Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
NICE ARTICLE ON POSITIVES FRO THIS YEAR:
Brian Rosenthal: Huskers' reasons to give thanks
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005 - 11:35:32 pm CST
It’s Thanksgiving. I can’t think of a better day to focus on nothing but positives — real positives — with the Nebraska football team. No gloomy predictions for Friday’s game (at least not in this space). No second-guessing of coaching decisions. No whining, no sarcastic comments. Tired of the negative? This is your day.
Despite the Huskers’ four losses over their past six games, Nebraska fans really do have a few things to be thankful for with this team.
Here’s a list, in no particular order:
* [SIZE=14pt]Nate Swift.[/SIZE] Nobody can be happy with the early-season injuries that slowed wide receivers Isaiah Fluellen, Mark LeFlore and Frantz Hardy. But without those sudden rash of injuries, you have to wonder if Swift, a redshirted freshman, would’ve gotten the chance to prove himself.
Don’t forget, Swift didn’t even catch a pass until the third quarter against Iowa State, a game Nebraska won in double-overtime. Remember that great over-the-shoulder grab he made that set up a field goal?
Today, Swift leads the team with 38 catches — the most in a season by a Husker since Irving Fryar had 40 catches in 1983. It’s also a freshman Nebraska record. Swift has three 100-yard receiving performances in NU’s last four games.
You also won’t meet a nicer, happier guy. Ever see Swift not smiling? He has every reason to grin.
[SIZE=14pt]*Sam Koch. [/SIZE]I know he’s the punter, but in all seriousness, I’d vote for him as team MVP. Nobody has been more consistent than Koch, and nobody’s done more to keep Nebraska in games.
How many times has he changed field position with a booming kick and at least given the defense a chance? It’s not just Koch’s powerful leg that’s been valuable, either. He’s pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line 28 times out of 58 punts. One of the few highlights of the Kansas game came when Koch pooched a 35-yard punt that landed at the KU 3, setting up a safety two plays later.
Koch may have saved the Kansas State game — and Nebraska’s bowl eligibility — when he retrieved a bad snap and somehow got off a fourth-quarter punt the Wildcats fair-caught at their 22-yard line.
[SIZE=14pt]n Jordan Congdon.[/SIZE] Pat Forde of ESPN.com has Congdon on his freshman All-America team, and with good reason. Congdon has made nine consecutive field goals and 15 for the season, a Nebraska freshman record. He’s three field goals shy of the school record, set by Kris Brown in 1997.
Even more impressive, Congdon has made several pressure kicks, a great sign for NU fans and a great confidence boost for a true freshman. From overtime extra-point kicks to his game-winning field goal against Kansas State, Congdon has responded in critical situations.
*[SIZE=14pt] Special teams[/SIZE]. It’s not just Koch and Congdon. Overall, Nebraska’s special-teams play has dramatically improved from last season. The Huskers have found a punt return game — they rank 11th nationally — with Cortney Grixby and Terrence Nunn.
And remember those long kickoff returns surrendered last season? Nebraska now ranks No. 3 nationally in kickoff return yardage allowed, with an average of 15.6 yards per return. No long punt returns, either — an average of 7.8 yards per return.
True freshmen Leon Jackson, Barry Turner, Zach Potter and Marlon Lucky have all played major roles on special teams. (Where would NU be without those four blocked kicks by Turner and Potter?) But my personal favorite special-teams guy is junior Brandon Rigoni. He hasn’t gotten a lot of pub, but have you seen this guy fly to the ball? He’s got 13 tackles, and they’re not from mop-up duty at safety, either.
* [SIZE=14pt]Corey McKeon.[/SIZE] My choice for Nebraska’s defensive player of the year. His team-leading stats (19 tackles for loss, 85 total tackles, three interceptions) are only part of the equation. His fiery attitude and outspoken personality are a welcome addition to a defense that has lacked some swagger in recent seasons.
* [SIZE=14pt]Zac Taylor’s grit.[/SIZE] I’m not even going to mention his passing yardage or completion percentage. We shouldn’t have to. Taylor’s heart, leadership and resiliency have meant as much, or more, to this team than his touchdown-to-interception ratio. How Taylor lasted until the third quarter of the 10th game without having to sit a snap because of injury is beyond me. He’s earned the right to lead this team into 2006.
* [SIZE=14pt]A bowl game[/SIZE]. Doesn’t make any difference where Nebraska goes, or who the Huskers play. The big news here is that Bill Callahan’s young team has another month of practice. That’s essential for a team with 30 freshmen and sophomores on the depth chart.
[SIZE=14pt]Plus, it’s a deserving reward for Cory Ross, Daniel Bullocks, Le Kevin Smith, Titus Adams and the rest of the Nebraska seniors who undoubtedly didn’t expect this much turnover and turmoil when they joined the program.[/SIZE]
They’ve endured too much. Be thankful they’re still here, too.
