Here is a sampling of some of the email I've received of late.
Husker Dan:
Have you seen enough yet? Mike Riley in less than one year has taken our football program from 9 and 10 wins a year to an embarrassing 5-7. You keep sticking up for this group of coaches who should be fired along with the AD who hired Riley.
After one season, the Huskers can't run, can't pass, can't defend, lead the nation in penalties and turnovers. What's more, these "coaches" can't seem to get this team to win. Take off your rose colored glasses and smell the coffee. I'm sick of this s***.
Mel Owdee
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Dear Mel:
So let me get this straight. You want to fire Mike Riley and all his assistants as well as Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst, right? Those firings coupled with UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman's pending retirement would leave the UNL athletic department pretty thin, no? Who would interview the new coaches and AD candidates? The Nebraska Director of Bands?
First of all, it ain't gonna happen. The AD and coaching staff aren't going to be fired. No way. Not a chance. The move would be disastrous. As far as my glasses, the last time I checked they were blended bifocals. Oh, and I don't drink coffee.
Who do you think will be the Husker quarterback next year? Do you think incoming freshman Patrick O'Brien has a chance to start? I mean, Tommy Armstrong is just dreadful. He needs to go.
Sommer Muntz
Topeka, KS
Sommer:
Thanks for taking time to write. Your question is a great one. First of all, I believe a player like TA would never have been recruited by Mike Riley or Danny Langsdorf. But TA was the best of the lot and I think the staff thought they could fix Tommy's bad habits. But after 12 games (11 starts by Armstrong), TA never seemed get it. His inconsistencies must have driven his coaches crazy. They never knew what they were going to get from him from game to game, quarter by quarter, series by series or play by play.
Patrick O'Brien may be able to play this fall, but I'm sure Riley et al would love the luxury of redshirting him and hoping (praying) that TA makes a huge turnaround this summer. Or look for NU to steal (if available) a Juco QB in the February's recruiting class who can play right away. (Note: PO has been running an offense in high school similar to Riley's, but, well, that's not college. O'Brien will enroll next month at UNL, giving him winter conditioning, spring ball and fall camp to grasp the position. If he can make enough strides, he may be the starter come September 3rd against Fresno State in Lincoln.)
Do you think the Huskers will or should accept a bowl invitation if offered?
Sue Thitty
Denver, CO
Dear Sue:
Yes. And no.
First of all, the Huskers will likely get a bowl invitation and if so, they will accept. Those who cringe at a 5-7 team getting a bowl invitation are legion (including me). The main reason for accepting, many say, is the extra 15 practices NU would get preparing for a bowl game opponent.
So look for the Huskers to play one more game. Sigh.
But should NU play in bowl? I'm a traditionalist. Teams that don't have at least a 6-6 record should not be eligible for bowl consideration. Period. Bowl games used to be a reward for a team's good play during the season. At 5-7, NU shouldn't qualify.
What about the extra practice time? Look what an extra week meant to the Huskers as they prepared for the Hawkeyes last week. Tommy still threw 4 picks, including a pick six (he should have had another 3). If the extra practice time doesn't have any positive effect on TA, they likely won't mean much in the Huskers' bowl game.
And exactly how many Husker fans would want to travel to see a 5-7 team play? Would a bowl game be good for recruiting? Maybe.
Would the Husker coaches be better off hitting the recruiting trail? Don't know.
And win or lose, the fact remains that the Huskers will be assured of a losing record.
If NU does go bowling, will TA throw another 4 or 5 picks and NU will be embarrassed again? Tommy, unfortunately, is like a little puppy who each morning wags his tail proudly when he fetches your newspaper, but later, piddles on your new couch and carpet.
Thanks for writing.
Husker Dan:
If you were voting in the college football playoffs, which teams would you have in the Final Four?
Ben Gazzi
Hermosa Beach, CA
Dear Ben:
First of all, I'm glad I don't have a vote. The committee has an unbelievably difficult task of deciding which four teams will qualify for the playoffs.
However, based on what I saw over the Holiday weekend, here's how I would rate the top four teams.
1.) Oklahoma. They destroyed a good Okie State game at Stillwater. And Sooner QB Baker Mayfield would get my vote for Heisman.
2.) Ohio State. They crushed a good Michigan team at Ann Arbor. Ezekiel Elliott will be a first round draft pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
3.) Michigan State. They slapped a so-so Penn State team on Saturday. They also won at Michigan and at Ohio State. Amazing. Connor Cook will be another first round draft choice.
4.) Stanford. They pulled out an exciting, last second win over a very good Notre Dame team. But because of the two Cardinal losses, they likely won't be in the playoff picture next week.
SOUNDZ OF FREEDOM
The Soundz Of Freedom is having a fundraising event, "Freedom Expressions As Seen Through The Eyes Of A Veteran" at the Ralston Arena in Omaha, Nebraska, Thursday, December 10th from 6-10 p.m. The event will feature bands, songs, poetry, dancing, artistic painting and more. For more details, go to the following link. Any time we can help our veterans, we should do all we can.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freedom-expressions-concert-tickets-19606715213
You may contact the writer at HuskerDan@cox.net.
