Ummm . . . . Yeaaaahh

Uh, oh.

The Nebraska football team won today 17-3. If I told you just that information, Nebraska fans would jump up and down and cheer and say, 'Sears Trophy/ADT Trophy/Whatever Company Trophy, here come to get you.'

But in the words of Lee Corso, 'Not so fast, my friend!'

Let's fill in the rest of the picture. Nebraska beat South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits. Nebraska beat the daunted South Dakota State Jackrabbits 17-3.

Give SDSU a ton of credit. They came into this game EXPECTING to win. And you know what, they almost did!

Taylor Martinez, who looked like one of the top QB's in the country the first two weeks of the season including a hostile trip to Washington last week, threw 6-14 for 140 yards, 1 TD and two interceptions. And the interceptions were not tips that fell in the wrong teams hands. The interceptions were rookie mistakes. Taylor owed the interceptions in his post game press conference and said that they were his fault. In the first three games, Martinez had three 100+ yard games and every time he ran the ball, you were expecting a 50 yard TD run. SDSU looked like they knew the play that was coming stuffed it. Taylor ended his 100+ yd/gm streak tonight only gaining 75 yards on 13 carries.

Martinez didn't get any help either. It seemed like the whole team was off the whole game. Head coach Bo Pelini took blame for the game saying that the team was out coached, out played and all of that was on his shoulders. The defense wasn't clicking like it was last week. The amazing secondary that we saw in Washington that only allowed four completions for Jake Locker, gave up 12 catches for Thomas O'Brien.

All around, it was not a good game. It was a win, but not a good game.

What will we see next week? That is the question. Will we see a team that is pumped for the Big 12 season and their last time they will ever have to face Kansas State? I would think so. But I also thought that tonight's game would have been a 30 or 40 point victory . . . not a 17-3 win over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

Can You See Us Now?

You know those stupid Verizon commercials with the huge group of techies following behind him while he repeats the line, "Can you hear me now?" I see Taylor Martinez with with the whole Nebraska team behind him and telling the country, "Can you see us now?"

Nebraska beat Washington 56-21 on Saturday and that was one hell of a performance for their first game on the national stage. People across the country go a chance to see what Nebraska fans saw the first two weeks of the year. But this time, it wasn't against Western Kentucky or Idaho. It was on the road against a PAC-10 team, at one of the loudest stadiums in the country.

The sound didn't appear to faze the young QB one bit. Like the first two games of the year, he looked like a veteran who's gone on the road before and played in hostile environments before.

HE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A FRESHMAN!!!

He looks like seasoned veteran quarterback leading an upper level D-1 program.

This was the first big measuring stick game for this Husker team. Sure they could be 'Nobody State' in a stadium full of their own fans. But can they beat a BCS on the road in enemy territory. Yep. And they looked good doing it, too.

Next up, a tune up homecoming game. Last weekend was the perfect game for Coach Pelini. Look good on the national stage and come away with an impressive victory, BUT show some kinks (Cody Green fumbling his first two snaps) that you can use it as a teaching game as well. 'Guys, nice job. That was one hell of a victory, BUT here are couple things that we can work on to take it to the next level.'

The South Dakota State game is a clean up game where you can clean up your mistakes, work on the fundamentals and get your head on right for the Big 12 season.

After that, another big time stage with a Thursday night game against Kansas State. The stage will be yours again. Martinez will get to shine and the secondary will have a chance to do their thing. And EVERYBODY will be watching. Make a statement against K-State and then comes THE GAME.

The first two seasons of Bo Pelini's reign at Nebraska got off to a shaky start at the beginning of the season and then things turned around at the end. It looks like those days are behind him. Make the statement early and turn some heads in September and October.

Two more games to get through and then it will be time for THE GAME!!!

On The Road Again . . .

This week the Nebraska football take to the road for the first time this year when they go the Pacific Northwest and take on the Washington Huskies at 2:30.

Is it a big deal? I think so.

There will not be the familiarities that you are used to at home. You won't have your bed. You won't have your friends and family (I know, I know . . . your teammates are your like family, but you know what I mean). You won't have your usual pre and post game routine. You won't have 86,000 people yelling for you.

You will have 70,000+ people yelling against you.

The veterans have done this before. They know what they're doing. But the freshman might have a rude awakening. This isn't like playing your cross city rival in high school football. It can be intimidating and daunting.

