Roy CO HSKR

I hope that when the Buffs play us in Lincoln, this fall, that we as fans treat them very sportmanlike, but beat them badly! It's our turn to show the world how much of a contrast our fans at our stadium behave.

pigsontherwing: How to trash a car: Put an NU sticker on the bumber and leave it in a parking lot in Colorado!

From rojo: Colorado signed a quarterback---Cody Hawkins (Coach Dan Hawkins' son)---5’ 11” 176-lbs (Rivals). Rivals lists him as their #17 pro-style QB; he was also an Elite 11 QB last summer. He plans to greyshirt (and grow) this year. The Boulder Daily-Camera carried this comment on the signing from a Buff fan. [#1] “Just because NU was able to win a couple of games at the end of the season doesn't mean anything. I'd rather have a 6' 0" Cody Hawkins [uh.... 5' 11"] than a 6' 2".... [#2] interception-throwing, [#3] inept Zac Taylor. Go buffs.” It is good to help people. Maybe we can help this confused CU fan. . Re. #1: Winning “a couple” [?] of games at the end of the season “doesn’t mean anything”….?? --Nebraska 27 – Kansas State 25 --Nebraska 30 – Colorado 3 --Nebraska 32 – Michigan 28 What it meant: Nebraska (8-4). Final ranking: #24 (USA Today, Associated Press & Sagarin) One wonders… Does this “mean anything”?? Colorado ended the year with four losses and being outscored 149 – 37. --Iowa State 30 – Colorado 21 --Nebraska 30 – Colorado 3 --Texas 70 – Colorado 3 --Clemson 19 –Colorado 10 --What it meant: A fired coach. Colorado (7-6)---Unranked in USA Today & AP polls; #36—Sagarin. . Re. #2: “Interception-throwing” Zac Taylor…?? Zac Taylor threw no interceptions against CU. In fact he had an excellent day: 27-43-0 (63%); Pass Efficiency: 155. Also… Interception Rates for Big 12 Quarterbacks: Interceptions/Pass Attempts (Big 12 games only) 1. Bell, BU Jr: 1/112 pass attempts. 2. Klatt, CU Sr: 1/69 3. Meyer, ISU So: 1/61 4. Taylor, NU Jr: 1/44 5. Young, UT Jr: 1/42 6. Smith, MU Sr: 1/40 7. Hodges, TT Sr: 1/36 8. Bomar, OU Fr: 1/33 9. Evridge, KSU Fr: 1/29 10 McNeal, TAM Sr: 1/25 11 Swanson, KU Sr: 1/19 12 Pena, OSU So: 1/14 . Re. #3: "Inept" Zac Taylor?? Taylor’s first tour through the Big 12 was hardly “inept.” Passing Yards Per Game: (Big 12 games only.) 1. Hodges, Cody......... TT Sr---366 2. Taylor, Zac......... NU Jr---261 yds/game 3. Young, Vince........ UT Jr---254. 4. Meyer, Bret.......... ISU So---250 5. Klatt, Joel......... CU Sr---237 6. Bell, Shawn......... BU Jr---199 7. Bomar, Rhett........ OU Fr---186 8. McNeal, Reggie...... TAM Sr---170 9. Smith, Brad......... MU Sr---159 10. Evridge, Allan...... KSU Fr---159 11. Pena, Al............ OSU So--- 157 12. Swanson, Jason...... KU Sr---153 . Pass Efficiency Rating: (Big 12 games only) 1. Young, Vince........ UT Jr---168 2. Meyer, Bret.......... ISU So---141 3. Hodges, Cody......... TT Sr---138 4. Klatt, Joel......... CU Sr---128 5. Taylor, Zac......... NU Jr---127 6. Bell, Shawn......... BU Jr---122 7. Bomar, Rhett........ OU Fr---114 8. McNeal, Reggie...... TAM Sr---107 9. Smith, Brad......... MU Sr---104 10. Evridge, Allan...... KSU Fr---103 11. Pena, Al............ OSU S0---102 12. Swanson, Jason...... KU Sr---95 . The Bottom Line: It is good to help people---CU fans or not. It is also good to appreciate what you’ve got. From Butler Community College to the Big 12 was a big step. It wasn’t all smooth for Zac, but it was quite good. And it gives us a solid basis for optimism about ‘06. Thanks, Zac. Just some things to think about....

husker rob: A poster stated that not everything with the program needed to have "red" attached to it. He used the the example that we're not the Red Cornhuskeers. drewalt: I respect your sentiments. Maybe this is manufacturing something. But, I think that is exactly what the columnists and announcers are doing. If I get much flak, I'll trash the effort!

