[Husker] What ever happened to?...

[rczeranko at juno.com]

I haven't even begun to wade through all the posts, but the sampling I have read sickens me.
 
What ever happened to: "We'll all stick together through all kinds of weather..."??????
 
Once a player or coach or a situation 'makes "us" look bad', with the "us" forgetting that it is the coaches and players that are out there on game day, not "us"; we start whining, moaning, and bitching about this, that, and the other thing.j
 
A lot of people seem to think that there was this Steve Pederson and Bill Callahan cabal to get rid of Frank Solich and take over Husker football. Steve Pederson was the culprit and it didn't work out for him. Coach Callahan stood up and took the job when no one else would.
 
What are Coach Callahan's strengths? Recruiting is probably is biggest (although he most likely had a lot of help from Coach Blake). His players will play for him. The only time I really ever saw the players seem to give up was the Oklahoma State game. It wasn't until after Steve Pederson was fired that the players rallied back.
 
Coach Callahan's teams have always been scrappy and except for two games this season have always played hard. I know that there are those on the list that disregard 'playing hard'. But if you've never coached before, then you just won't understand what that phrase means. Even Tom Osborn commented during the Texas A&M game that success isn't measured in the the number of wins and losses. So, even he gets it.
 
I also believe that Coach Callahan wants to win as much as anyone else. Nobody likes to lose. I believe that he is a little befuddled as to why this has turned out the way it has.
 
What are Coach Callahan's weaknesses? I believe he has struggled transitioning from the NFL to UNL. You can see pro tendencies in his play calling, keeping the starters in all the time, and game management. It is wrong? No. It is just the way it is. We forget that when Tom Osborne transitioned from the NFL to UNL he was a graduate assistant for a year or two. Then when he was coaching the offense he wanted to throw the ball. It took him several years to transition to the ground game (and quite a few losses to the Sooners!).
 
What this team needs, both the players and coaches, is ton of positive energy from the fans in the stands. We all know that how one acts in the face of adversity says more about the character of person than when things are hunky dory.
 
If Nebraska can pull the upset in Austin tomorrow, they may gain some confidence and turn the season around. Texas is beatable. Being away from Lincoln may make the players a little more loose. Then who knows?
 
As for me, I will be sticking by the team and coaching staff even if they lose every single game for the rest of the season. It is Tom Osborne's job to decide if Coach Callahan stays or goes. It is our job as fans to be there supporting our boys in scarlet and cream come hell or high water!
 
Go Big Red! Beat the 'Horns!
 
Rob Czeranko