I still feel Frost is that guy and coach that can make this place special again.