[cdcox]

You rebuild by good recruiting and then making the most of your talent. Tradition can help with recruiting, but only while you are good (or at least percieved to be). Tradition will help Ohio State get better atheletes than Missouri gets, even if Missouri ends up ranked higher. Tradition can help a sucky Penn State team, because there are lots of blue chip players in Pennsylvania, and the idea of helping the Nittny Lions return to greatness is appealing to large numbers of potential recruits. Tradition can help Miami Florida because 1) they are recruiting in talent rich Florida 2) they are recruiting nationally, and 3) lots of kids might like the idea of going to school in Florida.

Nebraska is demographically screwed. Among their fans that want to see them return to greatness are a very few blue chip prospects. To succeed, Nebraska has to recruit nationally. The tradition of Nebraska football isn't going to mean much to these kids; they didn't grow up with it. As years go by, they might not even be aware of it. And you have geography working against you. Who wants to go to college in Nebraska? Your tradition was a resource at one time. I don't think it means squat right now.

I'm not saying Nebraska will never be good again. I'm saying that your tradition isn't going to help in that process. You are in the same situation that any other team is that has aspirations of greatness. You're going to have to do it the hard way, one recruit at a time. One game at a time. Gains will be followed by set backs. There is no guarantees of success. Nebraska has squandered its birth right.