Though the Nebraska football team is coming off a disturbing 45-17 road loss Saturday to Michigan and will finish no better than 10-3 if it wins its final two games, head coach Bo Pelini somewhat disputed the possible perception that the program is stuck in neutral.
"I don't care about the perception," Pelini said. "This program's come a long way. ...I don't really care what's out there, to be honest with you. What I concern myself with is where this program was, where it is right now. I'm proud of where this program is right now."
Safety Austin Cassidy, who was in the program when Pelini arrived as head coach in December of 2007. Like Pelini, he agreed with the notion that the program has come a long way the past four years.
"I would say that culturally, it's a completely different culture," Cassidy said. "Like I said earlier, I think Coach Bo is all about winning, but more importantly helping us out and turning us into good people. And I would honestly say that he has done everything in his power to help us out. Sometimes it is tough love, sometimes he's going to get in your face and treat you like a man. And sometimes he's going to sit down with you and say, 'Hey, look man, I'm here if you need someone to talk to.' In my experiences, there's been a lot of change and it's been for the better."
Including his 2003 Alamo Bowl win as interim head coach, Pelini has led the Huskers to a 38-15 record. On the surface, that is a huge improvement over the Bill Callahan era, during which time Nebraska went 27-22 and had two bowl-less seasons from 2004-2007.
However, the notion that the program might be stuck in neutral is not entirely false. Pelini’s initial impact was great as the Huskers went from 5-7 in 2007 to 9-4 in 2008. Nebraska followed the next two seasons by going 10-4 in both 2009 and 2010. Nebraska is now 8-3 heading into Friday’s regular season finale at home against Iowa.
While wins and losses do not always tell the entire story, the disturbing trend is that the team looks so dialed in and focused one week but ordinary the next. I’m not in the “Fire Bo Pelini” or “Fire Time Beck” camp. For all of these people that want change, just realize one thing. Change only means “different” not better. Look at our last presidential election, what was the rhetoric? Change. For the record, I am a divorced registered Republican turned Conservative Independent but going from George Bush to Barack Obama has only meant that we still have the same crappy economy and unemployment rate among others.
Anyhow, enough of the political angle. OK, remember when so many Husker fans wanted Frank Solich fired? Well, you got your wish with the Callahan era. Boy, what a success that was. OK, this next one is for you Husker fans that want an “A list” coach: Remember a segment of Michigan fans wanted Lloyd Carr out because he kept losing to Ohio State? Well, guess what, they brought in a “name” coach. His name was Rich Rodriguez. Three years later, a 15-22 record with two bowl-less seasons. Even worse than the Callahan era.
That’s not to suggest that I’m 100 percent in agreement with everything Pelini has done. The program is definitely at another crossroads. True, the program is in way better shape that 2007 but at some point, it's got to move forward. We're in neutral. The opponents change, the conference changes, the players change but the results are the same. There an impressive win, followed by a crushing blowout. There's a home loss to a terrible opponent who has no business beating you. And once in awhile, you have a great win as a home underdog.
In the end, there's a 10-3 / 9-4 season, where the 9 or 10 perhaps weren't the 9 or 10 you should have won, and the 3 or 4 weren't necessarily the 3 or 4 you should have lost. One step forward, one step back, one step forward, one step back. That's what we are.
I know this has been said a million times, but everyone here really does need to chill out. This is a very young team that has less experience than a lot of the competition right now. I do believe that the Huskers have more potential than most of the competition too. Everyone knows our tackling (or love taps) are pathetic. Our receivers leave much to be desired, and Martinez is attracted to blue and yellow but these are all things that can be fixed.
I don't have a problem with a little constructive criticism, but "(player) sucks" isn't doing anything but showing everyone we have fair weather fans.
With all that said, the inconsistency is driving me insane. Young or not, beating Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State proves to me that we are an extremely talented team. I just wish the team would not be so maddeningly inconsistent.
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