drmathprog

I think Pelini needs to just his own stamp on the program, for better or worse. Better to be himself and be known as intense, touchy, passionate, and sometimes overbearing than to be known as an insincere fraud. If NU wanted the latter, they should have hired Lane Kiffin.

Rumor is that the Nighthawks are looking at signing Jamarcus Russell as their QB

I thought they considering Russell for the position of team pharmacist?

Air Force has a pretty cool entrance with the band playing in their tunnel and all 4,000 cadets marching in. Not really fan inter-active but if you're never been to an AF game it has some very cool pre-game stuff. Cadets parachute in with the flag and game ball, numerous flyovers and their falcon flying around at halftime. A great college gameday experience!

West Point and Annapolis each do the same thing. I marched into the stadium at Annapolis games 24 times during my undergrad years there, and saw several march-ons in later years from the stands.

However, I also saw 12 games at Virginia Tech with my daughter during her undergraduate years there, and I have to say that as exciting as the videos are they don't begin to do the VT stadium entrance justice. It is truly awesome!

All the discussion of whether or not it's a big deal and whether or not everybody does it, it certainly shows a certain lack of discipline and commitment on the part of the two players. I feel pretty certain both players know Pelini's expectations and standards, and the fact that they find themselves in this position days before the first game tells me they aren't quite ready to step up.

Yeah Matty made a horrible mistake on that play.. but he manned up to it and I think it actually went a long way in helping him become the player he became at the end of the year.

 

You can tell that after that game the kid must have virtually lived in the film room the rest of the season.

was it a horrible mistake, or was it a horrible slip and fall? i thought it was the latter, but i could be wrong.

I didn't see much of a slip, and even if there was a slip I think he was way out of position when he did. I obviously don't know their exact assignments on that play but it looked to me like O'Hanlon simply screwed up by looking in the back field and getting distracted from his actual coverage assignment. It didn't seem like VT did anything tricky.

The game was on ESPN classic on Sunday 8/29. I missed it, but was it this game where the WR broke free for a reception to the 2 because of blown coverage, then VT gets the TD and Pelini takes off his headset and throws it away behind him?

The game was one of those heart breakers where we played to win most of the game, then made a mental mistake at the end which cost Nebraska dearly.

Yes; the VT wide receiver runs an out and up. The NU corner hands him off to the safety, who unfortunately is preoccupied with the other side of the field and is not around to cover the VT WR when the NU corner releases him. The VT WR runs free, the QB hits him and it's off to the races. Given the game situation, it's still hard to believe the safety made this bad a mistake. It's got to drive coaches crazy.

You could apply the old '80's U of Miami player management method; namely, keep him locked in the county jail between games.

I'm looking at purchasing Section 38 Row 64 tickets... A little over $300 per ticket.. Is it worth it? Anyone have seats over there?

If they're in Nebraska, they're probably OK. If they're in Iowa, you should probably upgrade.

I might be in the minority with this opinion, but I don't see how stripping Bush's Heisman does anything for you. Sure, the "university" doesn't deserve it, but Reggie Bush does at the very least. Whatever benefits he received, they didn't make him a physically gifted athlete.

 

Stripping Bush of the Heisman makes perfect sense. Would Bush have gone to USC without the illegal perks he got? Without the team surrounding him at USC, does he perform half as well as he did?

 

There are Heisman-worthy players all over the country, but since many of them play on weaker teams, they don't stand out as much. Bush stood out because he was on a team of all-stars, a team that may not have been put together without those impermissible benefits.

 

Taking away his Heisman also sends a message to other top-tier athletes that there are consequences for violating NCAA rules. You don't get to take the illegal perks without losing your benefits.

Or, you keep the Heisman at USC and use it as a reminder to never do what this kid did.

 

The problem I see with this is that EVERYBODY still knows who Reggie Bush is, and they will continue to know who he is for a very long time. If you're going to strip the Heisman, why not strip the wins and the championships? It seems like USC is making Bush a fall guy for their mistakes, rather than making everybody responsible for the mistakes as a collective whole. Plus, if you're going to strip the Heisman, then why not take away the revenue that he supplied the school? IMHO, taking away the Heisman doesn't change anything and it makes Bush out to be the fall guy, when the university itself isn't innocent.

 

Distancing themselves from Bush doesn't change the fact that he was still the best player in college football that year. If you strip the Heisman, then strip everything else you benefited from as a university. Don't just take away a Heisman so you feel better about yourselves.

 

You don't punish someone by letting them keep a prize they won under illicit circumstances. Bush wasn't a victim here - he knew he was getting illegal benefits. What is it about Reggie Bush that makes you think he should get to keep the trophy? Why not strip the wins and championships? I'm all for that, too. They cheated, and they should e punished. But this tangent about USC making Bush the fall guy... USC didn't receive illicit benefits, Reggie Bush did. Bush's actions were a direct violation; USC benefited indirectly. If anyone should be punished first, it's Bush. Personally, I think they should both be punished.

