NU vs. USC

[fish_finder]

Originally Posted by BoB_25

Sometimes I wouldn't call it talent...... But yes the game will be interesting none the less.........

Just like Alex said we should have no excuse (rebuilding, recruiting, nervous, and whatever you want to call it.) I love Nebraska football and don't miss a game. I do whatever I can to listen, watch, or attend but I really think we are in for a troubled year. And we will continue to be in trouble until we get Callahan out of the seat........

Yeah maybe they can rehire Solich or get Osborne out of retirement.........

[BoB_25]

Originally Posted by fish_finder

Yeah maybe they can rehire Solich or get Osborne out of retirement.........

Not necessary, but it would be nice to have someone like Osborne....

[OldBaldGuy]

Huskers will be caught looking ahead to Ball State.

USC - 42
NU - 9

[mtsamuelson]

I think a big problem with the Huskers (and it has been for many years now), is that there is no consistency in the way they play.

I remember back to '94 & '95...the Huskers consistently came out on the field, and more times than not, absolutely dominated their opponent (in offense, defense, & even special teams). If the Huskers ever want to even think about snagging first place, they are going to have to get back on this track.

As far as USC goes, I don't think they are going all the way this year. I don't really think they have all that impressive of a team. LSU will be number one when all is said and done.

I think the Huskers have the ability to win the game, I just don't think they will execute like they need to (as usual). I have this gut feeling I will be switching channels during halftime...

USC = 59; NU = 13

[adammd]

Originally Posted by mtsamuelson

I think a big problem with the Huskers (and it has been for many years now), is that there is no consistency in the way they play.

I remember back to '94 & '95...the Huskers consistently came out on the field, and more times than not, absolutely dominated their opponent (in offense, defense, & even special teams). If the Huskers ever want to even think about snagging first place, they are going to have to get back on this track.

I think this is more coaching style than anything else, and I can't say for sure if its good or bad. Frustrating for sure. Osborne came out and ran the ball and the plays we were all used to seeing year in and year out. The other team knew it was coming, but we were going to do it anyway so it was a true, accurate, and steady yardstick by which to measure the team. This works great if you are usually the superior team, you enforce your will and dominate.

Callahan coaches like more traditional NFL coaches. Rather than playing to your best talents, he seems to gameplan differently for each opponent, looking more to exploit their weaknesses than go with his strengths.

Now for which one is better, it all depends on the team. If osborne had inferior teams what he didn't wouldn't have worked as well. Playing in a situation like Callahan & crew face this weekend, I think his style will be better. No question SC has superior athletes, so its going to take some serious gameplanning to get a win. We can't just line up and enforce our will against USC.

I hope we win, think we have an OK chance pull one off, but a loss will not bother me as much as a win would be to the anti-husker nebraskans (for whatever reason).

GO BIG RED

[Catfishsteve]

Originally Posted by adammd

Callahan coaches like more traditional NFL coaches. Rather than playing to your best talents, he seems to gameplan differently for each opponent, looking more to exploit their weaknesses than go with his strengths.

Can't disagree with you there, Adam.

I sit there in disbelief every week when NU lines up, shifts 3 times during the count, puts a man in motion, reverses him and then runs the ball carrier off tackle for 2 yards.




Callahan's system is better than Solich, who never could seem to come up with a better call on each inevitable third-and-long than the "quarterback no-option roll to the short side".

The point is to not be in third and long very much of the time. A point of the game that Callahan, at least as some grasp of, unlike Frankie.

What ever happened to just lining up and smacking someone in the mouth? I mean really, if you're just going to run off tackle anyway?
NU has shown this year that they still know how to do a little of that.

The Nevada game was more of a return to just imposing our will. That was good. Those 14 straight runs after that interception ground Nevada down to a nub and the game was ours from that point on.

Chuck Noll always said something like "Keep taking what they give until they stop you from taking it. Then take something else."

In other words, winning football usually comes down to the team who is more successful in moving the chains by smacking the other team in the mouth with the ball, over and over and over.

That's what I hope NU is concentrating on doing this week, rather than dragging out 157 new ****fty formations thinking they're going to fool someone. USC is the type of team that even if our playbook fools their guys on the sidelines and up in the press box every once in a while, we're not going to fool those 11 guys across the ball from us very often, if at all.

Those guys are going to need a smack in the mouth, otherwise, they are going to take NU apart on every play, once we finally quit jacking around and snap the ball.

[Mako]

One thing that Nebraska hasn't done well is adjust their strategies when a strategy isn't working, or could be better. They do really well when something is starting to work well and they just keep doing the same thing and exploiting that weakness. However, a team like USC is going to constantly adjust. Something the Huskers and coaches will have to do if they want to compete with the top teams.

I think the biggest problem? The coaches up in the boxes don't find the weakness and relay it down to the sidelines to try to exploit it very well.

[jimbosan]

Everyone seems to be pretty high on Tommy O, but they have a short memory for sure. Until the early 90's many many people wanted him fired as well. He always had a tendency to choke on the big one. Even the decision to go for the win in the Miami game instead of the tie IMHO (1983 I think) was a stupid decision. If we had tied that game we would have been national champs that year as it were we ended up #2 I believe. Was Tom a good coach? Probably one of the best! My point is it took him a while also, we need to give Callahan a chance, I think he will go down as one of Nebraska's greatest!

[Catfishsteve]

Originally Posted by jimbosan

Everyone seems to be pretty high on Tommy O, but they have a short memory for sure.

Yeah, I remember they asked TO one time at some celebration of some Nat'l Championship or something in the 90's what he thought about all the hoopla and he said

"well, I want to remind everyone that I'm the same guy they wanted lynch back when I'd lost 7 bowl games in a row!!"

