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Well that’s it. Time to hand in the equipment, sweep the floors and send the kids home. Time to shut off the lights.
For the fourth time in the past four seasons Nebraska lost to Iowa. The prior coaching staff made it easy for Iowa. This coaching staff appears to of at least changed that fact.
In the not too distant future these games on Black Friday will continue to be hard-nosed competitive games. At some point, the expectation is that the coaching staff will be able to shore up some of the deficiencies on the defensive side of the ball.
At least we hope so. We have had faith in past coaching staffs as well. We felt they had the ability to recruit enough to fix one side of the ball or another. Hopefully it rings true for Scott Frost. We will see.
Until then we can at least rely on Kirk Ferentz to make questionable coaching decisions. The fake field goal felt to me like it was a personal. He had his boot on Nebraska’s throat and he wanted to crush it. The sound decision was to kick the field goal. It would have also made it a three score game. It didn’t work. Ferentz gave Nebraska new life.
Then there is the decision for Iowa to go for it on fourth down. It could have been disastrous for Iowa.
The result of Ferentz’s decision to go for it on fourth down ended up winning Iowa the game. If Nebraska wouldn’t have played 15-20 yards off the line of scrimmage on a 4th and 8, then that conversion would not have been so easy. It is very likely it would have failed.
After the game, Scott Frost said as much. “I think we had the right defense. Kind of gave a little too much ground at one spot. On a zero blitz we let the ball get completed in front of us which isn’t what we want them to do. Great play by them. It was the difference.”
So it was a mental error which gave Iowa the win. It wasn’t a coaching decision that won them the game.
We need to remind ourselves of the fact that whether a decision is the right decision remains so regardless of the result.
And the decision by Ferentz to go for the fake field goal and go for it on the fourth down were both bad decisions. Nebraska fans should thank him for that.
In the end the difference was the Iowa offensive line against the Nebraska front seven. The Nebraska front seven was dominated all day long. On the bright side, they did not give up and that is a credit to Frost. They would have given up last year and we saw that from the first snap in 2017 against Iowa.
So it will be up to Nebraska’s Strength and Conditioning Coach Zach Duval to do his job and turn the obvious gap in size and strength into an advantage for the Nebraska defensive line.
After handing in the equipment and sending the kids home for the season, it won’t be long until they will have to head back to north stadium. It will be time to put in the work, but first Coach Duval will have to turn the lights back on. Iowa and the rest of the Big Ten will be waiting.
The Difference Between Nebraska and Iowa at the End of 2018 | Hail Varsity - Brandon Vogel
Scott Frost’s first season at Nebraska ended up the same as Mike Riley’s last season at Nebraska –– 4-8. That’s where the similarities end.
A 31-28 loss to Iowa on the last play of the game won’t change that. It may hurt like hell for Husker fans, sure. The Hawkeyes have now won four straight in this series and hold bragging rights for another year. They did it by playing Iowa football, which should feel even worse, but in the near future Nebraska football will be where most expect it to be.
And Iowa football will be?
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Competitors, real competitors, tire of pats on the back after losses.
They tire of hearing praise about their close-call defeats. Let's be real: That stuff is mostly for people who don't compete in anything of consequence.
Losses suck. Sorry about the language. But we must make that clear as we begin to ponder Nebraska's 4-8 finish to this football season.
Huskers 'One Play Away From Being a Great Team' Many Times in 2018 | Hail Varsity - Erin Sorensen
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Senior running back Devine Ozigbo didn’t hesitate. He had just been asked about how close Nebraska was to winning in the 31-28 loss to Iowa, and what the Huskers need to do to close that gap going forward.
“Get the ball back one more time,” Ozigbo said.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Stanley Morgan admits his receiving records at Nebraska may not collect any dust.
But there's something that no Husker going forward will be able to take away from the Nebraska senior wide receiver.
Morgan was the first.
Playing in his final collegiate game, Morgan became the first Husker to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He finished with seven catches for 81 yards Friday in a 31-28 loss to Iowa.
