WHAT THE F#@%!

Can we say lucky? How, how how does Nebraska almost lose to Iowa State? I know they beat Texas, who beat the Huskers, but they doesn't mean a thing. It is evident that Texas sold it's soul to beat Nebraska one last time, and are paying for it with their worst year under Mack Brown. Texas is losing to EVERYONE so Iowa State beating them is a moot point.

It appears that Nebraska showed up unmotivated and uninspired for what appeared to be a classic case of a hangover from their big win over Missouri (Which by the way is looking less impressive after Missouri lost to Texas Tech this weekend). While Nebraska was able to avoid disaster (Or Iowa State found a way to not win), they are paying for it in the polls as they drop from 7th, to 8th. I'll admit that I was about to sound the alarm that Nebraska's season was shot as a loss to Iowa state would have made a tough road for Nebraska to make the Big Twelve Championship Game. I'm glad I held off. While this game was painful to watch and brought back memories of a 9-7 loss from a year ago, it was a great measuring stick for this team. So what exactly did we learn?

1) Nebraska is not an elite team. Not yet. Without the explosive presence of Martinez, Nebraska may be mediocre at best. The Iowa State game gave me chills as it looked like we had suited up the ill-equipped and incompetent 2009 offence. I think all the delusional Husker fans that are sitting at home figuring out the perfect scenario to get the Huskers into the National Championship Game can stop. The Huskers do not hold a candle to Oregon, TCU, and maybe even Boise as much as I hate those blue donkeys. I will not give Auburn any credit on here as their QB Cam Newton is looking like a bigger and bigger thug as allegations of schools bidding on his commitment, history of academic dishonesty, and theft while at the University of Florida surface. If true, he is a disgrace and should not win the Heisman as that takes INTEGRITY. Believe me, I know the Huskers are not without these types of players in their history, so do not take this as a holier-than-thou stance.

2) Husker coaches have ZERO confidence in Cody Green. Cody continues to amaze me at how inept he is at running the Husker offence and continues to make unnecessary mistakes. I have to wonder how much longer until Cody transfers as it looks like Martinez is the QB for the Husker's in the near future, and incoming recruits look like they are more than capable as well. When you start the game as QB, and the runningback takes more snaps than you, that's not a good sign.

3) Contrary to what the media would like us all to believe, other teams have "dirty" players too. Did anyone see the Iowa State player attempt to decapitate Rex Burkhead after his touchdown run? However I'm not surprised that Nebraska was the one who was flagged on the play. Think Beebe will hand out any suspensions this week? Don't hold your breath.

4) Martinez might be as fast as the 19-1 horse Zenyatta.

5) Speaking of Martinez, it is obvious he is needed. Let us all hope that this injury doesn't turn out to be something bigger and last longer than expected. Remember we still have a Texas A+M team, as well as Kansas and CU that will give the Huskers all they have. How long can we continue to win without a true quarterback?

6) Niles Paul, I have been pretty easy on you this year, but the time has come... YOU SUCK. Now please don't run to the Lincoln Journal Star and complain about how I just hurt your feelings. You cannot beg for the ball one week, cry to a newspaper, and then continue to make HUGE mistakes. I would rather a consistent mediocre player who makes smart decisions play than risk a huge mistake playing a player who could possibly make a big play. The big play is not worth the potential (almost sure thing) mistake. I do not feel sorry for you Niles. Are you a gifted athlete? Yes. But it takes more than talent to make it big. It also takes a brain. Just as Lawrence Phillips. Now go sit down, I could care less if I see you play again.

7) ISU's placeholder throws like a girl. Had he had any passing skills, it is likely that ISU wins the game on Saturday as the Nebraska defense was beat on that play until he threw that ball like a girly-man allowing our player to make a jump on the ball.

8) Paul Rhoades may just be the best coach that ISU could hope for. He had those ISU players feeling like they were playing in the Super Bowl. Looks like he has the program on the right track and he seems to be a passionate and all around good guy. I hope for nothing but the best for him and the program. More than i can say for that Gene Chizek character.

9)Looks like Nebraska is on the one way to the Big 12 Championship game by beating ISU and Missouri losing. Now let's hope they don't have another let down and they show up for the remainder of their games. I have a favor to ask, will someone attending the Big 12 Championship Game please make a sign simply stating "GOOD RIDDANCE"? Each week I grow more and more tired of this defunct conference

10)Ciante Evans is a man. This team has a lot of young talent which is a good thing for the Huskers. it's good to see them getting playing time as we will need all the play makers we can get with next years Murderer's Row schedule we have in the Big 10.

Something we didn't figure out from this weekend: How can Texas continue to underachieve when they have a top five recruiting class in the country year in and year out. It is possible that Mack just isn't as good of a coach as the Orange bloods would like to think?

Until next time, GBR

How sweet it is...

Boy how I love being wrong. In a game where I really was torn between believing in this team, and being the skeptic (primarily to avoid heartbreak), I love that I was wrong about the end result.

While sitting in the stands during that opening quarter scoring explosion, I couldn't help but keep thinking, "Ok good, they spotted us 10,..17...24 points. They surely can't overcome that right?"

Then the second quarter came along and we basically stalled. Then Martinez went out. Then we had to kick off to start the second half, even though we kicked off to begin the game. My confidence started to dwindle. Sitting in the stands confused about the second half opening kickoff I couldn't help but think that this was some Big XII conspiracy unfolding right before our eyes. Was that written somewhere in the bylaws that if you announce that you are leaving the conference you have to begin every half with a kickoff?

Thankfully, Nebraska was able to add another score, and hold off the Missouri offense to seal a sweet sweet win. This was one of the louder games I have attended recently and the loudness compared to that when Henery knocked in that go ahead 57 yard field goal against Colorado a few years back. Only, the stadium was rocking like that all game long. Way to go Husker Nation. This was a great win for this team to put them in for the driver's seat the rest of the season. They are in control of their own destiny at this point.

But lets back up to the whole conspiracy thing. Now I'm not being serious with this one, but there are just a few things that can't be ignored. Let's go all the way back to the Big XII Championship game and the 00:01 fiasco. Maybe that WAS the RIGHT call, but the fact that it came on a review of a play, that was not a gregarious error as the replay rule states is a requirement is the first example of how this conference and it's officiating has FAILED.

Next exhibit: Eric Martin. Martin was suspended last Wednesday after Dan Beebe determined that he hit a defenseless player with the crown of his helmet, making illegal helmet to helmet contact. The first suspension of it's kind that I can think of. Please correct me if I am wrong. Now if you ask me, that was a textbook hit. Martin's shoulder pads were the first thing to hit the OSU player on that kickoff return. Was it a violent hit? Absolutely. Was the OSU player hit from an angle where he didn't see it coming? Absolutely. Does that make the hit illegal? Absolutely not. Anyone who has ever played contact football has been shown how to tackle properly. A helmet under your opponents chin is a hit that every football player dreams of making. Now football is dreaming of making those hit illegal. Eric Martin shouldn't have given the celebratory flex, but none the less the hit was a good one. Doesn't matter, he still sat out the next game, but I would like to mention that Eric Martin did not receive a penalty in the game for illegal hit, or taunting, or targeting, or helmet to helmet contact. Had it not been for commentator Ed Cunningham blowing the hit out of proportion on national television, this hit may not have garnered so much attention in the first place.

Now fast forward to the past Saturday's game. That may have been the worst example of officiating that I have ever witnessed (at least live and in person). The referees in this game missed almost every major call in the game (including pass interference that SHOULD have been called on the Huskers.) The first major missed call was the gabbert fumble on the goal line. Now, granted, he was facemasked before fumbling the ball but remember you can't review penalties. The ball clearly popped out of Gabbert's hands (maybe over the goal line) and was recovered by Nebraska. The most entertaining part of this play was that all of the referees on the field were looking in the pile at the goal line for the ball, when Crick had the ball back at the 20 yard line. This was the first example of ineptness on their behalf. On that same drive, Crick was called for offsides, when the offensive line clearly jumped.

One of the worst and most baffling and worst calls I have seen was when Courtney Osborne hit QB Blaine Gabbert causing a fumble that was returned for a Nebraska first down. Only the officials saw it differently. When Gabbert was hit, the ball was clearly knocked free before he hit the ground. The television coverage cut to commercial and apparently when it came back on the fiasco was swept under the rug and Missouri was lined up for its next play. Ed Cunningham barely had enough time to go through what is now his weekly rant about how a Husker player should be suspended for a "dirty" hit.

In the stadium it was a different story. What appeared to be a review of the play turned out to simply be a TV timeout. There was no explanation of the play to the crowd. The ball was simply placed on the field where Gabbert was knocked down, time was put back on the clock, and Missouri retained possession of the ball. It wasn't even clear to the crowd what the "call on the field" even was. After watching a replay of the game at home, it was pretty obvious that these referees were lost themselves. It's almost as if they were hesitant on whether or not to call a helmet on helmet hit, and felt they missed that call so to make up for it they didn't call the fumble. For some reason, I just don't think there is a do-over rule unless penalties offset, which was not the case on this play. By the way, MU coach Pinkle just requested that the Big XII review that hit on Gabbert so expect a Husker suspension or two to be handed out this week. I'm thinking maybe Wednesday?

For what it's worth, that was a textbook, highlight reel hit on a quarterback. Gabbert in this situation was not "defenseless" as he saw the hit coming, buckled his knees, braced for the hit, and actually lowed himself into Osborne before the hit was actually made. Besides, I'm not sure Gabbert who is 6'5'' and 240 lbs could ever really be all that "defenseless." If a suspension is handed out for this play, one has to wonder how long it will be until coaches start telling their offensive players to make sure they lower their head to make contact with the defense as this rule can quickly start to spiral out of control, especially with the precedent that Dan Beebe is setting. Thank God that the Huskers are getting out of the "No-hitting-allowed Big XII."

I once heard that basketball is a contact sport, football is a HITTING sport. Let them play the game. These rule changes are changing the face of the game that we have all come to love. How soon is it until that no players are allowed to be hit and everyone just has to pull flags from the opponents' belts? Football is a violent sport, always has been. That is the risk you take. Everyone wants their little boy to play football when they grow up, but lets face it, not everyone can be a football player. Some people were just not cut out for it. That's why we have golf and tennis where you don't have to hit anyone. I sometimes wonder if these people in charge ever watch the UFC. A sport where it is okay, (and encouraged) to pummel your opponent into unconsciousness. Why is it okay in that realm, but not on a football field? At this rate, UFC might become Americas sport because it's what we all have a primal desire for. Rage, Aggression, and Competition all rolled up into something that's not going to get us killed or thrown in jail.

Something to chew on.

On that note I have a few closing comments.

-Roy Helu, you are a man. I'm sorry you couldn't hear us chant your name. Double sorry for pronouncing it wrong. We'll make sure we prnounce it right the next time you rush for 300+ yards. Don't believe me? Dare ya!

-Ed Cunningham, SHUT UP. Its announcers like you that are ruining the sport and forcing commissioners to impose penalties and suspensions on an otherwise perfect game.

-Gary Pinkle, way to go to further fuel the fire by requesting that the Big XII review the hit on Gabbert. Notice how Pelini didn't run to the Big XII after Pig Brown hit a Nebraska receiver on a very dirty play last year that actually drew a personal foul?

-MIZZOU, Notice that the goal posts did not come down Saturday. Nor did the Nebraska fans storm the field. This is how legit teams behave after a win. But I guess when you have over 800 of them, you get a lot of practice. Someday Mizzou, someday... You are welcome for this lesson. We'll send you the bill.

-Gabbert: Way to duck the "Did the best team win?" question for the second year in a row and not give ANY credit to Nebraska. It's okay, I understand. I'd be pretty upset to if the team I had a chance to play for beat me two years in a row too. I'd also be irritated if I had to tell the reporters that I "never get woozy" but theres plenty of video evidence of me sprawled out flat on my back in the middle of the field looking quite out of sorts. Even Ed Cunningham pointed it out. But again, I understand your defensiveness. Stay classy man.

And one last thing, we'll keep our rivalry bell. Thank you. You can come visit it on the weekends and every other bowl season beings you will have nothing else going on. M-I-Z-.....won't ever have to hear that again...

And here comes...a Husker LOSS?

Well, the Huskers find a way to win a big game in Stillwater this past weekend. Once again they get us thinking that they are for real and that we should believe they still have a chance against the Missouri Tigers this coming weekend, but are we just getting set up again for a big disappointment? I just have an uneasy feeling in my stomach this week and actually might actually predict a husker loss for this one, but at this point, I'm still torn...Let's take a closer look to see if I can put myself at ease, or at least understand why I am feeling this way to this point.

Now before we go any further, that even though I was sitting in the endzone down in Stillwater, I have to admit that I needed to watch highlight replays on youtube on Sunday to actually understand what happened during the game. Maye I was too distracted by the old Poke sitting behind me screaming at me to "sit down" because apparently he didn't "come to the game to watch [me]." Maybe it was the Poke sitting next to me that I was convinced was my new best friend, maybe I was distracted by the brand new Boone Picken's Stadium that was actually quite impressive. Or maybe it was the 3/4 bottle of Jager I thought would be a good idea to drink before actually going into the game. Well that's neither here nor there, but there was a distinct point during that game where I realized I may not be cut out to do on-site reporting. The first moment came when a fellow Husker fan reminded me that Taylor Martinez had just passed for his 5th passing touchdown. I thought back, and couldn't really remember the first three, but he was definitely right, those last two touchdowns were definitely passes. The second moment was when I was sitting there wondering why everyone was leaving the stadium with a full quarter left to play, then I was informed by a nice old man, that there was only a minute left in the FOURTH quarter. Oh how time flies when you are having fun. Anyways, after a little bit of research, here is what I have come to accept.

1) Missouri appears to be good. Beating an Oklahoma team, while it may be an overrated Oklahoma team, is no easy feat. I think we can all admit they might possibly be better than we want to give them credit for. At this point, I think they have the talent to beat anyone in the Big XII. Don't believe me? Find a team that you see them almost certainly losing to.

2) Taylor Martinez can apparently pass the ball as well. While Oklahoma State is not known for their pass defense, Passing for 300 plus yards and 5 TDs is nothing to shrug off. He made good decisions, avoided pressure, and did not screw the pooch when the going got tough. At times he still scares me with the desperation shovel passes, and the overthrown balls, but I can accept that from a redshirt freshman, and to this point in the season, he has not lost a game for us.

3) Screw Niles Paul. I don't care if he did have a 100 yard kick return. He's still a liability and I don't like him. I'll take a sure thing over a gamble any day.

4) Nebraska plays better on the road. In his post game press conference Martinez said himself he actually enjoys playing on the road more than at home as it is more exciting and he feels like the team comes together and is more concentrated when they are away from home. That's a coaching issue that needs to be fixed. Every young boy in Nebraska dreams about playing in Memorial Stadium. The coaches need to put that feeling back into this team and have them come out ready to play. The team just seems outright flat during home games. They cannot afford to keep this up. It cost us against Texas, almost cost us against SDSU.

5) Fumbles fumbles fumbles. What is up with this team fumbling in the first half to give the opposing team in scoring position? Come on. Hang on to the ball. This might be the one thing that will end up costing us the game against a tough Missouri team.

6) We have an all-time great kicker in Alex Henery. What a class act and stud. He also showed that he has been hanging out with Martinez and sharpening those running skills. While he may look like a pipsqueek that I'm pretty sure I could beat up, he's a stud.

7) Missouri: Please act like you have won a big game before. How many times will you tear down your own goal posts? I have personally seen you tear them down more than any other team, once in person against a horrible Nebraska team. If you want respect on the national stage, please act like you have been there before. Take notice, no respectable team tears down the goal posts. Watch Nebraska, Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, Michigan, and Notre Dame, all teams with top numbers in wins, and a real football history, their pasts never fall. Please either follow suit, or continue to be a poser. PS: You have the fewest conference titles in the entire Big XII. But congrats on your Big Ten invite. Oh.....wait.....

8) The Huskers were further embarrassed by Texas this week. I am convinced that Texas is losing now on purpose to drag down the Husker's strength of schedule. How does Iowa State lead Texas the entire game and win, and Nebraska was unable to lead at all during their game with Texas. Makes we want to puke up that Texas Orange stomach bile when I think about it.

11) Coaches who wear visors are douches. See Bob Stoops, Gary Pinkle, and Mike Gundy.

9) There appears to be a Big XII hate towards Nebraska at the moment. Taylor Martinez puts up big numbers and is recognized at the unanimous National Offensive player of the week, however he has to share the Big XII recognition of conference player of the week with Yo Gabba Gabbert for Mizzou? Now someone please explain that to me. How does the National Player of the week, not even get to have the Conference player of the week to himself? Please. Also, How does Niles Paul have a 100 yard kick return for a TD, not to mention a big game receiving, but the special teams award goes to a kid with an 80 some yard return for Missouri. Seems a little fishy to me. I still hate Niles, so I might be okay with this last award.

10) I officially have no idea who is going to win this next week. My brain tells me that Nebraska is again setting us up for a big disappointment. Afterall they are playing at home. My head says were looking at a 42-38 loss for the Huskers. I see both teams scoring a lot of points. I have not been impressed with our defense and I think both teams are going to score fast, leading to a lot of offense throughout a 60 minute game, just like OSU. Nebraska has struggled to defend the run, and Missouri has a nice balance between run and pass that the blackshirts may struggle to defend. Also, Nebraska is building a nice history of losing to top ranked teams. However, I just can't bring myself to accept that score. My heart says a 48-24 Husker win with Mizzou scoring late to make the score look better.

I think I may have just been successful in confusing myself even more about this weekend's game. I just don't know how it is going to play out. The only think I do know for sure is that I will be in the stands this weekend for the game, with probably just a little bit of that jager flowing through my veins.

GBR!

And there we have it...

I knew it. I just freaking knew it. I didn't even want to post last week because I just freaking knew it. I mean, really? Were our red goggles just too crimson to see that the writing was on the wall right in front of our faces?

Rewind to Saturday morning. Husker nation was celebrating the Redout Around the World. This is the first mistake. Historically, when a team makes a big hoopla focusing on a single opponent, they are just setting themselves up for a huge disappointment. And for those of you who say that this was not a "revenge" event for what happened in the Big XII title game last year, did you see the original Redout Around The World video put out by the University? The end of the video stated "Wear Red, Be Loud, Beat Texas." That was until Dr. Tom had the video edited and the "Beat Texas" removed. Right there, Nebraska was setting itself up to be embarrassed. Not to mention, could they have produced any greater locker room bulletin material for Texas? Well, I'm glad Nebraska called the attention of the world to witness this disappointment. Lets not even get started on the "REDemption" t-shirts that were made up for this game. These things are about as worthless as the National Championship shirts made up before the big game for the losing team that end up getting donated to starving children in Africa. If I see one person wearing one of these shirts in the future I'm going to punch them in the face for reminding me about this game.

On Friday night before the game, I went to Downtown Lincoln with some friends and my beautiful wife (who I have to thank for putting up with this blog). After seeing "Social Network" (which i highly recommend, even though it makes the founder of Facebook look like a complete asshole) we went to Woodys for a good discussion. During this discussion, i predicted a 28-10 win for the huskers, but reminded people at the table, that the longhorns have made a career out of embarrassing Nebraska in the cruelest of ways. No matter what the circumstances, Texas always find a way to win, but not before giving the husker faithful just a glimmer of hope before dashing those dreams. I just reminded my friends of a tidbit of information I had picked up at some point during the week. That tidbit was that in 1998, Texas was unranked and had two losses, one of them being to UCLA when they came into Lincoln. Nebraska at that time was ranked #7 and was a heavy favorite to win that game. The final score of that game was 20-16, Texas. There was just too many similarities to that game and this one to write it off as just a pointless statistic. I also pointed out that in the first year of the Big XII, underdog Texas beat Nebraska in the conference championship game dashing the hopes of a Nebraska National title. How fitting would it be for Nebraska to go out the way it entered the conference? I told my friends "Let's just hope history doesn't repeat itself." Looks like I forgot to knock on wood...

This final thought really had me thinking that night and when I woke up the next morning, I posted that random tidbit on Facebook (Thank you Mark Zuckerberg for making that possible, even though you are kind of an asshole). Thinking I was going to get a lot of hate responses from the Husker fan(atics)s, I was surprised when it hardly showed up as a blip on the radar. I guess more people were on to this than me.

I did go down and tailgate before the game, but came back home to watch the game in the safety of my own basement. If I was safe from the fall out anywhere, it would be there. From the opening series, i had a bad feeling. Maybe it was the DeLeon's I had the night before. I think the likely suspect though might have been the Helu Fumble that set up the Texas touchdown. That was the first domino that set off a chain reaction of Husker shortcomings, that are just becoming common place in the NU-Texas matchups...

Where did we go wrong? Maybe it was the 5 fumbles we had. These are getting ridiculous. Hang on to the damn ball.

maybe it was the 8 dropped passes? I'm tired of Niles Paul. I could care less if he steps foot on the field again. Think back, what exactly has he done that we couldn't live without?

Maybe it was that we couldn't contain Garret Gilbert who ran for 70 yards against the Huskers, when he had only rushed for 14 all season prior to this game. Looks like Crick and Company AREN'T better without Suh like Pelini said at the start of the season. We didn't really believe it anyways did we? Oh,...we did? Shame on us. Looks like Crick definitely benefited from having Suh on the line with him.

Maybe it's the attitude of this team. I have a feeling that they think they are a lot better than they actually are. They actually believed that they were good and Texas was bad and that the game was over before the opening kickoff. This is why the games aren't played on paper.

Maybe it was the fact that we hadn't trailed all year, and for once this team found themselves behind and didn't know what to do.

Maybe it was the fact we couldn't figure out how to return a rugby punt, and instead let the ball roll forever.

Maybe it was onside kicking with three minutes left. When your Defense is "better than last years" who was ranked #1 in the nation, you kick the ball and pin them deep, working for the stop and a change in field position. That onside kick was an admission that we were desperate.

The only good thing from the game was the 95 yard punt return, but even that comes with a grain of salt. Remember what I said about Nebraska getting a glimmer of hope, before their hearts are smashed? Well that return was the obligatory glimmer. Its almost like those burnt orange pricks are messing with our heads.

Maybe its a combination of all these things. The glaring thing is, that all these things point towards the coaching. It just seems like the coaches didn't have these players focused and ready to play.

I don't know what it was for sure, but there are a few things I am sure of. 1) This loss will hurt a lot, and for a long time. 2) We are officially Texas' bitch. They have every reason to accuse us of running to the Big Ten and hiding from them. 3)What hurts even more, is that, they are probably correct.