 

And no, Bush wasn't the best player in college football that year, Vince Young was. Bush was the most popular player on the most popular team, that's all. Vince was the better player, and proved it on the field.

 

Southern Cal benefited way more than whatever paltry sum Bush received from the the agents, see the thread on top earners in CFB. They knowingly and intentionally allowed illegal money to flow to their players because it got them back on top of totem pole.

 

First of all, estimates range between $100,000 and $300,000 that Bush received from various sources, which is not a paltry sum, but that's not the point. The point is that Bush received benefits DIRECTLY from the agent. I'm not giving USC a pass here - they're guilty too. But because they are also guilty does not mean Bush isn't guilty, nor does it mean that Bush shouldn't face consequences.

 

I don't understand why this concept is so hard for people to grasp. There are so many excuses being made for Reggie Bush.... it's baffling.

All very true. But, at least from USC's standpoint, someone has to get thrown under the bus. Garrett did, and if anyone deserves it, it seems he does. Mayo is long gone and nearly forgotten. Carroll saw the bus coming and beat it out of town, landing on his feet as always. That leaves Bush.

I think the standard response for all non-U_of_T ADs in the Big 12 is "Thank you sir! May I have another?"

Garrett

Of all the things Mike Garrett has to apologize for, strange he should choose this.

Tuberville

Too bad; honesty is apparently way under-valued these days.

in 2007, Nebraska was 5-7. In Bo's first year or 2008, we had 9 wins including the bowl win. Last year, we got to double digit wins with the obvious stomping of Zona in the Holiday Bowl. Next year, I don't see us winning anything short of 11 games (could be lowballing it). So say we win 12 games? Win the Big 12? When is Bo considered among the great coaches? Let me remind you Nick Saban took a 6-7 Bama team to 7-6, 12-2, and then 14-0 as national champs.

First, I would argue that Saban is not yet a "great" coach, and may never be one.

In my opinion, "greatness" requires the following:

1. Successful seasons, as measured by wins and losses.

2. Successful programs, as measured by graduation rates, player behavior and discipline issues and by player successfully transitioning into whatever life they choose after college sports.

3. High level of personal integrity, adherence to the letter and intent of recruiting, eligibility and graduation rules and a strong personal commitment to the success and well-being of players, both on and off the field.

Saban, in my view, has achieved #1. #2, and #3, not so much. Even if he stays inthe top 10 and the national title hunt for the next 10 years, without improvement in #2 and #3 he will never equal Tom Osborne or Joe Paterno.

All that being said, I would say Bo is on track to reach the Osborne level, but it will be 10 years before all the evidence is in.

I know its the best move overall - but it took me 8 years to stop calling the conference Nebraska was in the "Big 8"

Hah; My grandfather still calls it the Big 6!

They just spent $226 million remodeling their football stadium. You can see pics here.

Now all they have to do is win a game or two; maybe even beat Illinois!

ESPN

Nebraska corner Prince Amukamara is the top-rated senior heading into the season, a worthy successor to Suh.

There's no way they aren't playing, I'm not gonna be like the crazy dad off of movies or nothin' but I will push them to be/do their absolute best.

If this was posted seriously, the first sign that you're gonna be like a crazy football dad from the movies is to say "There's no way they aren't playing." And while I agree with expecting them to do their best, pushing them to do their "absolute best" sounds like an unobtainable goal. I hope for your kids sake you dial it back a notch.

 

I had a daughter so I never faced the question, but I took her to games and we'd play ball in the yard. I'm pretty sure I would've let a son decide whether or not to play. But I'd have been as happy had he chosen XC or LAX or soccer or whatever.

Ah, lacrosse; a nice, gentile sport. Sort of like soccer with a weapon!

Yeah I'd like a non-conference schedule with KU and Mizzou. I also like Oklahoma as a non-conference game.

Oklahoma has already said it happen cause they don't wanna play both us and Texas every year.

 

I'm in for preserving the KU game, isn't it one of the longest continuous rivalries west of the Mississippi? Besides when the b12 breaks up they could very well join us in the b10, so maybe Wed only have to preserve it for a few years, probably til 2016 which actually might b pretty hard, but I say if we can do it-do it.

 

Oklahoma usually has a tough non-conference schedule so I don't know why they wouldn't want to play us.

I still can't believe it has come to this. In the 70's and 80's, NU vs. OU was one of the biggest games of the whole season, let along being a huge rivalry. And now, trying to fit each other in every couple of years would (ho-hum) be nice if it works out.

