It’s that time of year. The time they call the ‘Dog Days’ of summer. Those hot, sultry, sluggish days of apathy. Or, in other words, a time in fall camp when things get harder. The players are tired. They’ve been through the arrival of new teammates eager to prove themselves, winter conditioning, more new teammates, self-motivated summer workouts, and finally, the rigors of fall camp and two weeks of living in a dorm.
But fall camp is also when all the hard work pays off. It’s when a player can move up the depth chart and get ready for a good fall run. You better believe players have heard coach Rhule say, “Someone needs to separate themselves,” and “you have to execute and then make a play.” Ultimately this is when you earn your spot. The players know it and there is pressure to perform. It’s in every room at every position.
The pressure is always there but it’s elevated this time of year and the coaches demand more because they want to see how players react. There is more to the game than physical skills, it’s what’s between the ears as well. Are you focused? Do you display the right attitude? Do you embrace the pressure, or do you buckle?
And the pressure isn’t just on the players. The coaches are tired too. Matt Rhule said as much in a recent interview. They too have been put through the paces, recruiting, satellite camps, post-graduate camp, youth camps, more recruiting, the loss of staff, the addition of new staff, and the shuffling of duties because of new rules. Now it’s time to coach people up and see who’s ready to play ball. It’s a time of knowing what buttons to push and what motivates certain players and the team. It’s a fine line for coaches to walk.
There’s been game planning during practice. Inserting small pieces of what needs to be done against UTEP, Colorado, Northern Iowa and Illinois. It happened without the players even realizing it. But you can believe the coaches have been watching. Can he make that throw against Colorado and Travis Hunter? Will the defense be able to keep up with UTEP’s offensive pace? Are we protecting the ball, and can we get takeaways when needed?
The depth chart will be set, single digit numbers will be awarded. It’s a critical time for Husker football. It’s a critical season and time to break the cycle of losing.
Fans Also Need to Break the Cycle
Those ‘Dog Days’ of summer creep up on fans as well. They feel the pressure too. Not like the players and coaches, but it’s there. It’s because this year feels different. There is excitement for good reason, and yet, there is a reluctance of buying all in. Over the last seven years we’ve been burned too many times.
Over those years we’ve created some bad habits. I’ve already seen one of them rear its ugly head. Husker fans have emotional baggage. They carry around old suitcases full of excuses for losing. Don’t shrug your shoulders, you know what I’m talking about.
I just witnessed it again last week when Coach Rhule announced Javin Wright was out indefinitely. Husker fans started talking, saying here we go again as they folded up the ‘No Javin Wright Excuse’ and packed it on top of the ‘No Teddy Prochazka Excuse’.
This year, Gabe Ervin, Rahmir Johnson, and Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda were looked at and then put back in the suitcase as possible excuses. They could make it out, but until we see what happens, we’ll keep them handy. And if you dig down into the bottom of the suitcase, you’ll find the Marcus Satterfield excuse. Will his play calling improve?
Husker fans can come up with all kinds of excuses for losing. They are planners, heck some suitcases have already been packed with Dawson Merritt, Will Hawthorne, and David Sanders as part of the old lack of five-star recruit’s excuse. If Michael Terry III goes elsewhere, he’ll be added. And fans shudder and won’t even talk about in-state linebacker Christian Jones. For many, it’s unthinkable he’d go somewhere else. Fans are worried about bad luck that runs rampant during Dog Days. Hopefully it won’t carry over into fall.
The excuses have been varied over the years, from schedule, to weather, to officials, sign stealing, fumbles, interceptions, injuries to players, and poor coaching hires. Excuses are what Husker fans have come to do best. Each season they pack them up and prepare for Nebraska to have another losing season. That needs to stop.
It’s time for fans to break the cycle. No more excuses.
There is a reason things feel different this season.
Good things are about to happen.
-Lyle Harmon
Coming on the 23rd: Projected Starters & Single Digit Numbers
