Nebraska Football: Holiday Wish List for the Cornhuskers

What's on your wish list for the holidays, Husker fans? With the holiday season in full swing, there are likely plenty of items you hope you receive from family members and friends.

What about when it comes to the Nebraska football team, though? It's been a rocky end to the 2014 season, so Husker fans (as well as the team itself) likely have some items on the wish list. What could those items possibly be?

When it comes to a win-loss record, the Huskers did all right in 2014. Nebraska did finish the regular season 9-3. However, the Huskers finished third in the West Division of the Big Ten, and head coach Bo Pelini was fired. It wasn't a terrible season, but it left a lot to be desired.

With that in mind, what are those things fans are wanting? There's a lot worth wishing for, and as of now, nothing is truly out of reach in 2015.

Yet, at least.

A Holiday Bowl Win

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In Bo Pelini's six bowl appearances for Nebraska between 2008 and 2013, he won three and lost three. Of those six bowl games, two were played at the Holiday Bowl. He defeated Arizona in 2009 and lost to Washington in 2010.

A few years later, the Huskers are headed back to San Diego. This time, Nebraska faces the USC Trojans.

Defeating USC would be a great Christmas gift for Nebraska. Beyond the simple fact that winning a bowl game is a great way to conclude a season, it would also give the Huskers their first victory over the Trojans.

Nebraska has lost to USC three times and tied once. A win would be a great way to continue the story between these two programs. 

A Complete Staff

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Mike Riley's coaching staff is coming together. There's still plenty of gaps to fill, though.

From Oregon State, Riley has added defensive assistants Mark Banker and Trent Bray, offensive assistant Mike Cavanaugh and special teams expert Bruce Read to his staff at Nebraska, per Huskers.com. No coordinators have been appointed as of yet.

With the final leg of the recruiting season getting closer, a complete staff would make for a nice Christmas gift for fans. It would definitely help secure recruits on the fence who may be persuaded by specific coaches in place.

One coach many Husker fans would love to see in scarlet and cream? That would be Ed Orgeron. He's a coach who Riley could (and should) be targeting, but only time will tell.

A Conference Title

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A conference championship has to be at the top of most Husker fans' wish lists. After all, it's been a long time since Nebraska last had one (1999 to be exact).

Head coach Mike Riley never won a conference title in the Pac-12 (or Pac-10), but he had won two Grey Cups in the Canadian Football League. Hopefully that can somehow translate into a big win in the Big Ten.

Nebraska has only been to the title game once since joining the Big Ten in 2011. That was in 2012, when the Wisconsin Badgers defeated Nebraska 70-31. The Huskers have failed to make it back since.

It's time. Nebraska fans are ready for the conference title. If there is one thing on every Husker fan's wish list, it might just be this.

An Offensive Identity

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Mike Riley wants one. He's made that clear, per Jon Nyatawa of the Omaha World-Herald:

"

We certainly have to establish an identity. And an identity has to be a blend of the system with what the players are comfortable with and good at. I think that's coaching. You take your talent and you make sure it's the right fit for the system — and you adapt the system as best you can to the team.

"

That's exactly what Husker fans want too. This will require Riley to really coach up and develop the quarterback position. By successfully doing so, the Nebraska offense will have a better understanding of itself and what it's capable of doing.

Tommy Armstrong Jr. will be a junior next season. While there's no guarantee he will be the starter once again, Riley may be able to help bring the quarterback along. As a result, Armstrong could also bring the entire offense along, providing the Huskers with a much-needed identity.

That's something Nebraska doesn't just want, but desperately needs.

Less Drama

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Call it the straw that broke the camel's back, if you wish. Former head coach Bo Pelini's parting words in a private meeting with players didn't sit well with fans. For some, it was upsetting. For others, it showed that it was time to finally move on.

Nebraska's new head coach, Mike Riley, wants to.

"All that other stuff I'm going to leave behind and go forward," he told USA Today in a Q&A, per Brian Christopherson of the Lincoln Journal Star. "It's really none of my business to comment about or be involved in. My job is to coach this team going forward."

And that's what Nebraska fans want most this holiday season. It's time to move forward. Doing so would be the greatest gift for not only the new coaching staff and the team, but also for the many fans of Nebraska football.