The 2011 Nebraska football team is not being counted out by any means and is projected by many to win the Legends division in its first season in the Big 10.
In fact, with the trials and tribulations of Ohio State, some are saying that the Huskers could win the Big 10 title outright. Keep in mind, Nebraska’s last conference title was 1999.
To refresh your memory on Ohio State, on March 8, head coach Jim Tressel was suspended by the university for two games, and fined $250,000 for not informing the university and the NCAA that he had information that five of his players received improper benefits from a tattoo shop in downtown Columbus. Among those those players, including Mike Adams, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Solomon Thomas, Jordan Whiting, was quarterback Terrelle Pryor. The five players are suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season. Pryor has since decided to enter the supplemental NFL draft.
Tressel’s suspension was also later increased to five games by the university. The NCAA filed a letter of allegations in late April 2011 with Ohio State alleging that Tressel lied to the NCAA in December, 2010 when he claimed to have no knowledge of the players activities with the tattoo shop. Furthermore, he is alleged to have knowingly used ineligible players during the 2010 season. On May 30, Tressel resigned as head coach.
Nebraska and Ohio State meet in Lincoln on Oct. 8 and could potentially play on Dec. 3 for the first ever Big 10 title game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In 2009, Nebraska went 10-4 but won six of its last seven games. The last two of those contests included a controversial 13-12 loss to Texas in the Big 12 title game and a 33-0 flogging of Arizona in the Holiday Bowl.
That strong finish had a lot of Husker zealouts (including this one) sipping the Kool Aid in the form of thinking Big 12 title, BCS bowl bid and potentially a shot at the National Championship.
Those aspirations looked realistic when the Huskers opened the season 5-0 and moved as high as No. 5 in the polls with quarterback Taylor Martinez having a Heisman Trophy candidate season. Then Martinez was banged up in the second half. The Huskers had three close losses (20-13 to Texas, 9-6 to Texas A&M and 23-20 to Oklahoma). Nebraska then took Washington lightly in the Holiday Bowl and lost 19-7.
Even though Phil Steele’s magazine, which has been the most accurate preseason predictor the last 13 years, picked Nebraska to meet Oregon in the Rose Bowl, this preseason of expectations has a “under the radar” feel compared to last year.
On the surface, the Big 10 schedule makers did Nebraska no favors in its maiden voyage in the conference. The Huskers face what most tab as the top three clubs in the Leaders division (Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State) but despite just 12 starters returning, Nebraska has a better-than-average chance to win the Legends division. Michigan State might have a say in that matter but the good news is the Spartans have to come to Lincoln on Oct. 29.
Much of the fate of Nebraska’s season will come down to the return to health of Martinez. When he was healthy, Nebraska’s offense averaged 38.9 points per game but when he was banged up that scoring average dropped to 22.7. The other half of the equation will be how soon does new offensive coordinator Tim Beck find a scheme he wants to settle in with and develop. Keep in mind, that was the ultimate downfall of his predecessor Shawn Watson, who changed schemes about as often as most people change underwear.
On defense, despite losing quality players like CB Prince Amukamara, S Eric Hagg, S DeJon Gomes and DE Pierre Allen, Nebraska has more than enough quality talent defensively. Keep in mind some consider Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini as bright of a defensive mind as Alabama head coach Nick Saban even though Pelini is not in Saban’s class as a head coach.
The Huskers definitely do not lack for talent on defense because DT Jared Crick, LB LaVonte David and CB Alfonso Dennard are among the best in the nation at their respective positions.
Even though preseason hype is not where it was entering last year, look for Nebraska to be better than certain people think.
Showing posts with label Big 12 North. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big 12 North. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Back in the blogging mix
I am revisitng the Universty of Nebraska football blog that I had established in the offseason between the 2008 and 2009 seasons. My last entry was October 17, 2009.
A lot has happened since that time. The Huskers finished 2009 and 2010 with 10-4 records but the feeling at the end of each season was drastically different. The 2009 campaign finished with a flourish as the Huskers won six of their last seven games. The 2010 season started with great promise at 5-0 and later 9-1, only to end the season with a dud.
So why did I stop blogging? Well, between fixing up a house to move my wife and three kids into, helping manage three toddlers and a full-time job, time simply slipped away.
Well, I am back and giving it another go as Nebraska officially leaves the Big 12 (headed by those unscrupulous Texas Longhorns) and joins the Big 10 (a conference with far more reverence for tradition).
I will try to have 3-5 entries per week.
Enjoy! And Go Big Red!
A lot has happened since that time. The Huskers finished 2009 and 2010 with 10-4 records but the feeling at the end of each season was drastically different. The 2009 campaign finished with a flourish as the Huskers won six of their last seven games. The 2010 season started with great promise at 5-0 and later 9-1, only to end the season with a dud.
So why did I stop blogging? Well, between fixing up a house to move my wife and three kids into, helping manage three toddlers and a full-time job, time simply slipped away.
