You may think the title is hostile. You may think I'm disparaging all those hardworking kids who sweat and bleed each Fall, most with the dream of playing on some nondescript Saturday in Lincoln in front of 85,000+ ravenous, Husker blue-bloods.
For many of them, playing at any university would be a dream come true. Some of them will. Most will not. And for Husker fans, that's bad news.
Look, it's no secret that Nebraska doesn't produce near as many Division I football prospects as Texas, Florida, or California. Some of that can certainly be chalked up to population. The sheer numbers are not in favor of the Cornhusker State. According to the 2010 census data, California, Texas, and Florida are #1, #2, and #4 respectively. Nebraska is #38 (#39 if you're counting Puerto Rico).
Los Angeles has twice the population of Nebraska. Omaha is smaller than 6 cities in Texas (Houston has more people than the entire state of Nebraska). Florida has three urban areas of over 500,000.
So, sure. Population disparity plays a role. But I contend that it's not the only factor. Perhaps not even the biggest.
Texas is generally considered the benchmark for high school football. High school football in Texas is nearly religious. Away games are pilgrimages, losses are sins, and championships are heavenly.
To the population argument, I do submit. Nebraska's biggest school is Omaha Central (enrollment 2,557). It is smaller than 124 of 245 class 5A schools in Texas. But, again: size isn't everything.
One of those smaller schools is Southlake Carroll (enrollment 2,545). It isn't much smaller. It's strikingly comparable in size. Yet, even here in Nebraska, you've probably heard of Southlake Carroll High School. You may not know why you've heard of SCHS, but you have. Here's why:
According to Rivals, here are the number of listed prospects from each school over the past 5 years.
For many of them, playing at any university would be a dream come true. Some of them will. Most will not. And for Husker fans, that's bad news.
Look, it's no secret that Nebraska doesn't produce near as many Division I football prospects as Texas, Florida, or California. Some of that can certainly be chalked up to population. The sheer numbers are not in favor of the Cornhusker State. According to the 2010 census data, California, Texas, and Florida are #1, #2, and #4 respectively. Nebraska is #38 (#39 if you're counting Puerto Rico).
Los Angeles has twice the population of Nebraska. Omaha is smaller than 6 cities in Texas (Houston has more people than the entire state of Nebraska). Florida has three urban areas of over 500,000.
So, sure. Population disparity plays a role. But I contend that it's not the only factor. Perhaps not even the biggest.
Texas is generally considered the benchmark for high school football. High school football in Texas is nearly religious. Away games are pilgrimages, losses are sins, and championships are heavenly.
To the population argument, I do submit. Nebraska's biggest school is Omaha Central (enrollment 2,557). It is smaller than 124 of 245 class 5A schools in Texas. But, again: size isn't everything.
One of those smaller schools is Southlake Carroll (enrollment 2,545). It isn't much smaller. It's strikingly comparable in size. Yet, even here in Nebraska, you've probably heard of Southlake Carroll High School. You may not know why you've heard of SCHS, but you have. Here's why:
- Kris Brown, former Nebraska Cornhusker and NFL kicker
- Scott Chandler, tight end for NFL's Buffalo Bills
- Adam Ulatoski, offensive lineman for the Houston Texans
- Garrett Hartley, former placekicker for the University of Oklahoma and currently plays for the New Orleans Saints
- Chase Daniel, former quarterback for the University of Missouri and currently quarterback and placeholder for the New Orleans Saints
- Greg McElroy, former quarterback for the University of Alabama and currently quarterback for the New York Jets
- Ahman Green, former Nebraska Cornhusker and all-time Green Bay Packers rushing leader
- Calvin Jones, former Nebraska Cornhusker and Green Bay Packer
According to Rivals, here are the number of listed prospects from each school over the past 5 years.
| Southlake | Central | |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 | 1 |
| 2010 | 10 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 | 6 |
| 2008 | 9 | 4 |
Yes, Central had more listed prospects in 2009. The overall numbers don't lie: 28 for Southlake, 15 for Central. Digging just a bit below the surface shows just how great the disparity really is.
Of Southlake's 28 listed prospects, 20 signed with Division I schools. For Central, just 3 of 15 have signed D-1.
So, why the disparity? The schools are roughly the same size and should, theoretically, have a similar talent pool from which to draw. I would go so far as to say that, yes, they do. Their talent pools should indeed be comparable. However, they are clearly not.
