Ask A Husker

by Jon Johnston on Oct 13, 2009 11:03 PM CDT

Blogs tend to do Q&A sessions between each other's site editors, managers, or whatever. In that regard, we're tending towards being a little like the regular media in that we're restricting the conversation between only a few people.

I'd like to expand the conversation - so allow me to open up this forum for any questions you guys may have about Nebraska, the football team, or the state or the fans as it pertains to Thursday's game, the non-conference slate, or the long-term outlook.

Seth has informed me that his week is pretty tight, so I would appreciate it if some of you knowledgeable Tech fans would hop over to Corn Nation and start the same dialogue there. My members would certainly appreciate knowing more about your team.

Thanks!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors.

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Bo Pelini

Bo Pelini is talking up his offensive coaches this week. Was Nebraska’s lack of a running game last week due more to the weather or the Mizzou defense?

Do you think Pelini will use the same game plan he used last year against the Red Raiders?

How do Husker fans feel about Pelini? Do you think he’s the head coach Nebraska has been looking for? If so, any thoughts about the Bill Callahan hire in 2003?

Thanks.

I'm not worthy. Really.

by Campeador on Oct 13, 2009 11:44 PM CDT reply actions

I really like Pelini. I think he is going to b e very successful there.

by TT4EVER on Oct 14, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions

I like him as well

Pelini was the defensive coordinator at Nebraska the year Frank Solich was fired. He was the temporary head coach for their bowl game that year. As I understand it, many Nebraska fans thought Pelini would get the head coaching job that year.

I'm not worthy. Really.

by Campeador on Oct 14, 2009 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't know that we thought he would

But many of us DID want him to get the job. There was a “We want Bo” chant after we beat Michigan State in San Antonio. But there was also a sizeable fanbase that wanted Turner Gill to succeed Solich.

But whether we wanted Gill or Pelini, we all went “WTH?” at the naming of Callahan.

by Wolvie on Oct 15, 2009 2:17 AM CDT up reply actions

.....

lack of a running game….. there were two reasons for running game.
first – Missouri was stacking the line against the run, so Zac Lee audibled away from the run quite a bit.
second – Nebraska’s offensive line is not a big powerful, run blocking line like the years under Tom Osborne. They’re decent at pass protection, but struggling to establish any kind of push on the rush. They’re above average, but not great.

Pelini – Hard to not be happy with him. He’s got a team that plays hard and plays good defense. Things look upward. There’s no reason not to like the guy right now.

Bill Callahan – will be a head coach someday for another team and God help their fanbase if they expect anything out of him but blubbering bullshit. He is a good position coach. As a head coach, if things go badly his insecurities are apparent, and then he fails.

Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
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by Jon Johnston on Oct 14, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I have a question, corn blight

How did you Nebraska fans get to be so friendly? Ya’ll are undoubtedly the most courteous fanbase in the nation. After the close loss you guys suffered last year in Lubbock, I had several fans congratulate me and after we barely won in 2005 I remember your fans clapping for our boys…just remarkable!

by techtom4 on Oct 13, 2009 11:57 PM CDT reply actions 4 recs

i second this fully

Wreck 'Em Tech!

J.T.H.

by redraidersax on Oct 15, 2009 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Do you still feel a little dirty when you see a Cornhusker quarterback take a shotgun snap?

or have you guys pretty much gotten over that at this point? I know I haven’t.

by mojavereject on Oct 14, 2009 8:46 AM CDT reply actions

you know

what offense I want Nebraska to run? The one that’s successful.

Cheesy answer? Maybe. But if any Husker fans are bothered by the offense we have, they’d have to be nuts. Now…. if they’re bothered by the execution, that’s a different story entirely.

Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Twitter!
cornnation@gmail.com

by Jon Johnston on Oct 14, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Ditto Tom4

Remarkable is probably the perfect adjective. Not sure if this was something instilled during coach Osbourne’s time or if it goes back further.

I’d be interested to know how this standard of sportsmanship and courteous fan behavior has been established over the years. And whether or not this gold standard is something that is passed down generation to generation, meaning is it something you think is actively discussed by a majority of Nebraska fans.

Should also be pointed out that year-to-year, I’ve heard great things about how fans and players are treated at the College World Series.

Apparently there’s a bunch of good people in Omaha as there are in Lubbock.

by imisswesttexas on Oct 14, 2009 8:46 AM CDT reply actions

Thank you!

These opinions are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of the staff, management, nor sponsors of Corn Nation. :-)

I think it is, as TTpilk645 says below, just part of the general culture in the midwest. Not that people aren’t curteous elsewhere, but I think places that tend to have smaller populations/are more rural, also tend to have a certain ethic to them.

Every fan base has a-holes, some just have a higher percentage. As classy as Nebraska fans are known for being, we still had that idiot who posted a fake news story…ginned up as if it was coming from the The Oklahoman…that two OU players were arrested on drug charges. But the thing is, there are enough Husker fans that take it so personally that we are known for being the “Greatest Fans in College Football”, that they’ll argue with other fans and put them in their place. There’s a “way” of doing things here. If some loudmouth starts harassing an opposing team’s fan (particularly if that opposing fan isn’t being obnoxious him/herself), he’ll more than likely be shouted down.

There was even a “controversy” in 2007 when Nebraska fans actually DARED to voice their displeasure at the collapsing season and…BOO the team. Letters to the editor, callers to radio shows, “that’s not right, that’s not Nebraska-like”. Yes, it is actively discussed by fans at times.

There’s also, quite possibly, the average age of ticketholders to consider. I don’t have statistics to back this up, but I’m willing to bet that the average fan in Lincoln (student-section aside) skews older than places like Boulder. We just had our 300th consecutive sellout (T-Tech will be #301) dating back to 1962 and Bob Devaney’s first season, and there were several stories about folks who’ve been going to those 300 games. One guy actually had been going since 1959. And these are just the folks they bothered to write stories about, I’m sure there are plenty other fans that have attended game days for several decades.

There’s also the record over those decades to consider. As fans of most other former Big 8 teams (other than NU and OU) will point out, it’s real easy to “be nice” and clap for the other team, when you’ve been pounding them into the dirt for 20+ years. But we’ve done it when we’ve lost as well. When we ended up on a losing effort in October of 1980 to a relative unknown team (at the time), Nebraska cheered the victors as they walked off the field. Bobby Bowden actually wrote a letter to the Lincoln Journal Star about that experience a few days later. I’m sure fans did the same for USC when we got blasted by them in ‘07 (though I admit, I didn’t stick around to find out).

by Wolvie on Oct 15, 2009 3:12 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Nice work, Wolvie

Great insight. Thanks for taking time to reply.

by imisswesttexas on Oct 15, 2009 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions

You're right about Midwest/ rural people

When we had to move to Kansas, I couldn’t believe how nice the people were, just like back home in rural West Texas. We went to a Tech Basketball game at K-State and there wasn’t a visitor’s section, some rowdy students talked smack to my wife and me, and some big ol farm boys stood up and told those punks “That’s not how we treat visitors at KSU!”. They apologized for their rude bretheren, and ended up having dinner with us at Aggieville. I can say the OSU fans are also very polite after they give us our annual road beat down.

by Plano Jeff on Oct 15, 2009 10:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Cornhuskers

I agree that Nebraska has the best fans in the Big 12. Win or lose they are always classy.

The Nebraska defense has really improved over Pelini’s reign but the do the Huskers have enough fire power to compete nationally again with other elite programs?

by ttu_porters on Oct 14, 2009 9:25 AM CDT reply actions

we're not there

yet on offense. with a new quarterback and a bunch of decent but not great receivers…..

But, our defense is good enough that we could stand with anyone, and I firmly believe that.

Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Twitter!
cornnation@gmail.com

by Jon Johnston on Oct 16, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Your fan base is very well manored, a trait that I feel is inherant in most northern states. The North Dakota fan base is also an awsome group, so much so as a matter of fact, that since we played them many of the Tech DTNation fanbase have taken them on a s a ’secondary" team to cheer for. We expect a fight and I would lie to say I feel your program is going in the right direction faster than many may think. No doubt you are legitimate contendersto the North, maybe the outright Big-12 championship this year and infuture years. Congratultions on the uptic in talent and results. After this weekend, best to you and all your fans.

TTpilk

by TTpilk645 on Oct 14, 2009 10:18 AM CDT reply actions

I would 'like' to say....

TTpilk

by TTpilk645 on Oct 14, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

How is the 09 Nebraska O line?

