Nebraska Football: 5 Best and 5 Worst Offseason Developments
"Turn and face the strange ch-ch-changes
Don't tell them to grow up and out of it."
- "Changes," David Bowie
One of the great things about college football is its constantly changing nature. Players come and go every year, and each season brings new challenges and new opportunities. After a tumultuous 2010 which saw Nebraska end up a disappointing 10-4 (and when you think about how silly that sounds, you'll understand how tumultuous the season was). Nebraska fans are definitely ready to turn the page to 2011. But there have been a number of offseason developments, some good and some bad, that will affect the Cornhuskers in the new season. Let's take a look at the big ones.
Good Change No. 1: New Offensive Coordinator
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The primary concern for most Nebraska fans in 2010 (well, the one that didn't involve an investigation by Fox Mulder and Dana Scully into dark conspiracies) was the anemic Nebraska offense. While there were a number of culprits, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson took much of the blame. Watson, a hold-over from the Bill Callahan era, struggled to meld spread offense concepts with West Coast philosophies, and the inability to be successful ultimately cost Watson his job.
In 2011, Tim Beck will be Nebraska's new signal-caller on offense, and has promised a simpler and more responsive offense. Just about anything that represents a change from NU's offensive (pronounce either way, it works the same) performances of the last two years is a beacon of hope for the Children of the Corn.
Good Change No. 2: Speedy New Weapons
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At the start of 2010, Taylor Martinez was blowing people away with his footspeed, lighting up scoreboards and making Nebraska's offense look amazing. Then came the schemes and the injuries, and all of a sudden, Nebraska's offense looked pretty slow.
Speed-wise, the cavalry is coming with the 2011 recruiting class. Incoming freshman Jamal Turner, Aaron Green and Ameer Abdullah bring game-changing speed to the sideline, and other speedy players like sophomore Stanley Jean-Baptiste should see the field as well. Nebraska's offense may have some issues with a lot of youth and inexperience, but the raw speed to work with should be there.
Photo originally located here.
Good Change No. 3: A B1G New Home
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The change couldn't come soon enough. In 2011, Nebraska will begin play in the B1G conference, matching up against traditional powers like Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. Even better, NU will be out of the Big 12 conference, away from the drama and the instability and away from a Texas team that beat Nebraska nine out of the last 10 times they played, frequently in soul-crushingly close contests.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Good Change No. 4: Scandal-Plagued Buckeyes
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When the way-too-early predictions for 2011 started to come out, most people had Ohio State tabbed as the favorite to win the B1G Conference. A senior quarterback, an experienced coach and a bevy of stockpiled talent seemed to make the Buckeyes the natural choice.
Then Terrelle Pryor and four other players were suspended for the first five games. Then head coach Jim Tressel was suspended for the first two games. Then Tressel was suspended for the first five games. Then Tressel resigned. Then Pryor left school.
Yeah, it's been a busy summer in Columbus, and not in a good way. With all the turmoil, as well as losing a head coach and a star quarterback, the Buckeyes are reeling. That's good news for the other teams in position to win the B1G in 2011, including Nebraska.
Good Change No. 5: A Real Rivalry
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Let's get this straight. Nebraska has never had a real rival. A real rival is a contest where both teams hate the other, where both teams want nothing more for their season than to beat the other. Yes, Nebraska and Oklahoma played some phenomenal games in the Big 8. But Oklahoma's main focus was always Texas not Nebraska. Much like a marriage, if one side isn't committed to a rivalry, it just won't work.
Colorado was never a rivalry so much as a motivation tool from Bill McCarntey trying to breathe life into a previously-moribund football program. Missouri had the potential to become a rivalry, but Nebraska's departure from the Big 12 stopped that from growing to full bloom.
In comes Iowa, to fill the day-after-Thanksgiving shoes of Oklahoma. Colorado, while having some good games (and allowing Alex Henery to be a hero in Lincoln forever), never really lived up to the Sooners' shadow. But the Iowa-Nebraska series has the potential to become something the Children of the Corn have never experienced—a true, 365-day-a-year rivalry between neighbors.
Bad Change No. 1: The Home Team Takes Bubba
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Bubba Starling is, according to many scouts, a once-in-a-generation type of athlete. Starling committed to Nebraska with the promise of being able to play football and baseball. Nebraska knew he was likely to be drafted high in the MLB draft and could likely have the opportunity to sign a big-money contract and never play a down for NU.
But Starling has said he's coming to Nebraska and wants to play for Nebraska. Gives hope to see him at Memorial Stadium, right?
Maybe. But then the Kansas City Royals drafted Starling, the kid who grew up in Gardner, Kansas, rooting for the Royals. Most teams would feel some pressure to sign Starling. But the Royals will have even more pressure to sign the hometown hero. And with all the young talent coming through the Royals' system, they may see Starling as the final piece of a puzzle that ends with another World Series trophy coming to KC.
If that's the case, the Royals aren't going to let an extra million dollars stop them from signing Starling. If you want to see Starling playing in Nebraska, head down to Werner Park and see him playing for the Omaha Storm Chasers.
Photo originally located here.
Bad Change No. 2: The No-Cody Zone
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At one point, quarterback depth looked like a strong point for Nebraska going into 2011. Then Cody Green decided to transfer, not seeing a future in Lincoln. Then Kody Spano decided to end his football career due to multiple injuries. Couple that with Bubba Starling's almost-certain decision to forego football for professional baseball, and all of a sudden, Nebraska's quarterback depth looks shaky. Behind Taylor Martinez, who has injury concerns, is redshirt freshman Brion Carnes, career backup Ron Kellogg III and walkon freshman Tyson Broekemeir (with freshman Jamal Turner able to switch back from receiver to quarterback in an emergency).
Bad Change No. 3: Spring Soreness
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Did you read the previous slide about Nebraska's lack of depth at quarterback? This won't make you feel any better, then, if you're a Nebraska fan. At the spring game, returning starter Taylor Martinez was still limited by the ankle injury that bedeviled him throughout the end of 2010. Martinez was unable to move well, limiting his effectiveness. We've been told that Martinez will heal fine over the summer and should be 100 percent by the start of the season. But we were also told that he was fine and ready to go in a number of games at the end of 2010, and we all saw how that worked out.
Bad Change No. 4: Tougher Travel
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Nebraska fans are known for being the Sea of Red on the road, filling up opposing stadiums and making their presence known. But Nebraska's move to the B1G Conference means there's a lot fewer easy drives for road games in the conference. Gone are the day trips to Ames, Lawrence, Manhattan and Columbia. Drives to Iowa City, Chicago and Minneapolis are the closest, and even those are more daunting than before.
Make no mistake; Nebraska fans will still travel to see NU on the road. But the increased travel might decrease the size of the Sea of Red washing up on opponents' doorsteps, particularly after the novelty of the new conference wears off.
Bad Change No. 5: Jim Tressel Resigned
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Yes, Nebraska may benefit in the short term from Ohio State's turmoil. But remember that Bo Pelini is an alum of THE Ohio State University. He played his home games at the Horseshoe. For crying out loud, his dog is named Buckeye. Throughout 2011, as the Ohio State brass pretends that interim coach Luke Fickell has a shot at the permanent job, Pelini's name will be mentioned as a possible successor for Tressel in Columbus.
Questions will be asked, possibly at every press conference. And we all know how well Pelini handles media questions he doesn't like answering. Nebraska fans should get used to dealing with the uncertainty of Pelini's job status throughout the season, at least until Urban Meyer takes the head Buckeye gig after the 2011 season.
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.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
