We began to slide as a program

NorthWillRiseAgain

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It all started the moment TO retired. Crouch was so good that he masked the problem for Frank. It prolonged and softened the appearance of a decline. Then the wheels came off when he graduated. Bare cupboards exposed.
Just look at those offenses with Crouch & Lord, they barely had 1% of the creativity of an Osborne offense. It was far more Like the early 1990’s Osborne teams.
 

CatColumbia

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I should have been more specific in my question. What specific game did you guys notice that we were not the powerful team that we once were and it started to look unpromising for our program going forward? Obviously saying the day TO left is the answer we can all agree on, but we continued to play some good football after he left, specially in '99.
 

red scowl

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Some of these answers are ridiculous, especially above. 96? 97? Are you on crack?

And for those saying anything before 2002, thats ridiculous also. 2001 can still be considered a top 10-15 year or so in nebraska history. Anyone remember some of those 80s teams, which were still good but no where close to NC caliber? Are you saying 1998-2001 slipped from that? 98-2001 was one of the best "great team but no title" runs in college football history. We lose one blowout game to colorado, whIch literally happened to everybody beginning in the 21st century, and everyone thinks the sky is falling. It didnt have to. Miami wasnt losing that year, and we were a top 10 team, plus had a heisman winner. Also all americans, including at linebacker.Pretty sure 99% of teams would love to have a year like that.
2002 sucked then it started gerting better in 2003. Sometimes husker fans amaze me with their spoiled stupidity.
Steve Pederson is the death of nebraska football. You can say we should have fired frank, and thats still true.

I guess if you want to get technical and say "when did we start slipping from the 2nd greatest run in college football history?" The answe can be 98-2001, but for the thread title as a program thats not accurate.

I disagree. That 2001 Colorado game, Nebraska was beaten by a much more physical team. They were dominated. This was Nebraska's modus operandi. That game opened my eyes.

Giving up alot of passing yards is one thing, but being dominated in the trenches is a much bigger problem. The slip occured well before the 2001 Colorado game.

The Big Twelve championship game against Texas and Ricky Williams?
 

huskerfan1414

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I disagree. That 2001 Colorado game, Nebraska was beaten by a much more physical team. They were dominated. This was Nebraska's modus operandi. That game opened my eyes.

Giving up alot of passing yards is one thing, but being dominated in the trenches is a much bigger problem. The slip occured well before the 2001 Colorado game.

The Big Twelve championship game against Texas and Ricky Williams?
But it still doesnt fit with the "as a program" thread title,

Id argue nebraska has some worse losses during the TO years against some teams that had no business beating us. It doesnt mean we were slipping then as a program or the wheels had fallen off. That loss sucked but colorado was a damn good team.
I still think people are making the mistake of judging the 1998-2001 era to the 93-97 era that preceeded it. That would be fine, if it were the thread title. It isnt. 98-2001 was still very much on par with 1968-1997 and we were still considered a powerhouse. 2001 is too 20/20 and skewed by the 2nd greatest era in cfb history directly preceding it.
 
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red scowl

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But it still doesnt fit with the "as a program" thread title,

Id argue nebraska has some worse losses during the TO years against some teams that had no business beating us. It doesnt mean we were slipping then as a program or the wheels had fallen off. That loss sucked but colorado was a damn good team.
I still think people are making the mistake of judging the 1998-2001 era to the 93-97 era that preceeded it. That would be fine, if it were the thread title. It isnt. 98-2001 was still very much on par with 1968-1997 and we were still considered a powerhouse. 2001 is too 20/20 and skewed by the 2nd greatest era in cfb history directly preceding it.

Ok, I get what you are saying. We are measuring them from two different points. Your saying they were still winning a shitload of games during that time and was on par or better than much of Husker history.

I'm looking at it from the apex of our best team ever 95' Huskers or anybody else's And weighing it that way. Imo, despite the championship in 97' chinks were revealed in the aura of Husker football.

A modern day example is watch Alabama next year. They may make the playoffs next year, but I'll bet you they don't win the national championship.
 

huskerfan1414

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Ok, I get what you are saying. We are measuring them from two different points. Your saying they were still winning a shitload of games during that time and was on par or better than much of Husker history.

I'm looking at it from the apex of our best team ever 95' Huskers or anybody else's And weighing it that way. Imo, despite the championship in 97' chinks were revealed in the aura of Husker football.

A modern day example is watch Alabama next year. They may make the playoffs next year, but I'll bet you they don't win the national championship.
Well...we won a championship in 1997....Im not trying to be mean here but I cant fathom how anyone can say there was a downhill slide beginning when you....win a championship??

Now if you simply say the 97' team wasnt as good as the 95 or 94 teams then I think that goes without saying and isnt that grand of a statement....but to say there were chinks in a title year? Im not getting it.

I Understand the rest of your post....I was trying to keep discussion related to thread title of entire program..
None of this really matters anyway. Good night sir.
 
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red scowl

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Well...we won a championship in 1997....Im not trying to be mean here but I cant fathom how anyone can say there was a downhill slide beginning when you....win a championship??

Now if you simply say the 97' team wasnt as good as the 95 or 94 teams then I think that goes without saying and isnt that grand of a statement....but to say there were chinks in a title year? Im not getting it.

I Understand the rest of your post....I was trying to keep discussion related to thread title of entire program..
None of this really matters anyway. Good night sir.

In 1996, the Huskers lost to Arizona State and Texas in the big 12 championship. Texas had over 500 yards of offense. I remember reading or hearing the team was I'll with a stomach virus I believe. If I remember correctly, that team had four losses.

I would say the 94' team was better than the 97' team and 95' was the apex. The downward trend was more pronounced under Solich and then Pederson and the Ginger rang the death knell.
 
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