huskerhaze

http://www.realfootball365.com/college/art...ways081206.html Long season for Cornhusker castaways It's been a long season for the castaways. No man on a football field is on an island like the cornerback, out in coverage on a wide receiver. For Nebraska's Cortney Grixby and Andre Jones, it must feel like their little plots are drifting further and further away from the mainland of Husker Nation all the time. They've had a rough season: eight opposing receivers had their best games of the year at the expense of the Blackshirt secondary. And just when they were starting to clamp down in the last stretch of the season (Colorado was held to just 131 yards through the air), Oklahoma wideout Malcolm Kelly dominated them again, catching 10 balls for 142 yards and two scores. And neither player has been getting the support of the fan base NU players are used to. Grixby was much maligned last year as the Achilles' heel of the pass coverage, and when Andre Jones was brought in from Fresno City College, many speculated he would take over Grixby's job as the season progressed. But when Zack Bowman, the Huskers' No. 1 corner, went down with a season-ending injury, Jones was thrust into the starting position opposite Grixby instead. He quickly found that the learning curve from the junior college ranks to Division I football is a steep one, and soon enough unhappy fans were proclaiming him a bust, too. People began calling for more playing time from Rickey Thenarse and Major Culbert, two true freshmen who looked very good in limited playing time. But to be fair, Grixby and Jones haven't gotten much help from the pass rush this year. A Nebraska defensive line that led the nation in sacks last year slipped to 59th this season despite having four senior starters, including all-conference end Adam Carriker, who many speculate will be a first-day pick in the spring NFL draft. Ola Dagunduro and Barry Cryer, new starters at the tackle positions, recorded 50 fewer tackles, three fewer tackles for loss, and one fewer sack than their counterparts from last year. Linebacker Corey McKeon, who had 22 TFLs and seven sacks last year as a big part of the Blackshirt pass rush, managed only a single sack this season. The safety counterparts in the backfield haven't been as solid, either. Both Andrew Shanle and Tierre Green are first-year starters, and combined they were unable to fill the void left by Daniel Bullocks, last year's defensive general who is playing on Sundays for the Detroit Lions now. Grixby and Jones often found themselves without help over the top covering wideouts half a foot taller than themselves, a recipe for certain disaster. In actuality, Andre Jones was a crucial contributor this year. He leads the team in tackles with 58, 47 of them solo tackles. His lone interception came in the end zone to stop a crucial drive in a game against Kansas early in the year that the Huskers ended up needing overtime to win. Grixby has shined at times, too. He's seventh on the team in tackles (right ahead of Carriker) and his 10 pass breakups lead the team and equal his production of last year, as well as the production of any other player from last year (except Bowman). Which brings us to the situation next year. Both Grixby and Jones are juniors who will definitely be returning for their senior seasons, but neither one may be starting come kickoff of the opener against Nevada. Bowman eschewed entering the NFL despite rumors to the contrary, opting to return and spend another year honing his technique, and he will almost certainly reclaim his starting position. This will force one of the current starters, likely Jones, into the nickel role, but Grixby might be headed for the dime. Junior college standout Armando Murillo from Eastern Arizona committed to NU's current recruiting class and will transfer in January so he can be in Lincoln in time for spring practices. With only the bowl game against Auburn remaining, Grixby and Jones will have to use their final opportunity to launch them into spring practice's competition for the starting jobs. Last year's bowl game against Michigan was Bowman's coming-out party, where he shut down Chad Henne and the Wolverines with two pass breakups and an interception. Perhaps the Cotton Bowl and the Tigers will help Grixby or Jones do the same, because the island is going to be a crowded one come next year.

They Hire from within!!??!! http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2690489 Miami didn't look far for a coach to rebuild its struggling football program. Randy Shannon, the Hurricanes' defensive coordinator the last six seasons, has agreed to a four-year contract to become the school's new head coach, a source close to Shannon said Thursday night. The source said Shannon was offered the job on Thursday and accepted later in the day. Financial terms weren't immediately known, but Shannon's annual salary is believed to be more than $1 million per season. A Miami official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, also confirmed the hiring. Shannon, a popular former player and longtime assistant, becomes only the sixth African-American coach in Division I-A football. "It's the guy that I wanted. It's the guy a lot of us wanted," Miami quarterback Kirby Freeman told The Associated Press. "Randy's been extremely sincere to this football program. He's been sincere about his feelings toward everyone on this team and the direction he wants this program to go. This is definitely the decision I wanted." Shannon replaces Larry Coker, who was fired Nov. 24, the day after the Hurricanes upset Boston College 17-14 to salvage a 6-6 season. Coker had a 59-15 record in six seasons at Miami and won the national championship in his first season in 2001. Miami lost to Ohio State 31-24 in double overtime in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, which cost the Hurricanes a second straight national championship. Shannon, who has been Miami's defensive coordinator since 2001, is considered a safe hire for the financially strapped athletics department. A native of Miami, Shannon was a linebacker on the Hurricanes' 1987 national championship team and has been a longtime assistant at the school. Shannon, 40, began working at Miami as a graduate assistant in 1991 and left to work for the Miami Dolphins from 1998 to 2000. He returned to his alma mater to join Coker's staff in 2001. Shannon has long been regarded one of the country's top defensive coordinators and is well-liked by players. The Hurricanes ranked fifth in Division I-A in total defense this season, allowing 252.1 yards per game, and was third in rushing defense, surrendering only 66 yards per game. Shannon was considered a viable candidate to replace his former boss from the beginning of the search. The Hurricanes targeted Rutgers coach Greg Schiano as their top choice, but the former Miami defensive coordinator told athletic director Paul Dee on Monday that he wasn't interested in the job. It is believed the Hurricanes also talked with Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, who expressed interest in the job, and requested permission to interview West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, who is in contract negotiations to become Alabama's new coach. Shannon had lenghty interviews with Miami president Donna Shalala throughout the day Thursday, and she and Miami board of trustee members agreed Shannon was their choice. Shannon met with Dee and Shalala in New York on Tuesday. The school is expected to announce Shannon's hiring at a press conference Friday morning. "Randy is the future of our football team now," Freeman told the AP. "And we're going to have some bright, bright success. I'm excited. I'm really excited." Mark Schlabach covers college football and men's college basketball for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

I like the short leash idea....Give him a chance to mature and become a solid individual at Nebraska.

