Beloved Huskers, Oh How We Miss Them

I know it has been awhile since I have written a blog, but there are some things on my mind. The first of which is the recent Husker performances. (In case you didn't know, I'm a huge husker fan). I'm not talking about this year or even the past few years, but since the last national championship. Tom Osborne's last year, the last year of glory. Many people have been expressing their disappointment in this season's husker team by comparing them to those we grew up with. The early 70's, the early 70's, the entire decade of the 90's. The last three generations have witnessed some of the best games in college football history. What do I think about this comparison? I think it's stupid. I think it's wishful thinking and not going to do anything but "demoralize the troops." However, I do think that these feelings are valid.

The problems lie in the leadership of the team. Whether that is on the player level, the coaching, or the athletic department (heck why stop there--someone else is always responsible), the problem lies in the blatant lack of emotion shown in all levels of management. Although flashes of brilliance have shone here and there this season, there is obviously no heart to this team, no fire. Maybe it's cliche to quote a movie, but in "We Are Marshall," it is stated that winning is all that matters. This is completely true. And, especially on the coaching level, one can see that each game is just a step leading, well, no one seems to know where. Winning becomes virtually irrelevant, and the comments we see are along the lines of "we made mistakes, but our boys played pretty good." Blah. Matt Davison nailed it on the head when he spoke about Nebraska's lack of passion during the Missouri game this year.

Winning is everything. Telling yourself that "it's just a game" or "as long as they have fun..." is a joke. With how much college football generates, money is a convincing enough argument for winning but to suggest otherwise is a delusion. Who heads out on the field on football Saturday in front of almost 100,000 and isn't thinking that they will do everything in their power to win? In college football, a player that is recruited is playing for four years and then he moves on with his life. Whatever road he may take, a college football career is a stepping stone for him, but not for the coach and not for the school; they are the constants. For a student to be made a mere step (in a path that is becoming increasingly longer and more obscure) is disgustingly wrong. I hope for all our sakes that someone wises up and, whether it's through new coaches, staff, players, or mindsets, the Huskers can continue along the path set 117 years ago; the arduous task of an ongoing winning tradition.