We are all familiar with the legendary toughness of the Nebraska Offensive line. How does this year’s unit stack up ? i.e. sacks allowed, pancake blocks any other measurables etc?

"do routine things routinely"

by centexraider on Oct 14, 2009 10:59 AM CDT reply actions

REX

How is our boy Rex? A four year star (qb, rb, safety and punt returner) for four years at Plano High School. Better than an athlete is Rex Burkhead as a person. Also, he has an incredible family with his dad being a long time member of the FBI and his older brother playing football at Harvard. His mom and dad have raised real credits to the human race and I wish him the very best. I just wish he was playing inside receiver for Texas Tech so we could see him become an all american. Off the field he already is all world. Congrats on having this type of individual representing your university.

by eddyc555 on Oct 14, 2009 4:30 PM CDT reply actions

he broke

his foot in Monday’s practice and will be out “for a while” according to Pelini.

Otherwise, he’s shown hisself to be pretty capable.

Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Twitter!
cornnation@gmail.com

by Jon Johnston on Oct 14, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions

FRANK SOLICH

How split were the Nebraska faithful when Frank was fired, and if Pelini fails, would the Huskers entertain bring ing him back? Or is the bridge burnt for good. ps. He had big shoes to fill, but i thought he was a good coach for your team.

by Dr. Mark on Oct 14, 2009 5:20 PM CDT reply actions

I'd say we were pretty divided

He did have big shoes to fill, and NU fans had…somewhat understandably…become a bit spoiled. When Osborne retired, he had just gone 60-3 over the previous 5 years and won 3 National Championships.

But Osborne had his share of detractors over the years. Oklahoma was always a thorn in our side. Once he was able to get past them, there was a string of 7 bowl losses (6 of which were to Miami and Florida St.). It was so bad at one point, he had considered taking the Colorado job. But throughout his tenure, we always were at least a 9-win team, always went to a bowl game.

Then Solich took over, and he did the unthinkable. He didn’t have a winning season (7-7 in 2002). ‘03 saw new assistants (including Pelini) and a much better record, though the 3 losses during the season weren’t pretty. Our (thankfully former) AD fired him. Some fans saw the bad losses, and the previous season as signs we were slipping. Others pointed to the ‘99 Big XII championship, ’01 National Championship game (we didn’t belong), and improved record with new assistants as reasons to give him at least another year. Seriously, who fires their coach after a 9-3 season?

Now that he’s at Ohio, I don’t see him coming back as NU coach. He has been welcomed back to the program by the current administration. Time, and the results of the previous regime, have allowed the fanbase to appreciate him more. He recorded comments for the team and fans for the 300th sellout. But as for coming back as coach? I don’t see it. If anything, it would be Turner Gill, who was also considered as a replacement for Callahan.

And what’s this about Pelini failing? :-)

by Wolvie on Oct 15, 2009 3:56 AM CDT up reply actions

60-3 over five years. Just let that sink in…

by Tech92 on Oct 15, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions

There was a strong divide

I think it’s pretty well gone now. Winning helps.

I was happy Frank was let go. They should have let him go a little longer, but I think the end result would have been the same.

Solich is not coming back. He was not mentioned as a candidate for this last search, he’s getting older, and I don’t think what he’s done at Ohio is particular impressive. If Pelini is gone for some reason I have no idea which way the program would go.

You can't possibly be a scientist if you mind people thinking that you're a fool.
~Wanko the Sane
Big Red Kool-aid Drinker @ Corn Nation

by JLew on Oct 15, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions

We all know about Suh…who else on defense should Red Raider fans be a little nervous about?

by Tech92 on Oct 14, 2009 6:48 PM CDT reply actions

The rest of the D-Line

Jared Crick especially.
CB Prince Amukamara, he’s becoming a play maker.
The LB’s have been young but pretty good. Watch for Dillard to play some.

The Defense across the board is better from experience, or replacement with better younger players.

You can't possibly be a scientist if you mind people thinking that you're a fool.
~Wanko the Sane
Big Red Kool-aid Drinker @ Corn Nation

by JLew on Oct 15, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll go with secondary

Larry Asante at strong safety will hit receivers over the middle, which I believe is a big part of the Tech offense. Dejon Gomes is coming on like gangbusters at the corner and will hopefully, along with Prince, be able to match up with guys like Leong and Lewis.

by awolfson on Oct 16, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions