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Saturday, November 29, 2008

Nebraska thrills the crowd.

PICTURE COURTESY OF THE LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR
SEE THEIR PHOTO GALLERY FOR OTHER GREAT PHOTOS

Friday afternoon Nebraska knocked off Colorado 40-31 in the most thrilling NU game this writer has ever attended. Nebraska seemed to be in control of the game after Colorado opened up a 14-0 lead but every time you would look at the score we were tied or behind. This writer didn't worry about it because we just seemed to be outplaying them and it was a matter of time. It was a matter of time at the end when we had a 4th and 25 from the Colorado 40 yard line. Thoughts went through my mind that we were beat. The ride home was going to be disappointing. There was no way. The sickening thought of our fake field that backfired for a Colorado touchdown went through my mind.

Should we punt? There was less than two minutes left in the game. A first down by Colorado and this game was over. Kunalic could possible hit a field goal from that distance but the chances were slim. Our offense didn't look to be with it this series so a first down needing 25 yards was not very probable. And then Alex Henery come on the field. He is a heck of a kicker and my vote all year long for All Big 12 but 57 yards? It couldn't be a fake. Not after the last one we tried. Impossible. And then the ball was snapped and he actually kicked it. Some yelled "It's short!"

But it kept going and going and then this writer saw a fan raise his hands behind the goal post and the crowd erupted. It went crazy! People were falling over over the place! Fans were hugging other fans they didn't even know. It has never been that loud in the Nebraska stadium.

But the game wasn't over. They had hit three early passes for a lot of yards and they might do it again. QB Hawkins threw the ball down the middle with his tight end temporily open. At the last second Lance Thorell leaped and knocked the ball away from the receiver. Wwwhhheeewwww! Still time left. Hawkins goes back to throw and Zach Potter, for the second time in the game, deflected it away to N. Suh and Suh races to the end zone for a touchdown. The crowd went crazy again and this time it might have been just as loud or louder. Nebraska had it won at last!!

Yes, we beat Oklahoma a few years ago on the Stuntz to Crouch pass. That was crazy, Yes, we beat Missouri on the famous Frost to Davison pass in overtime a few years ago. And yes we beat Texas A & M a couple of years ago on the Taylor to Purify pass when it looked like we were beat. The Oklahoma-Nebraska Game of The Century was as good as it gets. There are others. But this writer wasn't at those games and two of those games weren't even in Nebraska. Never had we had 85,000 plus fans at a game like this. It was loud. It gave you goosebumps and it made you emotional!

If you get a chance view Corn Nation's (In the Blog List) replay of the fieldgoal. WOW!

Stars of the game were of course, Henery and Suh, Helu again, and Zach Potter. Oh and the Nebraska fans!!!

The Big 12 was also crazy today. Kansas beats Missouri and Nebraska ties for the Big 12 North.

We are 8-4 and probably headed to the Gator Bowl. Let's go 9-4 but maybe don't make it so exciting this time.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving to NSJ

Happy Thanksgiving to readers at the Nebraska Sports Journal! Happy Thanksgiving to John and the gang who run Nebraska Sports Journal. I hope that you have plenty to be thankful for, such as a possible bowl game for Nebraska in a tropic weather place. Over at Collegefootballtopten.com, I posted my annual Top Ten Things I'm Thankful For, if you have a chance, check it out. Here's a hint. It includes the guys from Nebraska Sports Journal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Oklahoma remains #1 in the Nebraska Journal Standings!


Oklahoma showed its speed last night and dominance of Texas Tech in an easy victory. Here is our new rankings:

1. Oklahoma
2. Florida
3. Alabama
4. Texas
5. USC

This writer predicts an Oklahoma/Florida Championship game! How do you see it?

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Nebraska now looks good for the Gator Bowl!


Nebraska has to beat Colorado next Friday. With the Notre Dame loss today vs. Syracuse, they should have eliminated themselves from playing in the Gator Bowl. Nebraska should be at the top of the list!

