College Football - Week 13 (Nov. 23)

[Guest]

Yes, USC should go big on this hire and get Steve Sarkisian and his 32-29 record.

[Ryne Ween]

Are you kidding? Hes done a great job at a place where coaches go to die.

[Andy]

Well, this isn't good.

 

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/statement-police-warned-accuser-about-pursuing-jameis-winston-matter/2153364

 

A Tallahassee detective told an accuser's attorney that Tallahassee is a "big football town" and her client's life could "be made miserable" if she pursued a sexual assault case against Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, according to an exclusive statement released by the family to the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday.

[GlassCow]

For anyone interested, here is what I posted on the Husker Online board about my thoughts on Bo Pelini. For context, this is in reference to a USA Today article where Bo was commenting on his future.

 

"Bo did a great job in this article in my opinion. He believes in himself, his program, his staff, and players. He sees development but knows isn't good enough. What should he say? I don't have a clue and we're all blindly walking around here. Some of you are so far gone against Pelini that nothing he can say or do will satisfy you." - IHateKState

 

I am neither a Boleaver nor a Boliever, and have gone back and forth about whether wholesales changes would be more helpful or harmful at this point. That being said, I lean heavily toward replacing him because I feel that there are leadership deficiencies I see which are causing what I would term systemic issues in the program. I have never played nor coached football, though I completed an MA in Leadership at the University of Bellevue and feel like I know a fair amount about leadership strategies, practices, etc. I grew up in the great state of Nebraska and have been a bleeding red Husker fan since the late 80's / early 90's. I now live in Phoenix, and keep up with my beloved football team through 1620 podcasts, this board and social media primarily. I feel compelled to respond today, even though I typically just read the posts of others.

 

I'd like to start with all of the things I see as leadership strengths Bo has and/or things I have appreciated during his tenure:

 

1) I appreciate that Bo expects excellence in the classroom from his players. I do believe that he is as interested in preparing them for life beyond football as he is preparing them for the NFL. Others may discount this, but I believe this is something to be proud of as a Husker fan.

 

2) I appreciate that he has gone on record that we will honor the scholarship of Zach Darlington, even if he never plays a down. This is the right and honorable thing to do. Many schools would place winning above the needs of the young man, and I am very proud that we aren't one of those schools.

 

3) I love the special moment he helped to make possible for courageous young Jack Hoffman in the Spring Game. That was a unique and special moment that reminded the nation what is so magical about Nebraska.

 

People may find it especially critical of me, but the things as leadership deficiencies outnumber the strengths:

 

1) It is universally accepted that every individual has strengths and weaknesses. For this reason, the strongest leaders in any field are the ones with the humility to hire for their weaknesses. When I look at Bo's staff, I'm disappointed to see that he has hired friends and yes men primarily, rather than hiring individuals who can shore up his weaknesses and will have the courage to challenge him openly and honestly. This is a systemic organizational failure, because it creates group think and makes changing to adapt to new circumstances virtually impossible.

 

2) Bo is a particularly intelligent individual when it comes to the X's and O's of football and probably has an above average intellect. What he doesn't have is emotional intelligence, and this article gets to the heart of that. This again shows that he should be hiring for his weaknesses - he should have someone actively mentoring him on public and media relations. I honestly don't believe that he is self aware enough to understand the damage he does sometimes when shooting from the hip and saying what comes to mind.

 

3) He has shown a propensity to throw his team under the bus after losses. I appreciate that he credits his players after a win, but the press conference after the Minnesota game was pretty much the final straw for me. To paraphrase, what I heard him say was that the coaches thoroughly prepared the players and they didn't execute. These are college players, many of whom aren't headed to the NFL after they graduate. Strong leaders shoulder the blame and give away the credit - Bo didn't do that.

