A series of articles by Brandon "Blankman" Cavanaugh.

The Psychology of Nebraska Sports

Hey there Husker Faithful,

With the off-season so painfully long, as it is, we must band together in an effort to find ways to make the time pass more quickly, no? I believe the off-season can be a very valuable tool regardless of if a team goes 13-0 or 7-7. This forgettable time of year can be used to fine tune a well-oiled machine, or, in some cases, get in a complete overhaul by the time spring practice comes around. Have no fear, though, because we here at Huskerpedia want to make sure we not only have a very devoted fan base, but a very knowledgeable one as well. Besides, it usually ends up making good conversation during halftime between assessment of the DBs or that chick in the third row. So, today, we're going to take a look inside the minds of the Huskers to see what makes a successful team.

Leadership: If watching re-runs of Frasier has taught me anything, and it hasn't, it's that a good team, a successful team, needs a leader, a maestro. Someone who the lads can turn to when the going gets rough and that darned slant pattern just can't be defended. So what makes a good leader? Karlene Sugarman, M.A. suggests that "Great leaders are often scholars in their field and are intelligent. Like all great scholars, they aren't know-it-alls, they feel there is always more to learn and have a willingness to admit mistakes. Outstanding leaders make decisions based on facts, and apply common sense and simplicity to complex tasks."

So take a football scholar Grant Wistrom, for example. Says Sugarman, "Successful leaders are not only highly driven and intrinsically motivated but also foster that same enthusiasm in their associates." Not only did Grant know how to get things done when it came to his job, he knew how to squeeze the talent and effort from his men each and every down. If you had a great play, you got congratulated for it. If you didn't, here's what you did wrong, learn from it and get on to the next play. Grant was also an Academic All-American in 1996-1997, so he obviously knew his stuff in the classroom as well.

Goal-Setting: From the beginning of time when man was being chased by dinosaurs with appropriate "Benny Hill" music playing from the heavens, goals have been an intricate part in a person's success. So why are goals necessary for a successful football team? Bettie B. Youngs suggests that, "Goals represent expectations, hopes and dreams, and to the extent our goals are achieved, we are successful." Two very important points on making goals are: They must be believable (No Playstation-type stats) and they must be achievable. Back in 2001, I remember listening to a Coach's Wrap Up show after a win. They spoke with Ron Brown about the team's goals. Ron stated that every game, Nebraska wanted to go out and prevent the opposition from gaining 250 yards of running and passing yardage combined. Ron felt this was not only a realistic goal, but one that should be met if NU wanted to be successful each time out

Goals can also lead to greater things. For example, say that the 2003 Huskers have a goal to win the Big XII North Division. For the sake of argument (and to keep this article going), Nebraska does indeed win the Big XII North. So where do they go from here? To the Big XII Title Game, of course and should they win that, a BCS bowl, perhaps the title game and the goals continue and grow in reward.

Uniforms: Ah, yes, the issue that some debate shouldn't even be an issue at all. Steve Pederson announced on February 11th, 2003 that Nebraska would be going back to the traditional look that the team had during the 2002 Rose Bowl. Many state this is about as important as any episode of the Anna Nicole Smith Show, but others disagree. So why would changing a uniform make a difference? Back when TCU changed their uniforms, Punter/Wide Receiver Royce Huffman stated, "a whole new attitude: getting rid of the past and starting fresh. It's psychological." So you say, "Okay, the kids might feel better about the uniforms, but why would the opposition care?" Well, that's some attitude you've got there, mister. The thing is, colors are perceived by humans different, let's examine Nebraska's own red for example.

Various researchers state that the color red, "…can elevate blood pressure and respiratory rate. It is an attention grabber. Words and objects in red get people's attention immediately. Red clothing can…convey power and energy but may invite confrontation. Red is extremely dominating. Red can also make people anxious." So, here, you've got 11 red-clad men, many of them larger than most European cars and just looking at them causes your heart to pump faster, your breath to be quicker and a bit of anxiety to creep into your mind. It may not be as dynamic or cause as much of an impact as that, but surely, the difference is there.

So there you have it, a quick guide to sports psychology as it relates to Dear Old Nebraska U. Now at your next get-together, you can inform your chums of the beneficial qualities of Nebraska's red on the road or good leadership abilities before remembering you took a detour to Boulder and being bludgeoned over the head with a barstool. Ah, memories.

Questions, Comments and More Throwback NU Mini-helmets can be sent to [email protected]

===Brandon a.k.a. Blankman #71===

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