Year in and year out, what exactly are your expectations for Husker football? What would make you content every year?
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Honestly, what are your hopes for Husker football every year?
Ok I'll contribute. My expectations are that we are pre-ranked in the top 7 every year without question. I expect us to be among the dominating forces in college football every year - bc if Alabama, Oregon, LSU, OU, Florida, and even UT can all play (do that), why shouldn't we? I expect us to be favored to win almost every game even if it's close - and then win. I expect us to have a QB that is a baller. I expect our defense to be the badass Blackshirts that makes the opponents nervous. I expect us to protect our house! We don't lose at home - ever. I expect us to be tough enough that we always find ways to win on the road no matter who we play and the other teams think they "almost had us beat". I expect us to win.
When we lose my expectations drop based on how we lose. Sometimes the better team loses in the end. Occasionally we get outplayed and the other team deserved to win.
Losing a game by 10+ points is to ask me to lower my expectations. Winning 8-9 games a year does the same. Since we have a 12 game schedule every year plus a bowl game (13 math majors) I expect us to win 11 every year. Which means there are 2 games that we could possibly lose. Which takes weeks to get over the fact.
I have not been content in years. I have just been someone who has played all the major sports and excelled and had high expectations from myself and held my teammates accountable and together we have always / mostly won. So in other words, when I see what we see on the widescreen - I just cannot believe how stiff and unsure these guys play (except a handful who make us all proud). And I see the players take on the persona of their sourpuss angry coach that bitches at the refs when the chips are falling. They don't do that when we play Arkansas State. Leaders lead, adjust, stay focused and determined - and bring out the best in their teammates and/or players. So that's what I expect.
Now as far as the product we have each week, each year? I just bite my lip and keep my mouth shut. I'd like to just brush off all probables and try to enjoy a game as it unwinds. I have taught myself and learned to tolerate it to some degree because you have to become numb in order to deal with any outcome or else you will just go crazy.
Those are my expectations.
With all things considered, going 8-4 has been the staff and team's MO for the past several years which makes me think that things will be more the same. Not solely because of the record, but because of what happens on the field. So I just expect them to do that and I roll with it. Content or not.