Nebraska sux

HFCS

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Exceeding expectations at Nebraska is winning national titles.

It's always the strawman case at Nebraska. They think they are reasonable because they say they don't expect to be a dynasty, just compete occasionally for the playoff and national titles. Not that those things can't happen, but all the programmatic things that assisted them in being a dynasty 25 years ago are gone. Those advantages don't exist anymore.

It's sort of like Iowa fans when they get disgruntled with Kirk. They think they are a top 15 "program" because that's what their wins are or whatever, and translate that as this is one of the 15 best jobs in the country. No it isn't. Not even close. The nature of college football has been for a LONG time that it's like 90% if you have a good coach that is stable. The other 10% - recruiting base, facilities, tradition, etc. don't favor Iowa all that much. Basically they are a good program now because they have a flukish 4 decade run with two really good coaches willing to stick around. There is little to nothing "programmatic" that is special at Iowa or Nebraska for that matter.

Iowa may learn what Nebraska is finding out. Nebraska didn't make Pelini win, he made Nebraska win. Fry and Ferentz didn't have success 'cuz Hoks. Iowa had success because of Fry and Ferentz.

Basically these Big 10 programs have big checkbooks to hire and be impatient with coaches. That's great, but now that makes them one of 32 teams or so that can do that. You still have to pick the right guy that works with your program, is in the right station of their career, etc.

Their super slim chance at competing for national titles is that they get as close as Iowa and Kansas State have been in the past 20 years.

That is a handful of seasons in top ten or even top five, but not really a realistic chance at NC in that period.

These are the best finishes by teams that aren't located in a footprint where they can win just dominating with local talent or they were in such a minor conference/historical stature team that they finished with great season despite some significant disadvantages like Nebraska's remote location:
2020 - 10th Iowa State
2015 - 9th Iowa
2014 - 11th Kansas State
2012 - 12th Kansas State
2011 - 8th Boise State
2010 - 9th Boise State, 11th Nevada
2009 - 7th Iowa
2008 - 2nd Utah, 11th Boise St (Utah had disadvantages in MWC back then when Urban revolutionized game but now they are a light years better program in terms of upside vs Nebraska)
2007 - #7 Kansas
2006 - #4 Boise State, #5 Louisville, #10 WVU
2005 - #5 WVU
2004 - #4 Utah, #8 Iowa
2003 - #8 Iowa, #9 Wash St, #10 Miami Oh
2002 - #3 Iowa, #6 Kansas St, #7 Wash St

That's 20 years. The ONLY teams in that entire list that had a legit NC claim and were dangerous enough to win a 4, 8 or 12 team playoff were the Utah teams that went undefeated blowing everybody out because they had a revolutionary offense and coach who would go on to dominate at major conferences. If you look at the records of any of the rest of them they are very clearly a long ways from an NC whether that is playing a single game or a 4/8/12 team playoff.

***Edit, VA Tech, Cincy and BYU were the three programs I couldn't decide to include in here or not. They had 5 seasons among them on the list of being top 12ish with VaTech multiple times...but again none where they had anything close to a national championship resume.
 
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twincyties

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Honest question. Does anyone outside of Nebraska or the Big 12 remember their glory days as a football program?

It’s been so long since they’ve been relevant. One division championship in the Big 10 and they’ve had the luxury of a weak division. This is not about a couple of down years. They’ve been plain bad.

This is not Notre Dame with national brand recognition or a Miami/Florida State or USC/UCLA with endless high school talent in the backyard. Those programs are easier to turn around.

Kids being recruited right now the were not alive last time they won a conference championship (I believe 1999).

Their program just doesn’t mean anything to anyone outside Nebraska or those of us old enough to remember watching their truly dominant years first hand.

Point to all of this is that they’ve got an uphill battle and nostalgia alone is not going to cut it. They’ve got to make a big splash with a hire if they’re going to get attention from top tier recruits. I love CMC as much as the next person on this board, but is he really the hire that is going to make that kind of splash?

If their boosters and fan base are patient like ours is, maybe it makes sense. But they’re not. I’m sure NIL opportunities there are much greater than at ISU, but Campbell does not strike me as the type that’s going to rely purely on that. Doesn’t seem like a cultural fit although circumstances may change this.

