Curt McKeever: Players as frustrated as everyone else as season nears end
Believe what you want about whether Bill Callahan has been asked to resign as Nebraska football coach. Does it really matter?
And that question has nothing to do with the powers-that-be wanting to get a jump-start on the search for his replacement (like that isn’t happening, anyway).
Even if the Husker staff officially had lame-duck status, do you think that would help NU’s defense suddenly discover a level of competitiveness that, with the exception of three quarters at Texas, has been lacking since the start of October?
Please.
Could players function better if they’re suiting up primarily for themselves, because they know they’re down to the final two games with the current coaching staff?
Maybe if they were ready for a mutiny (and if they are, they’ve hid it well).
Regardless, what you see from a lot of Huskers these days is the same sinking-ship look as their leader wears. It’s a marked contrast from what you see on the cover of Nebraska’s 2007 media and recruiting guide — a smiling Callahan carrying on with his band of one-for-all mates.
Fifth-year senior Ben Eisenhart remembers that time fondly. Now, he’s simply trying to keep a stiff upper lip.
Eisenhart is sure the coaches have “a lot on their minds about what’s going to happen in the next couple weeks,” but speaks with appreciation for how they’ve maintained a professional approach while continuing to prepare the Huskers.
“We understand that everybody’s frustrated,” he said, “but we’re also very frustrated and we just want to win these games and end this season on a high note — if that’s possible.”
To clarify, it’s not that Eisenhart doesn’t believe Nebraska can defeat Kansas State today and then Colorado on Nov. 23.
“I guess it’s whether people think anything is positive about what we’ve done,” he said.
Folks, there aren’t many sadder words a fifth-year senior from Culbertson could utter.
“Especially being from Nebraska, I love Nebraska football … and I’ve always been a huge fan,” Eisenhart added. “To be in this situation as a senior. … It’s kind of a hard thing to go through, but it’s part of life. If this is the worst thing that I go through in my life, I say I got out pretty easy.
“… But from an aspect of I know what people expect, I know it is a disappointment. And it’s a disappointment to us, too.”
The way this season is winding down feels completely different from the nightmare Eisenhart experienced in 2003, the last time Nebraska changed coaches. That situation came as a complete shock, since the Huskers were 9-3 when Steve Pederson fired Frank Solich following a win against Colorado in the final regular-season game.
Partly because of that, Eisenhart isn’t so naive to now think a couple of solid wins by the Huskers would save their coaches’ jobs. He can read the writing on the wall that says many people have become uncomfortable trying to follow Nebraska football. To them, even the sips of victory haven’t tasted that sweet.
Callahan should realize that, too. And while he hopes to prepare “something positive for (the players) on the way out,” he doesn’t seem too worried about them being able to put this season in their rearview mirror.
“Football is important to them, but then the next thing is important to them, whether it’s school, whether it’s relationships with other people,” he said. “They move on quickly. They don’t sit around like coaches do and analyze everything. They come in, get the message from the coaches, and move on.”
During the Huskers’ freefall, Callahan has tapped multiple resources to try help his team out of its funk. He’s harped on topics such as the importance of fast starts to being detailed in execution and fundamentals.
But Joe Ganz can understand if today Callahan feels like he’s grasping at straws when it comes to motivational ploys.
Earlier this week, the junior quarterback acknowledged that the Huskers have lacked emotional fire all season. He even let out a chuckle when asked whether Callahan or members of his staff had worked themselves into a frenzy in front of the team before a game.
“You can only do it so many times before it starts losing its effect,” Ganz said. “They’ve done it for big games before. There’s other games where they’ve been kind of calm and quiet, and we need to go about our business.
“It’s different every week, but pregame speeches are worth what they’re worth. It still comes down to the heart inside the kid and how you want to go out there and represent yourself and represent this university.”
The recent string of losses makes it clear that Nebraska has had a rough go trying to fight its way through failure.
As Ganz noted, “That ‘N’ on the side of your helmet gets pretty heavy when you’re losing.”
Heavy enough to where the back and forth about whether Callahan was asked to step down is a waste of energy.