Well, I am back and giving it another go as Nebraska officially leaves the Big 12 (headed by those unscrupulous Texas Longhorns) and joins the Big 10 (a conference with far more reverence for tradition).
I will try to have 3-5 entries per week.
Enjoy! And Go Big Red!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Will the North rise up?
Some conversations you can absolutely count on hearing. When it comes to Big XII football, you can definitely count on media members and/or message board posters to talk ad nauseam about the South division’s supremacy over the North.
It’s hard to argue against that idea now because since the conference was formed in 1996 since the South has won nine of the 14 Big XII championship games. The last time a North division team won it was 2003 (Kansas State).
However, the question that bears asking is will the pendulum swing back toward the North any time soon? Listening to some people you would think the answer was a resounding “never.” Unfortunately, those same people forget that when the conference was initially formed the North was the superior division. Nebraska was at its zenith in the midst of a 60-3 run with three National Championships in four seasons as well as four undefeated regular seasons in five years. Colorado and Kansas State also had outstanding teams in that stretch and if not for Nebraska, who’s to say they might not have won a National title? Of course, it wouldn’t be the same without Kansas State and Colorado fans living in the world of “if.”
In that same stretch, keep in mind that the South division teams that were strong now were not strong then. Oklahoma was pathetic. Texas was decent but far from what it is now. Texas Tech and Oklahoma State were so-so but not as prominently on the radar as they are now.
So will the balance of power ever shift back to the North? Some people seem convinced that it will never happen. Granted, the South already has a built-in leg up over the North in that you have two brand name programs (Texas and Oklahoma) while the North has one (Nebraska). It’s hard to imagine Kansas State being at that level any time soon. Kansas, Missouri and occasionally Colorado are solid. The one with the best chance of staying power might be Missouri because Columbia lies between two pretty fertile recruiting areas (Kansas City and St. Louis).
Because Texas and Oklahoma are in two fertile and highly coveted recruiting areas, most people seem convinced those programs will stay ahead of the pack. Unfortunately, what those same people forget is that Texas and Oklahoma have always had that recruiting advantage over Nebraska. Yes, that includes the years they both stunk. I just find it laughable how people only talk about those advantages when a team is good.
David McWilliams had the same recruiting advantage at Texas when he was the head coach from 1986-1991. What did that get him? A mediocre 31-26 record. His successor, John Mackovic had the same advantage from 1992-1997. What did that get him? A mediocre 41-28-1 record. Look at Oklahoma. John Blake had the same recruiting advantage from 1996-1998. What was his record? A most impressive 12-22.
Look at USC in a recruiting ground like Los Angeles. That’s about as fertile as it gets. That advantage got Paul Hackett a whopping 19-18 record from 1998-2000. It got Larry Smith a 44-25-3 record from 1987-1992 but not consistent success. Lest we forget it got Ted Tollner a pretty average 26-20 record from 1982-1986.
Granted, it’s hard to imagine Texas, Oklahoma or USC going in the tank barring NCAA sanctions, disastrous coaching changes or other bizarre acts of implosion.
Keep in mind, though, it wasn’t long ago that we could not have imagined Nebraska imploding but it happened. And if it can happen them it can happen now.
It’s hard to argue against that idea now because since the conference was formed in 1996 since the South has won nine of the 14 Big XII championship games. The last time a North division team won it was 2003 (Kansas State).
However, the question that bears asking is will the pendulum swing back toward the North any time soon? Listening to some people you would think the answer was a resounding “never.” Unfortunately, those same people forget that when the conference was initially formed the North was the superior division. Nebraska was at its zenith in the midst of a 60-3 run with three National Championships in four seasons as well as four undefeated regular seasons in five years. Colorado and Kansas State also had outstanding teams in that stretch and if not for Nebraska, who’s to say they might not have won a National title? Of course, it wouldn’t be the same without Kansas State and Colorado fans living in the world of “if.”
In that same stretch, keep in mind that the South division teams that were strong now were not strong then. Oklahoma was pathetic. Texas was decent but far from what it is now. Texas Tech and Oklahoma State were so-so but not as prominently on the radar as they are now.
So will the balance of power ever shift back to the North? Some people seem convinced that it will never happen. Granted, the South already has a built-in leg up over the North in that you have two brand name programs (Texas and Oklahoma) while the North has one (Nebraska). It’s hard to imagine Kansas State being at that level any time soon. Kansas, Missouri and occasionally Colorado are solid. The one with the best chance of staying power might be Missouri because Columbia lies between two pretty fertile recruiting areas (Kansas City and St. Louis).
Because Texas and Oklahoma are in two fertile and highly coveted recruiting areas, most people seem convinced those programs will stay ahead of the pack. Unfortunately, what those same people forget is that Texas and Oklahoma have always had that recruiting advantage over Nebraska. Yes, that includes the years they both stunk. I just find it laughable how people only talk about those advantages when a team is good.
