huskered17

Terrell Turner commits to Arizona 1-6-06 GBR!!!

Horns could repeat if Young returnsBy Pat Forde ESPN.com Archive Picking the 2006 Top 25 in January is dumber than an improvised lateral on the dead run to an unsuspecting teammate. (Was that really you, Reggie Bush?) But that's the job today, pending radical rewrite after the NFL draft evacuation is over and signing day is complete. What follows is the first word on next season: 1. Texas Longhorns Why: The monkey is off their back and lies dead at the Longhorns' feet. They know how to win championships -- and if Vince Young comes back to join his deep cast of skill-position support, they'll win another one. Why not: Four major losses on defense, and there's no guarantee that the perfect chemistry from this year will carry over. 2. Ohio State Buckeyes Why: Did you see Troy Smith, Ted Ginn and Antonio Pittman carve up Notre Dame in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl? Why not: The Buckeyes lose all three members of a great linebacking crew, plus two key offensive linemen. And they have to play in Austin next fall. 3. West Virginia Mountaineers Why: One of the surprise teams of 2005 should be better in '06. Quarterback Pat White and running back Steve Slaton were amazingly productive as freshmen, and they have plenty of other offensive weapons to rely on. Why not: The secondary must be rebuilt, and we all remember how the Mountaineers underachieved in 2004 with top 10 expectations. 4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Why: Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija, Anthony Fasano and Darius Walker should all return along with another strong line, so the offense will torch scoreboards again. The defense will improve. And there's a strong recruiting class coming in. Charlie Weis is just getting started. Why not: The Irish will be breaking in some new linebackers against a schedule that includes six 2005 bowl squads. 5. USC Trojans Why: If you've been paying attention the past three years, you know why. Regardless of the expected NFL exodus, there is plenty of talent ready to step forward at Troy. Why not: All good things come to an end -- especially when the best and most experienced players in recent school history are gone. 6. LSU Tigers Why: Tons of talent at the skill positions and the defensive backfield, and tons of momentum from that flattening of Miami in the Peach Bowl. Why not: Some key losses on both lines. Settling on a quarterback could be troublesome -- and Les Miles can ask Phil Fulmer about what a quarterback controversy can do to a team's chemistry. 7. Florida Gators Why: Chris Leak should continue to progress in Urban Meyer's offense, and Meyer should have a better handle on what will work in the SEC. Lots of other talent to be found on both sides of the ball, and another very good recruiting class is on the way. Why not: If Leak looked skittish behind a veteran offensive line, what will he look like behind a rebuilt one in '06? 8. Oklahoma Sooners Why: Adrian Peterson should return to Heisman contender form, Rhett Bomar should take a major step forward at quarterback, and the defense should be up to usual Bob Stoops standards. Why not: A shaky offensive line in 2005 only gets younger in 2006. And although Bomar impressed with his toughness in the Holiday Bowl, he's still got a long way to go before mastering his position. 9. Miami Hurricanes Why: Kyle Wright will be better, and in Greg Olsen and Ryan Moore, he'll have a couple of quality targets to throw to. The Hurricanes' secondary should be excellent again. Why not: Concerns exist regarding the leadership of the program, from the head coach to the upperclassmen, after the disaster in the Peach Bowl. Keep an eye on how many players declare early for the draft, too. 10. Oregon Ducks Why: Start with a sensational offensive line and add plenty of skill talent and very good coaching. Why not: Defense will miss Haloti Ngata up front, and quarterbacks Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf will have to prove they're big-time leaders and playmakers. 11. Michigan Wolverines Why: If Mike Hart stays healthy and Chad Henne continues to progress, the Wolverines will still score a lot of points. And the defense will have a lot of experience at linebacker and in the secondary. Why not: When was the last time this program lived up to expectations? 12. Auburn Tigers Why: QB Brandon Cox and RB Kenny Irons are two great places to start on offense, and the secondary should be among the best units in the country. Why not: The Tigers have considerable turnover at receiver, plus a few holes on the defensive line and at linebacker. 13. Penn State Nittany Lions Why: The skill-position speed that helped turn around the program will be back. If linebacker Paul Posluszny returns and quarterback Anthony Morelli can even approximate Michael Robinson's leadership skills, the Nittany Lions will not regress very far from their 2004 form. Why not: Take Tamba Hali, Alan Zemaitis and Robinson out of the equation and you've lost a lot. And Morelli doesn't have Robinson's mobility, which will change the scope of the offense. 14. Louisville Cardinals Why: If Brian Brohm returns healthy from knee surgery, he and running back Michael Bush will both be strong All-America candidates. There is speed and talent on defense and at wide receiver that should only improve by next year. Why not: There are some key offensive line losses, and star rush end Elvis Dumervil has left the building. 15. Cal Bears Why: Fantastic running backs and receivers and an experienced defense team up with Jeff Tedford's coaching. Why not: Still not sure the Bears have a big-time quarterback, and they lose a couple of very good offensive linemen. 16. Virginia Tech Hokies Why: The defense should again be very fast and very good, and Marcus Vick should continue to mature and improve. Why not: Until the Hokies prove they can properly finish off a season, and until Vick gets the punk element out of his game, there is reason to doubt this team. 17. Georgia Bulldogs Why: Mark Richt has elevated his program to autopilot contender status. The Bulldogs will have one of the best linebacking corps in the nation. Why not: This team could struggle offensively. Quarterback will be a question, as will the line. 18. Florida State Seminoles Why: Gritty showings in the ACC title game and Orange Bowl show that pride and talent remain in Tallahassee. Why not: Early entries could hurt at several key positions, and questions remain about FSU's offensive direction. 19. Alabama Crimson Tide Why: The Crimson Tide is just about all the way back from probation. Mike Shula has answered all questions about his readiness for this job. Why not: No Brodie Croyle, no DeMeco Ryans, and no cushy five-game home stand to start the season. 20. Nebraska Cornhuskers Why: Another kingpin program proving that its rebound is well underway. The Cornhuskers ended 2005 with tremendous momentum and seem to have a firm grasp on Bill Callahan's passing offense. Why not: Some holes to fill on the offensive line, and still some credibility issues for anyone from the Big 12 North. 21. UCLA Bruins Why: Maurice Drew could be a Heisman candidate, and Ben Olson should have the chops to fill Drew Olson's big shoes at QB. Why not: Still waiting for definitive proof that the Bruins are serious about playing defense. 22. TCU Horned Frogs Why: Running back Aaron Brown could be a breakout star as a sophomore, and there is very good young talent at linebacker as well. Gary Patterson has done a remarkable job adding to the program foundation laid by Dennis Franchione. Why not: Hard to replicate 11-1 for a second straight season, especially given some of the close calls the Horned Frogs had. 23. Arizona State Sun Devils Why: Pick a quarterback, Rudy Carpenter or Sam Keller, and the Sun Devils will again be powerful offensively. Some D-I transfers will help immediately on defense. Why not: ASU has had a problem getting over the hump and becoming a legitimate national title contender, in part because of chronic defensive shortcomings. Will it be much better in '06? 24. Iowa Hawkeyes Why: Drew Tate could be the best quarterback in the Big Ten, and he'll have 1,300-yard running back Albert Young alongside. Why not: Linebackers Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge are finally gone, leaving a major void in the middle of the Hawkeyes' defense. 25 South Carolina Gamecocks Why: Things should only get better offensively in year two under Steve Spurrier, especially with big-time wide receiver Sidney Rice back. The defense should be strong as well: the entire secondary returns, led by safety Ko Simpson. Why not: There still is not great talent in Columbia, so depth will be an issue. Gamecocks also must find a replacement for punter/place-kicker Josh Brown.

