SkullandBones

We get the win, but man, don't look past these guys. I'd agree that no longer being an un-known commodity works against Griffin, still, if he's able to break contain, dudes gonna be gone.

"Fact is, KU has a very good offense that produces. Athelic ability aside, the numbers show they're productive and we have a lot to prove. Nate Swift and Todd Peterson were not athelitcally gifted" Look, I get what you're saying, I just don't think it's fair to say that they weren't atheletically gifted because they don't have 4.2 speed and a 6' vertical leap. I don't think anyone gets on to the field at the D1 level without being a pretty damn good athlete. And to be fair you didn't dismiss their accomplishments, far from it, even though I wasn't specifically talking to you when I said that. I've no doubt you are as big of a fan as I am. I was more speaking in general, and you heard all the time last year with things like..'not a proto-typical wideout', 'while not the best athlete on the team he has good hands', or my favorite, 'doesn't have track speed, but finds a way to get open'. Well what the f...., he's not ON the track team. That is what I meant when I said it rubs me the wrong way. I also didnt' notice anyone here saying KU sucks. They don't.

I get your point Rob, seriously I do and tend to agree. Like I said earlier though, it just rubs me the wrong way when someone dismisses what guys like Swift and Peterson accomplished on the field because they lack "athleticism". They may lack the ability to put up combine numbers that in the end count for little, but they do have the ability and athleticism to put up numbers that counted, points. I still though don't buy the argument that unless you make it in the NFL you were not a good athlete in college. Let me ask you this though, to expand on your question: What if you asked those same 100 people if you could either have Todd Reesing or Joe Ganz starting for your team, who would you pick? I'd take Ganz. His numbers were certainly better than Reesing's last year when they met.

Not athletically gifted? Seriously? In 2008 Swift and Peterson posted the second and third best reception totals in school history. They combined for 125 catches, nearly 1800 yards and had 14 TD catches. Swift left as NU's leader in in career receptions ahead of, I am assuming, equally un-athletic people like Johnny Rodgers, Irving Fryar and Terrence Nunn. Swift is also second only to Johnny Rodgers in career receiving yards, by three yards. He's also second on NU's all time receiving TDs and single season TD catches list. Pretty impressive for someone who isn't athletic. Nate Swift is a decent athlete, and a good football player. If Swift had the physical raw athletic ability of Rodgers or Fryar he would have been drafted based on his skills. Nobody is questioning Nate's heart or talent, but to try to call him an athlete in the league of Rodgers or Fryar is an insult to them. Reesing is without a doubt, at this point, heads and tails above Lee. He's been in the top 17 in passing effeciency for 2 straight years, and has not only led his team to a BCS game, but won it as well. If you gave Reesing the OL that OU, Texas Tech or even MU had the past couple of years and he'd be in the Heisman conversation. Pretty sure I didn't mention Reesing, nor did I compare him to Lee. Reesing is not however heads and tails above Zac Lee, in fact I think he's about a half a foot shorter than Zac. I'm kidding of course. Look, noone doubts how talented Reesing is. But for someone to simply dismiss what was arguably the best one-two receiver combination we've had as being non-athletic rubs me the wrong way. I see us winning in Kansas in a tough fight, if Swift and Peterson we're still around it'd be a no-doubter. And, I kinda doubt Rodgers or Fryar would consider it insulting of me to compare them with Swift. I also don't think an NFL contract is the bench mark of athleticism. Fryar had a great career in the NFL, while Rodgers did not. Rodgers has a Heisman, while Fryar does not. So, who was a better athlete?

Not athletically gifted? Seriously? In 2008 Swift and Peterson posted the second and third best reception totals in school history. They combined for 125 catches, nearly 1800 yards and had 14 TD catches. Swift left as NU's leader in in career receptions ahead of, I am assuming, equally un-athletic people like Johnny Rodgers, Irving Fryar and Terrence Nunn. Swift is also second only to Johnny Rodgers in career receiving yards, by three yards. He's also second on NU's all time receiving TDs and single season TD catches list. Pretty impressive for someone who isn't athletic.

