HuskerFanChuck

I got NASCAR for the Wii not too long ago. I play a bunch of Wii games with the kids. The kids love Mario Kart Wii, and I have to admit, it's a lot of fun at times. My wife got a game for her birthday last year called Pac-Man Party, and the whole family loves that game. There's the main game and a ton of mini-games to play.

Both my wife and I have played WoW since July/August 2007. We both enjoy spending time in the game, and still enjoy the game after all the changes. I really like the flow now versus what it was, especially in levels 1-60. We're on Dalaran, if you want to look me up, let me know.

Aye, knapp. The best option I've been able to come up with on this is to add women's hockey at the same time. My hunch is that there would be several parts of operations that could be shared between the programs, to cut down the cost of adding both. That would be my assumption if they were going to add hockey would be to add both programs at the same time, to alleviate that concern right off the bat. But you're right, that's the additional piece to factor in to all of this.

A couple things:

1. There was this interesting note in Sipple's column on Sunday regarding the b-ball team:

*Osborne last spring gave Sadler a contract extension and basically doubled the coach's buyout. If Sadler is fired without cause, Nebraska would owe him $66,667 per month until his contract expires in June of 2016. (Yes, the cushy landing is worth repeating).

I'm told the buyout wouldn't be a financial strain at all for the athletic department. Let's just say the department is in excellent shape financially.

It doesn't sound like the finances would be a huge barrier. I think the figures I saw thrown around show the highest priced programs cost $3.5-4M a year, but I think you could build a good, solid contender at even $2.5-3M a year, and from the sounds of this, I think we'd have that to spend. I think we definitely have it if the B1G builds another or a few more networks to showcase more sports on.

2. I agree that local talent means almost nil. If the program was here, and you got a good recruiter in, the HS system here won't make the difference, recruiting in places like MN, and having some type of repoire with a few USHL teams and HS teams in hockey rich states would make a world of difference v. needing the HSs to start their own system. Not saying that wouldn't be a goal to develop as you went along... and certainly the Lancers, Stars, and Mavericks have helped to build awareness and desire to play hockey in at least the Eastern part of the state. The Lincoln Hockey Association has been teaching kids to play hockey at the Ice Box basically since it's opened, and you're starting to see some of the fruits of that in kids going into Junior hockey from this area.

Still, will be interesting to see if anything comes about with this. I really would love to see an interview or a few questions with TO regarding the topic.

This is a link to the Golden Gophers head coach Lucia talking about the possibility of a Huskers hockey team:

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/audio-on-demand/sports-huddle-with-sid-and-dave/#

It's at about the six minute mark. Hat tip to my friends over at mavpuck.com for the link.

I think it'll be interesting to see if the dollars would be there for a hockey team. I think it would have the potential to be a great draw, and could be a good thing for hockey in Nebraska. But it would have to be done right, and would likely include bringing in a name hockey coach to kickstart the thing. I think Nebraska has the ability to do it right.

Pinnacle Bank Arena does have a hockey configuration that sets for about 12.5 K. The boxes are being sold per year for all events, so I would have to think if hockey were to be played there, it would include a cut of those boxes as well.

Landlord, can you link me any dollars regarding revenue for the different teams? I thought I had heard a couple different places that the bball team, even with the numbers being down, still produced revenue. I had thought I had heard the breakeven number being a low as between 5-6 K but I could be wrong on that.

Baseball's numbers will be back, and they were revenue producing when the Huskers were selling Haymarket out. I had heard that season tickets were selling much stronger this year, and the interest is much higher, but again, that's just the rumblings I've been hearing.

Also, with the Breslow ice sheets going in over by Haymarket Park, the possibility is there for a ready-made practice facility for a UNL Division I hockey team. The club team will be playing its home games at those ice sheets, if I recall correctly.

I think it'd be exciting, and would have a readymade intrastate rivalry, and a readymade conference. Just have to wait to see if it can be made into a reality. The easy fix for Title IX would be to start mens and womens teams at the same time, and likely wouldn't cost an enormous amount extra, at least in equipment. It's fun to imagine. Next few years will be full of such speculation, I would guess.

Grats to SKC on their worst to first comeback in the Eastern Conference this year! Started out the season 1 for 10 in a massive road trip while their new stadium was finished, and then come back and finish out with two straight wins to take the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and home field throughout the playoffs into MLS Cup! Woot!