Sit tight. It’ll be over soon enough.
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
And that question has nothing to do with the powers-that-be wanting to get a jump-start on the search for his replacement (like that isn’t happening, anyway).
Even if the Husker staff officially had lame-duck status, do you think that would help NU’s defense suddenly discover a level of competitiveness that, with the exception of three quarters at Texas, has been lacking since the start of October?
Please.
Could players function better if they’re suiting up primarily for themselves, because they know they’re down to the final two games with the current coaching staff?
Maybe if they were ready for a mutiny (and if they are, they’ve hid it well).
Regardless, what you see from a lot of Huskers these days is the same sinking-ship look as their leader wears. It’s a marked contrast from what you see on the cover of Nebraska’s 2007 media and recruiting guide — a smiling Callahan carrying on with his band of one-for-all mates.
Fifth-year senior Ben Eisenhart remembers that time fondly. Now, he’s simply trying to keep a stiff upper lip.
Eisenhart is sure the coaches have “a lot on their minds about what’s going to happen in the next couple weeks,” but speaks with appreciation for how they’ve maintained a professional approach while continuing to prepare the Huskers.
“We understand that everybody’s frustrated,” he said, “but we’re also very frustrated and we just want to win these games and end this season on a high note — if that’s possible.”
To clarify, it’s not that Eisenhart doesn’t believe Nebraska can defeat Kansas State today and then Colorado on Nov. 23.
“I guess it’s whether people think anything is positive about what we’ve done,” he said.
Folks, there aren’t many sadder words a fifth-year senior from Culbertson could utter.
“Especially being from Nebraska, I love Nebraska football … and I’ve always been a huge fan,” Eisenhart added. “To be in this situation as a senior. … It’s kind of a hard thing to go through, but it’s part of life. If this is the worst thing that I go through in my life, I say I got out pretty easy.
“… But from an aspect of I know what people expect, I know it is a disappointment. And it’s a disappointment to us, too.”
The way this season is winding down feels completely different from the nightmare Eisenhart experienced in 2003, the last time Nebraska changed coaches. That situation came as a complete shock, since the Huskers were 9-3 when Steve Pederson fired Frank Solich following a win against Colorado in the final regular-season game.
Partly because of that, Eisenhart isn’t so naive to now think a couple of solid wins by the Huskers would save their coaches’ jobs. He can read the writing on the wall that says many people have become uncomfortable trying to follow Nebraska football. To them, even the sips of victory haven’t tasted that sweet.
Callahan should realize that, too. And while he hopes to prepare “something positive for (the players) on the way out,” he doesn’t seem too worried about them being able to put this season in their rearview mirror.
“Football is important to them, but then the next thing is important to them, whether it’s school, whether it’s relationships with other people,” he said. “They move on quickly. They don’t sit around like coaches do and analyze everything. They come in, get the message from the coaches, and move on.”
During the Huskers’ freefall, Callahan has tapped multiple resources to try help his team out of its funk. He’s harped on topics such as the importance of fast starts to being detailed in execution and fundamentals.
But Joe Ganz can understand if today Callahan feels like he’s grasping at straws when it comes to motivational ploys.
Earlier this week, the junior quarterback acknowledged that the Huskers have lacked emotional fire all season. He even let out a chuckle when asked whether Callahan or members of his staff had worked themselves into a frenzy in front of the team before a game.
“You can only do it so many times before it starts losing its effect,” Ganz said. “They’ve done it for big games before. There’s other games where they’ve been kind of calm and quiet, and we need to go about our business.
“It’s different every week, but pregame speeches are worth what they’re worth. It still comes down to the heart inside the kid and how you want to go out there and represent yourself and represent this university.”
The recent string of losses makes it clear that Nebraska has had a rough go trying to fight its way through failure.
As Ganz noted, “That ‘N’ on the side of your helmet gets pretty heavy when you’re losing.”
Heavy enough to where the back and forth about whether Callahan was asked to step down is a waste of energy.
Sit tight. It’ll be over soon enough.
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
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