As a Bronco Fan living in Nebraska

by Blackshirt4Broncos on Mar 10, 2009 9:05 PM MDT

I can relate to the circus that comes with a storied program’s coaching change.

It is hard enough to accept changes of any sort and especially hard if you think no change is warranted. I would like to commit sociological cardinal sin by drawing a comparison that will lead to a generalization.

Nebraska Nation was thrown upside down when we canned Frank Solich back in 2003 after a 9-win season. Then we welcomed the tornado known as Bill Callahan who was unwilling to adapt to the “Nebraska Way” and tried to install his “own system” to no avail. Last year we welcomed “The Savior” known as Bo Pelini with a HUGE emphasis on DEFENSE.. Instead of installing his own system he consulted with Dr. Tom and brought back the “Nebraska Way” as best he could.

The main point I initially wanted to make was that it is much harder to accept a change when the perception of the program is still a positive, winning one. In my comparison this is the firing of Solich and Shanahan. In both cases, these firings were unexpected but ultimately necessary. Nebraska is definitely back on the right track with Pelini at the helm.

In the spirit of optimism, I think the hiring of McDaniels is exactly what Denver needed in order to avoid a “Callahan Era” in Denver. Two examples shine brightly.

The first is the emphasis on Defense. Both Pelini and McDaniels have made establishing a hard-working defense a priority. There was another post I saw on MHR that showed the records of QB’s records when the opponent scores more than 30 points – enough said. With the offenses Nebraska and Denver have had recently I always say, “if we can just keep them under 30 we have a damned good chance of winning.” The Orange Crush is coming back!

The second example is that despite what a lot posts seem to think, I do not think McDaniels is trying to change the culture in Dove Valley. There is and always has been a “Bronco Way” that is and has been the envy of many other professional programs. (Being optimistic again) I think McDaniels knows this. Do you think Bowlen would let him forget it? He retained Dennison and Turner – the staples of Denver’s running attack and zone blocking. Despite my personal opinion of Nolan as a coach, McDaniels did bring in a DC that has been part of the “Denver Way” in the past. Just as Pelini consulted with Osborne, I hope McDaniels is taking every advantage to pick the brains of those who know the “Bronco Way”. It appears so.

I ended up writing more than I anticipated, so thanks for reading. Opinions are welcomed – do you think the reaction of the fans has anything to do with the perception of a winning or losing program? After Callahan, Nebraska needed a Savior. Does Denver really want things to get worse before they get better so they can have a “Savior” too?

Here’s an optimistic hint: McDaniels might be Denver’s “Savior”. We just don’t know it yet!

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Comments

Great post

Rec’d and thanks for posting. I look forward to seeing more of your insights in the future.

I don’t want breakaway speed. I want break-some-poor-fool-as-I-bowl-you-over power getting 6 yards off a play that should have been stopped for 2 at most.

by sadaraine on Mar 11, 2009 9:18 AM MDT reply actions

i second that

Very nice to hear your voice on this – and Rec’d. Good to see you make the Recommended Fanposts – this is a very worthy piece.

Hillis in '09

by Doc Bear on Mar 11, 2009 9:36 AM MDT reply actions

Nice post, well reasoned.

Good level headed thinking. Rec’d. BTW, go CU!

by Royal With Cheese on Mar 11, 2009 10:41 AM MDT reply actions

You had me, but then the Nebraska references

Good post, I will forgive the Husker tribute. ;)

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"McDaniels must go!" - Broncoman

by Broncoman on Mar 11, 2009 11:44 AM MDT reply actions

I'm glad I found this site and

am happy to contribute or at least attempt to.

I appreciate the forgiveness as well. My roots are in Denver (not Boulder – lol) and my branches in Nebraska. So, I really had no choice. Although I will admit I have a soft spot for the Buffs – just don’t tell anyone.

I obviously do not know if there are any other Bronco/Husker fans that frequent MHR and I wish had the time to gather the stats to support what I am about to say, but throughout the years a lot of parallels have seemed to exist between the Broncos and Huskers. (Which is what got the idea rolling in the first place.)

Off the top of my head here are a few: After taking two steps forward with multiple championship runs in the ‘90s, they’ve both taken a step back to begin the 21st century. They both have rabid, yet educated and respectful fans. Both programs have been the envy of their peers for many, many years. In winning times, both have had a lethal running attack with a solid defense. (* See the “triple option” and “zone blocking”) Within the past year both programs have new head coaches – a HUGE deal in Denver or Nebraska. Of course, with enough effort parallels can be made in almost any circumstance. It just appears that the reasons I’ve always loved the Broncos seem to be the same reasons I love the Huskers. More than anything, it has always been a “gut feeling”.

