Nebraska is close to finalizing the 2008 non-conference football schedule, with 4 home games against San Jose State (September 6th), New Mexico State (September 13th), Virginia Tech (September 20th), and Western Michigan (September 27th - tentative pending a signed contract from the Broncos). Virginia Tech's Hokie Bird mascot is derived from a turkey, and it's hard to argue that the other three games aren't turkeys either.I understand why Nebraska is scheduling eight home games next season; the money is important. But aside from the game against the Hokies, this schedule isn't particularly attractive. Some will argue that in this day and age of the BCS, one challenging non-conference game is plenty. If that's the case, that points out something seriously wrong with the BCS. Perhaps it's time to put "strength of schedule" back into the BCS formula, as teams should be rewarded for playing games like Nebraska-USC or Ohio State-Texas.
The Big XII is still trying to find another network to pick up prime-time football games this fall, and schedules like this don't encourage TV networks to bid to carry games. ABC will quickly jump on Nebraska-Tech next season, but I don't see any network salivating to carry the other games. It's simply uncompelling football - uncompelling for fans, uncompelling for the networks. But Nebraska fans will buy up all the tickets irregardless of who the opponent is.
What would I do? Simple...throw one of those WAC/MAC teams back, and schedule a home-and-home with somebody in the Pac-10, Big-10/11, or SEC, with an away game in 2008. More interesting for fans, more interesting for TV, and better for college football. The Big XII has enough problems...it doesn't need one of it's marquee names scheduling cupcakes.
You had to know after Wake became a power, and with USC on your schedule...Pederson was going to pull something like this. You could knock me over with a feather I'm so shocked.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should check the Bronco's out before you make stupid comments about a team. Western barely lost to Florida State last year, beat Virginia, and held the nation's rushing leader (at the time of the game) to about 30 yds. I guess the turkey might be the author that has his head up his high horses rear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThey are playing the 2008 Broncos...not the 2006 Broncos. Heck, they could be back to 1-11 (2004 Broncos) by then, in which case the Bronco hockey team might be a better matchup.
ReplyDeletehaving University of Nebraska Lincoln claim any ownership to University of Nebraska Omaha is like Univ. of Calif.-(Berkley) try to say they won all those basketball championships with Johnny Wooden instead of Univ. of Calif.-LA (UCLA)
ReplyDeleteOh wow...you mean Husker football and Mav hockey are two completely different programs? Wow...never would have guessed that.
ReplyDeleteThe point, oh anonymous doofus, is that I'm familiar with the Broncos. If that's the type of insightful commentary I'm going to get from anonymous posters, I'll turn off anonymous posting.
Maybe you should transfer from Western to Bowling Green... you'd fit in better there, I think...
it's good to hear you can think, if that's what you call it. Besides you were the brainchild that tried to compare hockey and football. I said that the cornhuskers trying to lay claim to the mav's hockey program is a laugh.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you look at the great records that U of N has been posting the last few years. 9-5, 8-4, 5-6 (that's championship quality) 10-3 (okay that's not bad) and 7-7. The point is you act like The cornhucksters are the greatest team playing today. I never said the broncos were great but, they are improving. nebratska is an average below top 25 team and haven't done anything to prove thay are not. They have not finished in the top 20 in recruiting the last several years. they did have one year where I think they were maybe 10th, but out of 31 recruits 10 or 11 were junior college transfers.
So braska could easily return to the 5-6 team.
I think you might want to read some more of my blog (especially the archives from the 2005 season) before making any assumptions about my thoughts over the recent performance of the Huskers. (You'll also find that this is not a football-only blog, as I comment on both the Huskers and Mavs...)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I wasn't criticizing the Broncos as much as criticizing playing the Broncos AND two WAC teams. I think ONE of those games should be thrown back, not all of them (and not necessarily the WMU game)...