This territory isn’t exactly uncharted, but boy, the map is old and dusty and faded and the water doesn’t look particularly familiar.
Nebraska is winless in the last week of September, hasn’t won a game at Memorial Stadium in more than a calendar year and began the week as a home underdog to a Purdue team that’s won just once in four tries this fall.
After all of the excitement around the Nebraska football program from Dec. 2 to Aug. 31, September has proved to be a hellacious month for the Huskers.Â
The canceled game. The quarterback injury. The home loss — again — to a Group of Five opponent. The blowout loss — again — to a Big Ten East power.
In the short term, it’s no fun for anybody involved. But in the long run, the dud of a start and the daunting next eight-plus weeks have not even come close to shaking coach Scott Frost and the Husker football principals.
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“Nobody’s more frustrated than me, but I’m also never going to panic,†Frost said this week. “I know what we’re asking guys to do works. Maybe this is a little bigger fix or it’s taking longer than what I expected, but there’s no question in my mind that we’re going to get it fixed. I came here for a reason, I had other opportunities, came here for a reason because I want to be here. This is the team I want to coach.
“We’re doing the same things that we’ve done with other teams to turn them into winners. In fact, we’re working harder at it.â€
It is natural to wonder as a fan or as an observer when the results will show through. Perhaps a glimpse comes Saturday against Purdue, the last team NU beat, on Oct. 28, 2017, thanks to a last-second touchdown throw from Tanner Lee to Stanley Morgan. In fairness, it already showed Week 1 against Colorado when so many observed the speed and tenacity with which the Huskers played.
Realistically, it might be awhile before that's the week-in, week-out standard. It’s easy to say “trust the process.†It’s more difficult to abide by it and live with the results as the process works.
Quarterbacks coach Mario Verduzco was asked Wednesday if a win might sever the weight pulling the Huskers down, allowing the program to rise up through the water, unencumbered, to the surface.
“That’s an emotional sort of attachment to winning and losing that you just can’t afford,†he responded.Â
He pointed to the second half against Michigan when his young signal-callers stopped going straight to the sideline phone where they debrief with their coach after each drive.
“So I got on the phone to (freshman walk-on quarterback Matt) Masker, and I said, 'Hey, you got to get the guys over (to the phone).'
“This is the process. Come hell or high water, this is what we do. When a series is over, you guys all come to the phone and we talk, regardless of what’s happening. This is how we do things. This is our process. Make sure that happens.â€
Of course, a win would do wonders for players and fans alike. Saturday will mark 371 days since the Huskers’ last home win.
“We’re just trying to get those little things,†senior right guard Tanner Farmer said Monday. “We’re just trying to get it. We’re trying so hard and we’re struggling with it. Once we get this one win, I think things are going to start compounding in a good way and we’re going to just keep on rising after that.â€
That’s the trick in all this. Frost and Verduzco are saying that Nebraska is rising anyway. That’s the process. Get better and results follow, but the line isn’t always straight. It’s not always, "Get better and the win comes right away." “Trust the process,†is great from December to August, but it takes stomach to stick to when losses pile up.
The Huskers are trying to stay the course and also reverse their fortunes all at once. One leads to the other. Maybe on Saturday, maybe next Saturday or the Saturday after that. Definitely down the road somewhere.
“Summer’s not here yet, but it’s coming,†Frost forecast. “Sooner or later it’s coming.â€