NU vs. Auburn score predictions

[Alex T.]

nothing negative,just honest. I know,alot of people on here don't like things if they're not sugar coated,sorry about that. I guess if they haven't had coaching/adjustment problems and a lack of motivation from players/coaches,then I am watching a different team cause that's what I see compared to teams from years back when they pounded teams into losing. How many years will Husker fans put up with mediocre play? My guess,not much longer. Husker fans want wins,championships and anything less is unacceptable.Husker fans expect the best from everyone playing/coaching on each play.This isn't just a game anymore,each loss brings less recruits,mad fans,less public viewing(not on tv as much),and in the long run........less money...period. How many recruits in tha last couple of years have told NU they would play, then not sign,and go on to another school? That says something to NUs football program because back when they were champions year in/out,they could recruit anyone they wanted with just a simple asking. Like I said before.....when NU comes to play a whole game,they're a great team and can compete with any team in the nation. When they show up and only play a quarter or two,don't make necessary adjustments,substitue players when they aren't producing,etc., they are only an average team that has a tough time winning games. Everyone says Zach is such a great QB cause he holds the passing titles for almost(if not all) the passing categories for NU. Of course he does,he's about the first throwing QB they have had since NU started.If this offense stays in place for a long period of time(like the run did),you'll see he is just an average QB cause he won't hold too many passing categories a few years down the road.

Alex

[BadBass]

Zac Taylor is not a good QB because he holds the passing records at NU. His leadership and smart decision making are what make him one of the better QBs. Anyone that uses those stats as a measuring stick is not very informed.

One thing people need to get in their heads is that college football has changed. We arent the old Nebraska that had all the biggest and best athletes. Scholarship limitations are a big part of that. College football has become a lot more competitive as a biproduct. I dont think it is very useful to compare this husker team to past husker teams. Its just not the same era anymore.

Alex, it seems you are wanting to start a fight and im not all that interested in one. Ill leave it at that.
-Drew

[Alex T.]

Your'e exactly right. Husker fans shouldn't use the past records to compare with the future.However,that's what most Husker fans do and those old qualities of winning year in/out are what has come to be expected. The sad part is....unless they go pretty much unbeaten(maybe 1 loss),they'll never play for a national championship again. Not trying to argue,just seeing things thru non-Husker eyes that may help them win in the future.Of course,people high up in the NU departments would have to read this forum to see our points.:d :d

Alex

[Willie Boy]

Badbass: I don't see Alex as spoiling for a fight...just calling it the way he sees it, in particular, as he's shared, the way a significant majority of husker fans he's exposed to see it.

Personally, I think the facts speak for themselves...9-win seasons don't mean the Huskers are 'back' for several reasons: the rest of the league is a heck of a lot better than during the 80's...and 90's for that matter. Not just because we added the 4 Texas schools, but because there are better athletes and coaches across the board now than at any other time...

And yes, the team is not on par with the teams of 95/95. Not sure very many teams ever were or will ever be...

But keep in mind: I've long held that just recruiting the best athletes is no guarantee of 'winning'...just ask Texas.

And, if you all want to point the finger at a turning point in recent history, I believe it occurred when you have the two big linemen leave early: Dom Raiola and the following year the other kid. I think that seriously disrupted the line 'continuity'...as far as the offense goes.

On defense, the Browns were just special players...still are. And there were a few 'others there' too...now, NU still has some very good players, but so too do other teams. They've built with JC's and good, talented kids who wanted to go somewhere to play and build something.

A kid doesn't have to play for Nebraska or Michigan or USC to be good. He can be good anywhere. The pros are populated with kids that didn't even have 'the talent' to play Div 1...

Yes, Husker fan expectations are high...the question is, should they be that high? Face it, the dominance of the 90's was just about guaranteed to come to an end once the Big XII was formed and NU had to face decent competition week in and week out.

NU has dropped off, sure....but a lot of others have stepped up a whole lot...if it's only about the W's, life sucks. If it's truly about the majesty, sportsmanship, hope and anticipation then this is much better...

But no Husker fan wants to hear this...then again, growth is often painful...think it's a good time to be a psychiatrist

[Alex T.]

