The most sure fire way to build a championship program is work. Not the 9 to 5 punch the clock kind of work. I'm talking about the twelve to fourteen hour a day 7 days a week hard labor work. The kind of work where you work your ass off so hard you have no ass left to work.
Today's football team is built on talent and not effort. I mean this equally between national and Nebraska. Everybody is worried about the next 5 star blue chip that they let the important work behind the flash falter.
What is the work you ask? It's everything weight room, conditioning, film room, play book study and the list goes on. Nobody rewards players for the effort they put into those places. Instead fans and coaches alike want to reward the stars that are handed out by rivals and scout. This is ruining all sports but in particular college football.
I would track the number of times a player worked out in the weigh and conditioningt rooms and base my first game week depth chart off of that. Give the players that put in the blood sweat and tears the first shot. If they lose a spot becaus of skill or knowledge of plays and are easily beat for their spot that's ok. They won't be, but that's the base line I would set.
That kind of competition will force the blue chips to work or fade. No football player worth his salt would allow themself to be beaten out by someone who they believe lesser than their own inflated opinion of themselves. That competition will also breathe hope of playing time into those that would otherwise have no reason to push.
It seems obvious that the fire built through this type of reward system is completely lacking. Do I think it's too late for this type of system to save the what's left of the season? Yes. Is it too late to implement? Absolutely not.
Something drastic needs to change with Nebraska's plan because whatever it is isn't working. Relying on blue chip talent alone is folly. Building on 5 star talent in a highly competitive environment is how Championship teams are built.
Go Big Red!
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