This season will turn out one of 2 ways:

[Huskerwirejay]

After dropping 3 games that they could have and should have won if NU wanted to stay on pace to get an NCAA bid, the reality of what will transpire at the end of the season has set in.

1. More than likely, NU will continue to be the 60th to 80th best team in the land which will result in a sub .500 conference record and general disappointment.
2. There is an outside chance (maybe 2%) that NU can overcome their 3 losses with 3 upsets in conference play plus grab 5-6 wins against Iowa, Penn State, Minn, Mich or Illinois.

Add to this, the fact that NU doesn't have an star players in their recruiting class, and it's 98% certain that Doc is gone after this year. I new coach and a new arena could double ticket sales. NU will need to pay at least 1.5 million but they should be able to get an attractive candidate for that.

Until that time comes, I will continue to enjoy watching as much BB as I can.

[bilsker]

At least you've finally acknowledged reality.

[The Impaler]

jay, I am glad to see you have come to terms with a lot of what people have been saying. With that being said, it's sad that the program has come to the point where even an eternal optimist like yourself has become rather apathetic. That's the true damage of allowing Doc to continue IMO.

[djlhuskerfan]

Everyone is jumping ship now!! Reality is tough to take sometimes

[Knothole Bob]

Why do you say it's 98% certain?

[Weinosker]

Reasonable position Jay. I actually admire you for standing behind Doc as long as you did. Much respect from me bro!

It's tough when you arrive at this moment of clarity.

[huskerborn]

NU has lost 2 games more than I picked but that isn't a huge issue as long as they upset a team I picked as a lose.

I will let this play out longer before I call the season.


EDIT: Let me add though, the games I have seen don't look very promising.

[COG]

I don't get Jay why you think there's a 98% chance Doc is gone. I'd say it's closer to 98% chance he's not.

With that said, Doc has lost a LOT more than the last three games. Did anyone notice the crowd Sunday, how it was VERY pro Creighton? Four years ago, I'd say a game at the Qwest Center was more pro-Nebraska even though it was a Creighton home game. I was astounded to hear the Creighton crowd. Those fans use to be Nebraska fans, or at least fans of both. That crowd Sunday sounded like NU had very few supporters in the building.

If that truly is the case, where CU is getting a lot of support from Nebraskans and NU fans are becoming completely apathetic, then maybe TO will pull the plug.

[p-ville husker]

Reasonable position Jay. I actually admire you for standing behind Doc as long as you did. Much respect from me bro!

It's tough when you arrive at this moment of clarity.

Doubt he really believes what he is posting as he has no credibility. He has ripped, mocked anyone to question the good doctor.

[Weinosker]

Doubt he really believes what he is posting as he has no credibility. He has ripped, mocked anyone to question the good doctor.

I don't know, I guess after I ripped you once and then realized that I agreed with you more often than not, I try to give people the benefit of the doubt.

I tend to support coaches longer than most and can respect Jay's position. Maybe I'll end up looking stupid, but it won't be the first time (or the last).

[Fromunda Cheese]

With that said, Doc has lost a LOT more than the last three games. Did anyone notice the crowd Sunday, how it was VERY pro Creighton? Four years ago, I'd say a game at the Qwest Center was more pro-Nebraska even though it was a Creighton home game. I was astounded to hear the Creighton crowd. Those fans use to be Nebraska fans, or at least fans of both. That crowd Sunday sounded like NU had very few supporters in the building

This.

I commented on the same thing to my friends I was sitting with. When the Qwest opened, the NU-CU game was split down the middle, on Sunday it was prolly 90-10 in favor of the Blue. That is what years of pathetic basketball will get you...

[p-ville husker]

I don't know, I guess after I ripped you once and then realized that I agreed with you more often than not, I try to give people the benefit of the doubt.

I tend to support coaches longer than most and can respect Jay's position. Maybe I'll end up looking stupid, but it won't be the first time (or the last).

At least we came to an understanding.....Jay has been like this for 7 or so years I have been posting. You are reasonable......

[bilsker]

This.