This is where the coaches come in. One of the best sports movies of all time is Hoosiers. Do you remember the scene where Gene Hackman pulls out the tape measure and they measure the height of the basket? 10 feet. Just like at home. They should do that on Friday. Get the whole team (or just the freshman) out on the field and get a long tape measure and measure from goal line to goal line. 100 yards. Just like at Memorial Stadium. Just like on the practice field. It's football. That is essentially what Carl Pelini said in today's press conference. The field looks the same as it does at home. The only thing that changes is the stands and the color in the seats.

It's football.

Playing on the road can be intimidating, but it also could be motivation. You want people on your team who will feed off of the crowd, both the positive crowd at home and the negative crowd on the road. You want those people who will thrive in those situations.

Will Taylor Martinez shine on Saturday? I don't know, but he'll get his chance to if he can handle the crowd and realize that it's just football.

What A First Impression!

All I can say is 'WOW'!

Taylor Martinez gets the start at quarterback for the opening game as a freshman. That doesn't happen very often. In fact, it hasn't ever happened before. And the way he looked in the opening drive, you can tell that he has earned that spot.

On the third play of the day for the Huskers, Martinez keeps the ball and makes a 46 yard run for the end zone to get his first of 3 touchdowns of the night. He has an explosiveness that is impressive. Before you know it, he's past the defensive line and is shaking a linebacker or two.

Here's is line AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN PLAYING IN HIS FIRST COLLEGIATE GAME EVER:

7 runs for 127 yards and 3 TD's. 9-15 passing for 136 yards. That's 263 of total offense.

But, it's more than the numbers. He just looked like a big time college quarterback out there. He showed confidence. He showed poise. He looked like a leader on the offense. Taking nothing from Zac Lee and what he did with the team last year, but Martinez looked like he fit the roll of starting quarterback better than Zac.

Keep in mind that this is all against Western Kentucky. This is all in game one. This is a long season. We've got a long way to go. But 85,555 plus a pay-per-view audience may have just took a peek at the future of Nebraska football. That is a lot to put on one kid, but the future does look good at the quarterback position.

The Good:

• Yeeaaahhh, that's a no brainer. Taylor Martinez.
• Rex Burkhead looked good with 5 rushes for 57 yards and a TD.
• The offensive looked like it was well balanced and it was clicking in the air and on the ground (for game #1 against Western Kentucky). 536 total yards with 289 yards coming on the ground and 247 yards coming in the air. Not bad. In the post game interview room, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson looked as happy as could be.

The Bad (or rather things that need some work):

• The defense wasn't bad, but they're weren't the best and head coach Bo Pelini agreed with that in his post game press conference. Western Kentucky was able to rack up 299 of total offense with 5 foot 8 inch running back Bobby Rainey counting 155 yards of that. The backfield got beat on a few plays. Overall, not the best and not Cosgrove-like. But they will sure hear it from Bo next week. Suh is gone (he as actually on the sidelines for this game), but Crick showed signs of being the beast that takes his place!

This was Western Kentucky. They've got a lot of work to do until Texas comes rolling into Lincoln. Bo Pelini said that this is not the polished product, yet. Next week comes Idaho and then you get your first real test of the season with a road trip to Washington. Taylor Martinez was able to shine in front 85,000+ friendly patrons, but what about 70,000+ people against you. That's the next measuring stick.

But, one thing is for sure . . . after watching the first game of the year, screw the Big Ten (for now) . . . let's play some football this year!!!!

Let's Do This!!

Football season is here. We are just minutes away from Nebraska's final season in the Big 12. The Huskers want to go out in style, leave the Big 12 on top and make a statement to their new opponents in the Big Ten.

It all starts NOW!!!!!!!!

Are You Ready?

It's almost here! I can't wait for the temperature to start falling. I can't wait to pull out my sweatshirts. I can't wait to spend the whole weekend watching football!!

Saturday is Fan Day out at Nebraska where Nebraska fans have a chance to go through the line to meet and get autographs from all of the Husker football players and coaches. Then, that afternoon, the fun begins. The football team will have their first practice before the start of the season. We will get daily updates from practice. If you're in Lincoln, you'll be able to drive by campus and see the guys out there working out.

The Big 12 Farewell Tour will get underway on September 4th. Besides that Texas game, I'm almost the point where I could care less about the Big 12. The future of Nebraska is not in the Big 12. Nebraska was never fully comfortable in the Big 12. The Big Ten is our future. I will take notice of Big Ten games more this year. I will watch the Big Ten Network more this year. I, for one, am looking more towards the future and not at the past . . . EXCEPT FOR THE TEXAS GAME!!!

Big 10?

