[Husker] interesting OWH article

[Scott R Lawson]

To me these writers seem like a representation of fans in general who still think college football is like the days of 70-10 wins in the Big 8 against the Kansas States and Iowa States of the world. Yes, the standards have been set by the AD, but the landscape is now quite different as parity reigns, and I'm not sure who should get more blame, the AD, the coaches, the players, or the media/fans. I believe we will see 2 loss teams playing for national titles in the next few years.

Scott in NY

-----Original Message-----
From: husker-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:husker-bounces at tssi.com]On Behalf
Of Steve Reichenbach
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 12:12 PM
To: fancherr_2000 at yahoo.com; husker at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [Husker] interesting OWH article


> I thought it was a boring uninteresting article. What
> is he proposing? Sack Peterson and Callahan (and
> staff)? Now THAT will help. No wonder Orborne and
> McBride left the profession so early. It just aint
> worth it for all the trash you have to put up with
> from the media and fans. 
> 
> --- "andy at knipp.com" <andy at knipp.com> wrote:
> 
> > http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=38&amp;u_sid=2274671&amp;u_rnd=2047941

A commentary doesn't need a proposal.  One of the most effective and
widely cited recent commentaries was: "A new course on 'staying the
course', which discussed the Orwellian nature of Bush's statement on
Iraq a couple of weeks ago: "Listen, we've never been stay the
course...."  Should Pitts have a "proposal" for Iraq before he
comments on current events?  No, that's not his job.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/leonard_pitts/15882212.htm

When a leader, e.g., Pederson, lays down a standard --- e.g., firing
the coaching staff of a team that finished 10-3 with the stated purpose
of contending for the national title each year --- then it is natural,
even to be expected, for commentators to comment on the current
situation relative to that standard.  And, if there is "slippage" in
the rhetorical or actual standard, then you can bet it will be
high-octane fodder for commentary.

Callahan and his staff knew Pederson's stated standard when they took
the position, so it can't be surprising to them that commentators (and
others) are comparing their success to that standard.  In fact, I think
they said they appreciated that football success was so important to
Nebraska fans.  Moreover, he came from the NFL, where commentator's
and fans aren't always politely supportive.

Personally, I don't think NU fans have given Callahan that much
"trash", although I'm sure we don't see the worst of it.  (That said,
I think the new coaches have been surprised by how pervasive the
program is in the Nebraska culture.)  I think that fans were rightly
disappointed but patient in the first year, rightly disappointed
last year after the Kansas game then properly encouraged by the finish
and the bowl victory, rightly disappointed by losses to USC and
especially OSU then properly pleased with the win over Missouri and
the near certainty of winning the Big 12 North.

Barfknecht did propose that fans should continue to have high
expectations (higher than were achieved this year) and should keep
asking questions about where the program is headed and at what rate.
I think we can count on that.

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