[Husker] The era of the big red machine; I lived my life withis over today.

[Bob Beach]

On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 11:02:08 -0600, todd strong wrote:
> I have felt this way for three years Bob.
> Many of the players seem to want the tradition and accolades, yet
> not work for it and some even really seemed to not want to be here.





     I agree totally.  I didn't jump into the Horne thread but I did hear one of the reasons Horne didn't play more than he did is because he didn't practice well and I heard that from more than one source.  I can't prove that but there is some reason he didn't play more.  I forget his name but the guy that does the post game call-in show had about a five minute monolog about how the attitude wasn't there this year.  There are, of course, many reasons for attitude but much of it is the individual themselves.  I didn't play sports on this level but I always felt it was my job to get myself up and not the coach's job to get me up.  A coach has to create a good "working" environment but the rest is up to the individual.


     I guess I'll throw in my two cents about how I look at how Callahan and staff did this year.  The reason I haven't weighed in before is I have said the same thing before.  Much has been said about bad game plans and not attacking the opponents weaknesses.  I think Callahan wanted to implement his system and that was the number one goal.  His main goal wasn't to take the team we had and play to its strengths with solid game plans to win as many games as possible in my opinion.  If he had done that he couldn't really have installed the true WCO.  He would have had to have a Solich/Osborne type offense.  If a new system is to be instituted at some point in time when the change is made you are going to have people playing out of the comfort zone and not using them to the best of their ability to win.  You are probably going to have games where you work on your thing and not necessarily play to the weakness of the opposition.  Now, obviously, that can't go on forever but this is year one in a major overhaul of the offense.  To be honest on the defensive side of the ball I am not sure what happened with virtually the same players Pelini had.  One thing is certain.  Either these players way over achieved for Pelini or Cosgrove really messed up.  I suspect a little of both may be there.


Bob Beach