Once again, the Crimson & Cream Machine is sponsoring weekly Big XII Roundtables featuring bloggers from across the Big XII. Those of you not familiar with blog roundtables, each week the host blog will come of with a series of questions and each blog will respond. You can then scan each blog to get a viewpoint from across the entire conference blogosphere. Several Husker bloggers participate including the BigRedNetwork and CornNation.
There has been lots of talk this pre-season about scheduling. Colorado has arguably the strongest schedule but who do you think has the weakest and which cream puff on your team’s schedule do you wish wasn’t there?
Weakest? Well, I'll take my shot at Texas Tech. Most of the Big XII schools at least schedule one BCS conference foe...except the Raiders: Eastern Washington, SMU, UMass, and a road game at Nevada. Yeah, I know that Eastern Washington was a late replacement for Tulsa who bagged them, but even with the Golden Hurricane, that was a bad schedule.
Who do I wish wasn't on the Husker schedule? I'd probably throw San Jose State off of the schedule; last year, I noted that Michigan was looking to fill that week on the schedule. Imagine a road game in the Big House for week two...then having the Weasels return the game in 2009 instead of playing one of the Sun Belt teams.
As a whole the Big 12 has the best quarterbacks in the country. Make a case for your quarterback being one of the conference’s top signal callers and tell us which other conference quarterback you would pick to replace him if you had to.
I can't do that. I'll be happy to argue that Joe Ganz was a better quarterback than Sam Keller last season, but there's absolutely no way I could vote Joe Ganz ahead of Chase Daniel, Sam Bradford, Graham Harrell, or Zac Robinson. Who would I choose to replace Ganz? I'd probably choose Bradford; I liked his poise in winning a conference title starting as a redshirt freshman.
Going into the season which unit for your team are you most confident in, offense or defense?
Having confidence in either unit requires a leap of faith after last season. I have a little more confidence in the offense, as the offense did explode after Joe Ganz took over. (To be fair, some of the offense's numbers can be blamed on playing from behind due to the pourous defense.) I think the defense will be significantly improved...but that might be enough to make them merely mediocre.
Who is the new guy on you squad that will be a household name among your fan base before the season ends.
New guy? Well, not sure if he counts since he isn't new, just was buried beneath Billy C's playbook and depth chart, but I think Menelik Holt is going to bust out this fall. If I have to pick a guy who hasn't played, then my vote goes to Curenski Gilleylen, who caught a bomb in the spring game. He might be the best deep threat Nebraska has had at receiver in years.
Prediction time! Tell us how the north and south divisions will wind up.
I'll start with the South: Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Baylor. Texas is the big question mark in my mind; I could see them finishing second ahead of Tech...or fourth behind the Cowboys.
In the North, ordering four teams is relatively easy: Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Iowa State. But then there are two squads that you could make an argument to place them just about anywhere in that list. (That includes first AND last place.) Was Nebraska's poor performance the result of horrible coaching and being completely and utterly out of shape? If so, Nebraska could rebound quite nicely. On the other hand, if it was something more, it will be more of the same in 2008. Kansas State is bringing in 19 (count 'em, 19) junior college transfers. You recruit junior college players because you think they fill an immediate need...and by that, I'd say that Ron Prince feels he has a lot of needs. If he finds a bunch of starters in this group, they could be the shock team in the Big XII and roll into Arrowhead in December. If it's more of the same, it's "back to the 80's" in Manhattan. Here's the point...nobody knows if this Juco gamble is going to work out or not, not even the KSU faithful. So here's how I insert the Huskers and Wildcats into the North standings: Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State. Others may, of course, insert Nebraska and Kansas State elsewhere into the list.
Showing posts with label big xii roundtable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label big xii roundtable. Show all posts
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Big 12 Roundtable - Spring Roundtable
The Crimson and Cream Machine from SoonerLand has requested another roundtable, so here are my thoughts...
Who are some of the new faces that emerged in the spring who could be serious playmakers for your team this fall?
The biggest "new" face has to be wide receiver Curenski Gilleylen. It looks like it's easier to spell his name than catch him, as he's got speed to burn. If he can consistently catch the ball, he'll provide a deep threat that's been a rather rare commodity. An old face in a new place would be Cody Glenn, who moved from I-back to linebacker and basically won a starting job. (Of course, that's in part due to the lack of depth at linebacker!) Also making an impression at linebacker is senior walk-on Tyler Wortman, who might have been the star of the spring game on defense. And while he's not a "new" face, since we saw a glimpse of him last fall, Roy Helu is going to challenge Marlon Lucky for serious playing time. That might free up Lucky to line him up elsewhere on the field to take full advantage of his speed.
What is your biggest concern following the spring?
Wide receiver. Nate Swift and Todd Peterson are nice possession receivers, but the Huskers need some of the youngsters to step up: Gilleylen, Menelik Holt, Will Henry, Chris Brooks. Names that we heard more about before they arrived in Lincoln than after they enrolled.
Any major changes (philosophy, coaching or personnel) that you are concerned or worried about?
Didn't you see how last season ended? Major changes were called for in Lincoln, and we're getting them. I think that, without exception, every new coach is an upgrade over his predecessor. Blankman will disagree with me over Barney Cotton, but considering how the synergy between Dennis Wagner and Bill Callahan worked out, that's got to be an upgrade as well.
Looking over the 2008 which home and away game will be the most difficult?
Home: Missouri (That's easy.) I'm not completely sold on Kansas, and Virginia Tech lost eight players to the NFL draft, not to mention their top two running backs to suspension and injury, off a squad that lost to Kansas in the Orange Bowl.
Away: Oklahoma (Also a no-brainer.) Texas Tech isn't going to be all that easy either, but I like our chances to do better than the last time the Huskers traveled to Lubbock.
Time for your way too early predictions (Yes, you can change them in August). Rank how you see your division finishing up next season.
First of all, there are two teams that are huge wildcards in the Big XII North. The Huskers and Kansas State. With the Huskers, the question is how much of the problem last season was coaching and how much of it was talent. I think it was largely a clusterfool of coaching, though others will argue that it's much deeper in the program. Then there is Kansas State, who signed 19 JuCo's this spring. Usually, you sign JuCo's because you have a pressing need...and with that many JuCo's signed, it sure appears that Ron Prince thinks he has a lot of needs. If it all works out, K-State could surge. But, for right now, I've got to assume there are big problems in the Little Apple.
1. Missouri (No duh... with all those players returning from a Top Five squad?)
2. Nebraska (Call me crazy, but I think Billy C is going to look even more inept this fall...)
3. Kansas
4. Colorado (Hawk Love has the Buffs on the move upwards)
5. Iowa State
6. Kansas State
For more, check out the Crimson & Cream Machine...
Who are some of the new faces that emerged in the spring who could be serious playmakers for your team this fall?
