Friday Flakes: Nebraska Football Cynicism is Justified but Is It Costing Fans the Season in Front of Them?
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Chris Williamson’s newsletter (Modern Wisdom Podcast) this past Monday seemed particularly timely and is relevant to what I have been hearing and reading from those covering Nebraska football as well as the Husker fans themselves. Here is the quote from Chris’s newsletter on Cynicism:
“Cynicism in relationships is a defence against heartbreak and betrayal, and it’s very effective at that. The trouble is when you get so good at it that you accidentally defend yourself from ever falling in love.” — Mark Ryan
Cynicism is a guarded response which sets yourself up against disappointment.
Its role within the system is to protect you against experiencing anything bad.It is a pre-emptive strike against a perceived threat. If I tell myself that ‘all women are bad’, then I’m less likely to seek a relationship and, as a consequence, I’m never going to feel the pain of rejection.
If I tell myself that ‘everything is shit’ or that ‘things will never get better’, then I am excused of ever having to try at anything. It’s more comfortable to get fatalistic and call it pragmatism. The cope is framing hope as pathetic and embarrassing and optimism as delusion. The upside of never trying is never having to feel the pain of failure. And it’s a devil’s bargain.
The relationship that is relevant here is obviously between the Nebraska football program and its fans.
We all agree that it has been a particularly rough road for Nebraska football fans over the past decade and more.
What I am particularly getting tired of at this point is the cynicism. It is stopping us from enjoying what could be happening right in front of us.
Coming into the season I predicted 7-5. That was based off of a particularly difficult schedule and a lot of unknowns. There was a part of me that felt 7-5 was actually optimistic. A few months prior I was actually thinking 6-6.
Fast forward to today and I am feeling even better about this season. The offense and defense are both better than I predicted. This team as a whole appears to have a level of confidence and swagger that I do not know I’ve seen since the Bo Pelini era.
Through four games this team has done something that no Nebraska football team has done since maybe 2016. Depending on your stance they likely have either met expectations or exceeded them. Did any of the Scott Frost teams meet expectations? No.
Nebraska has a quarterback that is grading out as one of the top quarterbacks, not only in the Big Ten, but in the entire country. He hasn’t turned the ball over (except for that interception) and the defense looks fast and confident.
I can already hear what you are going to say.
“But they haven’t played anybody.”
“Michigan State isn’t any good. They lost their best running back to an injury. They had 13 players get injured.”
Nebraska lost it’s best running back to an injury as well as well as one of it’s best wide receivers in the same game. Matt Rhule and Co. went into Ann Arbor favored by 4.5 points and won by 18.
You should never apologize for going on the road against a Big Ten opponent and winning.
But as Nebraska fans we have to be cynical.
Maryland comes to town tomorrow and the Huskers are favored by 14.5 points. If Nebraska handles business (which is might not) and wins 45-30, we already know what we are going to hear.
“Maryland isn’t any good. They only scored 3 against UCLA and then they come in and score 30 against our defense.”
But lets not stop there. The following week Indiana (currently ranked sixth) comes to Lincoln. I am not calling for a Nebraska win but just for this example let’s say the Huskers beat Indiana. I can already guess what would happen.
“Indiana isn’t as good as they were last year. They haven’t played anybody. Three cupcakes, Northwestern and Rutgers.”
Now I hope that we get to find out if I am right. I hope Nebraska beats Maryland and Indiana so we can test the cynicism of the Nebraska fan base.
If Nebraska takes care of Maryland like I expect them to, then I plan on simply enjoying it. We only get 12 of these a year.
SPORTS! SPORTS! JORTS! SPORTS! SPORTS!
The 3-2-1: Vince Genatone’s walk-on story, Nebraska’s big opportunity and the playoff’s next expansion
Vince Genatone’s walk-on story, Nebraska’s Maryland opportunity, CFP expansion talk and a big prediction for Mekhi Nelson.
We hit on that and more in this week’s 3-2-1 column with the latest insights, key questions, and one bold prediction.
Nebraska availability report: Jamal Rule doubtful, Jacory Barney questionable
Nebraska could be without one of its top offensive weapons Saturday against Maryland, as running back Jamal Rule is listed as doubtful on the Huskers’ latest availability report.
Rule has emerged as a major piece of Nebraska’s offense early this season. His status will be one to watch leading into kickoff, especially after the freshman’s strong start through the first month of the year. A new availability report will be published Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Husker defensive ends coach Roy Manning on the radio: ‘Are we in the paint? Or aren’t we in the paint?’
The sacks have been piling up. Above all, Roy Manning wants his guys living in the paint. Stop the run first. Then get after the guy holding the brush.
The Huskers had 22 sacks last season.
They have 15 so far in four games. Not a bad start on that front.
“STICK TO SPORTS!” Nah.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos