Steven Sipple: Former Husker assistant quotes Shakespeare to illustrate importance of holding on to pigskin; and CU’s win defies convention
Things I know, and things I think I know: Former Nebraska assistant coach George Darlington quoting Shakespeare — or his version of Shakespeare — is about as good as it gets for me during the first full weekend of the college football season.
“As Shakespeare put it, ‘The better that you were not born if you turn the ball over,’” he said.
I think George was joking. Sort of joking.
Darlington coached for Nebraska on the defensive side for 30 years (1973-2002) and has three national championship rings (1994, 1995, and 1997).
I like to call him “The Professor.” I’ll get to why in a second.
Like many Nebraska fans, Darlington was impressed with the Huskers’ defense Thursday night. He attended the game in Minneapolis and saw excellent intensity by the Blackshirts. After all, Tony White’s crew held Minnesota to 13 points and 251 yards (3.6 per play). The Gophers managed just 55 yards on the ground (2.2 ypc).
During the Nebraska program’s glorious 1990s, Darlington said, the defense often set a goal of holding opponents to 13 points or fewer.
“If you do that consistently, you should win a lot of games,” he said. “But there’s another part of football.”
Yes, there’s an offensive side, too. In Nebraska’s 13-10 loss to Minnesota, the Huskers committed four turnovers, including three interceptions by Jeff Sims.
Jeff Sims faces week of tough questions
A transfer from Georgia Tech, Sims, a junior, now faces a week of tough questions. He had turnover issues for the Yellow Jackets. Is it just part of who he is? Considering his updated collegiate numbers — 31 touchdown passes versus 26 picks — it’s a fair question.
The good news is Sims gets a chance for immediate and legitimate redemption. You maybe didn’t expect the “legitimate” part against Colorado, Nebraska’s opponent this week. But if you watched CU upset TCU on Saturday, you know the Huskers will need a legitimately strong effort across the board to get out of Boulder with a “W.”
Sims will have to protect the football and make plays.
No way Nebraska can go minus-three in the turnover category (as was the case against Minnesota) and expect to win. I might not have said that with such conviction before watching Colorado become the talk of college football with its 45-42 win in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Buffs, though, have some big-time athleticism at the skill positions and are well-coached.
Meanwhile, “You look at (Sims’) strengths — he can throw the ball a mile,” Darlington said. “You have a kid break free 70 yards down the field, he can get the ball to you.”
Plus, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Sims runs the ball like a tailback.
“But he makes too many mistakes,” Darlington said. “You can’t turn the ball over, especially when you’re a ball-control team. You’re only going to get so many series per game.”
Yes, Sims has to put a halt to the turnovers. But it’s too early to push panic buttons. Right?
Right?
Nebraska offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield during the offseason asked Sims to improve his completion percentage (57.5% for Georgia Tech) and cut down on turnovers. Satterfield has said Sims responded well in both areas. Since media doesn’t get to watch practice (including scrimmages), you essentially have to take the coach at his word.
But you also get to judge what happens on Saturdays.
So, let’s see what happens against Colorado, which features a dynamic corner in Travis Hunter — the nation’s top-rated prospect in the class of 2022 coming out of Collins Hill High School in Georgia. He plays both ways for the Buffs — more than 120 snaps against TCU — and is a genuine star on both sides.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders also shined Saturday, completing 38 of 47 passes for a school-record 510 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Buffs rolled up 30 first downs and 565 yards of total offense.
This week will be a hoot, and an intriguing study of head coaches in their first seasons in a program.
White’s defense will enter with confidence, or so one would think.
Along those lines, Darlington doesn’t buy that the element of surprise worked in the Nebraska defense’s favor against Minnesota. I agree with George. The Huskers simply played well. Played hard. Got several helmets to the ball consistently. There was nothing lucky or gimmicky about it.
Darlington also doesn’t buy that the relative uniqueness of a 3-3-5 system works in the favor of Nebraska’s defense.
“That’s all newspaper hype,” he said. “The bottom line is, you’re going to have five defensive backs on the field all the time, and against most offenses that’ll be fine. That’s their scheme.
“Depending on their personnel, one of the DBs can be a linebacker against certain sets.”
Using extenuating circumstances (like the element of surprise) as reasons for Nebraska’s strong performance on defense Thursday in effect diminishes the achievement.
White’s bunch played with excellent focus and effort.
Defense looks like it could be the team’s strength, potentially.
“They played well enough to win, there’s no question about that,” Darlington said.
“They have to hope they can play that well consistently,” he added. “Because the offense isn’t very good.”
Final Take: Nebraska needs to build 2023 around defense and special teams
George largely unimpressed with Gophers’ stadium
Darlington watched Nebraska’s season opener from the upper reaches of Huntington Bank Stadium.
“Their stadium doesn’t even compare to ours,” he said.
He said there were no food vendors walking the aisles, “and their scoreboard situation doesn’t even compare.”
The place was full — I was impressed by that.
Man, it just feels good to have the season going full-bore.
The Professor’s class will be in session once again
It should be noted that for the 39th year, Darlington will teach a “football facts” class for fans. He’ll offer two-hour night classes in both Lincoln and Omaha, with each beginning later this month. The seven-week course concludes with a banquet November 9th at Parker’s Smokehouse in Ashland.
There’s plenty of time to register. If you’re interested, call (402) 617-9666.
George has a ton of wisdom, obviously, and can be beautifully blunt.
I’ve always appreciated that about him.
Deion Sanders now has nation’s attention
Deion Sanders, the first-year Colorado coach, defied conventional wisdom Saturday because you’re simply not supposed to overhaul a roster — the Buffs have 87 newcomers — and be able to record a road win against an established program.
It takes time to build culture, or so we thought.
It takes time for chemistry to develop, or so we thought.
Granted, TCU had eight players selected in this year’s NFL Draft. But the Horned Frogs’ defense has ample experience — seven starters returned from last year’s unit.
And Colorado shredded it.
For the sake of balance, TCU ended last season by allowing 45 points to Michigan and 65 to Georgia.
Still, nobody expected what they saw from Prime’s crew Saturday.
OK, at least one person did.
“I told you we’re coming,” Deion said right after the win.
FOX has to be thrilled by all this. The ratings for this week’s game in Boulder will be ridiculously high.
Bring it on.
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