Husker Extra live chat: Steven M. Sipple, 2/27/17

Talk all things Huskers with Steve Sipple during his weekly chat, every Monday.

That's it. Wow, that was fun. Lots of questions and I appreciate all of them! We will do it again next week, when we will have a spring practice to discuss.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 9:29:00 PM

3rd & 7 37yd

OK, fire away.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 7:36:38 PM
Will tim miles be back next year

by Braden Abels 2/27/2017 7:36:41 PM
@BradenAbels: Shawn Eichorst's comments last week on his radio show seem to indicate Miles is safe. Even so, I think the situation is worth watching closely.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 7:38:12 PM
Hey Sip. I'm in the camp that Miles should get another year or 2 to bring this talented roster to fruition. But he's not making it easy.... sharks are everywhere right now! Think he survives?

by Moose 2/27/2017 7:38:13 PM
@Moose: Only one man really knows. Once again, Eichorst's comments last week seem to indicate Miles is safe. Maybe the question is this: Is Miles safe enough to withstand two more regular-season losses followed a quick exit in Washington, D.C.?

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 7:40:23 PM
Sorry. I sent that before the other similar question appeared.

by Moose 2/27/2017 7:40:28 PM
@Moose: No problemo, Moose.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 7:40:39 PM
Andrew White is having a pretty good year. Would he have made a significant difference had he stayed at NU?

by G-Wag 2/27/2017 7:40:46 PM
@G-Wag: He was the Huskers' leading returning scorer after averaging 16.6 points per game last season. He was easily the team's best three-point shooter. Not even close. Yes, his loss was gigantic in the grand scheme.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 7:43:01 PM
Why is are 3 point defense so bad this year

by Braden Abels 2/27/2017 7:43:03 PM
@BradenAbels: I think some of it must be structural. I think some of it must be teams figuring out how to attack Nebraska's current personnel. I think some of it must be related to players' lack of discipline/execution on that end of the floor. When a team three-point defense is as consistently subpar as Nebraska's, you probably can't sum up the issue in one sentence.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 7:45:48 PM
Sip, 1st time chatter..

You are a knowledgeable man in regards to the Nebraska Athletic program. How would you assess the overall state of the Nebraska Athletic program A, B, C, D, F?

by TAP 2/27/2017 7:45:52 PM
@TAP: I would give a grade in the upper-C to-B range because Eichorst runs a tight ship in terms of compliance and graduation rate/academic success. Those areas should never be taken for granted. But, yes, the performance in football, basketball (men's and women's) and baseball must improve.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 7:48:10 PM
Why is are fan support not as loud and fans seam to be leaving early

by Braden Abels 2/27/2017 7:48:12 PM
@BradenAbels: Well, Nebraska is now 8-6 at Pinnacle Bank Arena this season, with some rough losses (Gardner-Webb, Ohio State, Michigan State, Illinois). Six losses has a wearing effect. Plus, overall, it's been a rugged season.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 7:50:32 PM
Weird question I threw out to Chris last week. Is Nebraska's next NBA player on this roster?

by Sam 2/27/2017 7:50:33 PM
@Sam: Not a weird question at all. In fact, it's a great question. I wonder if Isaiah Roby could raise his game to that level. I say that because he's 6-foot-8 and extremely gifted athletically. I wonder if Isaac Copeland could be an NBA-caliber player. Of course, you wonder about his back issues. I think you're trying to make a point -- that there is no clear-cut NBA player on the current roster. If that's what you're trying to do, you were effective.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 7:54:23 PM
Sip I know you've been around Husker football a goodly amount of seasons. Is this the most intrigue coming into Spring practice that you can remember? Lots of cool storylines.....

by Moose 2/27/2017 7:54:38 PM
@Moose: There was obviously a massive amount of intrigue accompanying each major head-coaching change in the wake of Osborne's retirement. I think the intrigue right now lags just behind those situations.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 7:56:03 PM
Way back machine question for ya Sip. Have you ever heard that in the 1980's Joe Gibbs & the Washington Redskins came to Coach Osborne to learn the counter tray run play?

by Steve 2/27/2017 7:56:06 PM
@Steve: I admit that is the first I've heard of that. But it wouldn't surprise me.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 7:57:01 PM
My gut tells me Miles is safe. My head says he is safe. My eyes, in terms of progress including a big step back last night says he is gone. I think they need to be competitive the next 3 games for Miles to stay...what do you think? Is it Cooley-O that we are getting blown out?

by Sam 2/27/2017 7:57:02 PM
@Sam: I understand your confusion, since your eyes are in your head and they have competing sentiments. But seriously, folks, I think it's important for Nebraska to be competitive against both Minnesota and Michigan as well as in the Big Ten Tournament. Could Miles withstand five straight losses to end the season? I think the question is valid.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 7:59:31 PM
If Miles is fired, how many players do you think will leave?

by Dhughes 2/27/2017 8:00:28 PM
@Dhughes: I think it's impossible to say.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 8:01:30 PM
Sip....there is a little irony in you media guys at times. After a couple wins by Nebrasketball, many acted like it would be a good time for SE to sort of "stamp his goodwill with Miles" with some sort of comment solidifying his solidarity with him. Then a couple losses later we hear the "we'll this is why AD's are reluctant to comment on coaches during the season". Almost acting like he made a poor decision to comment....yet a week earlier nearly demanding that he does? I know you've been critical of SE in the past for leaving one coach out to dry yet then commenting on others. Maybe he should of just stuck to his original "no comment till end of season" plan?