Another thing I might add. When NU used to get a big lead(as would any school),they would play the younger guys to gain experience. Nowadays,NU can't afford to do that.Thus,the new guys coming in each year(even though they have been there a year or two) have no game time experience.I think that hurts NU alot as it would with any team.Those younger guys are running the other teams plays(during practice) for the first team guys and can't get into any good routine for NU's play book. I think that especially hurts the receivers/QB with timing on pass plays. Also,the offensive line with blocking for the RBs.Just a thought.

Alex

[burrodebo]

Good point Alex.

Has there been a game this year where QB#2 for NU has seen significant playing time?

What in the heck is his name? I don't even know, and I aint talking about Ganz.

Sometimes I think I'd like to see us start a true freshman at QB and really stink it up for a year or two and then get 2 excellent years.

Hard for me to believe a guy can get to where he needs to be only playing a couple years.

[Storm]

You dont think the fact that he was getting nailed on every play had anything to do with his lack of accuracy?

I think he wasn't getting nailed , I think he was tossing the ball away for starters and when he wasn't , on about every play he pulled up a chair - sat there - looked around - said please wait - oh they are not going to wait - get up and well then the game ended the way it did ...

[Willie Boy]

Alex,
It's a vicious circle...play close games, don't get to season the youngsters as much...lose enough games, don't get to go to a bowl game and lose out on valuable extra practice time to develop the younger players...

But, really, in the old Big Eight days you could count on playing teams that wouldn't make it to a bowl...teams like KSU, KU, OSU, ISU, CU, MU...these teams were routinely turning in seasons with somewhere south of 5-6 wins...those are the games NU treated as 'tune-ups' and often scored 50+ points just running the ball...stack that league on top of the typical non-conference scheduling (3 easy, one potential 'bump in the road') and yeah, you got to play a lot of kids...

This year, the Big XII has 9 bowl eligible teams...it's a different world. Sure, the 94/95 team could have done exactly what they did with this league...but those guys were special, not just as athletes, but as competitors...

Folks can beat on 'this player' or 'that player' but I keep on laughing...because if you can't do it better, you ought to sit down and be quiet. Of course, from a competitive point of view, the more you all can 'eat your young' and the more frequently you can run off coaches is good ... makes our job a lot easier...:d

you all got 9 wins and a date with Auburn. If the Huskers are truly as good as some folks seem to want them to be, should be a good game. Or is it that you're worried folks will start to drop the 'cornflake comparison' again (you know the one: what do the Huskers and Corn flakes have in common? Neither one looks good in a bowl)...

Here's a news flash: folks who really study this stuff might contend that the records of the 80'-90's were compiled against poor competition. Remember, you didn't need to schedule D-2 teams with the likes of KU, MU, ISU and KSU on the schedule...these teams often were beaten by D-2 competion...remember? Now, it's a much more competitive situation and you're still doing well...in fact, better than most...what percentage of teams in the country have 9 wins to this point?

[Chad]

I thought it was a good season... team showed character and proved to be champions... making progress toward everyone's insane expectation of a national championship in just a few short years. 8)

[Storm]

Folks can beat on 'this player' or 'that player' but I keep on laughing...because if you can't do it better, you ought to sit down and be quiet.

Laugh on William because it doesn't matter if you or I or anyone here can "do it better" , it does matter though when one reads excuse after excuse regarding how ole Zach can really take a hit an the list goes on , when again in my opinion he played like a chump ...

I still claim that our defense should have been allowed to whoop his ass after that game , after all regarding that game in question I personally thought our defense done a terrific job and a couple of you guys here need to lose this whole notion that some of us here are wanting an immediate National Championship on our plates as of today , right now so to speak ... On the contrary when a guy plays like a chump , then conversation follows regarding just how bad that kid played ...

My complaint now is not how bad the kid played , my complaint is how I now read nothing but excuses ...

[BadBass]

so much for being done with this. :zrazzing: :zrazzing: :zrazzing:

Storm,
Zac played a bad game. Everyone knows that. MY PROBLEM is that several here want to make Zac into a horrible QB. I dont think its fair to characterize Zac's career here at NU on the Big 12 championship, especially sense we've got a pretty big game against Auburn still ahead of us.

Lets hold off on the doom and gloom until after we play Auburn, ok guys? :d

[Chad]

I hear you storm. Expectations are high, but maybe not "National Championship" high for everyone.

