Drinking koolaid?

[Pennsyhuskers]

I have a hunch we might be at the Pelini level this year. Solid season where we win the games we should but get walloped in a conference championship or meaningful pivotal game. The question is once Rhule reaches this level can he get over the hump that pelini never could. I’m happy to think we may even be at this level after the last 7 or so seasons..

That is my gut feeling now too. We lose to Michigan and PSU but beat everyone else. The difference between a 10-2 regular season and an 9-3 season will be beating USC in Lincoln. This is the year we must beat all the mid tier teams: Maryland, Iowa, Minny, UCLA, Maryland, Northwestern

 

[ZJSARENOTFREE]

That is my gut feeling now too. We lose to Michigan and PSU but beat everyone else. The difference between a 10-2 regular season and an 9-3 season will be beating USC in Lincoln. This is the year we must beat all the mid tier teams: Maryland, Iowa, Minny, UCLA, Maryland, Northwestern

I think we beat Michigan, but we definitely lose 1-2 dumb games we shouldn't still. I actually like our chances against PSU as well. Until Franklin proves different, they will choke somewhere.

 

[RBigredMax1]

I think we beat Michigan, but we definitely lose 1-2 dumb games we shouldn't still. I actually like our chances against PSU as well. Until Franklin proves different, they will choke somewhere.

So hopefully they … choke on us?

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

I think we beat Michigan, but we definitely lose 1-2 dumb games we shouldn't still. I actually like our chances against PSU as well. Until Franklin proves different, they will choke somewhere.

Michigan will be very tough. I think many husker fans are underestimating them based on last year. But they have the #1 rated five star QB now (their Raiola). They also ended last season with wins over Ohio State and then Alabama. Not too shabby. Glad this is in Lincoln and glad it is early in the season since their QB will be still learning the ropes. We need to make HUGE crowd noise and get in the young QB's head. I am not saying we do not have a chance to win because we do. But they will be very tough to beat.
Playing at PSU is very tough. I would rate Beaver Stadium as the most intimidating stadium in have ever been in. It is tough to win there and if it is a "white out" night game look out. We will lose this game I think.

 

[InMotion]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

Don't want to be negative but our D-Line is going against our O-Line in practice. So take that for what it's worth.

That's not Great vs Great. It's good vs good. We'll see what happens when they get punched in the mouth like against Indiana (yeah, Indiana) last year.

 

[inWV]

Don't want to be negative but our D-Line is going against our O-Line in practice. So take that for what it's worth.

That's not Great vs Great. It's good vs good. We'll see what happens when they get punched in the mouth like against Indiana (yeah, Indiana) last year.

You can be down in the mouth about this, or you can accept the fact that offensive line play over the past two years has improved as has OL recruiting. Defensive line play has also improved and Nash and Ty were not the sole reason for that improvement.
Something that has stuck with me from the end of the Frost regime is that Bill Busch stated in remarks before and after his first game as DC was that they focused on base defense and getting aligned correctly. That’s how bad things were.

 

[InMotion]

You can be down in the mouth about this, or you can accept the fact that offensive line play over the past two years has improved as has OL recruiting. Defensive line play has also improved and Nash and Ty were not the sole reason for that improvement.
Something that has stuck with me from the end of the Frost regime is that Bill Busch stated in remarks before and after his first game as DC was that they focused on base defense and getting aligned correctly. That’s how bad things were.

Ill take that response. I know we haven't played a down yet, but where do you see us in the trenches this year? Good vs Good? Great vs Good? 1st, 2nd or 3rd All B1G players? Honorable mention? All Americans?

 

[goldencohusker]

I really think this is such a critical year for Rhule and the program. We have all heard the narrative of Rhule’s previous jobs where year 3 is the magic year. We have a favorable schedule this year too. So expectations are high and Rhule has fanned the flames of those expectations with his very upbeat public comments about this team. And my post is really about how he has energized fans like me, you, and others, and raised expectations, despite our doubts.
Therefore, if we lay a turd again this year and go 5-7 or 6-6, I think you are going to see a wave of fan disenchantment and discontent that will not be pretty. Fans will start to view Rhule as just a preacher’s boy with a silver tongue. All sizzle and no steak. That will in turn hurt recruiting.
Worst case nightmare scenario for this year? We open with a loss to Cincinnati. Just like Frost losing to a horrible Northwestern team in Ireland to start the season. It was downhill fast from there.
We have to start 3-0, and then at least be competitive against Michigan even if we lose. Then we cannot have another mid season slump. We must beat teams like Maryland and UCLA.

Agree with all this if you had said I know instead of I think on the highlighted text. Rhule will be on the hot seat if we go 5-7.

