Anticipation Story
Years ago when Mrs. Husker Dan and I lived in southern California, we decided to take a road trip to visit some friends in northern California.
As we headed north on the Golden State Freeway, we noticed a big orange billboard with large black letters that read:
TIP TOE INN
200 MILES AHEAD!
Farther up the road we noticed another sign.
TIP TOE INN
150 MILES AHEAD!
And later, another one said that the inn was 100 miles out. Then there was one every 25 miles. When it got under 10 miles, there were orange billboards every mile. This place must be incredible. We couldn’t wait to see it.
Finally, the sign said:
TIP TOE INN
NEXT EXIT!
We took the turnoff and, sure enough, there was the big orange TIP TOE INN sign atop a building. So I pulled into the parking lot, looked all around and noticed there were no other cars to be found anywhere.
Then we noticed the front door was boarded up. There was a big sign on it that said: Closed.
We looked at each other for a few seconds and then said. “It looks like everybody tip-toed out!”
So why am I taking up space telling you about a silly road trip we took years ago?
Because that’s what Husker football fans have been dealing with for far too many years: a lot of hype and eventual disappointment.
We saw it after Scott Frost was hired in 2018. After 2 losing seasons out of the previous 3 under Mike Riley, Frost was going to restore the Husker football program to its rightful position as a college football powerhouse. After all, didn’t his UCF team did go 13-0 in 2017?
So how did that work out?
Hmmm. Not so good.
Instead of the Huskers getting back onto their former winning ways, Frost’s first year saw the Huskers nosedive to 4-8. But they did manage to win 4 of their last 6 games. So things had to get better in 2019, right?
Nope. The Huskers went 5-7 that year.
Surely 2020 was going to be the turnaround year, right? Husker QB Adrian Martinez was bound to be better his third year as the starter, right? Then COVID hit. The season was shortened. Many Big Ten games were canceled. The Huskers fell to 3-5.
In 2021, Nebraska was finally going to field a team long on talent and experience. Things were finally going to turn around for the Huskers, right?
Hmmm. No.
The Huskers self-destructed their way to a 3-9 season. It matters little that 8 of those losses were by just one possession. The Huskers still lost 9 games.
So what should Husker fans expect this fall?
The Experiment
As most Husker fans know, Husker A.D. Trev Alberts met with Husker head coach Scott Frost in the middle of last year’s season. One of the results of that meeting was that 4 offensive assistants were let go. Anotherdefensive coach left for Oregon (Tony Tuioti) leaving Frost with 5 spots to fill.
After the season ended, Frost announced their replacements.
The new coaching positions were RB (Bryan Applewhite), WR (Mickey Joseph), OL (Donovan Raiola) and a new OC, Mark Whipple.
Rounding out the coaching upgrade was Frost’s first full time special teams coach, Bill Busch.
Also new to the program were about 34 new players, including 16 who came from the transfer portal in the off season. Frost has had just 8 months to try to meld the new coaches, new players and new schemes into one united force. The real test begins this Saturday when Nebraska takes on Northwestern in Dublin, Ireland.
New & Improved?
Will the coaching changes Frost made in the offseason be enough to right the Husker football ship? Will the new transfers be able to contribute enough this fall to help the Huskers get back on the winning track? Will the existing Husker players develop into game changers?
The bid question is, was Husker A.D. Trev Alberts’ decision to let Scott Frost coach one more year a wise one? At most places, 4 consecutive losing seasons will get a head coach fired. So will the Frost/Alberts Experiment work?
That’s the $64 question.
Having said that, here’s my take on what Husker fans can expect in terms of wins and losses this fall. My predictions are based on realism, history and a sprinkle of optimism.
The games are listed by what I perceive as probable wins (W), probable losses (L) and toss-up games (T). Note: W’s mean the games are winnable-I’m not saying these are definite wins.
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Note: For an in-depth review, please refer to my recent four-part series about the 12 Husker opponents.
8/27Northwestern in Dublin, Ireland (W) “The Duel In Dublin”
It will be fall-like weather when this game is playhed this Saturday. What a welcome relief from the heatstroke weather Nebraskans have been enduring!
9/3 North Dakota in Lincoln (W)
Will Husker jet lag help the Fighting Hawks?
9/10 Georgia Southern in Lincoln (W)
This game should allow Frost to use a lot of players. Going into the next game against Oklahoma, Nebraska should be sporting a 3-0 record. (We all know what happened last year in Illinois.)
9/17 Oklahoma in Lincoln (T)
This could be a W for the Huskers. The Sooners might be more vulnerable this season because their coaching staff will almost be entirely new. Oklahoma also lost their two best QBs. Sooner WR and AHC, Cale Gundy had to resign earlier this month. This will be Frost’s first chance to show the football world that his team has turned the corner. If NU comes out with a W, anything might be possible for the ’22 Huskers.
BYE WEEK 9/24
10/1 Indiana in Lincoln (W)
Another possible Husker win.
10/7 Friday night game
Will former Husker QB, Noah Vedral play in the game for Rutgers? Huskers should win thIs game.
10/15
Last year, things didn’t go too well for the Huskers in Lincoln. Adrian Martinez tossed 4 INTs sealing the win for the Boilermakers.
BYE WEEK 10/22
10/29 Illinois in Lincoln (W)
Last year, Nebrasks stumbled and bungled their way to an upset loss at Illinois.. Can Frost & Company get a win this time?
11/05 Minnesota in Lincoln (T)
This is another game Nebraska could win. Can Frost, Chinander and Whipple whip up (no pun intended) enough plays to win the game? A victory here would be really sweet. If the Huskers don’t have at least 6 wins going into the last part of the season, Nebraska is going to have a tough time winning any more games. That’s why the Gopher game is going to be hugely important for Nebraska. Why is that? Just look at the last three opponents.
Here’s the real meat of Nebraska’s schedule:
11/12
This game should be a probable loss for the Huskers this fall. Last year’s game showed that Nebraska is capable of playing with the big boys. The question remains: can the Huskers manage to get out of their own way in Ann Arbor?
11/19 Wisconsin in Lincoln (T)
Some of you (and you know who you are) are thinking this game should be listed as an L. That may be true. But I think there is enough talent and experience on this year’s Husker squad to make the game close. Playing the game in Lincoln on Senior Day might get the Huskers over the hump.
11/25 @Iowa The Sod Couple Game
This game may determine Scott Frost’s fate. It also may determine Nebraska’s bowl hopes. Can the Huskers finally beat the Hawkeyes? Is this the win that turns around the Husker football program?
Let’s Be Real
So what do I think the Husker record will be this fall?
If Nebraska can take care of business and win the six games I’ve listed as winnable, that would make the Huskers bowl eligible. But six wins might not be enough for Frost to keep his job. Win just one of the Toss Up games and the Huskers could have a 7-5 season. Anything north of 7 wins should be considered an endorsement of the Frost/Alberts Experiment.
Let’s all hope the Husker football program can tip toe in to at least a bowl game.
How Bout Them Huskers
Master Will and I discuss “The Duel In Dublin” in this week’s podcast. We also let you know what we think of the media frenzy that hit Scott Frost over his recent comments about his O-linemen vomiting multiple times during each practice.
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