U
UNForLife
Guest
As many of you know, my college football love, the Cornhuskers are in on some rough times. I feel I'm very knowledgable of college football, past and present. For instance, I still think the greatest ever college football time for their period was 1945 Army. How about that team?
Most of this y'all have probably already heard most of this, but I just wanted to provide an unique perspective from somebody in a "red state" that's detatched from ND.
Most of y'all, being knowledgable college football fans understand what's going on in Lincoln with the Huskers. Recently, Dr. Tom Osborne returned as the Athletic Director. Frankly, it was a great hire if it's for the short term. With Dr. Tom, he brings back something that has been missing from Lincoln since Frank Solich was fired...the tradition. I don't want to get deeply into it, I want to share my thoughts of ND instead. But one thing Dr. Tom keeps emphasizing is this: There are no quick fixes in college football these days.
He also pointed out it's easy to be a fan where your team is winning...when they're losing, it's much tougher. On to my observations of ND1. Hang with these kids...don't turn against them. They read these boards. Y'all played a BRUTAL schedule, unlike anybody else in the country to start this season. With a bunch of rookies on the field, that's a tough order, even for ND to follow. I played college football at the NAIA level...and I know a few of the butt kickings we took also really crushed any confidence we had for the rest of the season. It's easy to "force" your body to be in the game...it's tough to keep your head in a game...first broken play, sack, whatever, you say "here we go again". You must support the players and at least TRY to find and discuss the good side of thing...and I SURELY see some good things there in South Bend. Also, stop comparing how many teams scored more points on Team X than we did. You are talking about a team that lacks complete confidence.
2. Don't let the "Fire Charlie Weis" voices get too loud...it's a distraction to not only the players, but to potential recruits. Looks like Nebraska will be losing 4-7 if/when Bill Callahan gets fired. In my opinion, it's way too early to do the fire a coach thing. As we learned in Nebraska with Frank Solich's firing, be careful what you ask for. What we got divided the fans. Unfortunately, we never made it anywhere near the "promised land" so our entire football staff is likely to get the axe at the end of the season. But who do we go after at the end of the season? When you fire a coach, you will lose one season worth of recruiting generally speaking.
3. In my opinion, watching the Irish on TV, I seem to be one of the few folks on this message board that seems to think the coaching there in South Bend will be just fine and firing on all cylinders next year. If I had a complaint about THIS years coaching, it would be the offensive line play. All the Irish woes seem to be as a result of the offensive line. If Coach Weis does not take care of that issue during the offseason, then perhaps the dirges will start...but I think Charlie Weis is one of the most competeive guys in the business and he'll get it fixed.
4. Your whole defense needs work...just about at every position. But there is definitely talent...especially the young studs committed to your university that I will GUARANTEE will fix THAT! LOOK AT YOUR DEFENSIVE STUDS COMING IN!! Too much noise about firing coaches could lose some of those recruits. With the young talent already in and others committed to coming in, once Coach Weis has the kinks work out amongst his coaches and once Coach Weis learns the critical lessons he's learned in his first few years, I see the Irish a national contender in 09/10. Remember Charlie Weis' first recruiting class was no great because Ty Willingham had just been fired. I believe you need to give a coach a chance to fill his team with players which match his philosophy. If it doesn't improve drastically at that poin, then firing is in the cards.
5. For the past several weeks here in Nebrasksa, all the radio stations have been listening to caller about firing Bill Callahan, etc. One thing that comes up is Notre Dame. Many folks here in Nebraska uderstand they are very impatient with our football program. It's a natural flaw I suppose. People here don't want the same thing to happen to Notre Dame. I remember after the ND loss to Michigan, a caller referred to ND as the laughing stock of college football. Nebraska fans...it seems even more than Irish fans, believe YOUR program is on the right track for the very near future. Believe me, it's hard to believe me on this but it's true. Our fans believe when ND finally finds it's confidence with a few wins under it's belt....well, watch out.
