Husker_x

Precisely. The Cyclowns talk a HUGE game, which is funny for somebody who couldn't find the Big XII Championship with tickets and a map. I think what's at the bottom of the whole segment is simple. They've both said it directly in the past. They hate Nebraska. Even if they won't admit it to themselves (what bloody Hawk would admit it?), but I think what really irks them is that even though Nebraska––the giant of all football teams––finally went down for a few years, and now we're coming back. On our horizon is nothing but great things, championships, big bowls and big players. We've got a roster of NFL-caliber quarterbacks so deep we couldn't get to the bottom of it with a shovel. And top prospects from all over are coming here because they know what we know, and what the Cyclowns can't admit either, and that is this: Nebraska is back baby. Here's to Sept. 1st And USC must be razed to the ground.

From the Lincoln Journal Star: Joe Ganz fielded questions Tuesday, a day after Sam Keller was given the nod over him for the starting quarterback spot. Here are a couple of his quotes: "For the first hour (after the news), it was really tough because I had put so much into it these last three years... But I have to be there for my teammates. I can't let myself be down. If Sam gets hurt it (can't) screw up the whole season. I can't allow that. I have too much respect for my coaches and teammates to do that." "We can't have any drop off at the backup. That's my role right now and I'll accept it and I'll work as hard as I can to be prepared and not let there be any drop off at all." Ganz handled it with great class, and bordered on emotional as he talked about calling his parents to tell them the news. A story with more reaction is soon coming No kidding about the class. Very heartening for a young man to be put in this situation and not let it ruin him. I hope I'm not out of line saying this, but it sort of reminds me of another incredible young man who played backup to a superstar and was called upon to step up in a time of desperate need. Don't let it beat you, Joey. You're still a Husker and I think I speak for everyone here when I say Husker Nation is very proud of you.

I figure Watson, Callahan, and Jordan know what they're doing. Bradon was a pleasant surprise last season, and to be perfectly honest, I've never been much impressed with Lucky's play. That's not to say he won't have a good season, but I'm currently harboring a "you show me" mentality towards his abilities. In my mind recruiting stars are kind of like preseason polls––they mean nothing. What matters is what takes place in practice and on the field. Castille is the back I'm hankering to get a look at, especially against opponents with a scraggly D-line. We might need a speedster against SC, and then we can shift Castille into the mix. (Which brings me back to last season where I think Callahan had the right idea about how to take down SC––the execution simply wasn't there, and he didn't give up the strategery soon enough to make a difference.) I really hope to see Glenn come back, too. I kept thinking last season that if they would just let him get out there and play for more than the short yardage situations we'd see a monster develop in front of our eyes. He did well at ISU, for instance. Bradon was definitely the go-to guy, but despite our obvious and warranted nervousness about this season's backfield, I like to think of it in positive terms. Someone is going to step up. Someone is going to want this so bad that they'll get the job done. It might be lucky, it might be Roy Helu. Whoever it is, let's just make sure we show the world this season why Nebraska's power rushing attack was feared for thirty years. And USC must be razed to the ground.

There are two ways to look at it, I suppose. 1) Bowman rises to the occasion, realizing our secondary is weakened severely without him, and he gives each game, each down, each movement his everything, and he resurfaces as a dominant force. We'll sing his praises as INTs and broken passes pile up, and partially because of his play and increased potency at the safety positions, our D becomes a pass defense machine. 2) Bowman's injury gets the best of him. He plays, but with little flair and a lot of hesitancy. We'll pretty much be watching a rerun of last season's pass D with the added pang of wondering what could have been if he'd been healthy. The safeties soften the blow, but every so often we'll find ourselves getting torched by the deep ball. Our big games this year become more doubtful with the disappointment of his performance. Honestly, the truth could also lie somewhere in the middle. Maybe Bowman comes back and plays pretty well. Although we've had the discussion before––how much of Bowman is real and how much of it is the way we WANT him to be? Anything less than domination at this point will probably get attributed to his injuries and inability to come back from them. I won't say he's a media creation, but I need a strong half season before I start singing his praises at the top of my voice. I do hope he's as good as people say he is. We're going to need him. And USC must be razed to the ground.

