[Husker] What If

[Smith, William]

Nebraska hasn't beaten a team rated higher than 19th since Oct. 2001.  Since then Nebraska is 0-21 against teams rated 19th or higher.

I hope we start a new trend this Saturday, but I don't blame the rest of the world for thinking this streak will continue. 


Bill Smith
Towson, MD





________________________________________
From: husker-bounces at tssi.com [husker-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Steve Reichenbach [reich at inetnebr.com]
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 9:05 PM
To: awolfson0 at gmail.com; gbrlist at yahoo.com; jon.johnston at gmail.com
Cc: husker at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [Husker] What If

> We don't get a lot of respect because we haven't earned any. We are
> what we have been for 8 or so years...a team that can't beat anybody
> that's any good. This year we finally beat Oklahoma...and they end up
> being a 7-5 team! How frustrating is that? So we can harp about our 9
> winseasons all we want, no one cares. And "winning" the Big 12 North?
> That just a punchline to a joke.

> what you're talking about here
> is respect.  What have we done this year that deserves anyone's
> respect?  Does a one point loss at VaTech deserve respect?  Does a
> total blowout to TTech deserve respect?  Does a one point loss to Iowa
> State with 8 turnovers deserve respect?  Does playing just enough good
> offense to stay in front of other average teams deserve respect?  Does
> winning the Big XII North deserve respect?  We don't deserve any
> respect from anyone we're likely to play the rest of this season.
> We have to make our own respect, make teams respect us.  Nothing we've
> done so far this year has done much to that end.  Are we the Nebraska
> of the 90's?  Nope, not even close.

I know that this post may bring another critique of me being a
"holier-than-thou guy", but it seems to me that this forum allows one
to disagree with what others say.  So, I will.

I think the pronoun "we" is a misapprehension of reality (unless other
posters are actually part of the team).  Accordingly, it seems to me
that its use indicates an investment of self and self-esteem in the
team's success that is unwarranted by one's actual situation (as a
fan).  This investment in the team of one's self-esteem leads to
concerns that are more emotional than objective --- for example,
concern about "respect".  And, any failure or shortcoming is cause for
a strong personal and emotional reaction.

An objective analysis is that although NU has not had a season that
places it among the top 10, this has been a season with many notable
accomplishments.  So, some objective analysis:

To date, NU has a record of 9-3.  By my count, 15 teams have fewer than
3 losses (Florida, Alabama, Texas, TCU, Oregon, Cincinnati, Boise St,
Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Houston, Iowa, Penn State, BYU,
and Central Michigan) and many of those played an easier schedule than
NU (including TCU, Cincinnati, Boise State, Penn State, BYU, and
Central Michigan as rated by Sagarin).  So, fewer than 10 teams have a
better record playing a schedule as difficult.

The highest rated three-loss team is Virginia Tech, which played one of
the toughest schedules (rated #11 by Sagarin).  NU outplayed Virginia
Tech on the road and was one blown coverage from closing out the game.

NU is rated in the top 25 by every recognized measure: #20, #21, and
#22 in the AP, USA Today, and BCS.  According to Sagarin's predictor,
NU is the #11 best team in the nation and Massey ranks NU #19.  Most of
the computer polls have OU, a team that NU beat, ranked highly.
Sagarin has OU #6 and Massy has OU #24.

NU is playing in the conference championship game of one of the best
conferences and is deserving of that berth, having an overall and
conference record that is bettered only by Texas.

NU had some games this year where (figuratively) the ball didn't bounce
the right way --- the long pass at Virginia Tech (without which NU
likely would have won), the almost unbelievable series of turnovers
against Iowa State (without one of which NU likely would have won), and
even the dropped lateral against Texas Tech (which certianly changed
the whole tenor of that game and I believe much of the season that
followed).  Change two or three plays and NU could be 11-1 or even
12-0.  But, those things happen even with the top tier of teams.  So,
the 1997 team was in luck at Missouri but the 1983 team was out of luck
on the 2-point conversion.

Is that enough to respect this team?  I guess that depends on your
perspective.  Apparently for some, anything short of winning the
national championship is a cause for frustration, a feeling like the
butt of a joke, or lack of respect.  In the relatively near past, those
fans were screaming about a year in which NU lost to Colorado and then
lost in the BCS National Championship Game and wanted the coaches fired
(and they soon were).  In the more distant past, those fans wanted
Osborne and Devaney to be fired (but cooler heads prevailed).  I point
out these past events to highlight the risks of over-reaction.

Personally, I have a great deal of respect for the hard work that the
players and coaches have invested in this season and I am pleased that
they have been rewarded with a successful year, especially winning the
Big 12 North.  This team has accomplished its primary goal of winning
the Big 12 North and still has a shot at meeting its next goal of
winning the Big 12 and earning a BCS berth.  I think that this team has
overcome shortcomings and corrected mistakes to make important strides
and accomplishments for the program.  Regardless of the outcomes of the
next two games, this team has much to be proud of and much for its fans
to be pleased about.  Even in the great run since Devaney came to NU,
this season so far stacks up pretty well.  (Look at the late 60s,
mid 70s, early 90s, and most of the last decade for seasons that didn't.)
A year with wins against MU in Columbia, CU in Boulder, KU in Lawrence,
and OU and KSU (with the North title on the line) in Lincoln, and 9 wins
with still a shot at Texas and a good bowl game has some things for
Nebraska fans to be pretty happy about.  Or not.  Your choice.

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