A Moral Victory is Possible
There is probably a sizable number of Husker fans that would disagree with the notion, not wanting to admit it or consider it, but a close loss in Lubbock this week would probably constitute a moral victory for Nebraska.
The Huskers have had moral victories before. In the 1994 Orange Bowl, the Huskers entered as a 17.5-point underdog after years of uncompetitive football in bowl games (losing badly to Miami, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami again, and Florida State a second time). The heartbreaking two-point loss fueled the team's confidence and resolve and in many ways became a springboard to three national championships in four years. It also tended to win over the fans in a way that they started to believe in their team like almost never before.
Even the last loss to Texas Tech was probably a moral victory. The Huskers lost 70-10 in Lubbock in 2004 only to fumble away the game in a 34-31 Lincoln loss a year later. The 2004 Husker squad became the first in over 40 years to miss out on a bowl game. The 2005 team was the last NU team to end the season ranked in the AP top 25.
I'm not proud to admit it, but if you guaranteed me that the Huskers would lose by a single point in Lubbock this week or I could take my chances, I'd take the one-point loss. This team had every ounce of confidence beaten out of it a year ago. Over the past two weeks they've similarly taken some pretty painful body shots. Keeping it close against such a strong team in their building would probably be a confidence booster. And that's going to be essential with a number of much more winnable games to follow.
You don't want this week to be a tipping point between victory and defeat against Iowa State. But if the Huskers leave Lubbock with a shattered psyche, it very well could. So I'd advise folks to change their expectations this week. The Huskers are about a three touchdown underdog. This isn't the kind of game you steal a victory in, unless Texas Tech just fails to show up. Instead, let's hope we see a team that fights for sixty minutes and is rewarded with a respectable final score. That may not seem like great fun, but it's light years better than being on the wrong side of a 10-70 or even 17-52 beatdown.
10/6/2008
This game is gonna be ugly. I wouldn’t bet against the same 70-10 score from a few years back. I hope it doesn’t occur but from what I’ve seen the past couple of weeks this is a scary weekend. This team is down after the Missouri game.
10/6/2008
I would define a moral victory, and for that matter a moral victory for the program (much more important at this stage), as follows: “When you get punched in the mouth and your mouth is bleeding, do you fight back? Or do you just let the other guy keep wailing on you until you quit or knocked unconscious?” At this point the building blocks for Coach Pelini should be based on WHO will fight, relentlessly play after play, week after week and continue to show character when it seems that it might not pay off in a win for their efforts. This is a program-defining moment early in the Pelini-era. The prospects for wins are not certain, including Iowa State and Baylor. Is this bunch going to fight for it’s pride and character, or simply roll over? Like it or not, these guys MUST be up to the challenge. There is no time for pity in the Big 12 conference. Pity will get you 50+ points hung on you in the blink of an eye in conference play, whether at Lubbock, Lawrence, or Norman. Needless to say Texas Tech is not the ideal, soothing tonic to ail the pains from the Missouri game. It is what it is. The schedule is the schedule. Our conference is what it is. We MUST be able to fight, week-in-week out, or we will die as a program. What we are playing for is pride and character. To not quit. To look adversity in the face and fight back. If this bunch can steel its resolve to fight for every play, every week, then yes, we do have not just a moral victory from week-to-week, but for the season and those to follow. . .
Needless to say I’m pretty apprehensive about the prospects for us short-term. I don’t think I’d do too well if we went into one of those hibernations and never woke up again to our previous form. Penn State & Notre Dame fell asleep but woke up a shadow of their former selves. Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, LSU, and USC hibernated and woke up angry giants. What is our fate? It’s the character issue (concerning how one reacts to adversity) that concerns me. Will we wake up again to be Oklahoma or Notre Dame? Or do we wake up to find out that everyone grew fat on our spoils?
Probably the part that bugs me the most is everyone coming to Lincoln, getting wins, and remarking how “Well we haven’t won there since 1978,” “Boy their fans are classy and respectful,” “Man, that’s some atmosphere to play in up there,” etc. It’s like a visitor walking through a museum and stealing something everytime, only to have a new visitor comes in and do the same. Bit by bit, piece by piece, everyone is taking a piece of our legacy as a souvenier for winning against us. It reminds me of a quote from “The World at War” series:
“At the end of the war Germany looked like
a priceless antique some giant had kicked
to pieces. . .”