MY bad the kick was in 97 wasen't it? GBR!!!

Texas had a lot to over come in the Rose Bowl, 2 Heisman trophy winners a ton of future NFL players and home field advantage. My hats off to V. Young. He did it in the big game just like T. Frazier did in the Fiesta Bowl. Usc had a few lucky bounces go there way the last couple of years but so did Neb in their back to back years of 94-95. The kicked ball against Mizzo , Kan missing the extra point when they went for 2. Give USC credit you have to have some luck along the way to go undefeated. All in all Tommie's my pick. GBR!!!

CJ Gable is visiting Arizona later this month but has said he will but will sign with USC or Cal. Says he will visit out of respect for Mike Stoops and to make sure hes not over looking Arizona. GBR!!!

Nebraska will be in the top 25 next year not just because they should be , but because the talking heads want a good rating when we play on national TV against USC. That way when we beat them Keith "homer" Jackson will have an excuse for why they lost. I thought this guy retired? Should have when he still had some respect left. And to think I used to like this guy. GBR!!!

Its all going to come down to the o/l. Give Taylor time to pass and the rest of offence will take care of itself. Both USC"s backs would have had a tough time running behind our o/l this year. IMHO GBR!!!

I wasen't sure how I felt untill game time, then wanted Texas to win. It's going to be a long year having to listen to Texas fans but it was good for the Big12. Besides I liked watching Kieth Jackson having to congrat Texas's team. Hes such a Pac10-Big10 homer. GBR!!!

I don't think he will leave even when he gets this program turned around. When he starts winning with the wco hes going to find out how much easier it is to recruit. The support of Neb fans once you get them behind you, is like nowhere else. I think he already knows all this. GBR!!!

Taylor is our for next year. {if o/l shows up} GBR!!!

There were so many great plays. I have to say the toughness of Zac T getting back up after taking so many hard hits and not even showing any signs of it. You just know that had to have Mich thinking "what do we have to do to get this guy out of his game." GBR!!!

Neb 1.7mil Penn 12.mil Ill 12.mil Ohio 11.mil Mich 10.mil Ind 6.mil Minn 5.mil When you have schools with that kind of population in the cold climate areas to draw players from you don't have to rely on out of state kids any where near as much as we do. With the top strength program in the country we were be able to put a good team on the field year after year, with that and a few key players at the right spots is how we used to be able to compete with anyone on the field. Our 4th quarter play in the Alamo showed that we seem to be getting that stamina back. GBR!!!

[Let's go home and home with them.] Why so he can say he got homered in Lincoln. No thanks. GBR!!!

[but now that I think about it, he does sound like Sylvester too! ] Thuffering thuckatash you might be right!!!! GBR!!!

Congrats to Cory and the rest of the seniors we will miss you. Good luck at the next level. This whole team steped up and played as tough a game as I have seen in a long time. Zac T. is one tough kid. I have never seen any one take those kind of hits time after time and still be able to bounce up and keep going. We have to get that line shored up, I don't want to see him go thru that again next year. GBR!!!

ESPN has a lot of those talking heads that are from schools that Nebraska has dominated for years or just envious of the tradition we have so when they get a chance to kick us when we are down they jump at it. It doesn't look like that will last much longer, so thet better enjoy it while they can. I can take their crap and I know that Husker Nation can to. GBR!!!

