[Husker] Let's get real here folks!

[rczeranko at juno.com]

I haven't read all the posts yet, but I have perused the Colorado article in which Barnett states that Nebraska was never a threat to move the ball on CU, and that the running game is dead in Lincoln.

Huh?

Didn't Cory Ross have a 1000 yard season, playing hurt most of the time and not getting as many touches as in the past?
Come on folks, let's get real here.

The program is not dead, not by a long shot. We are playing into all the naysayer's hands. Oh, woe is us!

I say BS on that!

Barnett and the CU players are relishing in the down turn at Nebraska. But I bet you credits to navy beans that this down turn is a lot shorter than they're hoping for. This program will be making a run at the Big-XII title in a year or two.


Steve Pederson made is decision a year ago. I didn't like it, didn't understand, and didn't want things to change/end. But they have. Do you really think that Bill Callahan arrived in Lincoln saying, "Well, let's see how can I end these Nebraska traditions?" Let's get real here folks.

He salvaged a recruiting class that many on this list were drooling over because the pundents said wasn't too bad. Now, that the Huskers went 5-6 everyone is pissed off and bitching about this and that.

To those that feel that Callahan ruined the Raiders how's about a reality check. The Raiders' players were a bunch of spoiled brats that didn't want to listen to their coach. I lost a lot of respect for Jerry Rice when sided with the other brats against the coach. Look what happened to Rice this season - he's no longer wearing the silver and black.

To those posters that bitch about Daily speaking directly with Callahan to get each play all I have to say is go back and re-look at the tape. More often than not there is 15 or so seconds left on the play clock when the offense lined up to the ball. Remember that in the NFL the coach speaks directly to the QB via a radio. And recall that early in this past season plays were signaled in to the QB. What is the difference between a tight end or wide receiver bringing in the play or the QB running over to the coach to get it? Saying that the QB getting the play from the coach is Pop Warner is a disservice to the program, the QB, and the coach.

CU didn't kill the Nebraska, and no Steve Pederson didn't either. Someone posted that the Colorado game was the biggest of the season. I disagree with that assessment. The KState game was bigger, and even the ISU game was as well. I believe that if the Huskers had beaten ISU, then they would have beaten CU. CU had more to play for than our boys did. Losing to ISU pretty much ended the season for them.

Yes, it would have nice to keep the Bowl and winning season streaks alive, but it didn't happen this year. What did happen. Cory Ross stepped up, played hurt and proved himself a Husker. In fact, most of the team played this way. There is a lot of heart in this Nebraska team, but most people on this list are missing that because of six losses.

I remember all the bitching during the 7-7 season on this list. Hmm. A few years ago Nebraska was 7-7. What did that do the recruiting for this season. Those of you that are recruiting pundits will have to answer that one. But I suspect that it had a negative impact on the team.

How did Nebraska get into this predicament? I offer up three primary reasons. Mind you, I am not laying any blame, but taking an object look at the big picture. As an engineer, I am often called upon to find root cause of a problem. That is what I am attempting here, to define the root cause. So here goes:

1. Tom Osborne's retirement
2. Charlie McBride's retirement
3. AD Bill Byrne not focusing on football (not keeping the facilities up to par with other programs)

The order isn't important to me. Any two of the three could be over come. Indeed, while Tom Osborne's team were winning National Championships most recruits would over look the lack of facilities. So, his being head coach counter acted #3. However, once he retired, the facilities would become more important. Since Tom Osborne hand picked his successor, the incoming recruits would feel comfortable believing that the program was in good hands. And if you were a defensive recruit, you still had Charlie McBride as your coach. Then a few years later, Charlie decides to hang it up. Now the program is in a dilemma. The chief selling point, Tom Osborne, is gone. Now, defensively, the head honcho had left too. That leaves the facilities to lure recruits away from other programs. But oops, the facilities aren't up to snuff. Now those other places are looking real enticing.

Hence, Tom Osborne's decision to put his name on new facility upgrade. And Steve Pederson's decision to remove Frank Solich to get a coach that will bring in recruits due to an NFL appeal.

So we are where we are. This off season will filled with a lot of recruiting talk, reliving recent events, and relishing in the past. To be honest I am not hurt by Callahan's, Dailey's, Amos's, or other comments regarding the ending of these streaks. They are absolutely right. Let CU relish in this season. Because in the long run, nobody, not CU, OK, USC, Miami, FSU, or any other program compare the run that just ended at Nebraska. We have been witness to something special. Relish in that and not all this doom and gloom BS.

I was at the shut out loss at ASU in 1996. I was hard to see the win streak end. I was at the Texas victory in Lincoln in 1998, again it was hard to see the home win streak end. But streaks are just that, streaks. We happened to see some that lasted for decades! What an awesome accomplishment! And even though we know it will eventually end, it still hurts to see them go.

But how we handle adversity says more about us as Husker fans than how we handle winning. I was born in Iowa, but grew up in Omaha (my family moved there when I was about 3 year old). I attended Westside High School, and eventually ended up at Nebraska. I swam for both Westside and the Huskers. I will never give up on this program. I am damn proud to have earned three letters at Nebraska.

This is a bump in the road, a minor detour, not a new path. So let's get real here folks!

Rob Czeranko
UNL Men's Varsity Swimming '82-'85