Thus far this season, Nebraska, Pitt and Notre Dame have racked up a combined 7-13 record. A .350 winning percentage after -- for two of them -- the easy part of their schedule is over.
What do these teams have in common?
Nebraska and Pitt changed coaching horses in 2004, Notre Dame in 2003, and all three thought they were bringing in the man to "take them to the next level."
Where were they at?
Nebrasaka, with Frank Solich, finished 2003 with a 10-3 record and a win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl. No Big 12 title, no national championship run. Sorry Frank! Forget about that 11-2 season and a Rose Bowl vs #1 Miami two years earlier. C'YA!!!!
The year after changing coaches, Nebraska had its first losing season since 1961.
Pitt had Walt Harris. 8-4 season in 2004, Big East co-champs, BCS appearance in the Fiesta Bowl. BCS? Pitt???? Not enough. C'YA, Walt!
Notre Dame with Tyrone Willingham. 6-6 record, and a loss to Oregon State in the Insight Bowl. Notre Dame lose a bowl game? Who'd have thought it? Willingham had them 10-3 two years earlier? Not enough. BYE-YA!
Not one of those teams is playing anywhere nearly as healthy a few years later than they were doing the year they changed coaches or even two years before they changed coaches. In all cases, a glass half full (or nearly dry, in Notre Dame's situation).
All told, a lesson for those looking to ditch their coach for success not fulfilling their expectations. Experienced haters of Lloyd Carr, Kirk Ferentz and others... take note. There's a reward for sticking with a coach who has shown some knowledge of what he's doing. Ask Rutgers, Kentucky, Kansas, Penn State and others whose fan bases have rashly rioted for change over the last few years.
Showing posts with label Nebraska. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nebraska. Show all posts
9/22/07
Saturday observations...
31-14 Michigan State over Notre Dame.
Yes, not the brutal beat down that everybody else has put on them to date, but still a convincing win. And considering that Slappy Jabba didn't want Heisman Emu throwing the ball anymore, not bad at all. That's a good win against a Notre Dame that's playing ball control offense. They were playing not to get killed, rather than to win. I dare say that most everybody else would have beaten them this way under the same circumstances. It's just a bad Notre Dame.
And besides, they can't lose by sixty every week, can they? Ask Stephen Hawking, but there must be a law of entropy or something that mere random luck will produce a convincing Notre Dame loss rather than a just an endless series of soul-destroying Notre Dame humiliations. Somebody had to let them get to half time with hope. They were due for mere mediocrity.
My concerns are some Hoyer passes that missed open receivers. A Hoyer fumble that gave ND an easy touchdown. A Hoyer INT in the end zone that cost MSU at least a field goal, maybe a TD. Etc... Yes, he's new. He got better as the game wore on. I don't expect this to be a continuing problem. But those mistakes will likely be fatal if they happen in Madison next week. I never expected to win that game anyway, but still...
Also, anotheroffensive lineman limping off the field. That looks not pretty.
The defense? Well, nothing awful to report here. Again. This makes me so happy.
The running game in the 4th quarter was like a favorite warm blanket on a cold winter night next to a fire.
Penalties were sparse again. That's pleaseant.
We missed an easy field goal that didn't matter. Still, 2005's horrors are not easily forgotten.
As for Notre Dame, Slappy Jabba's statement earlier in the week bears repeating. Yes, the team and the coaches and the players didn't suddenly get worse. They were unimpressive all along. Check out Ty Willingham's wins in three years over teams that finished in the Top 25, and then check out Slappy's. Here's a head start: Weis' only such win is #24 Penn State last year.
Enjoy the next nine, expensive seasons, Irish. You paid for this shit.
Michigan
I'm very happy they got a big win win out of their system before they played Michigan State. Shades of our 2005 game were starting to dance in my head if they started 1-3.
And once again, Mike Hart proves why he may be the most aptly named player in college football history. Assuming the injury bug remains at bay, I see a long and storied NFL career.
The flipside is what happens to Michigan when he is gone.
At a minimum, they have a defense again.
And I wonder how many internet references we will find this week to the assumed "final season" of Lloyd Carr. My prediction for Michigan this year is 7-8 wins, one of which is Ohio State; a mid-level bowl, which they also win; and Lloyd Carr returns next season.
