Entitlement Plagues the Program

[huskerdude88]

Back in the 90s glory days under Osborne, Nebraska wasn't just about talent—it was about CULTURE. Highly touted recruits? They got humbled quick. Seniors like the Peter brothers (Christian and Jason) would straight-up BREAK that freshman ego in practice. No red carpets, no "you've arrived" vibes. You earned every snap through humility, grind, and team-first mentality. Walk-ons rose up, stars got checked, and that hunger fueled three nattys and a 60-3 run.

Fast forward to now? We roll out the welcome mat for legends' sons, former players, and coaches based on PAST glory, not present excellence. Recruits show up thinking Lincoln makes them gods—no drive to elevate, no fire to dominate the Big Ten. Coaches and even ADs fall into the same trap: complacent with the brand instead of obsessed with rebuilding it.

And honestly, I have zero faith that Matt Rhule is the one to finally fix this. He's a career .500 coach who's never beaten a ranked team in almost a decade. Three years in Lincoln: 5-7, 7-6, 7-6. Same late-season collapses, same blowouts against good teams. He talks a big game about culture, but he started by hiring a bunch of his buddies and we're still stuck in mediocrity.

We keep honoring the past instead of pursuing excellence wherever it may came from. I'm sick and tired of nostalgia. No more red carpets. I want young, hungry, humble and football obsessed coaches and players who know that to win in today's CFB you have to earn everything.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

Thank you! 100% agree.

 

[The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy]

You are correct. There is no culture in the UNL Football locker room.

What is needed is 4-5 Alpha tough guys to take over the locker room and whip everyone into shape! Football is a Man’s game after all.

You would think with all the egos out there that the players would have a chip on their shoulder and I’m surprised that hasn’t developed. You would think with all the losses and disrespect from the National Media, the Huskers would want to work extra hard and change the narrative.

 

[Mister_Scarlet]

Everything said in this thread is true. Good posts, and I think a lot of the problem was forcing Dylan to lead once he walked in the door. Nothing earned, just appointed and it set the tone.

I can't think of many Huskers that play with much passion, edge or warranted swagger. Emmett did, Nelson actually does... otherwise?

 

[slickbud]

100% agree. Please also address the BORING in-game experience. How many farmer tributes are warranted every game? What a snooze fest.

 

[huskerdude88]

Everything said in this thread is true. Good posts, and I think a lot of the problem was forcing Dylan to lead once he walked in the door. Nothing earned, just appointed and it set the tone.

I can't think of many Huskers that play with much passion, edge or warranted swagger. Emmett did, Nelson actually does... otherwise?

Agreed and I think since Osborne left it's been one "appointment" after another. Nothing is earned including the horrible extensions we pass out like candy to children on Halloween.

 

[huskerdude88]

100% agree. Please also address the BORING in-game experience. How many farmer tributes are warranted every game? What a snooze fest.

I agree I'm sick and tired of the former tributes. At this point it embarrasses the program more than it helps because it shines a spotlight on how far we've truly fallen.

 

[broken record]

You are correct. There is no culture in the UNL Football locker room.

What is needed is 4-5 Alpha tough guys to take over the locker room and whip everyone into shape! Football is a Man’s game after all.

You would think with all the egos out there that the players would have a chip on their shoulder and I’m surprised that hasn’t developed. You would think with all the losses and disrespect from the National Media, the Huskers would want to work extra hard and change the narrative.

I used to watch the interviews for the player groups in the preseason and during the season and it struck me that this team operates in a mental bubble where they think they are good, but at gametime they fall hard to earth. That is culture and it's weak. Stop being everyone's buddies and start pushing each other.

 

[redwine65]

Back in the 90s glory days under Osborne, Nebraska wasn't just about talent—it was about CULTURE. Highly touted recruits? They got humbled quick. Seniors like the Peter brothers (Christian and Jason) would straight-up BREAK that freshman ego in practice. No red carpets, no "you've arrived" vibes. You earned every snap through humility, grind, and team-first mentality. Walk-ons rose up, stars got checked, and that hunger fueled three nattys and a 60-3 run.

Fast forward to now? We roll out the welcome mat for legends' sons, former players, and coaches based on PAST glory, not present excellence. Recruits show up thinking Lincoln makes them gods—no drive to elevate, no fire to dominate the Big Ten. Coaches and even ADs fall into the same trap: complacent with the brand instead of obsessed with rebuilding it.

And honestly, I have zero faith that Matt Rhule is the one to finally fix this. He's a career .500 coach who's never beaten a ranked team in almost a decade. Three years in Lincoln: 5-7, 7-6, 7-6. Same late-season collapses, same blowouts against good teams. He talks a big game about culture, but he started by hiring a bunch of his buddies and we're still stuck in mediocrity.

We keep honoring the past instead of pursuing excellence wherever it may came from. I'm sick and tired of nostalgia. No more red carpets. I want young, hungry, humble and football obsessed coaches and players who know that to win in today's CFB you have to earn everything.

how much does that cost?

