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All of the Nebraska football community has to wonder what might have been following Saturday’s 45-42 loss to USC in the Holiday Bowl.
If the Cornhuskers had shown this much spirit during the whole season, Bo Pelini may still be the team’s head coach.
Nebraska displayed lackluster play during the regular season, but the team still picked up nine wins and finished strong. That wasn’t enough for Nebraska’s athletic administration, and the ax fell on Pelini despite a 67-27 record with the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska wanted to show its pride and support for Pelini during preparations leading up to the Holiday Bowl and into the game, so the team left a seat on the bus empty in his honor. They honored the former coach at the bowl itself as well.
That doesn’t sound like a team happy to be rid of its former coach.
The Nebraska players responded with a performance full of grit, determination and spirit, going up against one of the tougher defenses in the country and giving the Big Ten a bit of respect. Sure, they may have lost this game, but who expected Nebraska to score 42 points against a perennial Pac-12 powerhouse?
Barney Cotton did a fantastic job as interim coach leading up to the Holiday Bowl, giving the team plenty of fire in the leadup to the contest. How many Husker faithful want Cotton to be the head coach next season?
Instead, the die is cast. Mike Riley is the new head coach, and from there no one knows what will happen with this team. Riley spent 11 years at Oregon State, and Nebraska fans will get a chance to see how good his coaching skills are in Lincoln.
Nebraska may have lost, but in the end, the Huskers may have won. They showed the world what they thought of losing Pelini.
In many ways, it was a case of what might have been.
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