I love my morning radio show on KXNO in Des Moines. Tim Fisher and I have been together since last November and we are growing more comfortable with each other’s style and opinions.
One thing that has been established is Tim’s vial contempt for all things Nebraska. He HATES the Huskers. If you listen to the good folks in central Iowa they will tell you that I bleed Nebraska red. If you listen to the fans in Omaha and Eastern Nebraska they will tell you that in 16 plus years on TV and radio I was anti-Nebraska.
I have said it before and I will say it again, I am not fan and I am not a hater. I call things the way I see them, good and bad. This morning (4/25) on KXNO Tim and I got into a discussion about Nebraska’s place in college football. (Listen to the podcast here) He says the Huskers are no longer among the nation’s elite and will not be for a long time or if ever again.
To put this as nice as I can, Tim is wrong. In fact I think Nebraska will play for a National Title within the next five years. But even if the Huskers don’t here are reasons why Nebraska is still one of the elite programs in the country.
· 4th Most Wins in College Football History (837)
· Most wins in College Football since 1970 (403)
o 24 more than Ohio State
o 37 more that Michigan
o 39 more that Penn State
· Fan Support: 311 Straight sellouts
o Notre Dame next at 220
· Five National Titles since 1970 (70,71,94,95,97) They last played for championship in 2001
· 3 straight seasons with 9 or more wins
o Only 9 other schools can say the same
Those are just a few examples. To be an elite team everyone must share a vision, at Nebraska the vision is to win championships. It’s shared by all parties at the University; Regents, administration, academics and athletics.
To be an elite program you must have elite facilities. The East stadium expansion will push the capacity of Memorial Stadium to over 90,000 and bring the athletic department facility upgrade to well over 100 million dollars over the last 6 years.
To be an elite program you also have to pay your coaches. Bo Pelini is now making 2.7 million dollars a year, the 3rd highest in the Big 10.
What makes and elite program?
· History
· Championships
· Wins
· Fan Base
· Commitment
Whether you like Nebraska or not, there’s no arguing that it is and ELITE program, yesterday, today and tomorrow.
I love the radio show, but Tim is exemplifying the jealous tendencies that most hawk fans have shown over the last 25 years. Don't hate our program because we have been and will continue to be successful...work hard and expect the same of yours.
ReplyDeletePut the same effort into improving your program that you put into dogging ours, and maybe we can be playing for not only big 10 but national championships year in and year out.