The biggest "new" face has to be wide receiver Curenski Gilleylen. It looks like it's easier to spell his name than catch him, as he's got speed to burn. If he can consistently catch the ball, he'll provide a deep threat that's been a rather rare commodity. An old face in a new place would be Cody Glenn, who moved from I-back to linebacker and basically won a starting job. (Of course, that's in part due to the lack of depth at linebacker!) Also making an impression at linebacker is senior walk-on Tyler Wortman, who might have been the star of the spring game on defense. And while he's not a "new" face, since we saw a glimpse of him last fall, Roy Helu is going to challenge Marlon Lucky for serious playing time. That might free up Lucky to line him up elsewhere on the field to take full advantage of his speed.
What is your biggest concern following the spring?
Wide receiver. Nate Swift and Todd Peterson are nice possession receivers, but the Huskers need some of the youngsters to step up: Gilleylen, Menelik Holt, Will Henry, Chris Brooks. Names that we heard more about before they arrived in Lincoln than after they enrolled.
Any major changes (philosophy, coaching or personnel) that you are concerned or worried about?
Didn't you see how last season ended? Major changes were called for in Lincoln, and we're getting them. I think that, without exception, every new coach is an upgrade over his predecessor. Blankman will disagree with me over Barney Cotton, but considering how the synergy between Dennis Wagner and Bill Callahan worked out, that's got to be an upgrade as well.
Looking over the 2008 which home and away game will be the most difficult?
Home: Missouri (That's easy.) I'm not completely sold on Kansas, and Virginia Tech lost eight players to the NFL draft, not to mention their top two running backs to suspension and injury, off a squad that lost to Kansas in the Orange Bowl.
Away: Oklahoma (Also a no-brainer.) Texas Tech isn't going to be all that easy either, but I like our chances to do better than the last time the Huskers traveled to Lubbock.
Time for your way too early predictions (Yes, you can change them in August). Rank how you see your division finishing up next season.
First of all, there are two teams that are huge wildcards in the Big XII North. The Huskers and Kansas State. With the Huskers, the question is how much of the problem last season was coaching and how much of it was talent. I think it was largely a clusterfool of coaching, though others will argue that it's much deeper in the program. Then there is Kansas State, who signed 19 JuCo's this spring. Usually, you sign JuCo's because you have a pressing need...and with that many JuCo's signed, it sure appears that Ron Prince thinks he has a lot of needs. If it all works out, K-State could surge. But, for right now, I've got to assume there are big problems in the Little Apple.
1. Missouri (No duh... with all those players returning from a Top Five squad?)
2. Nebraska (Call me crazy, but I think Billy C is going to look even more inept this fall...)
3. Kansas
4. Colorado (Hawk Love has the Buffs on the move upwards)
5. Iowa State
6. Kansas State
For more, check out the Crimson & Cream Machine...
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Big XII Roundtable: Tradition
JJ over at CornNation sent out a Big XII Roundtable last week, but you know what...with all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I lost track of it. But, rather than just ignore it, I thought I'd at least throw my responses out there... better late than never, I suppose.
This roundtable was talking about traditions and giving and receiving of traditions, keeping with the holiday season.
You have to take one of your traditions and give it away to your main rival. Remember, you're giving it away, meaning that it's no longer yours after you give it.
Of course, the first question here is, who is Nebraska's rival? Traditionally, it was Oklahoma, though I would assume that Oklahoma considers Texas their rival. ABC would like it to be Colorado, but anymore you could make a case for just about anybody in the north.
And since we're dealing with a rival, it's usually something you don't want. So what are the worst Nebraska traditions? My choices would be 'Lil Red and the "Power of Red" banner. 'Lil Red is simply an embarassing mascot, and "Power of Red" is simply a stupid marketing slogan and the banner in the stand is waste of good plastic. Who should get them? Well, my first choice would be Colorado. I imagine that an inflatable mascot would go really complement Ralphie well, and since Colorado rarely sells out, the banner would help hide some of the empty seats.
You can take one of your traditions and give it to anyone else you might want to benefit, within the Big 12 or not.
Hmm... we've lost a lot of traditions in recent years, so I'm not sure we can claim some of them. But if we're not able to have them anymore, perhaps we can find a good home for them. And of the traditions we've lost that mean the most, the bowl streak was the most important and most valuable. I'd like to offer that one over to our friends over at Iowa State. They really could use a tradition like that, and if Iowa State becomes consistently good in football, they'll become Nebraska's natural rivalry.
What tradition would you most like to get from someone else as a gift?
I'm going to limit my scope to traditions I've experienced, so I'll exclude boating to games at Washington and Tennessee. (Plus, I'm not sure how many boats we can get on Salt Creek anyway...) The "Tomahawk Chop" from Florida State gave me nightmares after the 1990 Fiesta Bowl. Kansas' "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" is a simplistic chant, but can be similarly haunting as it builds. Kansas State's student section bopping to the Wabash Cannonball is one of the more unique traditions I've seen.
But my choice has to be Texas A&M's band. Between the pure volume they crank out and the precision marching, they make the biggest off-field wow I've seen.
This roundtable was talking about traditions and giving and receiving of traditions, keeping with the holiday season.
You have to take one of your traditions and give it away to your main rival. Remember, you're giving it away, meaning that it's no longer yours after you give it.
Of course, the first question here is, who is Nebraska's rival? Traditionally, it was Oklahoma, though I would assume that Oklahoma considers Texas their rival. ABC would like it to be Colorado, but anymore you could make a case for just about anybody in the north.
And since we're dealing with a rival, it's usually something you don't want. So what are the worst Nebraska traditions? My choices would be 'Lil Red and the "Power of Red" banner. 'Lil Red is simply an embarassing mascot, and "Power of Red" is simply a stupid marketing slogan and the banner in the stand is waste of good plastic. Who should get them? Well, my first choice would be Colorado. I imagine that an inflatable mascot would go really complement Ralphie well, and since Colorado rarely sells out, the banner would help hide some of the empty seats.
You can take one of your traditions and give it to anyone else you might want to benefit, within the Big 12 or not.
Hmm... we've lost a lot of traditions in recent years, so I'm not sure we can claim some of them. But if we're not able to have them anymore, perhaps we can find a good home for them. And of the traditions we've lost that mean the most, the bowl streak was the most important and most valuable. I'd like to offer that one over to our friends over at Iowa State. They really could use a tradition like that, and if Iowa State becomes consistently good in football, they'll become Nebraska's natural rivalry.
What tradition would you most like to get from someone else as a gift?
I'm going to limit my scope to traditions I've experienced, so I'll exclude boating to games at Washington and Tennessee. (Plus, I'm not sure how many boats we can get on Salt Creek anyway...) The "Tomahawk Chop" from Florida State gave me nightmares after the 1990 Fiesta Bowl. Kansas' "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" is a simplistic chant, but can be similarly haunting as it builds. Kansas State's student section bopping to the Wabash Cannonball is one of the more unique traditions I've seen.
But my choice has to be Texas A&M's band. Between the pure volume they crank out and the precision marching, they make the biggest off-field wow I've seen.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Big 12 RoundTable - The End is Near
This week's Roundtable is hosted by Tejas' own Gabriel's Horn.
1. With only two or three games left, how are you feeling about your season? Disappointed, elated, surprised, a little violated?
Disappointed? Definitely an understatement. Elated? No way. Surprised? Kind of. I expected better, but wasn't completely sure. And I never was sold on Bill Callahan in the first place. A little violated? How about a whole bunch of violated. And do I really have to tell you why?