Just thought this might be interesting to of us Huskers... GBR!!! Dec. 27, 2005 CFN Formula - Greatest Teams Ranking the teams based on their seasons Written up by by Pete Fiutak Which teams had the best seasons on the field? Forget about biases and human opinion, what if you just went by wins and the importance of each one? After several tweaks, adaptations and attempts, here's the CFN Formula to find out which of the greatest teams of all-time had the best seasons ever, and where 2005 USC and 2005 Texas rank in the mix. Below are forty teams considered by most to be the among greatest of all-time, give or take a Yale or Michigan team here and there, and what kind of seasons they had based on the CFN Formula. If you're looking for a reason to give more hype to the 2006 Rose Bowl, here you go. The winner will really, truly, be able to say it had the the greatest season of all-time ... maybe. The team that had the greatest season ever was the 1995 Nebraska team finishing with a CFN formula score of 27.64. The 2006 Rose Bowl point differential won't matter. If USC beats Texas, it takes over the top spot of all-time as long as UCLA beats Northwestern in the Sun Bowl and Notre Dame beats Ohio State in the Fiesta. Texas needs to beat USC and hopes for Ohio State to beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta and Texas Tech to beat Alabama in the Cotton. Two things to keep in mind. 1) This takes into account the entire season punishing ugly losses and pumping up good wins. A win at the beginning of the year counts the same as a win at the end in a bowl game, so there might be some head-to-head discrepancies; they're unavoidable in any ranking system. Remember, this is looking at an entire season and not just which team beat another team. The most obvious head-to-head difference is in 1983 when Nebraska finished higher than Miami even though Bernie Kosar and the Canes won the Orange Bowl. Has Tom Osborne kicked the extra point instead of going for two, this wouldn't even be a debate, but remember, the entire season is taken into account and not just one game. 2) This is NOT a ranking of which teams are the best or most talented. That's for historians and opinion. This is a formula to find out which teams had the best seasons based on who they played, who they beat, and who they lost to. The CFN Formula's Components: 1. Wins. - If you win, everything else falls into place. Each win counts as 1. 2. Quality Wins - The number of wins over teams that finished with a winning record. Each win counts as 1. 3. Elite Wins - The number of wins over teams that finished with two losses or fewer. Each win counts as 1 with a road win over an Elite team getting an extra 0.5. Also counting as 1 is a road win over a team that finished with three losses or fewer (but the extra 0.5 isn't added). 4. Bad Loss - The number of losses to teams that finished with three wins or fewer or a loss to a DI-AA team. Each loss counts as minus-1. Take away an additional 0.5 for a Bad Loss at home. 5. Bad Win - The number of wins to teams that finished with three wins or fewer, or a win over a D-IAA team. Each win counts as minus 0.25. 6. Elite Loss - The number of losses to teams that finished with two losses or fewer. Each loss counts as 0.25. 7. Point Differential - Points for minus points against divided by 100. 8. Winning Percentage - To take losses into account, winning percentage is in the mix. * Notes: An opponent had to play in a minimum of six games to be counted in the Elite Win or Bad Loss categories. Also, obviously, Texas and USC are ranked here BEFORE the Rose Bowl. Year Team Conf. Wins Losses Ties Quality Elite Bad Loss Bad Win Elite Loss Pnt Diff Pnt Ag Pnt Diff Win % 1 1995 Nebraska Big 8 12 0 0 6 5 0 4 0 638 174 4.64 1.00 27.64 2 1971 Nebraska Big 8 13 0 0 6 3.5 0 1 0 507 104 4.03 1.00 27.28 3 1993 Florida State ACC 12 1 0 7 3.5 0 3 1 536 129 4.07 0.92 26.99 4 2000 Oklahoma Big 12 13 0 0 8 3 0 4 0 481 194 2.87 1.00 26.87 5 1930 Notre Dame Ind. 10 0 0 9 5 0 1 0 265 74 1.91 1.00 26.66 6 1998 Tennessee SEC 13 0 0 8 3 0 4 0 431 189 2.42 1.00 26.42 7 1996 Florida SEC 12 1 0 6 3.5 0 2 1 611 221 3.9 0.92 26.07 8 2005 USC Pac 10 12 0 0 6 4 0 2 0 600 256 3.44 1.00 25.94 9 2005 Texas Big 12 12 0 0 6 2.5 0 1 0 611 175 4.36 1.00 25.61 10 1991 Washington Pac 10 12 0 0 6 3.5 0 3 0 495 115 3.8 1.00 25.55 11 2002 Ohio State Big Ten 14 0 0 8 1 0 3 0 410 183 2.27 1.00 25.52 12 2001 Miami Big East 12 0 0 8 1 0 2 0 512 117 3.95 1.00 25.45 13 1991 Miami Big East 12 0 0 6 4 0 2 0 386 100 2.86 1.00 25.36 14 1994 Nebraska Big 8 13 0 0 6 3 0 3 0 459 162 2.97 1.00 25.22 15 1997 Nebraska Big 12 13 0 0 6 2 0 3 0 607 214 3.93 1.00 25.18 16 1932 USC PCC 10 0 0 8 4.5 0 1 0 201 13 1.88 1.00 25.13 17 1972 USC Pac 8 12 0 0 7 2 0 3 0 467 134 3.33 1.00 24.58 18 1983 Nebraska Big 8 12 1 0 7 0 0 2 1 654 217 4.37 0.92 24.04 19 2004 USC Pac 10 13 0 0 5 2 0 2 0 496 169 3.27 1.00 23.77 20 1999 Florida State ACC 12 0 0 7 1 0 2 0 458 203 2.55 1.00 23.05 21 1945 Army Ind. 9 0 0 6 3.5 0 2 0 412 46 3.66 1.00 22.66 22 1974 Oklahoma Big 8 11 0 0 6 1 0 1 0 473 92 3.81 1.00 22.56 23 1902 Michigan Western 11 0 0 4 1.5 0 6 0 644 12 6.32 1.00 22.32 24 1948 Michigan Western 9 0 0 5 5.5 0 4 0 252 44 2.08 1.00 21.58 25 1924 Notre Dame Ind. 10 0 0 6 3 0 3 0 285 54 2.31 1.00 21.56 26 1994 Penn State Big Ten 12 0 0 6 0 0 3 0 564 252 3.12 1.00 21.37 27 1901 Michigan Western 11 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 550 0 5.5 1.00 21.25 28 1944 Army Ind. 9 0 0 5 2 0 2 0 504 35 4.69 1.00 21.19 29 1947 Michigan Western 10 0 0 6 1 0 4 0 394 53 3.41 1.00 20.41 30 1976 Pitt Ind. 12 0 0 3 2 0 2 0 381 133 2.48 1.00 19.98 31 1961 Alabama SEC 11 0 0 5 0 0 3 0 397 25 3.72 1.00 19.97 32 1962 USC AAWU 11 0 0 3 3 0 3 0 361 92 2.69 1.00 19.94 33 1983 Miami Ind. 11 1 0 6 1 0 4 0 313 136 1.77 0.92 19.69 34 1949 Notre Dame Ind. 10 0 0 5 1 0 2 0 360 86 2.74 1.00 19.24 35 1968 Ohio State Big Ten 10 0 0 4 3 0 3 0 323 150 1.73 1.00 18.98 36 1909 Yale Ivy 10 0 0 5 1.5 0 4 0 209 0 2.09 1.00 18.59 37 1969 Texas SWC 11 0 0 3 1.5 0 5 0 435 119 3.16 1.00 18.41 38 1938 TCU SWC 11 0 0 4 1 0 4 0 269 60 2.09 1.00 18.09 39 1940 Minnesota Western 8 0 0 4 4.5 0 1 0 154 71 0.83 1.00 18.08 40 1955 Oklahoma Big 7 11 0 0 3 1 0 5 0 385 60 3.25 1.00 18.00 41 1956 Oklahoma Big 7 10 0 0 1 1 0 6 0 466 51 4.15 1.00 15.65 42 1947 Notre Dame Ind. 9 0 0 3 1 0 5 0 291 52 2.39 1.00 15.14 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2005 Collegefootballnews.com & College Football News, Inc. 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SouthDakotaHusker. Winning has a way of doing that. Also the warm weather helps. We have always had a tough time bringing in top flight recruits in the past, its just that our old system was set up to bring the kids along thru weight training and a lot of practice. Very few freshmen ever started for Bob.D, or Tom.O. Can't remember if they could in B.D's time. The one thing that holds true today as in the past, you have to have a offensive line. Thats one thing we have always had till lately. Tom.O didn't get great recruits for that very offten. They were built thru the system. He was also very good at getting the skill players not the 4 and 5 stars everyone else was but the ones he thought would fit into the ststem he was running. He could stock pile players no one really recruited very hard except us. I think he was the best at that. This new w.c.o. if it gets going is going to start bring in some of those recruits you are asking about, it will just take a little time. GBR!!!