 

4) As others have stated, insanity by definition is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. Or, as I tell my employees: "If nothing changes, then nothing changes." Bo has shown a stubbornness and inflexibility at times that is absolutely mind boggling and disappointing. It is clear that our special teams are among the worst in the country and that we aren't placing value on the football (coughing the ball up way too much) during this year and in previous seasons during his tenure. Rather than acknowledge these things and indicate that he and his staff will find ways to clean this up, he says in a press conference on Monday that everything is fine in both areas. It isn't fine. He talks about the importance of winning and what his goals for the program are, but doesn't take steps to heal systemic problems that are causing us to beat ourselves over and over again. Frustrating.

 

5) By his own admission, Bo doesn't enjoy the process of recruiting. I would be fine with this if he took steps to ensure that recruiting was a strength of the program. I don't want to hear the excuses about how difficult it is to recruit here - I want to hear what the plan is to get the job done. There is an awful lot that NU can offer to young men that other schools simply can't match, and it is up to the coaching and recruiting staff to lock them in. I know that it isn't signing day yet, but when we are being out-recruited by powerhouses such as Western Michigan, Boston College and Rutgers, something is clearly wrong.

 

These are the major strengths and weaknesses I see with Bo. IHKS, I replied to you directly because I find it baffling that you would say that Bo did a "great job" during this article. This is not a personal attack - I respect your opinion and feel you have every right to voice it. That being said, when the most visible man in the state of Nebraska says that he doesn't care whether he returns to coach the program or not, does he truly deserve your support?

Edited November 20, 2013 by GlassCow

[jersey cubs fan]

There is an awful lot that NU can offer to young men that other schools simply can't match, and it is up to the coaching and recruiting staff to lock them in. I know that it isn't signing day yet, but when we are being out-recruited by powerhouses such as Western Michigan, Boston College and Rutgers, something is clearly wrong.

 

I think you are a little misguided on this point. The fact is that anything NU can offer students can be matched by probably a dozen or more other schools. It's not about what it can offer that others cannot match, because that really doesn't exist. There are only a handful of programs that sell themselves in recruiting. Nebraska is not among them.

[GlassCow]

There is an awful lot that NU can offer to young men that other schools simply can't match, and it is up to the coaching and recruiting staff to lock them in. I know that it isn't signing day yet, but when we are being out-recruited by powerhouses such as Western Michigan, Boston College and Rutgers, something is clearly wrong.

 

I think you are a little misguided on this point. The fact is that anything NU can offer students can be matched by probably a dozen or more other schools. It's not about what it can offer that others cannot match, because that really doesn't exist. There are only a handful of programs that sell themselves in recruiting. Nebraska is not among them.

 

I'm an unrepentant homer when it comes to the University of Nebraska. People from outside of the state will never understand, and I don't expect them to.

[NOLA]

There is an awful lot that NU can offer to young men that other schools simply can't match, and it is up to the coaching and recruiting staff to lock them in. I know that it isn't signing day yet, but when we are being out-recruited by powerhouses such as Western Michigan, Boston College and Rutgers, something is clearly wrong.

 

I think you are a little misguided on this point. The fact is that anything NU can offer students can be matched by probably a dozen or more other schools. It's not about what it can offer that others cannot match, because that really doesn't exist. There are only a handful of programs that sell themselves in recruiting. Nebraska is not among them.

 

I'm an unrepentant homer when it comes to the University of Nebraska. People from outside of the state will never understand, and I don't expect them to.

 

I appreciate your passion for NU, but I think that is exactly the problem there. People outside of the state of Nebraska don't know about what you're describing. There aren't nearly enough local recruits there that might get it for that to be a big enough factor. Nebraska has much work to do to return to a national recruiting power. Success begets success.

[jersey cubs fan]

There is an awful lot that NU can offer to young men that other schools simply can't match, and it is up to the coaching and recruiting staff to lock them in. I know that it isn't signing day yet, but when we are being out-recruited by powerhouses such as Western Michigan, Boston College and Rutgers, something is clearly wrong.

 

I think you are a little misguided on this point. The fact is that anything NU can offer students can be matched by probably a dozen or more other schools. It's not about what it can offer that others cannot match, because that really doesn't exist. There are only a handful of programs that sell themselves in recruiting. Nebraska is not among them.