That baffles me. The clear implication is that all teams that don't run the option are "just another team". That means that those who trot out that argument are actually also insulting their own team. I wonder if they realize that they are committing a self-nuke. That's an excellent point. I'm thinking the same thing. Every team in the country competes from and for the same pool, so how does Nebraska suddenly joining this game with a big-time recruiting talent like Callahan put us at a loss? His pro experience and coaching staff have hauled in some fine specimines this year so far, and we're still looking at nabbing a few good picks. I don't see how, without some major wins, ISU is going to develop into the team this guy wants them to be. I think Chinzik is going to take the program up a notch (though it remains to be seen, clearly), but to compete with Callahan on a recruiting level, with the powerhouse that Nebraska is, with the facilities we've got, with the fanbase we have, with the technology we've implemented, and with the players we've got coming in this year and following, good freakin' luck. As I said, I think his blathering is mostly a delusional wishful thinking. Fun topic, though, lol. And USC must be razed to the ground.

I was wondering if anyone had heard anything about Trevor recently? I know he's still technically committed (obviously not signed), but that he was taking some time to make sure it's the right decision. I think a few good wins this season will convince him of that, but if anyone has any info on what he's thinking/leaning at present, I'd sure like to know. Old Blaine could rest easier knowing this guy's standing in front of him. And USC must be razed to the ground.

If Nebraska beats SC, we'll have Game Day at Ball State. And USC must be razed to the ground.

Actually they were quite realisitic about the seasons of both the Hawks and the Clones. They realize that this is going to be a major transition year at ISU, what with a new coach, a new offensive philosophy, and a lack of talent especially on but not limited to the offensive line. They're predicting maybe 3-4 wins for this program. I think Nebraska is going to put a hurt on them when they come into Lincoln. Suh is going to tear through that O-line like it's toilet paper. And Octavian will be right behind him. But what this individual was spouting had more to do with ISU finally becoming a dominant force in the north. He sees Chinzik (sp?) as the next step for the program into Big XII Championship territory. He has confidance in this because the only real rival is Nebraska and Mizzery, and in the case of Nebraska well...I already posted his thoughts on that. He and his co-host see Callahan being booted within the next few years, and Nebraska simply fades into the woodwork like a thousand other college programs that have done the same. And USC must be razed to the ground.

"Remember, Rome was brought down too." Yeah...and it only took ohhh....one thousand years. And USC must be razed to the ground!

This is ridiculous, any way you slice it. But yet I find reason to smile. Anyone care to know why? Because I know a secret. I know, for a fact, that USC is going to get their asses handed to them this season. Why? Because it always happens to this kind of team. "Oh, they can't be beat! It's impossible! Might as well not even play...everyone forfeit...too good...too deep...waaaah..." And then what happens? At home, on a blusterous evening when it's least suspected, some nobody comes into their Condom stadium and punches them in the face. They lose, are disgraced, but of course we'll still hear about them until next season when the same stupid predicitons start all over again. USC will not go undefeated. USC will not be this year's NC--in fact they won't even see the game. Everyone save this document to your hard drive. I could be wrong, but it hasn't happened yet. And USC must be razed to the ground.