David McWilliams had the same recruiting advantage at Texas when he was the head coach from 1986-1991. What did that get him? A mediocre 31-26 record. His successor, John Mackovic had the same advantage from 1992-1997. What did that get him? A mediocre 41-28-1 record. Look at Oklahoma. John Blake had the same recruiting advantage from 1996-1998. What was his record? A most impressive 12-22.
Look at USC in a recruiting ground like Los Angeles. That’s about as fertile as it gets. That advantage got Paul Hackett a whopping 19-18 record from 1998-2000. It got Larry Smith a 44-25-3 record from 1987-1992 but not consistent success. Lest we forget it got Ted Tollner a pretty average 26-20 record from 1982-1986.
Granted, it’s hard to imagine Texas, Oklahoma or USC going in the tank barring NCAA sanctions, disastrous coaching changes or other bizarre acts of implosion.
Keep in mind, though, it wasn’t long ago that we could not have imagined Nebraska imploding but it happened. And if it can happen them it can happen now.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Big 12 Media Day in Big D
The Nebraska football team (well not the entire team) took center-stage in Dallas on Monday for Big 12 Media Day.
Head coach Bo Pelini, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, offensive guard Jacob Hickman and running back Roy Helu represented the Huskers. I did not have a chance to listen to any sound bites due to my work schedule at my regular job. However, I did have a chance to read the quote transcription from Pelini.
There are four things that Pelini addressed that stood out to me:
“I think right now our football team now understands what it means to put a good hard day's work in.”
What I take out of that sound bite is that any time a new regeme comes in and asks players to work harder than they did under a previous coaching staff, there is going to be resistance at first. Pelini admitted as much. On the other hand, those that are not on board are thrown overboard rather quickly. Granted, no football coach is going to outright say to the media, “Our team is a bunch of lazy asses.” On the other hand, you just get the sense from Pelini that this team understands that to achieve success (short term or long term), there are no shortcuts.
“Zac Lee came out in the spring. No one's won a job yet. We still have a whole camp ahead of us before we play the first game. Zac came out as the clear-cut favorite. He'll go into fall camp as a starter.”
Pelini said this in reference to the starting quarterback job as the team looks to replace the graduated Joe Ganz. This approach is quite the departure of Bill Callahan in 2007 when Sam Keller transferred from Arizona State. Callahan said over and over that Ganz and Keller were competing for the job when everyone in their right mind knew that Keller would be the starter. After Keller got injured, Ganz showed why he should have the starter. I like the fact that Pelini stated explicitly that the job belongs to Lee until he proves he is not worthy of being the Huskers starting signal-caller. On the other hand, it’s good that Pelini said, “No one has won a job yet” if for no other reason than to not give Lee a false sense of security. The real question is how the No. 2 position shakes out between Kody Spano, LaTravis Washington and Cody Green.
“Our players don't feel Nebraska's back. Our expectations in the program are very, very high. I think (the team) is starting to feel the momentum from last season.”
While there is every reason to think the Huskers are “on their way back” after a 9-4 season in 2008 that included winning six of their last seven contests, there’s a difference between “being back” and “on your way back.” I’ve stated numerous times on this blog (some postings come with Kool-Aid sipping, others do not) that going from 5-7 in 2007 to 9-4 in 2008 was the easy part but going from 9-4 in 2008 to say 11-2 in 2009 will be the hard part. Since two of Nebraska’s four defeats came by less than seven points (a 35-30 loss to Virginia Tech and a 37-31 overtime loss to Texas Tech), an argument can be made that the Huskers could have been 11-2 last year. Well, coulda, woulda, shoulda but didn’t. Therein also lies the issue, the higher a team shoots up the ladder, the smaller that margin for error becomes.
“Well, I've only been back in the league for a year. But I don't – my expectations aren't going to change.”
Pelini said this in reference to the Big 12 offenses producing basketball like scores and the fact that he is a defensive minded coach. Pelini has coaching dominant defenses wherever he has been and is cocksure in his ability to do the same at Nebraska. The Huskers improved last year defensively from 112th to No. 55, enough to where they didn’t lead the world in crappy defense. With another year of seasoning under Pelini’s system, there’s every reason to think this team will get better. In 2007 when teams went through the Husker defense quicker than a pizza at a Weight Watchers convention, there was often a lack of passion, fire and purpose. Last year’s team played hard but not always smart. To that end, Pelini added: “Part of that is coaching. Part of that is players being accountable.” Even in the era of high scoring Big 12 offenses, part of slowing them down is executing assignments.
Head coach Bo Pelini, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, offensive guard Jacob Hickman and running back Roy Helu represented the Huskers. I did not have a chance to listen to any sound bites due to my work schedule at my regular job. However, I did have a chance to read the quote transcription from Pelini.
