Opinion
/to/) Nebraskan
Since 1901
Editor Sarah Baker
Opinion Page Editor Samuel McKewon
Managing Editor Bradley Davis
Game plan
Solich needs to make major
changes to get results
Frank Solich is no Bob Devaney. No Tom
Osborne, either. Not Bill Snyder, not Lou
Holtz, not even Glen Mason.
Frank Solich is Frank Solich. And, right
now, that’s not good enough.
Understand that we aren’t calling for
Solich’s head. Firing a coach with a 29-7 career
record seems a bit harsh.
We are, however, urging Solich to make
some changes, both on the held and in the
press room. If he doesn’t, and continues on
the same path of stubborn ignorance he’s
walked for his three seasons on the job, it
won’t be long before Nebraska fans are uniting
in opposition to a fourth season.
Their outcries will most likely be justified.
Solich is not a good big-game coach. In cru
cial situations, his play calling has been barely
passable at best, downright awful at worst.
Saturday’s 29-28 loss to
Kansas State was only the latest
example of Solich and his staff
failing to make in-game adjust
ments to lead NU to victory.
Consider the logic of the
game plan - despite having
fleet-footed but poor-throwing
quarterback Eric Crouch
behind center, and despite the
fact that Crouch supposedly
had an injured shoulder, Solich
called for deep pass after deep
pass, many of which fell harm
lessly to the Wagner Field turf.
Baffling, especially when
you consider that when NU
finally went back to the power
running game in fourth quar
ter, the Huskers scored two
quick touchdowns and took the
lead.
Solich did admit the mis
takes on Monday, a step forward, but he also
revealed Crouch’s injury, two steps back.
This is the same tight-lipped Nebraska
coach who has repeatedly refused to update
the media on player injuries because doing so
is unfair to the players.
If that’s the case, then Solich was grossly
unfair to Crouch, who has been his meal tick
et for the past two seasons.
Solich’s disclosure of the bruised joint dur
ing the Big 12’s weekly teleconference sound
ed like nothing more than his excuse for the
loss.
It may be
motivation
that Solich
and the NU
coaching
staff are
most
lacking in.
The
Nebraska
football
team often
looks, talks
and acts
like the
walking
dead.
Ana mere nave repeatedly been excuses to
fall back on, most including the coaching
buzzword "execution.” Solich says it almost as
much as he says "certainly.”
Here’s what execution is. It’s talent, plus
preparation, plus motivation. All three are in
Solich’s job description.
Solich may not have the talent, especially at
the running back and linebacker positions. It’s
his job to recruit it. There’s no doubt that
preparation has been lax- KSU’s speedy wide
out Quincy Morgan going over the middle isn’t
exactly new.
It may be motivation that Solich and the
NU coaching staff are most lacking in. The
Nebraska football team often looks, talks and
acts like the walking dead.
The opinion here is that they’re talking on
the droid-like demeanor of their head coach.
Wake up, Frank. If you don’t, you’ll eventu
ally be compared to another set of coaches -
Gerry Faust, Ray Perkins, Gary Gibbs.
Editorial Board
Sarah Baker, Bradley Davis, Josh Funk, Matthew Hansen,
Samuel McKewon, Dane Stickney, Kimberly Sweet
Letters Policy
The Daly Nebraskan wolcomee briefs, letters to the editor and guest columns, but does not guar
antee their pubication. The Daly Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject any material submitted.
Submitted material becomes property of the Dally Nebraskan and cannot be returned. Anonymous
submissions w* not be published. Those who submit letters must identify themselves by name,
year in school, major andfar group afHabon, if any.
Submit material to: Daly Nebraskan, 20 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St Uncoto, NE 68588-0448. E
majttettersOurinfo.unl.edu.
Editorial Policy
Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Fall 2000 Daily Nebraskan. They do not necessarily
reflect the views of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, its employees, its student body or the
University of Nebraska Board of Regents. A column is solely the opinion of its author; a cartoon is
soleiy the opinion of its artist The Board of Regents acts as pubisher of the Daily Nebraskan; pot
cy is set by the Daty Nebraskan Edtonal Board. The UNL Publications Board, established by the
regents, supervises the production of the paper. According to policy set by the regents, response
b«ty far the edtorial content of the newspaper lee solely in the hands of its employees.
^AT AMSHiCAiJ SMoKeour TAUkJT Tff
It'S WEARiNG-THe ENt> OF THE SEMESTER...
&(r Pfisjecr5 ARE LtK^M<r...FlHUS AfiE
3usT arouaa> ^aenai... iFo^V W
HAD SoAferHlHfrTD f?£i-l£tf£ "THE <$TR6i>S..,
—^ 0
\VS COUP OUT$lp£:<TV£CHILL 5E£?S
'povursJ TO VouR INNARds.,jF^Y KM
hap soflpflWG- to mm w o*J the
IMW£.,UK£SMoK£...
