I went to 3 spring workouts and today watched the last 20 minutes of the 7 on 7 and there’s a clear difference. In the spring we looked like crap, missng receivers and throwing fluttering passes. The group I saw today was much different. In 20 minutes, only 1 dropped pass and only a couple of check-offs. There were 2 layout catches, one for a td and then a stride for stride full spreed play down the sidelnes that is caught for a td, highlight reel quality. Passes were sharp and where they’re suppose to be and catches in stride, not waiting on the ball. We’re probably not going to win 10 games, but for those that watched spring practice, I think 6 was a real reach, but now, who knows? Also, the team acted like a team, a lot of noise and players encouraging each other. Didn’t want to leave the field; could hear from a distance, “one more play.” On the last play, the QB threw the ball and I couldn’t see anything, then sitting right there was a receiver wide-open (15 yards up field), sign of Homer with RN throwing. Things are different.
If you’re going to be negative with the O-line, QB’s, slow in recruiting, or CRN’s problems at UW, find another place to attack. Our team is looking better, one step at a time.

Leaving this whole row with SMQ and like like behind,

I have nothing to do but be optimistic about this or any other season. I can’t wait. My level of optimism may wain as we lose more games but that is okay. I like what The Neu has done getting a fire lit under this program and the alumni. It’s going to be a ride.

Remember my comparison, spring versus yesterday. In spring there was confusion and things looked like crap. It now looks like a different team, not SC, but surely not Confusion University. NorCal, you’ve got to see the improvement and spirit. CRN is a salesman (see NC and DW) and if these kids believe, they will play at their fullest potential. Teams get blown out because they quit. CRN is a guy with all smiles, but he hates to lose. He’ll be tough.

Go Bruins!!!

A year ago I had no hope. I and many other fans were strapped to the gurney waiting for the lethal injection. Then Gov. Guerrero gave us all a pardon by hiring a coach, and ended (to mix my figures of speech) our forty years of wandering in the wilderness.

I personally do not care who is on the team, who we play, or who starts at QB. I don’t care if our offensive line is as wuss as many people say. After five years of vacancy, we have filled our head coaching position.

The first thing that Coach Neuheisel did was to hire an offensive coordinator. What was that guy’s name again? Oh yeah. Norm Chow. Remember when the man in the empty suit hired yet another OC – his fourth or fifth? Who did he get? It was Jay something or other. I had never heard of the guy. He was the OC at Nebraska, but didn’t call plays. Yeah, Nebraska, the home of that potent West Coast offense. And what did the former “coach,” whose name I still cannot utter, say about his fantastic hire? Here’s what I found in an article in the Omaha World Herald dated 1-26-07: ”’Jay has a great background in offensive football and has experienced success both in the collegiate ranks and the NFL,’ [name deleted] said in a UCLA release. ‘He has coached several different positions, giving him an understanding of offenses from various viewpoints.’” As it came to pass, most of the viewpoings that he understood were third and long, after going up the middle twice.

I remember vividly thinking that no one in the world but Coach Toledo’s successor could possibly have thought that Jay what’s his name was the best possible candidate for the OC position. That was 2007. We’re now in 2008 – does anyone think that Coach Neuheisel could have hired a better OC than Coach Chow?

I want us to go undefeated this year. I don’t expect that we will actually go undefeated. But we will not go uncoached. And I don’t care really what happens in terms of wins and losses at this point. (Well, I care, but I’m trying to make a point, and it sounds better this way.) We are so much better off this year than we were last year that any sound of dissatisfaction six weeks before the kickoff sounds out of place to me.

Nestor, isn’t it about time to start the countdown clock?