Picture of the stands (you can see Paul if you look really close) during the 3rd quarter of the ballgame Saturday. Notice the empty seats.
Some musings (or ventings) as I sat in the South stadium during yesterday's debacle:
1) Lydon Murtha committed two major penalties (personal foul, then holding) on the first two plays of the game - and yet was not pulled from the game to settle him down and get his head in the game. Would this have happened under previous coaches?
2) Players who cannot make plays either because of lack of effort or mental mistakes continue to play - even when the game is out of control. So called blue chip recruits have given up their redshirt year to be used only on special teams. Ricky Thenarse - one of the few Husker defenders who has actually made a solid hit this season, finally got a little playing time late in the game. Same thing with Quentin Castille - the only back the Huskers have who can make 3-4 yards out of nothing (which is what there usually is, considering the lack of blocking). There is no downfield threat in the passing game - and Maurice Purify touched the ball exactly one time in the game. Let's get some speed and athletic ability on the field - even if they are freshmen, and even if they don't know the whole offense. Other schools seem able to get their best players on the field, why can't we?
3) Remember, a couple of years after Barry Switzer left, when OU would obviously give up in a game? Nobody could understand what the problem was, as most experts agreed that OU had plenty of talent. Sound familiar? OU solved their problem only after having to clean house several times until they got Stoops. What is it going to take here?
4) There were some guys from Wisconsin sitting behind me - they were in town on business and decided to come to the game. In the 2nd quarter (we were already behind by 31 points) they asked me why nobody was booing at the obvious lack of effort. I told them that unfortunately, many people were half expecting this kind of performance.
5) There were only a few times during the day when the crowd cheered - the tunnel walk, the opening kick-off, a good hit by Thenarse on a punt return, when the band entered the field at halftime, and (sarcastically) when the Huskers made their first first down (in the third quarter) and forced OSU's first punt (also third quarter). There was also moderate cheering when we scored in the fourth quarter, but by then most fans had left.
6) The game was completely out of control in the second half - yet there was very little substituting. How are things going to get better if the this year's backups who will be asked to start next year get no game experience now?
7) Things I saw that I never thought I would see at a Nebraska game:
- People turning down tickets at $10 ea. right before the game.
- Fans sarcastically releasing their balloons when the opponent scored.
- Fans uniformly exhibiting stunned silence and depression rather than anger and passion.
- Fans leaving in droves before halftime.
- A Nebraska team quit.
- Fans expecting to be blown out at home by a mediocre team.
- Fans discussing whether there is any Div. I team that could be considered an underdog to NU.
- Fans hoping out loud that we go winless the rest of the year to force the administration's hand in firing the coaching staff and A.D.
- Fans wearing bags on their heads ala the old Saints.
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