3. We’ve picked coaches, players, stadiums and everything else from other teams. Now, we get down to something even more near and dear: mascots. If you could pick another Big 12 mascot other than your own - who would it be and why?
We've got cows and buffaloes. We've got lions (well, Wildcats), tigers and bears, oh my. We've got big winds (Cyclones) and imaginary birds (Jayhawks). We've got historical references (Cornhuskers & Sooners). We've got Cowboys and Raiders (Red). But WTF is an Aggie?
I hate to say it, but Ralphie is not only the most intimidating mascot, but he's also unique. (How many Tigers, Cowboys, and Wildcats mascots are there?) And he's probably our ultimate answer to getting rid of 'Lil Red.
4. Unexpected Greatness, Unexpected Suckage. Who surprised you this year? Who did you get really excited about, only to be let down? (The first Roundtable asked who was the face of the franchise - do you still feel that way?)
When a team who was only expected to lose two or three games has already lost six, you're not going to find a lot of unexpected greatness. If I look at people who were better than I thought in the preseason, I'd probably take Zach Potter at defensive end. Unexpected Suckage? Probably Matt Slauson, who started the season on the Outland Trophy watch list and lost his starting spot for a while. Getting excited about only to be let down? Well, Ndamakong Suh probably needs to be on a milk carton as he's practically disappeared. Heck...last week, FSN couldn't even get his number right. And Nebraska's entire linebacker corp has proven to be a huge disappointment.
5. I told you there would be booze. Characterize your team by the beverage of your choice.
We're those little bottles of booze on an airplane. You hand over your money, and you get this little sip (Nevada). Then you spend the rest of the flight (season) realizing you got screwed royally.
Kansas Jayhawks. The team full of players that virtually nobody wanted is still undefeated in November.
Cortney Grixby. Best corner at Nebraska, yet most abused by fans. Always kept his head high.
Nate Swift. Not the fastest, Not the flashiest. But the most consistent receiver on the field.
Zach Bowman. Battled through injuries his whole time. We'll never know how good you could have been.
- Diss ‘em.
Steve Pederson, Bill Callahan, and Kevin Cosgrove. Your names will be reviled and the source of jokes and ridicule for years to come.
Marlon Lucky. Could have been a great wingback in the old days. Just not an I-back.
Texas A&M @ Mizzou - Mizzou
KState @ Nebraska - KState
Texas Tech @ Tejas - Texas finds a way to win again
Baylor @ Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Kansas @ Oklahoma State - Kansas
- Rank ‘em.
1. Oklahoma
2. Missouri
3. Kansas
4. Texas
5. Kansas State
6. Oklahoma State
7. Colorado
8. Texas Tech
9. Texas A&M
10. Iowa State
11. Nebraska
12. Baylor
1. With only two or three games left, how are you feeling about your season? Disappointed, elated, surprised, a little violated?
Disappointed? Definitely an understatement. Elated? No way. Surprised? Kind of. I expected better, but wasn't completely sure. And I never was sold on Bill Callahan in the first place. A little violated? How about a whole bunch of violated. And do I really have to tell you why?
2. I have to ask, how do you feel about the (possible) buyout of Fran at Texas A&M?
As long as Bill Byrne won't be chasing the same coaching candidates Tom Osborne will be, it's probably not so bad for Nebraska. As for Fran's demise, you can't say you didn't see this one coming...3. We’ve picked coaches, players, stadiums and everything else from other teams. Now, we get down to something even more near and dear: mascots. If you could pick another Big 12 mascot other than your own - who would it be and why?
We've got cows and buffaloes. We've got lions (well, Wildcats), tigers and bears, oh my. We've got big winds (Cyclones) and imaginary birds (Jayhawks). We've got historical references (Cornhuskers & Sooners). We've got Cowboys and Raiders (Red). But WTF is an Aggie?
I hate to say it, but Ralphie is not only the most intimidating mascot, but he's also unique. (How many Tigers, Cowboys, and Wildcats mascots are there?) And he's probably our ultimate answer to getting rid of 'Lil Red.
4. Unexpected Greatness, Unexpected Suckage. Who surprised you this year? Who did you get really excited about, only to be let down? (The first Roundtable asked who was the face of the franchise - do you still feel that way?)
When a team who was only expected to lose two or three games has already lost six, you're not going to find a lot of unexpected greatness. If I look at people who were better than I thought in the preseason, I'd probably take Zach Potter at defensive end. Unexpected Suckage? Probably Matt Slauson, who started the season on the Outland Trophy watch list and lost his starting spot for a while. Getting excited about only to be let down? Well, Ndamakong Suh probably needs to be on a milk carton as he's practically disappeared. Heck...last week, FSN couldn't even get his number right. And Nebraska's entire linebacker corp has proven to be a huge disappointment.
5. I told you there would be booze. Characterize your team by the beverage of your choice.
We're those little bottles of booze on an airplane. You hand over your money, and you get this little sip (Nevada). Then you spend the rest of the flight (season) realizing you got screwed royally.
Lightning Round - worth double the points (which will still work out to zero…), and twice the fun!
- Love ‘em.
Chase Daniel, Player of the Year.Kansas Jayhawks. The team full of players that virtually nobody wanted is still undefeated in November.
Cortney Grixby. Best corner at Nebraska, yet most abused by fans. Always kept his head high.
Nate Swift. Not the fastest, Not the flashiest. But the most consistent receiver on the field.
Zach Bowman. Battled through injuries his whole time. We'll never know how good you could have been.
- Diss ‘em.
Steve Pederson, Bill Callahan, and Kevin Cosgrove. Your names will be reviled and the source of jokes and ridicule for years to come.
Marlon Lucky. Could have been a great wingback in the old days. Just not an I-back.
- Pick ‘em.
Colorado @ Iowa State - Iowa StateTexas A&M @ Mizzou - Mizzou
KState @ Nebraska - KState
Texas Tech @ Tejas - Texas finds a way to win again
Baylor @ Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Kansas @ Oklahoma State - Kansas
- Rank ‘em.
1. Oklahoma
2. Missouri
3. Kansas
4. Texas
5. Kansas State
6. Oklahoma State
7. Colorado
8. Texas Tech
9. Texas A&M
10. Iowa State
11. Nebraska
12. Baylor
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Big 12 Roundtable--Huskers and Jayhawks Heading in Opposite Directions
This week's Big 12 Roundtable is being hosted by our friends over at the Big Red Network.
1. Will firing Steve Pederson help Nebraska's program long term or will they be as bad or worse off without him?
First of all, some disclosure: I called for Pederson's termination after the Missouri game. So you can guess my position on this. Since then, we've learned more about Pederson's management issues that Harvey Perlman cited in his dismissal. The football program continues it's freefall. So not only did Pederson alienate many boosters, fans, and former players, he also alienated most of the staff. In that light, it's very unlikely that Pederson's termination could make things much worse long term. Tom Osborne immediately calms the furor and gives just about everyone hope that things will turn around long term. Of course, that's making the assumption that (a) Osborne is going to fire Bill Callahan and (b) Osborne can find a qualified, quality head coach.