Absolutely fantastic to listen to! Was neck and neck through 2 to 2 & 1/2, but the Huskers really pulled away in the third, and then just dominated the fourth. Amazing win over the #1 team! Grats to the ladies!

Overturning that was pure unadulterated bunk...

ROFL I know the feeling, GC. I know the feeling.

Good to see the team get a positive result on the second game of their road trip. Broke a tough five game losing streak. The losing streak was especially tough because they had so many close matches against good foes, and just couldn't get the results. Here's to finishing the season strong! Won the game 3-2 today.

Since I've seen the Sirie A thread, I thought I'd see if any interest existed in talking about MLS. Good to see SKC have a nice win yesterday to solidify their spot in the playoffs. Only one playoff spot left up for grabs after yesterday. Have to see who's able to seize the bull by the horns for it. Haven't had the chance, but Livestrong Park seems like an amazing stadium to watch a soccer match in.

Oh, and the game between Seattle and San Jose last night was awesome. Kasey Keller, playing in his final home match, was absolutely lights out. Four saves on one attack within about 20 seconds. Kept them in it to allow them to score twice late to get the result. Can't wait to see what happens in the playoffs!

Aye... more accurate now than two or three weeks in, but not as accurate as it is when you get to mid-November. But you're right GC, it should be getting to the point of decent accuracy. Just wanted to clarify that Sagarin also says the more data to input, the better the output with his predictors.

Absolutely AMAZING comeback to listen to last night. Lost the first set 30-28, the second 25-19, then dominated the third and fourth sets 25-10 and 25-12, and won the fifth set 15-11. Those are the types of gritty matches that will pay dividends come tournament time.

Sagarin is also the first to say that his predictor column can vary widely earlier in the season, and the more games you have factored in, the more accurate it becomes.

Fits better as a #6 auto invite than the Big East does currently, unless the Big East's invites come to fruition. But from the reports, all the major players in the Big East invites seem likely to stay in their respective conferences for this merger. Actually higher quality football has been played in the Mountain West than the Big East for quite some time. They just didn't have the positioning and clout necessary at the time the BCS was formed to insert themselves in the equation. Would have been even better if they could have kept TCU for this, but I still think this conference is light years ahead of where the Big East finds themselves, football wise. I'd actually be very surprised if the BCS didn't pick up the winner. And if both the Big 12/Big East continue to go the direction they have been... you could end up with only four automatic BCS bids anyway... and I'm not sure that's the position the BCS wants itself in. The more 'involvement' they have from conferences, the less likely they are to draw the notice and wrath of Washington. And say what you will about whether or not Washington's attention SHOULD be focused there... we know there's at least a few eyes open regarding the BCS and it's current format. If the BCS can find a way to salvage itself by being just a little more inclusive by adding one automatic bid, you think they won't take it? I'm inclined to believe to help solidify their position, they'll do what they need to.

Edit: WOOT! Finally made the Travel Squad!

The articles that I read actually made it sound as though the two divisions for football hadn't been decided on yet. So I don't think it'll be just playing those in your current conference, I think there will probably be a lot more cross-conference playing. That, and the articles I read also stated that there would be some coordination, though not merging, of schedules for other sports as well. Should definitely be interesting going forward.

Link to the video, article, and pics of the opening ceremonies for the training facility:

http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=205315979

The place just looks amazing. I think this is the type of thing, combined with the new arena, that will seal the deal with some of the recruits that may have been on the fence before.

Link is here:

http://espn.go.com/c...l-only-alliance

Sounds like a good move to me for the conferences to solidify their football, and it also sounds like it may play a role in other sports as well, though the conferences aren't merging for those. Not a move I would have foreseen. And it sounds like at least three potential suitors for the Big East agreed to the merger, so who knows whether those schools will want to make the Big East move after this. Those schools were BSU, AFA, and UCF. Interesting stuff... the world of realignment keeps getting a tad more bizarre as we go along.

Edit: One other major thing to add -- *22* teams for football.

Just mind-boggling.

Congrats, Taylor! Well done!

First, thanks, sd'sker. That was a pretty amazing highlights video... and Bo's comments at the end were incredible.

Second, I really don't think those that criticize Bo that harshly or imagine they know what he's like from a few media confrontations/behaviors at times on the sideline have seen anything done in depth on the man. It's easy to track down the In the Coaches Office episode from the BTN that was done. It's an incredible piece that I think gives some great insight into the man of Bo Pelini, rather than jumping to conclusions.