I commented on the same thing to my friends I was sitting with. When the Qwest opened, the NU-CU game was split down the middle, on Sunday it was prolly 90-10 in favor of the Blue. That is what years of pathetic basketball will get you...

As someone who hasn't missed a CU-NU game I certainly won't agree that it was ever split down the middle. CU always have at least 2/3 to 1/3 advantage...CU's sold no less than 12,000 season tix since moving in there. So there's no chance it was ever 50-50. But the general premise i do agree with. The presence of red was almost non-existant Sunday compared to the past. And NU fans have always been vocal at these games and, save for that one little stretch where NU made a run, that was pretty muted as well.

I would say that at the civic the crowds were 50-50.

[Huskerwirejay]

Only a foggy memory could recall a 50/50 U Creighton crowd at the Quest.

None of this (and most of what I have posted before) is about my personal evaluation of Doc as a coach or recruiter.

If NU was 7-0, which I believe that could have been at this point, the practical outlook for Doc would be quite different. If NU went undefeated in non-con and .500 in conf, they would be in the NCAA discussion. All hope is not lost, but most is.

However, there is no 'finally came around' moment here. The AD is a savvy business man. He knows that season ticket sales can finance a well paid head coach. There has to be a reason for excitement to become a new season ticket holder. A new arena will help. A NCAA bid in this season would help too and lacking that, a splashy new head coach can also do the trick.

None of this is about finally seeing the light. It's about the prudent course of action at a given time.

[bilsker]

I don't think TO will make the decision for "business" decisions. Personally, unless NU is 8-24, I don't think he'll make the call at all.

[Porkchopexpress]

A new arena will help. A NCAA bid in this season would help too and lacking that, a splashy new head coach can also do the trick.

None of this is about finally seeing the light. It's about the prudent course of action at a given time.

Not directed specifically at you jay, but what type of coach could NU bring in? I would imagine they aren't prying a coach from one of the "major" conferences away, so it would be back to the mid-majors, or a "hot-shot" assistant at a big name school. I don't know if NU can bring in the type of coach that would make heads turn around college bball.

[Huskerwirejay]

Not directed specifically at you jay, but what type of coach could NU bring in? I would imagine they aren't prying a coach from one of the "major" conferences away, so it would be back to the mid-majors, or a "hot-shot" assistant at a big name school. I don't know if NU can bring in the type of coach that would make heads turn around college bball.

I am glad I don't have to make that call.

I'd consider all potential candidates. I'd allocate 1.5 to 1.7 to the job and I'd offer a 5-10 million annuity bonus that is vested in years 10, 12 & 14.

[bilsker]

Not directed specifically at you jay, but what type of coach could NU bring in? I would imagine they aren't prying a coach from one of the "major" conferences away, so it would be back to the mid-majors, or a "hot-shot" assistant at a big name school. I don't know if NU can bring in the type of coach that would make heads turn around college bball.

The fact of life is that you are correct in that they aren't prying a coach from another BCS type job. It will have to be hot-shot assistant/mid-major guy. So, no...it's not going to be a "splash" situation.

Hiring one of those guys is always a risk...but not a big one. What are you risking? Setting the program back? Not all that possible really.

Gregg marshall? Personally I think the guy is kind of a jerk but he's been successful at Wichita St. and Winthrop. The downside is he doesn't have assistant
experience in the Big 10 type leagues. He's a good coach though.

Personally, I'd like to see either the "hot shot" assistant you mention or a Mid-Major coach with fairly recent BCS ties. My problem with guys like Sadler, Collier...maybe Marshall...Is they think they can bring their "system" to a league like the Big 12 or Big 10 and make it work because they pulled off an upset or two against those programs in their old job. Whoever it is should not need 3 years to figure out you need PLAYERS to win in these conferences.

At some point NU is going to need to get over it's snobbery with regard to AAU types. I'm not saying NU should cheat. Not at all. But you can't bury your head in the sand either and pretend that you don't need those connections either.

[Huskerwirejay]

Scott Spinelli?

[bilsker]

Scott Spinelli?

Has a rep as a recruiter, right? And having been in the Big 12 for a while the talent thing shouldn't be a shock to him.