Time travel is possible.
How do I know? Why am I so sure? Because I, Jon Schriner, on September 9th, 2012, traveled back to the year 2007. It was not a pleasant trip.
Yes, I did.
Yes, I did.
Yes, I did. How, you ask? Well, perception is reality. And I perceived a Nebraska defense that was slow, unmotivated, and undisciplined. Thus, through my perception, I was transported back to an undisclosed time in the fall of 2007.
I watched as time and space slowly morphed Will Compton into Corey McKeon. And then, in less time than it takes Cam Meredith to give up on a play, Andrew Green was Tierre Green, Ciante Evans was Armando Murillo, and PJ Smith was Rickey Thenarse.
The Blackshirts had gone back to the Hackshirts.
But, HOW?
I think I know the answer to that one, too. I saw something else happen. I didn't want to see it, but some things you just can't un-see. It was just a fleeting glance from the corner of my eye, but I saw it.
Bo Pelini changed into Bill Callahan.
Ok, I'll drop the sci-fi tone, but I won't drop my point.
Bo Pelini is becoming Bill Callahan.
They aren't nearly the same coach. They aren't nearly the same person, nor do they have nearly the same attitude. The thing they share is much more troubling:
the inability to admit when one is wrong.
Neither can accept that a mistake has been made. Callahan couldn't admit when he had failed. "We've been excellent in all areas," he said at a press conference. Clearly, the 2007 Cornhuskers (staff included) had been far less than excellent in ANY area.
And Bo is sliding towards exactly that.
Look at his track record. Sure, he came in and turned a defense around. His scheme worked, and worked well with the players he had. Ndomukong Suh became an overnight sensation. Phillip Dillard went from "Who is THAT guy?" to "Who is that MAN?"
But today, it isn't the same. You can say that the players don't fit the scheme. But, in reality, it's the scheme that doesn't fit the players. There's a big difference.
Bo either doesn't see it or won't admit it. Both are bad for Corn Nation.
That example may be a bit nebulous. Here's a better one.
Taylor Martinez has not been the right man for the job since mid-season 2010. Yet, Bo has stuck with him through some of the worst performances in Husker history. He has, outright, refused to accept any criticism on the matter. He's called out at least one reporter for doubting the decision to stick with Martinez.
It's a refusal to admit that his plan hasn't worked. It's a refusal to make adjustments on the fly.
It's Billy C, all over again.
How do I know? Why am I so sure? Because I, Jon Schriner, on September 9th, 2012, traveled back to the year 2007. It was not a pleasant trip.
Yes, I did.
Yes, I did.
Yes, I did. How, you ask? Well, perception is reality. And I perceived a Nebraska defense that was slow, unmotivated, and undisciplined. Thus, through my perception, I was transported back to an undisclosed time in the fall of 2007.
I watched as time and space slowly morphed Will Compton into Corey McKeon. And then, in less time than it takes Cam Meredith to give up on a play, Andrew Green was Tierre Green, Ciante Evans was Armando Murillo, and PJ Smith was Rickey Thenarse.
The Blackshirts had gone back to the Hackshirts.
But, HOW?
I think I know the answer to that one, too. I saw something else happen. I didn't want to see it, but some things you just can't un-see. It was just a fleeting glance from the corner of my eye, but I saw it.
Bo Pelini changed into Bill Callahan.
Ok, I'll drop the sci-fi tone, but I won't drop my point.
Bo Pelini is becoming Bill Callahan.
They aren't nearly the same coach. They aren't nearly the same person, nor do they have nearly the same attitude. The thing they share is much more troubling:
the inability to admit when one is wrong.
Neither can accept that a mistake has been made. Callahan couldn't admit when he had failed. "We've been excellent in all areas," he said at a press conference. Clearly, the 2007 Cornhuskers (staff included) had been far less than excellent in ANY area.
And Bo is sliding towards exactly that.
Look at his track record. Sure, he came in and turned a defense around. His scheme worked, and worked well with the players he had. Ndomukong Suh became an overnight sensation. Phillip Dillard went from "Who is THAT guy?" to "Who is that MAN?"
But today, it isn't the same. You can say that the players don't fit the scheme. But, in reality, it's the scheme that doesn't fit the players. There's a big difference.
Bo either doesn't see it or won't admit it. Both are bad for Corn Nation.
That example may be a bit nebulous. Here's a better one.
Taylor Martinez has not been the right man for the job since mid-season 2010. Yet, Bo has stuck with him through some of the worst performances in Husker history. He has, outright, refused to accept any criticism on the matter. He's called out at least one reporter for doubting the decision to stick with Martinez.
It's a refusal to admit that his plan hasn't worked. It's a refusal to make adjustments on the fly.
It's Billy C, all over again.
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