Drinking koolaid?

[Pennsyhuskers]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

 

[RedMyMind2.0]

I'm so used to Nebraska under Frost that even a below average season won't ruin my enthusiasm for college football.

 

[BleedRed89]

I had been silently building confidence this off-season. Just because for once, I didn't have to look at position groups and convince myself I liked them. I just found myself genuinely liking this roster.

After hearing Rhule speak at media days, and the confidence he clearly has, I'm in full blown LFG mode.

I'm standing by 11-1.

 

[cornhead1.]

I'm on my 2nd glass of kool-aid, the season can't get here soon enough. GBR

 

[NikkiSixx]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

kind of feel the same.. but not taking the bait. I have refrained from talking about it much during the off season, as it spoils the fun for those who are partaking in the Rhule-Aid.

I do expect improvements though, across the board.. I think we get 8+ wins, but I don't think we will be "back" in any kind of meaningful way.

To me, Nebraska won't be back until we become a running team again. And while we may have a talented thrower, I don't see very many intangibles that would lead me to think we are on the doorstep to championship level football.

It is hard to resist the hype though.. (this year has been particularly loud and over the top), I just hope our guys can play sound football.

 

[big red23]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

Hold strong!!! I love hearing the positives out of the players and the coaches mouths. You just have to remember we need to see the product on the field first, because every off season some media source says "They look different this year" or "The practices just are so much more organized" or "The Big 10 defenses will have to adjust to us."

I am still in the prove it to me on the field stage

 

[goldencohusker]

Drinking the koolaid, if you do it enough, has to be similar to the blind squirrel finding the nut -at least that's what I'm counting on.

 

[inWV]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

I concede the league is better than it was in 2016, but here is the DL 2-deep the last time NU won 9 games (from the season opener):
Ross Dzuris (Sr.) - walk on and solid player
Sed King (Soph) - ?????
Mick Stoltenberg (Soph) - solid player
Davis twins (RS Fr) - both made NFL rosters, Khalil just retired.
Kevin Maurice (Sr.) - solid
Freedom (Soph) - Kicked around the NFL
AJ Natter (Jr.) - ?????

Compare that to the current DL/Jack offerings
RVP (RS Fr.) - solid play as a true freshman
Jeudy (Sr.) - solid backup in 2024
Davis (Soph) - solid play as a true freshman
Leonard (Jr.) - played well as a true freshman
McCullough (Sr.) - Incredible athlete, freshman all american
MaGahee (Soph) - solid play at a true freshman
Jaylen George (Jr.) - 1AA all conference
Nwaneri (RS Fr) - 5* who looks like he should be on an SEC roster (he was)
Moore (Soph) and Lefotu (Soph) - a couple of big guys who should be part of the rotation.

My take is that Mark Banker was able to field a defense that helped win 9 games with a Dline whose best talent was a couple of RS Fr twins who were backups, and his firing was a shanda on the program. Both him and Cav broke out the duct tape and baling wire and fielded functional lines. These were the best coaching efforts of the Riley years.
The current coaches have a much better talent pool from which to field a Dline.

 

[konaki]

Until our team plays a solid 4 QTR's each and every week and contends for the conference honors I will be a wait and see fan of Nebraska football. This season will be the solid indicator if our Huskers have turned the corner and Matt Rhule is the man to take this team to the next level, which I hope he is because I like him as a coach. GBR!

 

[Huskers+123]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

 

[PvilleHuskerTim]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

I start out every year thinking we go undefeated and win the national championship!! Even during the lean years. I will adjust my attitude when it is necessary.

 

[mgbreeze]

Talk to me after the Cincy game. The Bearcats will be an average team with an average-but-experienced QB. You know, the kind of team we've been losing to or struggling with forever. If we're actually good, we should win comfortably. But that little word "should" has been a thorn in our side for years. As I pointed out in the other thread, we won 3 B1G games last year. I'm gonna need to see big improvements across the board before I take a single sip of the juice.

