Nebraska is off to their worst start since 1945 after an ugly loss at Michigan.
It wasn’t supposed to go like this.
That’s gotta be what many Nebraska fans are saying among themselves as they are three games into the Scott Frost era and are still in search of their first win. Nebraska is off to a 0-3 start, which is the worst start to a season since 1945 and gives Frost one more loss than he experienced in his two years as the starting quarterback for the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska fans are among the best in college football and they were knowledgeable enough to look at the talent on the roster and see what Frost was inheriting from Mike Riley so they knew in all likelihood there wasn’t a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game this year.
However, they also didn’t anticipate a 0-3 start that includes a loss to one-time Big 8 rival, Colorado, a home loss to Troy and a 56-10 loss at Michigan.
After the game, Frost admitted this might be rock bottom, but things might continue to get worse before they get better. Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan State remain on the schedule. The Ohio State game, in particular, may result in having 60-plus points run up on them. The schedule also includes games with Minnesota, Northwestern and Purdue that are no sure things.
Nebraska's Scott Frost says, "I honestly believe this is going to be the bottom right here," after a 56-10 loss at Michigan.
— Dan Murphy (@DanMurphyESPN) September 22, 2018
Nebraska will play Lovie Smith’s Fighting Illini which should be a win against Illinois and have a game with Bethune-Cookman, but other than that, Nebraska may not be favored in any other games this year.
How the mighty have fallen.
This is not your father’s Nebraska team or even your older brother’s team who was used to running their way through the conference schedule and competing for Orange Bowl berths and national championships on an annual basis.
It feels like that’s a long ways away today.
Nebraska is not going to enjoy their stay in Blowout City, but I think the future remains bright in Lincoln. Frost didn’t just suddenly forget how to coach when he left UCF and returned to his alma mater. He didn’t forget how to recruit and develop talent. He’s just realizing that the cupboard was entirely bare when he took over for the fired Mike Riley.
There are quick fixes in sports, but they are the exception to the rule because rebuilding efforts take years of work. Frost has to stack top-20 recruiting classes on top of each other for the next three years to begin stockpiling the type of talent he needs to run his system and to win in the Big Ten.
It’s not exactly what Nebraska fans want to hear, but they have to be patient again. Look for the signs of promise, no matter how fleeting they may be, but they will be there, certainly as Adrian Martinez gets healthier and more experience under center.
Tomorrow will be better and 2019 will be even better, but as for today, Nebraska is residing in Blowout City and they may have a long stay.