We're up on "The Quad" (NY Times Blog)

[huskerfan711]

http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/1...no-22-nebraska/

 

Location: Lincoln, Neb.

 

Nickname: Cornhuskers.

 

2008 Countdown ranking: No. 42.

 

What I said in LAST YEAR’S preview:

 

But there are some reasons for optimism, mostly based on the strong performance of the offense last fall and an expected defensive revival. But how good can they be? Never underestimate the power of a home crowd, especially in Lincoln; however, I think Missouri and, to a lesser degree, Kansas, will be better than Nebraska in 2008, and the Huskers will also be hard-pressed to win at Texas Tech and Oklahoma. Over all, look for another strong offensive performance and a fiery, improved defense to help Nebraska get back into bowl play with an 8-4 regular season. It would mark an auspicious debut for Pelini in Lincoln.

 

Postseason re-ranking: No. 27.

 

2008 record and recap: (9-4, 5-3). Nebraska’s back. No, let’s not get ahead of ourselves: The Huskers are not back, though Bo Pelini’s first season in charge of the program yielded signs that a renaissance is in progress. Nebraska combined an increasingly explosive offense with a tougher, more inspired effort on defense to return to bowl play, and matched the 2006 team for the most wins since 2003. All told, a very successful season in Pelini’s first year. Now, is there work left to be done? Without question. Nebraska still struggled against the better teams on its schedule – Virginia Tech, Texas Tech and Oklahoma, for starters – and at times experienced the defensive lapses which defined the Bill Callahan era. I suppose these mistakes were to be expected, as the returning contributors went from the passive defensive style of the previous staff to Pelini’s ultra-aggressive system. And there were signs down the stretch that a light had turned on, as the Huskers won six of their last seven – the only setback being the ugly loss in Norman – holding four opponents under 30 points in the process. So work needs to be done, but progress has been made. Are the Cornhuskers back? No, not yet. But this program is hungry (so are the fans), and the newfound confidence instilled by Pelini and his staff leads me to believe the Big Red will return to its accustomed place atop the North division in 2009.

 

High point: Not very many wins to hang your hat on, though a season-opening victory over Western Michigan (by 47-24) was solid, as was a home win over Kansas (by 45-35). Five wins in its last six regular-season games propelled Nebraska into the Gator Bowl, where a late defensive stand led the Huskers to a 26-21 win over Clemson. The clear high point – and it’s not even close – was the last two minutes of the victory over Colorado, as you can imagine.

 

Low point: Another loss to Missouri, this one in Lincoln. The Huskers had not dropped a home game to the Tigers since 1978, but Missouri’s offense proved unstoppable in a 52-17 loss. The defeat was the second of three straight for Nebraska, following a 35-30 loss to Virginia Tech and preceding a 37-31 overtime loss to Texas Tech. The Huskers had a chance to steal a game in Lubbock, but a second-half comeback fell short due to an interception thrown in the first extra frame. A 62-28 loss at Oklahoma was over, oh, three minutes into the game, when Nebraska’s first pass attempt – a bubble screen – was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

 

Tidbit: Let’s update this old standby for 2009. The Huskers have won at least nine games in every season since 1962 but six: 1967-68, 2002, 2004-5 and 2007. Just as a comparison, let’s hold the rest of college football’s historical elite (not counting the Florida schools) to the same standard. Alabama has 17 such seasons (if you include 1993) over that same span; Georgia has 24; L.S.U. 28; Michigan 18; Notre Dame 24; Ohio State 18; Oklahoma 22; Penn State 18; U.S.C. 25; Tennessee 25; and Texas 20. Over the past 47 years, Nebraska’s five Big 12 North division brethren (Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri) have combined to win at least nine games in a season a grand total of 28 times (out of 235 potential years), with all but seven of those seasons coming from Colorado and Kansas State.

 

Tidbit (fun with numbers edition): Since Nebraska’s memorable home win over Oklahoma in 2001, the Huskers join Duke as the only B.C.S.-conference programs to have not defeated a top 20 team. Nebraska is 0-24 since, though it does have one win over a Top 25 opponent (by 25-17 over then-No. 24 Pittsburgh in 2004).

