Nebraska Football Spring Practice 2012: Are the Cornhuskers at a Crossroads?

Nebraska has a football program that's used to winning a lot of ball games. And last year's 9-4 finish in their first season in the Big Ten conference would have been considered a success for most teams. 

But the Cornhuskers aren't considered most teams and greater results are expected of this program. Sure, they've won 70 percent of their games the last four seasons combined, but have also lost their last two bowl games. They've also finished with a 9-4, 10-4, 10-4 and 9-4 record the last four years under head coach Bo Pelini.

From a record standpoint, it appears that this team hasn't made much of an improvement over the years and they remain at a standstill. Here's what head coach Bo Pelini has to say about those who think this program isn't taking steps in the right direction.

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I don't think that at all. I'm not a results-oriented person. You know, people don't have any idea what's going on within this program. All they see is 9, 10, 10, 9. What I'm doing is continually looking for ways to improve the process because that's what I believe in - the process. The process will lead to the results. It's a day-to-day grind. That's what I try to get through to our team. It's part of the education. It's continually investing in the process and making the process better. That's what our program's built on.

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Even if you're a results-oriented person, you'll see that this program has improved under Pelini. Take the last six years before Pelini for example, and you'll see that Nebraska failed to even reach the nine-win total four times. That's progress in itself, if you ask me.

Also taking in the fact that they have switched conferences and beat some of the premier teams like Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State in Happy Valley. Once again, that's doing something right and that's making progress.

But of course, there are still going to be those naysayers out there who think Nebraska has yet to get over the hump and they'd have a point as well. But this may be the year for Nebraska to quiet those critics. 

Nebraska returns a total of 16 starters and is in the best position to make a run for a Big Ten title and possible BCS National Championship. Ohio State is banned from postseason play, Michigan State lost a ton of their offensive production and Penn State is still dealing with off-the-field distractions and a new head coach taking over. Wisconsin remains talented, but still has questions at quarterback and the defensive line.

So is Nebraska at a crossroads? Possibly, but this could be the year for them to finally get over the hump.

Randy Chambers is a B/R featured columnist that covers college football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail].