The 2012 College Football thread!!!

[AdamVR4]

Nebraska fans... Do you miss the B12 yet?

Mad Chatter, Sept. 12 | sports.omaha.com

“I don’t know if it’s still lingering depression from the UCLA game or seeing what the rest of Big 10 looks like this year, but I’m starting to finally lament the fact Nebraska left the Big 12 as it stands today. What if just Mizzou, Colorado, and A&M left and we stayed. Then throw in TCU. Now you have ten teams in the Big 12 like this season but the Huskers are in there. How much do you think fans would kill to see this slate of games annually?

“I know we all hate Texas, but man if we had stayed, the OU rivalry would be back on an annual basis, and we would get that shot at Texas every year, along with our old Big 8 friends KSU & Okie-State. Heck, look at what it would be if just Colorado and A&M bailed. Throw out TCU & put Mizzou back in the mix. I know it was a good move for the university financially and academically, but you can’t honestly say as a fan you are psyched week in and week out for the fixed schedule we have in the Big 10 (yawn) vs. would could have been now if Nebraska stayed in the Big 12. …

“There’s no one to hate in the Big 10. That is a problem. There are plenty of characters(villains) to hate back in the Big 12, and that just fueled the passion of the fan base. I’m starting to see more and more of an apathetic outlook from Nebraska fans. I think a lot has to do with not having any teams in our current conference to focus the hate towards. … I loved that Mizzou, KSU and even KU hated Nebraska. I loved the back and forth with their fan bases. That passion and spirited debate seems to be dissipating every week and every season, and that is sad to see. Now we just debate among ourselves about how bad or good we really are more so than at any time I can remember the last 30 years.

“Hindsight is always 20/20, but as I run through this in my head the more frustrated I get. For a man as reserved and patient as Dr. Tom appears to be, I’m surprised he didn’t step back and play out what I presented above in more of a long range outlook. Maybe he did. But if he did and this is what we are left with, then wow. That would be a huge fail. Leaving because of the Texas threat or perceived threat is kind of weak looking back. Our best revenge on Texas for me would have been staying the course in Big 12 (the TV money was eventually coming) and start earning respect on the football field and start beating them at a more consistent pace than 1 out every 9 tries.

“If you can get buyer’s remorse from switching conferences I think Nebraska will start to finally feel that this season. To reference Eugene Levi (car salesman) speaking with Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) at the car dealership in the beginning of “Vacation”- he thought he was getting the blue sports wagon, but ended up with the Wagon Queen Family Truckster. “You may hate it now, but wait ‘til you drive it”. In the case of the Big 10 it’s the opposite- “You may love it now, but wait ‘til you drive it.”

[stealthee]

WVU is almost in the same boat, except the Big East is failing fast. I mainly mean in the rivalry department. I don't hate Texas, TT, Kansas, OU, OSU, etc. Hell I normally would root for any one of those teams, unless a loss helped WVU. We don't play Pitt, or Cuse, or Cincy, our Louisville any more, but I still love to root against them.

Oh, and I will root against Nebraska almost any day, no matter what conference they are in.

[Mikes2nd]

Big 10 has proved tough for Nebraska... And the Big 12 was on the edge of the abyss...

They will be fine. They were thinking things would be easier in the Big10... they learned it isn't...

Nebraska fans are bummed because they aren't winning like they would, they wouldn't be any happier if they were getting beat in the big 12.

And the Big 12 isnt looking like a dominant division itself... Sure Kansas State looks tough, but they only beat oklahoma... Lets see how they do against wv.

[AdamVR4]

Big 10 has proved tough for Nebraska... And the Big 12 was on the edge of the abyss...

They will be fine. They were thinking things would be easier in the Big10... they learned it isn't...

Nebraska fans are bummed because they aren't winning like they would, they wouldn't be any happier if they were getting beat in the big 12.

And the Big 12 isnt looking like a dominant division itself... Sure Kansas State looks tough, but they only beat oklahoma... Lets see how they do against wv.

