While watching the Michigan State/Nebraska game on Saturday afternoon, I really started to wonder if announcer Sean McDonough has a man-crush on Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini. In the rather dominating performance by Michigan State, McDonough seemed to constantly be singing Pelini's praises, even going so far as to say any person would be "crazy" to want Pelini fired. He even defended the coach's f**k-you-fans rant which was released earlier this season.
Being from Nebraska myself, and talking to many Huskers fans, I can say a majority aren't pleased with the team's performance or Pelini's antics. The coach may have won 9 games every season he's coached in Lincoln, and may very well be on his way to another 9-win season this year, but even with that seemingly impressive number, the resume is lacking upon closer inspection.
In 2008, Nebraska defeated the likes of: Western Michigan, San Jose State, New Mexico State, Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Colorado, and Clemson, while losing to: Virginia Tech at home, Missouri by 35, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma by 34.
In 2009, NU defeated: Florida Atlantic, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Missouri, Baylor, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kansas State, Colorado, and Arizona, while losing to: Virginia Tech, Texas Tech by 21, Iowa State (yes, Iowa State), and Texas.
In 2010, the Huskers beat: Western Kentucky, Idaho, Washington, South Dakota State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Iowa State, Kansas, and Colorado, while losing to: Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Washington (in the Holiday Bowl).
In 2011, the Cornhuskers defeated: Chattanooga, Fresno State, Washington, Wyoming, Ohio State, Minnesota, Michigan State, Penn State, and Iowa, while losing to: Wisconsin by 31, Northwestern, Michigan by 28, and South Carolina by 17.
In 2012, Pelini's squad beat: Southern Mississippi, Arkansas State, Idaho State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Minnesota, and Iowa, while losing to: UCLA, Ohio State by 25, Wisconsin by 39, and Georgia by 14.
Finally, this year, Nebraska has defeated: Wyoming (by 3), Southern Mississippi, South Dakota State, Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern (by 3 on a last-second hail mary), and Michigan, while losing to: UCLA by 20, Minnesota by 11, and Michigan State by 13.
Notice any trends here? Under Pelini, the Cornhuskers beat a lot of nobody's out-of-conference, tend to win the conference games they're supposed to win, but when facing a decent non-conference or in-conference opponent, the odds are less than 50-50 they'll come away with the victory. They're 3-3 against the Pac-12, 1-2 versus the ACC, and 0-2 when facing SEC opponents for a combined 4-7 record against major non-conference teams. Also, ever since standout defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh graduated after the 2009 season, Nebraska has lost nine games by 11 points or more, including five by 20 points or more, and a pair by 31 points or more. While, in his sixth season, Pelini has helped to stabilize the program following the disaster that was Bill Callahan, it seems Nebraska will need to make a change if they want to take that next step and challenge Ohio State atop the Big Ten conference. Also, that constantly-yelling-at-players-coaches-and-refs sideline shtick of his has gotten mighty old and embarrassing. He yells more in one half of a game than Tom Osborne yelled during his entire tenure at the university. Even lead singers of death metal bands are saying, "Dam* that dude yells a lot."
In conclusion, Mr. McDonough, yes, I must be one of those "crazy" ones...
Comments
Post a Comment