by Trashman 2/27/2017 8:01:41 PM
@Trashman: To be clear, I wasn't among the media demanding, or even suggesting, that Eichorst stamp his support for Miles after Nebraska's win at Ohio State. I explain my thoughts in my latest blog post in "Life in the Red." What we have now is an awkward situation.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 8:04:00 PM
Huskers BB is now four games below .500 this season both overall and in conference. They must win either the final two regular season games and at least three in the conference tournament, or go 1-1 and win the conference tournament outright to finish at or above .500. Very unlikely, therefore the third consecutive below .500 season in both overall and conference games will ensue (and four in the five years Miles has been in Lincoln}. How do you perceive Eichorst will or should handle the situation with Miles going forward (assuming he plans to keep Miles as HC)? Grant him the one-year extension he denied Miles last year? Give him a two-year extension? Do nothing?

by Newport Red 2/27/2017 8:04:05 PM
@NewportRed: If I had to guess right now, I think Miles will be retained, but I don't think his contract will be extended. I think the writing will be on the wall: Reach the NCAA Tournament next season, or else. Yes, it sounds extreme. But I think we've reached that point.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 8:07:10 PM
Last week I thought it was crazy to talk about firing Miles. But now if they lose the next three games and have our third losing season in a row I would be in favor of blowing up the program and starting over. Not sure I would trust Eichorst to make a good hire however

by Stlhusker 2/27/2017 8:07:30 PM
@Stlhusker: If Eichorst were to fire Miles, you can bet it would be Eichorst hiring Miles' replacement. And if the Mike Riley hiring is any indication, Eichorst would essentially would be a one-man search committee.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 8:09:29 PM
My assessment over the past Eichorst years is as follows in the major "money" making sports.

Football: C-
MBB: D
Baseball: C
VB: A
WBB: C-

Wouldn't you agree that during his tenure the overall athletic pedigree has continued to under achieve? Let this sink in he gets paid $1.5m versus the mean income of a Nebraskan $54K. Bottom line we are paying this guy a lot for C work!

by TAP 2/27/2017 8:09:32 PM
@TAP: Remember, Eichorst didn't hire Miles. Tom Osborne did. Same goes for Darin Erstad. So, you can't really hang those struggles on Eichorst.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 8:12:27 PM
Hey Sip, Please give me your perception of the QB competition that currently exists headed into the Spring and next Fall. We all watched a similar scenario play out a few years ago with Green, Lee and Martinez. Pretty much everyone was lead to believe it was a tight race and too close to call as to who was going to win it. That never played out. I see the same situation developing. Whereas competition should bring out the best, I am pretty much sensing and many inferences seem to point to Lee as "the man" and I am wondering how the two young QB's will handle that situation. Someone is going to become disenchanted and leave. I would hope not but....

by 71Husker 2/27/2017 8:13:57 PM
@71Husker: I think it's premature to engage in that sort of speculation. I do think there will be genuine competition. I think you would agree Mike Riley is a fair-minded sort, and a bit on the "old-school" side. I would say the same about Danny Langsdorf. I don't think Riley or Langsdorf would hand Tanner Lee anything.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 8:16:24 PM
If the AD has a bonefide A list coach in his hip pocket is Miles expendable?

by KRAMER 2/27/2017 8:16:30 PM
@KRAMER: I think that is an unlikely scenario. Who would it be? I sometimes hear Bo Ryan's name brought up, but there is some baggage attached to Ryan that probably precludes such a hire.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 8:17:29 PM
Miles is safe, these last few games will not change his future, he will be on the NE sidelines next year, but if he doesn't win and make a major move up the conference standings and make the NCAA's, he will probably be gone. He has some talented young players on the roster and a couple of good recruits which will make a difference.

by CD 2/27/2017 8:17:33 PM
@CD: I would say we're in agreement for the most part. But if Nebraska were to completely fall apart in the last few games, it could get dicey for Miles.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 8:19:36 PM
Heard from a source at ND that NU best hire was Bob Elliott . What do you hear bout him ?

by Buzz M 2/27/2017 8:19:37 PM
@BuzzM: I've met him. Very pleasant and down-to-earth. I've heard he's a genuine, all-around good guy who will fit the Nebraska culture particularly well. I've heard he has an excellent relationship with Bob Diaco, which makes sense because Diaco essentially made the hire. I think it's obvious to everyone that Elliott's experience with a 3-4 scheme is essential as Nebraska makes a challenging transition. The more experts, the better. Elliott is an expert, as his resume' clearly suggests.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 8:22:47 PM
I have 2 questions first who are the starters next year and why hasent nick fuller been playing he had a great game vs Ohio state

by BradenAbels 2/27/2017 8:22:57 PM
@BradenAbels: OK, I'll give this a try: Glynn Watson, Evan Taylor, Isaac Copeland, Ed Morrow and Jordy Tshimanga. Fuller is a nice player. Makes "winning plays, as Miles likes to say. But Fuller isn't much of a scorer.

by Steven M. Sipple 2/27/2017 8:25:35 PM
So, you think a winning record in both non-con and conference games plus an NIT bid wouldn't be enough for Mikes next year?

by Dhughes 2/27/2017 8:25:46 PM

Husker Extra live chat: Steven M. Sipple, 2/27/17

Talk all things Huskers with Steve Sipple during his weekly chat, every Monday.

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