[Husker] Never Again

[Joe Janecek]

my turn:

Aside from Chad Sievers, who said he was sorry to the fans in a quote I
read, has anyone else apologized or said they were sorry for supplying
such an awful season? Any coaches, players or administators?

All I have been hearing is excuses, and BC's "I never look back"
comment. Frankly, it's a load of horsecrap.  College Football IS about
looking back - on tradition - and building on it as the next set of
young men take over. That's why the bowl and losing season streaks
are(were) so important. There's pride in those traditions that runs
from Omaha to Scottsbluff and beyond. That pride reverberates down to
the kids playing 6 and 8-man football in the Sandhills. That pride lets
those of us outside Nebraska reflect on home and our upbringing in a
positive way. Ask Bapi what Tom Osborne means to him.

This season was an insult and a sham to the fans and boosters who
filled the stadium, listened on the transistor, bought the
pay-per-view, or have any history with the state or school. Bill
Callahan's got a lot to learn about how to manage a university program,
the Nebraska Football Program. BC, it's about more than your coveted
WCO, trust me.

We all knew this was a 'rebuilding' year. We all knew there would be
losses. Bapi probably predicted as much back in early September that
this could be a losing season. Some say it will get worse before it
gets better. That's simply unacceptable. Fix it now. The talent was
here, in place, to run a successful offense and defense. We let coaches
leave for greener pastures (and bowls) who coached with passion,
knowledge, and who could inspire the players who were running the
plays. Good luck Bo and Barney.

Recent division 1-AA teams like UConn and Troy (!!) are headed to
bowls. (NU paid for Troy's whole program some might say)  Some argue
the 85/25 rule has finally hit home with scholarships and the first
year limits, but that's been in place a long time now. Perhaps the
saturation of television exposure for the collge game and the money
that comes with it is adding up to more recruits checking out their
options and more universities upgrading their facilities. Perhaps. I
suspect a good coach is a good coach, and good coaches win more than
poor coaches.

Having vented, we do need to support Coach and his incoming recruits.
As for the players still on the squad next year, they had better bust
their tails in the offseason. We need to begin traditions anew - you,
me, the Coaches, the Players. Gee, the sun did come up Saturday after
all.

When NU came up short one year in their quest for the MNC, the team
sported "Unfinished Business" t-shirts the next season. It was a
testament that they were driven and determined to do better.

Might I suggest that next season's returnees get a slogan of their own:
"NEVER AGAIN."

Joe
gbr

p.s. since we've got some 'time off' now, throw your support to NU's
other fine programs. Men's and Women's basketball could use some
attendance help. Volleyball is a tough ticket as that team is
super-talented. Women's soccer just went through a horrific year, with
the shooting death of Jenna Cooper last spring, and yet they went deep
in the NCAA's. Softball and Baseball have good, solid programs that
could always use more support, and they have some of the nicest
facilities in the nation, too.


		
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