 

[madbird]

Back in the 90s glory days under Osborne, Nebraska wasn't just about talent—it was about CULTURE. Highly touted recruits? They got humbled quick. Seniors like the Peter brothers (Christian and Jason) would straight-up BREAK that freshman ego in practice. No red carpets, no "you've arrived" vibes. You earned every snap through humility, grind, and team-first mentality. Walk-ons rose up, stars got checked, and that hunger fueled three nattys and a 60-3 run.

Fast forward to now? We roll out the welcome mat for legends' sons, former players, and coaches based on PAST glory, not present excellence. Recruits show up thinking Lincoln makes them gods—no drive to elevate, no fire to dominate the Big Ten. Coaches and even ADs fall into the same trap: complacent with the brand instead of obsessed with rebuilding it.

And honestly, I have zero faith that Matt Rhule is the one to finally fix this. He's a career .500 coach who's never beaten a ranked team in almost a decade. Three years in Lincoln: 5-7, 7-6, 7-6. Same late-season collapses, same blowouts against good teams. He talks a big game about culture, but he started by hiring a bunch of his buddies and we're still stuck in mediocrity.

We keep honoring the past instead of pursuing excellence wherever it may came from. I'm sick and tired of nostalgia. No more red carpets. I want young, hungry, humble and football obsessed coaches and players who know that to win in today's CFB you have to earn everything.

It’s a good post but for the love of all that is good could you change the black print on the gray background to white print please?
This would have strained my eyes 20 yrs ago. Now it’s no fun.
Thinking maybe it was on my end for some reason, I’ve checked several other threads and posts and it is only with your posts.
again, good post. Just way too hard to read.
GBR!!!

 

[Bigred2467]

I agree I'm sick and tired of the former tributes. At this point it embarrasses the program more than it helps because it shines a spotlight on how far we've truly fallen.

He said farmer tributes, not former tributes.

 

[redwine65]

95.99

Lance Heard - Recruiting Profile

Latest recruiting data from

www.on3.com

 

[big red23]

Back in the 90s glory days under Osborne, Nebraska wasn't just about talent—it was about CULTURE. Highly touted recruits? They got humbled quick. Seniors like the Peter brothers (Christian and Jason) would straight-up BREAK that freshman ego in practice. No red carpets, no "you've arrived" vibes. You earned every snap through humility, grind, and team-first mentality. Walk-ons rose up, stars got checked, and that hunger fueled three nattys and a 60-3 run.

Fast forward to now? We roll out the welcome mat for legends' sons, former players, and coaches based on PAST glory, not present excellence. Recruits show up thinking Lincoln makes them gods—no drive to elevate, no fire to dominate the Big Ten. Coaches and even ADs fall into the same trap: complacent with the brand instead of obsessed with rebuilding it.

And honestly, I have zero faith that Matt Rhule is the one to finally fix this. He's a career .500 coach who's never beaten a ranked team in almost a decade. Three years in Lincoln: 5-7, 7-6, 7-6. Same late-season collapses, same blowouts against good teams. He talks a big game about culture, but he started by hiring a bunch of his buddies and we're still stuck in mediocrity.

We keep honoring the past instead of pursuing excellence wherever it may came from. I'm sick and tired of nostalgia. No more red carpets. I want young, hungry, humble and football obsessed coaches and players who know that to win in today's CFB you have to earn everything.

Nebraska fans are some of the most dedicated passionate fans in the entire country, and at this point the frustration is completely earned. For 20 years, this fanbase has supported an absolute dumpster fire of a program, still packing the stadium and showing up hoping this is finally the year something changes, and it never does. The team feels entitled, and honestly the fans do too, because after two decades of blind loyalty, it is hard not to feel like something is owed back on the field.

No one coach, no one player, and no amount of sellouts is going to fix this on its own. Guys walk into Nebraska and get elite facilities, top end amenities and instant celebrity status before they have done anything at the college level. Dylan Raiola is the poster child for that dynamic, but the same thing has happened with Corcoran, Prochazka, Key, Banks, Neyor, Nelson, Fidone and a whole list of others who were treated like the next savior before they ever proved it on Saturdays.

Recruiting sites like Rivals, 247 and Scout have completely changed the sport, and then NIL pushed it into a different stratosphere in terms of who wins games. Nebraska feels more concerned with making sure the highly rated four star gets on the field than with making him actually earn his snaps. The stars and hype come first, the development and accountability come second.

NIL at Nebraska needs to be incentive based. If you do not produce, you do not get anything beyond your scholarship. No more throwing three million dollars at legacy five star high school kids just because of their last name and rating. If that means missing on some of them, so be it. Put the focus back on working hard, stacking wins and letting the money follow performance, because that is the only path that has any chance of turning this program back into something respectable.

 

[cubsker15]

We need incentive based coaching contracts as well. Tens of millions of dollars have and will continue going to coaches who are complete dogshit at their jobs.