I mean, can you really compare Denver to the Buffaloes?

My roots are in Denver and my branches in Nebraska.

by Blackshirt4Broncos on Mar 11, 2009 12:44 PM MDT reply actions

There's at least one more

My entire dad’s side of the family lives in Nebraska, and both of his parents went there so the Huskers are my number 2 college team. I know this is an unpopular position on MHR, but that’s to be expected.

I just have to ask… How do you have a soft spot for the buffs after all of the close games and venom between the two schools? I guess I only get one side of the story out here on the east coast, but I think both fanbases pretty much hate each other.

by hai17 on Mar 11, 2009 1:03 PM MDT up reply actions

Speaking as a fan of football

and on behalf of other Huskers, we have the utmost respect for all the teams we play. Especially during Nebraska’s glory days, we appreciated and respected any team willing to get throttled.

My soft spot is derived from the fact that I was born in Colorado and then later moved to Nebraska. So Colorado is kind of like the bad-a$$ little brother who gets beat up in a fight he instigated and you feel bad for him because he still has so much to learn, but you still love him.

As far as the venom goes, Nebraska fans will tell you all the venom came from Colorado.

According to ESPN’s website:

“The roots of the Colorado-Nebraska rivalry have been intense only since the mid-1980s, when former Colorado coach Bill McCartney placed extra importance on the game by making the Nebraska game the Buffaloes’ most important rivalry. In 1982, McCartney had office secretaries answering incoming calls the week before the game with "Beat Nebraska.” During that time, the Cornhuskers were in the middle of an 18-game winning streak in the series."

Current Colorado coach Dan Hawkins has downplayed the rivalry at times, but still had a zinger for his foes during the difficult 2-10 2006 season that started his coaching tenure. During a homecoming rally that first year, Hawkins told the crowd, “The worst days as a Buff are better than the best days as a Cornhusker.”

It became more important in the latter stages of the Big Eight, when the game often determined conference championships. From 1994 through ‘96, both teams were ranked in the top seven when they met. That history helped it earn the coveted Friday-afternoon slot after Thanksgiving, where it has remained every season of the Big 12’s history. The Cornhuskers hold a 46-18-2 series lead.

BTW it is now 47-18-2.

If anything the venom is nothing more than envy.

My roots are in Denver and my branches in Nebraska.

by Blackshirt4Broncos on Mar 11, 2009 1:35 PM MDT reply actions

But don't let this distract you from the main point at hand...

That I do not think McDaniels will be ushering in Denver’s own “Callahan Era” when he is really going to be Denver’s “Savior”.

Figuratively speaking!

My roots are in Denver and my branches in Nebraska.

by Blackshirt4Broncos on Mar 11, 2009 1:41 PM MDT up reply actions

But...

…is it true what they say about the N on the helmet? ;-)

You can observe a lot just by watching. Yogi Berra

by bradley on Mar 11, 2009 1:51 PM MDT up reply actions

For those of us too young to know...

What do “they” say about the N on the helmet?

My roots are in Denver and my branches in Nebraska.

by Blackshirt4Broncos on Mar 11, 2009 2:10 PM MDT up reply actions

It stands for Knowledge

You can observe a lot just by watching. Yogi Berra

by bradley on Mar 11, 2009 3:15 PM MDT up reply actions

Oh wait, is this the Nebraska joke line, I got a few

Why is Colorado so windy?

Answer: Because Utah blows and Nebraska and Kansas suck…

You can also substitute New Mexico for Colorado and replace Utah with Arizona and Neb/Kan with Texas.

Why did Nebraska change their football field from grass to artifical turf?

Answer: Couldn’t keep the cheerleaders from grazing on it at half time…

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"McDaniels must go!" - Broncoman

by Broncoman on Mar 11, 2009 4:40 PM MDT up reply actions

Thanks for generating audible laughter.

My roots are in Denver and my branches in Nebraska.

by Blackshirt4Broncos on Mar 11, 2009 5:06 PM MDT up reply actions

As to the N thing

I didn’t mean to be insulting to Blackshirt or Nebraska. I totally respect any good sports program, and that includes Nebraska. I’m a Colorado guy, but I don’t remember any problem or scandal with the Huskers. As opposed to Miami, e.g., although not for awhile. Anyway, I did think the old joke – what does the N on the helmet stand for – was creative and therefore a bit of fun for all of us on this crazy planet.

You can observe a lot just by watching. Yogi Berra

by bradley on Mar 11, 2009 5:36 PM MDT up reply actions

enough

Please do not post pompus Nebraska smack talk on a Broncos site.

