This loss hurt. Not just because it keeps the team from being .500 and rightfully accepting a bowl game. Not just because it was to our rival (don't kid yourselves, Iowa is our main rival now). Not just because Iowa was the most mortal fourth-ranked team to ever play in Memorial Stadium.
This loss hurt because it subverted a potentially powerful narrative. Nebraska had a two-game win streak. The team was playing better. Looking better. Fewer penalties. Better play calling. More players were healthy.
Beating two top-ten teams at the end of the season would have provided unquestionable optimism to sustain most folks through the off-season. It would have taken the sting out of those unconscionable losses earlier in the season. The national media would have eaten it up: team goes through growing pains but finds itself as season progresses.
Instead, many of the same problems plaguing the Huskers in the first game came back in the final game. I say "many" and not "all" because the defense improved as the season continued, albeit from a very low bench mark.
Nebraska didn't lose yesterday because it lacked talent.
Nebraska didn't lose yesterday because of injuries.
Nebraska didn't lose yesterday because the players' minds were poisoned by Bo Pelini.
Nebraska lost yesterday because it didn't execute. It lost because its quarterback is no better now than during spring ball. It lost because of a cavalcade of personal foul penalties. It lost because of terrible play calls that didn't account for how terrible its quarterback is.
Folks will say--and not without merit--that we need more talent. Better recruits. Of course. All teams can use more talent. But this season could have been special with the players we have now.
Next season the schedule takes a turn for the worse. But by then, I'm sure we'll have several new narratives to make us all feel better.
This loss hurt because it subverted a potentially powerful narrative. Nebraska had a two-game win streak. The team was playing better. Looking better. Fewer penalties. Better play calling. More players were healthy.
Beating two top-ten teams at the end of the season would have provided unquestionable optimism to sustain most folks through the off-season. It would have taken the sting out of those unconscionable losses earlier in the season. The national media would have eaten it up: team goes through growing pains but finds itself as season progresses.
Instead, many of the same problems plaguing the Huskers in the first game came back in the final game. I say "many" and not "all" because the defense improved as the season continued, albeit from a very low bench mark.
Nebraska didn't lose yesterday because it lacked talent.
Nebraska didn't lose yesterday because of injuries.
Nebraska didn't lose yesterday because the players' minds were poisoned by Bo Pelini.
Nebraska lost yesterday because it didn't execute. It lost because its quarterback is no better now than during spring ball. It lost because of a cavalcade of personal foul penalties. It lost because of terrible play calls that didn't account for how terrible its quarterback is.
Folks will say--and not without merit--that we need more talent. Better recruits. Of course. All teams can use more talent. But this season could have been special with the players we have now.
Next season the schedule takes a turn for the worse. But by then, I'm sure we'll have several new narratives to make us all feel better.