It hasn't got so much to do with talent, in my mind as it does football ability. The two are vastly different. Talent is raw, uncultivated, and uncoachable. Attributes such as speed, agility, arm strength, and general body size can be considered part of talent. Football ability is the sum of knowledge gained through practicum of football related activities. Stay with me here.
The title of this post may be a bit of a misnomer, but it got your attention. I don't believe there's a lack of talent among high school football players in Nebraska. Nay, I'd say just the opposite. There is, I believe, a wealth of talent hidden in The Plains. It is evident in the success of so many walk-on players at the University.
The problem? There isn't much football ability. And it's really not the fault of the athletes. The problem is more systemic.
You see, in Texas, they do football right. Coaches are coaches. They don't do anything else but coach. It's their job. Many places in Nebraska, coaching is a side job for a teacher. In Texas, the players learn how to play the game, not just how to play in the game. Off-season workouts, camps, and 7-on-7 are mandatory if you expect to see the field from anywhere except the bleachers. In Nebraska, from my own personal experience, an off-season workout is somewhere between optional and non-existent.
You can't say that Nebraskans don't care about football as much as Texans. Google search "ncaa consecutive sellout streak" and see what happens. The people here care.
Sure. Texas is much more heavily recruited than Nebraska. There are more players to choose from. But the players from Texas also play the game better. Largely because they've been taught better.
The talent is there. It often gets cultivated once the student somehow, be it walk-on or otherwise, lands on campus. But, for football in Nebraska to thrive, the steps to improve the quality of players must be taken earlier. Outside recruiting can only go so far.
It's no secret that I'm a fan of Nebraska. I grew up spending Spring itching for the thrill of hearing Kent Pavelka describe the scene at Memorial Stadium through the speakers of my AM/FM radio each Saturday in the Fall.
But today, all grown up and far removed from Husker glory days, I see a problem. The once mighty Cornhuskers are no longer the unique, Midwestern team that can draw in a certain type of player to fit the system. Those players were often just quirky enough to work at Nebraska, whereas other teams didn't quite want them as much.
The players they need now are the same ones everyone else needs. And those guys, in general, just aren't coming to Lincoln. The solution, as always, will come from the ground floor. The seeds of a powerhouse program need to be planted in the back yard.
The title of this post may be a bit of a misnomer, but it got your attention. I don't believe there's a lack of talent among high school football players in Nebraska. Nay, I'd say just the opposite. There is, I believe, a wealth of talent hidden in The Plains. It is evident in the success of so many walk-on players at the University.
The problem? There isn't much football ability. And it's really not the fault of the athletes. The problem is more systemic.
You see, in Texas, they do football right. Coaches are coaches. They don't do anything else but coach. It's their job. Many places in Nebraska, coaching is a side job for a teacher. In Texas, the players learn how to play the game, not just how to play in the game. Off-season workouts, camps, and 7-on-7 are mandatory if you expect to see the field from anywhere except the bleachers. In Nebraska, from my own personal experience, an off-season workout is somewhere between optional and non-existent.
You can't say that Nebraskans don't care about football as much as Texans. Google search "ncaa consecutive sellout streak" and see what happens. The people here care.
Sure. Texas is much more heavily recruited than Nebraska. There are more players to choose from. But the players from Texas also play the game better. Largely because they've been taught better.
The talent is there. It often gets cultivated once the student somehow, be it walk-on or otherwise, lands on campus. But, for football in Nebraska to thrive, the steps to improve the quality of players must be taken earlier. Outside recruiting can only go so far.
It's no secret that I'm a fan of Nebraska. I grew up spending Spring itching for the thrill of hearing Kent Pavelka describe the scene at Memorial Stadium through the speakers of my AM/FM radio each Saturday in the Fall.
But today, all grown up and far removed from Husker glory days, I see a problem. The once mighty Cornhuskers are no longer the unique, Midwestern team that can draw in a certain type of player to fit the system. Those players were often just quirky enough to work at Nebraska, whereas other teams didn't quite want them as much.
The players they need now are the same ones everyone else needs. And those guys, in general, just aren't coming to Lincoln. The solution, as always, will come from the ground floor. The seeds of a powerhouse program need to be planted in the back yard.
No comments:
Post a Comment