I feel like I am being kicked to pieces. HOWEVER there is NOTHING more important than Husker football (sports-wise that is), and I will be here always for my team. It will be a gratifying and soul-defining journey for us to have gone through this dark period, to emerge out, into the light, and poised for great things. Let’s root for these gentlemen, and hope that they can learn something about themselves along this journey. Those individuals forged in the crucible years of 2007-2008 who psychologically survived this period with their character, intensity, and pride intact will be the iron, steel, and character for the foundation of the Restoration of the Order, as it should be. . .
10/6/2008
When I got to work today, several people were saying things olong the lines of “We won’t win another game this season” and “We have no chance of making a bowl this season”.
I understand these statements, but don’t agree with them in the least. Look realistically at our remaining schedule: We are 3-2, with 7 games left to play. We need 3 wins out of 7 to qualify for a bowl. I think we could throw 2 of those games into the “virtually unwinnable” category, meaning we need to win 3 out of 5 toss up games.
Virtually Unwinnable: Texas Tech, Oklahoma. Both teams are just too talentend for us right now. To steal a win would be the defining moment of the season.
Toss Up Games: Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Colorado.
We should beat ISU and Baylor. While both teams are imrpoved, I think we should be able to beat them. KU (in my opinion) was a one-year fluke, built by an easy 2007 schedule. The near-loss to ISU was likely indicative of both an improved ISU team and a declining KU team. KSU tends to implode late in the season under Prince, and they may see the second half Callahan type slide we saw last year once it becomes apparent their head coach may lose hi job. Finally, with 2 weeks to prepare for CU, I truly think we have a chance to come out and lay the wood to them.
I see us taking 4 out of 5 of the toss-up games, and finishing the regular season 7-5. Look out Shreveport, here we come!
Go Big Red.
10/6/2008
I would be happy (mostly) if they came out a played a hard fought, mistake free game and still lost. However i expect TT will score at least 60 in a rout.
10/6/2008
Don’t worry about making travel plans to see the Lil’ Red in a bowl game. It’s no longer an annual tradition for the Fuskers. The Buffs are going to take you to the woodshed next month! So long, suckers.
10/6/2008
Buffo obviously didn’t pay much attention to his own team. I can’t say they looked all that impressive either. That game wasn’t as close as the 38-14 score made it seem. I think you might see CU in the same type of bowl as NU.
10/6/2008
Geez O Peetz fellas.
Have Y’all been watching different games than me?
I mean do you really think that this team has performed poorly for just the past two weeks?
I’m the first to say that a W is a W is a W but in doing so I must also say that the teams that were beaten the first three weeks were done so in a quite ugly manner.
Ugly meaning that there were many of the same mistakes that have been seen the past two weeks but because they were against teams making similar but to a greater degree the same mistakes the W’s overshadowed the mistakes on the Husker’s part.
Now before you go quoting ‘This run’ and ‘That pass’ or ‘Those plays’ take a look at the TIVOed games again and tell me there aren’t missed assignments, blown blocks, poor tackling and such in those games too.
Not trying to ‘kick while down’ just offering what I feel is an objective viewpoint.
JR
10/7/2008
Buffo,
You support a team from an institution who hired a fake Indian, pro-Marxist, terrorist sympathizing Ward Churchill. No wonder you go trolling along throwing bombs in other peoples house. Eat a granola bar, throw on some Birkenstock’s, ride a bike, and scream at the top of your lungs how great Daddyball is. . .
10/9/2008
We’re going to lose the TTech game. My only hope is that it will be close. First road game in the new Pelini era; we’ll have to see how it goes.
The one thing TTech doesn’t have is a mobile QB, so I’m hoping Pelini can get some pressure on him. Otherwise, TTech has a decent D, and good running game, great QB and great WR. They should put some points on us.
Hopefully, we’ll stop the running game (which should be easier because we don’t have to worry about a scrambling QB) get some pressure on the QB, create some turnovers, and move the ball on offense.
This will keep the game close, but TTech’s firepower is too much… they win.
But, who knows? This is our first road game… we can implode or rise to the challenge…