My Capital One Bowl preview column

[Brasky]

Pretty tough to surprise a Bo Pelini coached defense that's had 3-4 weeks to prepare without you having to go completely away from what has worked for you.

 

[Brasky]

As for any excuse that your DC is absent from the sidelines... So is ours.

 

[Brasky]

Still it's probably different because Bo makes most if not all calls during a game on D.

 

[24seven]

Pretty tough to surprise a Bo Pelini coached defense that's had 3-4 weeks to prepare without you having to go completely away from what has worked for you.

My thought is that maybe the stuff that hasn't worked for us will finally start to work. But I have no real reason to expect that. Just a hunch that the extra practice in this great weather will lead to improvement.

And yeah, our DC is the play-caller on D, and I think that's a huge factor (in that it is our strength). We have some talented guys, but Johnson is really good at doing the right thing at the right time. I have no idea how Ward (the DC fill-in) will do, and that's a little scary.

 

[Brasky]

Such is college football. Coaches leaving before bowl games will never be a good excuse for losing but it's good conversation.

 

[24seven]

Such is college football. Coaches leaving before bowl games will never be a good excuse for losing but it's good conversation.

I consider the coach leaving a factor, not an excuse. If we lose I'll blame it on the referees as an excuse, or maybe a particular play that went wrong.

I wish it was a bigger conversation. Coaches should stay for the whole season, including the bowl. I understand wanting to get started on the new job, but do it while finishing your obligation to the old one.
Of course, I also hate players who leave early. Shows no class.

 

[Brasky]

I consider the coach leaving a factor, not an excuse. If we lose I'll blame it on the referees as an excuse, or maybe a particular play that went wrong.

I wish it was a bigger conversation. Coaches should stay for the whole season, including the bowl. I understand wanting to get started on the new job, but do it while finishing your obligation to the old one.
Of course, I also hate players who leave early. Shows no class.

I don't know. It depends. A lot of guys have struggling family that need help now. You hear about that all the time.

We've never had that problem outside of one or two that left early during the coaching change in '08.

Dennard and Crick both could have left and made some bank. Crick lost money, Dennard made some this year.

Dennard's mom didn't have a job and if she hadn't gotten one when she did he would have left.