Wolverine4Life

Question for ya Wolverine as an unbiased observer(assuming you watched the entire game)- Are we just a bunch of pouty bitches or did we get jobbed last night? Serious...I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around this one. Thanks in advance, and if your answer is yes, you are a bunch of pouty bitches, you can go ahead and GFY Thanks bro! I didn't catch the whole game. I missed part of the first half because my friend is a ND fan and wanted to watch that while it was still close. I also missed part of the third quarter to watch OT in Ark-MSU. So I can't comment on all of the penalties. I thought most of the ones I saw were earned. The roughing the passer was possibly the worst roughing the passer call I have seen. It also came at a crucial time. I wouldn't say that officiating cost you the game, but it did help TAMU a whole lot. That said, you were never going to get any close calls once Bo started lighting into the officials every other play. I'm surprised to hear that Bo's whole rant came about from a text to Taylor's dad. Admittedly I don't know much about Martinez (although he sounds like an overprivileged QB I know about at Michigan), but it doesn't seem like a huge deal to me if he sends a text to his dad while he is getting worked on telling him that he is OK. If that's not what the text was about or he was carrying on then I can understand, but as long as he is just sitting there getting worked on it seems like it's not a big deal to reassure his parents that nothing is broken. He is an 18-19 year old kid still. Like I said, maybe I just don't know the full dynamics of the situation, but Bo seemed way out of line on this one. I would guess it was a lot of frustration being taken out at a time that was less than ideal.

I actually came on here today just to find out what that was about. As bad as Bo yelled at the officials I found this to be the strangest thing he did. Interesting that no one really knows for sure.

From an outsiders point of view, I also thought you got screwed by the officials a few times. I did think many of the calls were justified, though. And once Bo started harassing the officials as bad as he did it was obvious that every questionable call was going to go against Nebraska. I personally like when coaches get a little fired up and stand up for their team when they think something is wrong. That roughing the passer call was especially bad. At the same time I thought Bo went over that line Saturday and made himself look pretty bad. Actually, I thought his worst moment was tearing into Martinez on the sidelines and physically striking him. Even if it was nothing, any physical contact at all has turned into such a big issue lately I'm surprised he would do it during a game. It was even stranger giving the timing of Martinez just coming out of the locker room after being injured. What was that tirade about anyway? As for the chancellor, that sounds like something best handled behind closed doors.

I agree that you guys should do fine in the Big Ten, but I also think some people are selling the Big Ten teams really short this year. First of all, the pecking order in the Big Ten this year is Wisky > OSU > Iowa > MSU. The fact that Sparty isn't 8-3 or 7-4 is amazing to me. I think Wisconsin could handle OU (but then I'm not overly impressed with OU this year), but would have more trouble with Okie St. OSU actually matches up better with the Pokes and that is a game I would like to see. Iowa would not only beat Mizzou, but I don't think it would be close (I think you guys exposed them for being mediocre, just like K St.) And I think the Aggies would beat MSU. Hopefully badly. PSU and K St. would be a good game. Michigan and Baylor would light up the scoreboard. Illinois is usually tougher when they are at home. NW tends to play close games well. And Purdue, Indiana, and Minnesota are tougher than a bye week. Usually. One thing that lines up nicely for you guys next year is Iowa and Wisconsin losing senior leaders at QB. And I believe Wisconsin loses their top 2 receivers as well. But don't take that running game lightly. Possibly the best O-line in the nation. The first year will be an adjustment for you guys and the rest of the conference playing you. Your third year is when I think you guys will have a great season. Just remember, PSU thought they were going to dominate the conference when they joined and it hasn't quite worked out that way. FWIW I think you will fare much better.

It will be great to see Nebraska in the Big Ten next year. And I can verify that Buckeyes kick babies and eat puppies and all kinds of terrible things But seriously, this will really establish the Big Ten as a top conference in college football. Hopefully, we can completely take that title from the SEC in the next few years, but most likely the best we can hope for is 1a and 1b.

Ah, something all of us can agree on.