I think TO knows exactly what he has with Bo, and is actually pretty proud of what he has. Does he like all of Bo's actions? Knowing Tom, no. But I also believe that Tom sees the greatness lurking in Bo, and thinks he's got something pretty special in a head coach.

Third, I think ANYONE characterizing the Husker fan base by the actions of a few poor fans is truly not paying attention. There is whole STATE worth of fans out there that truly don't get to the games all the time. Many of them are lucky to get to a game once a year. Many are lucky to get to a game, ever. That's because they don't have the time, money, or ability to get to Lincoln. But that doesn't make them any less a Husker fan. And coming from small-town Nebraska, I can tell you the vast majority of those fans don't care about the actions many on this Board and in the media obsess over. They're happy to have a winner as head coach, they're happy that he comes out and sees fans in the smaller towns, and they're happy to see the Huskers begin to be what they envision it can be. I think we truly get worked over a great deal of minutiae in this, and don't see the bigger picture of the fanbase. I think we get way too myopic and see our own little world of Huskerdom.

Fourth, TO could get rid of those 'Greatest fans' signs in a heartbeat if he really wanted to. He made subtle and not so subtle changes when he took over. He chooses not to because it's a nod to the fans, not in an arrogant way as some take it, but in a thankful way. I find it funny when WE knock our own fans so bad, and yet coaches from all over the country have come to Memorial Stadium and raved about our fans... win or lose. You find VERY few stadiums with fans applauding the opposing team as they walk off the field. And I think that's an amazing testament to who our fans are and what they're about. Do we have classless fans? Absolutely, as does every fanbase. What makes it different is the majority of the fanbase, and knowing who the majority of the fanbase is, and what makes Nebraska, the team and the state, special as a whole.

Book is done.

I don't mind a few games against foes like USD and SDSU, because ultimately they're necessary to round out your schedule. But I hope if they need that next year, they'll at least consider putting UNO in there. UNO will count as a DI school next year for RPI purposes.

That said, I really like the improvements they made in competition. Good luck, guys! I'd actually love to see them compete for a NCAA tournie spot, but that may be too much to ask for this year.

I still find it amazing that most people arguing this really seem to forget the roots... the base of where our success started. Bo is MUCH more like the Bobfather than Tom, that's for sure.

The amazing thing is... I'm a bigger fan of the World-Herald than the Journal-Star in most respects. Can't stand the gits for LJS that work the editorial dept. But when it comes to sports, I'd much rather hear about the personalities that make up the team and who we are in SO many more respects than just the stats and Xs and Os. And I think LJS sports writers have lapped the OWH in providing that this year, for the most part. That's what happens when you try to insert yourself as the controversy, rather than reporting the story.

I understood that you were at least basing it in part on that zoog, along with your reading of this and other boards. My point is there are a lot of people out there that don't bother to comment in venues like this, because they ultimately don't see the point. And it's just as easy to point to the comments after Barfknecht's column today, to say how many people didn't like Dirk's column and didn't agree with him. The numbers when I was over there were approximately 40 comments, and maybe 2 were kind or in agreement with Barfknecht/Chatelain's point of view. You're criticizing those who are over-generalizing those who are critical and yet still support the team, and then overgeneralize yourself about the numbers that were in support of Dirk's commentary. I'm just saying that the percentage of the fanbase believing or agreeing with those criticisms isn't quite as big as what you try to make them out to be.

I agree with you that I don't think it's nearly as black and white about hating one or the other. Happens to be, that is my point of view, or at least a strong dislike. I can't honestly say I hate anyone... not in my nature. I get testy and may argue... but hate comes on pretty strong. Anyhow... another thread, another tangent. I just don't like the lack of professionalism I see out of those two 'reporters'. I think it's abyssmal, and wish the World-Herald would think twice about it. Not going to happen, as they sell papers and get hits... but still...

But Bo didn't go full retard, again, the press was being pretty invasive and malicious in what they were writing. I would be pretty pissed too if I had been asked constant questions about Taylor this and Taylor that instead of Rex this or David that. When the media starts focusing on one guy, it becomes clear that they have an agenda. And even AFTER the win, AFTER Taylor played a very solid game, Bo was still asked questions about him.

Wait . . . what? When the media focuses on one guy . . . WHO HAPPENS TO BE THE STARTING QUARTERBACK AT NEBRASKA . . . they have an agenda?

 

Good lord. Everyone is out to get us.

