Aim9

I understand your defenses of Grixby, but the fact of the matter is that he gets burned, badly and repeatedly, against every team that has a tall WR. Opposing teams are attacking Grixby all the time. They don't attack him because he is too awesome. There is a reason why teams attack people like Grix, but leave corners like Champ Bailey alone. Reason it away anyway you want, but take a step back and ask yourself "Do you ever feel safe if Grixby is guarding a 6'4" WR?" Anytime that matchup occurs there is a very solid chance that the opposition will break it open for a TD, whether they have 80 yards to go or 10 yards to go. I hope he proves me wrong and, with some help at long last from his safeties, can be a shut down corner. You've gotta love the guy's competitive spirit. He's fast and he's in the right position usually, but his size limitation seems like too much to overcome. Yes, pro DB's are often 5'10" - 6' but Grixby's listing at 5'9" is very generous. Once you start getting that short, every inch you lose hurts exponentially.

Well yes, mismatches were always the problem with Grixby. And when there wasn't a mismatch, teams would make sure there was one by motioning their largest receivers to Grixby. I don't have anything against Phil and he has experience, but everyone makes mistakes. I'm saying this was one of his mistakes. Playing Grixby all year last year was a mistake and he's going to get owned all over again this year if he's starting again. His positioning is ok, but he's 5'9" on a good day. More likely he's 5'8". I just cannot defend his starting position. He got burned so often because of his size, he might as well have been wildly out of position and inexperienced. I just think he'd be better off breaking in a new guy with the physical tools to do what needs to be done. I haven't heard anything about him in fall camp or anything though.

I think they should have just let someone like Thenarse get burned for a few games, and then we'd have someone with experience AND the physical tools to play. We paid for that all year long last year and if he starts again the same things will happen. Just because Grixby might be the best corner in game #1 doesn't mean he would be better than Thenarse after say, game #4. People can try to glaze it over all they want, but there is absolutely a reason why opposing teams target Grixby all day long. Because they know it works.

Does anyone know where Grixby is on the depth charts or whether or not he will see much playing time this year? I still can't believe the coaches played him last year. How could they honestly believe that Grixby was the best corner available? How could they have not forseen Oklahoma lining up Malcolm Kelly against him every down? Sometimes I swear Phil Emassian couldn't predict six o'clock at 5:30. I love Grixby just like everyone else, but some people are just not meant to be corners... or play Division I football.

Do you think we can drop two Big XII games and still win the North? Yes. If we say, lose to Texas and another team like OSU or A&M, but we beat Missouri and they drop one other game (as I think they will) then we will go to the championship game. I would be ok with a 10-4 season for now, but I would be very happy to go 11-3. Finishing the season 12-2 or higher would be awesome, but somewhat unrealistic. The future looks good though- I could see the following panning out. Under Callahan: 2004 - 5 wins 2005 - 8 wins 2006 - 9 wins 2007 - 10 wins(?) 2008 - 12 wins(?) 2009 - 13-14 wins(!)

I think we'll lose to USC and Texas, and we'll also lose in the Big XII championship and drop one other game along the way. 10-4 for the 2007 season is my prediction. I don't know how anyone is knocking Pete Carroll while glorifying Callahan. Callahan has some pretty awful calls *cough, fake punt from our own 20 in the cotton bowl, cough* and Carroll has 2 national championships under his belt and came damn close to a third. Yes, his phenomenal recruits help, but he's a good coach too. Anyone who gives him guff for going for it on fourth down when Texas had no timeouts in that championship game is insane. The whole game anytime Lendale White touched the ball he was good for at least 5 yards, even in short yardage situations.

Here is a link: http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=696039 Obviously, all such lists and ranks and whatever will become entirely irrelevant when the season starts but rivals, as usual, has some pretty grounded arguments. Of all the college football news sources, I find rivals to be the best. They usually do their homework. P.S. - No, I don't work for or subscribe to rivals.

I've heard that Cody Glenn's foot has a condition that never heals- that he will forever be just 80-90% at best. Can anyone elaborate on this? If that is the case I will be sorely disappointed. I've always thought that Glenn was a better back than Lucky. Lucky isn't bad, but he needs to have a big game against a legit defense before I'm fully behind him. He brought the wood to Troy, but that was really his only standout game.

Yeah Talib is really good, and although KU's schedule is ludicrously easy this year, their schedule is harder than Ohio St.'s. Neither team should be able to justify schedules like that- they ruin college football. Both KU and NU should be better this year, but NU is still the superior team. What happened at KU 2 years ago is still fresh in Callahan's head I'm sure and although KU will have a home field advantage, Callahan will really have an axe to grind. I would say KU 10 NU 21.