Here's my list:

 

1. Suh -No explanation needed.

2. O'Hanlon -Best open field tackler on the team. A beast in run support and developed nicely in pass defense.

3. Dillard -He was the only linebacker who stood out to me last year. Made some great reads and fills.

4. Asante -Another player that came on later in the year . . . but there should be someone who can step in for him.

5. Turner -We seem to have a LOT of quality depth at DE. Turner was good . . . but he doesn't look irreplaceable.

 

What do you think?

 

Suh- Obviously

Asante- Beleive I read several times that he was the one adjusting the D on field last year

 

O'Hanlon- Great heart, but we will be more physically talented at the position this year

Dillard- He got it mid senior year, but with the peso we'll be okay

Turner- Played decent, but never got fully up to speed

Have to agree about O'Hanlon. He seemed the kind of guy with a great heart and great intangibles, but without all the physical tools he needed, especially foot speed. Too often he seemed to be a stride or two away from where he needed to be. I think we have guys with better physical skills replacing him.

During the Solich and even more during the Callahan years I lost that feeling of excitement I felt no matter who it was that we played.

 

It's real nice now to have that excitement again!

 

I still had that feeling during the Solich era; I remember listening to the Notre Dame game on the radio during a car trip and hanging on every play. During the Callahan era, I was just hoping not to be embarrassed. So many times, on offense it looked like at least one player was running the wrong play, and the defense just looked either over-matched or disinterested.

I think Tyrod is better or at least as good as this guy, if we can contain him we should be fine with locker

I think Taylor is the faster, quicker and better runner, but Locker seems to be the much stronger passer. Locker seems to actually work through receiver progressions and spreads the ball around. Taylor seemed to always go with the first guy, open or not.

im kinda surprised that k state was posted below colorado and ku and iowa state! i know they suck but seriously! idk iho i think they will surprise alot of people and end up 2nd or 3rd in the north behind NU and maybe mizzou

 

I was thinking the same thing. do people forget that they almost won the north, in snyders first year? I think K-State will do better than people think.

 

Yea who wouldve thought that after they lost La-Lafeyette. The thing about Snyders teams is that they always play better in the back half of season. If they had some defense they wouldve beat OU and NU last year. I think they have a shot at 3rd in the north this year. Snyder gets every bit of talent and heart out of his boys.

Some would argue the reason they play better at the back end of the season is that they could hardly play worse!

Hate to rain on the parade, er, fireworks right now in KC, but Bo has a necktie on. Ain't gonna happen.

 

.....and he's smiling.

 

so the rumors are true, he does have dress atire...

Or, someone owns Photoshop and is really good with it!

Which part of the Devaney Era is irrelevant to who we are today? None of it, of course.

 

How significant was the fact that Nebraska beat the Four Horsemen not once, but twice? It's quite significant, even though none of us were alive when it happened.

 

How big was our win over the unstoppable Sooners in 59? BIG, and time doesn't alter that.

 

How important to College Football was The Game of the Century? Tremendously, and it still resonates today, 40 years later.

 

Our celebrated Sellout Streak wouldn't be what it is today without those fans from nearly 50 years ago who packed Memorial Stadium.

 

Everything is relevant from the day a player first put on a college sweater and walked onto the field up to this very day, because it makes a team who it is today.

 

I like what Blackshirt316 said about things being "MORE relevant." It's all relevant, depending on the conversation, but for this season, certain things are more relevant than others.

 

George Flippin is worth bragging about, 118 years after he became the first Black athlete to play for Nebraska.

Relaventcy is important. Culture/events that led up to where a program is now is important as a background, remembering individual games in your lifetime is good. BUT using the past to justify/predict the future is not *ahem* ISU something you can rely on - dominating an opponent might show a trend, but events can change quickly. In the late '70s or early '80s after NU came from behind and soundly beat Colorado, a former player at that time was quoted something like "That is why CU will never beat Nebraska" Ooops

 

BTW the reason NU stopped playing black athletes was because Missouri and Oklahoma refused to play if they were on the team.

"Never" is a very long time.

The 2011 class will be our first in the Big 10. Shouldn't you be comparing this to the Big 10 schools?

I should be but I haven't switched into Big 10 mode yet. Quite honestly . . . I haven't hardly thought about the switch. I've been so Big 12 focused for so long that it's not going to be an easy transition.

 

Also . . . I don't know who would be our recruiting competition in the Big 10. It probably is at least partially dependent on how the divisions are broken down. I'd guess Iowa might be a good comparison but I really don't know what to think. I assume OSU and PSU are probably like the OU and UT of the conference in that NU probably will usually be beneath them in class rankings.

 

In short, I wouldn't know where to begin with that comparison.

 

Edit: Actually, I just glanced at the current commit lists in the Big 10. OSU is the clear leader. Nebraska is second by a wide, wide, margin. And then there is everyone else. PSU only has 1 commit. Michigan only has a handful. Like I said, this will take some getting used to.

The 2011 class is probably waiting to see who the head coach at Michigan is before they consider committing.