There are four things that Pelini addressed that stood out to me:
“I think right now our football team now understands what it means to put a good hard day's work in.”
What I take out of that sound bite is that any time a new regeme comes in and asks players to work harder than they did under a previous coaching staff, there is going to be resistance at first. Pelini admitted as much. On the other hand, those that are not on board are thrown overboard rather quickly. Granted, no football coach is going to outright say to the media, “Our team is a bunch of lazy asses.” On the other hand, you just get the sense from Pelini that this team understands that to achieve success (short term or long term), there are no shortcuts.
“Zac Lee came out in the spring. No one's won a job yet. We still have a whole camp ahead of us before we play the first game. Zac came out as the clear-cut favorite. He'll go into fall camp as a starter.”
Pelini said this in reference to the starting quarterback job as the team looks to replace the graduated Joe Ganz. This approach is quite the departure of Bill Callahan in 2007 when Sam Keller transferred from Arizona State. Callahan said over and over that Ganz and Keller were competing for the job when everyone in their right mind knew that Keller would be the starter. After Keller got injured, Ganz showed why he should have the starter. I like the fact that Pelini stated explicitly that the job belongs to Lee until he proves he is not worthy of being the Huskers starting signal-caller. On the other hand, it’s good that Pelini said, “No one has won a job yet” if for no other reason than to not give Lee a false sense of security. The real question is how the No. 2 position shakes out between Kody Spano, LaTravis Washington and Cody Green.
“Our players don't feel Nebraska's back. Our expectations in the program are very, very high. I think (the team) is starting to feel the momentum from last season.”
While there is every reason to think the Huskers are “on their way back” after a 9-4 season in 2008 that included winning six of their last seven contests, there’s a difference between “being back” and “on your way back.” I’ve stated numerous times on this blog (some postings come with Kool-Aid sipping, others do not) that going from 5-7 in 2007 to 9-4 in 2008 was the easy part but going from 9-4 in 2008 to say 11-2 in 2009 will be the hard part. Since two of Nebraska’s four defeats came by less than seven points (a 35-30 loss to Virginia Tech and a 37-31 overtime loss to Texas Tech), an argument can be made that the Huskers could have been 11-2 last year. Well, coulda, woulda, shoulda but didn’t. Therein also lies the issue, the higher a team shoots up the ladder, the smaller that margin for error becomes.
“Well, I've only been back in the league for a year. But I don't – my expectations aren't going to change.”
Pelini said this in reference to the Big 12 offenses producing basketball like scores and the fact that he is a defensive minded coach. Pelini has coaching dominant defenses wherever he has been and is cocksure in his ability to do the same at Nebraska. The Huskers improved last year defensively from 112th to No. 55, enough to where they didn’t lead the world in crappy defense. With another year of seasoning under Pelini’s system, there’s every reason to think this team will get better. In 2007 when teams went through the Husker defense quicker than a pizza at a Weight Watchers convention, there was often a lack of passion, fire and purpose. Last year’s team played hard but not always smart. To that end, Pelini added: “Part of that is coaching. Part of that is players being accountable.” Even in the era of high scoring Big 12 offenses, part of slowing them down is executing assignments.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The rise and fall of Nebraska's rivalry games
The term “dog days of summer” is normally associated with Major League Baseball pennant races but it can apply to college football too.
Here we are in the second week of July. Most teams are a few weeks away from reporting for fall practice. You’ll get a smattering of games on Labor Day weekend and thereafter the schedule gets into full bloom.
For us Husker fans, Lincoln Journal Star columnist Steve Sipple had a palate-whetting blog entry pertaining to the notion of “rivalries” in sports but specifically college football. Sipple, who has done an outstanding job of covering Husker football for many years, addressed a statement that Kansas head coach Mark Mangino made on ESPN that answered the question of who is Kansas’ more heated rivalry, Kansas State or Missouri?
“We have a great rivalry in-state with Kansas State as well,” Mangino said. “But I think our fan base has made it pretty clear to me that the Missouri game is very important.”
When I think of rivalry, I mostly think of a few things: a) There is definite polarization as in there’s no way in hell you could root for the other team, b) The game usually means something when the two teams play, and c) Fans will watch the game even if they don’t care about either team.
Michigan-Ohio State, Alabama-Auburn, Texas-Oklahoma and others fit that description. OK, sure, you can say Harvard-Yale but how many people are going to drop whatever they are doing to watch that game? Since I have lived much of my life in Northern California (save for four years while attending the University of Nebraska), I have found it also comical how Cal-Stanford is called “The Big Game.”
Sure, there was the game in 1982. After Stanford had taken a 20-19 lead on a field goal with four seconds left in the game, the Golden Bears used five lateral passes on the ensuing kickoff return to score the winning touchdown and earn a 25-20 victory. Members of the Stanford Band had come onto the field midway through the return, believing that the game was over, which added to the ensuing confusion. The game might be a rivalry but it is hardly big because unless you live in Northern California and have a rooting interest in either team, you’re not going to watch it.