The Gator Bowl is held in the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium which seats 76,877 and is the home of the Jacksonville Jaquars. The game features the third place team of the ACC vs. Notre Dame, or a team from the Big East or Big 12. The ACC is so close that it could be a number of team that could play in the Gator. Boston College, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Florida State, Wake Forest, Clemson, Miami (Fla) and Virginia Tech could all be possibilities.

The Gator Bowl is the site where, in 1978, Ohio State Coach Woody Hayes clotheslined a Clemson player after he intercepted an Ohio State pass. Woody Hayes lost his job the next day.

Former MVP's of the Gator Bowl include:
1954 Vince Dooley
1957 John David Crow
1965 Fred Biletnikoff
1966 Floyd Little
1971 Pat Sullivan
1971 ArchieManning
1974 Earl Campbell
1978 Art Schlicter
1980 George Rogers
1984 & 1985 Thurman Thomas
1989 Andre Rison
1991 Cale Gundy
1994 James Stewart
1996 Donovan McNabb
2001 Michael Vick
2002 Javon Walker
2007 Calvin Johnson
2008 Graham Harrell

This would be Nebraska's first appearance in the Gator Bowl!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Nebraska is getting closer to the Top 25!

Nebraska is #20 in the RPI ratings in college football. We are getting votes and are ranked in the 35th area in most of the polls. Three of our four losses come from #2 Texas Tech, #5 Oklahoma, and #13 Missouri. The other loss was to Virginia Tech and they have now dropped out of the Top 25.

I find Joe Ganz as my most exciting player to watch and the player right now NU can least afford to lose. Roy Helu Jr. is the most exciting back we have had in many many years. Every time he runs the ball there is a chance he can get to the endzone. Nate Swift is next. He is the all-time leader in receptions for NU and he also can score at any time. Mike McNiel is an excellent tight end and Matt Slauson is my favorite lineman because he can pass block and run block consistantly, but more importantly he paints his face before the games.

On defense, this writer loves to watch N. Suh. He is a force and All-Big 12. Zach Potter is an excellent D-End with Pierre Allen not far behind. Ty Steinkuhler likes to make plays. This writer's favorite defensive back is Loomis's Lance Thorell. We hope to see more of him before season's end.

Rankings are as follows:
1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Alabama
4. USC
5. Texas Tech

Oklahoma has too much speed for Texas Tech. But the game should be "I don't even want to leave to go to the bathroom" fun!!

Listen to this! The Pomeroy Rankings for college basketball has Nebraska #10 in the nation right now.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Galleries

I wanted to introduce you to my gallery section at Collegefootballtopten.com. I have a Collegefootballtopten.com gallery at Flickr, and there is a link at my site. I have just a few pics, but I am looking to add more. Anyone that has pics of a game that you attended can send me the pic in an email (info@collegefootballtopten.com) and I might include it in the gallery. Another way to get your pic in the gallery is to take a pic of yourself wearing Collegefootballtopten.com gear.

Another gallery I have up at Flickr is one in which the famous Bob Lilly signed copies of his new book at our store in Fort Worth, TX. You can check it out as well.

It looks like the Cornhuskers have pulled things together winning four out of their last five games. With a win over Colorado next week, the Huskers can secure second in the Big 12 North. They would be 8-4 with that win and probably wish they could get that Virginia Tech game back. And, by the way, Nebraska took the number 2 team in the country to overtime in Lubbock. Not bad. I think Bo Pelini has done a great job in his first year. It's tough enough for anyone to stop these Big 12 offenses, much less a team who has a new coach. I know that you Husker fans are happy with the results. Good things are coming for Nebraska.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Nebraska will take care of Freeman and the Wildcats!

This writer hated to see Josh Freeman switch his commitment to Kansas State a few years ago but now it is a blessing. If Freeman would have come to NU, we probably would have never had Joe Ganz start and seriously I'd rather have Joe Ganz.

