Highway6

10 hours ago, 1995 Redux said:

I think it is the only trophy that has an actual reason to exist out of the 3 that have been conjured up since we joined the Big Ten.

I am firmly in this camp. The heroes trophy is sponsored by Hy-Vee for God sakes.

7 hours ago, VectorVictor said:

Highway, you happen to have those Reddit forums where they're talking about keeping this alive? I'd like to help if I could. 

 

This is probably the best trophy game we've ever had (screw the Mizzery Bell--half the time people forgot we even had the damn thing) and it would be good for the fanbases to keep it going. 

 

 

Just curious to see what everybody thinks of it. Seems there is three crowds. The crowd that loves and will protect it's namesake until the day they die. The second crowd either doesn't care about  it or thinks it is rather dumb. And the third, well, has no idea what it is. 

 

For those in the third group:

 

The five dollar bits of broken chair was created over a Twitter conversation with @fauxpelini and the Minnesota Gopher's mascot account. Essentially the wager was that if Nebraska won, Goldy would pay faux $5. If Minnesota won, then faux would get to smash a chair over the gophers head (classic faux). Goldy Gopher replied, agreeing to the terms of the bet under the stipulation they could make a rivalry trophy out the broken pieces. Thus the $5BoBC was born. Goldy created the trophy and it was actually played for and exchanged between teams in 2014 and 2015. Last year both universities killed the rivalry trophy. Going so far as to deny its existence.  

 

Here is a piece BRT wrote about the demise of $5BoBC. Compelling stuff. http://bigredturtle.com/death-5-dollar-bits-broken-chair-trophy-legacy-remembered/

 

There is a couple of husker groups on Reddit pooling their resources to create a new one to exchange this year. At the very least they are trying to find a Minnesota fan group who is willing to uphold the tradition. Also, it is worth noting that the trophy has stretched far beyond the two fan bases and spilled into CFB message boards everywhere. 

 

So, my question is, what is everybody's thoughts on this illustrious piece of college football hardware?

Taking my 5 year old son to this game....first game as father and son. I can barely hold in my excitement

If you can handle the chaos of walking through packed corridors, I recommend taking him to stand by the ropes as the Huskers do the tunnel walk. It is something he will never forget.

 

 

 

 

Nebraska should be fine in the opener. If we struggle against the Red Wolves then it's going to be a very long and distressing season.

Nothing against Arkansas State, but if we are saying it will be a tough game, then it will be a LONG season.

 

 

Any longer than 2010 when SDSU gave us a huge scare?

 

Or longer than 2014 when Ameeracle saved us against McNeese State?

 

What about 2013 when Wyoming had a chance to win on a Hail Mary?

 

 

 

Arky State is better than any of those teams were. They've won the Sun Belt something 5 out of the last 6 years, and it's rare for any P5 team to beat them by more than 3 scores. They're good. Doesn't mean we'll be bad.

Yes, it does.

 

We really need to stop jocking up these freaking teams.

 

All those seasons you mentioned were lame. So yes, this season will be lame if the Ark St game is like that.

 

If Ark State is "good" what is Oregon? The best team ever?

 

Ark State lost at home to Toledo last year by 21 and to (road) Utah State by like 14...The only Power 5 team they played last year beat them by like 40.

Good is subjective. Although I don't think anybody is necessarily saying Ark State is a good team. But a team that has the ability to give Nebby a challenge as opposed to a complete cupcake.

 

It seems that the majority of Husker fans view this game as a typical season opener beat down. Which might not be the case.

 

Personally, I think the spread is a pretty acurate representation of what the final score will show. Just don't be surprise if the score is 14-7 at half with Nebraska pulling away in the second half.

 

Keep in mind, there are almost no guarantees anymore in the world of college football.

 

I've said this for so long but it really makes no sense why we keep scheduling games against G5 teams that tend to traditionally be much better than the other G5 teams. There is absolutely zero reason to schedule teams like Fresno State (multiple NFL QBs in the 2000s and have been very competitive), Northern Illinois (BCS game 4 years ago..) Cincinnati (could've played in a NC in 2007, multiple BCS/big bowl appearances, double digit win seasons), and Arkansas State (regularly atop the Sun Belt).