Nebraska v. Ball State
Speaking of rash coaching changes, it's too bad Ball State isn't on Ohio's MAC schedule this year (barring a meetup in the MAC title game). I suspect that former Nebraska coach Frank Solich would beat them by more than present Nebraska coach Bill Callahan did today (1 pt).
Note that Nebraska has yet to get back to the winning level they had under Solich.
Before firing Solich, Nebraska had the longest streak of winning seasons and bowl games in the NCAA. The very next season after they fired him, the spell was broken. The streak passed to Michigan.
By all means, Wal-Mart Wolverines, fire Lloyd! You will get what you deserve.
South Florida
A dozen years ago, this team didn't exist. Now, they are a serious BCS threat and dark horse national title team. There is a received wisdom that says Michigan State cannot get to the level of Michigan, Ohio State or (gasp!) Notre Dame, because it is surrounded by those powers in the recruiting wars. Yet South Florida, from nothing, is now on the map by keeping its hold on a good coach and fighting in the Florida recruiting wars despite Miami-FL, Florida and Florida State in the same state, and the entire brutal SEC in the region.
It can be done. We were probably on the way when we let Nick Saban get away. I'm beginning to think a second chance is on the table.
Yes, not the brutal beat down that everybody else has put on them to date, but still a convincing win. And considering that Slappy Jabba didn't want Heisman Emu throwing the ball anymore, not bad at all. That's a good win against a Notre Dame that's playing ball control offense. They were playing not to get killed, rather than to win. I dare say that most everybody else would have beaten them this way under the same circumstances. It's just a bad Notre Dame.
And besides, they can't lose by sixty every week, can they? Ask Stephen Hawking, but there must be a law of entropy or something that mere random luck will produce a convincing Notre Dame loss rather than a just an endless series of soul-destroying Notre Dame humiliations. Somebody had to let them get to half time with hope. They were due for mere mediocrity.
My concerns are some Hoyer passes that missed open receivers. A Hoyer fumble that gave ND an easy touchdown. A Hoyer INT in the end zone that cost MSU at least a field goal, maybe a TD. Etc... Yes, he's new. He got better as the game wore on. I don't expect this to be a continuing problem. But those mistakes will likely be fatal if they happen in Madison next week. I never expected to win that game anyway, but still...
Also, anotheroffensive lineman limping off the field. That looks not pretty.
The defense? Well, nothing awful to report here. Again. This makes me so happy.
The running game in the 4th quarter was like a favorite warm blanket on a cold winter night next to a fire.
Penalties were sparse again. That's pleaseant.
We missed an easy field goal that didn't matter. Still, 2005's horrors are not easily forgotten.
As for Notre Dame, Slappy Jabba's statement earlier in the week bears repeating. Yes, the team and the coaches and the players didn't suddenly get worse. They were unimpressive all along. Check out Ty Willingham's wins in three years over teams that finished in the Top 25, and then check out Slappy's. Here's a head start: Weis' only such win is #24 Penn State last year.
Enjoy the next nine, expensive seasons, Irish. You paid for this shit.
Michigan
I'm very happy they got a big win win out of their system before they played Michigan State. Shades of our 2005 game were starting to dance in my head if they started 1-3.
And once again, Mike Hart proves why he may be the most aptly named player in college football history. Assuming the injury bug remains at bay, I see a long and storied NFL career.
The flipside is what happens to Michigan when he is gone.
At a minimum, they have a defense again.
And I wonder how many internet references we will find this week to the assumed "final season" of Lloyd Carr. My prediction for Michigan this year is 7-8 wins, one of which is Ohio State; a mid-level bowl, which they also win; and Lloyd Carr returns next season.
Nebraska v. Ball State
Speaking of rash coaching changes, it's too bad Ball State isn't on Ohio's MAC schedule this year (barring a meetup in the MAC title game). I suspect that former Nebraska coach Frank Solich would beat them by more than present Nebraska coach Bill Callahan did today (1 pt).
Note that Nebraska has yet to get back to the winning level they had under Solich.
Before firing Solich, Nebraska had the longest streak of winning seasons and bowl games in the NCAA. The very next season after they fired him, the spell was broken. The streak passed to Michigan.
By all means, Wal-Mart Wolverines, fire Lloyd! You will get what you deserve.