Look to NU to be inspired because of the blackshirts and the fact that they want to play in the Gator Bowl vs. the Sun Bowl.

Look to the weather to be cold and windy. NU will get three plus turnovers tomorrow but both offenses will depend on the run so it will shorten the game. NU wins 23-14. Look to Marlin Lucky to have a great game!!! The front four on defense will play very well again!!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Nebraska could be headed to the BRUT SUN BOWL!!


If Nebraska can win out, chances are they are headed to the Sun Bowl in El Peso, Texas. The game will be 12/31/08 at noon and will be televised on CBS. Oregon State may be the opponent but others could be Oregon, Arizona, and California. Remember Oregon St beat USC earlier in the year.
And guess what! The Village People will be performing at halftime.

The Sun Bowl has had many great players participate. They include:
1. Priest Homes, Texas
2. Kyle Orton, Purdue
3. LaDanian Tomlinson, TCU
4. Zach Thomas, Texas Tech
5. Merlin Olson, Utah State
6. Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh
7. Tommy Cassanova, LSU
8. Bert Jones, LSU
9. Rick Bryan, Oklahoma
10. David Rimmington, Nebraska
11. Pat Tillman, Arizona State
12. Cornelius Bennett, Alabama
13. Derrick Thomas, Alabama
14. Thurman Thomas, Oklahoma State

Nebraska has played twice in the Sun Bowl and is undefeated. In 1969, they beat Georgia 45-6 and in 1980 they won 31-17 over Mississippi State.

Tickets are on sale and they range from $15-60.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

"We aren't in Kansas anymore"


Dorothy: [has just arrived in Oz, looking around and awed at the beauty and splendor] Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more.
Dorothy: [after a pause] We must be over the rainbow!
[a bubble appears in the sky and gets closer and closer. It finally lands, then turns into Glinda the Good Witch wearing a spectacular white dress and crown, holding a wand]
Dorothy: [to Toto] Now I... I know we're not in Kansas!


Right before the "Tunnel Walk" yesterday, the big screen showed a scene from the Wizard of Oz. It is the part where Dorothy tells Toto "We aren't in Kansas anymore". It fired up the crowd!! Everybody realized that Kansas, who hadn't won in 40 years years in Lincoln, had their hands full. Even on a freezing day with the wind blowing 30 miles an hour from the north the crowd warmed up and helped the team stay fired up for the entire game.

It was so cold this writer wished that Coach Mangino was close to him to get warm. It was that cold! This writer is pretty sure that Mangino could have eaten Toto by the end of the game. Don't get me wrong, Coach Mangino is one of the best coaches in college football. He has taken Kansas to new heights. But he looks so big in blue. Almost as big as myself.

The Nebraska offense played their best game of the year. The line played very well. Roy Helu ran very well. He is the fastest back we have had in a while. The 50 yard touchdown in the second half is my play of the year so far. It fired the crowd up as much as this writer has seen since the Stuntz to Crouch pass vs. Oklahoma.

Joe Ganz continues to play very well. He the best QB that NU has had in the past ten years. He fits this offense very well. He is a leader and a gutsy player. We will miss him next year!

On defense the front four are playing extremely well. As this writer has said before, Suh is an all Big 12 player. He is dominating. Not a bad fullback or tight end either. What a day he had.

The secondary and linebackers are ok but this is the area that is keeping us from being a Top 25 team. Thanks to a few dropped balls to open receivers yesterday or Kansas may have won the game. KU knew who to pick on yesterday. They constantly threw the ball at a couple of our cornerbacks and were very successful doing so. We are young in the secondary so we should only get better in the future.

Kansas didn't only lose the game 45-35, they lost a recruit also. Earnest Norman switched his commitment from Kansas to Nebraska yesterday. He is a 5'11" 220 lb linebacker from Texas. He is rated the 39th best middle linebacker by Rivals.