 

Tidbit (guest writer’s spot): Today’s guest writer is the loyal reader Gooch, whose correct answer to a quiz in the Fresno State earned him the opportunity to write a 100-word preview of his favorite team. His team? Nebraska. His foreign language? Italian. Take it away, Gooch:

 

Il Buono, il Brutto, il Cattivo. Un stagione nel football Americano, diretto da Bo Pelini. Il Buono: Ndamukong Suh. “La Casa delle Lancie” è il giocatore difensivo più dominante della liga. Il Brutto: Il calendario. Nebraska deve viaggiare a giocare i suoi rivali al nord, Kansas, Colorado, e Missouri. Il Cattivo: La situazione al Nebraska prima il Pelini. Lui è tornato per ristorare il tradizione dei Sbucciatori, non per un pugno di dolari.

 

Tidbit (Internet translation edition): Not sure what Gooch just wrote? Well, neither am I. So I decided to turn to the Internet, where I found a Italian-English translator (a Web site, not an actual person). Here’s the translation:

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. A season in football the American, directed from Bo Pelini. The Good: Ndamukong Suh. “The House of the Spear” more dominant of the line is the defensive player. The Bad: The calendar. Nebraska must travel to play its rivals to the north, Kansas, Colorado, and Missouri. The Ugly: The situation to the Nebraska before the Pelini. It is returned for restore the tradition of the Cornhuskers, not for a fist of dollars.

 

Former players in the N.F.L.: 40 – DT Titus Adams (New England Patriots), DT Ryon Bingham (San Diego Chargers), CB Zack Bowman (Chicago Bears), LB Stewart Bradley (Philadelphia Eagles), CB Ralph Brown (Arizona Cardinals), S Mike Brown (Kansas City Chiefs), K Kris Brown (Houston Texans), K Josh Brown (St. Louis Rams), RB Correll Buckhalter (Denver Broncos), S Daniel Bullocks (Detroit Lions), S Josh Bullocks (Chicago Bears), DT Adam Carriker (St. Louis Rams), OG Toniu Fonoti (Detroit Lions), LB Cody Glenn (Washington Redskins), OG Russ Hochstein (New England Patriots), OT Richie Incognito (St. Louis Rams), RB Brandon Jackson (Green Bay Packers), DE Chris Kelsay (Buffalo Bills), RB Marlon Lucky (San Francisco 49ers), LB Jay Moore (San Francisco 49ers), OT Lydon Murtha (Detroit Lions), OG Carl Nicks (New Orleans Saints), WR Terrence Nunn (New England Patriots), LB Steve Octavien (Dallas Cowboys), OT Chris Patrick (Philadelphia Eagles), WR Todd Peterson (Jacksonville Jaguars), DE Zach Potter (Jets), WR Maurice Purify (Cincinnati Bengals), C Dominic Raiola (Detroit Lions), LB Barrett Ruud (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), LB Bo Ruud (Cleveland Browns), LB Scott Shanle (New Orleans Saints), OG Matt Slauson (Jets), DT Le Kevin Smith (New England Patriots), DT Ty Steinkuhler (Jets), WR Nate Swift (Denver Broncos), DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (Tennessee Titans), CB Fabian Washington (Baltimore Ravens), LB Demorrio Williams (Kansas City Chiefs).

 

Top five N.F.L. players from Nebraska: The Cornhuskers have a terrific list, though perhaps not one indicative of their place as a top-five program in N.C.A.A. history. Still, Nebraska has put two players into the N.F.L. Hall of Fame, with a third shortly on the way (Shields) and another two who should be there already (Craig and Fischer). An impressive group just missed the cut: wide receiver Irving Fryar; defensive ends Neil Smith, Ron McDole and Grant Wistrom; running back Ahman Green; offensive tackle Link Lyman; and safety Mike Minter.

 

1. OG Will Shields (Kansas City; 1993-2006)

2. OT Bob Brown (Philadelphia, L.A., Oakland; 1964-73)

3. RB Roger Craig (S.F., Oakland, Minnesota; 1983-93)

4. CB Pat Fischer (St. Louis, Washington; 1961-77)

5. C Mick Tingelhoff (Minnesota; 1962-78)

 

Team

 

Conference: Big 12, North division.