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

I believe we have the pieces, but I’ve said that seemly every year for the last decade. This year I am looking forward to see how this staff will manage year 3 with all the turn over. Until we have an elite staff we will not be able to compete in the upper echelon of the BIG.

 

[inWV]

I believe we have the pieces, but I’ve said that seemly every year for the last decade. This year I am looking forward to see how this staff will manage year 3 with all the turn over. Until we have an elite staff we will not be able to compete in the upper echelon of the BIG.

Holgerson has invented offensive approaches that are widely used throughout college FB.
Ek is considered one of the best current ST coaches.
Snow is an acknowledged defensive Yoda.
Butler has 3 decades of experience and coached the Bill's secondary to a top 5 NFL finish 5 of 6 years.

You may prefer some other set of elite coaches, but those guys are elite coaches.

 

[Baxter48]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

I’m right with you

 

[TouchdownTom]

Holgerson has invented offensive approaches that are widely used throughout college FB.
Ek is considered one of the best current ST coaches.
Snow is an acknowledged defensive Yoda.
Butler has 3 decades of experience and coached the Bill's secondary to a top 5 NFL finish 5 of 6 years.

You may prefer some other set of elite coaches, but those guys are elite coaches.

The WR coach is also a massive upgrade over the 23 year old boy wonder who had no experience at all.

 

[inWV]

The WR coach is also a massive upgrade over the 23 year old boy wonder who had no experience at all.

DB coach has coordinator experience as well. As solid of a staff that has been in Lincoln since the early Pelini years.

 

[Spinner4]

Holgerson has invented offensive approaches that are widely used throughout college FB.
Ek is considered one of the best current ST coaches.
Snow is an acknowledged defensive Yoda.
Butler has 3 decades of experience and coached the Bill's secondary to a top 5 NFL finish 5 of 6 years.

You may prefer some other set of elite coaches, but those guys are elite coaches.

Had me until “Snow is a defensive Yoda?”
Is that like the QB whisperer.

Phil’s a comfort hire for Matt. No one has tired to hire Phil as a coach since 2008 other than Matt. Outside of his short stop at E Michigan.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Drink the Kool-Aid or don't who cares. No offense, but it doesn't matter. If you need to protect your weak psyche from the relative success of a football team..........well that's a you problem. Believing the team will be good or not is akin to believing where you sit on the couch during the game affects the game. I doubt Jeudy, Davis, Van Poppel or anyone else on the team, or any member of the staff, is at all worried if you drink the Kool-Aid or not. Like Cubs fans, you will be back next year regardless.

Why not just articulate where you see the weaknesses or strengths without a Kool-Aid factor included in the post.

The offense will be better, more explosive and will score considerably more points than the last two years. I will predict 30 ppg and north of 415 yards per game.
The defense will be more aggressive and will give up more big plays than they have the last couple of years, but they will get off the field when they need to, again at a better rate than the last 2 years. The defense will continue to hold offenses under 20 ppg, The "big plays" between 10 and 20 yards will be less, but I wouldn't be surprised if the plays of 20+ yards is bigger.
Special teams will be exponentially better in the punt game and the return game. I think the biggest improvement will be found in opponents starting field position. FG kicking is what it is, but that is more dependent on the person doing the actual kicking. With any luck, there will simply be more PAT and less FG taking that portion out of the equation.

This team will win 8 games minimum and as many as 10. I don't think they can play with Penn St and USC will bring a level of athlete that may expose an aggressive defense, especially if you are playing a lot of man coverage on the back end.

 

[skin-tight]

I have begun to drink the unsweetened kool aid and i havent added any sugar---so the kool aid currently tastes a bit bitter.

 

[inWV]

Had me until “Snow is a defensive Yoda?”
Is that like the QB whisperer.

Phil’s a comfort hire for Matt. No one has tired to hire Phil as a coach since 2008 other than Matt. Outside of his short stop at E Michigan.