 

We get no more credit for this game than we do for beating teams like New Mexico State, Coastal Carolina, Charlotte, Liberty, UTEP, Georgia State, Idaho, etc. Schedule those teams you know will be horrendous no matter what, paste them by 50, and move on. Zero reason to play 4 games against teams that tend to put together pretty good years on a consistent basis. These are the teams that win games against P5's. Same reason I don't want to see us schedule teams like Toledo or Navy (or really anyone in the AAC) in the future.

 

IDK, if the goal is to just win the easy ones and to struggle with anyone with a heartbeat and get to 9 meaningless wins, then I would agree with you. But if the goal is to test your team and make them better so that maybe you're better prepared to face stiffer challenges later in the season, then I'd prefer we don't just play patsys early in the year. If we struggle with any G5 teams, good or bad, then we're not where we want to be anyway.

As a side note, scheduling these games can often come down to availability. Power five schools need to fill on average seven home game slots. So these smaller schools are a hot commodity and the bigger schools will get into bidding wars for their game. Hence the reason we are paying ark state 1.65 milly to grace memerial stadium with their squad.

 

Ps. Shout out to arky state fan for that breakdown. Best of luck to you sept. 2 my guy.

 

 

Nebraska should be fine in the opener. If we struggle against the Red Wolves then it's going to be a very long and distressing season.

Nothing against Arkansas State, but if we are saying it will be a tough game, then it will be a LONG season.

 

 

Any longer than 2010 when SDSU gave us a huge scare?

 

Or longer than 2014 when Ameeracle saved us against McNeese State?

 

What about 2013 when Wyoming had a chance to win on a Hail Mary?

 

 

 

Arky State is better than any of those teams were. They've won the Sun Belt something 5 out of the last 6 years, and it's rare for any P5 team to beat them by more than 3 scores. They're good. Doesn't mean we'll be bad.

Correct.

 

Point is, Ark State should not be glossed over. They have won nine straight. Their d line is solid and Nebraska has some new key components on both offense and defense.

 

The general consensus is that this is going to be a typical home opener blow out and it's not. Might even be a close game.

 

Lastly, I think a game like this is ten times more valuable than playing a fcs cupcake to start the season.

 

Oregon is playing an fcs team week one while Nebraska is playing a decent fbs team. Nebraska will be more prepared.

I love the prospect of Nebraska being tested a little bit right out of the gate. I think this sort of matchup bodes well for Nebraska moving through the Non Con. Also, Nebby playing a mid major conference champion is a much better tune up then Oregon playing a 6 win FCS team the week before Oregon/Neb. This sort of scheduling gives us an opportunity to get on a roll early in the season.

 

http://bigredturtle.com/arkansas-state-perfect-season-opener-nebraska/

I don't think it's about Riley -- I think they're just really sore about how they were treated by Bo. While he was here and HC of the program, they held back. Now that he's gone, it'll be a long, slow dribble. Given what they experienced with Bo, I don't think they're likely to simply let go. They'll often reminisce about how it was with so and so coach, and whether that's good or bad or neutral is going to be up to the coach. But I understand how we'd be tired of hearing about it, as a fanbase. Fortunately, it's not their main thing, either.

 

Sports journalists care about how they're treated and will often make a point of it. When Herman implemented those strange rules at Texas recently, they all chimed in and threw some shade his way.

sometimes sports journalist also carry themselves in a somewhat pretentious manner.

Also, they can pull the be nice to me or I'm gonna write about it card from time time.

Similar to Lena Dunham's social media presence.

Just my take though.

I'm so over the Bo Pelini hyperbol, but at least it is better than talking about a recruits twitter feed.

Do you guys think Iowa has a right to claim their 1958 "National Championship"?

 

 

 

http://bigredturtle.com/iowa-hawkeyes-quest-real-national-championship/

I'm somewhat impressed this thread didn't turn into a Martinez slaughter house. I would be willing to bet if this article came out after his senior year, the responses might be leaning in a different direction. Time always allows you to be more objective and appreciative it seems. Anyways, this has been a solid discussion thus far.

The guy writing the article is off on some nitty gritty factual details.