For years, Nebraska was rivals with Oklahoma. The interesting thing is that OU has generally considered Texas its biggest rival but Nebraska-Oklahoma was the traditional game that took place the day after Thanksgiving. Plus, both teams were good at the same time for many years, combining for 12 National Championship (OU has seven, NU has five) and dominated the Big Eight conference, which has since expanded to the Big 12.
With that expansion, both teams play each other two years out of every four since Nebraska is in the Big 12 North and Oklahoma is in the Big 12 South. Since 1993, the two clubs have only share two good seasons (2001 and to a lesser extent 2006). OU suffered some fallow years from 1994-1998 before Bob Stoops arrived to resurrect the program. Nebraska suffered mostly subpar years from 2002-2007 but appears to be on its way back to prominence under Bo Pelini.
Colorado, Kansas State and Missouri have had elements of the notion “rivalry” with Nebraska the last 15 or so years as the meetings have been testy at times. Bill McCartney was known for “red lettering” Nebraska on the schedule but a segment of Husker fans even to this day do not consider it a rivalry.
I would sort of disagree with that notion. Since 1993, the two teams have met 17 times with Nebraska winning 12 games but six by a touchdown or less and eight by ten points or fewer. To take it a step further, did you see CU’s 62-36 blowout over the unbeaten Huskers in 2001 or NU’s 30-3 blowout in 2005 coming?
Kansas State made a tremendous turnaround under Bill Snyder (now back for his second stint after replacing Ron Prince). The Wildcats defeated Nebraska 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2004. However, it should also be pointed out that the only one of those Husker teams that finished in the top ten was the 2000 club that went 11-2. The 2004 and 2007 Huskers went 5-6 and 5-7 respectively and were the worst in post Bob Devaney history. The 2007 Nebraska team trounced the Wildcats 73-31.
Missouri has been mostly fair-to-middlin before having a breakout 12-2 season in 2007. The 2008 campaign came with a lot of hype and while 10-4 and Big 12 North title is not a failure per se, it was not the enormous success most envisioned. Missouri beat Nebraska in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008. Two of those wins were Bill Callahan teams (2005 and 2007) while the 2008 team had a lot of Callahan remnants. The timing of that game also came before Nebraska finished its season winning six of its final seven games.
As for Missouri, other than 1997, the Tigers were routinely hammered by the best of Nebraska. K-State was also routinely exposed by the best Nebraska teams as well.
Granted, getting blown out by the Huskers from 1993-1997 was hardly a disgrace but Colorado, Kansas State and Missouri’s success against Nebraska have almost as much to do with the Huskers fall as it does their rise.
Point being, of the three, Colorado is the closest thing to a rivalry because they have battled the Huskers close consistently when they were in their prime. Plus, the aforementioned 2001 game between the two teams sent Nebraska into a tailspin.
That said, I don't think Nebraska has a true rival. If they played Oklahoma every year like they did in the Big Eight, then I believe it'd be one of the best rivalry games in the country no matter if its one sided or not.The Huskers have had so much success over the years against the five other North teams, I don't consider them as a rival in the truest sense.
Here we are in the second week of July. Most teams are a few weeks away from reporting for fall practice. You’ll get a smattering of games on Labor Day weekend and thereafter the schedule gets into full bloom.
For us Husker fans, Lincoln Journal Star columnist Steve Sipple had a palate-whetting blog entry pertaining to the notion of “rivalries” in sports but specifically college football. Sipple, who has done an outstanding job of covering Husker football for many years, addressed a statement that Kansas head coach Mark Mangino made on ESPN that answered the question of who is Kansas’ more heated rivalry, Kansas State or Missouri?
“We have a great rivalry in-state with Kansas State as well,” Mangino said. “But I think our fan base has made it pretty clear to me that the Missouri game is very important.”
When I think of rivalry, I mostly think of a few things: a) There is definite polarization as in there’s no way in hell you could root for the other team, b) The game usually means something when the two teams play, and c) Fans will watch the game even if they don’t care about either team.
Michigan-Ohio State, Alabama-Auburn, Texas-Oklahoma and others fit that description. OK, sure, you can say Harvard-Yale but how many people are going to drop whatever they are doing to watch that game? Since I have lived much of my life in Northern California (save for four years while attending the University of Nebraska), I have found it also comical how Cal-Stanford is called “The Big Game.”
Sure, there was the game in 1982. After Stanford had taken a 20-19 lead on a field goal with four seconds left in the game, the Golden Bears used five lateral passes on the ensuing kickoff return to score the winning touchdown and earn a 25-20 victory. Members of the Stanford Band had come onto the field midway through the return, believing that the game was over, which added to the ensuing confusion. The game might be a rivalry but it is hardly big because unless you live in Northern California and have a rooting interest in either team, you’re not going to watch it.
