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.
The Comments
West A Dad says Jacksonville is nice November 19, 2008 at 2:55pm
but I’d rather they play the “Gator Bowl” in Gainesville. The Swamp is a cool stadium.
D.M.B. says RE: Jacksonville is nice November 19, 2008 at 4:11pm
Whole heartedly agree to that. If I ever get to take that trip to all the college football stadiums that i want to go to, that’d be at the top of my list.
West A Dad says Driving back from the November 20, 2008 at 7:48am
Orange Bowl one year, my Dad and I stopped in Tallahassee and Gainesville. FSU has done a lot with their stadium since the mid 80’s but the Swamp was better, even being empty while I toured it.
foxspit says Interesting to watch those Michigan November 19, 2008 at 6:21pm
Interesting to watch those Michigan highlights. Makes you appreciate the Pelini defense, doesn’t it?
D.M.B. says RE: Interesting to watch those Michigan November 20, 2008 at 2:33am
Especially the Manningham TD where Herbie says: “Courtney Grixby never turned his head to see the football”
I didn’t think we had an awful defense that year. Michigan was a year away from their big year. That was a good Michigan team. Unfortunately it was the best win of the Callahan era.
foxspit says Yeah, Herbstreit's play calling was November 20, 2008 at 9:10am
Yeah, Herbstreit’s play calling was so biased in that game. Just awful.
No, the defense wasn’t as bad as it would ultimately get. I was surprised at some of the plays they made that, a year or two later, they weren’t making.
D.M.B. says RE: Yeah, Herbstreit's play calling was November 20, 2008 at 1:32pm
I dunno. They were pretty nice to us seeing as we were starting to be perceived as a team on the rise. If anything as a tOSU alum, Herbie should have been cheering against Michigan.
Gene says Any of those bowl games November 20, 2008 at 9:31am
Any of those bowl games would be awesome - the Gator being my dream situation.
I’ve been following a couple blogs written by Michigan fans. What those people are going through is painful and reminds me a lot of the Bill Callahan situation, right down to having a total doofus for an AD.