Post "Recruiting Sabbatical" Topics

Did you miss me? Probably not. But here are some odds-and-ends that I've found in catching up after my "recruiting sabbatical"...

As predicted, the recruiting services were not kind to Callahan's 2006 signees. Scout had them around #30, and Rivals had them at #20. No big deal; these rankings are irrelevant and mostly make-believe. But it is fun to watch the recruitniks squirm. Let's check back in a few years and then evaluate these players.

Tom Shatel notes that Kansas was able to raise $31 million for football facilites rather quickly. (more from KU and ESPN) Compare that with the difficulty Steve Pederson is having raising $50 million at Nebraska. (2 years to raise only $21 million.) More evidence that there is a problem in Lincoln that is going to need to be addressed at some point. The additional funds from expanded seating will buy more time, but eventually, this is going to need to be addressed. Denial is not a river in Egypt.

Joe McCray is proving that it takes more than just talent to succeed in athletics. After getting suspended and then dismissed from the Husker basketball team, the team caught fire and won 3 in a row. After a poor finish against Kansas, the Huskers looked pretty good in the first half today against #7 Texas, but wilted at the start of the second half. Sure looks like a case of addition by subtraction at this point.

And finally, the hottest team in these parts has to be the Nebraska-Omaha hockey team. After a poor performance against Notre Dame at the start of January, they've only lost once in their last 11 games - and that was in overtime against Michigan State. This weekend, they went on the road and swept Northern Michigan. Tonight, they got off to a hot start with 4 goals in the opening period and won 8-3. USCHO's pairwise ratings currently have the Mavs as a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament. College Hockey News has UNO a possible #1 seed. Unbelivable!!! Next up for the Mavs - Michigoon.

Leading the way for the Mavs is Hobey Baker candidate Scott Parse, who continues to lead the nation in scoring. And Parse is now aking a commanding lead in fan balloting this week.

One highlight from my sabbatical... last night, I ran into the Colorado men's golf team. A friendly group of guys; they even offered me an extra can of juice from their bag. I think they wanted to take it back. though, when I showed them my Husker duffle bag as I thanked them. Not a happy bunch of Buffies!