[Husker] Finally, it's over.

[Mike Jaixen]

A few thoughts from the nosebleed seats after the end
of the most painful season in the modern Nebraska era.
 Today's game reminded me a lot of the Kansas State
game, in that Huskers, as a group, just didn't seem to
want today's game that much.  Not that there weren't
exceptions (read: Barrett Ruud), but collectively,
this is probably one group of Huskers that is tired of
football.  Chad Sievers in his post-game comments
acknowledged that many players did not buy into the
game plans this year this season, and I think that
played as big of a factor as anything in the final
results.

Athletic director Steve Pederson made his first public
remarks today in Memorial Stadium, and he was loudly
booed twice during the Bob Brown number retirement
ceremony at halftime.  I think the boos could have
been even louder if some fans hadn't held their tongue
out of respect for Brown.

In an interview with Brown a couple of weeks ago, he
provided some great insight (IMHO) as to the Huskers
problems.  Brown was recruited to Nebraska by Bill
Jennings, but credits Bob Devaney for much of his
success.  He said that for a coaching change to work,
the players must totally buy-in to what the new staff
plans to do.  Reflecting on Chad Sievers' comments,
it's obvious that did not occur this year.  In
fairness to these Husker players, I think they already
did one "buy-in" for the 2003 season, and there just
wasn't anything left "in the bank" to make another
purchase.  Between graduations, transfers, and new
recruits coming into the problem, I think (and hope)
that this issue will work itself out over the next
year.

I was somewhat surprised that one of the biggest
ovations for the Seniors today was for Darren DeLone,
who was charged this week with a felony for allegedly
assaulting an OU Ruf/Nek.

Pinnacle Radio's John Bishop reported tonight that one
or more fans launched a profanity-laced tirade against
an assistant coach as he left the field with his
family after the game.  Bishop, on Big Red Reaction,
condemned those fans, and while I certainly would
agree that we should leave the families of these
coaches alone, I wonder if the same condemnation would
apply to the Head Coach after the Oklahoma game.

Much of the club seating on the west stadium cleared
out early in the 4th quarter, and only about half the
crowd remained when Ira Cooper was returning his
interception to the 5 yard line.  When Nebraska pulled
to within one score with 2 minutes to go, I ran to the
top of the stadium to see if fans were coming back. 
They weren't.  In fact, one of the booster lots
appeared 70% empty.

As I left the stadium, I noticed a large banner that
was obviously placed by "boosters of substance" who
have covered parking in the stadium parking garage. 
It featured an teary-eyed "Lil' Red" with the words
"1962-2003.  42 years of excellence.  Thanks Bob, Tom,
and Frank".  Obviously, not >ALL< large boosters are
happy.

In Callahan's post-game interviews, there were two
curious observations.  When Callahan talked about the
disappointment about not going to the bowl game and
ending the bowl game streak, there was a grin that
just didn't seem to fit.  In his radio show, he
singled out frequently criticized assistants Kevin
Cosgrove and Phil Elmassian for accolades.

=====
Mike Jaixen


		
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