 

Head coach: Bo Pelini (Ohio State ’90), 10-4 after one season in Lincoln. Pelini was 1-0 when he took over as the Nebraska head coach, having replaced the fired Frank Solich for Nebraska’s 17-3 Alamo Bowl victory in 2003. That game concluded a one-year stint in Lincoln for Pelini, who was hired earlier in the year as the Huskers’ defensive coordinator after nine seasons coaching in the N.F.L., most recently with the Packers. Pelini also coached with the 49ers (1994-96) and the Patriots (1997-98) — both times alongside current Southern California coach Pete Carroll — before taking on the Green Bay linebacker job from 2000-2. Pelini might not have had the same impact on the N.U. defense in 2008 as he had as the defensive coordinator in 2003, when he helped the Huskers finally rebound from its devastating finish to the 2001 season (late-season losses to Colorado by 62-36 and to Miami by 37-14). His defense ranked second in the F.B.S. in scoring defense and 11th in total defense, and made Pelini the fan’s choice to replace Solich. Still, the Huskers did cut nearly 10 points off its per-game scoring average last fall, which in conjunction with the offense’s 460 total points helped the Big Red return to bowl play. Spurned by the former athletic director Steve Pederson in his search for Solich’s replacement, Pelini spent the 2004 season as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma before taking the same position at L.S.U., where he spent three seasons (2005-7). Louisiana State’s defense finished among the top five in the F.B.S. in each of his three years at the helm; in 2007, the national title-winning Tigers finished third in the nation in total defense (288.8 yards a game) and takeaways (36). Now entering his second season as the full-time coach, Pelini still has some aspects of the assignment to work on, most notably his temper (he’s more Bob Devaney than Tom Osborne, to put it mildly) and the team’s recruiting, but it’s hard not to imagine Nebraska returning to the top of the Big 12 North in the very near future.

 

Returning starters: 11 (6 offense, 5 defense).

 

Key losses: Widely overlooked on not only a national level but also in his own conference, quarterback Joe Ganz was the leader behind Nebraska’s four-win improvement in 2008. Ganz should have been the starter from the onset of the 2007 season (the spot went to the high-profile transfer Sam Keller), but he did not step into the starting lineup until the final three games of the year; all he did over those three weeks was throw for 1,399 yards and 15 touchdowns, including a school-record seven scores in a win over Kansas State. The undisputed starter heading into his final season, Ganz set school records for passing yards (3,568), total offense (3,826 yards) and completion percentage (67.9) in a single season. Turnovers were a concern heading into 2008 – Ganz threw seven picks in 152 attempts the previous year – but the senior improved his decision-making, tossing only 11 interceptions in 420 attempts. He’ll be sorely missed, as will as his two top receiving targets, Nate Swift and Todd Peterson. Swift departs as the school’s career leader in receptions (166), and ranks second in receiving yards (2,476) and touchdowns (22) for a career. He set career highs in receptions (63), yards (941) and touchdowns (10) in his final season, when he teamed with Peterson (62 catches for 786 yards) to make 42 percent of team’s total receptions. Unlike Swift, who caught at least 22 balls in each of his four years, Peterson did not break into the starting lineup until his final season. Still, the former walk-on was a key part of the receiver corps as a sophomore and junior, when he combined to make 37 catches for 666 yards (18 yards per reception). Rounding out the losses among the offensive skill players is running back Marlon Lucky, who concluded his career ranked in the top 20 in school history in rushing (2,393 yards) and fifth in receptions (135). Perhaps Lucky did not live up to his immense billing as a high school recruit, but the four-year contributor was one of the better third-down backs in the F.B.S., and remained so as a senior despite losing his hold on the top backfield spot. Two starters are lost off the offensive line; right guard Matt Slauson and right tackle Lydon Murtha. The massive Slauson, who made 35 career starts, was a two-time all-conference selection (second-team honors as a senior). As shown by the performance he put on at the N.F.L. combine, Murtha may have the most athletic linemen in the Big 12; however, constant injuries prevented Murtha from ever playing up to his massive potential, though he was impressive when in the lineup (missed eight games over his final two seasons).

