Curt McKeever: Husker fans are the lucky ones
BOULDER, Colo. — Look at it this way, Nebraska fans: You’re getting off easy. This season is over.
Seriously. If you really want more of what the Huskers showed at Folsom Field while giving up 34 unanswered points during their 65-51 loss to Colorado, then you’ve lost touch with what it was that attracted you to NU football.
Stability.
Today, Nebraska’s program has all the stability of a pilotless airplane in flight.
It’s astonishingly sad and, at the same time, stunning, considering where the Huskers appeared to be a year ago as Bill Callahan was winding down his third season as coach.
Poor Callahan. He wanted oh so badly to deliver a big kiss-my-you-know-what goodbye to his critics Friday. Instead, he gets the big kiss off from his team.
At least that’s how the Huskers appeared while wrapping up a 5-7 season that many believe will cost Callahan and his coaching staff their jobs.
“This is going to sound silly, but by any means, no,” junior nose tackle Ndamukong Suh said when asked if he feels relief in knowing that he can now put the stress of a 1-6 finish to this year behind him. “I don’t know what the right words are, but if I was to lose a game I’d rather lose in a bowl. I came here to play in big games and go to bowl games every single year, so there’s no relief in my heart and my soul that this season is over.”
His mentality is understandable. Generally, competitors leave a battle happy only when they’ve achieved the desired result or they’ve given their best.
If you think the Huskers left it all against a patched-up Colorado squad that was without its best defensive player and had lost four of its last five games, ask yourself this: When’s the last time a team scored 51 points — and lost by two touchdowns?
You think players aren’t questioning how far Nebraska’s program needs to go to reach a comfortable level of stability?
“That’s a tough question to answer,” said junior quarterback Joe Ganz, who toyed with Colorado’s man-to-man coverage in the first half but looked frustrated when the Buffs reverted to more zone play. “We need to win. It’s plain and simple. Who cares how it’s done?”
Ganz said he hasn’t seen wondering looks in the eyes of his teammates before games. But how could Nebraska feel content with any aspect of its game?
There isn’t a team in the country with a 5-6 record and ahead 35-24 at halftime that could tell you it had things figured out.
I feel bad for any player who spends an entire year working diligently just so they can try and win championships and hoist trophies. But when you’re forced into having to win a track meet every week like Nebraska has been this season. …
Well, let’s hope that isn’t what Nebraska football has been reduced to.
But how long before the Huskers get turned around to where you have legitimate hope? Should you continue to hold the Huskers in high regard and expect an amazing one-year turnaround?
“They should,” Ganz said of Big Red fans. “It’s going to be tough, obviously — especially if they bring in a new coach. But they should always keep their expectations high. It’s Nebraska. We should win games. We should be in the hunt for the Big 12 championship. We should be national contenders. It’s up to us to live up to that.”
Ganz then paused before finishing.
“Nobody,” he said, “wants to go out like this.”
Maybe not, but it’s for the best.
Huskers everywhere should consider themselves lucky there’s nothing more to this season. Another game wouldn’t have changed the feeling.
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
Seriously. If you really want more of what the Huskers showed at Folsom Field while giving up 34 unanswered points during their 65-51 loss to Colorado, then you’ve lost touch with what it was that attracted you to NU football.
Stability.
Today, Nebraska’s program has all the stability of a pilotless airplane in flight.
It’s astonishingly sad and, at the same time, stunning, considering where the Huskers appeared to be a year ago as Bill Callahan was winding down his third season as coach.
Poor Callahan. He wanted oh so badly to deliver a big kiss-my-you-know-what goodbye to his critics Friday. Instead, he gets the big kiss off from his team.
At least that’s how the Huskers appeared while wrapping up a 5-7 season that many believe will cost Callahan and his coaching staff their jobs.
“This is going to sound silly, but by any means, no,” junior nose tackle Ndamukong Suh said when asked if he feels relief in knowing that he can now put the stress of a 1-6 finish to this year behind him. “I don’t know what the right words are, but if I was to lose a game I’d rather lose in a bowl. I came here to play in big games and go to bowl games every single year, so there’s no relief in my heart and my soul that this season is over.”
His mentality is understandable. Generally, competitors leave a battle happy only when they’ve achieved the desired result or they’ve given their best.
If you think the Huskers left it all against a patched-up Colorado squad that was without its best defensive player and had lost four of its last five games, ask yourself this: When’s the last time a team scored 51 points — and lost by two touchdowns?
You think players aren’t questioning how far Nebraska’s program needs to go to reach a comfortable level of stability?
“That’s a tough question to answer,” said junior quarterback Joe Ganz, who toyed with Colorado’s man-to-man coverage in the first half but looked frustrated when the Buffs reverted to more zone play. “We need to win. It’s plain and simple. Who cares how it’s done?”
Ganz said he hasn’t seen wondering looks in the eyes of his teammates before games. But how could Nebraska feel content with any aspect of its game?
There isn’t a team in the country with a 5-6 record and ahead 35-24 at halftime that could tell you it had things figured out.
I feel bad for any player who spends an entire year working diligently just so they can try and win championships and hoist trophies. But when you’re forced into having to win a track meet every week like Nebraska has been this season. …
Well, let’s hope that isn’t what Nebraska football has been reduced to.
But how long before the Huskers get turned around to where you have legitimate hope? Should you continue to hold the Huskers in high regard and expect an amazing one-year turnaround?
“They should,” Ganz said of Big Red fans. “It’s going to be tough, obviously — especially if they bring in a new coach. But they should always keep their expectations high. It’s Nebraska. We should win games. We should be in the hunt for the Big 12 championship. We should be national contenders. It’s up to us to live up to that.”
Ganz then paused before finishing.
“Nobody,” he said, “wants to go out like this.”
Maybe not, but it’s for the best.
Huskers everywhere should consider themselves lucky there’s nothing more to this season. Another game wouldn’t have changed the feeling.
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
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