Iowa and their impotent offense led by former Longhorn throw-away Greg Davis, is in 1st place in the "Legends" division. They lost to Iowa State, arguably the 2nd worst team in the B12 (unless Texas beats them in the race to the bottom).

Study this for me mike.



The B12 has never been stronger than it is today and I can't remember the B10 ever being worse. If this were the B12 of ~2007, Texas would still be en route to a 9-3 regular season, instead we're staring 6-6 in the face.

[HilbillyHomeboy]

If Iowa State had a little more offense, they would be a real contender. Their defense is pretty damn stout. I am not looking forward to that game.

On paper, the match-up with WV for KSU is a nightmare. The run is our only remote defensive strength, and they obviously love to run the ball(though, admittedly, Klein's arm is much improved this year). Their pass defense isn't real hot, and we obviously love to pass the ball. Throw in a pissed off WVU team(I hope), and it could be a helluva tough game for KSU. But, I don't have a lot of confidence in WVU after the disaster in Lubbock, so we'll see...*fingers crossed*

Jeremy

[DK77]

I don't think that quote has fully captured what the situation is. Do some of the Nebraska fans miss the old rivalries in the B12/8? Certainly. Oklahoma was the only real great team that Nebraska had a rivalry with and it would have been nice to play them every year had things shook out like the quote said. But who knows if all the other teams split had Nebraska stayed. I still feel that the B1G is a better fit for Nebraska than the B12. The Nebraska-Iowa rivalry is only one year old, I think it has great potential since Lincoln is a hell of a lot closer to Iowa than Colorado.

I think the real root of the issue of the dissapointment from the fans is the fact that the football team is just plain not as good as we expect them to be. There is the talent there but I wonder what keeps screwing us up? For some reason Pelini doesn't have the guys playing very smart football, the team makes far too many mistakes. I don't know if it is overall inexperience or if the coaches aren't getting the guys fully prepped.

I also don't think that you got a good idea what Nebraska football is supposed to be like from the years that Texas and Nebraska were in the B12 together, Adam. Over the past ten years Texas has really had Nebraska's number, but then agian during that time period the Huskers have been the worst they have been since the late 50s. Basically, the majority of Nebraska fans expect to be winning conference chapionships on a regular basis and expect to be ranked in the top 10 most of the time. Under Tom Osborne the Huskers won conference championships in more than half of the season he coached. Some of the Husker teams during the 90s could be considered among the top college teams ever. Basically compared to what Husker fans expect, 9-4 seasons will not be sufficient, and getting blown out like against OSU (doesn't matter who the opponent is) is certainly not acceptable.

Plus I think we have already developed some great intrigue with the B1G teams already. We got revenge on Wisconsin after they made us look silly last year and OSU got their revenge after we managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against them last year. Give it a couple more years and we will have developed enemies in the B1G just like in the B12.

[AdamVR4]

Thank you for the well thought out response. Exactly what I was looking for.

Texas may have had a lop-sided record against Nebraska, but it was always excruciatingly close and one of, if not the, most exciting games of the season... In spite of Nebraska being 'down'. I certainly miss that game.

[Mikes2nd]

Yes we all know Iowa sucks... and the big 10 is down this year. But they are doing better. Until the big 12 plays the big 10 you can't really say its way better than the big 10.

Sure overall it looks better. Penn State was devistated, rebuilding for most teams... only michigan and osu are contenders. Even Michigan State is doing some rebuilding.

[AdamVR4]

Yes we all know Iowa sucks... and the big 10 is down this year. But they are doing better. Until the big 12 plays the big 10 you can't really say its way better than the big 10.

What sort of evidence would you need? A round robin?

During OOC play, the B10 was a running joke. You just admitted that basically every major program in the B10 is rebuilding. Mean while, Texas and Kansas are the only programs rebuilding in the B12. One of the worst teams in the B12 beat one of the best teams in the B10 and Sagarin has the B12 as the #1 conference while the B10 is sitting at #4. If OU beats ND, who beat basically every team in the B10, will you be convinced then?

[HilbillyHomeboy]

Man, these K-State fans sure are mouthy. Really hoping we send them back to Manhattan with their tails tucked.

Jeremy