At the end of the day I just don’t see this as a fit for him nor a fit for Nebraska if they’re looking for a quick road back to national relevance.
 

jcyclonee

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KF has a 42 million buyout after this year. You think Iowa is going to write that check. Guessing he gives baby ferentz a 2-3 OC contract soon so lock his gravy train in.
Personally, I think Iowa will be hiring a new OC and BF will become the O-Line coach/Associate head coach (Moon Family Associate Head Football Coach) or something like that.
 

FallOf81

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I have never understood this view. Competing for conference titles at Iowa State is a better accomplishment than about anything you could do at a blue blood.

And if ND or any program thinks they need to see a guy coach at a blue blood there are three options:
- He doesn't succeed and you don't want him
- He succeeds, and why would he leave except for the NFL?
- He succeeds and he happens to be an alumnus or that's his dream job

The only other possible option might be a guy like Kelly where the honeymoon was long over and it was just time to move on.

People thinking ND or Ohio State wouldn't want Campbell because he hasn't coached at a blue blood or high profile program is crazy. So they want to see him go do what, compete for conference titles? So basically do what he's done at ISU but in a much easier job?
Campbell will need to kick some serious a$$ over the next few seasons ... including beating the new arrivals who aren't pushovers ... to be top shelf priority of a blue blood school.
 
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exCyDing

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I would say the disagreement I have with the final 1/3 is that there is a good P5 head coach that they could land, and that's Leipold. I think they should putting the full court press on him. I really liked his name getting floated back when Campbell was hired. Not that I thought ISU should've hired him, but I definitely thought he should be at an FBS job if he wanted it. Dude can coach, but KU is a brutal job. If they give him as long as they gave Frost, they will win. Maybe not enough to satisfy a majority of their fans, but they will get back to bowls.
That's the key - satisfying the fans and boosters. They had that with a couple of their recent coaches, but they're insatiable. They will not be satisfied with Iowa or Wisconsin levels of success. They look at Alabama, remember the 90s and think that's what they deserve, so that's what it should be.

Right now, expectations right now are in-line with reality, but I don't think those will be acceptable levels long-term.
 

Cyghhh

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Exceeding expectations at Nebraska is winning national titles.

It's always the strawman case at Nebraska. They think they are reasonable because they say they don't expect to be a dynasty, just compete occasionally for the playoff and national titles. Not that those things can't happen, but all the programmatic things that assisted them in being a dynasty 25 years ago are gone. Those advantages don't exist anymore.

It's sort of like Iowa fans when they get disgruntled with Kirk. They think they are a top 15 "program" because that's what their wins are or whatever, and translate that as this is one of the 15 best jobs in the country. No it isn't. Not even close. The nature of college football has been for a LONG time that it's like 90% if you have a good coach that is stable. The other 10% - recruiting base, facilities, tradition, etc. don't favor Iowa all that much. Basically they are a good program now because they have a flukish 4 decade run with two really good coaches willing to stick around. There is little to nothing "programmatic" that is special at Iowa or Nebraska for that matter.

Iowa may learn what Nebraska is finding out. Nebraska didn't make Pelini win, he made Nebraska win. Fry and Ferentz didn't have success 'cuz Hoks. Iowa had success because of Fry and Ferentz.

Basically these Big 10 programs have big checkbooks to hire and be impatient with coaches. That's great, but now that makes them one of 32 teams or so that can do that. You still have to pick the right guy that works with your program, is in the right station of their career, etc.
In 1979, after Earle Bruce having succes and leaving we hired Donnie Duncan. The same year, Iowa hired Hayden Fry. Both schools all-time records were nearly identical at the time. Iowa was 357-368-33 while we were 369-386-41. Donnie Duncan failed to follow up to Bruce's success and the program never recovered while Fry was able to get Iowa to the Rose Bowl in 2 years, something they hadn't done since 1958. They owe EVERYTHING to Hayden Fry that their program is even slightly relevant.
 

2speedy1

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Honest question. Does anyone outside of Nebraska or the Big 12 remember their glory days as a football program?