Sam has a rocket arm, but from what I've seen and heard, Daniels has better intangibles. I remember being very disappointed when ASU totally choked in 2005 against USC, which was due in large part to Keller forcing throws and getting picked off 5 times. Albeit, 2 of them were dropped/tipped balls that his recievers should have caught, but he has an established habit of forcing throws in other games as well. Daniels on the other hand seems to have a cool presence that calms down the team. Physically Keller is superior and if he has a great year he could be drafted fairly high, but hopefully he'll have a cool head about him. Just as an aside, I have a friend who was at a bar who ran into Keller a few weeks after he came to Lincoln from ASU. There was a huge line for the bathrooms and Keller walked right past it and into the bathrooms. Someone complained and Keller, possibly a bit drunk, commented "Do you know who I am? I'm Sam Keller. I f*cking own this town now." Not exactly the kind of person I want at NU, but he has a killer arm and hopefully he can score us some big wins and serve as an NU standout in the pros.

When this whole thing started I predicted that Purify would be out no more than 2 games because there was no way Callahan would have one of our most talented, if not THE most talented player, riding the pine against USC. Now I'm predicting he'll be sitting out one game against Nevada, but he'll be back to knock the rust off against Wake Forest, and he'll be in full action against USC. Bank on it.

Ohio St. has the easiest schedule in the world this year and Michigan could go undefeated too, but the problem is that they will have to win the BCS title game against a good team, which will probably be USC. Ohio St. and Michigan and the Big 10 in general this year is just a house of cards, waiting to be exposed yet again.

Ok far and away the most ridiculous thing on that list: 20. Graham Harrell vs. 40. Sam Keller Graham Harrell is not only a system quarterback (what happened to all those great TTech QBs in the pros?) but he is a sh**ty system quarterback! He sucks really bad. He single handedly lost a game against Colorado last season. Yes, the same team that got ownt by IAA Montana State. He was even benched a few times throughout the year! I could walk on at TTech and throw for 40 TDs. Harrell turns the ball over way too much to be listed here. Sam Keller, on the other hand, was slated to be the Pac-10 player of the year prior to his transfer. I would be willing to put money on it that he will be a 1st or 2nd round pick in the NFL. They barely even let him on the list!

It's interesting, but I think if NU were to break off and join another conference it would be the big 10, which is now the big 11, and would then have 12 teams. I think this would be good because it would mean more TV time for NU, plus more classic programs to compete against. I would rather play Ohio St., Michigan, Wisconson and Minnesota than Iowa St., Kansas, Oklahoma St., etc. I think NU got the shaft in the Big XII anyway, because the whole damn thing is run by Texas, just as Dr. Tom feared. I wouldn't have a problem with us leaving. In fact, I wish it would happen. I don't see us joining a conference with USC though.

Yeah this year there is no question- Keller is the starter. You don't make a potential 1st rounder draft pick ride the pine. The real competition will be next year- I think Zac Lee will pull it out and start for two years- after him I think it will be Gabbert. I have a feeling that Witt and Ganz may never get the starting job unless there is an injury.

Kyle Field and pretty much any stadium in the SEC would qualify for that list, but you've gotta at least give NU an honorable mention for having the sellout record and the win streak.

Skersfan, no matter what the particular circumstances are, please don't use condescending phrases like "someday you will understand" because it is infuriating to whoever you're talking to. It makes it seem as if your point of view is the only valid viewpoint in the world, and all who have a different angle simply cannot grasp your lofty viewpoint. This will also ensure that the offended person will probably disregard any key points that you have made. I don't even disagree with your comments, I'm just saying... That aside, it is clear that whoever wrote this article is unknowledgeable about the atmosphere present on gamedays. The author was just going off of numbers of wins and stadium capacity. For example, the "Big House" at Michigan is routinely panned as quiet, lethargic, and empty-feeling. The mention of Notre Dame's stadium was an obligatory nod, merely because they are Notre Dame. Still, how they could miss NU with our astounding sellout record is beyond me. I believe we also own the second longest home winning streak in the history of college football. I cannot remember how many games it was, but it was during the mid-late 90's (obviously). I think Miami has the longest.