Back again, now that you guys have had your shot at them. Basically my opinion of Callahan is positive. I think he's done a fine job with what's been given him. With Sollich, from what I understand, we had no reason to beleive anything good was going to happen in our near future. I don't particularly understand "the option is dead" argument, though, as that's been the case since Lincoln was president. In any case, our recruiting alone has given me hope. Once we see Keller/Witt/Gabbert run this offensive scheme, I do expect a lot of the "I knew it all along" crowd to surface. I for one am staking my claim here. Callahan is the future of Husker football. I actually admire the complexity of his system on a strategic level. His tenure in the professional league offer something that 99% of schools in the nation can't offer. He and Pederson have updated our facilities to a new-car shine, and make progressive strides in hosting pro coaches from all over the country. So when I hear that guy's BS about never being able to win consistantly, I just shrug and laugh. Of course we're competing for the same talent pool! We're competing...and we're winning. In case nobody heard, we've got the number one prospects out of Mizzery, Michigan, and potentially Nebraska as well. Callahan's digging up kickers who are booting 60 yard field goals and athletes who can leave tracks of fire on the field when they run. JUCO thing? Obvious. We need guys and we need them now. Part of building depth. I wouldn't expect a Cyclone to understand that concept, especially with their O-line. Moreover I think the entire nonsensical rambling was simply a case of denial. He also believes that ISU is going to be competing for Big XII Championships here one of these days. Possible, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Nebraska is the rising star in the Big XII, and if you're smart, you realize that. We've got every external thing blowing our direction. Now all we need is some big, big games to cement ourselves as the power we've always been. And I expect to see that happen here in a couple weeks. Anyone with me? And USC must be razed to the ground.

Here in my home state there's a weekly show that runs during football season which I like to watch for it's length and general good, solid coverage (with brief commercial breaks) of college football. It's called Cy-Hawk Talk: State of the Nations. This week the guys, who are both talented casters, in my opinion, are breaking down what they think the future of the Hawks and Cyclones. But somewhere in the midst of the Cyclone preview, the commentator had some pretty negative things to say about Nebraska, Bill Callahan, and the future of our team. His points were: 1) Nebraska is just another team because we no longer run the option. We now have to recruit the same players as the rest of the nation because our system is virtually the same. When Touchdown Tommy came out of college, he had very limited options where he could play and play early. Nebraska among those was the only real choice. 2) Nebraska has not and can not win big games. Eg. Oklahoma, Auburn, Texas, USC, etc. 3) Bill Callahan might win a Big XII championship or two, but Nebraska will never––never––be a yearly 9/10/11 win team, consistently playing for BCS and championship games like we were. 4) For all Callahan's recruiting prowess, four years in we're still recruiting JUCOs by the bushel. Not a good sign. I have my own thoughts about about his idears about our team, but I'll open the floor to you fine people. Whaddya think? (Although for a hint, Blaine Gabbert comes to mind for a variety of reasons; what he represents in our recruiting as well as what he will soon do for us.) And USC must be razed to the ground.

No, in thirty years when you aren't having a stroke like me you'll be happy you missed it. This was perhaps the singularly most unprofessional, unresearched bunch of SC-worshipping bullsh#t I've heard in years. They make no mention of the fact that second-tier teams rountinely bust those turf-munching Jezebels in the mouth. From the tone of their telecast, you'd assume that Nebraska hasn't even managed to recruit anyone. They make no mention of anything but losses, and even then they neglect to mention that we actually won the Texas game, save for a fumble, and outplayed Auburn. And we smacked Mizzery upside the head as well. Soon...very soon and Keller will be putting much of this right. I don't expect that moron May to have anything but bile to spew about it, but God willing at the end of this season we'll have enough Ws over top ten teams to prove it. And USC must be razed to the ground.

I saw the whole thing. I'd have titled this post Mark May: The Saga Continues. It was nothing but one knock after the next about Nebraska. They absolutely gave no credit to anyone from the coaching staff on down. Mark May has become my enemy; my face is set against him. That whore beats off to pictures of John David Booty. They're talking about giving that schmuck the Heisman? Are you kidding me? WHAT IN THE HELL FOR? He's a crybaby! My God, I cannot wait to watch our players unleash their frustrations on Wake, SC, Texas, Mizzery; all this offseason disrespect will be repaid in points, sacks, and Ws. I cannot believe that May thinks Nebraska is OVERrated in the preseason polls. Are you out of your f'ing MIND? I never realized that ESPN had such poor quality research going into their programming. For heaven sake, get somebody on there that knows something before a blood vessel bursts in my brain. The only team May as any affection for is SC. I hope we kill those lousy Condom bastards by the bushel. And USC must be razed to the ground.

