Instead, we are where we are as a Husker football program, in the doldrums of another losing season. I know that JoJo Domann gave the impression that they (the players) know who the real fans are and that they don’t leave before a game is over, but Husker fans are hardly fair weather. One could argue that this last five years have shown that Nebraska fans truly are the best fans in the country, and possibly all time. With the expectations for Nebraska as a football program, they certainly have continued to show up despite terrifying results the last half decade.
That’s what most people outside of the state don’t really understand. Nebraska football, outside of religion (and maybe inside of it) is the one thing that defines the people of this state through and through. Football is a hard game, for hard players and Nebraska people, and their roots are as hardy as they come. Nebraska people come from a mindset that you work as hard as you can, and you deal with the consequences of that. They expect that same result from their football teams.
That’s what makes this so frustrating. As fans, we can’t impact much on the field, but most Husker fans understand that this team is working hard. We obviously can’t see practice and we only get a certain amount of coverage of how things are going until Saturdays, but the product has been better this year. The results have not.
This doesn’t mean that Scott Frost needs to be fired at this point in the season.
It does mean that you can see that outcome from here. Ohio State comes to Lincoln this Saturday and they will be looking to cut the Husker’s heart out and serve it to them on a platter. They are playing for the types of rewards that 40 plus years of Husker fans witnessed every year. Great teams step on bad teams and don’t let them breath. Right now, Nebraska is playing for air every week.
So, Husker fans will continue to come to the last two games of the season. That’s what we do. When it’s all said and done, Husker fans will continue to show up. That’s where the program is. The fans are the only thing that’s a guarantee. That’s where we are.
ON WITH THE REWIND…
Last game prediction was Nebraska 27, Purdue 24. The actual score was Purdue 28, Nebraska 23. Adrian Martinez continues to be the difference in games. His injuries and inability to be a threat in the running game makes this Husker team inefficient. Martinez has to be able force teams to spy him in the run game, or they just drop back into coverage. Martinez isn’t accurate enough to throw receivers open and it makes Nebraska too one dimensional. It is back-to-back games where average defensive teams have shut Nebraska down for long stretches of the game.
Quick Notes:
JoJo Domann…I don’t want to harp on Domann’s comments about the fans too much because he is a young kid and probably just as frustrated as most of the fans. He also is playing at an All-Conference level. He has basically taken out the tight end position this year from being a factor against the defense. He is probably Nebraska’s best pass rusher as well. If you had eleven Domanns this defense would be an all timer Blackshirt unit.
Nick Henrich and Luke Reimer…Whatever happens, Nebraska will have these two studs back next season. They have been super consistent this season. They are in the top four in tackles in the Big Ten. Top it off, technically they have three seasons left. You wonder if other players at inside linebacker can move around to the outside because if you must beat these two out, you are going to have play at a level we haven’t seen since the Lavonte David days. The future at inside linebacker is so bright.
Jaquez Yant…Yant continues to be the best big play running back on the team. He has the size and the speed that you need to be an all-conference back in the Big Ten. The problem is, he is raw, doesn’t know the plays as well as he should, and he hasn’t figure out how to run hard on each play. That’s likely because he isn’t sure what he should do. If Yant comes back next season with a strong off season, Nebraska could have their running back of the next three years figured out.
Omar Manning…Whatever you want to think about the coaching staff and how they have handled Manning, you must admit, when healthy he is the best-looking receiver on the team. He is so big and fast, if Nebraska has any chance of winning these final games, Manning will need to be a big part of it. If Samori Toure can get his touches and Zavier Betts continues to blossom along with Manning’s surge, Nebraska should be able to put some points on the board.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 44, Nebraska 24
A month ago, I would have figured Nebraska would have four or five wins and be knocking on being bowl eligible and knowing that they had a chance to put a big pelt on the wall, they would play Ohio State close. I’m afraid the last three weeks have taken the wind out of those sails. Nebraska’s defense is hanging on by a thread each week and the offense continues to be their own worst enemy. That’s the wrong combination to be a top five level team in the country. Nebraska will need the Adrian Martinez that played against Michigan to show up if they have any hope at all. Have a beer and GBR!!
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