[Husker] Nexzt year

[Steve Reichenbach]

Predictions?  I'm usually an optimist, but Snyder is a good coach
and he has had NU's number; NU has been sliding and the offensive
line is even less experienced.  K State 24, NU 17.  And I hope I'm
wrong.

With the seniors taking their Memorial Stadium bow today, we will
be thanking the class that has seen more turmoil in the football
program than any group in anyone's memmory:  The 7-7 season which
led to Solich bringing in new assistants, the 10-3 season which
led to the firing of the staff and the hiring of the new staff,
the first losing record in more than forty years and no bowl,
and this season with a winning record and bowl game still in the
balance.  Redshirt seniors were on the team when NU played in the
BCS Championship in the Rose Bowl --- what a ride.

Still, it isn't too early to take a peek at next year.  Next year's
schedule looked formidable earlier in the year, but it isn't looking
so bad now.

Presumably, with USC on the non-conference schedule, Pederson will
bring in two beatable opponents, probably one of them not much more
than a scrimmage.  USC will lose some great players, but it will
still be a tall order for NU to win on the road.  Still, NU has a
very good shot at entering the conference schedule with a 2-1 record.

Kansas at home is winnable.  I'm an optimist, so let's forecast 3-1.

Next are Iowa State and Kansas State on the road.  We'll see how
NU does today against a Kansas State team that is tougher than many
think, but being an optimist tempered by the results this season,
I'm forecasting a aplit of these games (which would be some progress
in road performance) to go to 4-2.

Texas, even at home, will be tough, and after having hopes not met
this year, I'm tempering my expectations by figuring a loss to make
NU 4-3.

Oklahmoma State took a dive this year, and so even though this is
on the road, it is a game NU could win.  I hope that if NU loses to
Texas, the team can rebound on the road.  Missouri is at home and
they will have lost Brad Smith.  This also is a game NU should be
able to win in Lincoln.  Like Oklahoma State, Texas A&M has had a
down year, so this game in College Station doesn't look as difficult
as it did a few months ago.  NU's season may turn on these three
games --- all are possible wins but NU easily could lose 1 or 2
(and I won't even think about losing all three).  This year has
taken some shine off my outlook, but I'm forecasting 2-1 in these
games, with wins against OSU on the road and Missouri at home, to
make NU 6-4.

NU finishes with CU in Lincoln.  Colorado appears to be the best of
the North this year (although we have yet to see how NU matches up),
but they stil aren't great.  Still, this game could go either way.
A win, if my highly fallible predictions are true, would have NU
finish 7-4.  I guess that is the optimistic prediction.

How our expectations have slid so that 7-4 is an optimistic
prediction.  But it's easy to see NU losing on the road to both
ISU and K State; going 1-2 instead of 2-1 against OSU, Mizzou,
and A&M; and losing to CU even in Lincoln to finish 4-7.  If NU
doesn't improve, it's certainly possible.