Not A Good Look

It was not a good look.

A depleted Nebraska team was traveling to back yard of a preseason top ten team that stunningly underachieved and had much to prove, facing Tennessee in The Music City Bowl in  Nashville, about 200 miles from ole Rocky Top, home to the Volunteers in Knoxville.

Nebraska's record setting quarterback Tommy Armstrong was unavailable to close out his Husker career due to a hamstring injury.  The Big Red's leading receiver, Jordan Westercamp, was also out due to injury. And top tackler, senior safety Nate Gerry, inexplicably failed to go to class and made himself ineligible for the contest. Additionally, top running back Terrell Newby was hobbled, and top backup Tre Bryant was injured.

It had the look of a long day; and it was.

The Tennessee expected to challenge Alabama in the SEC, the team returning seventeen starters from a 9-4 campaign a year ago, showed up with a chip on their shoulder.

Nebraska was unable to do much offensively. Up front, the Huskers disappointed mightily, unable to generate a running game, which would seem critical to Big Red success. While Tennessee has a collection of top talent, most inclusive of DE Derek Barnett, the Vols did surrender huge amounts of real estate late in the year to teams with rushing attacks much inferior to Nebraska.

Unable to run, it came down to backup quarterback Ryker Fyfe hitting the Huskers stable of fleet footed receivers. There was some success, but Fyfe was under duress much of the day.

Tennessee DE Derek Barnett sacks Ryker Fyfe
Photo/Fansided

The Volunteers had success offensively against Nebraska. While the Huskers were adequate with respect to a pass rush, Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs was able to elude the rush running and or passing to find gains in yardage. "Lockdown U" was unlocked, as Volunteer receivers made several big plays, none more impactful than the final touchdown toss from Dobbs to Josh Malone, which ended any minimal chance for the Huskers to come back and steal this one.

Nebraska seemed outclassed, which in itself is stunning.

Nebraska started 7-0, but they did not look like a top ten team at all, and it showed limping home to 9-4.

For 2017, upgrades are needed across the board. Presumably, without Tommy Armstrong, the offense will move to a more pass oriented attack which coach Mike Riley and offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf prefer. The line was though to be emerging, but that was hard to imagine looking at this tape. The receivers are a team strength, and quarterback should be better than most think.

Defensively, there is talent, particularly in the secondary, but the front seven needs help in strength and speed. The front seven never got to a position to achieve dominance all season, and some players appeared to regress during the year; a troubling development.

A decent recruiting class appears on the horizon, and some young talent already on campus are already being whispered about. Time is getting short, and the schedule is no friend in 2017, picking up two potential top ten teams in Ohio State and Penn State.

The Music City Bowl was not a good look for the 'Huskers, and it is time to get to work on the promise of 2017.

Meanwhile, Nebraska punter Sam Foltz, who was tragically killed in a car accident just prior to the season, had been on the minds of the team and Husker Nation all year.  In fact, each of the opponents paid tribute to Foltz in their own special way.

Foltz was in Nashville in spirit, and senior wide receiver Brandon Reilly paid a special and moving tribute to Sam following his second quarter touchdown reception.
 
Sam Foltz was an outstanding young man, and he will forever be in the thoughts of 'Huskers nationwide.

Almost

There was quite a bit of turmoil as the Nebraska Cornhuskers headed west to San Diego to face the rising Southern California Trojans in The National University Holiday Bowl.  The Huskers had melted down the stretch, getting torched by Wisconsin, losing at home on senior day to Minnesota before rallying from a deficit at Iowa to win in overtime.

These events, all too common over the tenure of Bo Pelini as Husker head coach, led to his dismissal at the end of the regular season. Many notable players were quite hurt by the firing of Pelini, and this no doubt created a high level of turmoil within the program. While Mike Riley was promptly hired as head coach, it was offensive line coach Barney Cotton, a former Husker player with three sons having played for the Big Red, who would coach the bowl game.

How would the Huskers respond?  Nebraska, a touchdown underdog, played better than most expected and could have won the game, falling 45-42 in a wild game which saw several big plays.

It was much like Husker fans have witnessed all season.  On occasion, the Big Red looked like a team that would struggle to win games, unable to stop the opposition when it counted.  On the other hand, the Huskers looked like a team, that when clicking, could defeat anyone who showed up.

On this night, the Trojans, who are emerging from the shackles of NCAA probation, looked much like the young talent loaded who will be a sure fire top ten team to start 2015, using their excellent skill position players to score points.  RB Buck Allen ran strong, and talented QB Cody Kessler led the offensive unit. The SC OL did a good job, WR Nelson Agholor was as advertised and freshman sensation WR Adoree Jackson looks quite special.

Nebraska was strong early, and led a lead slip away just before the half. But the Big Red continued to battle, even after falling behind by 17 points.  Ameer Abdullah had a 20 yard touchdown run, but was held under 100 yards rushing, and the Huskers only generated about 3.5 yards per carry.

Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah
Photo/Omaha World Herald

Tommy Armstrong
Photo/Huskers.com

However, on this night, with All America DE Leonard Williams owning the line of scrimmage, the Big Red would have to win the game through the air. While he has his usual ups and downs, Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong has his best game as a Husker.  Considered by many to have his position as the starting signal caller in question with the new staff coming in, Armstrong put in quite the performance, going 32/51 for 381 yards and three touchdowns.

Armstrong had some very poor throws, one pick and a few others that could have been picked, but overall, he was exactly the type of field general you want out there ballin for your team.  Runs and throws were mixed well, and Armstrong utilized his full compliment of weapons.

Kenny Bell had a strong game, as did Jordan Westerkamp, but the star on the field was DeMornay Pierson-El, who is a threat to go the distance with every touch. Abdullah, held in check for the most part on the ground, was mixed in well as a receiver as having the ballin his hands was a clear cut objective.

Nebraska had some good plays on defense against the strong Trojan offense, noting an interception by Josh Mitchell, but USC seemed in control of the line of scrimmage, balanced and effective on offense.

The effort was strong all night, and for the seniors, I am glad they let it all hang out.  However, the game seemed a microcosm of the Pelini era; a loss with a handful of sound excuses that pulled a defeat from the hands of victory.  The 'Huskers almost won, but did not.

The Cornhuskers finish 9-4, the seventh straight year with four losses.  The Mike Riley era cannot start soon enough.