-4 C16ARSTTE5- W
ybu oBViouscy s-nupr© f«ra rzasoH
W THIS A6£ OF lKfl£SfDNS>6HJry,
nor Pfwe you. APf sote^e
WHO CAN M5£PA COMMITMENT.
N0IC
#*»
I
Letters to the editor
Dump the new site
I would like to congratulate the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln on being declared Number Three
on my “Top 10 List of Worst Web sites Ever.” It has
joined the prestigious company of http://www.geod
ties.com and http://www.tripod.com for instituting
annoying features no one pays attention to.
Not only do the colors clash, the Web site is
designed poorly, it is much more difficult to navigate
and it takes an absurdly long time to load (especially
for those of us who use those antiquated devices
called modems). Of all the new features instituted,
only one (putting the site search inamorevisibleloca
tion) is an actual improvement
While I appreciate the attempt by the university to
improve their Web site, the next time these “improve
ments” take place, hire someone with a sense of
design. Those of us who frequently use the UNL Web
site will greatly appreciate the reduction in eye pain.
Michelle Myers
English/history
senior
Biased players
Now that the elections are (almost) over,
(finally), I wonder if the Daily Nebraskan staff will
quit trying to shove their opinions down our
throats. There's a difference between covering a
story and advocating a side of the story, a differ
ence that seems to escape the majority of the DN
staff.
Whether I agree with the opinion of the paper
doesn’t matter. I know why I believe in what I
believe; I don’t need any more reasons for myself,
no matter how reassuring they are.
What most students I've talked to really want
to read about is why those who have different
views believe in what they believe. (You know, the
other side of the story.)
If the DN wants to be recognized as a “real”
paper, maybe it should act like one instead of a
special interest group.
John Backer
criminal justice
sophomore
ui course, i can t neip 11. inese aays are just
days, surely not the greatest of my life. I even
turned away Ed McMahon and the Publishers
Clearing House people - a check the size of
Delaware and some balloons can’t fill the lack of
chipper people in red.
Then came the morning of Friday, Nov. 3. A typ
ical morning. I turned the Girl Scouts away - no
cookies today. I saved the whales, planted a tree,
built a house and freed a third world country from
disease. Oh yeah, I went to class for awhile too, and
as soon as I got done, I went to register for classes.
I dragged my feet to a phone in the union -1
was just a limp, jellied blob of depression. I picked
up the phone and dialed in to Nroll. I got the single
most annoying sound known to man - a busy sig
nal. After about 10 minutes of this, I realized that I
had forgotten to get my pin number.
I remember the greatest Dan
day of my life - a bunch of Leaman
chipper people in red, being
separated from my parents, fil
ing through lines so I could fill out my name, social
security number, date of birth - earlobe size.
Then a tour of this wonderful campus which
provided, hmmm let’s see, about zero information
as to how to get around. It sickens me that I
thought college was all it is made out to be -1 had
n't even been here a day. Naive Dan. Then lunch -
almost good food, a tour of a dorm room (oh good
ie) and a four day wait in a dank, poorly lit room to
see an advisor.
Oh, but the greatest part of the greatest day of
my life was the wonderful icebreaker games we
played with all the people we would never see
again.
You know it is funny. When I sat down to plan
the greatest day of my life, it involved all of these
things - plus a fee t-shirt, that would sell me - but
wait, that was at New Student Enrollment, too.
Wow, gee, shucks - that sure was the greatest day of
my life, and it has all been downhill since.
All... down... hill.
I smirked at the young lad who spoke the words
when I first entered circuit training New Student
Enrollment style. I was ready to be wowed by all the
catchy introductions, videos and skits.
This is what college was all about - lectures on
alcohol. I was hoping for one on crack, but alcohol
will do.
Statistics, if actually listened to, reveal that a
good portion of the dry campus is as wet as a dog in
the rain. This was to be “the greatest day of my life,”
he said.
I have been living under this impression - this
idea of my days just not being able to quite reach
the standards of the blissful one in July. Each
morning, I roll out of bed, clad in my He-Man paja
mas, repel out of my loft, stand in the middle of the
room staring at the door and think, “Today is just
not going to be anything.”
I try not to let this depress me, bother me,
smack my emotional, metaphorical Mike Tyson
around.
“Bebo, bebo, bebo
bop,” a ring at the Canfield
Administration building,
then a three hour inter
view to get the number.
I had to give the cir
cumference of my leg at
the point three inches
above my knee running
exactly perpendicular to
the general horizontal
plane of my belly button
so they knew it was me. I
was beginning to question
if I knew it was me.
Again “bebo bebo
bebo - bop." I'm in, this
should be quick and easy -
quick and easy as in the
number I dialed is invalid.
Again over the touch
tones.
I enter every number
from one to 212 to get to
the actual registration
process, and then I try to
enter my first class -
English 151H.
No dice. I keep trying,
Daryl Strawberry style. No
dice - invalid code the
voice claims.