There's been a lot of discussion about the conference re-alignment and the changes that will be coming to the college football and college sports landscape. And yesterday came the report from WHB in Kansas City that the Big 10 has made 'initial offers' to Notre Dame, Rutgers, Missouri and NEBRASKA. Is this a good thing? I say yes.

There are more positives to moving to the Big 10 than there are positives of staying the Big 12. By the looks of it, the Big 12 could be a picking ground for the other conferences. The Pac 10 wants to expand and the SEC wants to expand and the Big 10 wants to expand. Who is NOT looking at expansion? . . . the Big 12. If anything, the Big 12 is looking at schools that they will need to replace leaving schools. Why not get ahead of the changes and do whatever you can to move to a conference where you know they will have quality opponents? Why not do everything you can to go to a conference that has their own TV network?

Beat the rush and lock yourself into a good conference rather sit on your hands and get stuck in a mediocre to bad conference.

Prediction Time

My prediction for tonight's Holiday Bowl between Nebraska and Arizona:

NEBRASKA - 24
ARIZONA - 10

Suh will get 3 sacks. The defense will get 5 take aways. Zac Lee will throw a couple interceptions and Cody Green will see a lot of playing time, especially in the 2nd half. We will see a lot more of the power running game with long drives by Nebraska. Player of the game: Rex Burkhead. All of the Nebraska TD's will be scored on the ground.

Best Sign Of The Night At The Nebraska - Kansas State Game . . .

'Suh Don't Swerve 4 Wildcats'

Football Weather

One thing that all Husker fans need to do is think whoever they need to think for the wonderful weather that we have had for home games this season. Not once was it bitter cold. Not once did it snow for a game. Every home game has been amazing. The only bad weather that the Huskers and their fans had to deal with was in Columbia, Missouri. But I think 27 4th quarter points and a 27-12 comeback victory was enough to keep all of the players and fans that were there nice and warm.

Big 12 North Champions?

What a season so far. Kind of reminds you of last season. A loss to Virginia Tech in a game that you could have won. A couple stumbles early in the season against Big 12 teams. A team that sticks together and figures things out and finds a way to win. And now they're a win away from winning the Big 12 North . . . just like last year. The only difference is that other teams in the division have fell to the side to allow the Huskers to climb to the top of the pile. Now they are one win away from making a trip to actually play in the Big 12 Championship game this year against Texas in Dallas. Will they win that one? Who knows. But all you can ask for is a shot

And with a win tonight against Kansas State, the Huskers will get just that . . . a shot.

Another Award For Suh

Senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh can add another honor to his growing list this season. In the lastest Sporting News, Suh was named to the Mid-Season All-American team.

'Game Time Decision'

Who will start the game for Nebraska against Iowa State on Saturday? We'll find out when the offense hits the field and we see who's in the middle of the huddle.

Zac Lee or Cody Green? That is all that people talked about today at Nebraska's weekly press conference and we didn't find out a whole lot today. Bo Pelini and Keith Mann, Nebraska's sports information director has to be proud. All of the players said all of the right things. There's always a competition. There's no division in the team. When either QB is named the starter, the other QB will accept it and support them. I don't care who is starting at QB, I'm going to support whoever's out there.

I think that Bo Pelini gave a couple clues as to who we will see in the first series of the game on Saturday for Nebraska. Bo talked a few times about he doesn't overreact to things. He's always said that he doesn't get too high and he doesn't get too low. But today he talked about not making rash decisions. They just keep on doing what they are doing and in the end everything will all even out. Point, Lee. He also said that as of right now, this it is Zac's spot to lose. Point, Lee.

MY GUESS - We will see Zac Lee to start the game on Saturday. I think the real question will be for how long. How long will the leash be for Zac? What if this offense is not doing anything, the way it didn't do anything against the Virginia Tech and Texas Tech and for 3 quarters against Missouri? That is when I think we will see the change. This isn't the Iowa State of the past few years. They're not Texas or Oklahoma, but they're also a team that you have to look out for. If Austen Arnaud and Alexander Robinson are able to move the ball and maybe put a some points on the board early, then Nebraska's going to have to answer and score some points of their own. Not just field goals either. The offense will need to a) move the ball down the field, avoid three and outs and get into the red zone and b) capitalize with 6 points rather than just 3. If we don't see this happening, then Cody Green maybe your quarterback for the rest of game and the starter for the rest of the year.

But we'll have to see because it's a 'game time decision'.

Nebraska-Baylor Game Time

The Nebraska-Baylor game time has been set. Versus Network will televise the October 31st game at 11:30am. This is the first game of the year that Nebraska has been on the Versus Network. SIDE NOTE: DirecTV does not carry the Versus Network.

