There are many things that have transpired in this football season at Nebraska. A very interesting article arouse from Tom Shatel of the Omaha World Herald, asking the very question...how long will our fan base support Bo Pelini?
5-11 was Tom Osborne's record of Oklahoma from 1973-1988, where it seemed every match-up was deciding the (old) Big 8 Title.
I argue that times have changed due to series of factors I will outline now:
1. Athletic Budgets are astronomically high and we are starting to see the great arms race of College Football for facilities. College budgets are increasingly growing due to outrageous TV deals that are now a focal point to conference realignment. Too many power pushers have $$$ in their eyes and its greatly affecting many programs across the country. Gone are the days when Nebraska could walk into a high profile recruits home and sell their facilities to get the commitment. Bo must now OUT RECRUIT other elite programs as they have caught up to the majority. Let's face it, when you're being sought after by every program in the county, the top programs boost the finest facilities and programs trying to get back into the elite are struggling with competing for talent from the big boys.
No matter how you feel about this, Nebraska does have the FINEST facilities in the country, but can't out recruit the big dogs around the country for talent. Your head coach has to be a promoter and high class salesman of Nebraska and Lincoln. You're always looking up the mountain to the Florida's, USC's, LSU's, who brag about nice weather year round.
2. National perception of your program. Nebraska is a national brand but that gleam that once was is beginning to dwindle in the years. Nebraska hasn't shown the lure that it can compete with the big time programs. Look at the games where Nebraska (under Bo) had a chance to change their national reputation. South Carolina 2011, Wisconsin 2011, Michigan 2011, Texas 2010, and Wisconsin in 2012...all were losses...and four of those were by more than 21 points too. When you're getting drubbed by the elite talented programs it ruins your reputation. Why would some top level kid want to come to a program that couldn't make it to the Rose Bowl when the Big 10 gift wrapped it up for them...now they get a Georgia team that's hungry, angry, and is far more talented than Wisconsin (who hung 70 on them).
Your head coach is the leader of your brand, when you blow up on the sidelines, struggle to manage adversity during games, and lose big games...the social media world doesn't forget and never stops talking about it...
3. Game-Management: Let's face it, its atrocious. Bo Pelini and his staff fall off the wagon, and when they do, look out, as the floodgates for other teams just pour it on. Bo's stubbornness for adjusting his scheme to make his defenders play loose, fast, and react are hindering the growth and production of the team. I don't think there was any really good reason why we had to watch Wisconsin run the same jet sweep play and get huge yards every time. Sure they were ready, but hell we won 10 games this year....and now it doesn't mean squat. Given how the bowl game goes, the fan base might have an outcry of wanting change, and rightfully so...I'm a fan thick and thin, but I'm also one who expects its 5 year coach with his own players to not get blown out of game by 30+ points (happened twice this year)....
When you're struggling to keep your demeanor calm, it hinders you from making great in game calls...Nebraska needs a better leader who doesn't blow up when the wagon is shaking....Bo has to be better at keeping the team focused and fixing their mistakes in the moment...Scary but that might require him to out-coach a few teams...something he's never been able to do at Nebraska...
In summary, what I witnessed first hand in the Big 10 Championship game was gut wrenching as now we sit and wait for our first conference title since 1999. That sickens me to be have to say that stat, but it's true. Bo may have been to his 3rd game in 5 years, but his inability to win the game is drawing his critics to grab their pitchforks. Bo has ONE last chance to show what kind of a coach he is and what kind of team we still can be if he can win the Capital One Bowl. It couldn't be a bigger must win game for him, and if he loses he better be shedding emotions that he truly died a bit because of the loss. I think that's what fans are frustrated, because of his inability to relate and draw the fans close to him...
Bo was the BEST guy at the time when he was hired in 2008, but now he's clearly not the RIGHT guy going forward. Many times I watch his teams drop a home clunker to a sub .500 team, too many times I see us get whooped on the road, too many times he under performs when expectations were within easy reach...
When you have programs like Michigan and Ohio State moving to new heights, Nebraska better keep pace or face the new reality....being a middle of the pack team occasionally pushing the big dogs to the edge...
Says a lot for not being able to take it to em.....When you can't do that....you'll never be in the National Title race anytime soon or ever again......
Our fan base deserves someone who knows the path and how to get there.....and Bo doesn't know how to do that....He's run his course.....