Kill them to death? Sorry, but that is hilarious. Did see Rocky III? You can thank Mickey for that one...

Big freakin' deal. They could pack that entire stadium with not an ounce of red to offset the black. It won't make any difference. We're going to kill Mizzery to death inside of two quarters. We're going to run through them like a canon through a waterfall. And USC must be razed to the ground.

I'd prefer that they not try to emulate Satan. Everybody knows those communist Phillistines sold their souls to the devil. Now our corners are becoming infected by their rancid defiled sacrilege. And USC must be razed to the ground.

Actually, let Lucky wear out defenses chasing his speedy ass in the first half. Then when the D-line can hardly muster another breath, have Castille slam into them again and again and again. It'll be like a Spartan phalanx grinding through whatever is stupid enough to get in its way. I get giddy just imagining, though, what it would be like to have a Glenn/Castille lineup. If there ever was a "Nebraska way," I think these two guys might be able to remind us. And USC must be razed to the ground.

Reading comments like that just makes me get this feeling again. I think this team is going to shock the football world this year. I know every good fan is supposed to think that, but it's more than just Xs and Os and star players. It's the whole attitude, the vision. Instead of complaining about the constant lack of respect, they're doing what men do. They put their head down, grind another day, and when game day comes, we'll see who's got the will and the power. And USC must be razed to the ground.

Well between Lucky, Glenn, and Castille now, we've got a 1-2-3 punch of doom for defensive fronts. With an adequate and deep O-line to open up some holes, a speedster and two bruisers to smash through them, we might have a more than decent rushing attack this year. I do hope they utilize this kid and give him the opportunity to really develop. Heaven knows we need a big back who can slam for eight-ten yards at a time. This is a promising bit of news indeed. I wonder who else is turning heads in camp. Anyone hear anything about Asante? And USC must be razed to the ground

I still don't understand why this got so blown out of proportion. Everyone was freaking out about a kid being confident in his team and in himself. I was glad to hear someone finally cut through the bull sh#t and tell how he feels about an upcoming game. The fans can talk like that, why can't the people who actually play that games? Because arrogance and cockiness only reap ONE POSSIBLE result. And that's embarrassment. You gain absolutely jack by mightily prophecying your own victory beforehand and then getting it. But you end up looking like a complete idiot when you claim victory and then don't secure it. Let your actions dictate how you feel, not your words. For a corner with his record of "Restoring Order" last season, I don't think he has any reason to be telling anyone anything. Also, fans aren't a part of the team. They don't represent the team mentality. Fans represent a million viewpoints on any one given subject. If a player in a press conference says something it reflects differently on the team than if a fan says something. Maybe it was a bit out of proportion, but we are Nebraska. We don't need to tell people we're going to hammer them and "Restore the Order." They should already know that's what we're going to do. And if they're in doubt, then by God we'll teach them. And USC must be razed to the ground.

