Concerning Nebraska football.
What IF?
Last week, I discussed the many what ifs and if onlys of the Scott Frost era of Nebraska football. This week, the what ifs of Nebraska football prior to 2018.
To understand this column, you really need to have read last week’s column. Copies are available for one dollar at 114 East 4th Street in Alliance.
What if on October 29, 2016, Nebraska defeats Wisconsin in overtime instead of losing by six points? NU would have started the season with a record of eight wins and no losses. Could the Big Red have possibly won the Big 10 West?
What if on September 5, 2015, Nebraska does not lose to BYU by five points on a last-play-of-the-game Hail Mary by the Cougars? Does this victory aid Nebraska in not losing future one-possession games to Miami, Illinois, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Iowa? Does NU instead enjoy an 11-2 or 12-1 record to begin the Mike Riley era?
What if during the 2014 season, Nebraska can turn one possession losses to Michigan State and Minnesota into victories and claim 11 regular season wins and a more prestigious bowl? Does Shawn Eichorst still fire Bo Pelini?
What if in October, 2017, Harvey Perlman does not fire Shawn Eichorst and hire Bill Moose?
What if in 2012, Shawn Eichorst is not even hired to succeed Tom Osborne as athletic director?
What if on December 5, 2009, officials do not put one second back on the scoreboard clock and Texas does not get the opportunity to kick the winning field goal in the Big 12 Championship game? Does this light the fuse for a much more successful Bo Pelini era?
What if on November 15, 2003, Nebraska does not lose to Kansas State in Lincoln by a score of 38-9? Does Steve Pederson still fire Frank Solich following the NU victory over Colorado in Boulder that following Thanksgiving weekend?
What if Steve Pederson is not hired as Nebraska’s athletic director following the departure of Bill Bryne?
What if Colorado does not destroy Nebraska, 62-36, on November 23, 2001?
What if fans, the media, and NU administration does not push the panic button following the loss at Colorado in 2001?
What if egos and power-hungry people had not interfered with the NU football program between 2001 and 2021?
What if Tom Osborne decides to remain Nebraska’s football coach until he turned 65 years old (following the 2002 season) instead of retiring at age 60 which followed the 1997 season?
What if Tom Osborne becomes Nebraska’s athletic director in 2003 instead of Steve Pederson?
What if Nebraska loses the 1976 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, instead of beating Texas Tech, 27-24, and finishes the year with eight wins and four losses? Does the NU administration go over Bob Devaney’s head and fire Tom Osborne, as one NU regent told Osborne would happen if the Huskers lost the game?
What if Tom Osborne was fired following the 1973 season because his Big Red was shutout at Oklahoma by the score of 27-0 on November 23, 1973?
What if Bob Devaney is fired following consecutive six win-four loss seasons in 1967 and 1968, including a 47-0 thrashing by Oklahoma on November 23, 1968 – exactly 33 years to the day prior to NU getting throttled at Colorado by 26 points?
What if the University of Wyoming fights harder to keep Bob Devaney as their head coach in early 1962 and not let him out of his contract so that he can coach at Nebraska? And Devaney agrees to stay with the Cowboys?
What if, what if, what if, what if and what if?
My guess is, we all would still have had fine Christmases.