Creed pointed out some important things about the Big Ten bowl schedule, but I will admit that several Big Ten teams tend to underachieve in bowls. Michigan being a big problem unless we are playing against the SEC (3-1 last decade against them in bowl games). Wisky, Iowa, and PSU are usually solid in bowls. But, as has been said, bowls are one game where anything can happen. I don't put much stock into using them to rank a conference, but I know a lot of people do. As for where you guys fit in the conference, I think you will be fine. Speed is a great equalizer as long as you have it everywhere. I don't know if you do or not. For instance, DRob has great wheels, but our RBs aren't a threat to break the home run unless there is a broken assignment. In conference, teams have sold out on Denard running and forced us to pass or hand off to beat them. Our running backs are not fast enough to make teams pay and Denard still makes too many mistakes in the passing game. I know the Big Ten has a reputation for being plodding, but that is not true. We don't bring out the same kind of speed Florida does, but the Big Ten does put out some great LBs that can tackle in space. Although I wouldn't worry about finding any of those in Ann Arbor. Your offense will have some good games, but don't expect to just run around every defense you face. NW, PSU, Iowa, OSU all have solid defenses and Wisky, MSU, Illinois can turn it up when sometimes. Minny, Indiana, and Michigan should offer little resistance. As for stopping Big Ten offenses, being undersized can be a problem sometimes. But if you have speed at every position and talent to go with that speed then it makes things easier. However, when you are playing upper tier teams in the Big Ten wrapping up is critical. Wisconsin RBs will run through hits and arm tackles all day. Even a lot of WRs are big enough to blow through smaller guys that don't wrap up. I would say solid tackling makes up for lack of size. Not many teams line up and pound you anymore. Wisconsin and Iowa can do it. OSU and MSU can if they really try to. NW and Purdue run a spread with a lot of short passing and zone-read option. Indiana throws it all over. Illinois runs a mostly running spread, but they have a freshman QB who might end up being pretty good. One thing you guys have going for you is that several Big Ten teams are losing senior QBs this year. Off the top of my head Wisky, Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana are all losing multiple year starting QBs, which could affect them next year. Personally, I can't wait to watch you guys play Wisconsin if only for the uniform battle. At least you have different letters on your helmets.

I would like to see some kind of rule put in place that your conference champion has to be ranked in the top 15 or something to make a BCS bowl. This would prevent the Big East from offering up a sacrificial lamb most years. I think it would be great to see your offense go against the TCU defense. Or see the Blackshirts stack up against Boise St. Although playing the Fighting Wannstaches should get you an easy BCS win.

I have to admit I was in high school back in 97 and did not pay much attention to college football nationally. I did not see Nebraska play at all that year, but I would have liked to have seen the two play. Michigan may not have won, but what I remember about that team is the nasty defense. A lot has been said on the Michigan boards about our defense giving up 65 points last week and our 97 defense giving up 60 points through 8 games I believe. And Tennessee had a rough year that year. Peyton is equally not fond of Charles Woodson.

The split national title thing is a pretty sore subject in Michigan. Don't think I will ever forget that Nebraska-Mizzou game. It must have been pretty wild for you guys, thinking the ball was going to fall incomplete, then watching it get kicked up and caught. Out of curiosity, is Nebraska continuing any Big XII rivalries after this season? Playing Oklahoma every year in the OOC schedule is probably unrealistic, but will it be done sporadically? Or maybe Texas or Mizzou?

If this is the wrong place for this, then MODs feel free to move the thread. I have not been around this site before so I am still feeling it out. I've been a Michigan fan my whole life and got my degree from U of M in 07. Needless to say, it's been a little rough the last couple years. I've been told it's somewhat similar to what you guys went through under Callahan. I won't be trolling or trash talking on here, but I a fan of college football in general and I like to hear different viewpoints. And hopefully I can contribute sometimes. Living in Michigan, I don't get to see too many Big XII games unless they are national (although FSN Detroit usually carries an early Big XII game for some reason), but I have seen the Huskers play a couple times this season. My best friend is actually a huge Nebraska fan and has never really given a good reason why, but I do get to talk Big XII with him sometimes. Michigan and Nebraska are two of the historically great college football teams and I have a lot of respect for that. Plus I have always hated Texas and Oklahoma. And it would be great, IMO, for Nebraska to exit the Big XII by winning the conference and going out on top. Starting next season our teams will be meeting every season and hopefully it will be a great rivalry. There is a little recent history there with the 1997 split National Championship and the 05 Alamo Bowl. Good luck with the rest of your season and welcome to the Big Ten next year.