Tell me, you’re from Colorado but you immiately become a big Husker fan when you move? But you’re still a Broncos fan? Oh, and also a Yankee fan? Front runner are we?

by nebraskasux on Mar 11, 2009 2:11 PM MDT up reply actions

Maybe he went to Nebraska?

I’m planning on going to Mizzou; does that make me not a Broncos fan? Oh, well then I’ll just leave and go join a Chiefs forum…. Thanks for the good times, guys…

Stop the Jay-trade talks!! Just stop it!! -Mike Clark

by papigrande on Mar 11, 2009 2:17 PM MDT up reply actions

Cassel lover! ;)

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"McDaniels must go!" - Broncoman

by Broncoman on Mar 11, 2009 4:36 PM MDT up reply actions

and if he is?

You give him heat for cheering for the Yankees, Huskers and Broncos, but you call youself a Colorado homer and cheer for Duke? Right…

No matter how often an honest man falls, he always gets up again.

by TheGoldenBoy7 on Mar 11, 2009 2:48 PM MDT up reply actions

you registered and joined this site just to take that shot at me?

Obviously you read my profile so you’ll see that I am a Nuggets and CU hoops fan first, I respect Duke and enjoy watching them (because they’re on TV so much and play a lot of big games while CU plays none). Enough about that though… His original post was fine, I just didn’t like the long arrogant history lesson on how great the Huskers are (or were more accurately)

by nebraskasux on Mar 11, 2009 4:45 PM MDT up reply actions

Duke

Love Duke and Coach K

You can observe a lot just by watching. Yogi Berra

by bradley on Mar 11, 2009 4:50 PM MDT up reply actions

Am I understanding this correctly?

ESPN quotes = arrogant history lesson?

My roots are in Denver and my branches in Nebraska.

by Blackshirt4Broncos on Mar 11, 2009 5:08 PM MDT up reply actions

Check your dates

Joined in Feb, it is now March, nice try bud.

Head up and eyes open

by TheGoldenBoy7 on Mar 11, 2009 5:09 PM MDT up reply actions

What smack?

Nebraska always considered OU their rival not CU. That’s just a fact, not smack.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Mar 11, 2009 3:13 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

Well said!

My roots are in Denver and my branches in Nebraska.

by Blackshirt4Broncos on Mar 11, 2009 5:09 PM MDT up reply actions

I appreciate your point of view!

As far as the smack goes it is all in good fun. It was nothing more than a specific response to a specific question – that is NOT part of the post, but rather a comment to a comment.

If you noticed, I emphasized the point that I am in no way trying to incorporate Nebraska football into a Bronco fan site. As for myself, I was simply drawing a comparison between two programs that I am familiar with.

As for “my teams” they are a result of family more than anything. I am sure many parents and grandparents have passed along “team heritage” to their children. After my parents split and I moved to Nebraska I regularly visited Denver. My father and grandparents were always gifting Broncos, Nuggets, and Rockies gear for birthdays and holidays, basically the Broncos were force fed down my throat leaving me with no choice but to be a Broncos fan. The same is true for the Yankees (the only non-local team I root for) – my father was responsible for that.

And yes, when you move to Lincoln, Nebraska as a child and there is NO OTHER sports team in the area to root for there is a very good chance you immediately become a Husker fan. In Colorado it is a bit different – you at least have a choice (and the Buffs are not in Denver). On top of that, I did graduate from UNL so not only am I a fan, but I AM a Husker.

Bandwagons are not for me. Relishing family sports culture is!

My roots are in Denver and my branches in Nebraska.

by Blackshirt4Broncos on Mar 11, 2009 5:05 PM MDT up reply actions

+1

From a CU alumnus!

by Royal With Cheese on Mar 11, 2009 5:26 PM MDT up reply actions

ok, thats fine

and obviously I wasn’t referring to the “ESPN quotes” I was refering to your pro-NU and anti-CU commentary on a Broncos site, but I’ll leave it at that.

Go Broncos!

by nebraskasux on Mar 11, 2009 5:44 PM MDT up reply actions

I can see eye to eye on that!

GO BRONCOS!

My roots are in Denver and my branches in Nebraska.

by Blackshirt4Broncos on Mar 12, 2009 11:51 AM MDT up reply actions

I was being charitable...

I’m originally from Denver as well (I now live in NC), and while my family lived there my parents went to a couple of Nebraska vs Colorado games in Boulder. They didn’t have great experiences, except for the outcome of the games that is… ;)

I understand the whole respect issue, but you can respectfully dislike another team – especially when they are a regional rival.

Regardless… I sure hope McDaniels isn’t the Bronco’s version of Callahan. At least he’s not a former raider like Callahan was – I doubt that would work more than once for Denver.

by hai17 on Mar 11, 2009 2:48 PM MDT up reply actions