I maintain what I was said earlier- either Purify will be totally gone, (unlikely) or he will be back in time for the USC game. Honestly you guys need to cool down- Purify got caught doing what about 50% of all college kids do anyway. Don't get me wrong, a DUI is a serious offense, but honestly it's not like Purify was dragging his girlfriend by the hair down a fire escape as Scott Frost looked on. Purify is not Lawrence Phillips. The assault charge stemmed from somebody calling Purify the n-word. As a sign of how petty the assault charge was, it was dropped. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Purify is a nice guy who I believe means well- he is not an animal. I personally heard QB Zac Lee say that Purify will probably not be kicked off the team and should be able to suit up for the USC game. As a side note, perhaps you should all take a look at yourselves and ask if you have ever done something illegal. Just because you may have a clean record does not mean that you have not committed crimes as well. Ever had one too many and drove just a few blocks home? You're every bit as guilty of that crime as Purify. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, let alone slit his throat or whatever else has been discussed. I think that Purify is a good natured guy, and now he will have one DUI on his record... that's it. Calls for his ouster are premature.

03' would have won for sure. No question in my mind. I mean, did you guys see the Oklahoma St. game? Any running play to the outside meant an automatic 7-9 yards. Stuart Bradley is good, but he was as slow as molasses. Given that 03' was so option-happy, they would have dismantled the 06' defense. 03' also had a better defense.

I do not recall Callahan crafting any brilliant comebacks or making any great adjustments in 2005. There were a lot of other factors that helped us get back in the game like dropped passes and other random breaks in luck. I think last year his playcalling deficiencies were exposed. How about that fake punt in the cotton bowl from inside our own 30 in the second quarter when Auburn couldn't even move the ball on us? Yeah that was a real playcalling gem. That play broke NU's back in that game. Personally, I think one of the problems is that Callahan has no faith in his players. Like when he slammed the talent of our team in 2005 after that loss to Kansas, or how he tried to eat up clock against USC because he thought we were so outgunned, or how he said at the end of the 2006 season, we are not a top ten football team. Well of course you aren't if you keep telling your players that they suck. I don't see how any of the players would appreciate comments like those. Great coaches motivate and I don't think that Callahan does. Great coaches are able to adapt to how the game is unfolding as it progresses. Despite what you said about the 2005 season, I do not believe that Callahan is capable of this.

Say what you will- I bet he'll be on the roster in time for the USC game. I probably won't complain about it either.

I love Nebraska, but you have to admit that Pete is the best coach in college football. Callahan can recruit well, but he's just not very good at calling plays. Callahan does his homework and comes into games with a solid plan, but eventually the opponent adjusts and from that point on, Callahan is screwed. He cannot adjust his gameplan to work. That's why with every single game I just have to sit there and pray that we are far enough ahead of the opponent at halftime to hold out a win by the end of the fourth quarter. If Callahan is losing at halftime, just turn off the TV- you don't want to see what happens next. I've lowered my expectations. I used to hope for 11-2 seasons with an outside chance that we could win a national championship if we got lucky. Now I hope for 10-4 seasons with an outside chance that we could win a Big XII championship if we get lucky.

I would love it if we could beat Texas or USC this year and I will be in the stands cheering at every down, but we just won't. Both teams have better players and both teams have better coaches. It pains me to say it, but it's true. I think we'll be 10-4. We'll lose to USC, Texas, the Big XII title game, and one other game somewhere in there.

Well I would give Callahan two more years to fix our program. If you don't think a 5 loss, unranked season needs to be fixed, you have lowered your expectations too far. We're not Kansas or Missouri here. This is Nebraska and football is our flagship program. I like everything that Callahan has done at Nebraska so far, except for his playcalling. :/ All the same, if you haven't righted a program after 6 or 7 years, how can you justify that? Make all the excuses you want, but if you can only manage to break the AP top 25 one in every three years with that much time, it's time for a new coach. I don't want to hear any more reasons why season 8 or 9 will be so much better with new recruits or facilities or whatever. You had your chance and have blown it by that point. As a coach you are hired primarily to make your team win. If you can't do that, we'll need to find someone who can.

Aside from the weather, I cannot imagine what would draw a player to Miami. The prospect of hitting someone with your helmet? I don't have any problems with domestic recruits leaving, so long as we are still getting great recruits from elsewhere. I don't mind if Gunn goes to Miami if we're getting players like Gabbert from out of state. Supposedly, Gabbert has independently contacted some of the other top-notch recruits from next year's class and he told them that together they will bring a national championship to Nebraska. Sounds like my kind of guy. With the kind of talent Callahan is bringing in, I don't doubt him. Now only if Callahan stops calling those awful, back breaking plays like a fake punt at our own 20 yard line in the second quarter when the opposition's offense can't move the ball, we'll be unstoppable. (see Cotton Bowl)