[NU Sports] Looks like the rest of the team woke up, too ...

[Dennis W. Brandt]

> This CLEARLY is not the same team that lost to Army, Illinois, Iowa, 
> Michigan, or PSU.
>
> Did the coaching staff find more talented players than the ones who had 
> been playing? - No
>
> Did the AD find more talented coaches than the ones who had been coaching 
> earlier in the season? - No
>
> What happened is that the players started believing in themselves, 
> executing the game plan that the coaches put together, and playing as a 
> team.  Individual play improved because team play improved.
>
> Did they get faster?  No, they were always fast enough to win.
>
> Did they get stronger?  No, they were always strong enough to win.
>
> Did the coaches get smarter? No, they didn't have to.  They were already 
> smart enough.  They knew if they stayed the course, and continued to 
> believe, the team would come around.
>
> Did the players get smarter? Yes. They finally understood how to win as a 
> team.
>
> Now some may say that I have dipping into the purple koolaide again 
> because this team isn't going to contend for a BT Championship, will be 
> fortunate to finish with more wins than losses, and will end up with a 
> worse record than last year.  So why get excited?

Yes, the Kool-Aide is purple and glasses are powerfully rose-colored at the 
Beamsley house, although I hope you're right.  We are playing better run 
defense.  After eleven straight defensive abominations going back to last 
season (including this year's Indiana game in which we gave up 38 points), 
it's about time.  But don't get excited yet.  We had a great win over 
Nebraska and beat weak Indiana and Rice teams.  Three wins does not 
greatness make.  We still have no pass rush from the front four, and we 
again missed many a tackle-for-loss this Saturday past that will prove fatal 
against Michigan State.  And while our running game has at last stepped up 
to a level that can sustain drives, none of our running backs will ever be 
confused with Damien Anderson or Darnell Autry.  We have three potential pro 
prospects on offense plus Colter, which is why we can score, but I see no 
talent bright spots on the other side of the ball.  If you are right that 
there IS sufficient talent on D, then you have to conclude that the coaching 
has been sub-par for two-thirds of the season.  You can't have it both ways.