 

Taylor was injured in the Missouri game - I think right before half, not during the K-State game. He also saw his passing regress quite a bit his sophomore year, instead of improve like the author claims. That was due mostly to his turf toe adjusting his footwork which resulted in the worst examples of his mocked throwing motion (How To Throw the Perfect Pass), but he did improve in his awareness and decision-making (Rex Burkhead pass to the flat against OSU).

 

 

Anyways, healthy freshman Taylor Martinez was absolutely an elite playmaker, and junior Martinez was borderline elite as a quarterback (voted first team all conference by the coaches, which says a lot), but still mistake prone.

 

(imo)

While I agree with some of the points you made. Taylor's passing stats improved ever year freshman through junior. Some of this could be attributed to a slightly less mobile TM relying on the passing game more. But statistically speaking he became a better passer year after year.

I agree, would have been awesome to see 4 solid years.

Came across this just now in the husker subreddit. Pretty funny take on whether or not Taylor Martinez was elite. Kind of refreshing compared to all the other husker talk.

 

http://bigredturtle.com/embrace-debate-taylor-martinez-elite/

 

Players kneel for prayer after the game, nobody bats an eye.

Players kneel for the national anthem, everyone loses their minds.

Traditions are weird.

 

Taking a knee for prayer is a sign of respect for a higher power.

Taking a knee for this countrys national anthem and all who have died to make a football game possible shows a total lack of it.

This. End thread.

Grey leaf spot is a very aggressive turf disease in the fall that is difficult to identify. It can wipe a stand of rye grass out in a matter of days.

Looks like grey leaf spot disease on perennial rye grass.

I know it has been said already, but did anybody else just FEEL that punt return from DPE coming? I could just feel it in my gut we needed to make a play and he has a knack for doing that.

I felt it. I felt it in my bones

I'm sure Gerry had the outside on that and took a bad angle

Gerry has had a terrible outing outside of one play.

Gerry out of position again.

Armstrong stared that down the whole way

We are going to have to put more guys around the line of scrimmage aND pray to stop the pass. Cbs 10 yards of line of scrimage on 3Rd and 4?

 

While I don't agree with Gerry getting ejected for his hit, I think your article misses some key points.

First, Gerry wasn't ejected for hitting with the crown of the helmet. There are two different rules for targeting: Targeting and Making Forcible Contact With the Crown of the Helmet (Rule 9-1-3) and Targeting and Making Forcible Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player (Rule 9-1-4). Gerry was ejected for the second rule and while I dont agree with him being ejected for the hit, he certainly made helmet to helmet contact with the receiver in both videos.

Second, as a football official, I don't think that negative press is scaring referees into doing their jobs properly. I think most referees are doing the best they can with the rule book that they have been given. To say that we need to scrap the targeting rule because it is being applied too strictly in the name of player safety is ridiculous. If the NCAA wants to work for the safety of the players they wont eliminate the rule all together, but continue making incremental changes until its being applied more appropriately and consistently. Howeva.

Many of the calls that officials make are subjective. Holding, pass interference, and targeting all require officials to make split second decisions on whether or not to throw the flag and sometimes mistakes are made but the official should always err on the side of player safety. Everybody should care more about player safety, instead of poo-pooing torn ligaments, broken clavicles and players carted off the field on stretchers. Peoples lives can be ruined from concussions and the issue shouldnt be taken lightly.

I'll never understand someone like you. They got the call wrong. The rule as it stands is complete bull****. Player safety is important and you should know that there will always be injuries with a contact sport. You can not legislate injuries out of the game. Please understand that. A player should be ejected and penalized for malicious intent. Not for making a football play. If you cannot understand that, please take your latte and leave.

 

 

6, I hear you....but for not one media member to even ask a question about it is really odd, don't you think?

Yes, I agree.

Cause it is not like the media here is all a bunch of "good ole boys", you know? Dirk would ask, Mike Welch would ask, Sharp might ask, Sam would ask...Just seems odd

which makes me think it was perceived as something minor. Or perhaps maybe Tommy was scheduled to leave practice early anyways and it coincided with Langsdorf giving him the 411 on his decision making. Who knows. I was just curious if anyone else was aware of what happened.