2. Can Kansas keep winning conference games, not just this year but on into the future?
Missouri fans will disagree, but I think Kansas is definitely improved this season. I've felt that the big guy was the best coach in the Big XII North, and this season does nothing to change my opinion. It seems that Mangino is now upping the talent level down in Lawrence as well, which bodes well for the future for Kansas football. That being said, we're seeing EVERYBODY (except Nebraska, of course) improving in the North, so questions about the long term viability of the Jayhawks will remain. Mangino could improve the Jayhawks, yet have them remain near the middle of the pack.
3. Is Sam Bradford at OU good enough to lead the Sooners to victories in all of their remaining games or will he meltdown again like he did late against CU?
Bradford's a freshman, remember. Ok, so he's struggled when he's played outside the state of Oklahoma, but he's been generally solid for the most part. We'll see how he finishes the last two games (against Tech and Oklahoma State), but I wouldn't bet against him. If I had to put my money on anything, I'd rather bet on Bradford and the Sooners than against him in any of these games.
4. Do the routs of ISU and Baylor mean Texas is firing on all cylinders or will this be another disappointing season in Austin?
Ummm....Texas only led Baylor 17-10 midway through the fourth quarter last Saturday before pulling away late. That's not a rout in my book. Looking at Texas, they seem to alternate between "Good Texas" and "Bad Texas". "Good" played TCU, Rice, Oklahoma, and Iowa State. "Bad" played Arkansas State, Central Florida, Kansas State, and Baylor. Bad news for the Huskers...that means "Good Texas" is scheduled to appear this Saturday. But this schizophrenic habit has to be disappointing for Texas fans this season.
1. Will firing Steve Pederson help Nebraska's program long term or will they be as bad or worse off without him?
First of all, some disclosure: I called for Pederson's termination after the Missouri game. So you can guess my position on this. Since then, we've learned more about Pederson's management issues that Harvey Perlman cited in his dismissal. The football program continues it's freefall. So not only did Pederson alienate many boosters, fans, and former players, he also alienated most of the staff. In that light, it's very unlikely that Pederson's termination could make things much worse long term. Tom Osborne immediately calms the furor and gives just about everyone hope that things will turn around long term. Of course, that's making the assumption that (a) Osborne is going to fire Bill Callahan and (b) Osborne can find a qualified, quality head coach.
2. Can Kansas keep winning conference games, not just this year but on into the future?
Missouri fans will disagree, but I think Kansas is definitely improved this season. I've felt that the big guy was the best coach in the Big XII North, and this season does nothing to change my opinion. It seems that Mangino is now upping the talent level down in Lawrence as well, which bodes well for the future for Kansas football. That being said, we're seeing EVERYBODY (except Nebraska, of course) improving in the North, so questions about the long term viability of the Jayhawks will remain. Mangino could improve the Jayhawks, yet have them remain near the middle of the pack.
3. Is Sam Bradford at OU good enough to lead the Sooners to victories in all of their remaining games or will he meltdown again like he did late against CU?
Bradford's a freshman, remember. Ok, so he's struggled when he's played outside the state of Oklahoma, but he's been generally solid for the most part. We'll see how he finishes the last two games (against Tech and Oklahoma State), but I wouldn't bet against him. If I had to put my money on anything, I'd rather bet on Bradford and the Sooners than against him in any of these games.
4. Do the routs of ISU and Baylor mean Texas is firing on all cylinders or will this be another disappointing season in Austin?
Ummm....Texas only led Baylor 17-10 midway through the fourth quarter last Saturday before pulling away late. That's not a rout in my book. Looking at Texas, they seem to alternate between "Good Texas" and "Bad Texas". "Good" played TCU, Rice, Oklahoma, and Iowa State. "Bad" played Arkansas State, Central Florida, Kansas State, and Baylor. Bad news for the Huskers...that means "Good Texas" is scheduled to appear this Saturday. But this schizophrenic habit has to be disappointing for Texas fans this season.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Big 12 Roundtable--Stealing Coaches Edition
This week's roundup is hosted by Midwest Coast Bias.
1. If you could steal another coach at any level (head, assistant, etc.) from another school, who would it be and why?
Considering how Nebraska's coaching staff seems to be lost, I'd probably take anybody other than Lyle Setencich, who resigned from Texas Tech a couple of weeks ago. But right now if I could choose, I'd take LSU's Bo Pelini. A defensive mastermind and he seems to find a way to make his players play hard for him. Something that is sorely lacking with the Huskers right now.
2. What two teams will play for the Big XII Championship and why?
Right now, I'll take Oklahoma vs. Missouri. A very good argument could be made for OU vs. Kansas. I think in the end, Missouri will beat Kansas in Arrowhead, barring the Pinkel factor rearing it's ugly head. And the Sooners, well, they are the class of the conference.
3. What is the best bowl game your team has a realistic shot at and, if your team has a shot, who would you like to play in said bowl?
Right now, the Huskers are headed for the Toilet Bowl. But if they can somehow turn it around and pick up a couple of wins, they might get a chance at the Independence Bowl...woo hoo! Let's face it, if we get to a bowl game...we're not going to be picky as to who we play.
4. If given the opportunity, would you keep the Big XII status quo or kick out a team and go to a Big 10-style conference play?
Who would get kicked out? Baylor would be the easy answer, since they haven't been competitive in football in the Big XII. And it's a long distance from Lincoln. Conversely, kicking out Iowa State removes the shortest road trip for the Huskers. The idea of playing Oklahoma and Texas most years sounds attractive though. Nebraska's two "rivals" would probably be Colorado and Iowa State. So we'd probably be giving up games against Missouri, Kansas, and Kansas State for more games against the South. I wasn't a big fan of this idea at first, but looks a lot more attractive when you start thinking about it in detail. Maybe the Big 10/11 has a good idea after all!
5. Rank the Big XII Teams
Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri (narrowly behind Kansas), Kansas State, Texas Tech, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Baylor/Nebraska, Iowa State
1. If you could steal another coach at any level (head, assistant, etc.) from another school, who would it be and why?
Considering how Nebraska's coaching staff seems to be lost, I'd probably take anybody other than Lyle Setencich, who resigned from Texas Tech a couple of weeks ago. But right now if I could choose, I'd take LSU's Bo Pelini. A defensive mastermind and he seems to find a way to make his players play hard for him. Something that is sorely lacking with the Huskers right now.
2. What two teams will play for the Big XII Championship and why?
Right now, I'll take Oklahoma vs. Missouri. A very good argument could be made for OU vs. Kansas. I think in the end, Missouri will beat Kansas in Arrowhead, barring the Pinkel factor rearing it's ugly head. And the Sooners, well, they are the class of the conference.
3. What is the best bowl game your team has a realistic shot at and, if your team has a shot, who would you like to play in said bowl?Right now, the Huskers are headed for the Toilet Bowl. But if they can somehow turn it around and pick up a couple of wins, they might get a chance at the Independence Bowl...woo hoo! Let's face it, if we get to a bowl game...we're not going to be picky as to who we play.
