"I love it when fans start questioning your program,'' (Nebraska coach Doc) Sadler said. "That means people are following it and are interested in it. And that's a positive.
"I wish we had 13,000 people here today saying I can't coach because that means we'd have had 13,000 here.''
Those comments from a Lee Barfknecht story in the Omaha World-Herald show insight and maturity from the Huskers' coach. Sadler knows when people are quiet they have given up caring. Sadler wants a passionate legion and he knows if he can turn that combine around up Lincoln way then hey, those loud voices will then be in his corner and become his biggest allies.
For some reason, I don't think the Buffs' Ricardo Patton has ever looked at it that way.
Nebraska kept talking in that Barfknecht story, though, which while deliciously honest, maybe wasn't too intelligent. Talking about Richard Roby's sickly performance, guard Charles Richardson, Jr. spoke his mind.
“We knew that he takes crazy shots, and that if we get him to force up shots, we’d be in good shape,” Richardson said in a Brian Rosenthal article on HukerExtra.com.
The book is out and the reviews aren't pretty. CU is being looked at like a joke, even its' best player, no matter the pre-game fluffing that often takes place in the newspapers.
The win over Iowa State last week was the Buffs' taking advantage of what will prove minimal opportunities for Big-12 victories this season. That was an accomplishment. Last Saturday against Nebraska was another golden moment to cash in with a victory, even if it was in Lincoln. Getting run out of the gym in the first half like some junior varsity team was nothing short of humiliating and shocking. To the Huskers? That wasn't a top-25 team or the cream of the conference. That was, at best, a middle-of-the-road group, and likely, a cellar rat alongside CU.
That player and team development is not evident, that accountability seems entirely lacking, that leadership seems in denial is quite a recipe. For what, well, we're seeing for what, but what we are also learning is that falling on the sword due to financial constraints is one painful experience. You can take one thing to the bank, though -- CU is highly likely to be much more careful with loyalty and future contracts to avoid a repeat of such public and national embarrassment.
This school, lately, from football "scandal" to Patton's crash has seen finer hours.
Fallout costly
Coaching changes oftentimes bring player "casualties."
Oklahoma found that out when Kelvin Sampson ditched Norman for the Indiana job, costing the Sooners some fine pieces.
Yes, new coach Jeff Capel has done a fine early job keeping OU competitive but what he could have done with Damion James (Texas), Scottie Reynolds (Villanova) and Jeremy Mayfield (UAB).
James has been a worthy contributor so far with his impressive rebounding and could one day become an honors' candidate, Reynolds just lit up UT last weekend and has been one of the nation's hottest freshman, lately (21.6 points per game over his last five contests) while Mayfield has displayed potential as a rebounder.
Capel has done what is necessary, by all appearances, replacing Sampson and should be able to recruit talent but uncertainty is a significant factor in a player's decision to attend a school, as OU discovered.
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