Tom Osborne always said that playing the likes of Oklahoma every year made Nebraska better. It was a source of motivation. Things crashed and burned soon after the Big 12 split North/South and Nebraska only played Oklahoma every other two years.
Oklahoma still had the tejas rivalry as a source of motivation. Nebraska had Missouri, Iowa St, Colorado, Kansas, and Kansas St.
There are no 'likes of Oklahoma' in Purdue, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Northwestern.
Heck, Wisconsin has been more 'traditional Nebraska' than Nebraska themselves.
Going (1-10) against Wisconsin, (4-8) against Iowa, (5-7) against Minnesota, (5-5) against Purdue, (6-6) against Northwestern, and (6-4) against Illinois isn't a talent issue. It's a fundamental issue.
I've always said Nebraska players look like they put in the bare minimums regarding their personal development (i.e. weight room, training table, film room, playbook). There doesn't seem to be any Jr/Sr leadership for the youngins. The program lacks culture. Upper-classmen aren't setting good work ethic and that permeates year-to-year as the under-classmen become upper-classmen themselves.
There's no attention to detail. They don't know how to suck it up and win a close game. Hence the 22 one score losses during Frost's regime.
"Xbox, Little Caesar's Hot & Ready, and Suzy Rottencrotch seem to be their priorities. They're just suiting up for the free ride.
Nebraska's been losing it's best talent out-of-state for years now. Yeah they come on a recruiting visit, but they don't want to be a part of what they see. I don't blame them.
Bringing back former 70s, 80s, 90s, greats a couple times a year for team meeting chats on what it takes to win at a high level is forgotten soon after said former greats leave the room.
"
wE'Ve GoT oUr MiNdS RiGhT tHiS TiMe" - Nebraska press conference
Well, until tomorrow morning anyway.
Scott Frost's inability to win close games, which included 22 one-score losses in just four-plus seasons, was a nightmare no Nebraska fan will soon forget.
www.sportingnews.com
/rant