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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.
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?
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.
Bowl Bound Big Red
Well Nebraska will be going to another bowl game, its 45th in school history (5th all time) and with the demise of Michigan, (who’s 33 year bowl streak will come to an end) Nebraska’s record 35 straight bowl years is safe for now. (Next closest is Florida State at 27 including this year)
Nebraska became eligible after their best win of the year over Kansas, 45-35 and then followed that up with a resounding victory over Kansas State 56-28. The Huskers are seemingly riding high after winning the Kansas championship and have all the momentum going into the post-Thanksgiving matchup with Colorado.
So what bowl game will we be going to? It seems that Nebraska is being eyed by 3 bowls: the Sun, Alamo, and Gator Bowls are seriously looking at the Big Red. Out of the 3 right now the Sun is looking the most likely. Brian Christopherson details the bowl scenarios here and what Brian says is that while the Sun Bowl is the most likely destination, the Gator Bowl has a tough decision on its hands. The Gator Bowl has a tie in with Notre Dame and might not be able to pass up on the Irish being bowl eligible and if there are teams out there that are a bigger draw than Nebraska, its Notre Dame. A 7-5 Notre Dame and a 8-3 Nebraska is splitting hairs amazingly enough.
The Gator Bowl would be a HUGE coup for Nebraska and 1st year HC Bo Pelini. Not only would it be the first time that Nebraska has ever been to the Gator Bowl (true story) but it would be a New Years Day bowl game and I think anybody would have been happy with that going into the season. The Gator Bowl is widely considered one of the best bowls outside of the BCS games. The Sun Bowl has hosted Nebraska twice in its history, once in 1969 and once in 1980. The Huskers have a long history of going to the Alamo Bowl including their amazing matchup with Michigan in 2005. You remember how that one ended right? Boy and getting to 9 wins would be SO huge for the Huskers coming into the year i think you could realistically say 8. I think 7 to 8 wins was the common thought in Husker Nation but I don’t see how you could be encouraged after a 9 win season.
Vollyball winners and a trip to Memorial Stadium
The state volleyball finals were this past weekend in Lincoln. And once again the finals were held at the Coliseum. Why this wasn’t implemented a long time ago I have no idea. The same goes for football playing at Memorial. If there is one place girls dream of playing volleyball its the Coliseum. Its a great idea and should be used whenever possible.
Class A:
Papillion La-Vista defeats Papillion La-Vista South (3-0) (2nd straight and 5th state title)
Lincoln Southwest wins the 3rd place match
Class B:
Lincoln Pius X defeats Northwest (3-0) (A 3-peat for the Thunderbolts, and the schools 6th overall)
Interesting note on Pius’ 6 state titles. All 6 of them have come in 3-peats. 96-98 and now 06-08. Look for Pius to win 3 more in 2016-2018
Class C1:
Columbus Scotus defeats Grand Island Central Catholic (3-0) (13th state title in this volleyball powerhouse)
This was Scotus’ first trip back to the tourney after 18 straight trips from 89-06 and an astounding 15 straight trips to the finals
Class C2:
Ravenna defeats Cambridge (3-1) (1st state title in volleyball)
Twice a bridesmaid in the last 5 years Ravenna finally hoists the trophy
Class D1:
Giltner defeats Bertrand (3-1) (5th state title, 1st since 1998)
Their first trip to Lincoln since 1999.
Class D2:
Ewing defeats Chambers (3-0) (1st state title in school history)
Just like Ravenna, they were runners-up the past two years and they finally get the job done.
State football finals are this week and here’s the schedule:
Thursday:
10:30am - Class D2: Humphrey St. Francis vs. Ewing
7:00pm - Class D1: Axtell vs. Howells
Friday:
10:30am - Class C2: Archbishop Bergan vs. Blue Hill
7:00pm - Class A: Millard West vs. Millard South
Saturday:
10:30am - Class C1: Pierce vs. Boys Town
7:00pm - Class B: Beatrice vs. Aurora
Prep Pigskin Prognostications
On Thursday classes C1-D2 will begin their playoffs and on Halloween night the 2008 Class A and B state football playoffs will begin. (Does anybody else find it odd that the NSAA chose to start the Class A and B playoffs on Halloween night?)
Here are my picks:
Class A:
Title game: Omaha Creighton Prep over Millard South
Dark Horse: Elkhorn
Longshot pick: Millard South
Lincoln team with best shot: Lincoln NorthStar
Class B:
Title game: McCook over Lincoln Pius X
Dark Horse: Anybody on the east side of the bracket
Longshot pick: Anybody on the west side of the bracket
Lincoln (area) team with the best shot: (other than Pius) Waverly
Class C1:
Title game: Hastings St. Cecilia over Boys Town
Dark horse: Grand Island Central Catholic
Longshot pick: Broken Bow
Lincoln (area) team with the best shot: Fairbury (a case could be made for Lincoln Lutheran cause they are in Lincoln, but 4-4 isn’t going to cut it.
Class C2:
Title game: Elm Creek over Aquinas Catholic
Dark horse: Kearney Catholic or Camridge
Longshot pick: Ravenna
Lincoln (area) team with the best shot: Elmwood-Murdock (Lincoln Christian could have a case, but Murdock is the better choice)
Class D1:
Title game: Howells over Maxwell
Dark horse: Clearwater/Orchard
Longshot pick: Hartington
Lincoln (area) team with the best shot: Freeman (a.k.a. Adams, NE)
Class D2:
Title game: Humphry St. Francis over Anselmo-Merna
Dark horse: Bruning-Davenport
Longshot pick: Hampton
Lincoln (area) team with the best shot: Sterling
Run run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me, I’m…
Jarren Heng of Norfolk Catholic and Kelli Budd of Omaha Marian.
The two fastest runners in Friday’s state cross country meet in Kearney. Heng won Class C and had the fastest boys time overall, Budd won Class A and fastest girl overall.
In Class A:
Girls
Norfolk (team champion) (first state championship in XC in school history)
Kelli Budd - Marian (individual champion)
Boys
Millard West (team champion) (first state championship in XC in school history)
Parker Schoen - Lincoln Southwest (individual champion)
In Class B:
Girls
Scottsbluff (team champion) (first girls state championship in XC in school history)
Aubree Worden - Scottsbluff (individual champion)
Boys
Ogallala (team champion) (4th boys state championship in XC in school history, first since 2006)
Joshua Harsin - Blair (individual champion)
In Class C:
Girls
Pierce (team champion) (first girls state championship in XC in school history)
Erin Curran - Wahoo (individual champion)
Boys
Norfolk Catholic (team champion) (3rd straight boys state championship in XC in school history)
Jarren Heng (individual champion)
In Class D:
Girls
Crofton (team champion) (3rd straight and 12th girls state championship in XC)
Andrea Weeder - Lindsay Holy Family (individual champion)
Boys
Lindsay Holy Family (team champion) (1st ever state championship in XC in school history)
Kevin Weeder - Lindsay Holy Family (individual champion)
Trophy time
Lincoln Southwest picked up their first state championship in softball on Friday as they defeated Class A power Papillion LaVista with a 4-3 victory in Hastings. Lincoln Southwest avenged a loss to the Monarchs last year in the title game. This is only the schools 3rd state title in any sport and the first in a girls sport. (2007 & 2008 Boys Golf champion)
Other softball champions:
Blair (Class B)
Yutan/Mead (Class C)
Lincoln Pius X won the Class B boys tennis title on Friday as well. The thunderbolts edged Omaha Skutt 40 1/2 to 36 points. Lincoln Pius X got a #1 doubles victory from Kyle Conzemius and Garrett Sutton and completed an undefeated season. This is Pius’ 9th boys tennis title and first since 2001.
Other tennis champions:
Omaha Creighton Prep (Class A)
Girls Golf champions:
Omaha Marian (Class A)
Scottsbluff (Class B)
Kearney Catholic (Class C)
Cross Country next weekend. Football wraps up their regular season next week as well. Volleyball postseason play begins after November 1st.
Husker Heartbreak
Well...what is there to say? That was a tough one to swallow. Huskers lose 37-31 in OT down in Lubbock. I don’t think we can lay the blame on Joe on this one. Huskers had several opportunities and couldn’t capitalize. Penalties (8 for 55 isn’t terrible but they came at really bad times), ineffectiveness in the red zone on two drives, blown coverages, 4th and 1, etc.
I know moral victories aren’t the Nebraska way but you have to be encouraged the way that 1) Nebraska bounced back in the 4th quarter and 2) improved from the Mizzou game.
I didn’t get to watch this one on TV but heard the whole thing on the radio (which by the way has VASTLY improved since Rose left and Sharpe was given the job) and everybody that I’ve heard and talked to said there was improvement.
Nebraska NEEDS to hold court against ISU and Baylor. The huskers took a step forward today and losing to ISU and Baylor would just be a terrible setback. Nebraska has a CHANCE to win every game except the Oklahoma game. If we played like we did today, we have that chance.
55-28…
...Missouri.
That’s what an AP writer says the final score will be this week. The line right now is Missouri a 10 1/2 point favorite.
Can anybody remember when an opponent was this heavily favored coming into Memorial Stadium?
I don’t have a good feeling about this one folks. What do you think?
The Hokie Hussle
Now that we’ve reached the quarter pole of the NU season we have a very good idea where NU is at going into Big 12 play…
HELP!!!!!
Hurricanes coming to Nebraska
Nope. Gustav is gone. Ike will turn east after it makes landfall (or at least that’s what they’re projecting)
Nope, this is of the Miami variety.
http://www.huskerextra.com/articles/2008/09/11/football/doc48c9d0c91b8f4308280916.txt
Hardly unfamiliar with playing big games against one another, Nebraska and Miami have agreed to meet in 2014 and 2015.
The agreement has the Hurricanes coming to Lincoln on Sept. 20, 2014, and the Huskers going to Miami on Sept. 12, 2015.
This comes a day after it was revealed that Nebraska and Fresno State have reached a deal to play in 2011, 2014 and 2016.
A formal announcement of these games — likely along with another series — is expected soon, Husker officials say.
At this point, Nebraska’s nonconference schedule for 2014 has Miami at home and a road trip to Fresno State. The trip to Miami in 2015 is joined by a home game against Southern Miss.
Miami and Nebraska have four times met in bowl games that have determined the national champion, most recently in the Rose Bowl after the 2001 season that was won by the Hurricanes 37-14.
It was Miami that denied Tom Osborne a national title in the 1984 Orange Bowl, a 31-30 game decided by a failed Husker two-point conversion in the final minute.
And it was Miami that Osborne triumphed over 10 years later in a 24-17 comeback that gave the former Husker head coach his first national championship.
The all-time series between the programs is knotted at 5. The programs met four times in the Orange Bowl, once in the Rose Bowl and once in the Gotham Bowl.
The four regular-season contests between the schools came in 1951, 1953, 1975 and 1976. The Huskers are 3-0 against Miami in Lincoln, winning 20-16 in 1953, 31-16 in 1975 and 17-9 in 1976.
I find it funny that people are cheering this scheduling. Its always been Nebraska’s policy to schedule one big name opponent a year. The Fresno State games are an interesting one. Fresno State is a team that is always willing to play anyone anywhere. They’re a real feisty team, it won’t be an easy one. Hopefully Miami gets itself off the mat in time for the game.
The dawn of a NU era.
Bo knows Nebraska. Bo knows defense. Bo knows motivation…
but does Bo know head coaching?
We’re going to find out here soon enough as Nebraska kicks off their 08 season against Western Michigan on Saturday.
People want this season to start, people need this season to start. I’ve heard people say “I can’t remember being so excited about a season!” Well...I can. I can remember a couple Bill Callahan seasons that there was fever pitch excitement. Remember all those recruits that we had coming in? Remember this fancy new offense that was being implemented? Remember this excitement that we had for the eminent return to glory that was Nebraska football? Yeah...not so much.
I have found a couple things interesting though. There have been a couple moves by Bo that don’t seem like a big deal...but we all know that anything and everything that has to do with Nebraska football is a big deal.
1) Bo wore a blue shirt to the press conference on Tuesday. *GASP* I know...it was BLUE! No Nebraska insignia ANYWHERE! But wait...where is the anger? Where is the call to arms to get our head coach to wear red/white? WHY IS HIS SHIRT BLUE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Of course, I’m over reacting but Nebraska football fans should be used to that...they do it all the time. But I seem to remember one certain coach of a previous era doing the same exact thing and the whole god damn state was up in arms. I seem to remember Bill Callahan being asked questions...DURING HIS WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE, about his attire. Where is the uproar now? I can hear it now: “Oh its Bo, it doesn’t matter.” or: “He can wear whatever he wants, just as long as he wins games.” Why the free pass for Bo and not for BC? I don’t get the double standard.
2) Bo hasn’t handed out the blackshirts yet. The iconic symbol of the starting defense that is a big piece of Nebraska tradition and source of pride is missing. Now wait just a tick...I thought Bo was being brought in because he understands the tradition? I thought that we were supposed to be getting back to our roots. How can we get back to our roots if we don’t have the blackshirts? Where is the outcry? Instead of mobs forming outside of Memorial Stadium, people are letting it be...in fact, they’re actually embracing the idea. “They should earn them!” “Its a privilege, not a right!” Heck, even Steve Sipple is on board. He wrote a whole damn column on it. Can you IMAGINE the outcry of the fans if Billy C had held the blackshirts back at the beginning of a season? Talk shows would be flooded with calls, the athletic department would have been flooded with emails, columnists would have roasted him till he was burnt to a crisp. But because its Bo...its ok. Is that what I’m hearing?
No, this isn’t an anti-Bo blog. Nor is it a pro-Callahan blog. I’m glad BC and SP are gone. I’m glad Bo and TO are here. But how quick we are to forget everything that we were so mad at when BC was here, when Bo seems to be doing the same exact thing...well...because its Bo. I guess my point is when things go wrong, and they’re more likely to go wrong than not, it doesn’t matter what your coach wears during the press conference, it doesn’t matter what color jersey they have on during practice, it doesn’t matter what the uniforms look like...its just a game. If we win, great. If we lose, so what. Its just a game.
“Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory.”
Nebraska to Beijing, China
The distance between Elkhorn, NE and Beijing, China is 6470.5556 miles but all it took Alice Schmidt was 800 meters in 2:00.46. Alice qualified tonight for the Olympics in the 800m after placing 2nd in the Olympic Trials. Alice is a graduate of Elkhorn High School in western Omaha and holds the girls all class state record in the 800m with a time of 2:12. She had an outstanding career at Elkhorn (part of 3 state track championships and 4x 800 meter winner) and North Carolina and now will run on the worlds biggest stage.
As a Elkhorn Antler alum and someone who has a younger brother who graduated and ran with Alice in high school, I am absolutely ecstatic about this. Alice is an absolutely outstanding athlete, student and person. Congrats Alice and go for the gold!
The CWS has gone to the dawgs
Fresno State that is. In one of the most amazing runs in NCAA sports history, Fresno State the #4 seed in the Long Beach State regional, defied all odds and won the College World Series.
This could quite possibly be one of the most amazing runs in college sports history.
The first #4 seeded team to ever reach the CWS.
The first team ever rated lower than #48 (in a 64 team field) to make it to an NCAA final.
Only the second national title in school history (softball in 1998)
Tied the record for most runs in a CWS (61)
Most losses by a CWS winner (31)
To put this in perspective, there are 16 #4 seeds in a regional. So technically these are the 16 lowest rated teams in the tournament. If you want to compare this to the Big Dance...its like 13 seed OR LOWER winning the NCAA tournament. George Mason was an 11 seed in the 2006 tournament. And they only made it to the national semifinals.
In my opinion I thought there would be no winner more unlikely than Oregon State the past two years but this trumps it ten fold.
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