 

I'm an unrepentant homer when it comes to the University of Nebraska. People from outside of the state will never understand, and I don't expect them to.

 

I understand. You are in the same boat as any number of fans of any number of other schools. You think your school is special and therefore can practically sell itself to anybody. The fact is there is a very small base of people for whom that "specialness" resonates. But that's not what recruiting is about. You are preaching to the choir when going after the little glasscows of the world. If you want to be better, you have to either recruit to the crowd for which Nebraska really isn't anything special, or actually coach the X's and O's better than the next guy. Or at the very least, find a gimmick that other teams can't figure out for a couple years.

[Guest]

Well, this isn't good.

 

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/statement-police-warned-accuser-about-pursuing-jameis-winston-matter/2153364

 

A Tallahassee detective told an accuser's attorney that Tallahassee is a "big football town" and her client's life could "be made miserable" if she pursued a sexual assault case against Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, according to an exclusive statement released by the family to the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday.

 

Yikes.

[GlassCow]

There is an awful lot that NU can offer to young men that other schools simply can't match, and it is up to the coaching and recruiting staff to lock them in. I know that it isn't signing day yet, but when we are being out-recruited by powerhouses such as Western Michigan, Boston College and Rutgers, something is clearly wrong.

 

I think you are a little misguided on this point. The fact is that anything NU can offer students can be matched by probably a dozen or more other schools. It's not about what it can offer that others cannot match, because that really doesn't exist. There are only a handful of programs that sell themselves in recruiting. Nebraska is not among them.

 

I'm an unrepentant homer when it comes to the University of Nebraska. People from outside of the state will never understand, and I don't expect them to.

 

I appreciate your passion for NU, but I think that is exactly the problem there. People outside of the state of Nebraska don't know about what you're describing. There aren't nearly enough local recruits there that might get it for that to be a big enough factor. Nebraska has much work to do to return to a national recruiting power. Success begets success.

 

I agree with this. It doesn't help that the current crop of recruits don't remember the dominant mid 90's and going to the championship game in 2001. This is a place where we demand conference championships, and haven't won one since 1999. Suh has helped us a bit in the recruiting game (particularly with defensive linemen like Gregory coming to play here,) but not nearly enough. The problem I have is that we aren't doubling down on recruiting and having dedicated staff working on it like the Alabamas, Florida States, etc. of the nation do.

[GlassCow]

There is an awful lot that NU can offer to young men that other schools simply can't match, and it is up to the coaching and recruiting staff to lock them in. I know that it isn't signing day yet, but when we are being out-recruited by powerhouses such as Western Michigan, Boston College and Rutgers, something is clearly wrong.

 

I think you are a little misguided on this point. The fact is that anything NU can offer students can be matched by probably a dozen or more other schools. It's not about what it can offer that others cannot match, because that really doesn't exist. There are only a handful of programs that sell themselves in recruiting. Nebraska is not among them.

 

I'm an unrepentant homer when it comes to the University of Nebraska. People from outside of the state will never understand, and I don't expect them to.

 

I understand. You are in the same boat as any number of fans of any number of other schools. You think your school is special and therefore can practically sell itself to anybody. The fact is there is a very small base of people for whom that "specialness" resonates. But that's not what recruiting is about. You are preaching to the choir when going after the little glasscows of the world. If you want to be better, you have to either recruit to the crowd for which Nebraska really isn't anything special, or actually coach the X's and O's better than the next guy. Or at the very least, find a gimmick that other teams can't figure out for a couple years.

 

I know exactly what you mean. That is what I was talking about when I said that a plan needed to be in place. The current staff procrastinates and appears to have no clue about how to get better in recruiting. They lucked into a #25 recruiting class last season by signing a bunch of guys late, but it's looking like the current group will be around #40. I won't sit here and say that we should always be a top 10 recruiting class; even Osborne didn't achieve that. It should be expected that we will be in the Top 25 each and every year though.

[Guest]

Are you kidding? Hes done a great job at a place where coaches go to die.

 

Willingham and Neuheisel were going to kill their career no matter where they went. They weren't good coaches (heck, Neuheisel was still 33-16 at Washington).

