[Husker] Positive thoughts (fwd)

[Mike Nolan]

> I'm not sure how you show "dramatic improvement" next year without a corresponding improvement in record.  We played four top ten teams tough and "should have won" two of those.  I can't imagine how Callahan shows dramatic improvement without affecting the record.  A second season of five close losses merely emphasizes that Callahan can't win against good teams and would show me that we are standing still.

Well, there are still only two people whose opinion of Callahan matters,
but if his task for 2006 was to contend for the Big 12 championship, the 
Huskers did that, even if they fell short of winning in KC and may wind 
up out of the final top 25 after a rather lackluster performance against
Auburn.  (BTW, anybody think Boise State couldn't have defeated Nebraska 
at least as convincingly as they did OU?  I don't know that NU could
have made the comeback OU did in the 4th quarter.)

However, not winning games they're 'supposed' to win may eventually lead
to dissatisfaction among that group of two.  (Personally, I think the only 
game they lost in 2006/07 that they 'should have won' was Okie State,
though I agree they had winning chances in the other games they lost.)

Conclusion:  The Huskers aren't 'there' yet, and 2007 may be an interesting
year because of key personnel losses, but Callahan should not wind up
on anyone's 'coaching bubble' list unless there is a total collapse.
--
Mike Nolan