I'll chime in on a few of these threads. I like the discussion. 1) Complicated Callahan People, I don't know how anyone can be stupid enough to assume that Callahan's offense is too complicated to run. For starters, we've not had the following: a depth at any position which would allow his offense to run at its full potential, a quarterback who is both high-caliber and can throw the deep ball, opening up an entire new theater of the system, or an offensive line that allows the running game to adequately balance out the passing game against tough opponents. Converting an (arguably) option-based running attack to the WCO is like turning a steel mill into a computer factory. Everything has to be replaced and upgraded. The entire philosophy of the game is altered, which makes virtually any recruiting done before Callahan's appearance useless. Building an offense of his style takes time. I'm not making excuses for the man––I have questioned some of his playcalling in the past––but we need to be realistic. I'm not lowering my expectations. I want Nebraska to sh#t-stomp the Condoms next month. But we need to realize that DEPTH is going to be what rebuilds a dynasty. Zac Taylor, may God bless this great kid, is not enough to prove or disprove Callahan's offensive scheme. We need a Gabbert or, Lord willing, a Keller. 2) Differences This sort of follows the same idea, but about the jargon and the complication again, I personally see only a benefit. I remember reading on another thread that some guys were bitching about how the motion accomplishes nothing. Are you kidding me? It's at its base an illogical thought. If I'm a linebacker waiting for the ball to be snapped, and all of the sudden the opposing QB starts rattling off what seems to me to be frackin' Portugese, and then five guys surge to the inside or scatter to the outside, it is going to cause CONFUSION. That's the whole point. It doesn't matter if 9/10 times we're flipping to a run play––it pulls DBs out of position, forces a sudden reaction on defense which could potentially lead to mismatches. Strategy is my favorite element of football, and from what I've seen, Nebraska's WCO isn't lacking in brilliance or originality, but simple execution and more basic needs in certain key positions. And speaking again about being predictable by audibling a run, since when has Nebraska cared whether or not our opponents know we're driving it right at them? Anyone know what play gets called on 3rd and 3? Damn, I wish I remembered the name, because it was kind of popular there for about...oh...thirty years. Anyway, the offense isn't apparently that complicated, as Taylor managed quite well. I could be wrong about this, but I don't remember too many delay of game/procedure penalties. And let's not forget, as the years wear on Callahan will adjust his system. If it truly is too complicated in its raw, professional form, then I imagine he'll take appropriate action to make it more accessible. And as we get younger QBs in with more time to learn it, that will help tremendously. Here's to September 1st, Callahan's wizardry, and Husker Nation. And USC must be razed to the ground

That's really my main fear as well. It isn't that we'll botch the North––I doubt that will happen even at Mizzery––but we simply can NOT afford embarrassments like at Okie State. If we sweep the North and pull a nice with over Wake and Texas or SC (preferably SC), I think we'll have plenty of reason to hope that the Big XII crown will once again be ours. And USC must be razed to the ground.

It's important to establish this mentality and perpetuate it. Not like SC, who just assumes they'll win the big one season after season (and, as a consequence, underestimates some opponent virtually every season), but our players need to realize that if they play harder than they can, if they play smart, fast, and accurate, there's nothing that they're lacking to take this team to the level Nebraska is all too accustomed. I believe, for one, that Keller could get this done. Our 'holes' on defense don't match with concern what our potential on offense provides with excitement. Those Condom acolytes on ESPN are only fueling the fire our players desperately need. We've got weapons. It won't be easy. It'll be a war––I just hope that they're prepared for how tough this is going to be. And USC must be razed to the ground.

I think I might be the only person in the country who isn't impressed by this year's SC team. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they've lost Jarret and Smith (their only real threat), and I've NEVER been that impressed with John "Takes it up the" Booty. Every time the little sissy gets clocked by a 220 lb linebacker he goes into a shell and starts crying. Granted, the team usually carries his ass, but overall I don't see them being as potent this season as people think they are. They've got talent, they've got depth, but SC is like the rich kid living on the hill. They, along with everyone else, assume that victory is inevitable. Pride cometh before the fall, gentlemen, it always does. An easy win? Exactly what is going to be easy about it if our offense shows up to play? This is nothing but a bunch of SC worship––bullsh#t, basically. I saw that broadcast, by the way, and it took no more than thirty seconds before my idiot-sense was tingling. I recognized this fool from the word Go. I can't wait for Sept. 15. The sooner we deliver a swift, much-needed nutshot to these Phillistines the better off this country will be. Un-f'ing-believable. And USC must be razed to the ground