Shoot … Colandrea

Nuts McClanahan said:

I am surprised that the young fans have bought in as much as they have.

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A lot of them are beginning to let go.

And when frustrations are expressed, the board retards are quick to play their "reeee go back to the Iowa board" game, which makes it even harder for young fans to relate.

@RBigredMax1 had a nice little rant on enjoying things in life. That is certainly important, but I'd point out that for those of us who feel as though we put forward maximum effort at work, our marriage, raising our kids, etc, it becomes impossible to relate to an institution that tolerates years and years of repeated failures that were easy to telegraph, as we demand more from ourselves on a personal level.

I can't have a bad month in my profession. Sometimes a week can be rough, but you can expect a conversation after more than one. I can't give my wife a bad month, because as a man it is my duty to carry my load and as much of hers and the kids as I can.

So to see entire years written off as "yeah shoot just didn't quite have it, we'll probably try harder next time though" is frankly pathetic given the available resources.

Nebraska football has become the equivalent of an alcoholic with wealthy parents. You're just always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Nuts McClanahan said:

Is it true that you thought Hunter Haarberg was a good quarterback?

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it's true that I thought HH was our best leader (by a billion miles) in the QB room and gave us both an identity and the best chance to win in 2023

we still have no identity and we still have little clue how we're going to win games

it's my opinion that we'd be much further along in this program build had we eschewed dylan and stuck with HH for '24 and '25

king_kong__ said:

it's true that I thought HH was our best leader (by a billion miles) in the QB room and gave us both an identity and the best chance to win in 2023

we still have no identity and we still have little clue how we're going to win games

it's my opinion that we'd be much further along in this program build had we eschewed dylan and stuck with HH for '24 and '25

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I’ve stated several times that I believe Haarberg would have likely won as many games as Dylan. It would have looked way different but similar results. I also believe his passing had progressed and that people would have been surprised by that. I was one that wasn’t fond of moving him but it was clear he wasn’t going to get to run the offense as long as DR was here. Haarberg is a guy who should have probably gone to a place like Montana State or SDSU.

RBigredMax1 said:

Shoot, this kid has some energy. I’m not drinking the Kool-aid, but shoot I like that he’s a husker. Shoot, dude brings some swag and confidence and leadership. Get them first downs and shoot get those tuddy’s too! Shoot!!!!

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Matt Rhule has seen what Fred Hoiberg has done with exciting whites - thought he’d get his own

TampaBaySkers said:

Matt Rhule has seen what Fred Hoiberg has done with exciting whites - thought he’d get his own

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ACCIDENTALLY ordered a black Nebraska shirt before NU contacted him. . Fate.

BobVH5150 said:

Perspective: When we say "and that's why it has fallen apart." I feel like that's a collective statement about CFB. These are the kinds of players that we are going to get from here on out.

I hated it when Damon and others said, "We are a developmental program" as opposed to a possible elite program. That was about three years back. Today's truth is that we should consider NU a developmental program in perpetuity. Only problem is that we haven't gotten the "development" part right as yet.
And if this is the year that we really start to develop players, then elite teams will recruit 5-10 of our players based on their development rather than an Umamenielen or Davis here and there based on their potential.
Anything better than 9-4 on a season, then we won't afford to retain our roster. Not that we can't, but won't. This is because I believe that the administration's model is simply to keep the program profitable to carry the other sports and some percentage of overall University expenses.
Though I sound like a hater, I will happily welcome the rewards and consequences of 9-4 any day over 6-6 or worse.

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Agree 100%

dinglefritz said:

I’ve stated several times that I believe Haarberg would have likely won as many games as Dylan. It would have looked way different but similar results. I also believe his passing had progressed and that people would have been surprised by that. I was one that wasn’t fond of moving him but it was clear he wasn’t going to get to run the offense as long as DR was here. Haarberg is a guy who should have probably gone to a place like Montana State or SDSU.

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He's a straight line runner with maybe average speed, and no throwing ability. You guys are delusional.

o_Balfor said:

He's a straight line runner with maybe average speed, and no throwing ability. You guys are delusional.

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He got put in on plays where the defense knew exactly what was going to happen. Haarberg had the potential when the field did open up to take it for 40 yards. That run threat, no matter if it was a straight line helped our O line and kept the back 7 honest. It also would have helped RPOs work. Nobody is saying he was Frazier. He was WAY better than Dylan in a scramble situation and in making defenses account for him in the run game. There’s nothing delusional in that.

o_Balfor said:

He's a straight line runner with maybe average speed, and no throwing ability. You guys are delusional.