As Joe Montana recently said, the kids at ND are playing pre-season games for next season.
Most of this y'all have probably already heard most of this, but I just wanted to provide an unique perspective from somebody in a "red state" that's detatched from ND.
Most of y'all, being knowledgable college football fans understand what's going on in Lincoln with the Huskers. Recently, Dr. Tom Osborne returned as the Athletic Director. Frankly, it was a great hire if it's for the short term. With Dr. Tom, he brings back something that has been missing from Lincoln since Frank Solich was fired...the tradition. I don't want to get deeply into it, I want to share my thoughts of ND instead. But one thing Dr. Tom keeps emphasizing is this: There are no quick fixes in college football these days.
He also pointed out it's easy to be a fan where your team is winning...when they're losing, it's much tougher. On to my observations of ND1. Hang with these kids...don't turn against them. They read these boards. Y'all played a BRUTAL schedule, unlike anybody else in the country to start this season. With a bunch of rookies on the field, that's a tough order, even for ND to follow. I played college football at the NAIA level...and I know a few of the butt kickings we took also really crushed any confidence we had for the rest of the season. It's easy to "force" your body to be in the game...it's tough to keep your head in a game...first broken play, sack, whatever, you say "here we go again". You must support the players and at least TRY to find and discuss the good side of thing...and I SURELY see some good things there in South Bend. Also, stop comparing how many teams scored more points on Team X than we did. You are talking about a team that lacks complete confidence.
2. Don't let the "Fire Charlie Weis" voices get too loud...it's a distraction to not only the players, but to potential recruits. Looks like Nebraska will be losing 4-7 if/when Bill Callahan gets fired. In my opinion, it's way too early to do the fire a coach thing. As we learned in Nebraska with Frank Solich's firing, be careful what you ask for. What we got divided the fans. Unfortunately, we never made it anywhere near the "promised land" so our entire football staff is likely to get the axe at the end of the season. But who do we go after at the end of the season? When you fire a coach, you will lose one season worth of recruiting generally speaking.
3. In my opinion, watching the Irish on TV, I seem to be one of the few folks on this message board that seems to think the coaching there in South Bend will be just fine and firing on all cylinders next year. If I had a complaint about THIS years coaching, it would be the offensive line play. All the Irish woes seem to be as a result of the offensive line. If Coach Weis does not take care of that issue during the offseason, then perhaps the dirges will start...but I think Charlie Weis is one of the most competeive guys in the business and he'll get it fixed.
4. Your whole defense needs work...just about at every position. But there is definitely talent...especially the young studs committed to your university that I will GUARANTEE will fix THAT! LOOK AT YOUR DEFENSIVE STUDS COMING IN!! Too much noise about firing coaches could lose some of those recruits. With the young talent already in and others committed to coming in, once Coach Weis has the kinks work out amongst his coaches and once Coach Weis learns the critical lessons he's learned in his first few years, I see the Irish a national contender in 09/10. Remember Charlie Weis' first recruiting class was no great because Ty Willingham had just been fired. I believe you need to give a coach a chance to fill his team with players which match his philosophy. If it doesn't improve drastically at that poin, then firing is in the cards.
5. For the past several weeks here in Nebrasksa, all the radio stations have been listening to caller about firing Bill Callahan, etc. One thing that comes up is Notre Dame. Many folks here in Nebraska uderstand they are very impatient with our football program. It's a natural flaw I suppose. People here don't want the same thing to happen to Notre Dame. I remember after the ND loss to Michigan, a caller referred to ND as the laughing stock of college football. Nebraska fans...it seems even more than Irish fans, believe YOUR program is on the right track for the very near future. Believe me, it's hard to believe me on this but it's true. Our fans believe when ND finally finds it's confidence with a few wins under it's belt....well, watch out.
As Joe Montana recently said, the kids at ND are playing pre-season games for next season.