 

The Nebraska defense lost two starters up front in end Zach Potter and tackle Ty Steinkuhler. Each earned honorable mention all-Big 12 honors a season ago. Potter, a two-year starter, set career highs across the board as a senior (47 tackles, 16 for loss, 5.5 sacks); he was also very adept at using his long arms to bat balls down at the line of scrimmage, as shown by his seven pass breakups, second on the team. Steinkuhler’s senior season saw him stay injury free for the first time in two years. As a result, he put together an underrated final season (48 tackles, 2.5 sacks) on the interior of the N.U. line. The losses among the front seven continue with linebackers Cody Glenn and Tyler Wortman, a pair that combined to make 15 starts in 2008. Glenn, a former running back (579 yards and 14 touchdowns from 2005-7), played well after making the move to defense, though he more often than not got by purely on his own athleticism, lacking the experience at the position. He started each of the first nine games (51 tackles, 6 for loss) before being dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules. The secondary must replace cornerback Armando Murillo, a two-year starter after arriving on campus as a JUCO transfer in 2007. Despite his relative inexperience on the F.B.S. level, Murillo (team-best nine pass breakups) was the veteran of a young secondary in 2008.

 

Players to watch: In an homage to years past, Nebraska’s offense will be led by a tough and physical ground game. The junior Roy Helu Jr. took over the top spot over the second half of 2008, leading the team with 803 yards and 7 touchdowns; 510 of those yards came over the final four games of the regular season, including three 100-yard performances. He’s a clear threat to crack the 1,000-yard plateau as a junior, especially since his carries (125 last fall) are sure to increase. Helu will be complemented by Quentin Castille, who finished third on the team with 450 yards rushing last fall. Castille rushed for 125 yards in the bowl win against Clemson, showing his ability to carry the ground game when called upon. Like his counterpart, Castille will also see additional carries in his junior season. The sophomore Austin Jones and the freshmen Lester Ward, Collins Okafor and Rex Burkhead – the latter a true freshman – will battle for the third spot. The quarterback spot looked open to competition at the end of last season, but the would-be sophomore Pat Witt’s decision to transfer made the junior Zac Lee the clear favorite entering spring ball. He played well enough in the spring to cement his place as the starter. Lee has the ability to be a solid starter for the Huskers – he has good running ability, always an asset – but his lack of game experience is an obvious cause for concern. One of his favorite targets is sure to be the junior tight end Mike McNeill, who set a Nebraska tight end single-season record with 32 receptions last fall. The Huskers are deep at tight end, with the junior Dreu Young (9 receptions for 140 yards) and the redshirt freshmen Ben Cotton and Kyler Reed also in the mix. Plenty of options exist on the line. The best of the group is the senior Jacob Hickman, who can line up at either center or right guard. The junior Ricky Henry’s mean streak will be an asset, and the JUCO transfer will play right guard if he can solidify his grasp on the offense; this would allow Hickman to remain at center. The sophomore right tackle Marcel Jones and the junior Mike Smith will start on the edge, with the junior Keith Williams returning at left guard. Nebraska’s offensive line depth was compromised last fall due to injuries, but that does not seem to be a concern heading into 2009.

 