For years, Nebraska was rivals with Oklahoma. The interesting thing is that OU has generally considered Texas its biggest rival but Nebraska-Oklahoma was the traditional game that took place the day after Thanksgiving. Plus, both teams were good at the same time for many years, combining for 12 National Championship (OU has seven, NU has five) and dominated the Big Eight conference, which has since expanded to the Big 12.
With that expansion, both teams play each other two years out of every four since Nebraska is in the Big 12 North and Oklahoma is in the Big 12 South. Since 1993, the two clubs have only share two good seasons (2001 and to a lesser extent 2006). OU suffered some fallow years from 1994-1998 before Bob Stoops arrived to resurrect the program. Nebraska suffered mostly subpar years from 2002-2007 but appears to be on its way back to prominence under Bo Pelini.
Colorado, Kansas State and Missouri have had elements of the notion “rivalry” with Nebraska the last 15 or so years as the meetings have been testy at times. Bill McCartney was known for “red lettering” Nebraska on the schedule but a segment of Husker fans even to this day do not consider it a rivalry.
I would sort of disagree with that notion. Since 1993, the two teams have met 17 times with Nebraska winning 12 games but six by a touchdown or less and eight by ten points or fewer. To take it a step further, did you see CU’s 62-36 blowout over the unbeaten Huskers in 2001 or NU’s 30-3 blowout in 2005 coming?
Kansas State made a tremendous turnaround under Bill Snyder (now back for his second stint after replacing Ron Prince). The Wildcats defeated Nebraska 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2004. However, it should also be pointed out that the only one of those Husker teams that finished in the top ten was the 2000 club that went 11-2. The 2004 and 2007 Huskers went 5-6 and 5-7 respectively and were the worst in post Bob Devaney history. The 2007 Nebraska team trounced the Wildcats 73-31.
Missouri has been mostly fair-to-middlin before having a breakout 12-2 season in 2007. The 2008 campaign came with a lot of hype and while 10-4 and Big 12 North title is not a failure per se, it was not the enormous success most envisioned. Missouri beat Nebraska in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008. Two of those wins were Bill Callahan teams (2005 and 2007) while the 2008 team had a lot of Callahan remnants. The timing of that game also came before Nebraska finished its season winning six of its final seven games.
As for Missouri, other than 1997, the Tigers were routinely hammered by the best of Nebraska. K-State was also routinely exposed by the best Nebraska teams as well.
Granted, getting blown out by the Huskers from 1993-1997 was hardly a disgrace but Colorado, Kansas State and Missouri’s success against Nebraska have almost as much to do with the Huskers fall as it does their rise.
Point being, of the three, Colorado is the closest thing to a rivalry because they have battled the Huskers close consistently when they were in their prime. Plus, the aforementioned 2001 game between the two teams sent Nebraska into a tailspin.
That said, I don't think Nebraska has a true rival. If they played Oklahoma every year like they did in the Big Eight, then I believe it'd be one of the best rivalry games in the country no matter if its one sided or not.The Huskers have had so much success over the years against the five other North teams, I don't consider them as a rival in the truest sense.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Best conference another debate to hit full force
There are sure things in life like death and taxes. In college football, there are sure debates such as “let’s have a playoff instead of the BCS.”
Another discussion that is certain to come up is “which conference is the best?” Most people seem to be saying Big 12 or SEC. Pac-10 folks will argue that they are the best based on their 5-0 bowl game record last season. The Big Ten has taken plenty of hits based on Ohio State’s consecutive National Championship Game blowout losses (41-14 to Florida and 38-24 to LSU).
The truth of the matter is that the best conference changes every year or every few years. It’s cyclical. Right now, the perception is that the SEC and Big 12 are the best from top to bottom.
Pac 10 folks will argue their 5-0 bowl game record of last year and that USC could beat the best of either conference. For starters, the 5-0 bowl game record is a great achievement after a subpar out of conference season. However, let’s also remember that Oregon defeated an Oklahoma State team in a game where starting quarterback Zac Robinson got injured and while Oregon and/or California is legitimately the second best Pac-10 team, Oklahoma State was the fourth best team in the Big 12 South (a six team division). Cal defeated Miami in the Emerald Bowl but let’s face it, these are your brothers Hurricanes.
Individually, there’s no doubt that USC can beat the best of any conference on a given day but are you going to sit here and tell me that Cal is better than Georgia or Alabama, no I’m not buying it. Are you going to tell me that Washington would beat Vanderbilt, the two worst in the Pac 10 and SEC respective? No, not buying it. Baylor, which was tied with Texas A&M at 4-8 for the second worst Big 12 record, defeated Washington State 10-7 on its home field. Washington State was the second worst in the Pac 10.
The Big 10 has been a punching bag in the national media based on Ohio State’s aforementioned failures. However, keep in mind, the Buckeyes lost 24-20 to Texas (a team some feel got snubbed out of the National Title game). Yes, Ohio State lost but it’s not like they got outclassed.
