Why? You could make one helluva PowerPoint presentation about that.

Essentially, the Huskers have two problems feasting on each other. One, they aren’t very talented, at least not by powerhouse standards. So even when they do things right, it doesn’t produce the success they desire. And two, they’ve completely lost the habits that produce success. They don’t exhibit the intangibles that make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.

Losing is a big obstacle in building confidence and chemistry. And confidence and chemistry are huge requirements in building a winner. Damn the chicken AND the egg. Moreover, losing makes it hard to find winners. You think Alabama and Ohio State get the best players because those kids love their facilities best? Heck no. They want to win.

Nebraska does, too. But as much as tradition holds up the walls in Lincoln, tradition can’t demonstrate excellence on a daily basis. There’s Ndamukong Suh on the wall. Be like him! It’s kind of like handing me Cather and saying, “Write like her!”

Once you lose greatness for an extended period of time, it’s hard to get it back. It’s like muscle memory.

And yet every offseason, we just assume it’s going to come back.