Knock on all-NU final doesn't bother Tagge

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

OWH

 

Tom Shatel: Knock on all-NU final doesn't upset Tagge

 

BY TOM SHATEL

 

 

 

WORLD-HERALD COLUMNIST

 

First downs and second guesses:

 

The one person who should have been offended by Kirk Herbstreit's comments on ESPN about the 1971 Nebraska team wasn't.

 

"I didn't see all of the show," said former Nebraska quarterback Jerry Tagge. "I fell asleep."

 

How perfect is that?

 

Herbstreit was upset because voters picked the '71 Huskers to play the 1995 Nebraska team in a mythical "Greatest College Football Team Of All Time" debate. The former Ohio State quarterback and ESPN analyst threw a snit because two Nebraska teams were picked.

 

Herbstreit mocked the process, saying it was only people from Nebraska watching and voting. He asked aloud if the '71 team threw the ball. He questioned the defense of the team that beat the No. 2-ranked team twice (Oklahoma once and Alabama in the Orange Bowl), along with No. 3 Colorado.

 

Mostly, Herbstreit said the '71 team wouldn't have been able to physically match up against the 2004 USC or 2001 Miami teams.

 

"I don't mind that," Tagge said. "He (Herbstreit) has all of 15 years of history. Young people are not going to remember us. But, obviously, there were a lot of older folks who voted who remembered.

 

"I had a problem with two things he said. One, we did throw the ball. We were 50-50. Tom Osborne was a passing guru back then. We were very efficient in throwing the ball.

 

"The other thing was, our defense. We had a great defense. The one thing I remember is every time the offense ran onto the field, we were at the 35- or 40-yard line. Our field position was phenomenal. That was because of our defense."

 

One thing that surprised me about the show was when Lou Holtz said Nebraska ran the option in 1971. Was that true?

 

"Yeah, we ran some option," Tagge said. "Tom did that to pull the safeties up. We used the option to set up the passing game. Then, if the safety would play deep, watching for Johnny (Rodgers), I would run an option. We used the passing game to set up the option. That was Tom.

 

"We ran a lot of sprint options. But we did it out of the spread, too. I remember we lined Jeff Kinney off the tight end and went with a fullback behind me. I would run the option with the fullback."

 

Another myth shattered: So much for Florida coach Urban Meyer inventing the spread option.

 

Tagge said he agrees with one Herbstreit argument: that teams from his era would be physically overmatched today.

 

"That's obvious," Tagge said. "But we played by different rules, too. Our linemen couldn't use their hands, not like today, where anything goes. In fact, our linemen couldn't open their hands out of a fist. They couldn't grab anybody, like today's players do.

 

"Also, back then, you could bump and run people all over the field. A good defensive back could spy on a certain receiver all game. And if you ran across the middle, linebackers would knock your head off. I had a hard time getting receivers to run across the middle. Today, you can't touch anyone.

 

"The only guy who could have played today was Johnny (Rodgers). He was so phenomenal. There were some games where, if the other team had him, we wouldn't have won."

 

Maybe ESPN should include Tagge the next time it does one of those "Greatest Ever" shows. Of course, it might have to do it earlier in the evening.

 

[Eric the Red]

Some excellent points I didn't think about as far as bump and run and the oline......To invents the sprint option

[Syzygyone]

OWH

 

Tom Shatel: Knock on all-NU final doesn't upset Tagge

 

BY TOM SHATEL

 

 

"I had a problem with two things he said. One, we did throw the ball. We were 50-50. Tom Osborne was a passing guru back then. We were very efficient in throwing the ball.

 

 

Actually, I did surprisingly like Holtz's comment to Herbies accusatory question, 'Did they throw the ball?"

 

Holtz said, "They didn't have to"

[bennychico11]

great post. straight from the horses mouth.

I'm done listening to Herbstreit about football analysis from the past. The guy's an idiot. Just sit down, shut up and listen to the veterans tell you how football was played when you were 2 years old.

jeez, it'd be like me trying to lecture my grandpa on World War II. I think he knows a little more than I do, seeing as how he actually fought in it.

 

You go ahead and stick with your mediocre USC and Miami teams, Herb-ster, that you think "define college football."

gimme a break

[BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA]

Great points from one of the Nebraska greats! I'm sure a little pissant like Herbstreit isn't gonna phase him. Herbstreit didn't bother to do any research and probably never will. He'll just spout off about his very limited scope of knowledge. The '71 team was a very balanced offense. Could TO have been one of the fore fathers of the WCO? Hmmm....

[huskeraddict]

Well said Tagge. Excellent read.

[Drowning_in_the_Sea_of_Red]

Tagge is one cool cat

[MCAT800]

That's funny Herbie put him to sleep

[husker rob]

good read, Tagge has some great comments, I really dont think that he fell asleep if he knew about the things Herbie the Butt Lover said

[California Husker]

Great comments. See, that is what analysis actually looks like. A knowledgable person, looking at the facts, giving learned opinions, and not delving into hyperbole.

 

Oh, and by the way...Tagge has TWO national championship rings! How many does Herbstreit have? Maybe that's what has his little pink, polka dot, thong panties in a bunch (now just try to get that disturbing visual out of your head...sorry).

[VA Husker]

good read, Tagge has some great comments, I really dont think that he fell asleep if he knew about the things Herbie the Butt Lover said

 

I concur HR--those comments Tagge quoted from Butt Lover :asshat were at the critical moment. Or maybe someone had to wake him up for the finale...

[hskrdedhed]

I would love to see Herbie and Corso attacked by fans at say.....a Colorado vs Miami game.

[Touchdown Tommie]

Nice article...maybe someone should email it ot that idiot Herbstreit!!!

[Drowning_in_the_Sea_of_Red]

I would love to see Herbie and Corso attacked by fans at say.....a Colorado vs Miami game.

 

That might be too quick.........I want to see them go slow and painfully

[California Husker]

I can't wait to hear the reception the next time the game day crew shows up for a Husker game. I don't think there will be enough "sign Nazis" in Bristol to snag all of the “Herbstreit Sucks” and “Herbstreit is a whiny little girl” signs.