[NU Sports] bowl frustrations

Sun Jan 1 20:24:24 CST 2012

As I saw (and heard) it....

1. NU is still making stupid penalties. You don't give the guy extra yards, and we did
that a couple of times in the second half. Randy called it "self inflicted wounds" and
they certainly were.

2. The ESPN Radio guys (and girl) kept talking about how fast A & M's team was compared to
NU. Speed Kills, especially on defense.

3. I still believe (along with several others of us) that Persa would have won this game
had he been left in to play QB. We also should have run the offense on the 10 second clock
that seems to get every other team back on their heel in a hurry. I don't care if it
exposes our defense, it makes every drive a shootout, and even the Cats  get lucky some
times.

4. All A&M had to do at the end was go back to their passing game, once again Speed Kills.

5. Walker's Recruiting and off season Mantra was "Bigger, Stronger, Faster." I'm not sure
if we're still recruiting that way but there were a bunch of former Randy Walker NU guys
playing today in the NFL and helping earn playoff spots for their teams. And if you can't
get "fast" get "Quick"

6. A&M's academic requirements are reputed to be pretty tough, including the football
team. Once again, they can find them, why can't we.

Go Cats.

rsl

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-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of
Beamsley, Jeff
Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2012 3:59 PM
To: Brad Wilson; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] bowl frustrations

It will be interesting to see how the reported changes in Stanford admissions standards
affects the off-field performance of the players.  It can become slippery slope when
institutions begin to compromise their values in return for the promise of better on field
performance.

I agree that it is maddening to watch NU come so close. 

As Mike mentioned, NU isn't the only program to go through this.  Nebraska made a habit of
grinding their opponents to dust during the regular season.  Their reward was to travel to
some holiday location only to look slow and stupid against some wicked-fast warm-weather
team.  They slowly transformed into a speed program, got more creative play calling
(fumblerooskie), and eventually learned how to win in the post season.

The only solution that I can think of is that we continue to believe in the program and
make progress every year.

Injuries clearly hurt us this year with Persa being the first and most important.  Losing
Mabin, however, probably cost us this bowl win.  Without him, our secondary was quickly
exposed and just couldn't hold up in one-on-one matchups.  That made it harder for us to
blitz, and our front four just couldn't consistently get to the QB on their own.

On the flip side, we became a pretty predictable offense, particularly after we got down a
couple of scores.  Persa was going to pass and Colter was going to run.  They were able to
take away our bread and butter throws to the outside for short yardage and the blitz kept
us from making any longer throws.  I agree with others that the two QB scheme didn't help
us much, but I suspect that Persa was more gimpy than perhaps anyone was willing to admit.
I also agree that both the offense and defense lost their poise at various points in the
game and just seemed overwhelmed by A&M speed.

I think that next year NU will raise some Kain, make a run at the BT title, and win our
first bowl game.

Jeff

________________________________

From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com on behalf of Brad Wilson
Sent: Sun 1/1/2012 1:55 PM
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: [NU Sports] bowl frustrations

I concur with those who say it is delightful to enjoy a competitive team, one that never
quits. As I said to my disconsolate NU-watching buddy during the game Saturday, "At least
we're never boring., Never dull watching NU." Having watched my share of massacres in the
1980's, the idea of four straight bowl games is remarkable in itself.

I do not concur with those who say NU needs to lower its standards for 4-star recruits.
Either they make it or they don't and that is an admission-office decision, period. And
that is as it should be. Stanford has lower standards for studs? Shame on Stanford.

However, four elements of frustration for me.

One, NU is SOOOOO close. Look, lose 54-14 to Texas A&M and well, fine, they were a lot
better. But NU was ONE stop or ONE big play from winning. And that has been the case the
last 4 bowls though of course the two OT losses were sheer agony.  ONE play away from
ending the bowl streak .... AUGH. I would almost say I'd rather lose 66-17 or so but I was
at that debacle and actually, no, I wouldn't. But so close ... aren't we due for a break
from the sporting gods?

Two,  watching the Sun Bowl, or the Pinstripe Bowl, I know NU could have -- probably would
have -- beaten UCLA and Iowa State. NU needs a matchup like that. I appreciate what Delany
and Phillips do to move "up" the bowl ladder, but maybe NU's best hope to win would come
in a year where the BT gets just one BCS spot to even out the bowl matchups a little. I do
believe the bowl streak hurts recruiting and the impression of NU as a competitive
program.

Three, why does NU dig holes in every bowl? Why do the 'Cats fall behind badly at the
start and have to scramble back? How can they not be ready to play in a bowl game?

Four, the constant drumbeat of allowing 3rd down conversions hurts my head. The defense on
3rd downs needs to either a) get a pass rush on or b) cover the receivers tightly. NU does
neither. This is a recipe for disaster. I'd trade getting beaten deep once or twice (which
happens anyway) for some sacks and hurries that could create turnovers.

Brad Wilson

"Stupidity is infinitely more fascinating than intelligence. Intelligence has its limits
while stupidity has none. To observe a profoundly stupid individual can be very enriching,
and that's why we should never feel contempt for them." -- Claude Chabrol (1930-2010)

"But to provoke -- in the good sense -- is the performer's role. It's not just to give one
more concert. That's not culture. That"s marketing." -- Pierre Boulez

"Quis ipsos custodes custodiet?" -- Juvenal
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