Speaking of line play, Nebraska’s defensive front is as good – if not better – than any group in the Big 12. This is largely due to the presence of the senior tackle Ndamukong Suh, who I believe to be the best defensive lineman in the nation. Suh’s inspired combination of both power and athleticism – see his pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns – easily make him the most productive interior lineman in the F.B.S., as the senior led the Huskers in tackles (76), tackles for loss (19) and sacks (7.5) while tying for the team lead in interceptions. He’s a clear candidate for national honors in his final season, as well as a potential top-five pick in next year’s N.F.L. draft. He’ll be joined up front by a pair of stellar ends, Barry Turner and Pierre Allen (52 stops, 10 for loss, 5.5 sacks). Turner’s early-season injury allowed Allen to gain important experience, a factor that will pay dividends with the junior’s move into the starting lineup on a full-time basis. The Huskers do need to find a new tackle, with the sophomore Jared Crick the favorite. Other options inside include the sophomore Terrence Moore and the redshirt freshman Baker Steinkuhler, Ty’s younger brother. Linebacker is more of a question mark, as N.U. is deep in the middle – the seniors Phillip Dillard and Colton Koehler and the redshirt freshman Mike Compton are all possibilities – but thin on the outside. The candidates on the weakside are the juniors Blake Lawrence (if recovered from his concussion issues) and Thomas Grove and the sophomores Mathew May and Matt Holt, with Lawrence the early favorite. The redshirt freshman Sean Fisher will likely start on the strongside, though another youngster, Alonzo Whaley, is talented enough to crack the starting lineup. Another name to watch at linebacker is the incoming freshman Eric Martin. The Huskers will be more battle-tested in the secondary in 2009. The seniors Larry Asante, Matt O’Hanlon and Rickey Thenarse are back at safety. Asante is a two-time all-Big 12 honorable mention choice at strong safety. The junior Eric Hagg is a capable reserve at both spots, as well as the team’s nickel back. The juniors Prince Amukamara and Anthony West (two interceptions) are the likely starters at cornerback. The sophomores Lance Thorell, Alfonzo Dennard and Anthony Blue are also in the mix for the starting spots, though all three will provide good depth. Nebraska will again have a potential all-American at kicker, as the junior Alex Henery (18 of 21 on field goals) returns as one of the most polished at his position in the F.B.S. He also has quite the leg, as shown in his 57-yard field goal for the win against Colorado.

 

Position(s) to watch: Let’s take a look at receiver, where the Huskers lost two of the most prolific pass catchers in school history. Nebraska does return a clear top pair in the senior Menelik Holt and the junior Niles Paul, each of whom served in key roles a season ago. Holt is the team’s second-leading returning receiver, having made 30 receptions for 355 yards last fall. He’ll hold the top spot, and could be poised for an all-conference caliber senior year. Paul had occasional lapses in his first season of full action – he played sparingly in 2007 – but still managed to make 23 grabs for 314 yards. Paul was the also Nebraska’s top kick returner (23.6 yards per return, 1 touchdown), though I’m unsure if he’ll keep that job given his increased role in the offense. Locating secondary options at receiver will be a primary goal during Nebraska’s fall practice. One name to watch is the JUCO transfer Brandon Kinnie, who could give the Huskers a third tall target to team with Holt and the junior Will Henry. The sophomore Marcus Mendoza and the freshmen Antonio Bell and Khiry Cooper will also find themselves in the mix, especially as deep threats. Currenski Gilleylen certainly fits in this group as well, though the sophomore will need to improve his hands and route running in order to see significant time. Perhaps it’s also time for the senior Chris Brooks to play up to form, as the highly-touted high school recruit has yet to serve in a significant role in the Nebraska passing game.

 

2009 schedule:

Sept. 5 Florida Atlantic

Sept. 12 Arkansas State

Sept. 19 @ Virginia Tech

Sept. 26 Louisiana-Lafayette

Oct. 8 @ Missouri

Oct. 17 Texas Tech

Oct. 24 Iowa State

Oct. 31 @ Baylor

Nov. 7 Oklahoma

Nov. 14 @ Kansas

Nov. 21 Kansas State

Nov. 27 @ Colorado

 

Game(s) to watch: Nebraska’s three non-conference games against Sun Belt opposition will allow the Huskers to step into Big 12 play with at worst a 3-1 mark, with the road date with Virginia Tech one of the marquee games of September. In conference action, road games at Missouri, Kansas and Colorado will determine who takes the North division. Oklahoma-Nebraska is always good fun.