 

[inWV]

Ill take that response. I know we haven't played a down yet, but where do you see us in the trenches this year? Good vs Good? Great vs Good? 1st, 2nd or 3rd All B1G players? Honorable mention? All Americans?

Oline top third to top half, Dline top half. Evans is hon mention quality as are Spindler and possibly Lutovsky. RVP has the potential, but is probably a year away. One thing that will help the defense is that there is sufficient depth at corner. Ceyair Wright is all conference caliber. Blye Hill is healthy, the Marshall kid from Idaho can play, plus Sanders and Charles are two young guys that have trended up. And Butler, Snow and the new DB coach have had a spring and summer to figure out how to use the DBs.

 

[ZJSARENOTFREE]

Michigan will be very tough. I think many husker fans are underestimating them based on last year. But they have the #1 rated five star QB now (their Raiola). They also ended last season with wins over Ohio State and then Alabama. Not too shabby. Glad this is in Lincoln and glad it is early in the season since their QB will be still learning the ropes. We need to make HUGE crowd noise and get in the young QB's head. I am not saying we do not have a chance to win because we do. But they will be very tough to beat.
Playing at PSU is very tough. I would rate Beaver Stadium as the most intimidating stadium in have ever been in. It is tough to win there and if it is a "white out" night game look out. We will lose this game I think.

Go look at what they lost to the NFL. That is why I feel better about that game

 

[cestrup]

Agree with all this if you had said I know instead of I think on the highlighted text. Rhule will be on the hot seat if we go 5-7.

If we go 5-7 he needs to gtfo

 

[Spinner4]

Phil Snow had been coordinating defenses for over 30 years when Rhule hired him at Temple. The dude has been calling defenses since Reagan's first term. From the time Rhule met Snow at UCLA, Snow coordinated at UDub, LBs for the Lions, and coordinated at EMU. Was with Rhule at Temple, Baylor and Carolina, where he fielded the second stingiest defense in terms of yds/game.
A dude that had already done most of the coaching he was going to do joins up with a young coach who is going somewhere and continues to perform in a consistently excellent way = "comfort hire". In a sense you are right. Rhule, Butler and the rest of the defensive staff are very comfortable having him out on the practice field, where from what I've heard, he is doing a lof of work with the young DBs. But then again, he really is just Matt's buddy, right?

Wow, he’s old. That’s your support?

It’s nice to quote the “2nd stingiest defenses in 2021” what a crock of ****. Do you watch them or just look up a stat? Let’s look up another stat; stat master. Look up PPG. Where was that defense? Oh bottom tier… Look up CAR total offense, third from the bottom in passing, bottom tier in rushing.

whys all three of those blow that yards per game out of the water? Because opponents worked with shorter fields against CAR D. Shorter field, less yards

How’d that D fair in turnovers and sacks? YPG can be misleading especially when your offense is awful like CAR was in 21

But yeah, he coached when Regan was POTUS. What does that even have to do with anything. Seriously

 

[Walleye 1]

Wow, he’s old. That’s your play? Ok thanks Boomer

Aww the old boomer come back when someone has nothing better to respond with. Such a lazy take

 

[inWV]

Aww the old boomer come back when someone has nothing better to respond with. Such a lazy take

The length some will go to deny Snow is a good football coach. We should consider ourselves lucky that Snow likes Rhule well enough that he is willing to move to Lincoln and help him build a football team. Since my NFL stats appear not to be the correct ones, Snow had a top 20 defense his last year at Baylor, and the #9 D his last year at Temple, #17 the year before. The more I look into this guy, the more I like that he is on NU’s staff.
He took Baylor’s D from 114 to 20 in two seasons. To compare, Bo took over the #114 ranked D and trade it the top defense 2 years later (per SRCFB). So I stand by my description of Snow as a defensive Yoda .

 

[Kakdawg]

I really think this is such a critical year for Rhule and the program. We have all heard the narrative of Rhule’s previous jobs where year 3 is the magic year. We have a favorable schedule this year too. So expectations are high and Rhule has fanned the flames of those expectations with his very upbeat public comments about this team. And my post is really about how he has energized fans like me, you, and others, and raised expectations, despite our doubts.
Therefore, if we lay a turd again this year and go 5-7 or 6-6, I think you are going to see a wave of fan disenchantment and discontent that will not be pretty. Fans will start to view Rhule as just a preacher’s boy with a silver tongue. All sizzle and no steak. That will in turn hurt recruiting.
Worst case nightmare scenario for this year? We open with a loss to Cincinnati. Just like Frost losing to a horrible Northwestern team in Ireland to start the season. It was downhill fast from there.
We have to start 3-0, and then at least be competitive against Michigan even if we lose. Then we cannot have another mid season slump. We must beat teams like Maryland and UCLA.

