I posted here earlier, before the game yesterday and wanted to post a follow-up. I have seen a ton of CU - NU games over the years - I was born in Boulder, and have seen every CU - NU game in some fashion since 1972. Yesterday's game was one of the best games I have seen - regardless of outcome. I know many of you don't think so, and the disparaging remarks about CU, and of your own team as a result of losing to CU are way off target. CU is a good team, and the results going forward will bear that out. Nebraska is also a very good team - even if game 1 in SF's tenure left you questioning that notion.
First, word from CU fans on our pay-board who went to the game is that the NU fans were solid and reasonable, and very classy. Thank you for that. I intend to do my part next year when y'all come to Boulder, to make sure you are treated with respect and decency.
Second, Nebraska is a good football team. I know many of you really don't like Riley, but he is imo fundamentally a good coach, and while he doesn't know how to win in a big-time atmosphere, I think he left the cupboard well stocked for you, particularly on the lines. Case in point: CU has had recruiting classes of 70, 65, 32, and 51 over the last four years, compared to classes ranked 31, 24, 20, and 21 over the same period for Nebraska. Talent-wise NU is loaded, and I think you will see NU make some noise in-conference this year, and I think you will probably be competing for a playoff spot in the next few seasons if I am being honest. Conversely, if a person is reasonable, you have to tip your hat to the CU coaches for what they have been able to pull together. I think Memorial stadium is a much more difficult place to play than just about any venue in the PAC-12, save maybe for UW and Oregon. That CU was able to stay poised in that atmosphere, and to be able to rally for the win is pretty incredible to me. Mike Macintyre and co are outstanding coaches who are getting CU to punch above their weight. With this years class in the 30's I am excited for the future of CU.
Third regarding the game, there is a lot of talk here about how the loss of the Akron game caused you to lose yesterday. Not-so-fast...I point out that after the half, with Martinez you were only able to score 7 points in the entirety of the second half. Playing Akron certainly would have helped with execution and eliminating stupid game 1 mistakes - I don't think you would have spotted CU two TD's in the first half for example, but I also don't think you would have put up three TD's in the first half either had CU had access to the NU-Akron game film. Not saying you would have won or lost, but that the point differential probably would have been similar either way. One other point that influenced the outcome is that CU's punter Alex Kinney broke his collarbone trying to make a tackle earlier in the game. Kinney was also the FG/PAT holder, and his absence in the second half certainly impacted our kicker, who left what, 9 points on the table yesterday?
I will say was pretty disappointed with Coach Frost in his presser yesterday. NU didn't lose the game because of mistakes. CU played better than NU did down the stretch getting us the win, and CU deserves some credit for doing so. What I saw yesterday from Frost was sour grapes. JMHO, but this goes back to Tom Osborne who was not one to give CU any credit for a game (or season) well played. The narrative was always that NU fell down, and not that CU was the better team. CU was the better team yesterday, and that win could well be the catalyst for a 9/10 win season, like we saw when CU beat Oregon in 2016. If you don't agree, well then all I can say is: SCOREBOARD! In any event, see you next year in Boulder, and good luck with your season. (Now patiently waiting for USCsker to talk ish about CU...)
First, word from CU fans on our pay-board who went to the game is that the NU fans were solid and reasonable, and very classy. Thank you for that. I intend to do my part next year when y'all come to Boulder, to make sure you are treated with respect and decency.
Second, Nebraska is a good football team. I know many of you really don't like Riley, but he is imo fundamentally a good coach, and while he doesn't know how to win in a big-time atmosphere, I think he left the cupboard well stocked for you, particularly on the lines. Case in point: CU has had recruiting classes of 70, 65, 32, and 51 over the last four years, compared to classes ranked 31, 24, 20, and 21 over the same period for Nebraska. Talent-wise NU is loaded, and I think you will see NU make some noise in-conference this year, and I think you will probably be competing for a playoff spot in the next few seasons if I am being honest. Conversely, if a person is reasonable, you have to tip your hat to the CU coaches for what they have been able to pull together. I think Memorial stadium is a much more difficult place to play than just about any venue in the PAC-12, save maybe for UW and Oregon. That CU was able to stay poised in that atmosphere, and to be able to rally for the win is pretty incredible to me. Mike Macintyre and co are outstanding coaches who are getting CU to punch above their weight. With this years class in the 30's I am excited for the future of CU.
Third regarding the game, there is a lot of talk here about how the loss of the Akron game caused you to lose yesterday. Not-so-fast...I point out that after the half, with Martinez you were only able to score 7 points in the entirety of the second half. Playing Akron certainly would have helped with execution and eliminating stupid game 1 mistakes - I don't think you would have spotted CU two TD's in the first half for example, but I also don't think you would have put up three TD's in the first half either had CU had access to the NU-Akron game film. Not saying you would have won or lost, but that the point differential probably would have been similar either way. One other point that influenced the outcome is that CU's punter Alex Kinney broke his collarbone trying to make a tackle earlier in the game. Kinney was also the FG/PAT holder, and his absence in the second half certainly impacted our kicker, who left what, 9 points on the table yesterday?
I will say was pretty disappointed with Coach Frost in his presser yesterday. NU didn't lose the game because of mistakes. CU played better than NU did down the stretch getting us the win, and CU deserves some credit for doing so. What I saw yesterday from Frost was sour grapes. JMHO, but this goes back to Tom Osborne who was not one to give CU any credit for a game (or season) well played. The narrative was always that NU fell down, and not that CU was the better team. CU was the better team yesterday, and that win could well be the catalyst for a 9/10 win season, like we saw when CU beat Oregon in 2016. If you don't agree, well then all I can say is: SCOREBOARD! In any event, see you next year in Boulder, and good luck with your season. (Now patiently waiting for USCsker to talk ish about CU...)