Phil Snow had been coordinating defenses for over 30 years when Rhule hired him at Temple. The dude has been calling defenses since Reagan's first term. From the time Rhule met Snow at UCLA, Snow coordinated at UDub, LBs for the Lions, and coordinated at EMU. Was with Rhule at Temple, Baylor and Carolina, where he fielded the second stingiest defense in terms of yds/game.
A dude that had already done most of the coaching he was going to do joins up with a young coach who is going somewhere and continues to perform in a consistently excellent way = "comfort hire". In a sense you are right. Rhule, Butler and the rest of the defensive staff are very comfortable having him out on the practice field, where from what I've heard, he is doing a lof of work with the young DBs. But then again, he really is just Matt's buddy, right?

 

[inWV]

Special teams will be exponentially better in the punt game and the return game. I think the biggest improvement will be found in opponents starting field position. FG kicking is what it is, but that is more dependent on the person doing the actual kicking. With any luck, there will simply be more PAT and less FG taking that portion out of the equation.

Pelini had those years where the punters were able to basically pick a spot inside the 20 and get the ball to bounce there on its way out of play. Good punting in a field position league is worth a win or two.

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz7]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

Back away very slowly, from my lawn.

 

[DrAlan_Grant]

past trauma has hurt me, but dammit I'm ready to drink again.

 

[Walleye 1]

I’m always drinking the mid summer koolaid. Hoping for the best as usual. At least this year it feels as if a coach actually addressed weaknesses with staff changes. Will it all come together? We will find out very soon.

 

[Charlie Marlow]

F kool aid
Beer
And lots of it win or lose

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

Drink the Kool-Aid or don't who cares. No offense, but it doesn't matter. If you need to protect your weak psyche from the relative success of a football team..........well that's a you problem. Believing the team will be good or not is akin to believing where you sit on the couch during the game affects the game. I doubt Jeudy, Davis, Van Poppel or anyone else on the team, or any member of the staff, is at all worried if you drink the Kool-Aid or not. Like Cubs fans, you will be back next year regardless.

Why not just articulate where you see the weaknesses or strengths without a Kool-Aid factor included in the post.

The offense will be better, more explosive and will score considerably more points than the last two years. I will predict 30 ppg and north of 415 yards per game.
The defense will be more aggressive and will give up more big plays than they have the last couple of years, but they will get off the field when they need to, again at a better rate than the last 2 years. The defense will continue to hold offenses under 20 ppg, The "big plays" between 10 and 20 yards will be less, but I wouldn't be surprised if the plays of 20+ yards is bigger.
Special teams will be exponentially better in the punt game and the return game. I think the biggest improvement will be found in opponents starting field position. FG kicking is what it is, but that is more dependent on the person doing the actual kicking. With any luck, there will simply be more PAT and less FG taking that portion out of the equation.

This team will win 8 games minimum and as many as 10. I don't think they can play with Penn St and USC will bring a level of athlete that may expose an aggressive defense, especially if you are playing a lot of man coverage on the back end.

F$ck you too. It was an innocent and light hearted post about off season optimism vs pessimism as a fan. Talking about off season koolaid drinking is a common meme on this board and has been for years. So I used that as a jumping off point to express optimism about our defense on a f$cking football chat board. Oh the horror.
Of course nobody on the team gives a sh$t what I think. But they don’t give a sh$t what you think either. So why bother posting if all it entails is you venting your private opinions which have no bearing on the outcome of anything? What genius insights did your post offer up? You also did not need to be a total douche in your comment. It was unnecessarily snarky. You could have just shrugged and moved on. But you felt a need (probably from a weak and fragile psyche) to let me know what an inconsequential turd I am. That is a you problem.
Kiss my $ss

 

[Charlie Marlow]

