It's taken some time to work up the interest to write this. I could really just stop there. It wasn't only the bowl game that did it. My interest in this season waned as it wore on. I think that says a lot.
The losses were heart breaking. But each for a different reason.
Anyway, it's all over now. Let the reflection period begin. Nebraska won't play another meaningful football game for about 8 months.
Was that the Capital One Bowl or the entire season? In a way, it was both. It was a stripped-down version of what we saw from the Huskers in 2011. A microcosm, if you will.
In a nutshell, it was flashes of brilliance marred by moments of complete ineptitude. It was frustrating, inexplicable, infuriating, and ultimately troubling.
Frustration
Nebraska began the Big 10 season in Madison, WI. A huge atmosphere and an equally huge task. The highly-touted Badgers were unveiling quarterback transfer Russell Wilson, an intriguing addition to a team which played in the Rose Bowl in January.
The task, and the atmosphere, proved too big for the young Huskers. A loss was expected by most, but not in the way that it happened.
It wasn't Taylor Martinez's night. Plain and simple. He didn't have it. Yet, the coaching staff kept trying to force him into making plays. If you know don't know anything about Martinez, know this: he isn't that guy. Some quarterback can, almost magically, be the square peg in a round hole. Martinez can't pull that off. He certainly didn't that night in Wisconsin, and probably won't ever be able.
But, for some unknown reason, the offensive staff, led by Tim Beck, thought he could. Even a casual fan could see that it wasn't the night. The wall was too thick and beating the collective Husker head against it wouldn't knock it down.
That sort of pig-headed attitude led Nebraska to multiple turnovers and a miserable showing. Frustration was the word of the night.
Wisconsin 48, Nebraska 17
Inexplicable
Following three solid performances, including a huge comeback against Ohio State and a nice win over a good Michigan State team, the Cornhuskers welcomed Northwestern to Memorial Stadium.
It wasn't even supposed to be a contest. Northwestern entered at 3-5, having even dropped a game to lowly Army. But, on this day, Nebraska would have no answer for Kain Colter.
It was almost unbelievable. The crowd of more than 85,000 shared the same expression. All knew they had seen exactly what happened, but couldn't quite grasp the reality.
There was no reason to lose, right? Northwestern didn't just win in Lincoln, did they?
Wrong. Yes, they did.
The offensive ineptitude was astonishing. Northwestern came in allowing an average of 31.5 points per game. Outside of a garbage touchdown with virtually no time remaining, the Huskers managed just 18 points.
Unlike the Wisconsin game, this wasn't Martinez's fault. He played well enough. The rest of the team folded around him.
But why?
Some called it a lack of leadership. Some called it the team's inability to adequately deal with success. Many reasons were given, but nothing could completely answer the question. It was wholly inexplicable.
Northwestern 28, Nebraska 25.
Infuriating
Nebraska bounced back following the Northwestern loss, beating a Penn State team slogging through what is the worst scandal in college football history.
They were alive. The Legends Division crown could still sit atop Herbie Husker's cowboy hat. Michigan was up next in a must-win game at The Big House.
However, Nebraska never answered the bell in the second half. They trailed just 17-10 to start the 3rd, but wound up on the end of another vicious beatdown.
Apparently, Cornhuskers don't do well against feisty rodents (see: wolverine, badger).
This one was more than frustrating, it was a breeding pool for red-hot, seething anger. Martinez was terrible, completing just 9 of 23 passes. Rex Burkhead gained 36 yards, his lowest total all season. All this plus two second half turnovers ultimately buried the Huskers.
They couldn't afford to lose, so instead they got blown out. They couldn't afford to let Michigan get too far ahead, but they turned it over. They needed to be effective in the run game and keep the ball away from Michigan's potent offense, but managed just 138 yards on the ground and allowed the Wolverines more than 41 minutes of possession.
It was a game that might make the Pope drop a few F-bombs.
Michigan 45, Nebraska 17
Troubling
The win over Iowa gave Nebraska a trip to the best bowl it has seen in some years. Perhaps the best in a decade.
South Carolina and the Capital One Bowl presented a great opportunity. It would be a nice cap on the season to beat an SEC team with a solid defense.
But, this game would play like a lowlight reel from the 2011 season.
It had a flash of offensive brilliance, followed by misery-inducing turnovers. It showcased the critical vulnerability of the NU defense: a fleet-footed quarterback. It had untimely breakdowns in secondary play and offensive discipline. When the Huskers desperately needed to score, they fell flat on their faces.
To see all these things in one game was troubling. In 60 minutes, it told just about everything you need to know about Nebraska.
Learning those things has to be unsettling to Husker faithful.
South Carolina 30, Nebraska 17.
Questions
The season has raised some questions that need answers, and soon.
Is Taylor Martinez good enough to lead this team to championship-level play?
I don't think so. I answer this question with another: What is it that he does well? Sure, he's really fast. But, his field vision is almost non-existent. I often say, he's the best runner in the country when nobody is in front of him. He doesn't seem to know what to do when faced with a defender. He becomes hesitant and often takes big shots. He doesn't seem to have the lateral agility to make tacklers miss or the ability to read blocks well enough to find seams.
While he has improved as a passer, less than 50% completions is not good enough. He is, at times, the victim of dropped passes, which leads to the next question.
Can Nebraska get the athletes needed to compete at the highest level?
I think they can. But, it has to be a focused effort, namely at wide receiver. Why does it seem that every other team in the country has at least one guy who makes the key catch every time? Many of those teams don't have near the profile that Nebraska does. There has to be somebody out there with great hands that wants to play for NU. Has to be.
Other than that, I think the staff has done a decent job in recruiting. This isn't ever going to be LSU, Alabama, USC, or Ohio State. It just won't. But, if Stanford, Oregon, and West Virginia can get top-level guys, there's no reason Nebraska can't.
The final question is difficult.
Is Bo Pelini the guy?
This is tough. I don't know that I have an answer. At times, it seems he is just what Dr. Tom ordered. Fiery, intense, and defensive-minded.
Other times, those same qualities seem detrimental. Too fiery. Too intense. Too defensive-minded. Unless he can manage those traits, I can't see a Pelini-led team taking the next step.
He has to learn to be a complete coach. If he can't, I'll be writing this same post for as long as he's at the helm.