Huskers will start out 1-0 in 2007 (after winning the Cotton Bowl!!) As far as in the fall....we seem to be pretty set! Hopefully Keller has the offense down when USC comes a callin'.....then of course there is at Texas.

Hey that's me!!! Thanks

Try in the condom aisle at your local pharmacy...

Just looking over the bowl schedule. Of all the non-BCS games only 3 bowls (Cotton, Capitol and Holiday) are between 2 ranked teams. We really have to play the best competition (according to rankings) of any team outside of the top 15. I personally am really excited about this chance. Playing a top-notch SEC team is to our advantage for future preparation and beating them will be even better!

Is officially in a BCS bowl this year! That makes next year's game down here in NC a whole lot more intriguing.

UNC fires 3 coaches...none on defense....yet. Hopefully Blake will stay with us!! http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/foot...s.ap/index.html CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- New North Carolina football coach Butch Davis has fired three assistant coaches, including offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, the school announced Friday. Assistant head coach and tight ends coach John Gutekunst and offensive line coach Mark Weber were also dismissed, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported. Davis, who started at North Carolina on Sunday, has not yet hired any replacements or decided whether to keep the rest of former head coach John Bunting's assistants. Cignetti was in his first year at North Carolina after helping build a powerful offense at Fresno State. "I still feel the same way about North Carolina as the first day I got here: UNC is an unbelievable place, second to none. It's a great place to live, a great place to coach. I'm just disappointed that we didn't get enough wins to get it done," Cignetti said. Cignetti had two years worth $400,000 left on his contract. Weber, who had also coached at Fresno State, had one year worth $150,000 left on his contract. Gutekunst had spent three seasons at North Carolina. The Tar Heels (3-9, 2-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) finished 10th in the league in total offense, averaging 293 yards per game, and its two quarterbacks threw a league-high 18 interceptions. Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Wow I read this entire long drawn out thread of posts, rants and retorts. It was really insightful. Do you wanna know what I learned? Not everyone has the same opinion, but this is a Nebraska message board....where else are we supposed to comment about the media, other teams and such?

oops

90% of the time 100% of early entrants don't get drafted in 10% of the top 50% of eligible athletes.

sounds good to me....how about we win our bowl and they lose theirs to make it only 3 games.

BC said Glenn could play and maybe not Lucky do to "back soreness."

Huskers 38 Sooners 24 Rush 99 Pass 399

I am thankful for my family, the men and women in the military, and NEBRASKA FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!

I would love it if they were able to make it happen. I have been to OU 3 times for a post thanksgiving game and twice to CU. OU was 1000 times better.

I heard they were going to look at Dan Hawkins!!

I read on another site that he is wearing a "boot". Anyone know about this and if he will play on Friday?

As of now visiting for the CU game (*****). #6 overall DT in the nation according to scout.com.

Sorry that this kid is hurt...but if they happen to lose a game in his absence and we make it to the Fiesta Bowl, it may allow for a better "named" opponent. http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=Au...p&type=lgns Boise State running back Johnson still in hospital By KEITH RIDLER, Associated Press Writer November 15, 2006 BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Boise State running back Ian Johnson remained in a California hospital for the fourth day Wednesday for treatment of a partially collapsed left lung. Johnson, who leads the nation in touchdowns with 21, was injured during the Broncos' 23-20 win on Saturday at San Jose State and was taken to O'Conner Hospital in San Jose, Calif., immediately afterward because he wasn't feeling well and had back pain. The school hasn't said when Johnson -- who averages nearly 150 yards a game -- will return to Boise or whether he will play in Saturday's home finale against Utah State. But his teammates on Wednesday talked as if they didn't expect him in the backfield. "Ian is a special guy and we all know that," Boise State offensive lineman Jadon Dailey said. "But I think whoever is back there will do a great job and get as many yards as they can and we'll chunk out as many yards as we can with them. I think it will all turn out just fine." Boise State (10-0, 6-0 Western Athletic Conference) moved up to No. 13 in the Associated Press poll and was No. 12 in the Bowl Championship Standings. If the Broncos finish in the top 12 of the final BCS poll, they would automatically qualify for one of the big-money bowl games, becoming the second team from a non-BCS conference to earn a berth. Utah played in the Fiesta Bowl in 2004. "Ian's a great running back -- probably one of the best running backs that Boise State has ever had," said linebacker Korey Hall. "But I think there are ton of guys ready to pick up the slack right where he left off." The Broncos play Utah State (1-9, 1-5) Saturday on their home blue turf, where they've won 50 of their last 52 games. They face a bigger test Nov. 25 when they travel to Nevada (7-3, 4-2).

Landon you should go see that new Deja Vu movie..

Sweet!!!!!!

I posted earlier that Ruud made a game saving tackle when he caught up w/ their running back and knocked him OB. If they score a TD there we are in a deep deep hole.

sounds a lot like some of the posts on this board after a tough loss.