It doesn’t feel very good that Nebraska football had a coach that was so bad at his job that he’s become a lesson in hubris for other coaches in the profession. However, it’s almost funny when other coaches and players refuse to learn the lessons that Scott Frost inadvertently tried to teach.
This time around, it isn’t a coach that seems destined to learn the same lessons that Frost did. This time it’s an Oregon Ducks player. Though his comments, paired with his coach’s comments earlier this year seems to be setting up one of the newest additions to the Big Ten for a hard fall.
Do the Oregon Ducks need to adjust to the physicality of the Big Ten?
— Oregon Ducks On SI (@OregonDucks_SI) July 8, 2024
“No. I really think that teams are going to have to adjust to us, with our speed, and with how physical we are.”
- Jeff Bassa @Bassa_21 💯#GoDucks @BriAmaranthus #B1GFootballhttps://t.co/CR6Egy3jN6 pic.twitter.com/0dQrCqXKef
Speaking to SI’s Bri Amaranthus, Duck linebacker Jeff Bassa said the thing that feels like the magic words that lead to failure. He talked about how the Big Ten will have to adapt to his team, rather than his team adapting to the Big Ten.
Nebraska football rival just had their Scott Frost moment
“Now a ton has been made about the physicality of the Big Ten.Do you need to adjust to that?” Amaranthus asked. And it’s here where Bassa jammed his head into the same dunce cap that Scott Frost did back in 2017.
“No, I really think that teams are gonna have to adjust to us,” Bassa said. “With our speed, with how physical we are. I mean, we have Coach Lanning as our head coach.No doubt we're gonna be physical, right? just the mentality of this team. I can see it in the offseason right now.”
Time to once again, look at what Scott Frost said as he brought his offense to Nebraska.
Back in 2017, Frost was asked how he would modify his approach to the Big Ten. He responded, “I’m hoping the Big Ten has to modify their system for us.”
The Big Ten, of course, didn’t have to modify anything. Frost was fired five years later after having never posted a winning record.
While Oregon certainly seems better suited to have more success, they also spent years building themselves up in a far less physical Pac 12. They might think they know what they’re in for. But just like the failed Nebraska football head coach found out, life comes at you fast. And thinking you’re ready and being ready, aren’t the same.