Nebraska vs. Missouri Post Game Overreaction - The Show Must Go On

by Jon Johnston on Oct 5, 2008 12:09 AM CDT in Football Comment 6 comments

You know the old phrase used in show business - "the show must go on"?

This is the line you say to a performer who's feeling badly about what's about to happen. They're feeling that something's wrong, there's something in the air, like facing a noose, or an electric chair.

"The Show Must Go On" is what you throw in their face to make them accept the inevitable - Yes, you're going to do this, and it doesn't matter how bad it is, you're going to do it anyway. It will feel like death, but it won't be. Now get out there, dammit, and fail and when you do remember what it feels like so you work harder and you don't let it happen again.

I know this because I've been on stage where I've failed miserably and felt the sting, and it's one of the shittiest feelings you can have. Anyone who's played a sport knows the feeling because God has a way of providing humility when he senses we need it to grow.

The good thing is that this feeling kills the souls of those who don't have what it takes to stand up week after week - those with no resolve. The bad thing is... well, that could be you or me.

And so here we are.

The Show Must Go On. We're not canceling the rest of this football season - because not playing isn't in Bo Pelini's profile or job description. It was in Bill Callahan's and Kevin Cosgrove's contracts but those guys are long gone and they got paid very well for FAIL.

The show continues:

- This was a worse ass-kicking than last year's 41-6 loss in Columbia. It was worse because it happened at home, and it was worse because we expected more. In two seasons, Missouri 93, Nebraska 23.

- If you read the series on the spread offense I did with Beergut, you had to realize that we didn't have the athletes to stop Missouri's offense. You knew, as I did, the only way to win this game was to run the ball successfully. We had SEVEN yards at half time. SEVEN. Granted some losses when Ganz didn't just throw the ball away, but SEVEN yards???? Man that stings.

- Missouri may be one of the best offenses in the history of college football. Chase Daniel may be one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. I'm not kidding. The man is so efficient, the offense so crisp and explosive. What do you think, I'm wrong?

- We're still looking for players, guys that want to play football. It's clear from this game that there's plenty of guys who are experienced who still don't understand the defense.

- The offensive line remains a great disappointment. I'm shocked by their inability to run block. Bill Callahan or someone else really effed up their brains and I'm not kidding by that comment.

- I'm still here, and I'm always going to be here because I'm that dumbass who believes the line:

"Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory"

Or when we sing:

There is no place like Nebraska,
Where they're all true blue.
We'll all stick together,
In all kinds of weather,
For dear old Nebraska U!

Romantic to the point of stupidity?

Yeah. ....

But that's what love is.

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I''m still here

"- I’m still here, and I’m always going to be here because I’m that dumbass who believes the line:

“Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory”

Or when we sing:

There is no place like Nebraska,
Where they’re all true blue.
We’ll all stick together,
In all kinds of weather,
For dear old Nebraska U!

Romantic to the point of stupidity?

Yeah. ….

But that’s what love is."

I’m right there with ya, boss.

by Blankman on Oct 5, 2008 12:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Make no mistake

this is the lowpoint, folks. It gets better from here on out. Pellini will spend significant time getting his people in place next season. You’ll start to improve by year’s end. And next season you’ll surprise a lot of people, including a probable win in Columbia that will take the sting off of this.

This is the best Missouri team. Ever. As in, the best team in our history beat the worst team in your history by 35 points. That ain’t bad.

Now of course, I look at Blaine Gabbert and other recruiting trends and think it’s possible we may have established ourselves to where we can at least succeed in cycles. But it’s also entirely possible that “order will be restored” or things will go back to how “God intended” or whatever nonsense you prefer. The fact is that Bo Pellini is a damn good coach who took over a bad football team.

The telling point to me tonight, and I was telling the Nebraska wife this, is when you went for it on fourth down and long when the game was out of reach. That showed that Pellini is raising the bar. There’s no “well, we’ll take the sting off this and just get some points.”

It said, “We’re Nebraska, and we play to win, all four downs for all four quarters.”

That’s a great sign.

Of course, mentioning how you underestimated our talent, coaching, and discipline would also be welcome.

Either way, I’m glad no one was hurt and the game was mostly clean.

I’m also glad that 1978 is now just the year Dire Straits’ first album came out.

See you next year, with Nebraska boy Blaine Gabbert at the helm. Good luck against the South.

Mizzou: Not desperately hanging on to a bygone winning tradition since 1900.

by Ridiculous Matt on Oct 5, 2008 12:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

mentions

Of course, mentioning how you underestimated our talent, coaching, and discipline would also be welcome.

This is besides the classy compliments of Corn Blight, of course.

Mizzou: Not desperately hanging on to a bygone winning tradition since 1900.

by Ridiculous Matt on Oct 5, 2008 12:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont

think we underestimated yours as much as we (or at least I ) overestimated ours. We knew you had a termendous offense and that it would be a chore to stop them 2 or 3 times last night but I thought the O would play better for us. We did what we wanted to do until Joe held onto the ball trying to make a big play and got sacked. That seemed to suck the life out of the NU offense and breath it right into the MU d. The play that ended the game IMO.

good luck the rest of the year and just so you know I will be rooting for you when you take on Texas.

But you are still not our rival….LOL

by taflorom on Oct 5, 2008 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah

and I will be the one singing out of tune, but I will be singing. In fact have been teaching it to my grandkids this morning. They are 4 and have learned to whistle so have been trying to teach them how to whistle it and have found if they know the words they can do better whistling the song so……

I will also be the one who is telling you why I think we will win the next game and the one after that and the one after that etc……besides the fact…… it is the way “god intended”. LOL. Yeah that may have been just a touch over the top heh? Oh well on to Texas Tech.

by taflorom on Oct 5, 2008 11:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Bill Callahan?

The offensive line was better last year….seriously….they have regressed. How can you lay that at the feet of Callahan considering he has been gone 10 mos now?

The questions with the offense need to begin and end with the struggling offensive line….Barney, I am looking at you.

by Husker_Engineer on Oct 9, 2008 8:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs