Reflecting on Tommie Frazier's Call to Fire Bo Pelini

I have a lot of respect for Tommie Frazier. Arguably the greatest quarterback to ever play college football, he set the standard for the greatest five year run in college football history. When he was twice snubbed for the College Football Hall of Fame, I was incensed, to say the least. The man has earned the respect of every Nebraska football fan, because his accomplishments demand respect.

So when Tommie Frazier makes the call to replace the entire defensive coaching staff at Nebraska, including the head coach, we should take notice and take that call seriously.

After letting it sink in for about 4 hours I still struggling. It's time to get rid of the defensive play caller, the Dc, lb dl and db coaches. I hate saying this but this crap is getting old. How in the hell do you not make adjustments or put your players in the position to compete? If this is what is going to happen for the remainder of the season, count me out. I don't care if we lose a game but the way we are losing is just not what #Nebraska fans deserve. I have fought, bled, and cried over this program. I didn't do all that for the program to become what it has today. Time for change! I will comment about the offense this week on Tommie's X's and O's. Trust me you don't want to miss it. #Huskers

Calls to fire Nebraska football coaches are nothing new. Former linebackers coach John Melton loved to joke about signing a petition to get himself fired. Fans called for Bill Callahan and Frank Solich to be fired. Some even called for legendary coach Tom Osborne to be fired.

I understand Tommie Frazier's frustration. The continual string of big game losses, of looking outmatched and getting embarrassed is frustrating. I've lived through a bunch of embarrassing losses over the years. Probably one of the most embarrassing was in 1992. I was there, as was Jon. Nebraska couldn't do a darn thing right that day, and somehow hapless Iowa State pulled off the 19-10 upset.

Why do I bring that up? Like the 1992 Huskers, the 2013 Huskers are having to depend on a freshman to play a key role. Actually, several freshmen on the Husker defense: defensive end Avery Moss, defensive tackle Vincent Valentine, and linebackers Josh Banderas, Nathan Gerry, and Michael Rose.

Some of those freshmen made some great plays early in the game against UCLA. Banderas had 11 tackles, Moss had eight (including three for a loss), and Gerry had seven. But they had their fair share of mistakes too. That's what happens when you play freshmen. Even freshmen like Tommie Frazier.

Frazier is frustrated. All Husker fans are frustrated. Frazier may be right. Nebraska may need to fire Bo Pelini at the end of this season. But it's a little premature to call for a defensive staff overhaul when the defense is using so many freshmen. Frazier experienced that situation first hand. He grew from it.

Let's see if these freshmen on defense grow from this as well. There's still a lot of football to play this season.