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Assorted leftover sports news
Thought I would throw together everything left over from the Thanksgiving weekend:
-All indications are that Nebraska is going to the Gator Bowl. That invitation could come as early as today. Nebraska’s opponent though is still up in the air. Indications are that the Gator Bowl would like to have Florida State as an opponent. If that doesn’t work out then Clemson or Georgia Tech would be the likely opponents. If for some strange reason, Nebraska does not go to the Gator Bowl, the Alamo Bowl is the next likely destination.
-The football team won the co-Big 12 North championship due to Missouri’s loss to Kansas over the weekend. The Tigers and Huskers have identical 5-3 records, but of course due to the shellacking Mizzou put on Nebraska, they will go to the Big 12 title game. I find it funny that if Nebraska were the one going to the title game that Nebraska fans wouldn’t be claiming a co-championship but since we’re not going and we’re looking for anything positive, we’re latching onto that like its our own. Small victories, I know...small victories.
-As Mr. Wilson stated here the volleyball team will host the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA volleyball tournament starting this Friday. Nebraska’s opponent is Liberty. UAB and Missouri State are the two other teams in NU’s 4 team regional. Nebraska should have no trouble winning the 1st two rounds. Then it would be on to Washington for the Sweet 16 and Elite 8. Nebraska is the #4 overall seed in the tournament and Washington (the #5 seed) would be a potential Elite 8 opponent. The Final 4 this year is at the Qwest Center in Omaha.
-The Nebraska mens basketball team defeated Creighton on Saturday 54-52. It looked bleak in the 1st half but the Cornhuskers roared back in the 2nd half and with stood a late CU charge to remain undefeated on the season. There was supposed to be a lengthy column over the weekend about the team but it was pushed aside after the dramatic ending to the football game. The outlook for the rest of the non-conference season is easy, 8 left. 6 are at home and against opponents that NU should easily take care of but this Sunday NU starts a 2 game west coast road trip. The first is a return trip to Tempe to play Arizona State in the Pac 10/Big 12 Hardwood Series and then a week later NU plays at Oregon State. NU beat Arizona State last year in Lincoln but they are 5-1 this year. Oregon State is 1-4 so far on the year. If the Huskers can split that series it should be smooth sailing going into the conference opener against Missouri.
-Outside of Lincoln, the Creighton mens soccer team won their 3rd round game against Connecticut 2-1 and are 1 win away from going to the final 4. A win in Maryland will do the trick for CU. No small task in itself.
-Outside of Nebraska, Oklahoma got into the Big 12 title game despite losing to Texas. I think its a horrible decision but it is what it is.
That will do it for now. Hope everybody had a good holiday.
Huskers at Home
The Nebraska volleyball team will host first and second round NCAA tournament games this weekend. Tickets went on sale last night at 10:00PM. I can’t tell if any tickets are left or not because the online form sucks rocks. I assume tickets have sold out by now.
My dad and I both ended up with the maximum allotment of 4 tickets. I don’t know if we will actually use all 8 tickets. If we don’t, I’ll check back here to see if anybody wants them.
Taking the Boy Scout Motto Too Far?
I’m all for being proactive rather than reactive. But I can’t figure out how it makes sense for Lincoln’s road crews to lay down anti-icing solution even in beautiful weather. Sure the stuff is relatively cheap ($0.05 per gallon). But it isn’t free, and more importantly, neither is the labor. Public Works Roger Tiedeman says it’s to help prevent frost build-up on bridges and arterials. I guess I didn’t realize that frosty arterials were a major cause of fender benders.
In any event, now that December has arrived it’s much easier for the City to sell the idea that once-per-week preventative sprayings serve a useful purpose. The deeper into winter we get, the more likely that a “winter weather event”—snow, sleet, freezing rain—will occur within the next week (the stated duration of effectiveness of the solution). And let’s be fair: a big chunk of Public Works’ motivation is their woeful performance and the subsequent public outcry a couple winters back. By being (appearing?) on the ball, Public Works may be saving itself from a lot of flak later on. Or maybe not. We Lincolnites like to complain about the snow removal crews. There’s always something.
Maybe we should shift our complaints to the meteorologists. Public Works could be much more efficient if Ken Siemek could just get his four-week weather models perfected.
Where in Lincoln is this?
Ahhhh, after a hiatus of a few weeks, Lincoln epicurean West A Dad correctly identified the location of this picture. Good going West A Dad/Dude!
A classic ending
What a game to end the 2008 regular season. Nebraska beats Colorado 40-31 highlighted by a 57 yard FG from Alex Henry and then Suh (no, I’m not going to attempt to spell his first name and I’m too lazy to copy and paste) gets a INT return for a TD and in the process he runs over Colorado QB Cody Hawkins.
I’ve seen 60+ games in Memorial Stadium since my first in 1997. And there have not been many moments that tops that 10 minutes between the Henry’s FG and Suh’s TD.
Here are some of the one’s I remember, in no particular order:
1) Crouch’s TD catch against OU in 2001. (my all time favorite Husker moment)
2) Notre Dame game in 2001 (only about the 1st Q...the rest of the game was a snooze)
3) Pregame Rice after September 11th. (my all time favorite tunnel walk)
4) Colorado 2000 and the final drive.
5) Pittsburgh blocked FG in 2005 (only because I was in the locker room area right after it happened and it was pretty cool to see)
6) The USC game in 2007. It had been so long since the stadium was that amped up for a game. It was truly electric for the early part of the game.
7) Swift’s punt return for a TD in the Virgina Tech game this year.
Those are some of the few that I remember. Like I said, I only started going to games in 1997 and then I was in marching band starting in 1998. Then being part of the Husker Radio group for a couple years I have seen my fair share.
So I ask you, what is one of your fondest memories of a game attended at Memorial Stadium?