Iowa Hawkeyes 31, Nebraska Cornhuskers 28: Walk Off - Black Heart Gold Pants
IOWA WINS! IOWA WINS! HOLY SHIT WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST WATCH IT WAS LIKE WE DIDNT WANT TO WIN AND THEN WE DID WANT TO WIN AND THEN WE DID WIN.
Play the damn polka!
Iowa beats Nebraska 31-28 with field goal at final whistle - Chicago Tribune
Miguel Recinos drilled a 41-yard field goal through a driving rain as time expired and Iowa beat Nebraska 31-28 on Friday despite blowing a 15-point lead.
Mekhi Sargent ran for a career-high 173 yards and scored twice for the Hawkeyes (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten), who have won four straight over the Cornhuskers for the first time.
The Hawkeyes nearly blew this one big time though.
Returning Huskers determined to build off 2018 finish - Husker 24/7 - Brian Christopherson
IOWA CITY, Iowa– It was back in Michigan two months ago that Scott Frost issued what amounted to a public challenge to his team. He told them, and the media and fans, that the 56-10 beatdown they had just suffered was the bottom.
“To our kids’ credit, they swam like hell to the surface and just kept improving,” Frost said Friday.
After Nebraska's 32-28 defeat to Iowa, the Husker head coach had put forth another challenge to his team.
Frost told the seniors how much he appreciated them. And the rest? “I told the young guys in the locker room it’s time to get back to work."
Martinez's development key to Husker optimism - Husker 24/7 - Michael Bruntz
IOWA CITY, Iowa — There was a chess match taking place in the second half of Nebraska’s game with Iowa on Friday, and head coach Scott Frost felt like he had a key piece.
Nebraska’s offense would run a concept, then Iowa’s defense countered, forcing Nebraska to another approach. Frost said after the game that he enjoys that kind of back and forth between coaching staffs, but it helps when you have a quarterback who can play along too. That, Frost said, has been the biggest improvement of Adrian Martinez from game one to game 12 this season.
Morgan sets new record, sad to see season end - Huskers 24/7 - Mike Schaefer
Stanley Morgan hugged teammates as he left the field at Kinnick Stadium. Nebraska’s all-time leading receiver and the first Cornhusker to ever go over 1,000 yards knew his career was over.
Morgan, despite setting records at Nebraska, only got to play in two bowl games and finished on three teams with losing records.
Still, Morgan wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything. The senior, who holds a piece of Huskers history, said that he wished he could change the outcome but he appreciated the fight of the guys on the team.
Huskers know they need to keep getting stronger - Husker 24/7 - Brian Christopherson
IOWA CITY, Iowa– Everyone knew this was going to be a test of strength for Husker football.
Scott Frost didn't mask it from his team at all just before his team took the field at Kinnick Stadium on Friday. Folks can say what they will about the Iowa Hawkeyes, but you're going to get a dose of 'country strong' when you face them. And you better be able to move mass too.
I Think This Is Worth Starting With
An emotional day for #Huskers LB Luke Gifford, who's played his last game at Nebraska. pic.twitter.com/eAcC4k8wA2
— Adam Krueger (@AdamKruegerTV) November 23, 2018
Luke Gifford got emotional when talking about the young guys on the team especially Adrian Martinez. Said that he was so thankful for how they embraced the seniors. Also says he would not want to be on a defense playing vs them in the future.
— Mike'l Severe (@MikelSevere) November 23, 2018
Senior LB @luke_gifford wiped away tears as he talked about how bright the future could be for the #Huskers. Wherever this thing goes, you can’t give enough credit to these seniors for their impact on changing the culture of Nebraska football.
— Robin Washut (@RobinWashut) November 23, 2018
It’s hard to watch Nebraska and be anything but optimistic about the future of the program. Adrian Martinez is a gamer, and a 2019 Heisman contender.
— Matt Schick (@ESPN_Schick) November 23, 2018
The Huskers just need a defensive front that can impact the game.
Wanted to see the trajectory of this team by seasons end when deciding if it was a success. Obviously fans wanted more wins but this team was clearly playing better football in the 2nd half of the season. This was a good foundational year. Successful first season under Frost.