It’s been so long since they’ve been relevant. One division championship in the Big 10 and they’ve had the luxury of a weak division. This is not about a couple of down years. They’ve been plain bad.

This is not Notre Dame with national brand recognition or a Miami/Florida State or USC/UCLA with endless high school talent in the backyard. Those programs are easier to turn around.

Kids being recruited right now the were not alive last time they won a conference championship (I believe 1999).

Their program just doesn’t mean anything to anyone outside Nebraska or those of us old enough to remember watching their truly dominant years first hand.

Point to all of this is that they’ve got an uphill battle and nostalgia alone is not going to cut it. They’ve got to make a big splash with a hire if they’re going to get attention from top tier recruits. I love CMC as much as the next person on this board, but is he really the hire that is going to make that kind of splash?

If their boosters and fan base are patient like ours is, maybe it makes sense. But they’re not. I’m sure NIL opportunities there are much greater than at ISU, but Campbell does not strike me as the type that’s going to rely purely on that. Doesn’t seem like a cultural fit although circumstances may change this.

At the end of the day I just don’t see this as a fit for him nor a fit for Nebraska if they’re looking for a quick road back to national relevance.
It is getting to the point that kids today need to go to their grandparents to find people that remember the powerhouse Nebby years. It is getting to be that far back. Many parents of prospects dont even know or barely remember Nebraska being natty winners or in the running for them.

The thing that so many Nebby fans dont get is so much has changed since those days. The process of rebuilding from where they are now is not going to be an instant one, and that is never going to be an option for them, and not good enough. So no matter what, until they change their attitude they will continue to fail and be a revolving door of coaches for years to come. They have to rebuild that program to even mediocre, before thinking about jumping to championship form. That is a process, and that takes time, and that will include ups and downs.
 
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HFCS

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It is getting to the point that kids today need to go to their grandparents to find people that remember the powerhouse Nebby years. It is getting to be that far back. Many parents of prospects dont even know or barely remember Nebraska being natty winners or in the running for them.

The thing that so many Nebby fans dont get is so much has changed since those days. The process of rebuilding from where they are now is not going to be an instant one, and that is never going to be an option for them, and not good enough. So no matter what, until they change their attitude they will continue to fail and be a revolving door of coaches for years to come. They have to rebuild that program to even mediocre, before thinking about jumping to championship form. That is a process, and that takes time, and that will include ups and downs.

I'm 44 and I was a sophomore or junior in high school living in central Nebraska when Tommy Frazier dominated his way to that NC.

My family were Iowa fan transplants but I couldn't help get a little swept up in that team although I never considered myself a "Nebraska fan". I knew a key player and his family on those teams which also got me slightly on board.

It's been a looooooong time since then. JTS stadium had like 20k less capacity and 30-40k less in the stands on saturdays.
 
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CyclonimusPrime

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I will never be angry if someone decides to leave a place for more money. If CMC decides to do this, I will be grateful he chose us and helped our program build something. No sense in worrying about this one way or another.
 
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AuH2O

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It is getting to the point that kids today need to go to their grandparents to find people that remember the powerhouse Nebby years. It is getting to be that far back. Many parents of prospects dont even know or barely remember Nebraska being natty winners or in the running for them.

The thing that so many Nebby fans dont get is so much has changed since those days. The process of rebuilding from where they are now is not going to be an instant one, and that is never going to be an option for them, and not good enough. So no matter what, until they change their attitude they will continue to fail and be a revolving door of coaches for years to come. They have to rebuild that program to even mediocre, before thinking about jumping to championship form. That is a process, and that takes time, and that will include ups and downs.
It has been 25 years since Nebraska won their last national title.

As a comparison, when they were in their early 80s peak it had been about 35 years since Army was a power. I don't know what it was like at the time, but I bet for those that are old enough to remember the early 80s, I'm guessing the idea of Army as a national power seemed like ancient history.

Let's keep in mind outside of the state of Nebraska, Iowa is far and away the place where Nebraska football is most relevant. Proximity, two schools that share(d) a conference with Nebraska, and a very college football-centric state. Nebraska football is ancient and irrelevant in most of the country.
 

