I am in an irritated mood today. Only part of it can be blamed on Alabama. More of it (by percentage) can be blamed on the hangover from the 2011 college football season, which I'm glad is over. And then even more of it can be blamed on the idea that we're already talking about next season when I haven't gotten over the last one.
Talking about Husker football doesn't bother me in the least, but this idea that we just bang right on into 2012 as if we're close to a pre-season, man, shouldn't we stop for a week or two and burn everything we bought and/or were given during the 2011 season to make sure the bad goes away and doesn't return? Or hasn't anyone else thought of that?
Maybe I'll just try to stay out of everyone's way today, focus on my work, rarely look up and hope the day gets over without incident.
Hey! Maybe I'll get cheered up when Doc Sadler picks up his first Big Ten win in men's basketball tonight against Penn State!
Yeah! That's the ticket!
NEBRASKA FOOTBALL: Nick Saban and Bo Pelini Remain Worlds Apart
Bo Pelini and Saban preach to us the process of becoming winners, and there is no doubt that there is a process that has some parallels no matter where you go. However, that’s where the similarities start and end between Nebraska and Alabama.
It's an interesting perspective, but honestly, any article that doesn't mention Saban's oversigning and cutting players but points out his excellence isn't telling the full story. - JJ
It also doesn't mention that Saban only went 25-22-1 his first four years at Michigan State. - Mike
Michigan State Junior running back Edwin Baker is entering the NFL Draft.
Did you notice this? Hmmmm, no? Perhaps Baker wasn't as prolific as one might think. OTOH, that means Michigan State loses quarterback Kirk Cousins, Baker, and receiver B.J.Cunningham next season. Yet most people think they'll contend for the division. Go figure. - JJ
I didn't notice it because Baker was benched in favor of Le'Vion Bell as this season progressed. Bell will be back, so it's not like Sparty is starting completely over. - Mike
Gone Baby Gone: Marcus Coker Asks For Release From Iowa - Black Heart Gold Pants
Yet another Iowa running back is out. Coker joins Adam Robinson, Brandon Wegher, Jewel Hampton, and Mika'll McCall as Iowa running backs who have departed Iowa City in the last 18 months. - Mike
I wonder what the offseason will bring to Iowa football? Maybe a bunch of guys will get injured by seeing how many of them will fit into a 2003 Dodge Caravan, urged on by their strength coach's wife. - JJ
Peter Konz makes it official: He's going pro - Big Ten Blog - ESPN
Wisconsin center Peter Konz made official today what had been widely suspected late last week: he's skipping his senior year to enter the NFL draft.
Konz was excellent and now must be replaced. This move will leave Wisconsin with two returning starters on the offensive line. Our enemies grow weaker. - JJ
Bill Callahan leaving Jets for Cowboys
Hey, everybody's favorite Clusterfool is heading to Dallas. The man is a great offensive line coach, but that's his limit. I think Billy C knows his limits as well. - Mike
I think what Mike means is that Billy C knows he should never stay in one place more than five years. - JJ
Orange Bowl continues to taunt Darwin Cook over its bruised mascot
It looks like Obie the Orange Bowl mascot was not OK, after all, after being tackled by West Virginia safety Darwin Cook after Cook's 99-yard fumble return in the Orange Bowl.
Years ago at a Nebraska - Iowa State game, I met a young man who had attacked Mizzou's mascot. He was angered that the mascot continued to come over to the ISU sideline, and the next time it did, he he some little kids lure it close, jumped it, punching it several times and then finally tore the headpiece off to find that, to his horror, inside was a girl.
Not even a large girl. He got into a fair amount of trouble.
Bottom line - mascot on mascot violence? Funny, perhaps, depending on the situation. You on mascot violence? Never a good idea. Unless you want to take on Colorado's Ralphie, then, what the hell, go for it, tough guy. - JJ
2012 BCS and B1G Bowl Projections - Opening Call - Off Tackle Empire
In the Legends Division, we're looking at three key games: Michigan at Nebraska, Nebraska at Michigan State, and Michigan State at Michigan. Maybe Iowa can sneak in and cause some trouble, but I expect that those three teams will rise head and shoulders above the rest of the division.
Kind of like any article about the B1G that includes the real division names - NOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, MUST BE WRITTEN BY AN ESTABLISHMENT SUCK UP - and therefore to be ignored.
Oh, and next year we're in the Outback Bowl against Arkansas. Maybe it's that part that's really irritated me. - JJ
College Football Top 25 For 2012: An Early Look Toward Next Fall
Bill Connelly releases a Top 25 for 2012 because that's what we've come to - a full year round of college football in which we make shit up because everyone can't get enough of it despite the fact that 2011 was a horrid year (all around, not Nebraska).
In his first top 25, Bill ranks Nebraska kind of at muddled 25th, for reasons of which I don't understand. LSU and Alabama are #1 and #2, of course, and since we've been asked to do a preseason Blogpoll already (DID I MENTION THIS IS WHAT IT'S COME TO?) I think I'm just going to rank the entire SEC in the Top 25 because no one else, really, should exist.
Does Nebraska deserved to be ranked in a 2012 preseason Top 25? Well, if you're going to rank Texas and Notre Dame just because they're Texas and Notre Dame, you might as well rank Nebraska. Bill gives youth the benefit of the doubt when it comes to Florida State, Texas, Missouri, but apparently not the Huskers. I don't get it.
Maybe he hasn't seen Kenny Bell's fro? Maybe he hasn't noticed that reserve tight end Eddie Ridder's smile could win him "most likely to disembowel you with scissors" look? Maybe it's Taylor Martinez and that ugly throwing motion that everyone freaks out about?
Whatever. Don't rank us. Not that it means much now anyway.
0 recs | 24 comments
Kenny Bell's Afro >
Billgrip - January 11, 2012
RANK US 120.
That way, the only direction we can go is up! As the vocal minority would have us believe, we’re mediocre and nothing says mediocre like starting off ranked below Akron and Eastern Michigan!
BO PELINI TAKES 120th RANKED HUSKERS TO NEW HEIGHTS, ENDS SEASON RANKED 13th WITH ROSE BOWL WIN OVER BCS-REJECTS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 11, 2012
On a related note, how is Doc not fired yet?
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 11, 2012
Who would you replace him with?
This isn’t a desirable job. The best you could do is get someone on the same level as Doc.
alacy9513 - January 11, 2012
Someone who actually thinks this team could win games with the players he has.
Rather than constantly waxing poetic about incoming players.
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 11, 2012
Sadly, this is a good question
While this is probably not the time or place to go on an all-out FIRE DOC NOW rant, sooner or later administration has to consider it. By all accounts, Doc is a great guy working a mid-level position that up to now has little fan support and terrible facilities. Now, he’s going to get great facilities, and hopefully it will transition to better players. The problem is that his teams keep getting curb-stomped, and fans couldn’t care less what disadvantages he is at.
Look, I understand that the best coaches don’t want to come to Nebraska, but if you can get coaches to go to Carbondale, we can sure as hell find some good mid-level coaches with more upside to come to Lincoln. We have the money, scouting resources, and desire to not suck. And please for the love of Eric Piatkowski, can we get a freaking staff that makes adjustments to teams or at minimum, a training staff?
/rantover
//goes back to reading articles about Nebraska football 2012
///hits head against desk repeatedly
KennardHusker - January 11, 2012
If Doc is to survive
Tonight has to be the turning point. After getting murdered by Wisky, Sparty, and OSU, we got a couple important players back from injury (can’t think of who, I’m very tired and don’t care all that much) and then the team promptly turned in a more than respectable loss at Illinois.
PSU is an extremely winnable game. If we could get a little bit of momentum going, we could find a way to pull out a respectable year and save Doc’s job. If we lose tonight, I can’t imagine him getting to stay.
jdhusker - January 11, 2012
I think Doc's fate might be sealed...
I know it’s still early, but this has been a trainwreck. The record isn’t much worst than expected, but Nebraska has rarely looked competitive. Even Illinois was a testament to lack of poise and no ability to finish a game.
Still, I concede that tonight is as close to a must-win for Doc as he has seen in a while. I forget where I read it (probably the OWH… my favorite), but TO could be the first AD to fire a baseball coach, a football coach, and a basketball coach. So… there’s that.
KennardHusker - January 11, 2012
USC
would roll you by half a hundred, even if you could sniff a Rose Bowl and playing UCLA doesn’t count.
blwdoors101 - January 11, 2012
Yay Trollllll.
And you keep thinking that.
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 11, 2012
(Also, I'm so glad you agree that USC won't get to go the mythical national championship.)
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 11, 2012
Brizzle T - January 12, 2012
Good points
Keep in mind that Nebraska is one of only eight teams nationally to win 9 games in each of Bo’s first 4 seasons. The sky is not falling.
Andy Ketterson - January 11, 2012
OH BUT IT IS.
Or at least it will be. That’s what the weather people are telling me.
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 11, 2012
He Doesn't Have Nebraska As #25
He has Louisiana Tech at #25. He considered Nebraska and several others, but did not rank them. But, like you say, his ‘logic’ stretched credulity. Texas ranked as high as he did simply because they are Texas? Wisconsin @ 17 minus Russel Wilson? Really? Notre Dame because…well…. OK, I give up, why?
Whatever. Nebraska has not earned a spot in the top 25 by a LONG stretch, but those others….sheesh.
UltimaRatioRegum - January 11, 2012
Bill
Will never give Nebraska the benefit of the doubt when it comes to anything based solely on his opinion. He’s a Mizzou fan through and through and because of that he despises Nebraska. To his credit, he follows what his formulas say (he went against the grain and picked Nebraska over USC because his formulas told him to), but otherwise treats Nebraska as if it were an annual 6-6 team (picking the Huskers going to the Gator Bowl after our win over Iowa).
He’s a good writer and an even better analyst…..provided his Nebraska-related analysis is tied to empirical data, not his own personal feelings.
jdhusker - January 11, 2012
His statistical analysis is great.
His punditry is less than good. He’s simply human when asked to formed an opinion based on gut feeling rather than numbers.
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 11, 2012
#25 is really always
Bill apparently thinks we’re going to take a step back next year which I can’t fathom but I guess he’s entitled to his own opinion.
His selections are not based on numbers or any rational approach, so I find it hard to get upset.
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 11, 2012
should say "always (INSERT ANY OF 20 ELIGIBLE TEAMS HERE)"
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 11, 2012
Nebraska finished this year at #24
So putting them at the top of “Also receiving votes” is less of a drop than moving Wisconsin from #10 to #17.
I’ve got no problem with it. If Nebraska wants to get taken seriously as a year-in, year-out contender, they’ve got to play like one. Texas and Notre Dame I’m not going to defend (though I think Texas is closer to being a Big 12 title contender than Husker fans think), but Wisconsin has won back-to-back Rose Bowls and returns a Heisman finalist. They’ve earned the benefit of the doubt.
Cheeseandcorn - January 11, 2012
Correction
Wisconsin has played in back-to-back Rose bowls.
Even with that distinction, I still have no problem with Wisconsin at #17. It’s the preseason, who cares? Win and the rankings will take care of themselves. We’ve been preseason top 10 the last two season and look where it’s gotten us.
Lake_show - January 12, 2012
Whoops
I had “won back-to-back B1G titles” and “made back-to-back Rose Bowls” in my head and that came out.
Cheeseandcorn - January 12, 2012
"Even with that distinction, I still have no problem with Wisconsin at #17. It’s the preseason, who cares? Win and the rankings will take care of themselves. "
.
Excellent, excellent post.
UltimaRatioRegum - January 12, 2012
Reply Fail
That was supposed to be in response to Lake_show….
UltimaRatioRegum - January 12, 2012
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