Forget the points spread forget Mark May. This is still Husker football no matter what type of offence we are running, I always think we have a chance to win no matter who we play, thats what growing up a Husker does to you. I think we win straight up and if we cover the spread we still loose and it gos under the L column. I don't think covering the spread will matter much to the players or Husker fans. GBR!!!

I think by the end Becks jr season we will all know if coach Cal system is going to work. He will have the players he wants for the wco by then. He shouldn't have any problem bringing in a top qb prospect either as back up for Beck, with no one really on the depth chart that jumps out at you after next season. I look for a return to the top of the Big 12. With the players the Huskers have brought in the last 2 seasons and the way these coaches can recruit we should see some very good results very soon. IMHO. GBR!!!

Great article on K.B. I kept up with him when he was with the Cardinals, since they are only 125 miles up the highway from Tucson. Glad to see hes made the most out of his chance to play again. Wish all the former Huskers the best. GBR!!!

[the only thing that matters is Michigan has been better all the years of Nebraska's sad existance.] Mich is the only team I have seen in the last 40 or so years start each season rated as one of the top teams in the country and end up losing 2 or 3 game most years, but I guess your fans are used to it. [1 split N/C in 50yrs] So if Mich gets beat in the bowl game this year it shouldn't come as a surprise for you guys. Mich fans are used to being let down. GBR!!!

I would like to see Nunn catch 3 drop 1 instead the other way around. GBR!!!

Congrats to Turner Gill I wish him all the best. My all time fav player. Some day maybe back to where it all started for him........ GBR!!!

Wow great stats. I know Vegas had the Huskers a 7 point favorite if the game could have been played. Mich has a great tradition just like the Huskers. The thing I have always noticed about Mich is they come in highly rated most years and at the end of every season except 97 they lose 2,3,4 games. The Huskers on the other hand when rated high to start a season seem to be able prove those voters right. Losing 3 games in a season was a rare for them. {not counting bowl games.} For a state that has a much bigger talent pool to draw from, I would say the Huskers usually out preformed Mich teams. I look for a good game in the Alamo Bowl, the Huskers are pumped after their win at Col. I would like to think this team has turned the corner and if we can keep the mistakes down we should put on a good show for our fans. GBR!!!