If the voice asks me for
my transaction code
again, I’m going to lose it.
The whole experience is a
like a James Bond movie ‘
gone bad.
Back in my room, I have my roommate and RA
wedge open my jaw with a real old Dorito that I
found -1 was so fuming that my teeth had ground
into each other.
/ have been
living under
this impression
- this idea of
my days just
not being able
to quite reach
the standards
of the blissful
one in July.
Each morning,
I roll out of
bed, clad in
my He-Man
pajamas, repel
out of my loft,
stand in the
middle of the
room staring
at the door
and think,
Today is just
not going to be
anything
I start again bebo bebo bebo - bop. Bizz, bizz,
Bizz, bizz. Again. Ring.
Sweet ring - voice, pin number, click. Click,
what? Yep, a computer automated message hung
up on me - wow, I feel good about myself.
One more time. My English class works; philos
ophy, too, but golf is full and my math class won't
work with the other two. I have a question to ask,
but there is nobody to talk to except the epitome of
inefficiency.
I hang up, kick back and have a Snickers
because you know if you’re hungry, have a
Snickers.
I think back to that day in July, New Student
Enrollment, the greatest day of my life. The memo
ries flood me, reservoir in my mind. Tears stream
down my face, but nbt tears of unhappiness. I am
not upset.
These are tears of joy; all the days of my life that
had been so ... missing something - NRoll had
filled the void. I never thought a day would be
greater than NSE - thank you NRoll.
letters@dailyneb.com
Feedback?
Write back!
ASUN should
listen to
constituents
I have a repu
tation as a
columnist I write
hard. I write
sharp. I write
short. Those I
write about, hate
me.
I attended
the ASUN meet
ing last night. I
Emily
Moran
cuienueu 10 meet fvuuruiey jyiuener. i
attended to listen to ASUN senators
debate Senate Resolution 4.1 attended
to see who supported the proposed
grading scale changes.
Mueller supported grading scale
changes. She is the chairwoman of the
ASUN academic committee, which
introduced this senate resolution.
Mueller started with a speech to
ASUN, and attending students. Senator
David Kavanaugh responded to senator
questions before hhbhbbh
debating.
Would students
ASUN
have a split tran
script?
I don’t know.
Would this reso
lution be imple
mented next semes
ter?
I don’t know.
Would this affect
academic scholar
ships?
1 don’t know.
Mueller said she
discussed scholar
ships with Patrice
Berger, director of
the honors pro
gram. She reported
that if the resolution
passed, scholarship
requirements would
be reevaluated and
adjusted.
Joel Schafer,
ASUN president,
also spoke with
Berger about schol
arships. Schafer
reported Berger
would attempt to
adjust grade
requirements for
scholarships he
could control. But,
he said, all scholar
ship committees
might not adjust for
the proposed grad
ing scale.
Who is correct?
I don’t know.
Students had an
opportunity to pres
ent opinions to
ASUN senators in
open forum. I
refrained from reit
erating points. I lis
tened. I listened to _____________
students.
Ethan Rowley, sophomore advertis
ing major, sat next to me. He had his
turn at the microphone and made a
clear point: Is this ASUN or APUN,
Association of Professors of the
University of Nebraska?
Rowley reminded senators that
ASUN represented students’ interests,
not professors’, which was Mueller’s
argument
Mueller argued professors needed
more grading options. She said each
student needed to be assigned the grade
that he or she had earned. Students with
a 90 percent or a 98 percent receive the
same grade under the current scale. She
said that was unfair.
senators
are elected
with
student
support.
ASUN
represents
constituents,
but must
make
decisions
for students
based on a
larger
scale. And
that is the
problem...
I used to
represent
students in
RHA. /, too,
struggled
with repre
senting
what stu
dents want
ed and
what I
thought
would be
better
under the
circum
stances.
Jake Wobig, senior political science
major, advised senators to make a deci
sion in the best interest of the students
and UNL His point was clear to ASUN:
Don’t be a rubber stamp for the stu
dents.
ASUN senators are elected with stu
dent support. ASUN represents con
stituents, but must make decisions for
students based on a larger scale. And
that is the problem.
I used to represent students in RHA.
I, too, struggled with representing what
students wanted and what 1 thought
would be better under the circum
stances.
Students didn’t sit through three
hour meetings. Students didn’t notice
what happened in committees.
Students didn’t care unless it affected
them.
ASUN Senate Resolution 4 is case in
point I didn't notice ASUN until Mueller
proposed changing the grading scale.
Then I noticed because it affected me. "
That is how students operate. That is
how ASUN senators operate. Mueller
proposed a resolution that would bene
fit her, not students.
Senate Resolution 4 failed.
Mueller did raise one important
question in debate: Does UNDs current
grading scale inflate GPAs to the point it
hinders graduate, law or medical school
admittance?
She didn’t know. Me neither.
