From the team of my heritage and foundation, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and my alma mater, the Florida State Seminoles, unprecedented futility and ineptitude has stricken the once powerful pair.
Let's start with Nebraska.
The 'Huskers, with a storied history placed among the elite of the game (top five in all time victories), have slipped since the dominance of the mid 90's under Tom Osborne where they won three National Championships going on a 60-4 run.
Since Osborne hand picked Frank Solich to replace him (who was ushered out the door by an idiotic athletic director), the Huskers have basically tread water since 2000, with no conference titles. Three coaches have had their ups and downs, including the current coach Mike Riley.
I was excited, perhaps soaked with bias, when Riley was hired. I had always appreciated him from afar and was intrigued at what he could do with the resources Nebraska could provide.
Riley made missteps in putting together his original staff, which he has attempted over his tenure to address. However, it appears the athletic department and Riley had some miscommunication going on which did not allow everyone to act as one. This has hampered the ascension of the program.
After a brutal start of several last second close losses, year one gave hope as Nebraska played it's best game of the season taking out UCLA in a California bowl game. Year two saw Nebraska start 7-0 with a top ten ranking, but even a casual observer could see they were not very good. They collapsed, with several late lopsided losses to finish 9-4.
Riley had been recruiting well, and it was thought 2017 would start slow but begin to emerge with a combination of young talent assisting the veterans as the Big Red built for the future.
None of that has occurred, and the one thing that would be unacceptable, a home loss to a game considered won before kickoff, happened as Northern Illinois beat a seemingly uninspired Nebraska team.
All season, and for much of the tenure of Riley one could say, Nebraska has always play uninspired. All over the field, there appear a lack of "want to." Sometimes, it seems losing is not all that painful.
The coaching staff has made mistakes a plenty. We always refer to the horrendous job OC Danny Langsdorf did in an inexplicable loss at Illinois in year one, relentlessly throwing the ball into a stiff wind with a precarious lead, only to loss at the end. I have never thought he was any good.
The offensive line, is, well, offensive. High recruits regress in ability. The same people play, even if they are failing to do the job. Receivers drop passes, and who knows what the criteria for the depth chart at running back is. Observers of the program are seeking promising alternate players they know of on the side of milk cartons.
Defensively, people are shifting positions. One guy plays one week, goes on sabbatical only to show up out of nowhere weeks later. Areas of strength turn concerning. A pass rush is invisible. There is no fire, and teams have ridiculously been able to push around our defense when they need to.
Riley lost me after Northern Illinois, but had he gotten it done against Wisconsin I could have understood the spot of those backing him, what with the outstanding recruiting class that "appeared" on it's way. But, Nebraska allowed Wisconsin to break it's will in a devastating display at Memorial Stadium.
Thankfully, AD Shaun Eichorst was terminated, and Bill Moos has taken over.
Moos observed Nebraska get smashed at home by a strong Ohio State team, which was demoralizing for those who consider themselves Cornhuskers. It was brutal.
Moos appears to have already reached a decision that Riley will not return. It is the right decision.
With that assumed by most of Big Red nation, most have checked out on Nebraska 2017. That is understandable, but unfortunate. We are fans always, not just when wins are pilling up.
Mike Riley is a very well respected individual and good football coach, but at 64, he may be inching toward retirement. Rather than think in the terms of dismissing Riley for poor performance, I would prefer to think of Nebraska as seizing the opportunity to bring home one of us, who has all the tools and acumen to perhaps be a one time in a generation coach who could instantly ignite a beaten down fan base.
Yes, it would appear recruiting could take a hit, especially in California where Riley was flat doing work, but the fact remains Nebraska is 4-4 and fighting for a bowl game, irrelevant on the national landscape.
As the new AD Bill Moos accurately stated, that is not where Nebraska belongs.
Come late November, Nebraskans will hope to look outside and find the landscape covered with FROST!
Now let us visit on the debacle that is taking place in Tallahassee, where Florida State, fresh of the 2013 National Championship, is laying an egg of gargantuan proportions.
Florida State, which started the year ranked third in the Associated Press, faced top ranked Alabama in the opener. It was to be an epic game, with the loser not considered out of any national championship consideration. Florida State was in the game, got hosed by the refs before the half, and then mentally got loose. Alabama makes teams pay dearly for losing focus, and FSU lost the game 24-7.
But much more importantly, late in game the Seminoles lost quarterback Deondre Francois for the season due to a knee injury. And the season has gone swirling downward ever since.
Due to a questionable lack of depth at the quarterback position, Jimbo Fisher was forced to promote true freshman James Blackman to the position. Blackman has a bright future, and may win the job outright in 2018, but he was not ready to guide the Seminoles in 2017. But, he is, and in all honesty, while he has made his share of true freshman mistakes, the young man is not the problem. What is the problem is a lack of mental focus and overall leadership, both from the players and the assistant coaches.
The offensive line played fairly well against Alabama, but quickly regressed and has been a significant issue throughout the year. Cam Akers and Jacques Patrick (out injured now but perhaps coming back) have done well at running back, but he receiving core lacks quality depth, and while there have been moments, lacks consistency and has been unable to rise up to help the young quarterback.
Defensively, it is most puzzling. The line, who appear to house quality starters and depth, is stout one play and pushed around the next. Boston College ran it down FSU's throat, so obviously, these guys are not giving it 100% every play. The ends excel at rushing the passer, and are highly thought of. But, they crash down on running plays, failing often to close the corner hence allowing big plays around the perimeter. The linebacker play is erratic. Matthew Thomas is all over the field making big plays, but then we look up and see a back bursting through the middle for a big gain. It is very rare to see somebody fill a hole with some authority, making the observing eye question the "want to." We think Derwin James is not the player he was prior to his injury. When you are in his space, he will destroy you, but he is not making the distance plays coming from his spot to disrupt pass attempts of loose runners. The other safeties have disappointed, but the biggest disappointment has been All America corner Tavarus McFadden. He dances around if he defends a play well (or the opposing receiver drops the ball), but his lack of focus in getting beat cost us the game against Miami. He has been just awful at returning punts as well, and the special teams has not been good at all, really hurting the 'Noles against Alabama.
The issue is not talent, but rather between the ears, which is most disappointing. It is shocking Coach Fisher has not been able to right this ship, and now, a record 35 year string of bowl appearances is in dire jeopardy. Of course, if you get beat at Boston College 35-3, you don't really deserve to attend a bowl game.
Sadly, it does not appear enough players on the field are as concerned about these issues as I am, which is beyond concerning. And, the fans see it, with many choosing to remain amid the flowing beers at Madison Social then making their way into the scorching heat of these noon games teams who are 2-5 are forced to play.
Assistant coaches will be shown the door after this dismal campaign, and if Jimbo Fisher is not careful, he may be joining them. Fisher has earned the right to get a chance to fix it, but I can absolutely assure you a losing record without a bowl bid is not going to be tolerated at Florida State, particularly considering the team has more talent than almost every team they play.
We are watching who is going through the motions and who is out there giving it all with Seminole pride! With Syracuse in town for parents weekend, this would not be a good time to embarrass yourself. In fact, it is time to play Seminole football, beginning the road to reestablishing owning DOAK and restoring our rightful spot among the elite of the college football landscape.