Husker Dan:
Have you seen enough yet? Mike Riley in less than one year has taken our football program from 9 and 10 wins a year to an embarrassing 5-7. You keep sticking up for this group of coaches who should be fired along with the AD who hired Riley.
After one season, the Huskers can't run, can't pass, can't defend, lead the nation in penalties and turnovers. What's more, these "coaches" can't seem to get this team to win. Take off your rose colored glasses and smell the coffee. I'm sick of this s***.
Mel Owdee
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Dear Mel:
So let me get this straight. You want to fire Mike Riley and all his assistants as well as Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst, right? Those firings coupled with UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman's pending retirement would leave the UNL athletic department pretty thin, no? Who would interview the new coaches and AD candidates? The Nebraska Director of Bands?
First of all, it ain't gonna happen. The AD and coaching staff aren't going to be fired. No way. Not a chance. The move would be disastrous. As far as my glasses, the last time I checked they were blended bifocals. Oh, and I don't drink coffee.
* * *
Husker Dan:Who do you think will be the Husker quarterback next year? Do you think incoming freshman Patrick O'Brien has a chance to start? I mean, Tommy Armstrong is just dreadful. He needs to go.
Sommer Muntz
Topeka, KS
Sommer:
Thanks for taking time to write. Your question is a great one. First of all, I believe a player like TA would never have been recruited by Mike Riley or Danny Langsdorf. But TA was the best of the lot and I think the staff thought they could fix Tommy's bad habits. But after 12 games (11 starts by Armstrong), TA never seemed get it. His inconsistencies must have driven his coaches crazy. They never knew what they were going to get from him from game to game, quarter by quarter, series by series or play by play.
Patrick O'Brien may be able to play this fall, but I'm sure Riley et al would love the luxury of redshirting him and hoping (praying) that TA makes a huge turnaround this summer. Or look for NU to steal (if available) a Juco QB in the February's recruiting class who can play right away. (Note: PO has been running an offense in high school similar to Riley's, but, well, that's not college. O'Brien will enroll next month at UNL, giving him winter conditioning, spring ball and fall camp to grasp the position. If he can make enough strides, he may be the starter come September 3rd against Fresno State in Lincoln.)
* * *
Husker Dan:
Do you think the Huskers will or should accept a bowl invitation if offered?
Sue Thitty
Denver, CO
Dear Sue:
Yes. And no.
First of all, the Huskers will likely get a bowl invitation and if so, they will accept. Those who cringe at a 5-7 team getting a bowl invitation are legion (including me). The main reason for accepting, many say, is the extra 15 practices NU would get preparing for a bowl game opponent.
So look for the Huskers to play one more game. Sigh.
But should NU play in bowl? I'm a traditionalist. Teams that don't have at least a 6-6 record should not be eligible for bowl consideration. Period. Bowl games used to be a reward for a team's good play during the season. At 5-7, NU shouldn't qualify.
What about the extra practice time? Look what an extra week meant to the Huskers as they prepared for the Hawkeyes last week. Tommy still threw 4 picks, including a pick six (he should have had another 3). If the extra practice time doesn't have any positive effect on TA, they likely won't mean much in the Huskers' bowl game.
And exactly how many Husker fans would want to travel to see a 5-7 team play? Would a bowl game be good for recruiting? Maybe.
Would the Husker coaches be better off hitting the recruiting trail? Don't know.
And win or lose, the fact remains that the Huskers will be assured of a losing record.
If NU does go bowling, will TA throw another 4 or 5 picks and NU will be embarrassed again? Tommy, unfortunately, is like a little puppy who each morning wags his tail proudly when he fetches your newspaper, but later, piddles on your new couch and carpet.
Thanks for writing.
* * *
Husker Dan:
If you were voting in the college football playoffs, which teams would you have in the Final Four?
Ben Gazzi
Hermosa Beach, CA
Dear Ben:
First of all, I'm glad I don't have a vote. The committee has an unbelievably difficult task of deciding which four teams will qualify for the playoffs.
However, based on what I saw over the Holiday weekend, here's how I would rate the top four teams.
1.) Oklahoma. They destroyed a good Okie State game at Stillwater. And Sooner QB Baker Mayfield would get my vote for Heisman.
2.) Ohio State. They crushed a good Michigan team at Ann Arbor. Ezekiel Elliott will be a first round draft pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
3.) Michigan State. They slapped a so-so Penn State team on Saturday. They also won at Michigan and at Ohio State. Amazing. Connor Cook will be another first round draft choice.
4.) Stanford. They pulled out an exciting, last second win over a very good Notre Dame team. But because of the two Cardinal losses, they likely won't be in the playoff picture next week.
SOUNDZ OF FREEDOM
The Soundz Of Freedom is having a fundraising event, "Freedom Expressions As Seen Through The Eyes Of A Veteran" at the Ralston Arena in Omaha, Nebraska, Thursday, December 10th from 6-10 p.m. The event will feature bands, songs, poetry, dancing, artistic painting and more. For more details, go to the following link. Any time we can help our veterans, we should do all we can.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freedom-expressions-concert-tickets-19606715213
You may contact the writer at HuskerDan@cox.net.
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