Setting Expectations: Are You A Big Red Kool-Aid Drinker Or Not?
by Jon Johnston on Aug 26, 2011 7:36 AM CDT
in 2011 Nebraska Huskers Football
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PrintThere's a little over a week before Nebraska plays its first game of the 2011 season against the Chattanooga Mocs. This year, probably more than any other I can remember, we enter the season knowing so very little about our football team.
Think about that for a minute.
If there's been one incredibly well kept secret, it's the offense. We know who the starting quarterback is, the starting running back, and one of the starters at receiver, but other than that - pretty much zip. We know next to nothing about what our offense will look like or whether they'll favor the run a lot more than the pass. We can guess, of course, but that's all it is, a guess.
The defense is a little easier, although there's this mystery about whether the Blackshirts will abandon the "peso" formation that was so much the rage last year in favor of the base 4-3 defense to bring more bulk against those Big Ten offenses.
Even the media guys who are supposed to have access don't know much more than you or I.
Keep in mind that Husker practices are closed to the media, so when you're reading articles talking about how great this player is doing or that player is doing, that information is coming from the coaches and players, not from any visible observation done by media members.
What we end up with for media coverage are "sunshine pumpers" and "glory story " articles talking about how great the new set of freshman running backs look, how this previously unknown player is making great strides despite no real experience (about half our offensive line), or how our second-year starting quarterback has matured over the offseason and become a leader.
This isn't meant to be a shot at the regular media guys - don't take it that way. They have a job to do, and they still have to write stories no matter what information they end up with.
The end result is that we, as Husker fans, end up with an incredibly skewed perception of our football team. I think most of us know that, but whether we like it or not, we drink the kool-aid - there is no choice - it's only oasis available. The alternative is being stuck striking up conversations about whether or not Nebraska would look good in black uniforms (hint, really not a good alternative, ever).
This skewed perception bothers me because I believe it does more harm than good. More on that in a minute.
It goes against my nature. I'm not in sales, but I sometimes do project management, and I believe firmly in the "promise low, deliver high" method of doing business. In other words, set expectations low (although not so low you get shot on the spot) and then vastly exceed those expectations when you deliver.
First, it makes people feel better about you when you do more or better than you said you would. Second, you look like a miracle worker. And third (and most important), if you set expectations high and fail to meet them, people have a habit of blaming you and not themselves for having believed you in the first place.
That last line is why I believe the preseason sugar is harmful. It sets expectations way too high.
If you're a kool-aid drinker and you enjoy drinking the kool-aid, that's fine. I'm not trying to dump on you either. I understand that you're trying to get pumped about another Husker football season, one that could be the most exciting of your life as you become a fan in an entirely new setting.
What I'd like to know, though, is how you approach the season. Do you find yourself being swept away with the idea that Taylor Martinez is going to be the Husker best quarterback ever, Jamal Turner the best freshman receiver in the nation, and the trio of Ameer Abdullah, Aaron Green, and Braylon Heard the next coming of the greatest running backs in Nebraska history?
Is it how you pump yourself up for the season?
Or are you more like me, in that you try like hell to temper your expectations in order than you not get too excited and therefore disappointed if the season doesn't turn out as well as you'd like?
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Not drinking the Koolaid
Between a possibly disastrous special teams and the perennial letdown on the offensive side of the ball (offensive line, I’m looking at you), there is no way in hell they finish the season in the top ten.
I do see the defense living up to expectations (exception being at Camp Randall) and think they can pull off a 9 win season in the big ten, though.
Kool-aid is delicious!
Okay, I’m admittedly a realist, but I look at the B1G slate, and still think we have an okay schedule. Outside of the Madison game, is there a game on the slate where we won’t be favored? I know we drew OSU, Penn State, and Wisconsin as crossovers, but that’s not all that bad. We get OSU at home, and even if we lose at PSU and Wisconsin, our only difficult road game from there is Michigan who I’m not buying into.
Anyhow, as for drinking the Kool-aid, why is it so bad? I have been in the position of managing expectations and understand sell low, deliver high. Still, that’s in the real world. This isn’t exactly the real world. I truly believe that a team needs some hype to live up to. Part of the Nebraska experience (similar to the Cubs experience, Buffalo Bills experience, and every other team I seem to follow), is the fun of believing we’re good with no evidence. Before Billy C. came along, we always believed we could beat everyone, every year. I’m excited that we’re finally getting back to those expectations.
Always check the words with the red squiggly line. They mean you probably screwed up.
Great article, Jon.
I will happily accept Nebraska as a top ten team when it manages to play like one for the entire season. We got embarrassed at the end of last year. It was the first time since Pelini came on board that we lost forward momentum as a program. It makes me nervous. I see absolutely no reason why we should be in the preseason top ten… not after losing to a horrible Texas team, and failing to have any notable offensive production in 3 of our last 4 games.
I desperately want Nebraska to succeed, but I am on the same page as you, Jon. Let’s be happy with a top ten ranking at the END of the season because we earned it, not t the START of the season because we have a good name brand and some buzz word like “potential.”
Good Call, Jon
I’m not in sales, but I sometimes do project management, and I believe firmly in the “promise low, deliver high” method of doing business. In other words, set expectations low (although not so low you get shot on the spot) and then vastly exceed those expectations when you deliver.
“Promise low, deliver high” worked very well for Coach Osborne back in the day. At the start of the 1995 season I remember T.O. saying something to the effect of ‘well, we got a chance to be pretty good.’
Paddle faster, I hear banjos!!
But don't forget about the defense...
I just think our defense will be too good this year to not win 9-10 games. It could end up being a lot like the 2009 season, where all we needed was our offense to not make stupid mistakes and we could have pretty easily been 13-1. In the second half of last season it was pretty much the same way. I am still blaming Shawn Watson for our offense’s ineptness in the past two seasons, and he’s not here anymore.
Something about Tim Beck tells me he will be a better OC. Maybe it’s the fact that he hasn’t said things like “Taylor Martinez is as polished a passer as I’ve ever seen.” Really, Shawn? You’ve been coaching for how long?
Basically, I think that this year the coaching staff will have T-magic hand the ball off to Rex about 30 times a game and keep it pretty simple to minimize mistakes. Our defense should be able to keep us in every game. We had some bad breaks in 2009 and finished 10-4, and if the ball bounces the right way a few times this season, we could have a similar strategy and finish 12-2 or better.
But the only flaw in that reasoning is…we don’t have Alex Henerey anymore. Whoever replaces him needs to be good. Especially in the punting game if we have a conservative offense.
You just made a key point
But the only flaw in that reasoning is…we don’t have Alex Henerey anymore
He was our point man. With our inept offense, who is going to step in to cash i on our failed/stalled drives (which we all know are all too inevitable this coming season), and keep us in the games?
Our defense my hold opponents to 10-15 pts per game, as usual, but I think some of you are seriously underestimating the likelihood Nebraska will be unable to win the close games.
Sure, they’ll beat the Chatanooga fucking Mocs, but don’t think for one second ol’ “deer in the headlights” Martinez and the rest of the stale offensive line won’t find a way to lose a handful of games – 2010 Texas style.
From reading this blog, all I see is a bunch of overpromising. No wonder they think we’re a bunch of homers on OTE.
Sure, there's reason to be negative
But there are just as many reasons to be positive about the offense.
First reason, Rex Burkhead. The guy doesn’t have break-away speed, but he breaks tackles like a boss. He also doesn’t fumble, and that cannot be stated enough. Give him the ball 30 times a game, and we should have no problem scoring at least 10-15 points.
Second reason, no more Shawn Watson. This also cannot be stated enough as it effects everything on offense. “Deer in the headlights” Martinez was a product of Shawn Watson forcing a redshirt freshman to stand in the pocket like a pro style QB and throw to receivers who were more worried about running the route correctly than catching the ball. Receivers who were matched up against defenders that knew if it was 3rd and 5, they were running a slant route over the middle because Watson’s play calling was so predictable.
Third reason, Taylor Martinez isn’t a freshman. That’s a lot more important than people think. When was the last time we had a freshman QB? I think it was Eric Crouch, and he didn’t take over until halfway through the season. We went 9-4 that year, making it easily the worst season with Crouch at QB. As long as Beck doesn’t try to turn him into something he’s not/and or do zone read every third play when the other team can clearly defend it…we should see a much more consistent Martinez this season.
Fourth reason, two offensive line coaches. Clearly Barney Cotton wasn’t doing a great job by himself with the O-line. Now he has help. Also, the blocking scheme is likely to not be as complex this season. I think an O-line performs at it’s best when they just line up and hit somebody and not have to think about a million different things before doing so. Sure, there isn’t a lot of experience there…but there is definitely talent, so it’s on the coaching and the scheme to bring that talent out, and I think this season they will.
I Admire Your Optimism, But...
Rex ain’t the answer – that one dimensional approach will get shut down in a hurry. It worked great when having him in the Wildcat was a big surprise, but it was much less effective as the season wore on.
No more Shawn Watson is probably your best shot. His “Stop doing what works and let’s try something else” play calling was maddening, and a positive gift for the other teams. Hopefully Beck didn’t take that page from Watsons playbook, but he remains essentially a rookie offensive play caller.
Sure, Martinez isn’t a freshman anymore, but he had a LONG way to go in every area other than tucking and running like lightning, but we all saw how Texas sussed that out and shut it down. So if he has made those enormous strides, yeehaw! It’ll be fun to watch…at least, until he gets dinged up. That’s where your Eric Crouch comparison falls all apart.
So Barney has a helper? Big deal. All the things the O line has been lacking (fire, determination, will to dominate, killer instinct) are things adding another assistant aren’t going to help. Maybe the technique will go up a notch because they have more opportunity to be coached, but I really can’t get excited until I see how they stack up against Wisconsin or Ohio State. If they stand up to those boys, then I’ll drink the kool aid that all Barney needed was more time with the guys.
"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"
by UltimaRatioRegum on Aug 26, 2011 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions
from a Texan
I watched Rex in high school and would love to see him in red and black (I’m a red raider).
Rex may not have too many 50 yard scampers….but he is the perfect back for pelini’s offense where you know he is going to run at certain times.
The kid is a beast….he will have one hell of a year
"Trust your gut....mine always finds good Mexican food"
-Me
by oldschoolraider on Aug 27, 2011 11:03 AM CDT via iPhone app up reply actions
We Are Indeed Lucky To Have Him
How did Texas Tech, ATM, and the other Texas schools let him get away?
"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"
by UltimaRatioRegum on Aug 27, 2011 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions
well
ATM…they are aggies and they screw everything up. UT’s arrogance probably got in their way. Tech was running air raid and that didnt appeal to Rex. Really happy he’s there and I can’t give him enough props.
"Trust your gut....mine always finds good Mexican food"
-Me
by oldschoolraider on Aug 28, 2011 10:46 PM CDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Texas probably already promised another running back that they wouldn't take another.
I hear they do that.
We have five "National Championships"? Can we try and win the conference first?
by Salt Creek and Stadium on Aug 29, 2011 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions
I dunno if we are that different than other fanbases in this regard....
We are all guilty of it. Hell, just look at BHGP at the start of last year, 90% of them thought they were going to the NC game after a season of insane luck with inconsistent play by Stanzi.
But you are right, the pumping of sunshine does get old. Still remember the theme of pre-1996 season “sure we lost Fraizer, but Frost is soo intelligent”. For the first 5 games of the year, he poor decision-making ability was the biggest problem on the team. Or its 2 years ago with “this Lee guy has a gun for an arm”. Ummm no.
Its always something.
Google's homepage celebrates too much shit.
Yeah, The Huge Gap
…between preseason hype and on field performance of past years has pretty much busted my sunshine pump. I mean, I think the team will be very good, and I think they’ll respond well to the changes and new personnel, but I don’t buy a top ten ranking with how we finished last year. The end of 2009 was SO different – it felt like an upswing. This year? Meh.
"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"
by UltimaRatioRegum on Aug 26, 2011 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Not trying to make trouble
But am i the only one who cringes at the term “T-Magic”?
Yeah
Even last year, after a few individuals here (whom I will allow to go nameless because I’m nice like that) started the “T-Magic for Heisman” nonsense, the general consensus has been that te nickname blows donkey testicles.
If anything, T-Magic could have been appropriate in the context of “T-Magic runs with the ball in hand, you see the ball, now you don’t” and the ball is bouncing across the turf.
That's why he's T-Mart at best
I think Husker fans NEED to kill the name T-Magic. It’s a bad nickname. I especially hate that he gave himself the name. As a general rule of thumb, CN does a good job, but I wince whenever I hear it as well.
Always check the words with the red squiggly line. They mean you probably screwed up.
by KennardHusker on Aug 26, 2011 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions
It Works in One Aspect Only (for me)
I maintain that young man is a wizard at disguising hand offs. Half the time I couldn’t tell if he really had given it to Helu or Rex, or had kept it himself when they broke apart. Simply amazing and a joy to watch.
"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"
by UltimaRatioRegum on Aug 26, 2011 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Let's get one thing straight.
In Nebraska, drinking the Kool-Aid is an exercise in state pride.
As Nebraskans, we should be shunning this unfortunate colloquialism that incorrectly associates our official state soft drink with stupid behavior resulting from blind faith.
Let’s practice:
Q: Are you a Big Red Kool-Aid drinker?
R: “Hell yeah!!! Go Huskers!”
Q: Are you a Flavor Aid drinker when it comes to the 2011 Huskers?
R: “While I am optimistic, there are just too many question marks on offense to blah blah blah.”
by Trey Hillman's Chin on Aug 26, 2011 9:53 AM CDT reply actions
I’m an optimistic fan by nature. I do consider all the things that could go wrong, but in most cases I believe things will turn out all right.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
I'm worried
Limited depth at QB and RB, Questionable O-Line (is this the last chance for Cotton as O-Line coach?), plus lots of running the football.
Yeah no way this won’t end badly.
You can't possibly be a scientist if you mind people thinking that you're a fool.
~Wanko the Sane
Big Red Kool-aid Drinker @ Corn Nation
Stagger, Sip, Sip, Stagger, Stagger, Fall Down
I drank so many jugs of Big Red Koolaide that my lips are permanently stained RED. I am so excited about this year. I now live in the B1G’s backyard. I am 45 minutes from Bloomington, 3 hrs from Columbus, 5 hours from Ann Arbor, man I can not wait. I was there for the Red Out in Notre Dame. I was there when we got killed in Happy Valley. I will be in the rest of the B1G’s stadiums to support our Huskers. I have studied our recruits, have heard reports. Like the article, I know very little about our team. That is okay though, we need secrecy when putting something special together. Every year I have high hopes of a National Championship run and every year I have some disappointment. That is also okay. I can’t honestly except them to win it every year, but I expect them to be extremely competitive every year. We are Nebraska and expect nothing less. Good Luck to our Husker in 2011, Play hard, stay healthy and WIN…. Go Big Red !!!!
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