Fwd: [Husker] Buzzards circling above Barry Collier?

[NUStLNorris at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/12/05 12:24:23 PM Central Standard Time, 
mikejaixen at yahoo.com writes:


> Apparantly the Iowa State loss is being taken as "the
> last straw" by some; a story in today's Omaha paper
> raises serious questions of whether Barry Collier will
> be retained after this season.
> 
> http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=38&u_sid=1334824
> 
> Apparantly, the athletic department is hearing rumors
> as well. The Development Office sent an e-mail out
> yesterday expressing "full support" of Collier.
> 
> My $0.02:  While the lack of W's this season is
> disconcerting, I think talk of pulling the plug on
> Collier is WAY premature at this point.  Many people
> like to compare Collier to Danny Nee, but when they
> use Nee, they remember the early-middle 90's version,
> which went to several NCAA tournaments, sold out the
> Devaney, and even won a Big 8 tournament.
> 
> They conveniently forget the final years of the Nee
> era, when players walked out of practice, behaved
> shamefully on the court, and played an undisciplined
> and selfish style.  In the eyes of this observer,
> Collier's Huskers are light-years ahead of the final
> Nee squad.

Have to say I agree with all of your points re: Collier, his program's 
integrity and direction, and how it compares to what we had prior to his arrival.  
One of the reasons I've been such a supporter is because he DOES try to do 
things "the right way."  He stresses and emphasizes discipline, fundamentals, team 
play, defense and effort, among other things.

But eventually you have to win.

I've been one who's been critical of some of the specific things he's done 
this year and last.  But I also really like the players he has coming in and the 
one's he's recently attracted.  

He HAS to show some significant, measurable improvement over the next two 
years ... if he's given the opportunity.  I would be VERY surprised if he's let 
go after this year, no matter what (and the possibility exists for a 2 and 4 
finish in conference play.  That would amount to a 6 and 10 league mark and 
potentially, an overall losing record).

There really HAS been a lot of speculation and rumor about his job status 
recently.  Like you said, enough to merit a response from the Development Office.

The Baylor win was NU's second on the road this year in league play.  It's 
tough to see them winning in either Norman, Ames or Manhattan.  Home games 
remain against Mizzou, OSU and CU.

Next up is at Oklahoma, Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

Dave Norris