— Nick Handley (@NickESPN590) November 23, 2018
Words From Frost
Frost: “Iowa is a bigger, stronger football team right now.” Frost said he thought he’d never say that.
— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) November 23, 2018
Frost: "I heard about how Nebraska quit in some of these games last year, and there was no quit in our guys." #Huskers
— Matt Reynoldson (@MattReynKLKN) November 23, 2018
Frost is really proud of how his team fought. He said what was disturbing is how Iowa is bigger and stronger than his team right now. But he says that can be fixed.
— Brian Christopherson (@Husker247BC) November 23, 2018
Scott Frost on Adrian Martinez: “He’s going to be a lot better next year. There’s just no doubt about it.”
— Parker Gabriel (@HuskerExtraPG) November 23, 2018
Frost: "I told the young guys in the locker room it's time to get back to work." Said there's no doubt about the direction this thing is headed. #Huskers
— Brian Christopherson (@Husker247BC) November 23, 2018
Frost said he was surprised Iowa went for it on 4th and 8 after trying to get them to jump. Said he knew if they didn't make it with 40 seconds they would have gone on to win.
— Mike'l Severe (@MikelSevere) November 23, 2018
Hope the #B1G enjoyed a year without worrying about #Nebraska. Frost has this #Huskers squad growing with each game & is gonna be a problem sooner than later. #NEBvsIOWA
— Michael Grey (@TheMichaelGrey) November 23, 2018
Iowa faked a FG in 3rd qtr when they could’ve gone up three scores. Iowa took deep shots to end zone in 4th qtr when they were running through Nebraska, resulting in missed FG. Hawkeyes fortunate to win despite bad coaching decisions. Quite a game in Iowa City.
— Matt Schick (@ESPN_Schick) November 23, 2018
Wow. Just wow. Gut wrenching loss for the #Huskers and cant say enough about their second half effort. This series is going to be good going forward.
— Nick Handley (@NickESPN590) November 23, 2018
If you’re a Nebraska fan you feel bad and good.
— Steven M. Sipple (@HuskerExtraSip) November 23, 2018
Bad about the loss.
Good about the program’s future.
Got to find some horses on D.
Absolutely brutal. Players walk off the field in the rain hugging and locking arms.
— Christopher Heady (@heady_chris) November 23, 2018
Ok @zduval1 ...ur back up! #GBR #Blackshirts
— Jason Peter (@jasonpeter) November 23, 2018
Enjoy it now hawkeyes. Your gonna soon find out why nobody considers you a rival
— Jared Crick (@JrodVCrick) November 23, 2018
Oh...Stanley Morgan. Congrats on being the first 1,000 yard receiver in the history of Nebraska Football.
I think he should be Rex Burkhead of the receiver position. So important for this program. Great ambassador. Good luck in the NFL Stanley!
To the BEST FANS in college football, Thank You. GBR Baby! pic.twitter.com/qC2RF0kQCk
— $TANLEY MORGAN JR 8 (@Thekidstan) November 24, 2018
Who's the only Husker ever to have over 1000 yards receiving?
— Kelly Mosier (@kmosier42) November 23, 2018
This guy.
What a career. What a time at Nebraska.
Excited to see what's next, @Thekidstan! ✊ pic.twitter.com/hAjrEju4pH
Stanley Morgan on what it means to be Nebraska's first 1,000-yard receiver:
— Evan Bland (@EvanBlandOWH) November 23, 2018
"I've never been the first to do, I don't think, a lot of things. Because I'm a junior. My dad's a senior, so I haven't been the first Stanley Morgan."
Thanks For Reading!
There's a lot riding on this Iowa FG attempt. Including, Kirk Ferentz gets a $500,000 bonus for getting to eight wins.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 23, 2018
That trophy looks heavy anyway
— Faux Pelini (@FauxPelini) November 23, 2018
Pretty dang good answer from Mo Barry when asked about the possibility of being a captain next year. “I’m not trying to be liked. I’m trying to help my teammates be the best they can be to win games and win championships and be there for them.” #Huskers
— Brian Christopherson (@Husker247BC) November 24, 2018