To be honest, Husker Nation was in trouble from the moment they announced this literal rematch on the "BCS: Bowl Selection Special." The announcement wreaked of sarcasm and the Big XII Conference giving us the unspoken, symbolic double "middle finger" salute on our way out the door.
I say this for two reasons: 1) Generally, the Big XII division champion -- that loses the Conference Championship Game -- goes to either the "Cotton Bowl" (Dallas, TX), or the "Alamo Bowl" (San Antonio, TX) as a rule of thumb. I'm sure all of us agree that both the Cotton and Alamo Bowls are held in higher regard than the "Holiday Bowl", especially the "Cotton Bowl". The fact that we were inexplicably passed over for both is not a coincidence. They are two bowl games -- with Big XII tie-ins -- that are both hosted in Texas aka "The Motherland of the Big XII Conference". The tension (that you could cut with a knife) and "bad blood" between us and Texas on all things football -- without question -- played a significant role in the snub. Especially since we are leaving for the Big 10, which leaves the Big XII minus one of its marquee programs and its proverbial 800 lb gorilla of the North Division. Our defection has cost the Big XII money, prestige, and conference strength -- not to mention vitality for the future. All that creates a toxic elixir to give us the royal "F.U." as we depart the conference -- which they did.
Seeing that we "stomped out" U Dub -- at home -- by a staggering 35 point margin, there was no reason for us to play them a second time. We should have been playing a much more respectable opponent, considering our record. This is why I was in favor of declining the invitation to the "Holiday Bowl" on principle alone, because it was so blatantly obvious that what has been done was carried out with malicious intent and a thinly veiled ulterior motive/agenda in mind.
The on-field performance was indicative of a team and coaching staff that didn't want to be there. Hell, the fans didn't want to be there either. It seemed that as the game wore on, the less interested we became. Through my TV set at home, it was a very palpable sense/feeling -- from the coaches, players & fans -- of lets get this over with and get ready for the Big 10. I could only imagine what it was like at Qualcomm Stadium in SD,CA.
Anyway, when you consider all of the scenarios/circumstances, I believe this bowl performance -- from bowl preparation to the on-field performance -- was an aberration for Pelini and Co. I truly believe "Husker Nation" (from the Dr. Tom on down to the scout team plus the fans) were just too overcome with anger & hate for Texas and the Big XII in general that we lost our focus/direction by seasons end. The mental and emotional grind of all the built-up ambivalence/apathy was too much for us to try to overcome and re-focus one more time -- particularly for a U Dub team we already smoked by 35 earlier. The "Holiday Bowl" felt more like a punishment or demotion than a bowl game.
In closing, "Husker Nation" had high expectations placed upon us by the media and ourselves to do big things this season and go to a BCS bowl game. That's cool because it made sense based on the talent and coaching we have in our possession. However, as fans, we also harbored a very palpable and tangible anger/ hate throughout this season like we've never had before. I truly believe that the ballplayers felt our sentiments, along with their own, and were ultimately burdened by the "revenge" factor and figurative "bucket of blood" that we wanted as fans for all other Big XII affiliates on our way out the door. When that didn't materialize after two "L's" to both Texas and aTm -- games we had no business losing -- the angst and anxiety levels spiked throughout Husker Nation. The loss to old school, arch-rival Oklahoma -- in a game where we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory -- was gut-wrenching which caused us the fans' "blood rage" to boil over and left the kids "punch drunk" from the perspective of psyche and "swagger". Finally, the disrespect and humiliation felt from being placed in the Holiday Bowl against a U Dub team we already smoked? ..... Well that was the figurative thump on the forehead that toppled us over. The "Holiday Bowl" was really over before it started. The only chance the Huskies had of beating us was to catch us disengaged, unmotivated, and uninspired. It played out that way, exactly. The end result: UW 19 - Nebraska 7.
Here's to happier times and a new beginning in the BIG TEN...........Throw Da Bones :throwdabones1:
