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NFL Ramblings
Couple of thoughts on this week in the NFL:
-They dubbed it Super Bowl 41.5. Colts (7-0) vs. Patriots (8-0). The latest into the season two unbeaten teams have played. Rematch of the 2006 AFC Championship game (won by the colts) Patriots who have killed everybody this year. Colts who seem to be the team getting no respect even though they won the title last year. Patriots win the game 24-20. They were down by 10 with 8 mins. left and pretty boy Tom Brady leads them back. They won’t go undefeated. We get this every year. The Pats do look like the team to beat this year.
-Brett Favre. I was once asked which athlete you absolutely hate, but have to respect. For me, Brett Favre wins by a mile. As a vikings fan, I’ve seen this guy make way to many plays against Minnesota. Now you ask why I’m including him. He and the Packers beat KC today 33-22. Marking the first time Favre has beaten KC and now he has beaten every NFL team. For some reason that shocked me. I would have thought Brett would have done that already but I guess not.
-Antonio Cromartie. Who? Antonio Cromartie. He had the longest play in NFL history today as he took a missed FG 109 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first half. Ryan Longwell (who wasn’t long enough) just missed the FG and Cromartie caught it with his toe just inside the endzone and took it all the way. It beats 3 different plays in the 3 years that have went 108 yards. But...Cromartie was out done by…
-Adrian Peterson. I’m gonna try not to gush about this guy because I’m a Vikes fan. But this guy is unbelievable. Peterson set the single game rushing record today with 296 yards on 30 carries. He bested Jamal Lewis’ 2003 performance by 1 yard. On the season he has 1036 yards. Oh yeah, this was his 8th game ever in the NFL. He is 772 yards away from Eric Dickerson’s rookie rushing record and is on pace to go over 2000 yards and would be within shouting distance of Dickerson’s all time season rushing record of 2,105. He’s the first rookie to run for 2 200+ yard games in a season. His first came against the Bears earlier this year. To be honest, I thought his performance against the Bears was the better of the two performances but a record breaker is a record breaker. Boy did I hate watching him run against the huskers but do I love him in the purple and gold.
Lawrence Laugher
The massacre is finally over. Final tally 76-39.
Most points given up in Nebraska football history.
48 first half points, most given up in Nebraska football history.
Kansas scored a TD on 10 straight drives.
I turned it off after 28-14 cause I knew it was over.
Another interesting side note: Jim Rose did not call the game due to personal reasons. Greg Sharpe, who does Nebraska’s TV basketball play by play, filled in. Sharpe also called Nebraska’s spring game on TV that was broadcast on the NFL network. Rose did not feel well last week during the Texas broadcast as his voice was struggling all game. I have a hard time believing that this week is because of a sore voice. If it was sickness, then David Witty, vice president and general manager of the Husker Sports Network, probably would have told the LJS that it was the case. This is either 1) family matter or 2) work problem with a client or another co-worker. I didn’t listen to the pregame but apparently the broadcast was pretty mum on the subject.
It will be interesting to see if Jim-bo is back next week.
Black-tober
Whor.....errr....I mean Tex-ass 28 - Nebraska 25
A game effort from the boys today but it wasn't meant to be.
Nebraska's Defense in the month of October:
| Total | Rushing | Passing | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MU | 606 | 195 | 411 | 41 |
| OSU | 551 | 317 | 234 | 45 |
| TAM | 459 | 359 | 100 | 36 |
| UT | 544 | 363 | 181 | 28 |
| Total | 2160 | 1234 | 926 | 150 |
| Average | 540 | 308.5 | 231.5 | 37.5 |
Texas did what?
Not only did Texas beat Nebraska tonight for Nebraska’s first loss on the year, but they swept them. 3 sets. Yeah. No kidding.
No, I’m serious.
Consider this, before tonights match up with the whornes, Nebraska had won 19 matches. And had lost all of 1 set during the season (UCLA). That’s right, Nebraska 57, opponents 1.
A definite head scratcher tonight down in Austin.
The Godfather returns
Don Tom Osborne is back. Today he was named as the interim AD at UNL.
For a short period of time I think this is a good choice. Make everybody feel good about NU athletics again. Start the healing process of Husker Nation.
Will Callahan be his first mob hit?
Will he make Bo Pelini an offer he can’t refuse?
Who will be his Consigliere? And eventually take over the Husker family?
Pederson done
The most divisive figure in University of Nebraska athletics is gone. Steve Pederson was fired as athletic director today by Chancellor Harvey Pearlman.
Pearlman said his decision was made last Thursday, and he consulted the president of the University, JB Milliken, on Saturday.
I highly believe that Paul Meyers leaving was the last straw for Pederson. When the lead fund raiser for the Athletic Dept. leaves without good reason, there is obviously a problem.
Pearlman also says that no personnel changes will be made at this time.
Now the question is, who will be the interim AD? One was not named at the press conference. Who will be the permanent AD? Will Callahan and Co. keep their jobs for the rest of the week? rest of the month? rest of the season?
Even despite this news today, we still have an awful football team. Our defense is bad. Our offense is bad. The coaching staff still has seemed to have lost control of the team. Nothing has changed on the field. And nothing about todays announcement should change your opinion about how the football team has been performing.
Rumor Central
Again this is purely rumor.
Steve Pederson is out as AD and Tom Osborne will be the interim AD.
There was also rumor of a press conference tomorrow, nothing has been announced as of yet. I’ve seen rumors of coaching staff changes, nothing specific. But we can also guess who might be on the chopping block…
Monday Morning Update
No news is good news for Steve Pederson. Nothing has come out from a major news source that indicates anything is going to happen. The LJS has a story today that big time boosters are upset...but that’s understatement of the century.
I see the next 12 hours as being key for the life of this rumor. The journalistic types will do their digging today and if they can come up with a source, they’ll go with it. But if they can’t find anything, this might turn out to be a rumor started by some 16 y/o kid on his myspace page.
Again, this is all internet rumor. It looks like the source or the start of the rumor came from HuskersIllustrated. A pay website of the rivals network. On their pay message board, the Red Sea Scrolls, they had record number of users log on last night, and that would seem to be where the rumor originated, or at least started to spread.
Again, keep an eye on organizations like ESPN, OWH, and the LJS. This is where, if any, credible rumors will surface first.
Another Monday Morning update
“Jim Rose just said on KFAB that he spoke with Callahan last night at 10:15, and BC says he will not resign. No assistant coaches are resigning, either.
Rose also says Pederson will be on his radio show tonight, but will NOT be taking calls. Rose says SP WILL be answering ‘the tough questions’ from Lane Grindle, though.”
1) Jim Rose is the chief NU blow hard. Jim Rose is a PR man for the athletic dept. Jim Rose scratches their back, they scratch back. Don’t take anything he says without a grain of salt. Jim Rose won’t tell us any “breaking news” if its “bad news”
2) Pederson rarely takes phone calls on his show on the HSN anyway. If things are going good he’ll take them. But we all know that things haven’t been good lately.
3) Lane might ask some tough questions, but they aren’t the questions that we want to hear.
4) I have no doubt that Rose talked to Callahan. I have no doubt that BC said that. But I you aren’t going to hear him come out and say “I won’t resign, but I expect to be fired”
More to come.
Welcome to Pediocrity
No words can describe this. Mass chaos soon to come.
“I refuse to let this program gravitate to a level of mediocrity.”
-Steve Pederson 11/30/2003
I’m amazed
Seriously, I really didn’t think it would get this bad. I honestly didn’t. I mean Texas Tech 70-10, yeah...I could understand that. Kansas 40-15...I get it.
But, why am I amazed by this response by Husker Nation?
NU Miz-ery
41-6? Are you kidding me? Last time without a Touchdown since 2004? That was supposed to be one of the worst Defense’s in Division 1A. Chase Daniel not only throws for 400+ yards but runs like an old Mizzou QB, Brad Smith.
I’m done with Coach Coz. Has our D gotten progressively worse this year? It looks like it. Coach, if rushing 3 and dropping 8 back results in no pressure on the QB and their WR/TE’s are still wide open, here’s an idea...CHANGE THE GAME PLAN! Did we ever bring more than 3 guys on a pass rush throughout the game? If Coach Coz isn’t let go at the end of the season then coach Callahan needs to be held accountable. Here’s the problem, Billy C isn’t going anywhere. Save a 0’fer for the rest of the season, Coach Cally won’t be let go.
Something needs to change. Even the rosiest of rose colored glasses wearing fans has to admit that. So what is it?
Mike Gundy gone mad
After one of the most thrilling games in Oklahoma State history, head OSU coach Mike Gundy decided not to talk about the 49-45 final score of the game but to react to an article written in the Daily Oklahoman by Jenni Carlson. The article questions former starting quarterback Bobby Ried’s poor attitude.
I think it might be important to read both the article and watch the video. In the article, Carlson pretty much calls Reid lazy. Coach Gundy didn’t take to kindly to it.
Coach Gundy has a point in this tirade, college athletes should not be put under the same scrutiny that pro athletes do. If an athlete is not performing on the field, that’s one thing, but if to call him lazy, that seems like a real low blow to me. But, on the same token, Barry Tramel of the Daily Oklahoman has an excellent point in an article a day later…
You can’t on one hand treat football players like princes, with everything from opulent training tables to enrollment favors, then claim they’re just regular students.
I’m having mixed emotions about all of this. Gundy has a great point. But at the same time, college athletics (football especially) is creeping closer and closer to deserving pro attention. But with the pro attention, you get pro scrutiny.
U-S-C-ya
Its a chant that the USC volleyball fans will chant in place of Bump-Set-Spike. U. S. C-ya. And the men of Troy said c-ya to Nebraska in the biggest game to hit Memorial Stadium in a long time. I have to admit that I was more amped for that game than I had been a long time. 4 hours before kickoff downtown it seemed like it was an hour before kickoff. The overpass was packed. I couldn’t believe it. I never got to experience pregame activities like most people do when I went to Nebraska games. The electricity in the air was awesome. It was all set up, the crowd was loud, I couldn’t hear the band during pregame and then....
*thud*
Yeah we were in the game for a while. And even at halftime, getting the ball to start the 2nd half even the most optimistic fan had to feel there was a chance. But in the end, it just wasn’t meant to be. Nebraska doesn’t belong on the national stage is what this game showed us. In 4 B.C., we see that we are no better off than where we were when F.S. left. Is that too high of expectations? Ah....program expectations. Remember when no less than a national title would do in Nebraska? Now we have postgame celebrations a week after we win a Big 12 NORTH championship. Hell, even when T.O was coach it was, win the Big 8 and everything else will take care of itself.
Fireworks, flyovers, music blasting through the speakers before EVERY SINGLE GOD DAMN PLAY...what is this...the NBA on turf?
Sorry Husker Nation, take off the rose colored glasses and see who the Big Red really is.
5 more years…
Unlike one certain unlikeable figurehead who’s time is running out to be in charge, another “head of state” was given an extension on how long he is in power. Steve Pederson was given a 5 year contract extension by Harvey Perlman last week that will keep the divisive figure as Nebraska athletics head honcho until 2013. I waited a while on the blog because I wanted to gage the pulse of Husker Nation in the most credible sources out there...fan message boards (insert rim shot here).
And to my astonishment, it seems that the majority of Nebraskan’s favor the extension. It is definitely quite a shift from that November day, as Nebraska was retiring Bob Browns number and when Steve Pederson stepped to the mic and was roundly met with 76,000+ boos.
What say you?
40 days and counting
It has been far too long since my last blog so I thought since I got some free time, I’d do one.
We are 40 days away from the “lid-lifter” (as Jim Rose would put it) of the 07-08 college football season for Nebraska. Nevada comes to town Sept. 1st. This will not be an easy season for the Big Red. A very very difficult non-conference schedule and our two key conference games on the road (Mizzou and Tex-ass).
Lets first start with the rankings. I’ve seen anywhere from 15-18 as the Huskers starting point for the season. The polls have yet to come out but all the preseason publications have put the huskers in the low teens to start the year. More importantly and closer to home, the big 12 media has picked NU to finish 2nd in the Big 12 North to Missouri. Missouri, who returns 15 starters, and experienced QB Chase Daniel are the picks over NU, their young backfield, and depleted defensive line. Oh yeah...we also have a QB battle with Joe Ganz and Sam Keller. Keller, of course, the bally-hooed transfer from ASU hasn’t seen the field in quite some time. True he burned it up in the Pac “we don’t play any defense” 10 but why oh why didn’t he keep his job? Now I didn’t expect Coach C to name a starter this early and he won’t name a starter till probably the Tuesday before the game. The huskers are putting all their eggs into this basket by bringing in Keller. The Huskers want a Big 12 championship and a BCS game this year, they need one.
The non-con is laced with potential pitfalls. Nevada (8-5 and qualified for the MPC computers bowl and narrowly lost to Thug U.), @ Wake Forrest (11-3 and a surprising ACC championship and narrowly losing to Louisville in the Orange Bowl) and Ball St. which should be the easiest of the 4.
Oh yeah...I forgot...USC. This is the game that Nebraska has been waiting for for a long time. Not since 1998 has a top 10 team (Washington) visited Lincoln in the non conference and there hasn’t been a top 25 team since Notre Dame in 2001. And even then that ND team was no problem for the Big Red. But do you all remember that atmosphere for the ND game? It all started with the record attendance at ESPN college gameday, the Red Out and the ND fumble on what...the first play? 2nd? The atmosphere on that day was one that I will never forget. The USC game...has the potential to be even greater than that. All the pieces are in place for NU to pull off the upset. The eyes of the college football nation will be on Lincoln that day. Night game, ABC, ESPN gameday in town. All the makings...But will NU come through? Just like Nebraska of the 90’s, USC doesn’t rebuild, they reload. And oh boy are they loaded. USC went 11-2 last year, drilled Michigan in the Rose Bowl, and probably return a preseason Heisman candidate in John David Booty. Sure they lost WR Dwayne Jarret who drilled Nebraska last year, sure they lost WR Steve Smith who drilled Nebraska last year but by no means are they going to have a dip in talent. Nebraska played it very very very VERY conservatively last year at USC and by in large I agreed with that strategy. But there is no way that they can implore that same strategy when the Men of Troy come calling September 15th. This game is the first true measuring stick of BC’s “rebuild Nebraska” project. Put a poor showing on the field in front of a national audience and we’re no closer to national prominence than we were two years ago. Play with USC from kickoff to the final gun, win or lose, Nebraska will be on the right track. In some ways, this game might mean more than a Big 12 championship. This game will shape Nebraska’s national image for another couple of years. And with Billy C’s contract due up for negotiation very soon, this is a very very very important game for the well being of Nebraska.
More on Nebraska in the coming days.
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