[personal] Re: [Husker] Could this Husker team beat...

[Skylar Dodds]

Hello Husker Fans,

SR> There is an inherent contradiction in your post.  On the one
SR> hand, you're saying that he is setting the bar too high by
SR> saying that "we have to beat Texas or USC to be worth anything"
SR> and on the other hand, you're saying that "college football has
SR> fallen into parity".  If there is parity, then it isn't really
SR> such a stretch to beat the top teams.  If beating the top teams
SR> is so hard, then there isn't really parity.

That wasn't my post at all.  I was saying the original poster said
that we have to beat Texas or USC to be worth anything, to which I
strongly disagree.  Playing well against top teams and winning the
games you should in good fashion to me are accomplishments.

For this season and this team, I think that competing against Texas
and USC and winning the rest of our games is good progress.

That being said, IMHO parity does not mean the top teams are easy to
beat. Parity means that top teams have a 'chance' of losing on almost
any given Saturday, but that doesn't mean it's easy. For instance, in
the Big XII days, we only really had one or two games on our schedule
that we really could lose (typically OU and CU).  There were many
years that NU really didn't have a chance of losing to the likes of
KSU, ISU etc.  They could play 100 times and probably not lose once.

Now, even the best teams are in a battle almost week after week.  NU
has played exceptionally well against their 'weaker' opponents.  NU
drubbed Troy, Nich St, and La Tech, while OSU's best margin was
against Cincinnati (37-7) and they've played Northern Illinois
(35-12) and Bowling Green (35-7).  None of the OSU games have been
blowouts.

In years past there were usually about 10 teams CLEARLY better than
everyone else and 19 times out of 20, they would pummel anyone else
even other teams in the top 25.

Now we have Div I-AA teams beating legitimate I-A programs. We have
unranked Arkansas teams beating #2 Auburn teams (and fairly soundly I
might add). The almost undisputed #1 team in the country can't blow
out Northern Illinois? Even the worst team in the Big XII (Colorado
right now) can go on the road and lose by 1 late to a (then, now
13/14) Top 10 team Georgia!

Especially in the Big XII, any team can beat any other team on any
given Saturday.  That being said, the top teams are still going to
win that game 9 out of 10 times.  Baylor COULD beat Texas, but
probably won't.  Three years ago, Baylor COULD NOT beat Texas, not
without an act of God or a flu epidemic in Austin.

Sorry for the long post, I just like to talk :)

-- 
Go Skers,
 Skylar                            mailto:Sklarbodds at cox.net



SR> I think the truth of the matter is that NU under Callahan hasn't
SR> beaten many ranked teams and no highly ranked teams.  The goal
SR> that Peterson set in firing Solich is very high, some would
SR> argue unrealistically high, but, like it or not, he and many
SR> NU fans have made it clear that they don't think 10-3 seasons
SR> are acceptable.  The expectation for teams at the top is to
SR> win all games or at least lose no more than one game per year.
SR> NU doesn't appear to be at that level in losing to USC or
SR> going to OT against KU, but NU hasn't played itself out of
SR> contention either.  It does "remain to be seen", but if the
SR> same standard is applied to Callhan as was applied to Solich
SR> then I agree that he is unlikely to succeed.  That said, I
SR> think that it is more likely that the bar will be lowered.
SR> After all, I don't think the reason Solich was fired was that
SR> Pederson set the bar so high; I think the reason he fired
SR> Solich was that Pederson has a massive ego, thought he knew
SR> how to coach better than Solich, and couldn't tolerate Solich
SR> not following his micromanagement.

>> 
>> Hello Husker Fans,
>> 
>> DR> We had a good record but couldn't beat anyone any good. This year,
>> DR> we just haven't beaten anyone any good yet, we may. It "remains to
>> DR> be seen".
>> 
>> Ya, but John's right.  When we DO beat someone like Missouri you're
>> going to say, "Well, maybe they weren't that good anyway." or "They
>> haven't played anybody either".  In your eyes, we have to beat a Texas
>> or USC to be worth anything because everyone else is a patsy.
>> 
>> Bottom line is, College football has fallen into parity.  Don't buy
>> that?  Ask Auburn.  Ask FSU.  Ask Notre Dumb.  There are VERY few
>> teams in the foreseeable future that will just pummel anyone they come
>> across.
>> 
>> Even Ohio State, the consensus number one, has looked 'beatable' at
>> times in a few games.  Division 1-AA teams are even starting to win
>> games against major college teams.  That was unheard of 5-10 years
>> ago.
>> 
>> IMHO, I do think this team would beat 2003, but it would be a good
>> game.  The difference is in the losses.  In 2003 we imploded in the
>> 4th quarter in Columbia (outscored 27-0 in the quarter), Texas
>> dominated us (out-yarding us 484-175), and again fell apart against an
>> OK KSU team in Lincoln (outscored 31-2 in second half).
>> 
>> I think talent wise it would be close and I like Bo Pelini's defense
>> better than Cos, but Frank's offense was inept on a good day.  I
>> dunno, it'd be close.
>> 
>> -- 
>> Go Skers,
>>  Skylar                            mailto:Sklarbodds at cox.net
>> 
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