The following is what I intend to email to media folks. Please let me know if you are opposed to this, are in favor of this and/or have suggestions: "BACKGROUND- As a native Nebraskan & Husker fan, I have for some time, desired a moniker for our offense. The Blackshirts nickname came about when practice jersey's were purchased from a local store 40 yrs ago and the name, of course, stuck. WHY NOW- Several nicknames are being used by pundits, sports columnists & game announcers that are abberations of the West Coast Offense (WCO), as well as, names including the term "corn." Rather than allowing a name to stick that is not representative of this offense, let alone lending itself to outside ridicule, it seems that now is the time to select one. TRADITION- The Blackshirts weren't a tradition 40 yrs ago, but they certainly are now. Let's estblish a moniker that will endure & likewise become our tradition. REGIONAL- A name should be somewhat representative of the team in NE, rather than a "coast." WCO certainly represents a scheme, but it is rather generic & used in that manner for many teams. PERCEPTION- Outsiders will tend to mock a name that is viewed as "corn pone." I was born in Sidney and raised on a farm near Gurley, so my roots are in NE. Nevertheless, I believe a name should have a perception of power, speed and fear for the opponent. "Corn Coast" and "MidWest Coast", I think, do not represent the Huskers offense properly, as the term Blackshirts most definitely does for the defense. I've requested & received fans' responses on a couple of forums to select the most preferred moniker for our new offense. The most popular has been "Thunder Offense (TO)." This nickname is unique for the Husker football offense & conjures up the power and threat of a dark & menacing strorm moving fast across the plains. "Thunder Offense" and "The Black Shirts" seem aggressive & appropriate Husker nicknames, to me, for our team. Maybe, Thunder Offense will also stick." I understand that that many posters have differing opinions. If there can be some consensus, I'll move forward with the promotion above. Let me know.

husker red 17: I believe you are correct. Many disgruntled fans don't understand that, unfortunately.

Regardless of the arguments re the '03 team, if we had stayed with Solich we would never win a championship of any kind. The win/loss record means little, in that regard. Remember those horrible blow-out losses that year? The '04 team was brand new. so not too much should have been expected nor compared. The 2 "P's in a Pod," Perlman and Pederson, knew that we would never win championships under Solich, even though we may get 8-10 wins a year. The writing was on the wall- with that coach- we couldn't ever compete with the top teams, as was proven in 2003. If, by 2007, we aren't able to compete with those teams, then FF is right. Do you think he is?

I hope our 2 weak links, Green and Grixby, are replaced!

How many years has it been since we played OU twice in the same season? Will this be one?

What are the chances that Austin, with his leg being a permanent 85%, will be a backup? It looks like, with this new JUCO class, the competition for starting OL spots is going to be fierce. What do you gals/guys think?

Fat Tire: I presume that we could employ a rotating tandem as USC did. That is, Lucky at split back/wing back, Glenn at IB with Todd at FB. Then, sometimes going with Glenn at FB and Lucky at IB. I see Jackson (L) backing up Lucky and Wilson backing up Glenn, when at IB. This rotation should dirive a defensive coordinator a little crazy. It seems to me that having 3 backs in for some formations would be pretty interesting, since any of them could be on pass catching routes, such as screens (thunder, lightning, bulldozer) . Lucky/Jackson on reverses would be interesting out of that wing back slot.

If you want to get a point across, pretend that we are all All-Academic Posters. Since most of we threaders attended at least high school, we should probably be able to communicate as succinctly as the palyers we discuss! That is the best way to get a point across and avoid being misinterpreted. Maybe, I'm just too old school and no one cares!

MOVED BY MODS TO OFFENDING POSTS THREAD FOR BEING OFF-TOPIC.

The proof is in the pudding. We win the Big 12 North and then who cares about all this talk. We lose that title and everything is bad! Do you really care/know before the season? Winning isn't everything, it is just what we can't stand to live without!

My hope for 2006 is for threaders to start using proper english, which includes punctuation and spelling!

We only need players who: 1) keep their academic eligibilty, and 2) are comfortable playing for our team. ...otherwise the problems down the road grow and become a detriment to the morale of the other players.

http://rivals100.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=506545 click on "wire" on date line for updates

pigsonawing: I agree that the term red doesn't necessarily have to be in the nickname. How do you feel about just "Thunder Offense (TO)?" You're right in that the defense's moniker doesn't have red in it either! So, how does this sound: Thunder and the Blackshirts?

Obviously, it is difficult to get any significant consensus. We are indeed the Cornhuskers, but not everything about the team has to have corn in the name. The Black Shirts did evolve, but from that one incident of needing practice uniforms. If this thing is left alone, maybe something will evolve for the offense that will be really bad, such as, Corn Coast Offense. How lame and prideful can that be? Thunder is much more reminiscent of the plains than the coast. USC didn't use that for a moniker, the media just used it as a description. Everytime there is that type of a dual threat with any team, they tag it that way. Should I presume that you girls/guys ar opposed to me continuing this venture?

AR husker Fan: I agree with your approach to this topic. The comittments are not contracts. Once the contract or agreement to attend is signed by the athlete, then it is somwwhat a different story. In some cases, such as a sick parent or sibling, an emergency situation may give the athlete good reason to change even at that point. We only want those who are comfortable with their decision. The Josh Freeman situation shoulc be looked on as a blessing for the team in that we only want those who truely believe in this program.

Thanks for your honesty Red Man! I'm seriously concerned about a bad moniker catching on. If I took the favorite, Red Thunder, and promoted it, would you really be upset? Would you just as soon Corn Coast catch on? I don't want to dishonor anybody's opinion, but how does anything ever get unanimity anyway? I need more respondents, PLEASE. If most of you felt that I should forget this try, I would!!

I've got to end this! 1) Red Thunder and the Black Shirts, or 2) Red Lightning and the Black Shirts?

DJR313: I appreciate your opinion and perhaps you're correct. Do you object to me following up with this process, including the Husker play-by-play people? By the way, what does your moniker mean?

I appreciate the kind words from the UM fan reagrding the NU fans as people attending the Alamo Bowl. What alsways disturbs me is the bashing of Ohio St, as though they are always the only villains. In the late '60s I attended OSU for my MA. I attended games, including the visiting UM contest. The night before that game the UM "fans" trashed cars and store fronts around the campus in Columbus. They decended uponn the bars like rogue criminals defying everyone wearing a red and gray shirt/jersey. It was very scary as there were many bloody brawls. Now, does that sound like a scene of which a UM alum should be proud? Some of this is what NU fans endure when going to Boulder! Contrast that with our traditional rival OU's visits to Lincoln. I've attended more than one of these and the OU fans have been classy opponents.

The reason for the "why now" is because the national media and other outsiders (and Jim Rose) are using tags to describe our offense that are not complimentary, such as the ones with corn this and corn that. The Black Shirts weren't a tradition when they were introduced. So, starting a tradition on our grounds, rather than someone else's, gives us the upper hand in how people will think of us. Go Big Red is really describing the entire program, not just the offense or defense. Red Thunder is my favorite, but of course, this isn't just about me. Red Swarm is too much like Red Storm, which is ST John's Univ's moniker. Red Lighting could very well describe our quick strike capabilities. I agree that Haymaker and MidWest offense doesn't have much impact or character to an outsider, as some of you opined. Which is better, Red Thunder and the Black Shirts or Red Lighting and the Black Shirts? Either one sounds fierce and is unique and not subject to outside ridicule. Once a consensus is reached, how would you suggest that I communicate this name to the world? I thought I would start with the major news outlets here in NE via email. If a consensus of some degree isn't forthcoming I guess this is an exercise in futility and should be abandoned, as some of you have stated. Thanks for your thoughts.