4. If given the opportunity, would you keep the Big XII status quo or kick out a team and go to a Big 10-style conference play?
Who would get kicked out? Baylor would be the easy answer, since they haven't been competitive in football in the Big XII. And it's a long distance from Lincoln. Conversely, kicking out Iowa State removes the shortest road trip for the Huskers. The idea of playing Oklahoma and Texas most years sounds attractive though. Nebraska's two "rivals" would probably be Colorado and Iowa State. So we'd probably be giving up games against Missouri, Kansas, and Kansas State for more games against the South. I wasn't a big fan of this idea at first, but looks a lot more attractive when you start thinking about it in detail. Maybe the Big 10/11 has a good idea after all!
5. Rank the Big XII Teams
Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri (narrowly behind Kansas), Kansas State, Texas Tech, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Baylor/Nebraska, Iowa State
Monday, October 08, 2007
Big 12 Roundtable--The Aftermath
This week's Roundtable is hosted by BringOnTheCats.com ...
Some teams are coming off a big win or wins (Oklahoma, Colorado, KU, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Missouri), while others are dealing with the sting of a tough loss or losses (K-State, Texas, Nebraska, Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma State). Tell us where your team is headed in the wake of the first two weeks of conference play.
Special guest commentator Turbo provides his expert analysis of where this Nebraska football season seems to be heading:
Colorado and Texas A&M have emerged as unlikely conference leaders at 2-0 (give yourself a cookie if you predicted that), while preseason darlings Texas (0-2) and Nebraska (1-1 and not playing well) are floundering. Do the current leaders have the wherewithal to make it to San Antonio, or will somebody from elsewhere in the pack overtake them?
Not very likely. In the North, Kansas and Missouri are the class of the bunch, while Oklahoma is clearly the South leaders, even considering Oklahoma's bad performance against Colorado. Texas isn't all people thought they would be, and Nebraska is in a free-fall.
A few weeks ago we did a ranking of the six BCS conferences, with most bloggers picking the Big 12 in the middle of the pack, which would be a big improvement over the last couple years. Have the middle and bottom teams of the conference improved significantly, or have the teams at the top declined significantly? Or is it something else?
Missouri and Kansas both have improved significantly. The Tigers gave Illinois their only loss of the year, and Kansas have throttled everybody in sight. In the past, both teams would be considered mediocre. And in the South, Oklahoma is still ruling the roost. On the other hand, Nebraska's worst team in 45 years still defeated an ACC team on the road.
Getting waaaaay ahead of ourselves: What if Missouri or KU goes undefeated and wins the Big 12 Championship Game? Would they get a shot at the national championship game?
With the upsets we've seen this year? Very likely. Assuming that this victor will have defeated Oklahoma in San Antonio, they'll probably have as much cred as anybody else. Part of the problem with the current rating systems is that people ask these types of questions in September and early October. Ask this question in 6 weeks when we have a better idea of how good everybody is --- or isn't.
Rank the conference teams
As posted earlier, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Colorado, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Baylor, Iowa State
Some teams are coming off a big win or wins (Oklahoma, Colorado, KU, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Missouri), while others are dealing with the sting of a tough loss or losses (K-State, Texas, Nebraska, Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma State). Tell us where your team is headed in the wake of the first two weeks of conference play.
Special guest commentator Turbo provides his expert analysis of where this Nebraska football season seems to be heading:
Colorado and Texas A&M have emerged as unlikely conference leaders at 2-0 (give yourself a cookie if you predicted that), while preseason darlings Texas (0-2) and Nebraska (1-1 and not playing well) are floundering. Do the current leaders have the wherewithal to make it to San Antonio, or will somebody from elsewhere in the pack overtake them?
Not very likely. In the North, Kansas and Missouri are the class of the bunch, while Oklahoma is clearly the South leaders, even considering Oklahoma's bad performance against Colorado. Texas isn't all people thought they would be, and Nebraska is in a free-fall.
A few weeks ago we did a ranking of the six BCS conferences, with most bloggers picking the Big 12 in the middle of the pack, which would be a big improvement over the last couple years. Have the middle and bottom teams of the conference improved significantly, or have the teams at the top declined significantly? Or is it something else?
Missouri and Kansas both have improved significantly. The Tigers gave Illinois their only loss of the year, and Kansas have throttled everybody in sight. In the past, both teams would be considered mediocre. And in the South, Oklahoma is still ruling the roost. On the other hand, Nebraska's worst team in 45 years still defeated an ACC team on the road.
Getting waaaaay ahead of ourselves: What if Missouri or KU goes undefeated and wins the Big 12 Championship Game? Would they get a shot at the national championship game?
With the upsets we've seen this year? Very likely. Assuming that this victor will have defeated Oklahoma in San Antonio, they'll probably have as much cred as anybody else. Part of the problem with the current rating systems is that people ask these types of questions in September and early October. Ask this question in 6 weeks when we have a better idea of how good everybody is --- or isn't.
Rank the conference teams
As posted earlier, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Colorado, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Baylor, Iowa State
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Big 12 Roundtable - The Rise of the North
Cross-Cyed at Clone Chronicles is hosting this week's Big XII Roundtable...
Were Saturday's games a sign that the Big 12 North may be on its way back?
I think it's another sign, as Oklahoma State and Texas A&M have already shown their cracks in non-conference action. Everything is cyclical, and the Big XII North has upgraded their coaching (Ron Prince, Mark Mangino, Dan Hawkins, Gene Chizek) in recent years.
How seriously do we take the hot starts at Mizzou and Kansas?
Missouri's hot start is more of a validation of some of the preseason talk than anything. Kansas, on the other hand, is a bit of a surprise in how dominating they've been against mediocre competition. Kansas' schedule is EXTREMELY favorable, so if they continue to play well, they could be a surprise contender. This weekend we'll start to get an idea is Kansas is for real or not.
Were Saturday's games a sign that the Big 12 North may be on its way back?
I think it's another sign, as Oklahoma State and Texas A&M have already shown their cracks in non-conference action. Everything is cyclical, and the Big XII North has upgraded their coaching (Ron Prince, Mark Mangino, Dan Hawkins, Gene Chizek) in recent years.
How seriously do we take the hot starts at Mizzou and Kansas?
Missouri's hot start is more of a validation of some of the preseason talk than anything. Kansas, on the other hand, is a bit of a surprise in how dominating they've been against mediocre competition. Kansas' schedule is EXTREMELY favorable, so if they continue to play well, they could be a surprise contender. This weekend we'll start to get an idea is Kansas is for real or not.
Pick one team from the opposite division that you truly hate, and say why; follow this up by picking another team from the opposite division that you don't mind pulling for, and say why.
Truly hate from the other division? Well, I guess it would be Texas. They found a way to upset Husker teams in 1996, 1998, and 1999. Plus, they seemed to somehow set many of the rules in the Big XII during the formation of the conference, as the rest of the Big XII seemed to be opposed to anything Nebraska supported at that time. Then there is that Texas arrogance... Don't mind pulling for? I guess that would be the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma-Nebraska is a classic rivalry, and it's sad to see it end on a regular basis, except when both make the conference title game. Some Huskers fans see Bob Stoops as an arrogant SOB, but I really haven't seen it. Personally, I like and respect what Stoops has done at Oklahoma, and think he's shown Nebraska respect as well.