The great unknown heading into this season is, how much more will the Huskers develop with an entire season cycle with Bo under their belts? They were clearly not the same team at the end of the season as they were in the first several games. The VA Tech game would have been very different had we played them in November rather than September. Same for Missouri. We could take a HUGE leap forward this year, which is one of the reasons I'm so excited to see this team. We could take a step back, too, which is why we're all tempering our optimism quite a bit, but I'm expecting to see at least some improvement across the board. Couple that with a learning curve for the n00bs on offense, and we should be rounding into form just about when we head to Blacksburg. We could be in fine form when we head to Columbia. And then it's go time. Yeah, that's the way I feel too..cautiously optimistic. Kansas may have more talent - experience may be a better word - at the skill positions on offense, but I think we have a definite advantage with our D line v. their O line. I think that's going to be the real key in this one (probably in alot of our games).

Man, Hokiestudent I really wish we could make it out there, but, unfortunately we are blowing our vacation cash on a trip to Bristol for the night race in a couple of weeks (which isn't really unfortunate, but, you get my point!). Anyway, welcome to the board, and thanks for the kind words.

Yeah, the Cowboys seem a little high to me, have to wait and see how the fare against Georgia I guess. But, like the guy said they have a home schedule that could set them up for an unforgettable season, or a very long one. Be interesting to watch though. Oklahoma not in the top ten? Not sure I get that one. As far as the Huskers go, I'd say he nailed it. I think we are as legitimate pre-season top twenty-teen ish as anyone else.

I hear ya, and agree. Having said that, the course down there, Arbor Links, is worth the drive, it's beautiful. Not that it's all that much better than some Lincoln courses, but it wouldn't be a waste to spend an afternoon down there. Sorry, off-topic, I know.

You've all made some fantastic points and here is the only thing I would add; any competition - regardless of what it is - is generally won or lost between the ears of those competing. Mind-set and mental attitude are game changers. And, in my oppinion at least, this is where Coach Pelini has made the biggest difference. I respectfully disagree skersfan, I don't think there are more than a handfull of coaches in the country who could have come in here and had the kind of year Bo did, certainly not "anyone who walked through the door". Will we beat a ranked opponent this year? Absolutely. Who will it be? Whoever's on the field that day. If I didn't feel that way I wouldn't watch the game. And if Bo's players dont feel that way they shouldn't put on their pads....but I think that's exactly the way they feel.

I'm going to go out on a limb Cy and say the Cycones win - on the road - at Kent State. Book it.

Yeah, I like it too. Anyway we can replace Colorado with Colorado State? Let the Fluffs play with the mountain west or the big sky or... themselves for that matter..

101 is better.

I'd pull for Clemson if I wanted a team which consistently under-achieves... I didn't hear him say anything about Notre Dame.

I think I'd go with Alabama, I hear you get free textbooks there.

I'm with you BRI. He's the worst kind of human garbage, there is no forgiveness for people who do things like this. Find a good piece of rope, a tall oak tree and slap that horse in the a$$.

I like a good thrashing as much as anyone. If we hang fifty or sixty on Misery of the Fluffs, so be it. But, I just don't see Bo doing it even if we do find ourselves in that position this year...or any other for that matter. I think you're right though, one of the biggest advantages to having a comforatable lead in the third or fourth quarter is quality playing time for the back-ups. The other, and probably equally important, thing is being able to rest your starters once in a while. It's huge. For me though margin of victory is less important than how you achieved the margin. I mean, a 28 or 35 - 0 win in a defensive beat down is a helluva lot more impressive than 70-40 win in a track meet, at least to me anyway.

Not Valid. I don't see losses to either Baylor or Kansas for starters, as far as Va. Tech goes; I don't know. My gut tells me that this has the potential to be Bo Pilini's second signature win as NU's head coach, the first being the Gator Bowl. I think ten regular season wins, no kool-aid required, is a distinct possibility.

No doubt.

Exactamundo! Although I wonder if we could get the NCAA to approve one of those green 'no hit' practice jerseys for our starting QB...just till we get a little more depth.

Wow, what a difference a year makes eh? Pelini went from being paper thin everywhere last year to being 3 and 4 deep everywhere going into the spring this year....go Carl!

I wouldn't discount Matt Holt as a starter yet. He proved what he could do when Glenn was suspended or kicked off or kidnapped or whatever happened to him. Holt started, called the D signals and was named a Big 12 D player of the week. Have to wait and see how he comes off his surgery I guess.

I agree. Not with ISU being in the top spot, but outside of who finishes first in each division, who cares where everyone else lands? I look for NU and OU to play for the title.

I agree. I'm pretty comforatable with letting the coaching staff decide when he will start. As far as Lee goes, he is not made of steel. It's some sort of light weight alluminum alloy developed by NASA.. no link.....classified. We'll be fine.

Good stuff Cy.