 

They won a national championship 22 years ago. This isn't some middling program and Sarkisian is in year 5 and has yet to win more than 7 games.

[NOLA]

GlassCow, you mention Bama and FSU. Bama is in very elite company historically, especially with the recent dominance. Florida State has the advantage of being in part of the best recruiting territory in the country. If Nebraska can look to an example of returning to prominence, maybe Tennessee would be similar.

Arkansas is not on that level nationally, but what they seem to be trying to do with some success is recruit to the strengths that they have. With Bielema, they have been able to do well with interior lineman using examples from his past (Joe Thomas, JJ Watt, etc.). Lord knows that they can't recruit based on the last 2 years.

[GlassCow]

GlassCow, you mention Bama and FSU. Bama is in very elite company historically, especially with the recent dominance. Florida State has the advantage of being in part of the best recruiting territory in the country. If Nebraska can look to an example of returning to prominence, maybe Tennessee would be similar.

Arkansas is not on that level nationally, but what they seem to be trying to do with some success is recruit to the strengths that they have. With Bielema, they have been able to do well with interior lineman using examples from his past (Joe Thomas, JJ Watt, etc.). Lord knows that they can't recruit based on the last 2 years.

 

If I'm being honest, Michigan and Ohio State are better examples. They are similar in geography, and obviously in our conference. The point wasn't the schools specifically, but rather their recruiting practices. People seem to forget that Nebraska is a blue blood program. It wasn't by accident that the following has occurred in our proud football history:

 

5 National Championships

43 Conference Championships

4th most all-time victories among FBS schools, behind Michigan, Texas and Notre Dame (who we are only 9 wins behind)

9th in winning percentage among FBS schools

Winningest college football program during the last 50 years

 

When I say I'm a homer, it isn't only because I'm from here. Nebraska is a blue blood program, and has the resources to compete every single year on a national level. I additionally don't expect that we will see a return to the Devaney and Osborne years - but I do expect to be nationally relevant and winning conference championships. This is Nebraska.

[jersey cubs fan]

GlassCow, you mention Bama and FSU. Bama is in very elite company historically, especially with the recent dominance. Florida State has the advantage of being in part of the best recruiting territory in the country. If Nebraska can look to an example of returning to prominence, maybe Tennessee would be similar.

Arkansas is not on that level nationally, but what they seem to be trying to do with some success is recruit to the strengths that they have. With Bielema, they have been able to do well with interior lineman using examples from his past (Joe Thomas, JJ Watt, etc.). Lord knows that they can't recruit based on the last 2 years.

 

If I'm being honest, Michigan and Ohio State are better examples. They are similar in geography, and obviously in our conference. The point wasn't the schools specifically, but rather their recruiting practices. People seem to forget that Nebraska is a blue blood program. It wasn't by accident that the following has occurred in our proud football history:

 

5 National Championships

43 Conference Championships

4th most all-time victories among FBS schools, behind Michigan, Texas and Notre Dame (who we are only 9 wins behind)

9th in winning percentage among FBS schools

Winningest college football program during the last 50 years

 

When I say I'm a homer, it isn't only because I'm from here. Nebraska is a blue blood program, and has the resources to compete every single year on a national level. I additionally don't expect that we will see a return to the Devaney and Osborne years - but I do expect to be nationally relevant and winning conference championships. This is Nebraska.

 

Nebraska is not a blue blood program. Or, if it is, the blue blood is based on the family's great great grandfather's textiles company and the fortune has been dwindling. Nebraska is a step down in prominence from Michigan and Ohio State. Nebraska is Iowa and Wisconsin with a better track record. But that record is very old, and from a very different era of college football.

[Ryne Ween]

They won a national championship 22 years ago. This isn't some middling program and Sarkisian is in year 5 and has yet to win more than 7 games.

 

Didnt they vacate a couple of years because of that team? And the only other good season here or there prior to Sarkesian is mired in incredibly underhanded dealings in the neihiesel era.