Wise words, jimbo!

[jimk]

I agree with ya Jimbo. When I think about this game I think that USC is going to come out trying to prove they still deserve that no. 1 spot. With LSU coming on strong and Oklahoma showing they can play ball USC will want to show they are still the best. If we show up with some intensity and some fire we should be able to hang with them. If we can make proper adjustments and hang on to the ball it will be close. Memorial Stadium is gonna be loud.

[suddawg]

Originally Posted by jimbosan

Everyone seems to be pretty high on Tommy O, but they have a short memory for sure. Until the early 90's many many people wanted him fired as well. He always had a tendency to choke on the big one. Even the decision to go for the win in the Miami game instead of the tie IMHO (1983 I think) was a stupid decision. If we had tied that game we would have been national champs that year as it were we ended up #2 I believe. Was Tom a good coach? Probably one of the best! My point is it took him a while also, we need to give Callahan a chance, I think he will go down as one of Nebraska's greatest!

I concur 100% Hey guess what, Nebraska made the top 10 list of hardest places to be a college football coach on ESPN (#8.) Can't imagine why

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/column...uce&id=3012827

Seems not only have the coaches changed in the past few years, seems like the fans have also. In a bad way that is!

I've endured too much ridicule from my comrades from other states in far away lands like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq and Afghanistan to give up on them. I bleed Husker Scarlet and Cream.

I'm not giving up on them just because they have to play the #1 team, and I trully believe they're going to win. Do they have their work cut out for them...hell yes! Let's hope the 85K+ at memorial Saturday keeps their support going, it seems the huskers get little anywhere else.

SudDawg

GO BIG RED!!!

[RINGNKS]

I think we have a better chance than a lot of people think. Memorial will be rocking and the players have to be pumped. I wouldn't let the Wake Forest game scare you, it was their first away game. My guess:

NU 24 USC 21

[LundLover]

I agree that Memorial Stadium will be rocking. It's a big game, and it's a night game, so it will be loud, loud, loud. But if we play poorly, early on, and USC throws a couple of touchdowns on us early...then it will be quiet, quiet, quiet.

If we are still around in the 4th quarter then we should be dangerous.

[Ty Stromquist]

So now everyone wants Callahan fired and Solich back?

I tell ya you Husker fans are full of excuses and just gotta blame in on something else besides players that are avg.

[fish_finder]

I guess my post lacked a

Nebraska has the players to compete with USC now. Will be a fun game to watch.

[elkstalkr]

31-14 USC

Husker homecrowd is the reason I kept it that close

[Willie Boy]

Originally Posted by mtsamuelson

I think a big problem with the Huskers (and it has been for many years now), is that there is no consistency in the way they play.

Seems to me the biggest difference is the offensive line...I still think (and take every opportunity to make this statement) that when Dominic Raiola left early and the next year you lost 'the other Hawaiian' that the continuity of the offensive line was severely disrupted (or rats left a sinking ship)...but having Raiola around for another year and the other young man for 2 more would have made a huge difference in giving the other guys time to mature/develop.

Then Incognito didn't do much to solve the issues either...

A great line can make a mediocre back look amazing. Or was there a different reason why NU Heisman backs didn't make many big spashes in the NFL? A great offensive line can make a mediocre coach look great...

Every one's a genius when a teams 9-2, 10-2 or 13-0...

[Justin83]

Willie,

The decline of the O-line was ultimately the main factor that led to the demise in 2002 and a strong reason in why NU finished at 7-7. Jammal Lord was a decent QB who was a very nice athlete, but in 02, he was adjusting to his first year as the starting QB. Losing Raiola, Fonoti, and Russ Hochstein proved to be too much to handle. Schwab had heart, but bad knees, and the decline in the line is somewhat because uncle Milt couldn't go out and recruit like he once did because of his health.
We also had a lot of highly recruited/ranked O-line guys that never did pan out and made very little on the field impact. Meanwhile, while everyone is watching/attending the USC game, Willie will have his choice of SE NE lake to himself...unless KSU has a game that night also. I remember one of my best local outings had to be on a saturday afternoon when a game was going on, the lake was like a ghost-town, but the bass were hungry!

[Willie Boy]

Originally Posted by Justin83

Willie,

The decline of the O-line was ultimately the main factor that led to the demise in 2002 and a strong reason in why NU finished at 7-7. Jammal Lord was a decent QB who was a very nice athlete, but in 02, he was adjusting to his first year as the starting QB. Losing Raiola, Fonoti, and Russ Hochstein proved to be too much to handle. Schwab had heart, but bad knees, and the decline in the line is somewhat because uncle Milt couldn't go out and recruit like he once did because of his health.
We also had a lot of highly recruited/ranked O-line guys that never did pan out and made very little on the field impact. Meanwhile, while everyone is watching/attending the USC game, Willie will have his choice of SE NE lake to himself...unless KSU has a game that night also. I remember one of my best local outings had to be on a saturday afternoon when a game was going on, the lake was like a ghost-town, but the bass were hungry!

Saturday with the family...will watch the game that evening...hard to root for the skers...not sure I can root for USC (life is sooo hard!)... Sunday sharing the lake with hords of KC fans like me who can't bear to watch the game...

Cats play 1-AA Missouri State Saturday. Unlike the Huskers, we don't get those games televised...hoping we don't go 'Michigan' ... of course, as bad as folks may want to say the Big XII north is this year...I have a feeling we're going to get more than a few wins over the southern division...the tipping point is nigh...the balance of power is about to swing north again...although not as far north as Lincoln...

[Alex T.]

Wonder if anyone is out watching USC pratice at Westside right now. Probably some NU coaches trying to video it so they can study the signs before tomorrow.

Alex