The NCAA has enacted a rule allowing you to bring back one senior that graduated last year to play for your team for the rest of the season. Would you do it? And if so, who?
Without blinking, I'd beg Adam Carriker to come back, as our defensive line really, really could use the help.
Rank the conference teams
Already posted this yesterday: Oklahoma, Kansas State, Missouri, Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Baylor. It's a sad state of affairs for Husker fans when many pundits are putting the Big Red fifth in their division. This weekend's game against Missouri might be Nebraska's last chance to nip this talk in the bud before it becomes a common viewpoint of many.
The NCAA has enacted a rule allowing you to bring back one senior that graduated last year to play for your team for the rest of the season. Would you do it? And if so, who?
Without blinking, I'd beg Adam Carriker to come back, as our defensive line really, really could use the help.
Rank the conference teams
Already posted this yesterday: Oklahoma, Kansas State, Missouri, Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Baylor. It's a sad state of affairs for Husker fans when many pundits are putting the Big Red fifth in their division. This weekend's game against Missouri might be Nebraska's last chance to nip this talk in the bud before it becomes a common viewpoint of many.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Big 12 Round Table – The State of the Conference
The Big XII Roundtable is firing up again over at the Crimson & Cream Machine, this time looking at the state of the conference.
The Big 12 conference has only four unbeaten teams left and has endured numerous embarrassing performances on television. State where you believe the Big 12 ranks among the BCS conferences.
Not best, and not worst. Here's my rankings: SEC, Pac 10, Big East, Big XII, Big Televen, ACC
The gap between the SEC and Pac-10 isn't very large, but the gap between the Pac-10 and the Big East is huge. The Big XII wins out over the others due to the strength of the Sooners. I might be generous with the Big Televen, as they have many more head scratchers than solid wins. (Ohio State's victory over Washington being the exception...)
What has been the conference’s best victory and worst defeat so far this season?
Best victory: Oklahoma's demolition of Miami-Florida. Honorable mention: bottom feeder Iowa State's defeat of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Worst defeat: Troy's demolition of Oklahoma State. Dishonorable mention: Northern Iowa over Iowa State, Miami-Florida over A&M.
Who is the worst coached team in the conference?
Since Missouri is off to a 4-0 start, Gary Pinkel gets a pass. That means that Coach Fran moves into the lead after showing suckage in three of four games. Dishonorable mention: Bill Callahan is going to start getting some mention if he and Kevin Cosgrove can't figure out what's wrong with the Blackshirts.
With the regular season already a third of the way over, which players received too much hype in late August and which players didn’t receive enough?
Too much hype? Well, I'd have to say Adarius Bowman of Oklahoma State and Bo Ruud of Nebraska. If you were to change the timeframe to early September to now, Marlon Lucky of Nebraska would be well out in front. His second half performance against Nevada was stunning, but that was it from Lucky.
Not enough hype? Easy... Oklahoma's Sam Bradford.
Conference Power Rankings. The best part of the roundtable is voicing how we believe the conference teams rank each week, from top to bottom. So, go ahead, let us know who’s up and who’s down in your book this week.
Already posted these: Oklahoma, Oklahoma second string, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma Scout Team, Baylor, Iowa State
The Big 12 conference has only four unbeaten teams left and has endured numerous embarrassing performances on television. State where you believe the Big 12 ranks among the BCS conferences.
Not best, and not worst. Here's my rankings: SEC, Pac 10, Big East, Big XII, Big Televen, ACC
The gap between the SEC and Pac-10 isn't very large, but the gap between the Pac-10 and the Big East is huge. The Big XII wins out over the others due to the strength of the Sooners. I might be generous with the Big Televen, as they have many more head scratchers than solid wins. (Ohio State's victory over Washington being the exception...)
What has been the conference’s best victory and worst defeat so far this season?
Best victory: Oklahoma's demolition of Miami-Florida. Honorable mention: bottom feeder Iowa State's defeat of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Worst defeat: Troy's demolition of Oklahoma State. Dishonorable mention: Northern Iowa over Iowa State, Miami-Florida over A&M.
Who is the worst coached team in the conference?
Since Missouri is off to a 4-0 start, Gary Pinkel gets a pass. That means that Coach Fran moves into the lead after showing suckage in three of four games. Dishonorable mention: Bill Callahan is going to start getting some mention if he and Kevin Cosgrove can't figure out what's wrong with the Blackshirts.
With the regular season already a third of the way over, which players received too much hype in late August and which players didn’t receive enough?
Too much hype? Well, I'd have to say Adarius Bowman of Oklahoma State and Bo Ruud of Nebraska. If you were to change the timeframe to early September to now, Marlon Lucky of Nebraska would be well out in front. His second half performance against Nevada was stunning, but that was it from Lucky.
Not enough hype? Easy... Oklahoma's Sam Bradford.
Conference Power Rankings. The best part of the roundtable is voicing how we believe the conference teams rank each week, from top to bottom. So, go ahead, let us know who’s up and who’s down in your book this week.
Already posted these: Oklahoma, Oklahoma second string, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma Scout Team, Baylor, Iowa State
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Big XII Roundtable: Now That We Know
Here's this week installment of the Big XII Roundtable:
1. Based on what you now know to be your team’s strengths and weaknesses if the game was on the line do you want your offense or defense on the field?
Right now, it would be the Blackshirts. How many times did they hold the Deacons last weekend inside the ten yard line? Right now, Sam Keller is still trying to digest this offense, so I'd rather take my chances with the defense.
2. If you had to pick a team from the AP Top 10 for your team to play this weekend who would you pick and why (OU & Texas are not options).
What about USC? Seriously, if I had to choose another Top 10 team, it would be Ohio State for several reasons. First of all, great tradition with both programs. Second of all, the entire Bigger Ten is in a down cycle. A team like Ohio State presents a nice challenge for the Huskers and allows them to take the next step. I don't know if we're ready for USC just yet...
3. You can take one player off your team and trade him for any player in the conference who plays the same position who are you taking?
You didn't say I had to take any starters, correct? In that case, I'll take Adarius Bowman, the Cowboys standout wide receiver. Nebraska's receivers have had the dropsies, and the Huskers sure could use a player like Bowman. Who would we give up? Probably Frantz Hardy or Chris Brooks, who have struggled to make much of a contribution the last three seasons. Second choice would be Sooner safety Reggie Smith, who almost was a Husker, and could contribute just about anywhere in the Husker secondary, for Bryan Wilson, a reserve juco transfer. (If I was really looking to make an unfair trade, I'd send Husker quarterback Beau Davis to the Sooners for Sam Bradford...)
4. Conference Power Rankings! Rank the teams in the conference from first to worst.
Already did this: Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Baylor, Iowa State. Kansas looks out of position, but I'm basing my ratings on what they've done this season, and the Jayhawks' blowout of defending MAC champion Central Michigan was d**n impressive. Texas gets penalized for sleepwalking through the first 6 quarters of the season. A&M gets penalized for getting outyarded in both games. I don't expect Kansas to stay that high, but for now, they deserve the kudos.