South Florida
A dozen years ago, this team didn't exist. Now, they are a serious BCS threat and dark horse national title team. There is a received wisdom that says Michigan State cannot get to the level of Michigan, Ohio State or (gasp!) Notre Dame, because it is surrounded by those powers in the recruiting wars. Yet South Florida, from nothing, is now on the map by keeping its hold on a good coach and fighting in the Florida recruiting wars despite Miami-FL, Florida and Florida State in the same state, and the entire brutal SEC in the region.
It can be done. We were probably on the way when we let Nick Saban get away. I'm beginning to think a second chance is on the table.
9/5/07
Picks -- Week 2
Looks like I'm gonna have to make up the bulk of the posts while Masked Avenger tries to get the lyrics of Appalachian State's promo video out of his head.
The spreads are ESPN, as reported at 7pm this evening (Wednesday, Sept. 5).
Last week a mediocre 1-1. Charlie's Irish Angels didn't fail to fail. But in the theme of betting against over-rated coaching, I may have been early to the bar on Nebraska. As seen below, I've decided to stay for another drink...
Season score: 1-1
This week...
Nebraska @ Wake Forest +8.5
There are punishments for firing coaches at legendary programs who win 9-10 games every year. The Huskers will suffer in mediocrity until they turn on the interloper. I take Wake Forest and the points against Callahan's Crew, which is on it's way to an Alamo Bowl rematch against Michigan. This time, it's Lloyd Carr who saves HIS job with a win.
Navy @ Rutgers -16.5
No disrespect to Rutgers, but Navy is probably better than the 16.5 points and can keep it close. Like Rutgers, they have one of America's best coaches (also a former 1-AA national champ, IIRC). Watch out Irish....
Alabama @ Vanderbilt +3.5
Again, coaching... Nick Satan is special. Certain college fan bases just know this (Spartans, LSU, Toledo...). Not a ding on Vandy, but 'Bama will win this one by more than 3.5 points.
Oregon @ Michigan -8
This line actually moved UP from -6.5 as the week went along. Normally in this situation, I blame Michigan fans for stupidly betting their team above its potential. But it defies reason that they would be so inclined this week. Michigan will be very happy to win this narrowly, if at all, and I am far from convinced that they can. Oregon, getting the points, is a steal. They are a good team and would have looked like a good challenge for Michigan if Appalachian State had gone home on the other side of a 30pt beat-down.
Charlie's Angels vs Penn State
This line is off the charts... Something like 17 pts favoring Penn State. Not biting. But if anybody is taking action on when the 'Domers officially start turning on Charlie, then I'm willing to take after/if Tyrone Willingham upsets Boise State.
The spreads are ESPN, as reported at 7pm this evening (Wednesday, Sept. 5).
Last week a mediocre 1-1. Charlie's Irish Angels didn't fail to fail. But in the theme of betting against over-rated coaching, I may have been early to the bar on Nebraska. As seen below, I've decided to stay for another drink...
Season score: 1-1
This week...
Nebraska @ Wake Forest +8.5
There are punishments for firing coaches at legendary programs who win 9-10 games every year. The Huskers will suffer in mediocrity until they turn on the interloper. I take Wake Forest and the points against Callahan's Crew, which is on it's way to an Alamo Bowl rematch against Michigan. This time, it's Lloyd Carr who saves HIS job with a win.
Navy @ Rutgers -16.5
No disrespect to Rutgers, but Navy is probably better than the 16.5 points and can keep it close. Like Rutgers, they have one of America's best coaches (also a former 1-AA national champ, IIRC). Watch out Irish....
Alabama @ Vanderbilt +3.5
Again, coaching... Nick Satan is special. Certain college fan bases just know this (Spartans, LSU, Toledo...). Not a ding on Vandy, but 'Bama will win this one by more than 3.5 points.
Oregon @ Michigan -8
This line actually moved UP from -6.5 as the week went along. Normally in this situation, I blame Michigan fans for stupidly betting their team above its potential. But it defies reason that they would be so inclined this week. Michigan will be very happy to win this narrowly, if at all, and I am far from convinced that they can. Oregon, getting the points, is a steal. They are a good team and would have looked like a good challenge for Michigan if Appalachian State had gone home on the other side of a 30pt beat-down.
Charlie's Angels vs Penn State
This line is off the charts... Something like 17 pts favoring Penn State. Not biting. But if anybody is taking action on when the 'Domers officially start turning on Charlie, then I'm willing to take after/if Tyrone Willingham upsets Boise State.
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