 

Season breakdown & prediction: Nebraska is my pick as Big 12 North champion, based on an expected improvement from the defense and the recently splendid play of the offense. But, to fully beat this phrase into the ground, work remains to be done. This begins on defense, where the Huskers struggled against the Big 12’s best a season ago. Given the changes on offense, Nebraska may need its defense to carry the team early, so an improvement must be made. Speaking of the offense, Nebraska must locate capable skill players on the outside to complement its new quarterback. The offensive line looks solid, and I believe the effective ground game will take a lot of pressure off of Lee as he gains experience on the F.B.S. level. The schedule shapes up for a good level of success, though the Huskers must take on its three prime North division rivals on the road. Another date with Oklahoma may be a tough game to pull out. Nevertheless, I feel secure in putting Nebraska in the Top 25, and am not very far from predicting a 10-win finish for the Big Red; in that case, Nebraska would lose only Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. I can’t got that far in 2009, seeing that I believe N.U. will lose one of its three road games against its division, but that’s all: 9-3, 6-2 in the Big 12, and back atop the North.

 

Dream season: Order restored? Nebraska has only one regular-season loss – home against Oklahoma – but avenges that defeat by upending the Sooners in the Big 12 conference championship.

 

Nightmare season: Pelini’s second season indicates no sense of progress: 7-5, 4-4 in the Big 12.

 

Where do Nebraska fans congregate: An overwhelming number of options. Independent message boards can be found at HuskerBoard.com, HuskerPedia.com and BigHuskerFan.com. To catch up on Nebraska recruiting, check out Huskers Illustrated and Big Red Report. You can find additional coverage at CornNation.com and the Web sites of the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha World-Herald.

 

Who is No. 21?: Our next university’s football team and men’s ice hockey team had the same number of losses in the 2008-9 season.

[HuskerJen]

That has to be one of the most thorough previews I've ever read.

 

Although this did catch my attention...

 

Linebacker is more of a question mark, as N.U. is deep in the middle – the seniors Phillip Dillard and Colton Koehler and the redshirt freshman Mike Compton are all possibilities

 

Mike Compton?

 

[zoogs]

A 62-28 loss at Oklahoma was over, oh, three minutes into the game, when Nebraska’s first pass attempt – a bubble screen – was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

 

He, uh, forgot to mention another touchdown or three in said timeframe.

[huskeraddict]

[hack]

 

you missed a good article, then.

 

nice read and huskerboard get a shoutout.

[huskeraddict]

 

you missed a good article, then.

 

nice read and huskerboard get a shoutout.

 

I skimm-ed

 

[walksalone]

 

you missed a good article, then.

 

nice read and huskerboard get a shoutout.

 

I skimm-ed

 

 

[knapplc]

Where do Nebraska fans congregate: An overwhelming number of options. Independent message boards can be found at HuskerBoard.com, HuskerPedia.com and BigHuskerFan.com. To catch up on Nebraska recruiting, check out Huskers Illustrated and Big Red Report. You can find additional coverage at CornNation.com and the Web sites of the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha World-Herald.

 

Nice to see that. There's a reason we all congregate here, and it's cool to see HB listed first and foremost amongst options. Hooray, HuskerBoard!

 

 

 

 

Have I mentioned before that I am man-crushing on The Quad? This section of the NYTimes has quickly made itself the go-to site for college football news. This article is just one of dozens and dozens they've written, as in-depth as this, about every team in 1A football. They're taking their time, being fairly unbiased and accurate (aside from "Mike" Compton ), and have just a ton of info on each team so far.

 

I have very few links on my link bar thingy, but they're one of them. Good stuff.

[skerfan1705]

A 62-28 loss at Oklahoma was over, oh, three minutes into the game, when Nebraska’s first pass attempt – a bubble screen – was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

 

He, uh, forgot to mention another touchdown or three in said timeframe.

 

 

No Sh*t! I went to go let the dog out and it was 21-0 when I sat bck down.

 

Urgh....

 

Oh well, we'll get em this year!

[huskerfan711]

Where do Nebraska fans congregate: An overwhelming number of options. Independent message boards can be found at HuskerBoard.com, HuskerPedia.com and BigHuskerFan.com. To catch up on Nebraska recruiting, check out Huskers Illustrated and Big Red Report. You can find additional coverage at CornNation.com and the Web sites of the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha World-Herald.

 

Nice to see that. There's a reason we all congregate here, and it's cool to see HB listed first and foremost amongst options. Hooray, HuskerBoard!