Last Game of the Season
Most of you know that I am a soccer referee. Last night marked—I think—the last game of my fall soccer season. The season ended on a good note.
Overall it was a great season, and the latter part of the year brought three firsts. I had the opportunity to center the U17B Nebraska State Cup championship game. I was part of a crew on my first televised match, a Missouri Valley Conference womens match shown on Fox Sports Midwest. And just last night I was on the crew of my first NCAA tournament match. In addition, I completed the requirements to upgrade to a Grade 6 USSF referee. I should have finished that upgrade years ago; oh well, I won’t allow the same thing to happen with my next upgrade.
If any of you folks have ever thought about becoming a soccer referee at any level, please let me know. I would be happy to help you get started. There is a new referee clinic coming up in December.
Catalyst Done?
Exactly one year ago I commented on the fact that little had been said about the Catalyst One highrise project. I posted a few other times on the same topic. So it was with very little surprise that I read this morning that the project is gasping for air.
In all fairness, the project sounded ridiculously huge and expensive from the get-go. I was never optimistic that the end result would be nearly as grand as the proposal. But I did figure we would end up with something. And by “something” I don’t mean two bugly blacktop parking lots.
At this point I say we cut our losses and go with Karin Dalziel’s original idea:
The cynical side of me believes these will stay parking lots for years.
I say we build a big, adult friendly park - with grown up sized swings and slides, and a place to play 4 square. That’d be fun! (I admit I’m a bit weird, though)
SPAM from the Mayor
Give the gift of mystery meat this year. The Mayor’s office has issued a SPAM challenge in which they are matching donated cans of SPAM to the Food Bank. Sounds like a cool idea to me.
Hat Tip Nikkidemas.
Lincoln’s Next Lively Debate?
Lincolnites love a good local debate. Could Mayor Beutler’s proposal to legalize automated traffic cameras be the next fiery topic?
Nationwide, traffic cameras are loved and reviled. Municipalities love ‘em. Traffic cameras increase revenue for relatively little cost. Revenue increases even more when municipalities shorten yellow light times to increase red light violations. A few communities have been caught doing that. Motorists hate them. Nobody likes being caught in the act of doing something you’ve always gotten away with in the past. Plus, all those new brake lights lead to substantial increases in rear-end collisions in communities that install traffic cameras. Moreover, plenty of folks think it’s a little creepy to be watched by cameras wherever they go.
Before Lincoln installs traffic enforcement cameras, Mayor Beutler and other local officials are going to have to prove two things: first, that there is a problem; and second, that traffic cameras are the best solution. Maybe both are true, maybe they aren’t. Presumably we will learn more if the topic makes it onto the Unicameral’s agenda, and again if the City Council takes up the issue.
What is your gut reaction to the idea of using traffic enforcement cameras in Lincoln, whether for speeding, red light running, or other offenses?
Mr. T’s World Collapses
I have some bad news for Mr. T and you other Catty Girls fans out there: the ladies are calling it quits. Today’s was their last newspaper column.
To whom will Lincolnites now turn for their fashion and etiquette advice? I’ll start off the nominations with the power duo of Jack Mitchell and Matt Olberding. Will you gents step up and guide Lincolnites from the fashion abyss?
Nominate your favorites here.
Need a Job? Come to Lincoln
Lincoln is listed as the 15th best city for finding a job, with our 3.3% unemployment rate and 1.4% job growth. I haven’t exactly followed the employment classifieds lately. Which industries or businesses in Lincoln are the best places for non-Lincolnites to look if they were to consider coming here to find a job?
Where Outside of Lincoln Is This?
While flipping through Flickr this morning I came across this photo:
Do you know where it was taken?
Christmas in Uni Place
Lincolnite Angie Parde dropped me a note and asked me to let everybody know about an upcoming event in Uni Place:
Historic University Place Holiday Event will take place on November 29th from 1:00 to 3:00. Santa and his LIVE reindeer will be in the area for the little ones to see. Come shop the unique and fun shops in the UNI place area and Tiaras—the new children’s boutique will have Christmas cookies, prizes, drawings, and gift with purchase.
Phone: 402-466-2100 for more information.
We may have to take Robbie to see the reindeer. He has been fascinated with reindeer ever since seeing the reindeer at the zoo trying to rid themselves of their antlers. Robbie likes to re-enact the event by banging his head on furniture and saying “Reindeer bang! Ouch!”
Where in Lincoln is this?
Edit: Thou dost know thine realm of Lincoln well Sir Gene. Long live Sir Gene!
Football Final Firsts
The fall sports season came to a close with 6 classes crowing champions on the Memorial Stadium turf. I had made my picks here and I got one champion right, Class D1 Howells.
Class A:
Millard West def Millard South 21-8 (Millard West’s 2nd Class A championship, 2001)
Dubbed the Battle for “Q” St. after the street they both are on in Omaha.
Class B:
Aurora def. Beatrice 20-14 (Aurora’s first HS football championship)
Aurora shocked the whole state in the semifinals with a 37-33 victory over McCook
Class C1:
Pierce def. Boys Town 20-10 (Back to back state titles and the schools 3rd overall)
Class C2:
Blue Hill def. (Fremont) Archbishop Bergan 14-0 (After 2 consecutive runner up finishes, Blue Hill finally gets their first state title in football)
This is Blue Hill’s first state title in any sport since 1928 when they won the Class H boys basketball title.
Class D1:
Howells def. Axtell 46-21 (Howells’ 7th state title and first since their 6 straight from 00-05)
Class D2:
Ewing def. Humphrey St. Francis 49-24 (Ewing’s first state football championship)
3 schools won their first state title in football and 3 other schools (Axtell, Boys Town, Beatrice) would have won their first had they won.
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