For me, I try to remember that these are kids. I think back on my college days - not all that long ago - and remember just how young I was. Criticisms and name calling is fine for pros who get paid, but kids playing school ball? Fans ought not run them down. No doubt their out there giving it everything they got and know how to do. If not, the coach should deal with that. I have no problem leveling criticisms at college coaches, but college players... that's not for me.

Nebraska's boys have put up a good fight this year. I'm proud of our championship team.

Just my opinion.

[Chad]

Oh and I'm looking forward to a good bowl game too.

[Storm]

Storm,
Zac played a bad game. Everyone knows that.

It seems not everyone knows that BadBass :zthink: ... No one has stated Zach is a terrible QB either :zhuh: ...

[BadBass]

Originally Posted by Storm

It seems not everyone knows that BadBass :zthink: ... No one has stated Zach is a terrible QB either :zhuh: ...

Actually Alex did.....

Everyone says Zach is such a great QB cause he holds the passing titles for almost(if not all) the passing categories for NU. Of course he does,he's about the first throwing QB they have had since NU started.If this offense stays in place for a long period of time(like the run did),you'll see he is just an average QB cause he won't hold too many passing categories a few years down the road.

[Alex T.]

Where does that statement say he's terrible?? Average..yes. BTW Chad. How much do you think scholarships cost NU to give to athletes along with free rooms,food,pretty much all medical needs,etc. Add all of those things up over 4-5years and,IMO, quite a few college players are being "paid" to play. Expectations should be high and quality play on a consistent basis should be expected,IMO. That's why they were recruited to play for NU or whatever team they received a scholarship to.

Alex

[Willie Boy]

Actually, Alex said 'Zach's a mediocre QB' not 'terrible'. In the old days it used to be said 'my grandmother could run for a 100 behind the NU O-line'...that was then, this is now.

Blaming skills players for failures is just a bad as giving them all the credit when they look great.

Much as I'd like to stay in this and keep it going, I think I'll just wait untill after the Auburn game to see if it can get any worse...

Guess what I'm trying to say here, Storm, is that there's enough blame to go around...you don't need to focus on Zach. There's also the Defensive secondary (which everyone knew at the beginning of the season was suspect and weak even if Bowmans out there)...then there's the O-line. Then there's the coach.

and finally, when do you also blame 60,000 NU fans who failed to deliver 'homefield' advantage at Arrowhead? In my mind this is kind of like the global warming issue...easy to point to issue after issue but kind of hard to actually, as an individual, DO anything about it...:roll:

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Alex T.

Where does that statement say he's terrible?? Average..yes. BTW Chad. How much do you think scholarships cost NU to give to athletes along with free rooms,food,pretty much all medical needs,etc. Add all of those things up over 4-5years and,IMO, quite a few college players are being "paid" to play. Expectations should be high and quality play on a consistent basis should be expected,IMO. That's why they were recruited to play for NU or whatever team they received a scholarship to.

Alex

Yeah, I know the players get lots of perks. It doesn't cost NU anything though. They make money off the program, not lose it. I knew a player or two in my time at UNL (like I'm sure everyone has)... got the inside scoop from them on the program and all the perks they get from middle school on up. Also heard about all the downsides. At best, it's a wash. Personally, I'd take a pass on all the perks given what comes along with it. No thanks. :?

[Dolomite]

Zac was a good QB for us to get the new offense rolling in the right direction. Will he be the best, no, will his records be surpassed, hell yes...but that doesn't mean he's a terrible QB. Look at Keller next season... he got the shaft at ASU and that's the ONLY reason he came to Lincoln. We are heading in the right direction.... now we just need to get our Defense where it needs to be, and I see championship in our site, not far down the road. We just got an oral commitment from Fabian Washington (CB for the Raiders now) to come play SS for the 'Skers next season. Now if we can just get some HOG Linebackers who can play a full game, get some better recruits on our D line.... I think we'll be fine. Just gotta have patience!

Auburn 21
Huskers 27

Finish the season ranked in the top 25 - works for me!

[adammd]

We just got an oral commitment from Fabian Washington (CB for the Raiders now) to come play SS for the 'Skers next season.

I think what Dirk is trying to say is we got a commit from LaTravis Washington, Fabians cousin!!!!!! Put the Limon bottle down Dirk