Besides Ohio State, the Big 10 has had its moments with Michigan and Penn State winning New Year's Day games over the SEC a few years ago and Iowa beating up South Carolina last year. Wisconsin has always played the SEC tough and Michigan State wasn't horrible in last year's Capital One Bowl loss to a superior Georgia team.
Another discussion that is certain to come up is “which conference is the best?” Most people seem to be saying Big 12 or SEC. Pac-10 folks will argue that they are the best based on their 5-0 bowl game record last season. The Big Ten has taken plenty of hits based on Ohio State’s consecutive National Championship Game blowout losses (41-14 to Florida and 38-24 to LSU).
The truth of the matter is that the best conference changes every year or every few years. It’s cyclical. Right now, the perception is that the SEC and Big 12 are the best from top to bottom.
Pac 10 folks will argue their 5-0 bowl game record of last year and that USC could beat the best of either conference. For starters, the 5-0 bowl game record is a great achievement after a subpar out of conference season. However, let’s also remember that Oregon defeated an Oklahoma State team in a game where starting quarterback Zac Robinson got injured and while Oregon and/or California is legitimately the second best Pac-10 team, Oklahoma State was the fourth best team in the Big 12 South (a six team division). Cal defeated Miami in the Emerald Bowl but let’s face it, these are your brothers Hurricanes.
Individually, there’s no doubt that USC can beat the best of any conference on a given day but are you going to sit here and tell me that Cal is better than Georgia or Alabama, no I’m not buying it. Are you going to tell me that Washington would beat Vanderbilt, the two worst in the Pac 10 and SEC respective? No, not buying it. Baylor, which was tied with Texas A&M at 4-8 for the second worst Big 12 record, defeated Washington State 10-7 on its home field. Washington State was the second worst in the Pac 10.
The Big 10 has been a punching bag in the national media based on Ohio State’s aforementioned failures. However, keep in mind, the Buckeyes lost 24-20 to Texas (a team some feel got snubbed out of the National Title game). Yes, Ohio State lost but it’s not like they got outclassed.
Besides Ohio State, the Big 10 has had its moments with Michigan and Penn State winning New Year's Day games over the SEC a few years ago and Iowa beating up South Carolina last year. Wisconsin has always played the SEC tough and Michigan State wasn't horrible in last year's Capital One Bowl loss to a superior Georgia team.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Man of Steele has a good history with Husker predictions
The Man of Steele
His magazine has yet to hit the racks in stores but Phil Steele ranks the Nebraska football team at No. 22 in his preseason poll and the Huskers are his pick to represent the North division in the Big 12 title game.
Again, I seldom put stock into preseason polls because they are nothing more than conjecture but Steele has a very accurate recent history on predicting the Huskers season. In 2004, he forecasted a struggling season – the Huskers went 5-6. In 2005, Steele predicted improvement and the return to a bowl game – the Huskers went 8-4 including an Alamo Bowl win over Michigan. In 2006, Steele forecasted a Big 12 North title that Nebraska eventually won. In 2007, he was one of only a few not to predict a Big 12 North crown. Of course, little did he know that the Huskers would implode to a 5-7 finish.
In 2008, Steele listed the Huskers on his Most Improved list. Nebraska went 9-4 including a Gator Bowl win over Clemson. For 2009, he predicts a division title and a berth in the Holiday Bowl against California. Such a scenario would mean the Huskers reach the Big 12 title game before losing.
Steele stated: “Nebraska has just 13 returning starters and loses 23 lettermen including their record setting QB which ties them for the 3rd least experienced team in the Big 12. They do have the top 4 tacklers back and I rate their O-line and D-line each #2 in the Big 12 overall giving them the best line play in the North (by far). While Nebraska did not play in the Big 12 title game they were +112 ypg in conf play (best of the North) and tied for the North Title despite being -11 in TO's. The schedule is not easy but the Huskers have the most talent of the North teams this year.”
The root of Huskers fans concern as well as many preseason prognosticators favoring Kansas stems from the Jayhawks returning Todd Reesing at quarterback and the Huskers losing quarterback Joe Ganz.
The most puzzling pick Steele makes is Kansas State finishing tied for second. Again, Steele is extremely reputable but I simply do not see it happening unless head coach Bill Snyder pulls a magic wand. The Wildcats might beat a team you do not think they’ll beat but they are going to have a tough time.
Iowa State, forget it.
Much has been made of Missouri losing its playmaking skill position players but despite the propaganda that Mizzu has athletes at their disposal, will they develop into winners? Keep in mind, much of the Tigers recent rise has been a result of Nebraska’s demise in the Bill Callahan years.
Colorado will beat a team somewhere that you don’t think they will. Dan Hawkins can recruit but the Buffaloes remain very much a hit or miss proposition.