 

When the media focuses on one guy, I don't care if he's the starting QB, the starting RB, or the starting gat damn LEFT TACKLE; it's still blatantly obvious they have an agenda. I'm not claiming the world is out to get us...just trying to objective in what I say.

 

How many articles in the Omaha World Herald did you read this past week about Rex Burkhead or Levante David or Jared Crick? How many articles did you read about Bo and Taylor? I'd probably say that for the past week, the ratio of Bo and Taylor articles to Burkhead and others articles was probably something like 4:1.

 

Compare that to how many articles you read in the LJS about Bo and Taylor versus articles in the LJS about Burkhead and others. I'd hazard a guess that it's significantly lower--something like 2:1 or even 1.5:1.

 

One paper clearly focusing on two aspects of the program instead of the many other players who have kept us together [or have been equally vital in pulling us apart] much more than another shows an agenda.

Very well said. Gave it a plus one, but that says it about as succinctly as I could have even thought about it. Shatel and McKewon take a reasoned approach, and I greatly appreciate that. I think Sam is one of the best reporters and analysts I've seen, and he doesn't insert himself into any controversies that I remember. Barfknecht has always been take or leave for me... and he can definitely be left after this abyssmal piece of junk. Never have liked Dirk's attitude and the way he makes his views so negative, he inserts himself as the story. As I said elsewhere, he had the VERY nice piece on Brown and Ameer, but one good story doesn't begin to make up for the ton of pure crud he's put out over the years.

Actually, for many, it really IS that black and white. You either support the staff and players, or you side with the hacks. I agree with Knapp on this. I also read Dirk's article a couple of times... and do think it comes off as a hack-job with an agenda. And he has shown quite a bit over the last couple of years that he has the propensity to create controversy where none lies. I will give Dirk this little amount of credit: The article about Brown and Ameer was an incredible story. It was good and a bit surprising to see that come from Dirk. But the vast majority of his articles are nothing like that. They go after something that literally IS NOT THERE. There was no question who would continue to be our quarterback. It had been stated undeniably over and over again, and why it would be rehashed by a so-called sports journalist is beyond me. HUGE difference between having a forum live the World-Herald and making statements on a bulletin board/message board on the internet.

Zoogs, I understand where you're coming from. But I don't agree with a basic premise you start with... you stated:

especially when Dirk's article echoed the sentiment of much of the fanbase.

I think you may be too insulated to the world of internet media and vocal critics. I grew up and lived in small-town Nebraska. Small-town Nebraska, a vast majority of the fan base, doesn't react that way, and certainly doesn't give that kind of credence to a quarterback controversy. I also think there are a silent big majority out there who may not speak up when these types of comments are made, but who you'll hear loudly support the team in no uncertain terms after the team has won. I also believe that the most vocal are usually those criticizing. I think many find it not worth the time and effort it takes to argue it within an internet forum. I think those that back Bo and this program unconditionally in this state are in a much greater majority than what people realize, would have had a LOT of problems with Dirk's article, and had no problem with Bo in the post-game interview. Just my feel and take after having grown up around and lived in both metro and rural Nebraska.

At this point, I think its time to move on from this battle. The lines are drawn, and people clearly know where they and others stand. Let's enjoy and celebrate a great victory!

I think the media department/SID should just start doing what the President does... (and I'm not talking about just the current President... it's pretty well known that most, if not all, Presidents have done this at some point)... if someone does something egregious enough... just ban them from the press conferences after the game for a period of time, til they can figure out you don't bite the hand that feeds you, so to speak. In other words, if you're going to cover Husker football for a living, have a little more respect. I know plenty of people have their own opinions of Taylor, who Taylor is... and I know if you don't like Taylor, it's easy to side with someone criticizing Taylor... but I think that article on Friday went WAY over the line. Again... making yourself the story, rather than reporting the story. I tend to think we've got into this world of opinions mattering more than facts. I tend to agree with my father-in-law in some respects... it used to be if you wanted to report on a particular topic, you went to school and got experience in that topic. Nowadays... you go to a school of journalism and become a 'journalist'. I think we've lost knowledge of situations and integrity because of that turn away from knowledge in the field you report on. (On a side note... it ties into the reason I don't like the broadcast booth as well... Greg does a phenomenal job, but Fiala communicated his knowledge in a practical, common-man way with class and style... and Davison just doesn't seem to be able to bring that same level of communication) All right... now that I've done my tangent and my book... I'm off to bed, or something. O.o