Basketball Season Is Almost Here

We're halfway through football season which means that basketball is right around the corner. The Creighton Bluejay and Nebraska Cornhusker teams hit the floor all together and with their coach for the first time last Friday. Both teams have a lot of things to work on going into this season. The Bluejays need to find a replacement for the invaluable skills and knowledge that Josh Dotzler had at the point running Dana Altman's system and do everything they can to make sure Kenny Lawson is healthy because he is their big man. Nebraska needs to see if they can get all of these young faces to gel quickly and play Doc Sadler's style of basketball. All I know is that the season tips off in a few weeks and it should be fun!

Moving On Up

The polls came out on Sunday and Nebraska has moved up to #15 with the 27-12 4th quarter come back win over Missouri on Thursday. They are now the second ranked Big 12 team behind Texas who is ranked number 3. There's a lot of season left.

AP Top 25
1 Florida (50) 5-0 1490
2 Alabama (10) 6-0 1430
3 Texas 5-0 1395
4 Virginia Tech 5-1 1283
5 Boise State 5-0 1199
6 USC 4-1 1161
7 Ohio State 5-1 1048
8 Cincinnati 5-0 1038
9 Miami (FL) 4-1 970
10 LSU 5-1 947
11 Iowa 6-0 919
12 TCU 5-0 917
13 Oregon 5-1 776
14 Penn State 5-1 597
15 Nebraska 4-1 576
16 Oklahoma State 4-1 559
17 Kansas 5-0 551
18 Brigham Young 5-1 490
19 Georgia Tech 5-1 453
20 Oklahoma 3-2 432
21 South Florida 5-0 330
22 South Carolina 5-1 319
23 Houston 4-1 192
24 Utah 4-1 76
25 Notre Dame 4-1 75

Big Win

Last night, Nebraska came back from certain defeat and rattled off 27 points in the 4th quarter to beat the Missouri Tigers 27-12. What a game. The storylines were endless. Two teams fighting for top of the Big 12 North. One program that is trying to get back to being one of the top in the nation and one program trying to maintain their recent success. New faces for both teams. One player that was committed to one team and back out to play for the other team. And the weather. A night game in October that is cold and rainy. Power outages in the stadium before the game, a PA system that is silent and a video board that is blank.

Then the game started.

It was an ugly game. Both teams were trying to adjust to the wind and the rain. There were missed throws, bad snaps and plenty of penalties that made the game look like a horror film. For all but a few seconds of the first have, the score was 2-0. A football game with the score of 2-0. Exactly. Missouri pulled ahead and it looked like we were going to see Nebraska lose their third straight game in Columbia, but then the 4th quarter started. Turnovers and big plays lead to a Nebraska score and Husker fans thought that they might have a chance. Then they scored again and Nebraska was winning. Then they scored again and the lead had grown, but was still in reach of the Tigers, so the optimism for the victory was cautious. Nebraska has already seen a lead late in the game get erased in the matter of seconds and I think a lot of Husker fans had that in the back of their mind. Then the final Helu touchdown came and all of the Husker fans took a deep breathe to realize that they've woken up from their nightmare and that in fact they beat Missouri by 15 points on their field.

BIG WIN!!!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Nebraska fans for YOUR accomplishment of selling out 300 games in a row. This record is not about the coaches or the players or the athletic director or anyone else. This record is about you. This record is about fans showing up to support their team through good times and bad times, wins and losses.

300 sell outs in a row! The team in second place is Notre Dame with 206! I don't think this record will ever be broken by another team and I don't see this streak ending any time soon. Nebraska fans have made it through some rough times in the last five years and have still sold out every game. I don't see anything keeping these fans away from the game.

So, congratulations and enjoy the celebration this weekend. You deserve it because this record is yours.

Moving On

It is almost impossible for fans to move on from the Nebraska's 16-15 loss to Virginia Tech last weekend. It was a game that Nebraska looked to have in the bag. It is hard to find someone that would say that Virginia Tech was the better team on the field, because Nebraska seemed to have control most of the game (except inside the last 2 minutes).

But, if you believe what they say, Bo Pelini and the rest of the football team has already forgotten about the game and has moved on to Louisiana-Lafayette. Bo Pelini even called the loss one of the worst losses that he has ever had to deal with in his entire football career. But, it's done. The Team has already started preparation for the next game and that is that.

I'm sure that a lot of the fans wish that it could be so easy.

Zac Lee's Press Conference

Zac Lee talks about his injury, the red zone offense at Virginia Tech and what he learned from the loss.

Link here.