As much as I would like to say NU is the best team in the North, it is a hard team to predict because any time you replace a starting quarterback, no matter how good he looks in the spring game it’s a tough prediction.
I think the coaches will have time to feel out Lee's strengths and weakness in the first few games and will give him the best opportunity to succeed in the tougher games later. The staff probably learned a good lesson last year (after the Missouri game) and tailored the offense to better fit Ganz and the rest of the crew. They'll have that experience from the get-go this year. Much of it, if not all, rests with the offensive line.
Defensively, the best news was Ndamukong Suh opting to stay in school. Suh gives the Huskers that one player that affects the other team’s game plans. The defense should also be better as a whole if for no other reason than having a full season to absorb Bo Pelini’s defense.
Steele has an uncanny record. He's been pretty much on point for picking the North the last several years. I do not see that as cause-and-effect relationship, but I take it as a good sign.
Right now I don't see Nebraska deserving to be ranked higher than the low 20's. Getting above that level will be a challenge. At first glance, I think we have a chance against all teams except OU but I think we'll wind up with three to four losses. That will put us in the low 20's getting above that will require that we do well against our better opponents. Let’s face it, getting hammered by OU and Missouri combined with a slow start against Virginia Tech probably cost the Huskers a spot in the final Top 25 poll despite their strong finish.
His magazine has yet to hit the racks in stores but Phil Steele ranks the Nebraska football team at No. 22 in his preseason poll and the Huskers are his pick to represent the North division in the Big 12 title game.
Again, I seldom put stock into preseason polls because they are nothing more than conjecture but Steele has a very accurate recent history on predicting the Huskers season. In 2004, he forecasted a struggling season – the Huskers went 5-6. In 2005, Steele predicted improvement and the return to a bowl game – the Huskers went 8-4 including an Alamo Bowl win over Michigan. In 2006, Steele forecasted a Big 12 North title that Nebraska eventually won. In 2007, he was one of only a few not to predict a Big 12 North crown. Of course, little did he know that the Huskers would implode to a 5-7 finish.
In 2008, Steele listed the Huskers on his Most Improved list. Nebraska went 9-4 including a Gator Bowl win over Clemson. For 2009, he predicts a division title and a berth in the Holiday Bowl against California. Such a scenario would mean the Huskers reach the Big 12 title game before losing.
Steele stated: “Nebraska has just 13 returning starters and loses 23 lettermen including their record setting QB which ties them for the 3rd least experienced team in the Big 12. They do have the top 4 tacklers back and I rate their O-line and D-line each #2 in the Big 12 overall giving them the best line play in the North (by far). While Nebraska did not play in the Big 12 title game they were +112 ypg in conf play (best of the North) and tied for the North Title despite being -11 in TO's. The schedule is not easy but the Huskers have the most talent of the North teams this year.”
The root of Huskers fans concern as well as many preseason prognosticators favoring Kansas stems from the Jayhawks returning Todd Reesing at quarterback and the Huskers losing quarterback Joe Ganz.
The most puzzling pick Steele makes is Kansas State finishing tied for second. Again, Steele is extremely reputable but I simply do not see it happening unless head coach Bill Snyder pulls a magic wand. The Wildcats might beat a team you do not think they’ll beat but they are going to have a tough time.
Iowa State, forget it.
Much has been made of Missouri losing its playmaking skill position players but despite the propaganda that Mizzu has athletes at their disposal, will they develop into winners? Keep in mind, much of the Tigers recent rise has been a result of Nebraska’s demise in the Bill Callahan years.
Colorado will beat a team somewhere that you don’t think they will. Dan Hawkins can recruit but the Buffaloes remain very much a hit or miss proposition.
As much as I would like to say NU is the best team in the North, it is a hard team to predict because any time you replace a starting quarterback, no matter how good he looks in the spring game it’s a tough prediction.
I think the coaches will have time to feel out Lee's strengths and weakness in the first few games and will give him the best opportunity to succeed in the tougher games later. The staff probably learned a good lesson last year (after the Missouri game) and tailored the offense to better fit Ganz and the rest of the crew. They'll have that experience from the get-go this year. Much of it, if not all, rests with the offensive line.
Defensively, the best news was Ndamukong Suh opting to stay in school. Suh gives the Huskers that one player that affects the other team’s game plans. The defense should also be better as a whole if for no other reason than having a full season to absorb Bo Pelini’s defense.
Steele has an uncanny record. He's been pretty much on point for picking the North the last several years. I do not see that as cause-and-effect relationship, but I take it as a good sign.
Right now I don't see Nebraska deserving to be ranked higher than the low 20's. Getting above that level will be a challenge. At first glance, I think we have a chance against all teams except OU but I think we'll wind up with three to four losses. That will put us in the low 20's getting above that will require that we do well against our better opponents. Let’s face it, getting hammered by OU and Missouri combined with a slow start against Virginia Tech probably cost the Huskers a spot in the final Top 25 poll despite their strong finish.
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