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LINCOLN, Neb. — Sean Taylor had the reasoning for Nebraska’s long-term downturn outlined, if not solved. As his once-glorious program was being clobbered by No. 6 Oklahoma on Saturday, the 45-year-old Cornhuskers fan grew to become philosophical whereas leaving Memorial Stadium.
“That is our penance, and we’re OK with it,” mentioned Taylor, a producer of synthetic limbs from Omaha, Nebraska.
Penance? Taylor figures Nebraska’s ache may have been averted if the varsity did not — in his phrases — develop into “the one faculty within the historical past of college football to fireplace two nine-win coaches.”
Typical of Nebraska soccer lately, Taylor did not get the little issues proper. The just lately fired Scott Frost was really the solely Huskers coach of the 5 since Tom Osborne to not win not less than 9 video games.
That complicates the problem of a turnaround that has waited 1 / 4 century. The 49-14 loss to Oklahoma in interim coach Mickey Joseph’s debut was purported to be the kickoff to a brand new period (whether or not the ex-Nebraska quarterback will get the everlasting gig or not). As an alternative, it highlighted the depth of despair in addition to the deepness of the opening from which this system should dig out.
“This one is on me,” mentioned Joseph, a legacy adored at Nebraska however one who’s simply getting his playbook organized to chase the job of a lifetime. “Not my gamers, not my assistant coaches. I’ve bought to do a greater job.”
Joseph not less than has that a part of the pinnacle teaching gig discovered: Blame your self while you lose, credit score the gamers while you win. Sadly, the ray of sunshine Joseph offered this week bought a bit dimmer on the remaining whistle.
The concept that Nebraska someway deserves this distress was merely Taylor’s stadium ideology. The truth is that the Cornhuskers have to get again to fundamentals. The trail to that time appears as prolonged as ever.
“We have been tagging up [not tackling] for 4 years,” Nebraska security Myles Farmer concluded.
That is an excellent place to start out the rebuild. Final yr on this sport, Nebraska surprisingly performed Oklahoma off its toes, shedding 23-16. Frost was fired final Sunday after a litany of single-digit losses that confirmed an general lack of progress.
One line of thought this week: Joseph’s ascension from broad receivers coach (and affiliate head coach) would not less than inject new life in a once-glorious rivalry renewed final yr after mendacity dormant for a decade.
No such pluck from the Huskers on Saturday. After operating out of scripted performs and main 7-0, they allowed the Sooners to attain the following 49 consecutively.
Worse, Oklahoma ran previous and thru Nebraska. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel scrambled round a confused protection for a 61-yard landing. Tennessee operating again switch Eric Gray ran for 113 yards and two scores. OU first-year coach Brent Venables continued to pump life into the protection, his specialty. At one level within the first half, 9 of 10 performs run by Nebraska have been for no acquire or a loss.
“Y’all are going to ask me all of your questions I actually do not need to reply,” Farmer instructed the media. “However on the finish of the day, y’all usually are not in right here with us. Y’all usually are not at apply with us.”
Taylor’s notion that the soccer gods have spit on the Huskers is simply miserable. A big swath of the 87,000 followers left at halftime. Taylor and buddy George Jones, an proprietor of an Omaha beverage firm, could not give away passes to the unique Champions Membership throughout the road from Memorial Stadium.
The presence of City Meyer for the Fox “Massive Midday Saturday” broadcast added spice, if solely to the scholar part which chanted his title as he made his method to the on-field set. CBS Sports activities reported Saturday that Nebraska has made contact with Meyer, however in a sampling of opinion, few in Lincoln assume he’s proper for this system.
That is a cause to root for this turnaround. There may be nothing to not like about these intensely loyal followers who solely need to win once more. They’re actual, Midwestern. They know soccer. Forgive the likes of Taylor when he reminisces.
“We used to get 5 fats youngsters from Aurora, Nebraska,” Taylor mentioned. “We would get three youngsters from California, three youngsters from Florida, 5 youngsters from Texas. After which, all proper, we’ll run behind these large fats youngsters and have pace popping out of our ass.”
As an alternative, on Saturday, Oklahoma ran 84 performs with star offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby snapping the ball a median of as soon as each 21 seconds.
“I’ve bought to get higher as a head coach,” Joseph repeated.
Does he have sufficient time? There are eight video games left within the season. A bowl bid already is slipping away at 1-3. Joseph actually, actually, actually desires the job. Taylor, as one in every of a legion of Nebraska followers, would actually like him to get it.
Joseph was a prize prospect within the Eighties out of New Orleans who waited in line behind different Huskers to lastly get his likelihood in 1990. He gave blood — actually — for this program. Within the 1990 Oklahoma sport — the final time Nebraska misplaced on this collection by 35 factors — his leg was bloodied in a ugly sideline harm. In his subsequent assembly with Oklahoma on Saturday, his workforce’s lip was bloodied.
“They do not have the swagger,” Taylor mentioned of the Huskers. “These youngsters must be the one, their d— enters the room 10 toes earlier than they get into it. That is the perspective Mickey will give them. Proper now, they’re simply beat [up].”
Primarily based on Saturday, this Nebraska rebuilding venture — or no matter you need to name it — is greater and extra in depth than anybody thought.
It was notable — if just for irony’s sake — that Joseph wore a black shirt. There weren’t a lot of his gamers worthy of that honor Saturday. In actual fact, Joseph took away the Blackshirts awarded to reaching defensive gamers in the intervening time as he needed the workforce to start out with a clear slate.
The custom began within the Sixties when first-team defenders have been recognized by sporting black jerseys in apply. That was greater than 50 years in the past. It solely looks as if it can that lengthy for Nebraska to regain that swagger Taylor longed for after Saturday’s debacle.
“We’re from that period,” he mentioned, “that we’re the perfect goddamn soccer workforce on the planet. We’re by no means, ever not going to be superior. Oklahoma is No. 6 within the nation for Christ sakes. You possibly can have the Inexperienced Bay Packers [as an opponent], and we might nonetheless be cautiously optimistic we’d win the soccer sport.
“There’s all the time hope. It is the hope that hurts.”
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