[Husker] Perspective - the rise & fall of programs

[jjhnsn31 at comcast.net]

FROM: patrick462 at aol.com
Some team somewhere is winning more than they normally do. The bars and
restaurants in that area are doing more business than they normally would.
Maybe in Norman or Salt Lake City or Los Angeles the barkeeps are smiling.
......perspective...
My grief about the Huskers is somewhat tempered by watching my daughter and son-in-law, CAL '90 and season ticket holders since 1986, enjoy this season as the Cal Bears give their fans a ride like they've never seen before.
I took in the Cal/ASU game on Oct. 30th, a 27-0 Cal win in the first ever night game in Berkeley.  They are a solid team with outstanding units on both sides of the ball and some legitimate early-round NFL prospects.  Still, you could walk up to the gate at kick-off and buy tickets.
Cal fans have endured some pretty awful teams, numerous coaching changes and years of frustration.  My son-in-law claimed to be grooming our seven-year old grandson to be the QB who took the Bears to their first Rose Bowl since who-knows-when.  It looks like Aaron Rogers is going to get there first.
It is a zero-sum game. As some teams go down, others are going up.  It's debatable as to what factors lead to the rise or fall of programs.  We've seen some great talent at Cal the past 20 years but limited team success.  They've had some sound coaches in the past - Steve Mariucci comes to mind - but Jeff Tedford's impact on this program gives a lot of credence to the notion that the head coach is a good place to look when assessing results.  The Bears were 1 - 10 in 2001 before Tedford arrived.  They posted 7-5 and 8-6 seasons the last two years (beating USC last year). A six-point loss to USC is the only blemish this year in 10 games with one more to play.
Take heart.  It can be done and done quickly.  You might as well try to enjoy watching - it pays the same.
 Jerry Johnson
Tracy, CA via Sutton, NE