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
Brian Rosenthal: Huskers' reasons to give thanks
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005 - 11:35:32 pm CST
It’s Thanksgiving. I can’t think of a better day to focus on nothing but positives — real positives — with the Nebraska football team. No gloomy predictions for Friday’s game (at least not in this space). No second-guessing of coaching decisions. No whining, no sarcastic comments. Tired of the negative? This is your day.
Despite the Huskers’ four losses over their past six games, Nebraska fans really do have a few things to be thankful for with this team.
Here’s a list, in no particular order:
* [SIZE=14pt]Nate Swift.[/SIZE] Nobody can be happy with the early-season injuries that slowed wide receivers Isaiah Fluellen, Mark LeFlore and Frantz Hardy. But without those sudden rash of injuries, you have to wonder if Swift, a redshirted freshman, would’ve gotten the chance to prove himself.
Don’t forget, Swift didn’t even catch a pass until the third quarter against Iowa State, a game Nebraska won in double-overtime. Remember that great over-the-shoulder grab he made that set up a field goal?
Today, Swift leads the team with 38 catches — the most in a season by a Husker since Irving Fryar had 40 catches in 1983. It’s also a freshman Nebraska record. Swift has three 100-yard receiving performances in NU’s last four games.
You also won’t meet a nicer, happier guy. Ever see Swift not smiling? He has every reason to grin.
[SIZE=14pt]*Sam Koch. [/SIZE]I know he’s the punter, but in all seriousness, I’d vote for him as team MVP. Nobody has been more consistent than Koch, and nobody’s done more to keep Nebraska in games.
How many times has he changed field position with a booming kick and at least given the defense a chance? It’s not just Koch’s powerful leg that’s been valuable, either. He’s pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line 28 times out of 58 punts. One of the few highlights of the Kansas game came when Koch pooched a 35-yard punt that landed at the KU 3, setting up a safety two plays later.
Koch may have saved the Kansas State game — and Nebraska’s bowl eligibility — when he retrieved a bad snap and somehow got off a fourth-quarter punt the Wildcats fair-caught at their 22-yard line.
[SIZE=14pt]n Jordan Congdon.[/SIZE] Pat Forde of ESPN.com has Congdon on his freshman All-America team, and with good reason. Congdon has made nine consecutive field goals and 15 for the season, a Nebraska freshman record. He’s three field goals shy of the school record, set by Kris Brown in 1997.
Even more impressive, Congdon has made several pressure kicks, a great sign for NU fans and a great confidence boost for a true freshman. From overtime extra-point kicks to his game-winning field goal against Kansas State, Congdon has responded in critical situations.
*[SIZE=14pt] Special teams[/SIZE]. It’s not just Koch and Congdon. Overall, Nebraska’s special-teams play has dramatically improved from last season. The Huskers have found a punt return game — they rank 11th nationally — with Cortney Grixby and Terrence Nunn.
And remember those long kickoff returns surrendered last season? Nebraska now ranks No. 3 nationally in kickoff return yardage allowed, with an average of 15.6 yards per return. No long punt returns, either — an average of 7.8 yards per return.
True freshmen Leon Jackson, Barry Turner, Zach Potter and Marlon Lucky have all played major roles on special teams. (Where would NU be without those four blocked kicks by Turner and Potter?) But my personal favorite special-teams guy is junior Brandon Rigoni. He hasn’t gotten a lot of pub, but have you seen this guy fly to the ball? He’s got 13 tackles, and they’re not from mop-up duty at safety, either.
* [SIZE=14pt]Corey McKeon.[/SIZE] My choice for Nebraska’s defensive player of the year. His team-leading stats (19 tackles for loss, 85 total tackles, three interceptions) are only part of the equation. His fiery attitude and outspoken personality are a welcome addition to a defense that has lacked some swagger in recent seasons.
* [SIZE=14pt]Zac Taylor’s grit.[/SIZE] I’m not even going to mention his passing yardage or completion percentage. We shouldn’t have to. Taylor’s heart, leadership and resiliency have meant as much, or more, to this team than his touchdown-to-interception ratio. How Taylor lasted until the third quarter of the 10th game without having to sit a snap because of injury is beyond me. He’s earned the right to lead this team into 2006.
* [SIZE=14pt]A bowl game[/SIZE]. Doesn’t make any difference where Nebraska goes, or who the Huskers play. The big news here is that Bill Callahan’s young team has another month of practice. That’s essential for a team with 30 freshmen and sophomores on the depth chart.
[SIZE=14pt]Plus, it’s a deserving reward for Cory Ross, Daniel Bullocks, Le Kevin Smith, Titus Adams and the rest of the Nebraska seniors who undoubtedly didn’t expect this much turnover and turmoil when they joined the program.[/SIZE]
They’ve endured too much. Be thankful they’re still here, too.
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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