F$ck you too. It was an innocent and light hearted post about off season optimism vs pessimism as a fan. Talking about off season koolaid drinking is a common meme on this board and has been for years. So I used that as a jumping off point to express optimism about our defense on a f$cking football chat board. Oh the horror.
Of course nobody on the team gives a sh$t what I think. But they don’t give a sh$t what you think either. So why bother posting if all it entails is you venting your private opinions which have no bearing on the outcome of anything? What genius insights did your post offer up? You also did not need to be a total douche in your comment. It was unnecessarily snarky. You could have just shrugged and moved on. But you felt a need (probably from a weak and fragile psyche) to let me know what an inconsequential turd I am. That is a you problem.
Kiss my $ss

 

[salsa red]

I've lost money betting on the over the last few years at this time. Thinking of betting the under and seeing what happens.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

F$ck you too. It was an innocent and light hearted post about off season optimism vs pessimism as a fan. Talking about off season koolaid drinking is a common meme on this board and has been for years. So I used that as a jumping off point to express optimism about our defense on a f$cking football chat board. Oh the horror.
Of course nobody on the team gives a sh$t what I think. But they don’t give a sh$t what you think either. So why bother posting if all it entails is you venting your private opinions which have no bearing on the outcome of anything? What genius insights did your post offer up? You also did not need to be a total douche in your comment. It was unnecessarily snarky. You could have just shrugged and moved on. But you felt a need (probably from a weak and fragile psyche) to let me know what an inconsequential turd I am. That is a you problem.
Kiss my $ss

It is the same post you've made since the end of last season. I want to believe in this team but I just can't let myself believe. blah blah blah

I could have shrugged and moved on but I didn't.

The insights I posted were about football, not about my feelings. I even offered up some predictions and a smidge of analysis. Genius or not, at least it didn't involve some so stupid metaphorical idiom.

There were several others on the thread that posted similar, to assume I was talking just about you is a little arrogant. But based on your Colbertish response to the post, I can see you are still in your feelings.

 

[B1G RED]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

I’ve clocked in to follow fall practice. I checked out a while back, but am interested in Rhule year 3. I have watched the games, but never expected much until now. So I guess you can say I’m drinking the kool aid.

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

It is the same post you've made since the end of last season. I want to believe in this team but I just can't let myself believe. blah blah blah

I could have shrugged and moved on but I didn't.

The insights I posted were about football, not about my feelings. I even offered up some predictions and a smidge of analysis. Genius or not, at least it didn't involve some so stupid metaphorical idiom.

There were several others on the thread that posted similar, to assume I was talking just about you is a little arrogant. But based on your Colbertish response to the post, I can see you are still in your feelings.

Well, since I was the OP I don’t think it was arrogant to assume your remarks were primarily directed at me.
And yeah, you offered up some boilerplate anodyne comments on football. Nothing particularly insightful. But you did that in between gratuitous insults. So who is the emotional one? To come on here and posture as some kind of dispassionate voice of reasoned analysis even as you hurl adolescent insults is laughable b$llshitting.
I simply spoke of the fragility of fan support in an era of a decade long stretch of mediocrity. And yes, it has been a theme of mine. But I have not been alone in beating that drum. Nor has it been my only theme. I have posted on many topics.

And in the era of NIL and revenue sharing, fan disenchantment is a real issue for the future of the program whether you recognize it or not. It is a legit topic. And nobody made you the topic acceptability police. It is you who therefore comes across as arrogant.
So yeah, kiss my $ss. Oh, the emotion…

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Well, since I was the OP I don’t think it was arrogant to assume your remarks were primarily directed at me.
And yeah, you offered up some boilerplate anodyne comments on football. Nothing particularly insightful. But you did that in between gratuitous insults. So who is the emotional one? To come on here and posture as some kind of dispassionate voice of reasoned analysis even as you hurl adolescent insults is laughable b$llshitting.
I simply spoke of the fragility of fan support in an era of a decade long stretch of mediocrity. And yes, it has been a theme of mine. But I have not been alone in beating that drum. Nor has it been my only theme. I have posted on many topics.