One more race this year for Nascar. Jimmie Johnson has the cup won.

Now a little bit of politics. This was in my bulletin today at Church.

A Grave Mistake and an Abiding Hope
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life

Americans have made a grave mistake in electing Barack Obama to the presidency. Yet America herself remains great and is not a mistake, which is why so many of her citizens will continue, with even greater energy and determination, to defend her founding principles.

The man elected to the Presidency said during the campaign that he does not know when a human being starts to have human rights. How can one govern from that starting point of ignorance? Governing is about protecting human rights; to do it successfully, you have to know where they come from, and when they begin.

The President-elect has already failed that test miserably.

The American people do not share Barack Obama’s extreme and offensive views on abortion. They never have and they never will. The coming four years will see a widening gap between the people and their President on this fundamental issue. As Americans come to know how extreme his position is, the intensity of the struggle to protect these children will only increase.


One last thing. My #1 team, Oklahoma St., was beaten bad yesterday by Texas Tech. Here is my new Top Teams:

1. Alabama
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. USC
5. Texas Tech

Friday, November 07, 2008

Nebraska is out pick in a close one!



What is Mangino picking?







Nebraska will win this week in a Texas Techish type game 42-41. Lucky and Helu will have great games. Look to Mike McNiel to score this week. The defense will struggle but will get three turnovers and over two sacks.

Kansas, coached by the 2007 National Coach of the Year, Mark Mangino, is very good again. Not quite the team it was last year, it is a very fine team. It is obvious Mangino likes to eat so that qualifies him as my hero.

The key to the game is containing Reesing on the zone option. If he starts running at will, we could get behind early again. Sharp will have his 150 yards rushing but we have to stop Reesing or things will totally open up and get out of control.

My guess we will do a respectable job of holding down Reesing but he will get 100 yards+ rushing.

NU will show some trick plays this week. Why hold them any longer. This is a huge game for NU. Cody Glenn will have a very good game this week. Watch Ricky Thenarse emerge as a big factor. Lance Thorell will have five plus tackles and his first turnover this week. Will he take it in for a TD. Watch! It will be exciting!

Mendoza will catch a pass this week and look to him to run a reverse for some good yardage.

It going to be a HOOT!

My Top Six teams this week are:
1. Oklahoma State
2. Alabama
3. Texas
4. Florida
5. USC
6. Penn State


NU basketball played an exhibition tonight and beat Chadron State by 30 points. Toney McCray had 18 points and Eshuante Jones 16. Two freshmen. Steve Harley put away 13 points.

Starters tonight for NU were Chris Balham, center, Steve Harley, guard, Sek Henry, guard, Ade Dagunduro, guard, and Ryan Anderson, guard. Cookie Miller, last year's starting point guard played the second most minutes behind Harley with 23 minutes.

What is your score of the football game tomorrow and your predictions of what may happen?

Monday, November 03, 2008

Don't even want to talk about it!

This writer agrees with the coach, let's move on. You can't spot a good team like that 35-0 and expect to win. Oh well, we won the final three quarters 28-27.

This writer thinks its odd that so many fans complained last year that we needed some fire in the program and now they are complaining about Bo Pelini's passion for the game or temper, however you want to look at it. This passion is all fans wanted to be happy. We just wanted them to play hard again. Bo Pelini is very passionate and he will continue to be that way. He had a flag thrown in his only other game he played so why did you think he would change. This writer likes the passion and our coach will make things happen down the road. Just don't try to change who he is.

Boy did NU play a lot of reserves the other night. New numbers were all over the field. Watson, Koehler, Lawrence, Witt, and the list goes on and on. Competition for positions should be fierce. It may also show our overall knowledge of the schemes are not being picked up by some of the players.

Next up is Kansas. It will be a tough one and Kansas will be favored by 3-6 points.

NU basketball starts this Friday with an exhibition game against Chadron State.