[Husker] Wah Wah Wah

[Steve Reichenbach]

This post reflects ignorance of or ignoring of the many differences
between the 1970s and today's college football.  In the 1970s, the
rules for scholarships, recruiting, etc. did much to ensure that the
difference between the top programs and other programs was much larger
than today.  In fact, SI did an article sometime around 1990 that the
rule changes signalled the start of Nebraska slipping from the level of
success of the early 1980s and spelled the end of the sort of success
TO and Nebraska had been having.  At the same time, there was
incredible pressure from many fans to fire Osborne, including a Daily
Nebraskan editorial that Osborne should step down because NU fans were
tired of "mediocre" 9-3 seasons and "embarrassing" bowl losses (just as
many fans had wanted him fired in the late 1970s).  Even fans supportive
of Osborne, such as me, worried that it was true that Nebraska was on
the decline.  Of course, NU went on to have one of the most incredible
runs of all time, but that doesn't negate the fact that the rules have
changed in very significant ways from the 1970s that make it much
harder to have the stock of players to be at the top every year.

If the bowl season has indicated anything to me, it is that there is
much more parity in college football than there used to be, just as
those rule changes intended.  The historical computer ratings indicate
an increase in parity.  You can ignore the greater parity or not, but
doing so pokes a big hole in what you write.

We all can agree on the need for some outstanding defensive linemen,
both on the ends and in the interior, but a phrase like "everything
is not right" is such an empty phrase as to be meaningless.  Such
empty judgments are not substantive arguments.


> OK... Wisconsin winning the B1G last year does not mean they're a good team this year, especially sans Russell Wilson.  They're 7-6...7 and freaking 6.  That screams mediocrity. 
> 
> Second, Tom Osborne finished his first 16 seasons in the AP or Coaches top 10, Bo had not finished higher than 15 and will finish unranked... Again... After year 5.  Osborne didn't have a single week unranked in 25 years and only finished lower than 15th once.  To compare them is a flat out insult to Tom and what he accomplished over 25 years.  Tom never and I mean never bit blown out by mediocre teams.  Bo has set record after record after record for futile defensive performances.  As had been aptly pointed out, only one team allowed more yardage to Georgia all year.  
> 
> I repeat, Bo shouldn't be fired...yet, but everything is not right in memorial stadium.  This year's recruiting class is mediocre so far and is missing the biggest component we need, defensive tackle.