The Big Red blues
I was thinking about it this morning, but this has been a pretty bad year for NU athletics.
-Coming off some huge expectations after the previous years 9-5 season, the football team embarrassed themselves on national TV against USC and had an October to forget and went 5-7.
-Turmoil in the Athletic Department led to the firing of AD Steve Pederson and then Bill Callahan.
-After winning the previous years national title, more huge expectations were placed on the NU Volleyball team and they seemingly had things rolling until October 24th rolled around and they seemed oh so vulnerable after that. The season came to an end 1 step short of the final 4.
-The NU volleyball program has become one of the athletic departments shining beacons over the years. Superb on and off the court and in the classroom but when Sarah Pavan fired a shot over the bow that “people didn’t understand her” and “felt that she was never acknowledged by her teammates.” Then in the next sentence says that she doesn’t want the spotlight. Well then Coach John Cook made a strange move by barring her from practicing with the team during the spring season essentially alienating one of, if not the greatest, player ever to play at Nebraska. All the sudden, volleyball was cast in a negative light. Hell hath frozen over.
-The mens basketball team had some highlights on the year but it was the same ole same ole from the hardwood and the Huskers once again missed the big dance and had to settle for the NIT. Doc Sadler seems to have the program going in the right direction but fans aren’t going to the games and the athletic department still treats basketball as a second rate sport.
-The basketball team made the spotlight again recently after the botched recruitment of highly touted recruit Roburt Sallie. This not only puts the program and the athletic department in a bad light, it really puts a hamper on next years class and may have set Doc back ANOTHER year.
-The bowling team made the news. Yep, the bowling team. They were hosting the NCAA championships, #1 team in the nation, #1 seed after NCAA qualifying and...boom, gutter ball. To call it anything other than a choke job would be putting it lightly.
-The softball team had an abysmal year. Finishing below .500 and last place in the conference.
-The baseball team actually was probably a bright spot this year, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. Predicted to finish 6th in the 10 team Big 12, not much was expected from the diamond boys this year. But they stayed in contention for the Big 12 regular season title all year long but they wilted home losing their last 3 in regular season play, 1-2 in the big 12 tournament and a disappointing 1-2 in regional play. A power outage at the plate did them in.
There were some positives:
-The wrestling team surprised a lot of people this year finishing in 2nd place at the national duals upsetting the likes of Penn St and Minnesota. A 4th place at the NCAA championships was a great finish to the season.
-The womens basketball team qualified for the NCAA tournament again, winning a game in the big dance and giving top seed Maryland a real scare in the 2nd round.
-Dusty Jonas, of the mens track and field team, jumped 7 feet 8 and 3/4 inches at the Big 12 track and field meet last month. Not only did it win him the Big 12 title but it gave him the highest jump in the world this year.
The Comments
Mr. Wilson says Boy, when you put it June 4, 2008 at 9:11am
Boy, when you put it all together like that, the year does look kind of crappy. Any predictions on next year? It could go just as poorly, if the cards fall right (er, wrong). Football is a question mark, volleyball is a question mark, men’s basketball is a question mark ...
D.M.B. says RE: Boy, when you put it June 4, 2008 at 5:53pm
It really is shaping up to be a poor year next year too. The bright spot could be the football team. They’ll be competitive and I think that’s what people want.
I didn’t get into it above but the volleyball team, IMO, will see a significant drop (But for them that’s like 8 or 9 losses) The whole setter situation is going to put a hamper on the VB team.
But yes, this will be another “down” year for Nebraska athletics.
Mr. T says I can't say I follow June 4, 2008 at 2:12pm
I can’t say I follow husker sports nearly as much and as well as you do. However for me the thing I remember the most of this past year was the Sarah Pavan situation. What a lousy way to end her time with us here.
BTW since you are the “DMB” Sports Report the Dave Matthews solo CD “Some Devil” is really great. Just sort of discovered that a few months ago and listen to it regularly. Can’t say I am a huge fan of the DMBand though.
D.M.B. says RE: I can't say I follow June 4, 2008 at 5:49pm
Agreed. Its a very good CD, he’ll probably put another one out here in the next couple of years. If you’re looking for something else, I’d suggest Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds. They’ve put out two live CD’s. Live @ Luther College and Live @ Radio City Music Hall. Both very good CD’s.
buddy says RE: The Big Red blues June 5, 2008 at 8:50am
IF Sydney Anderson is eligible (their
new setter), the VB team should be
just fine....Sadler’s boys should be
good with the 3 redshirted freshmen,
but they will be small, real small,
without Maric....disappointing that
Sadler couldn’t at least find a
serviceable JUCO big man to play
at the five....
Mr. T says RE: The Big Red blues June 5, 2008 at 6:43pm
By the way, what is your prediction on Celtics v Lakers? And who do you actually want to win?
D.M.B. says RE: The Big Red blues June 7, 2008 at 1:10am
I’d like to see the Celtics win. I’m a minnesota fan so I really like KG.
jake rhymes with cake says Gymnastics?! June 5, 2008 at 11:42pm
hey, what about he NU Gymnastics teams. the women are always the top in the country, and the men are progressively getting better every year. next year, the men should dominate with all the amazing recruits coming in.
ah yes, gymnastics, the often overlooked collegiate sport that Title IX would love to do away with… ugh!