Anatomy of a Loss and Reality of Minnesota

Randy York’s N-Sider

Monday wasn’t easy for a head football coach to perform the anatomy of a lopsided loss at his weekly press conference at the same time he’s looking ahead to the Big Ten challenge waiting on deck – Minnesota’s Saturday visit to Memorial Stadium for Nebraska’s annual Senior Day…the grand farewell to Ameer Abduallah and a dozen teammates. Before announcing The N-Sider’s five favorite Bo Pelini Quotes from Monday’s presser, allow me to explain that “favorite” is a misnomer for this week’s installment because selection was the season’s most difficult chore. The words and observations I chose to share are based more on looking ahead with a positive mindset than dwelling on irreparable facts that can be debated from here to eternity. With two Big Ten games in the next 11 days, it’s all about priorities. Let’s begin with this: Nebraska still has a lot to play for, so the Huskers must dramatically improve their focus despite being upset, embarrassed, mad and disappointed. Here’s my take on Bo’s take:

5) On how talent might make up for missed fundamental techniques: “The team that was up 17-3, that’s our team. But so is the team that got beat in the last 2½ quarters,” Bo said. “We have to become that team that played early…in all four quarters…it takes a certain level of mental toughness, focus and discipline to do it play after play…you have to adjust right and we didn’t do that. We didn’t play consistently enough. That comes back to me (and) coaching, first and foremost…it just snowballed on us. I’ve been there as a coach and I’ve been there as a player. We were able to make plays in the Michigan State game to keep it going and weather the storm. Here we couldn’t make a play. Some of our guys put so much pressure on themselves to win that they’re not playing to win...they’re playing not to lose, and that’s a bad recipe.”

4) On what Husker players were feeding off during the collapse: “Am I surprised that we played the way we played? Yes!” Pelini said. “I think we’re a better football team than that. But some of the things that hurt us were magnified. I see some of those things during the week. Like I said to some of our defensive guys yesterday, it doesn’t matter if we’re playing Wisconsin. I’ve seen the Scout Team make runs like that. Is it a total surprise? No. But the amount of them and the total amount of mistakes we made? Yes. That was obviously very disappointing. If you’re not focused and you’re not executing, it doesn’t matter who or where you’re playing, you’re going to look bad. When one or two guys make a mistake against a good back, it’s going to make all 11 look really bad.”

3) On if Bo feels like he’s hit the ceiling after several years: “No,” he said. “You mean me personally? Because I’ve been around coaching and football long enough to know that you stay the course. You have to keep working and keep fighting to doeverything you can to play. Every single game, every single play, every single series, you have to keep working to try and get better…Every season and every team is different.”

2) On what he thinks is the overall perception of Nebraska football and who is looking at the big picture:“Better than what it is locally,” Pelini said about perception. “I think nationally, other people see things differently. Games like this or losing a football game isn’t just exclusive to Nebraska. Every game we have is high stakes. We’ve won a lot of football games since I’ve been here…a lot of football games that many programs would love to have won the same amount.”

1) On what Coach Pelini believes is his biggest achievement at Nebraska:“Since I’ve been the head football coach?” Bo asked to clarify his answer. “We’ve been very consistent. I’m not looking to defend the program or where we are right now. What we come here to do is win a conference championship and win a national championship. And we’re going to fight tooth and nail to keep trying to get that done. I’m not going to sit here and apologize. The time I start apologizing is when I stop working. I believe that the program is on a good track. It’s on the right track. We have two more games left in the season, maybe three. Hopefully, a good bowl game if we finish this out right. The only thing we can control right now is next week. We have a good opponent coming in here this week, and that’s where our focus is right now.”

Pelini also went on to say that Abdullah and defensive end Randy Gregory should be ready to compete Saturday against the Gophers.  “Ameer’s knee is fine,” Bo said. “He kind of banged his shoulder a little bit, too. Randy is good…(his injury) scared him more than anything, like one of those deals when you’re in a basketball game and your ankle turns over. It’s not as bad as you think.”

Here’s hoping the Huskers can bounce back and beat a Minnesota team that took Ohio State to the wire last Saturday in Minneapolis. One thing is certain. Husker coaches and players have buried their disappointment, so they can concentrate on what still could be a 10-2 regular season and a New Year’s Day bowl game. Despite the impending high doses of discontent, that’s a worthy award…one that can, in fact, shed new light over the dark, dank disappointment they left in Madison last Saturday night.

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