[Husker] We really need some perspective here

[rczeranko at juno.com]

What defines success? The team picks goals each season and that is the definition of success for the team. We fans can have expectations, but only the team can define success.
 
If I were the coach I would want to have a winning record coming out the non-conference part of the season. Then I would want the team to dominate the North Division year in and year out. Once Nebraska is dominating the North, then I would turn my sights on the Big-XII Championship. Nebraska can dominate in the Big-XII as it did in the Big-8, it is just going to be a lot harder with the addition of the Texas teams. The conference is now pretty tough. Look at the dispersion of Big-XII Champions, no one team has really dominated. There are several with two conference wins, but it is spread around pretty well.
 
If a team wins the Big-XII Championship the National Championship picture will take care of itself. We have been too spoiled reliving Tom Osborne's last five years as head coach. The first twenty had its ups and downs. In the Big-8 a down was 9-3, and remember a lot of fans complaining about 'another 9-3 season'. Since Frank Solich was hand picked by The Legend, then summarily fired by Steve Pederson many fans feel cheated.
 
While I will never agree with how the Coach Solich situation was handled, I do believe that Steve Pederson made the right call. The MAC is not the Big-XII so any comparisons of Ohio U's and Nebraska's records are ridiculous. It was very telling to see that Nebraska had not won in Manhattan, KS since 1996.
 
Nebraska was too one dimensional under Coach Solich. During the Eric Crouch era, Crouch was the offense. Then in playing Eric a ton to help him win the Heisman, the future suffered. I would have liked to see what Nebraska would have done once Coach Solich 'made the team his own' with Barney Cotton and Bo Polini, etc. I have always felt that Coach Solich finally had stepped out from under Coach Osborne's shadow.
 
Steve Pederson didn't fire Coach Solich to run Nebraska into the ground. Those fans that want Coach Callahan replace after this season better watch out. If Coach Callahan is replace, then Nebraska will be sub par for at least a decade. If you look objectively at the past three seasons, Nebraska keeps getting better.
 
This team is still rather young, which is why after getting a big lead on a team, they have a tendency to let up. I missed the first 2-point conversion, but I believe that when it failed Oklahoma State seized the momentum and Nebraska could never get it back. Football (particularly college football) is as much about emotion and momentum as it is about X's and O's. If anyone else on the List has coached any amatuer sport, then you know what I am talking about.
 
While I like to bitch about Coach Cosgrove during the game (I used to bitch about Coach McBride as well), we need to remember that the defensive secondary was suspect this year. Then with the injuries it has been put into a really touch spot. Speaking of injuries, does anyone have any information on the offensive lineman that was hurt on Saturday?
 
This team is not medocre as some as stated, it does not stink. It is young, but competatitve. Nebraska jumped Oklahoma State year, but looked a little flat due to the Texas game. Heck, even Texas struggled on the road. Missouri is big game, but Nebraska should prevail. Homecoming in Lincoln, after back to back loses. It should be a fun one. I have always believed that you can tell more about a team on how they react to a lose than you can to a win.
 
Nebraska came out firing last Saturday, but just ran into a team that wanted it more. There's no shame in how the Huskers played against Oklahoma State. They played hard the whole game, Oklahoma State was just the better team last Saturday.
 
Go Big Red!
 
Rob Czeranko