 

But to show what Sark's 5yr run is compared to the previous 5yrs: (for this i have assumed they go 1-2 the rest ofn this year)

 

total wins:

33 vs 12

PAC wins:

23 vs 6

Bowl Apearences:

4 vs 0

Weeks Ranked:

9 vs 0

 

He has essentially turned them from horrendous to competitive and had a hugely positive impact on the program which was an absolute joke prior to him takign the job.

[GlassCow]

GlassCow, you mention Bama and FSU. Bama is in very elite company historically, especially with the recent dominance. Florida State has the advantage of being in part of the best recruiting territory in the country. If Nebraska can look to an example of returning to prominence, maybe Tennessee would be similar.

Arkansas is not on that level nationally, but what they seem to be trying to do with some success is recruit to the strengths that they have. With Bielema, they have been able to do well with interior lineman using examples from his past (Joe Thomas, JJ Watt, etc.). Lord knows that they can't recruit based on the last 2 years.

 

If I'm being honest, Michigan and Ohio State are better examples. They are similar in geography, and obviously in our conference. The point wasn't the schools specifically, but rather their recruiting practices. People seem to forget that Nebraska is a blue blood program. It wasn't by accident that the following has occurred in our proud football history:

 

5 National Championships

43 Conference Championships

4th most all-time victories among FBS schools, behind Michigan, Texas and Notre Dame (who we are only 9 wins behind)

9th in winning percentage among FBS schools

Winningest college football program during the last 50 years

 

When I say I'm a homer, it isn't only because I'm from here. Nebraska is a blue blood program, and has the resources to compete every single year on a national level. I additionally don't expect that we will see a return to the Devaney and Osborne years - but I do expect to be nationally relevant and winning conference championships. This is Nebraska.

 

Something else to consider for those who don't believe that there is anything special about Husker football. We share borders with the following states: Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa and Missouri. Let's take a look at how similar states and their schools compare to our track record:

 

Combined national championships among their FBS schools: 1 (Colorado in 1990)

Combined conference championships among their FBS schools: 83 (Iowa 13, KU 8, KSU 6, Colorado 26, Wyoming 15, Missouri 15)

Winningest program among these schools - Colorado, nearly 200 wins behind Nebraska

Best winning percentage among these schools - Missouri, .540 to Nebraska's .700.

[GlassCow]

GlassCow, you mention Bama and FSU. Bama is in very elite company historically, especially with the recent dominance. Florida State has the advantage of being in part of the best recruiting territory in the country. If Nebraska can look to an example of returning to prominence, maybe Tennessee would be similar.

Arkansas is not on that level nationally, but what they seem to be trying to do with some success is recruit to the strengths that they have. With Bielema, they have been able to do well with interior lineman using examples from his past (Joe Thomas, JJ Watt, etc.). Lord knows that they can't recruit based on the last 2 years.

 

If I'm being honest, Michigan and Ohio State are better examples. They are similar in geography, and obviously in our conference. The point wasn't the schools specifically, but rather their recruiting practices. People seem to forget that Nebraska is a blue blood program. It wasn't by accident that the following has occurred in our proud football history:

 

5 National Championships

43 Conference Championships

4th most all-time victories among FBS schools, behind Michigan, Texas and Notre Dame (who we are only 9 wins behind)

9th in winning percentage among FBS schools

Winningest college football program during the last 50 years

 

When I say I'm a homer, it isn't only because I'm from here. Nebraska is a blue blood program, and has the resources to compete every single year on a national level. I additionally don't expect that we will see a return to the Devaney and Osborne years - but I do expect to be nationally relevant and winning conference championships. This is Nebraska.

 

Nebraska is not a blue blood program. Or, if it is, the blue blood is based on the family's great great grandfather's textiles company and the fortune has been dwindling. Nebraska is a step down in prominence from Michigan and Ohio State. Nebraska is Iowa and Wisconsin with a better track record. But that record is very old, and from a very different era of college football.

 

The following ESPN article disagrees. Yes, it's 4 years old which is an eternity in this sport, but the article has us in the top 5.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3849468

[ConstableRabbit]

Worse, it also uses an incorrect abbreviation.