And in the era of NIL and revenue sharing, fan disenchantment is a real issue for the future of the program whether you recognize it or not. It is a legit topic. And nobody made you the topic acceptability police. It is you who therefore comes across as arrogant.
So yeah, kiss my $ss. Oh, the emotion…

 

[3-D_chess]

The floor is 8 wins.

The ceiling is 11.

I predict 9.5, so if you round up ...

 

[Cornspiracy]

kind of feel the same.. but not taking the bait. I have refrained from talking about it much during the off season, as it spoils the fun for those who are partaking in the Rhule-Aid.

I do expect improvements though, across the board.. I think we get 8+ wins, but I don't think we will be "back" in any kind of meaningful way.

To me, Nebraska won't be back until we become a running team again. And while we may have a talented thrower, I don't see very many intangibles that would lead me to think we are on the doorstep to championship level football.

It is hard to resist the hype though.. (this year has been particularly loud and over the top), I just hope our guys can play sound football.

I agree on not taking the bait. I've done that to many times. I need to see it on the field with some consistency before I can start chugging kool-aid. That being said I believe this staff is doing things the right way and will at some point bring us back. Like you I would rather be a more run heavy team but at this point I dont care what they do as long as they play to the players strengths and execute at a high level.

 

[Husker.Wed._rivals]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

Every year Charlie Brown (me) attempts to kick the football Lucy (the Nebraska Football Program) is holding. After so many years of her moving the ball and me kicking my forehead and landing flat on my back, I've given up.

 

[Kakdawg]

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

I have often expressed on here that this year I am not drinking any off season koolaid. And one of my chief reasons was a concern over the quality of our defensive line. However, I have the koolaid poured and about to take a gulp after reading the latest clippings on our defensive line, which may be much better than what many of us thought.

I can’t help it. My desire to have hope for a true break out season this year is getting the best of me. The koolaid looks good.

I'm still in wait and see mode. Love some of the pieces. But still not buying Butler yet. Have to see it with my own eyes. IF the defensive line is good like HCMR says it will be then my position will change. Still wanna see us stop a power offense designed to just punish us 3/4 yards at a time. If that happens I'll feel better for sure.



Holla

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

I'm still in wait and see mode. Love some of the pieces. But still not buying Butler yet. Have to see it with my own eyes. IF the defensive line is good like HCMR says it will be then my position will change. Still wanna see us stop a power offense designed to just punish us 3/4 yards at a time. If that happens I'll feel better for sure.



Holla

I really think this is such a critical year for Rhule and the program. We have all heard the narrative of Rhule’s previous jobs where year 3 is the magic year. We have a favorable schedule this year too. So expectations are high and Rhule has fanned the flames of those expectations with his very upbeat public comments about this team. And my post is really about how he has energized fans like me, you, and others, and raised expectations, despite our doubts.
Therefore, if we lay a turd again this year and go 5-7 or 6-6, I think you are going to see a wave of fan disenchantment and discontent that will not be pretty. Fans will start to view Rhule as just a preacher’s boy with a silver tongue. All sizzle and no steak. That will in turn hurt recruiting.
Worst case nightmare scenario for this year? We open with a loss to Cincinnati. Just like Frost losing to a horrible Northwestern team in Ireland to start the season. It was downhill fast from there.
We have to start 3-0, and then at least be competitive against Michigan even if we lose. Then we cannot have another mid season slump. We must beat teams like Maryland and UCLA.

 

[TarheelHuskerFan_rivals]

I have a hunch we might be at the Pelini level this year. Solid season where we win the games we should but get walloped in a conference championship or meaningful pivotal game. The question is once Rhule reaches this level can he get over the hump that pelini never could. I’m happy to think we may even be at this level after the last 7 or so seasons..

 

[RBigredMax1]

I can’t find the 2025 Predictions thread to bump it. I think it’s a break out year and I can’t remember if I predicted 9 or 10 wins. It’s going to be a special year for the big red.