 

 

 

 

Have I mentioned before that I am man-crushing on The Quad? This section of the NYTimes has quickly made itself the go-to site for college football news. This article is just one of dozens and dozens they've written, as in-depth as this, about every team in 1A football. They're taking their time, being fairly unbiased and accurate (aside from "Mike" Compton ), and have just a ton of info on each team so far.

 

I have very few links on my link bar thingy, but they're one of them. Good stuff.

 

Ya they really are some great articles... I've been reading them since they were on the high 50's teams... only skipping a few teams.

 

Only thing I don't really agree with, is that they are drinking the Notre Dame Kool Aid... Seriously... what is with all the buzz about ND for the past years... same thing happens every time, they play a cupcake (sans USC) schedule and everyone thinks they can go 11-1, then they sputter out to a 3-9 season, only to be reincarnated as college footballs next top team, again, play a cupcake schedule and come out with a 7-6 season (while losing to syracuse). Now they are ranked above the huskers...

[Quinn10ND]

Ya they really are some great articles... I've been reading them since they were on the high 50's teams... only skipping a few teams.

 

Only thing I don't really agree with, is that they are drinking the Notre Dame Kool Aid... Seriously... what is with all the buzz about ND for the past years... same thing happens every time, they play a cupcake (sans USC) schedule and everyone thinks they can go 11-1, then they sputter out to a 3-9 season, only to be reincarnated as college footballs next top team, again, play a cupcake schedule and come out with a 7-6 season (while losing to syracuse). Now they are ranked above the huskers...

I'm not sure what "buzz" you were hearing. ND was not even remotely close to being ranked, preseason or not, in 2007 or 2008. This will be our first ranking since the final 2006 poll. Don't you have to be rated to be overrated?

 

This is a ranking for 2009, and I said in another post, I don't have any issue with anyone voting ND outside the top 25. However, to automatically assume a young team can't improve just because it's ND is unfair. The historically bad recruiting classes of 04 and 05 are now mostly flushed out and replaced by the excellent 07 and 08 recruiting classes who were forced to play (too) early and often. I think putting too much stock in the last two seasons (2007, in particular) is a mistake.

 

But, the great thing is, we'll see. How about a ND-NU Gator Bowl, or better yet, *Orange Bowl?

 

* Edit: I meant Fiesta Bowl. Had a weird flashback to your days playing in the other one. My mistake.

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

How about a ND-NU Gator Bowl, or better yet, *Orange Bowl?

 

* Edit: I meant Fiesta Bowl. Had a weird flashback to your days playing in the other one. My mistake.

I think we need to play in ND again. Seeing the Jesus House all decked out in red was awesome.

[Igetbored216]

I'm not sure what "buzz" you were hearing. ND was not even remotely close to being ranked, preseason or not, in 2007 or 2008. This will be our first ranking since the final 2006 poll. Don't you have to be rated to be overrated?

 

This is a ranking for 2009, and I said in another post, I don't have any issue with anyone voting ND outside the top 25. However, to automatically assume a young team can't improve just because it's ND is unfair. The historically bad recruiting classes of 04 and 05 are now mostly flushed out and replaced by the excellent 07 and 08 recruiting classes who were forced to play (too) early and often. I think putting too much stock in the last two seasons (2007, in particular) is a mistake.

 

But, the great thing is, we'll see. How about a ND-NU Gator Bowl, or better yet, *Orange Bowl?

 

* Edit: I meant Fiesta Bowl. Had a weird flashback to your days playing in the other one. My mistake.

 

ND should go at a minimum 8-4. If they don't, they have underachieved again with an easy schedule.

 

I mean, considering ND has the greatest head coach alive, they should have gone undefeated the last few years, right?

[husker rob]

props to the writer

 

long but a very good read

 

thanks for posting this article

[caveman99]

How about a ND-NU Gator Bowl, or better yet, *Orange Bowl?

 

* Edit: I meant Fiesta Bowl. Had a weird flashback to your days playing in the other one. My mistake.

I think we need to play in ND again. Seeing the Jesus House all decked out in red was awesome.