5. Big 12 Players of the Week – Make your selections for offensive and defensive players of the week for week two.
Sam Bradford, Sooners QB, gets offensive player of the week for his play in the demolition of the Miami Hurricanes. On defense, I'll split my vote between Reggie Smith of the Sooners and Zack Bowman of the Huskers, both of whom had game changing turnovers this weekend.
1. Based on what you now know to be your team’s strengths and weaknesses if the game was on the line do you want your offense or defense on the field?
Right now, it would be the Blackshirts. How many times did they hold the Deacons last weekend inside the ten yard line? Right now, Sam Keller is still trying to digest this offense, so I'd rather take my chances with the defense.
2. If you had to pick a team from the AP Top 10 for your team to play this weekend who would you pick and why (OU & Texas are not options).
What about USC? Seriously, if I had to choose another Top 10 team, it would be Ohio State for several reasons. First of all, great tradition with both programs. Second of all, the entire Bigger Ten is in a down cycle. A team like Ohio State presents a nice challenge for the Huskers and allows them to take the next step. I don't know if we're ready for USC just yet...
3. You can take one player off your team and trade him for any player in the conference who plays the same position who are you taking?
You didn't say I had to take any starters, correct? In that case, I'll take Adarius Bowman, the Cowboys standout wide receiver. Nebraska's receivers have had the dropsies, and the Huskers sure could use a player like Bowman. Who would we give up? Probably Frantz Hardy or Chris Brooks, who have struggled to make much of a contribution the last three seasons. Second choice would be Sooner safety Reggie Smith, who almost was a Husker, and could contribute just about anywhere in the Husker secondary, for Bryan Wilson, a reserve juco transfer. (If I was really looking to make an unfair trade, I'd send Husker quarterback Beau Davis to the Sooners for Sam Bradford...)
4. Conference Power Rankings! Rank the teams in the conference from first to worst.
Already did this: Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Baylor, Iowa State. Kansas looks out of position, but I'm basing my ratings on what they've done this season, and the Jayhawks' blowout of defending MAC champion Central Michigan was d**n impressive. Texas gets penalized for sleepwalking through the first 6 quarters of the season. A&M gets penalized for getting outyarded in both games. I don't expect Kansas to stay that high, but for now, they deserve the kudos.
5. Big 12 Players of the Week – Make your selections for offensive and defensive players of the week for week two.
Sam Bradford, Sooners QB, gets offensive player of the week for his play in the demolition of the Miami Hurricanes. On defense, I'll split my vote between Reggie Smith of the Sooners and Zack Bowman of the Huskers, both of whom had game changing turnovers this weekend.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Big XII Roundtable: Getting Personal
The lead author over at CornNation is this week's host of the Big XII Roundtable...
1. What did you learn, if anything, about your team on opening weekend? More specifically, did you see anything that brought complete elation or utter disappointment?
It looks like the Husker offensive line is closer to the level of dominance that we took for granted in the previous three decades. They wore down Nevada and plowed the field for the Husker I-backs. That's elation. Also bringing elation is watching Kevin Cosgrove mix up defenses more on Saturday than he has the previous three years in Lincoln. You almost needed a scorecard and DVR to track what he was doing.
2. 20 years from now, someone will ask you "Where Were You When Appalachian State beat Michigoon?". Describe what you were doing at the time, your reaction.
Sitting in Memorial Stadium, early in the 1st quarter, the PA announcer came on and announced "Final Score from Ann Arbor: Michigan 32 ... Appalachian State ... ... ... 34!" The place erupted, and I just laughed at the overrated Weasels.
3. Given the big event of this past weekend, what's the worst you've ever felt about your team?
My first thought was to bring up 70-10, but I'd rather not. Then I thought about the aftermath of the Kansas 40-15 trouncing in 2005. Neither of those were the worst, as I figured that if things didn't start to improve, changes would be made in Lincoln. And sure enough...things started to improve shortly thereafter. No, the low point has to be the January 1st, 1991, when Nebraska was drubbed by Georgia Tech in the Citrus Bowl. That followed a 45-10 drubbing by Oklahoma to end the regular season and a 27-12 loss to Colorado in last home game of the season. Nebraska finished third in the Big 8, and the future wasn't looking good at all. Tom Osborne felt the same way, I think, and began to rethink his offensive and defensive schemes, recruiting more speed, and the rest is history. A 60-3 run in the mid 90's was inconceivable after that 91 Citrus Bowl.
4. Take a classic - like Homer's Odyssey, Lord of the Flies, Little Women, or, heck, even the latest Simpsons Movie and tell me how it relates to your team this season.
Wow. I'm not even sure how to begin to answer this one. Not enough time, not enough mind altering chemicals. So I'm not even going to try.
5. It wasn't just by accident you got here. Somewhere, some time, there was someone who influenced you to become a fan of your team. Tell that story.
It would have to be my parents. They've had Husker season tickets since before I was born, and in the fall, Saturday's were Husker football. At first, I had to relegate myself to listening to Lyle Bremser on the radio. Once or twice a year, the games were on TV. And every so often, I'd actually get to go as well. The 1978 Nebraska-Oklahoma game was my second game, I believe, and the first one I really remember. It was pretty darn cold that day. I could recite the offensive line from memory and I remember using my binoculars to tell my Dad who the linemen in the game were. He was impressed. I was in heaven; it was a great game. My sister, who didn't really want to be there and was freezing, asked my Dad "what time is it?" as Billy Sims and the Sooners were driving the field late in the fourth quarter. To this date, we all still kid her about this...
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week:
Todd Reesing, Kansas...20 for 29 and 4 touchdowns in his first start against the defending MAC champions. When Kansas puts 52 points on the board against a bowl team from the year before...that's worthy of an honor.
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week:
Cornelius "Pig" Brown, Missouri... 3 turnovers, 1 returned 100 yards for a touchdown, and an interception on the goal line to seal a 40-34 victory over Illinois.
1. What did you learn, if anything, about your team on opening weekend? More specifically, did you see anything that brought complete elation or utter disappointment?
It looks like the Husker offensive line is closer to the level of dominance that we took for granted in the previous three decades. They wore down Nevada and plowed the field for the Husker I-backs. That's elation. Also bringing elation is watching Kevin Cosgrove mix up defenses more on Saturday than he has the previous three years in Lincoln. You almost needed a scorecard and DVR to track what he was doing.
2. 20 years from now, someone will ask you "Where Were You When Appalachian State beat Michigoon?". Describe what you were doing at the time, your reaction.
Sitting in Memorial Stadium, early in the 1st quarter, the PA announcer came on and announced "Final Score from Ann Arbor: Michigan 32 ... Appalachian State ... ... ... 34!" The place erupted, and I just laughed at the overrated Weasels.
