[Husker] Final comments on 'being spoiled' and latest articles on Nebraska Foo tball

Tue Nov 22 15:07:28 CST 2011

I am going to conclude my comments on we fans being 'spoiled' and comment on the recent articles including the open letter to Coach Pelini as I believe they are all interrelated.

It appears as if a lot of people are having an issue with my use of the term, spoiled'. I did not mean to imply that we are spoiled children or spoiled brats, but that with Tom Osborne's final five seasons we fans expect a level of play from the football program. Thus being spoiled by the success that the game college football the most winning-est five years in college football history. This was a memorable and magical period for we Husker fans.

How many people were happy to Bill Byrne leave Nebraska? I remember a lot of excitement about Steve Pederson being hired. Then Frank  Solich was fired and Bill Callahan was hired as no one else was willing to come to Nebraska. As Nebraska football began to decline, morale in the athletic department declined as well. Steve Pederson was fired and Tom Osborne was brought on board to get things back on track.

If you do not like Coach Pelini, then blame Tom  Osborne as he hired Coach Pelini. I do not think that Tom Osborne would do anything half cocked or to hurt Nebraska football.

Since Tom Osborne retired as head football coach here are the subsequent coaches, their records, and final rankings (if ranked)

Year          Coach           Record             Final Ranking
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998      Frank Solich        9-4            19 (AP) / 20 (Coaches)
1999      Frank Solich      12-1              3 (AP) /   2 (Coaches)
2000      Frank Solich      10-2              8 (AP) /   7 (Coaches)
2001      Frank Solich      11-2              8 (AP) /   7 (Coaches)
2002      Frank Solich        7-7
2003      Frank Solich*     10-3            19 (AP) / 18 (Coaches) *=Solich fired, Bo Pelini interim coach for final game
2004      Bill Calahan          5-6
2005      Bill Calahan          8-4             24 (AP) / 24 (Coaches)                  
2006      Bill Calahan          9-5
2007      Bill Calahan          5-7
2008      Bo Pelini               9-4
2009      Bo Pelini             10-4            14 (AP) / 14 (Coaches)
2010      Bo Pelini             10-4
2011      Bo Pelini               8-3**                                                ** = season not over (currently ranked 22 (AP) / 22 (Coaches)

So, Nebraska football under Coach Pelini has improved over recent seasons. If Nebraska can beat Iowa and win their bowl game, then Coach Pelini will have put together three back to back to back 10 win seasons in a row. Perhaps they would have won 10 if Nebraska stayed in the Big-XIi. At this point it really does not matter. Nebraska is now in the B1G. Along with entering a new conference, Nebraska is putting in a new offense, so this could be a 'down' year from previous two.

And it is not just we fans that are spoiled. A lot of the sports writers and talking heads also defer back to Tom Osborne's final 5 seasons. Below are Tom Osborne's records in the 1990's:

Year      Record
--------------------
1990       9-3
1991       9-2-1
1992       9-3
1993     11-1
1994     13-0
1995     12-0
1996     11-2
1997     13-0

As you can see, it can be turned around and quickly. Interestingly, it was a change in defense that aided magical run beginning in 1993.

So, have faith. Tom Osborne would not have hired Bo Pelini if he did not believe that he was up to the task.

As for Bo Pelini's passion, I posted this previously and I will say it again. I really enjoy it. When Coach Pelini was too animated he was spoken to and he has done a good  job controlling himself.

We were spoiled by an unprecedented run from 1993 thru 1997 that included 3 National Championships.

Nebraska is in good hands right now and there is no appearance that they are falling into mediocrity.

I believe that Nebraska will come out loaded for bear and will win big.

Nebraska 45
Iowa 14

Happy Thanksgiving!

Go B1G Red!

Rob Czeranko 

____________________________________________________________
Get Free Email with Video Mail & Video Chat!
http://www.juno.com/freeemail?refcd=JUTAGOUT1FREM0210