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HH is responsible for the most explosive touchdown plays of the Rhule era and he really only played 7 games

Imagine thinking a player like that didn’t belong

Hope you’ve enjoyed the dinking/dunking/pussyfooting for 28 straight games

The comment about NU being a developmental program hits the nail on the head. If only we were that. If we were a developmental program, given the number of underclassmen we have now, there SHOULD be a good number of players ready to step in an contribute this fall. We would NOT have needed to bring in 16 portal players. You could have been in a position to allocate the NIL dollars on TOP talent, and brought in five or six impact players. When you need 16 portal players, something is wrong. I get that you want depth, and want to add depth at certain positions. That is all well and good, but you should be able to do that with the guys you already have. What this tells me is either A) They have totally whiffed on a LOT of the recruits signed the past three years or B) The staff has no clue how to teach, motivate and develop players. I have serious doubts about our ability to just buy a team every year in the portal. There is a lot going on behind the scene with 1890 being dismantled, re seating and the push back by folks not wanting to fork over a huge donation plus cost of tickets to keep their seats, and the University handling all NIL and the larger donors we have. Fan apathy is real here. I hear people say that the program is broken beyond repair. I disagree. In our situation, we have to recruit well, and develop talent. We do not have the huge donor base that Oregon, Texas Tech and A & M, Ohio State have. You can only close the gap with player development. Back when we were relevant, players left NU ready to play in the NFL. They got better every year. The staff knew what they were doing.

When you only have two players invited to the NFL combine, that is an indicator that the staff has failed miserably. I have posted before about Spindler and Key both being listed on NFL mock drafts last fall and each guy being listed as a 2nd to 3rd round pick. Now I can not find a mock draft listing either one in any round. It almost appears that some of the players who do come here go backward. Hunter would be one exception to that. It will take an AD with a lot more on the ball than Dannen to fix things. Every aspect of the program, including S & C needs to be looked at.

o_Balfor said:

He's a straight line runner with maybe average speed, and no throwing ability. You guys are delusional.

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Yep, there was no way they weren’t going to try to upgrade at QB. His ceiling is low. He does look the part however.

With a room full of starting experience, Colandrea can’t turn over the ball like he has or he’s going to need to be replaced and the two guys behind him will be ready.

too much of a history of turning the ball over for me to buy in yet. He’s going to have to prove it. Can’t fumble and throw picks as much as he has, and win. Not at a P4 school. Keep in mind Virginia won more games in the one year without him then they did the two years combined with him. To me that can’t be ignored.

we can be hopeful that’s changed, but we can no longer ignore these red flags and think everything will be better now. We’ve done that too much as fans. So if he does turn the ball over a lot, and costs us wins, it’s not going to be a shock. It’s going to be more like “well this was likely to happen”. Flip side, hopefully that doesn’t happen and all is well

I also think Rhule doesn’t value guys that have won as much, especially when it comes to transfers. Which makes sense because Rhule hasn’t won really. So he doesn’t think that’s too important cause if he did, he’d have to acknowledge that in himself

Spinner4 said:

With a room full of starting experience, Colandrea can’t turn over the ball like he has or he’s going to need to be replaced and the two guys behind him will be ready.

too much of a history of turning the ball over for me to buy in yet. He’s going to have to prove it. Can’t fumble and throw picks as much as he has, and win. Not at a P4 school. Keep in mind Virginia won more games in the one year without him then they did the two years combined with him. To me that can’t be ignored.

we can be hopeful that’s changed, but we can no longer ignore these red flags and think everything will be better now. We’ve done that too much as fans. So if he does turn the ball over a lot, and costs us wins, it’s not going to be a shock. It’s going to be more like “well this was likely to happen”. Flip side, hopefully that doesn’t happen and all is well

I also think Rhule doesn’t value guys that have won as much, especially when it comes to transfers. Which makes sense because Rhule hasn’t won really. So he doesn’t think that’s too important cause if he did, he’d have to acknowledge that in himself

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Everybody is overlooking Kaelin. The guy looks like a college QB in the limited video we’ve gotten from practice. I’m not sure how Dana makes his evaluation but at least he has options. I would be just fine with any of the top 3 being trotted out for the first game. I hope to heck this is truly an open competition with equal chances this spring.

suffocation_ said:

Nebraska football has become the equivalent of an alcoholic with wealthy parents. You're just always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

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Good post and excellent analogy. The bottom line to me is at some point we start doing things differently. Either keep an average head coach (some say worse) and let him prove that he can do a reset, hire a great staff and turn things around. Or do yet another huge buyout, but this time we don't limit our coaching search! Find the best coach who coaches the Nebraska style of football. Callahan, Pelini, Riley, Frost and Rhule. None of them was a good fit. Pelini was the closest. But hell no, we'll go out and find anyone who (A) had recent success, (B) is a wow hire, but also (C) is willing to come here for the big money and then say all of the right things.

Nuts McClanahan said:

Good post and excellent analogy. The bottom line to me is at some point we start doing things differently. Either keep an average head coach (some say worse) and let him prove that he can do a reset, hire a great staff and turn things around. Or do yet another huge buyout, but this time we don't limit our coaching search! Find the best coach who coaches the Nebraska style of football. Callahan, Pelini, Riley, Frost and Rhule. None of them was a good fit. Pelini was the closest. But hell no, we'll go out and find anyone who (A) had recent success, (B) is a wow hire, but also (C) is willing to come here for the big money and then say all of the right things.

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I do NOT want another “name” hire if we end up parting ways with Rhule. Roll the dice with the best young up and comer you can find. The only name hire I would welcome is probably Zac Taylor if he became available.