3. Given the big event of this past weekend, what's the worst you've ever felt about your team?
My first thought was to bring up 70-10, but I'd rather not. Then I thought about the aftermath of the Kansas 40-15 trouncing in 2005. Neither of those were the worst, as I figured that if things didn't start to improve, changes would be made in Lincoln. And sure enough...things started to improve shortly thereafter. No, the low point has to be the January 1st, 1991, when Nebraska was drubbed by Georgia Tech in the Citrus Bowl. That followed a 45-10 drubbing by Oklahoma to end the regular season and a 27-12 loss to Colorado in last home game of the season. Nebraska finished third in the Big 8, and the future wasn't looking good at all. Tom Osborne felt the same way, I think, and began to rethink his offensive and defensive schemes, recruiting more speed, and the rest is history. A 60-3 run in the mid 90's was inconceivable after that 91 Citrus Bowl.
4. Take a classic - like Homer's Odyssey, Lord of the Flies, Little Women, or, heck, even the latest Simpsons Movie and tell me how it relates to your team this season.
Wow. I'm not even sure how to begin to answer this one. Not enough time, not enough mind altering chemicals. So I'm not even going to try.
5. It wasn't just by accident you got here. Somewhere, some time, there was someone who influenced you to become a fan of your team. Tell that story.
It would have to be my parents. They've had Husker season tickets since before I was born, and in the fall, Saturday's were Husker football. At first, I had to relegate myself to listening to Lyle Bremser on the radio. Once or twice a year, the games were on TV. And every so often, I'd actually get to go as well. The 1978 Nebraska-Oklahoma game was my second game, I believe, and the first one I really remember. It was pretty darn cold that day. I could recite the offensive line from memory and I remember using my binoculars to tell my Dad who the linemen in the game were. He was impressed. I was in heaven; it was a great game. My sister, who didn't really want to be there and was freezing, asked my Dad "what time is it?" as Billy Sims and the Sooners were driving the field late in the fourth quarter. To this date, we all still kid her about this...
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week:
Todd Reesing, Kansas...20 for 29 and 4 touchdowns in his first start against the defending MAC champions. When Kansas puts 52 points on the board against a bowl team from the year before...that's worthy of an honor.
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week:
Cornelius "Pig" Brown, Missouri... 3 turnovers, 1 returned 100 yards for a touchdown, and an interception on the goal line to seal a 40-34 victory over Illinois.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Big XII Roundtable: The Face of the Team
Apparantly, the Crimson & Cream Machine is going to make the Big XII Roundtable a weekly affair. Here are this week's questions:
Pick one current player to be the “Face of the Franchise” for your team. You can only select one player so tell us why you selected the person that you did.
I'll take Bo Ruud. Not necessarily the flashiest player, but almost always the smartest guy on the field and a hard worker. He bleeds the Husker Red tradition as he comes from a family full of former Huskers: brother Barrett, father Tom, uncles Bob Martin and John Ruud (he's the guy who devasted Oklahoma's Kelly Phelps on that kickoff return in 1978), and great-grandfather Clarence Swanson.
Tell us what makes your team’s stadium great, traditions, facilities, etc…
282 straight sellout crowds dating back to 1962 pretty much says it all. Steve Pederson has upgraded the facilities and while not the flashiest, it does the trick. And Nebraska's Tunnel Walk has pretty much set the standard for video introductions:
Perhaps the high point was the 2001 Tunnel Walk salute following 9/11... if this doesn't move you, I don't know what would:
Hypothetical – Your team has to vacate their current stadium and play a game in another Big 12 stadium which one would you pick for them to play in and why?
First of all, you pretty much have to eliminate every other Big XII North stadium, as they all are just plain too small. Missouri's is probably the best of the bunch, though. The setting at Kansas is the best, especially if the leaves are turning. The only Big XII stadiums I haven't been to are Colorado, Texas A&M, and Texas. Oklahoma has seriously upgraded their facilities since I've been there, but I think I might choose A&M, though I wonder if the Corp will let the Huskers use the field.
Unthinkable – Take your team’s biggest rival’s head coach and make a case as to why he would be a good fit on your sideline.
Which raises the question: who is Nebraska's biggest rival? Colorado? Well, ABC would like it to be so. Texas? Not a lot of history. Kansas State? In recent years, perhaps. But when you think Nebraska football, there can only be one team that screams "rivalry": the Oklahoma Sooners. And that makes this question almost too easy, as Bob Stoops is easily the best coach in the Big XII conference. Some people think he's too arrogant, but I'm not sure I see it. What I do see is a guy who's won more conference titles than anybody else.
Opening week predictions are usually more guesses than anything else:
TCU over Baylor
Colorado State over Colorado
Iowa State over Kent State
Kansas over Central Michigan
Auburn over Kansas State
Missouri over Illinois
Nebraska over Nevada
Oklahoma over North Texas
Georgia over Oklahoma State
Texas over Arkansas State
Texas A&M over Montana State
SMU over Texas Tech
Pick one current player to be the “Face of the Franchise” for your team. You can only select one player so tell us why you selected the person that you did.
I'll take Bo Ruud. Not necessarily the flashiest player, but almost always the smartest guy on the field and a hard worker. He bleeds the Husker Red tradition as he comes from a family full of former Huskers: brother Barrett, father Tom, uncles Bob Martin and John Ruud (he's the guy who devasted Oklahoma's Kelly Phelps on that kickoff return in 1978), and great-grandfather Clarence Swanson.
Tell us what makes your team’s stadium great, traditions, facilities, etc…
282 straight sellout crowds dating back to 1962 pretty much says it all. Steve Pederson has upgraded the facilities and while not the flashiest, it does the trick. And Nebraska's Tunnel Walk has pretty much set the standard for video introductions:
Perhaps the high point was the 2001 Tunnel Walk salute following 9/11... if this doesn't move you, I don't know what would:
Hypothetical – Your team has to vacate their current stadium and play a game in another Big 12 stadium which one would you pick for them to play in and why?
First of all, you pretty much have to eliminate every other Big XII North stadium, as they all are just plain too small. Missouri's is probably the best of the bunch, though. The setting at Kansas is the best, especially if the leaves are turning. The only Big XII stadiums I haven't been to are Colorado, Texas A&M, and Texas. Oklahoma has seriously upgraded their facilities since I've been there, but I think I might choose A&M, though I wonder if the Corp will let the Huskers use the field.
Unthinkable – Take your team’s biggest rival’s head coach and make a case as to why he would be a good fit on your sideline.
Which raises the question: who is Nebraska's biggest rival? Colorado? Well, ABC would like it to be so. Texas? Not a lot of history. Kansas State? In recent years, perhaps. But when you think Nebraska football, there can only be one team that screams "rivalry": the Oklahoma Sooners. And that makes this question almost too easy, as Bob Stoops is easily the best coach in the Big XII conference. Some people think he's too arrogant, but I'm not sure I see it. What I do see is a guy who's won more conference titles than anybody else.
Prediction Time
Tell us who is going to winOpening week predictions are usually more guesses than anything else:
TCU over Baylor
Colorado State over Colorado
Iowa State over Kent State
Kansas over Central Michigan
Auburn over Kansas State
Missouri over Illinois
Nebraska over Nevada
Oklahoma over North Texas
Georgia over Oklahoma State
Texas over Arkansas State
Texas A&M over Montana State
SMU over Texas Tech
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