I don't disagree with one thing you said. Let me be clear. The only thing stopping from drinking the koolade is that I've seen it time after time after time again go wrong. But I absolutely am feeling the confidence coming from the program. I just hope it's legit this time. Probably just a me thing but I've been crushed so many times i won't allow myself to go all in with it again until I see something tangible. Hoping like he'll HCMR is right tho for sure...



Holla

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

I don't disagree with one thing you said. Let me be clear. The only thing stopping from drinking the koolade is that I've seen it time after time after time again go wrong. But I absolutely am feeling the confidence coming from the program. I just hope it's legit this time. Probably just a me thing but I've been crushed so many times i won't allow myself to go all in with it again until I see something tangible. Hoping like he'll HCMR is right tho for sure...



Holla

My question is this: how pervasive among the fan base is your kind of caution? I think it is just beneath the surface everywhere. We better turn this around this year or the wheels might start falling off the Rhule fan wagon.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

My question is this: how pervasive among the fan base is your kind of caution? I think it is just beneath the surface everywhere. We better turn this around this year or the wheels might start falling off the Rhule fan wagon.

why is it not, when they turn it around this year, the sky is the limit? Oh I know, because y'all are fragile.

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

why is it not, when they turn it around this year, the sky is the limit? Oh I know, because y'all are fragile.

Why is it not the default mode to be optimistic? Hmmm… let’s think about recent history. We have been fed ten years of false optimism in every off season for a decade. Fans are getting wise to big off season talk followed by awful real seasons. One more such season and we might see a real fan exodus.
All that said, I think we win 9 games this year. I think we will have a good season. And you are correct about the sky is the limit mentality that will emerge if that happens. I hope it does.

But fans who are a bit cynical and jaded right now aren’t just being “emotional” as you allege. They are being realistic based upon our past decade of actual underperformance.

But I am tired of arguing with you. You seem to have a bee in your bonnet over my posts. So be it. I stand by my 16 years of posting on here. Some good, some bad, some in between. I try not to insult other posters and I avoid these kinds of pissing contest threads. You can carry on calling out my posts, but I am done with it. Have a nice evening

 

[inWV]

Why is it not the default mode to be optimistic? Hmmm… let’s think about recent history. We have been fed ten years of false optimism in every off season for a decade. Fans are getting wise to big off season talk followed by awful real seasons. One more such season and we might see a real fan exodus.
All that said, I think we win 9 games this year. I think we will have a good season. And you are correct about the sky is the limit mentality that will emerge if that happens. I hope it does.

But fans who are a bit cynical and jaded right now aren’t just being “emotional” as you allege. They are being realistic based upon our past decade of actual underperformance.

But I am tired of arguing with you. You seem to have a bee in your bonnet over my posts. So be it. I stand by my 16 years of posting on here. Some good, some bad, some in between. I try not to insult other posters and I avoid these kinds of pissing contest threads. You can carry on calling out my posts, but I am done with it. Have a nice evening

The optimistic default mode is for me because I am a fan of the team and I’d rather feel good about that than down in the mouth about it. This is as good of a coaching staff we’ve had since the Pelini years. There is very good young talent on this team and the older talent has sorted itself out in the first two years of Rhule. This is a much stronger league than it was a decade ago. Lots of good players and coaches. So there is nothing wrong with temporing expectations. But Rhule and Company have put in a lot of good, honest work. I will not preemptively discount that.

 

[InMotion]

If Nebraska < Cinncy Then
Wins := 7;
Loses := 5;
Else
Wins := 8;
Loses := 4;
End_if;

 

[Lars72]

I grew up in the 70s & 80s, loving the Huskers & always had high hopes. During the 90s, there were some hiccups but I guzzled the koolaid like Otis Campbell drinking white lighting on the weekend. Unfortunately, those days are long gone, as are my high expectations. I’ve had season tickets for about 20 years & I’ll continue to hand over my money, but until they give me a reason to be overly optimistic, I’ll temper my hopes to avoid getting kicked in the plums again.

 

[Laner2]

Aww the old boomer come back when someone has nothing better to respond with. Such a lazy take

He has one good function and he does it well, holding down the bottom of the bell curve.

 

[king_kong__]

I’m excited for the season

we will get Cincy’s best shot; hope we’re ready

 

[Anon1753475706]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

The reason we will be good is we brought in legit talent from really good schools

 

[TarheelHuskerFan_rivals]

The reason we will be good is we brought in legit talent from really good schools

And a bunch of other reasons… lol

 

[GeorgeFlippin]

Coaches better get off their collective rear ends and get recruiting, right now it's pathetic.

 

[The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy]

My Kool-aid is about 80% Full. I am very optimistic and looking forward to this season!

 

[Bigred2467]