Inthesystem

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Personally, I think Iowa will be hiring a new OC and BF will become the O-Line coach/Associate head coach (Moon Family Associate Head Football Coach) or something like that.
Actually I think Brian will be leaving the program to go to another school.
 

SCNCY

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Actually I think Brian will be leaving the program to go to another school.

Would any program want him after seeing his offensive coordinator performance? If he is going anywhere, it will either be to the NFL as a position coach, or Kirk leaves and Brian needs to find a new job, most likely as a position coach.
 

exCyDing

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It is getting to the point that kids today need to go to their grandparents to find people that remember the powerhouse Nebby years. It is getting to be that far back. Many parents of prospects dont even know or barely remember Nebraska being natty winners or in the running for them.

The thing that so many Nebby fans dont get is so much has changed since those days. The process of rebuilding from where they are now is not going to be an instant one, and that is never going to be an option for them, and not good enough. So no matter what, until they change their attitude they will continue to fail and be a revolving door of coaches for years to come. They have to rebuild that program to even mediocre, before thinking about jumping to championship form. That is a process, and that takes time, and that will include ups and downs.
Age of a current class of 2023 recruit (assuming they're 18) the last time Nebraska:
  • Went to a bowl: 12
  • Finished over .500: 12
  • Won 9 games: 12
  • Won a bowl: 11
  • Finished the season ranked: 9 (8 to be ranked in both polls)
  • Won their division: 8
 
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KidSilverhair

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www.kegofglory.blogspot.com
In 1979, after Earle Bruce having succes and leaving we hired Donnie Duncan. The same year, Iowa hired Hayden Fry. Both schools all-time records were nearly identical at the time. Iowa was 357-368-33 while we were 369-386-41. Donnie Duncan failed to follow up to Bruce's success and the program never recovered while Fry was able to get Iowa to the Rose Bowl in 2 years, something they hadn't done since 1958. They owe EVERYTHING to Hayden Fry that their program is even slightly relevant.
This is correct.

When Hayden arrived Iowa was still in the throes of a record-setting streak of non-winning seasons. Their last glory years were with Evashevski in the 1950s, while Iowa State had been to four bowls in the 1970s (remember, there were waaaay fewer bowls back then, making any bowl was a big deal).

Fry completely revitalized the Iowa program, while ISU pretty much collapsed in the 1980s and 1990s.
 
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Sigmapolis

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In 2011, Nebraska welcomed the Ohio State Buckeyes to Lincoln for the first time. This was their first game against Ohio State as members of the Big Ten Conference, the two programs having met in 1955 and 1956 for a two-game series in Columbus. The Buckeyes won both contests, 28-20 and 34-7.

Nebraska ended up down 6-27 with 10:53 left in the third quarter. Some of the crowd left, thinking it was over, but Nebraska scored four unanswered touchdowns to win the game 34-27.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/312810158

After the game, Pelini was secretly recorded going off about the fans who left early --

"Our crowd. What a bunch of ******* fair-weather *******—they can all kiss my ass out the ******* door. 'Cause the day is ******* coming now. We'll see what they can do when I'm ******* gone. I'm so ******* pissed off."

Seems rather prophetic now, doesn't it?

I think Nebraska has a Curse of Pelini the same way the Red Sox had a Curse of the Bambino.
 

HFCS

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It has been 25 years since Nebraska won their last national title.

As a comparison, when they were in their early 80s peak it had been about 35 years since Army was a power. I don't know what it was like at the time, but I bet for those that are old enough to remember the early 80s, I'm guessing the idea of Army as a national power seemed like ancient history.

Let's keep in mind outside of the state of Nebraska, Iowa is far and away the place where Nebraska football is most relevant. Proximity, two schools that share(d) a conference with Nebraska, and a very college football-centric state. Nebraska football is ancient and irrelevant in most of the country.

Yeah.

Nebraska belongs with Army, Minnesota and Harvard in terms of teams that had a period of dominance but that might as well be a different universe now.

Minnesota has a greater chance of becoming a top 3 program again than Nebraska does, and they have almost no chance.