Husker Nation is getting used to turmoil, sadly. It has gotten to the point where some of our so-called 'fans' disrespect the players and themselves so much as to sling insults during a game at our players. How de####able.
Any recent interviews with some of our players yield the same results. Sadness. Dejected. Hurt. Miserable. Hopeless. Failure. It can be seen in the body language, the speech, and inbetween the lines. These players feel like they've failed their fans. They feel like they've failed their coach. They feel the sting of failure and the pressure we've placed on them.
Realistically, who failed who?
Obviously, our coaches have failed our players. They have treated our players like NFL stars: not practicing on Mondays, too much time in film sessions instead of on the field, not practicing in full pads, and a general lack of fundamentals and physicality. Even Osborne said "we missed the boat on that one."
A coach is primarily a teacher. Any good coach will tell you it isn't about barking plays and orders. Players need taught the plays, they need taught how to tackle, how to throw a block, how to use their athletic talent. In this respect, our coaches have failed our players.
Our fans have gotten used to winning. We've taken winning for granted, and have become spoiled. We've let our expectations soar, and put enormous pressure on the program. Are we wrong in doing so? Like Matt Davison said during the Missouri game "I refuse to apologize for my expectations." But for the fans that can't control their frustration, that can only support the players while winning: To the players, I apologize.
Our fans have also let mediocrity carry on too long. Callahan went 5-6 in his first season. We chalked it up to installing new schemes. He went 8-4, we figured improvement. He went 9-5, we figured we're still ok. We failed to see that both 8-4 and 9-5, and failing to finish a season ranked is pretty mediocre. We failed to question Pederson or Callahan early enough.
The players failed their coach? Not a chance, the coaches have failed the players. And the school, the tradition, the past players, and just about everything associated with Nebraska football.
The players failed the fans? Absolutely not, if anything, we have failed them by letting the insults ring louder than our cheers. By not silencing those voices in the stands criticizing the players. By letting the pieces stay in place long enough to fail them. I feel so very bad and so very sorry for those players. That it has come to this. Certainly they want to win as bad as we want them to. They don't want remembered as the worst Huskers team in history any more than what we want them to. But they will. They have my sympathy, my apologies, and my undying support. There are better times ahead. There will be a day when our sea of red will make opponents tremble. When our battle cry will once again put fear in their hearts.
Flat, I have to honest. When I started reading this post, I thought "We already have 2 posts on the same subject." I was wrong. I really loved your take. You took it a step further than Scottradomus or even I did. Kudos.
Personally, I don't think we waited too long as fans to start vocalizing our disoncent with the current coaching staff. As you know, I was an advocate for the coaching staff until the Mizzou game, so my opinion is well documented.
Again, I can't say how much I liked your slant on this subject. Double Kudos my man!!
Great post, Flatulentone. I just hope as the next 4 games come and go that more of the local fans there will show their support and overshadow those who seem to think they somehow deserve more, when it is the players who deserve more from us. Especially now.
I like this because you called it like you see it. No need to sugar coat things. Thats makes for a better post and I agree with oldskewler. I'm a Nebraska fan. I just don't know what happened with Callahan.
thanks for the compliments everyone. I just call them as I see them.
I did see your post, and Scotts, oldskewler. I felt that I needed to get this out there, that the players have absolutely NOT failed us.
I hope Scotts was proving a point. Otherwise, good riddance. Any fan who only wants to follow a winning team, or who wants to ditch because of 2 or 3 #### fans isn't wanted anyway. Anyone who thinks Nebraska is without the same type of #### fans we meet in CU or Mizzou is sorely mistaken. They are out there, and it is up to the rest of us to police them.
And to anyone jumping ship, you were never a fan in the first place. Have fun rooting for the team of the moment. Your yearly national championships won't be nearly as sweet. Good riddance.
At first I thought that Scott was using his quitting only for the shock value. He has not come out to say that in any of the posts. He is way out of line to criticize any fans behavior if he is turning his back on the team. It really chaps me because he is not trying to make any kind of difference, he is just quitting. He has given the Husker Nation a black-eye all by himself.
I thought that too at first, oldskewler. He's defended it too much for that now. Any fan that leaves us now was never a fan to begin with. My previous comment here and my last one there hold true. It especially chapped me that he'd duck under the au####es of poor fans when we've had our share of #### fans in the past, and these fans could have left at any time then, but choose now. How convenient.
Nay, I say that we are STILL the best fans in the nation. Find me another school that will finish 4-8 that has as much support as ours.
Flat, Awesome post man. Win or lose I will be a Husker Fan and I feel sorry for any fair weather fan who believes the players have failed us. You got it right. I can only hope that the players have misunderstood the fans and that the fans were belittling the coaches rather than the players. I know I for one have yelled at the coaches through my TV. I've said it once I've said it a thousand times: Attitude reflects leadership. And NE football is lacking leadership.
It's all about building a road, so lets get behind our players, let them know that we know that they are trying, after all they are only 18 to 21 years of age. After all the building is the fun part, the ending..... well it's the end.
I have posted in many places, including my own blogs, that I support the team, just not Callahan. I also have stated the following...I have tickets to the K-State game. Because I live in the panhandle of Nebraska, I will pay for the gas to get there, the motel room, meals, I will go to the game in my Husker attire, and I will remain there for the entire game, regardless of the score. I have always been and always will be a Husker fan. No losing season will change that. That being said, I will NEVER be a Callahan fan. He has thrown these kids "under the bus" too many times, stated (in not so many words) that the old way of doing things was the wrong way. Our team needs the support of their fans, and I will not deny them that, no matter how the season ends.
The school let the players down by bringing Dollar Bill here. Fans that ride the players backs are just making it worse.. You can read the depression in the players comments. A sad situation...
Flat, I've never boo'd the players. If I could do better, I'd be on the field.
The current state of affairs must be addressed without scaring off recruits. Osborne must state that Callahan is IN and the recruits that pre-committed will come.
