Nebraska/Missouri/ The Gophers

[Iceland12]

Nebraska of the 2000's ISN'T the Nebraska of before. This is quite true. Scholarship limits took a big chunk out of their "glory years". Missouri had lost to NE 20 plus straight times prior to 2003. What's happened since?

2000's 4 6 0 25.0 25.8
1990's 0 10 0 13.3 47.0
1980's 0 10 0 14.0 32.8
1970's 4 6 0 14.7 27.0

Remind you of anything?

None of the articles have mentioned Nebraska turning down home and home offers from Maturi toward the end of the Mason years. Money was supposedly the stumbling block for them. That and the off hand chance it could actually be a game?

They played Maine instead one year. Nebraska won, 25-7.

Bo Pelini has done a fine job but seriously, take away the tackles, hell take away Ndamukong Suh and the Cornhuskers wouldn't have been world-beaters last year either.

No, they have a fine team with a rich and wonderful history. The last ten years or so though, they're not Florida or Texas. They're far closer to Iowa or Wisconsin.

Now the Gophers record against the Badgers or Hawkeyes is awful drung that period too, be that's another story.

 

[Iceland12]

It's not just Missouri. Cornhuskers fans will tell you that it's because of a bad coach that they had a little trouble, not scholarship limits allowing opponents to get better. While they've more then held their own, they've come back, at least a little, to the pack. Some credit should be given to the teams they've played getting better.

Kansas State

1998 - 2009 5-7 Prior 28 losses in a row

Iowa State

2002 - 2009 3-5 Prior 1 and 23

Colorado, maybe a bad example because they were competitive in the late 80's

2001 - 2009 4-5 Prior 0 and 9

Oklahoma State

2002 - 2007 3 - 1 Prior 24 losses in a row

Kansas - well just a bad example period.

 

[GopherGod]

They did have some down years by their standards with Callahan, Cosgrove, and Steve Pederson at the helm. With the hiring of Osborne and Pelini it is definitely turning back around and appears to be happening pretty quickly. They have had some good recruiting classes under Pelini and are already on pace this year to have a great recruiting class. They are a top 10 preseason ranked team that is very well coached and I would imagine that they will more than compete with the teams in the western division. Since they have got a good staff in place, I don't really see them losing many on the field or recruiting battles to a team like Iowa. I think that biggest advantage that Nebraska will have coming into the Big 10 is that they have such deeper in-roads into Texas recruiting than the rest of the teams in the conference. I know that Nebraska fans are excited about the Iowa rivalry and look forward to playing Ohio State and Penn State. Ndamukong Suh was a special player but their defense was more than just one player. They return all of possibly the best defensive backfield in the conference, two of the better running backs in the conference, and a all-american quality tackle in Jared Crick.

 

[Iceland12]

They did have some down years by their standards with Callahan, Cosgrove, and Steve Pederson at the helm. With the hiring of Osborne and Pelini it is definitely turning back around and appears to be happening pretty quickly. They have had some good recruiting classes under Pelini and are already on pace this year to have a great recruiting class. They are a top 10 preseason ranked team that is very well coached and I would imagine that they will more than compete with the teams in the western division. Since they have got a good staff in place, I don't really see them losing many on the field or recruiting battles to a team like Iowa. I think that biggest advantage that Nebraska will have coming into the Big 10 is that they have such deeper in-roads into Texas recruiting than the rest of the teams in the conference. I know that Nebraska fans are excited about the Iowa rivalry and look forward to playing Ohio State and Penn State. Ndamukong Suh was a special player but their defense was more than just one player. They return all of possibly the best defensive backfield in the conference, two of the better running backs in the conference, and a all-american quality tackle in Jared Crick.

While all that could be true, and Suh and his counterpart on the line served to make being a DB a LOT easier, your response is the Nebraska fan's response that irritates' me the most, without any malice meant. The records mentioned started in 1998, 2001 and 2002. Yet blaming Callahan and Cosgrove is all Nebraska fans seem to have in mind.

There's no possible leeway given to the fact that Missouri, K-State, Oklahoma State etc. could have POSSIBLY went out and gotten better. No, only that the Huskers made a couple of coaching mistakes otherwise they would have went 45 - 3 only to lose to those damn Longhorns.

It's very NBA-like. You know "we played bad" not "they just beat us". Except in Nebraska's case it's "Callahan and Cosgrove" were all at fault.

With new access to talent, sometimes the Huskers just got beat.

 

[GopherGod]

While all that could be true, and Suh and his counterpart on the line served to make being a DB a LOT easier, your response is the Nebraska fan's response that irritates' me the most, without any malice meant. The records mentioned started in 1998, 2001 and 2002. Yet blaming Callahan and Cosgrove is all Nebraska fans seem to have in mind.

There's no possible leeway given to the fact that Missouri, K-State, Oklahoma State etc. could have POSSIBLY went out and gotten better. No, only that the Huskers made a couple of coaching mistakes otherwise they would have went 45 - 3 only to lose to those damn Longhorns.

It's very NBA-like. You know "we played bad" not "they just beat us". Except in Nebraska's case it's "Callahan and Cosgrove" were all at fault.

With new access to talent, sometimes the Huskers just got beat.

I agree that some of those teams got better at the same time that Callahan and Cosgrove destroyed their program, not only on the field but off the field by trying to destroy the culture and pride of the program by alienating alumni and former players. I do know that the Nebraska fans are unbelievably excited for Cosgrove to make his first visit back to Nebraska, assuming he is still coaching in the Big 10 then. Do most Nebraska fans think that without Callahan and Cosgrove that they would have went 45-3, no. However, no question their record would have been better.

 

[tjgopher]

The last ten years or so though, they're not Florida or Texas. They're far closer to Iowa or Wisconsin.

Not even Iowa or Wisconsin. Since 2002:

Iowa (70-32) - 2 conference titles, 2 BCS bowls, four finishes in AP Top 10
Wisconsin (69-33) - once in AP Top 10
Nebraska (62-44) - 0 conference titles, 0 times in AP Top Ten

 

[bankonit]

I agree that some of those teams got better at the same time that Callahan and Cosgrove destroyed their program, not only on the field but off the field by trying to destroy the culture and pride of the program by alienating alumni and former players. I do know that the Nebraska fans are unbelievably excited for Cosgrove to make his first visit back to Nebraska, assuming he is still coaching in the Big 10 then. Do most Nebraska fans think that without Callahan and Cosgrove that they would have went 45-3, no. However, no question their record would have been better.

Highly doubtful, Callahan and Cosgrove did not destroy their program, other teams just got better and the game changed.

 

[GoGophers2005]

Nebraska had it EASSSSYYY playing in the Big 12 North. Nebraska fans are going to get a rude awakening having to play a Wisconsin and Iowa every year. Not 1 team in the North was close to playing either of these teams. Going into Iowa City isn't the same as gameday in Manhatten or Lawrence. Not being a jerk, just saying the truth.