 

University of Nebraska = UN.

[GlassCow]

Worse, it also uses an incorrect abbreviation.

 

University of Nebraska = UN.

 

Jeeze, didn't even notice that. Horrible. Well, I'm done evangelizing for one day anyway.

[Guest]

I think Nebraska is more like Penn State (nothing to dow with child rapers) than Iowa or Wisconsin. Their star has faded, but they still have an abundance of tradition and pride. I think Michigan is going this way too. Notre Dame is already there and if they ever join a conference it will only become more apparent.

[GlassCow]

I think Nebraska is more like Penn State (nothing to dow with child rapers) than Iowa or Wisconsin. Their star has faded, but they still have an abundance of tradition and pride. I think Michigan is going this way too. Notre Dame is already there and if they ever join a conference it will only become more apparent.

 

I think these are fair comparisons, and appreciate that you quantified the Penn State comparison.

[Guest]

They won a national championship 22 years ago. This isn't some middling program and Sarkisian is in year 5 and has yet to win more than 7 games.

 

Didnt they vacate a couple of years because of that team? And the only other good season here or there prior to Sarkesian is mired in incredibly underhanded dealings in the neihiesel era.

 

But to show what Sark's 5yr run is compared to the previous 5yrs: (for this i have assumed they go 1-2 the rest ofn this year)

 

total wins:

33 vs 12

PAC wins:

23 vs 6

Bowl Apearences:

4 vs 0

Weeks Ranked:

9 vs 0

 

He has essentially turned them from horrendous to competitive and had a hugely positive impact on the program which was an absolute joke prior to him takign the job.

 

Sarkisian is still a .500 coach (33-31 in your hypothetical), I wouldn't consider that "competitive" and certainly not a "big hire" for USC. This is USC we are talking about here. That Sarkisian is better than his predecessor - one of the worst coaches in recent college football memory - doesn't change his mediocre record. He isn't on the same level as Sumlin, as you implied in your original post.

[Thed Hoyerstein]

GlassCow, you mention Bama and FSU. Bama is in very elite company historically, especially with the recent dominance. Florida State has the advantage of being in part of the best recruiting territory in the country. If Nebraska can look to an example of returning to prominence, maybe Tennessee would be similar.

Arkansas is not on that level nationally, but what they seem to be trying to do with some success is recruit to the strengths that they have. With Bielema, they have been able to do well with interior lineman using examples from his past (Joe Thomas, JJ Watt, etc.). Lord knows that they can't recruit based on the last 2 years.

 

If I'm being honest, Michigan and Ohio State are better examples. They are similar in geography, and obviously in our conference..

 

Yeah, they're not really better examples. Relative to the Big Ten, Michigan and Ohio State are situated in fertile recruiting grounds, and each have a national brand that brings in high-level recruits from all over the country. Additionally each have very strong academic institutions and there's been a recent trend where elite academic schools are bringing in stronger and stronger recruits i.e. Stanford, Northwestern, Vanderbilt.

 

Compare this to Nebraska where there are what, 3 D1 football recruits a year? And i'm pretty sure that Nebraska is the only school in the Big Ten that doesn't have AAU certification, which I believe they lost shortly after joining the conference. Add those two variables up, and Michigan and Ohio State are in different stratospheres on a go-forward basis, regardless of how Hoke's tenure will end up.

[NewUserName]

I think Nebraska is more like Penn State (nothing to dow with child rapers) than Iowa or Wisconsin. Their star has faded, but they still have an abundance of tradition and pride. I think Michigan is going this way too. Notre Dame is already there and if they ever join a conference it will only become more apparent.

I think PSU, ND and Michigan all can rebound and become National powers again. PSU and Mich have a lot of alumni, fill up their 100,000 seat stadiums religiously, strong national brands and closer to good recruits. Honestly who really are the blue blood programs anymore? Alabama obviously.....then LSU.....then ???. It wouldn't surprise me if in 3 yrs Michigan or ND were knocking on the NT door anymore then the current top 10 programs.