This may be the start of a long road for the Huskers. Next week they travel to OSU for a game against the undefeated cowboys, then the following week is a game against the currently undefeated Mizzou Tigers. IF and only IF Nebraska can right the ship, they may eventually meet up with the current #1 team in the Nation in Oklahoma. My my how the outlook on this season has shifted. No prediction from me at this point. We will see how the team rebounds against a good OSU team next week before I start to ring the emergency bell. All I know is that right now I'm sick to my stomach, and this time, I can't blame it on the DeLeons.

There's no better way to say it, that was some funky butt-lovin...

Last Thursday night, the Husker faithful followed their team down to the Little Apple of Manhattan Kansas and invaded that glorified highschool stadium named after their fearless, and possibly senile coach Bill Snyder. To make it better, this was the showcase game on ESPN on the national stage. After doing some quick roaming around the world wide web, for some reason the Mildcat faithful were almost certain KState was poised to upset their neighbors to the north on the national scene, destroying the kickoff party of the Husker's farewell tour.

We all know by now how that went. T-Magic rushed for 4 touchdowns and 240 yards, and threw for another score. For a while there, I was wondering if the Huskers were attempting to score 71 points in honor of Bill Snyder's 71st birthday that was that night. I guess they failed in that department. But why bring up the past? I must admit, that the only reason this post was created was to show the world exactly what it looks like to bend your opponent over, and embarASS them...(SEE ABOVE) I know, how juvenile right?

I need to credit this picture to my good friend Adam who sent me the link, after he most likely found it one night browsing the free gay porn sites. Sorry Adam, couldn't resist...

Anyways, this weekend the Huskers prepare to battle the Tejas Longhorns in a matchup that most Husker fans have looked forward to with hate in their hearts since last year's 60:01 debacle. Or has it been since 2007 28-25 loss? Or the 2006 22-20 loss in the "snow game"? You get the point. The Huskers are hungry for this win, and it looks like this will be the Husker's last shot at a win against Texass for a long time as I do not see these two school wanting to work with each other any time soon. If the Huskers can point to one team who has broken their hearts repeatedly, it has to be the longwhorens. Couple that with the reputation Texas has of being arrogant, controlling, and manipulative, no wonder there has been so much anticipation surrounding this game. This weeks coming blog will submerse itself into the upcoming matchup, but like any good writer, I need to leave you waiting for more. Come back Thursday for a report on the whole "Redout Around the World" promotion, recent heartbreaks at the hands of the leader of the Texas Conference, and possibly a group prayer in hopes it will help this years Huskers prevent an ultimate letdown against their archnemisis. A Husker loss would be the absolute disappointment. And a writer could not write a better plot than that. A Husker team who year after year has you on the verge of believing that they are "back" to only kick you in the mouth with an unexpected loss (See Iowa State 2009). A loss like this against a Texas team paddling like hell to keep from being a .500 team would surely send people jumping from rooftops in downtown Lincoln. Here's to hoping that won't happen. Dear God, please don't let that happen...

Come back Thursday for more.

PS: Please don't let the Huskers lose to Texas...






...Please...

Don't Forget Your Power Towel

Well well well...the Daily Opinion took a week off with the Huskers last week, mainly to sleep off the hangover of the ugly 17-3 win over SDSU. Sorry! aren't I allowed a break too? I sincerely apologize to all the readers and will catch us all back up to speed.

The Huskers are now 4-0 entering conference play. This week they have a road test with our neighbors to the south in the Kansas State Mildcats. The mildcats led by their fearless geriatric coach Bill Snyder will surely be amped up for what most likely will be their last shot in a long time to upend the real kings of the Big XII north. Kansas State enters this matchup also 4-0 and excited to host a Thursday night ESPN nationally televised game. They can be excited all they want because let's be honest, without the Huskers, ESPN wouldn't even know where Manhattan Kansas was located. They will soon realize this (as well as the rest of the Big XII North) fact once they no longer have the Husker faithful filling up their stadium every other year. So come on everyone, let them have their fun while it lasts and let them soak up all the coverage they can while they can still benefit by being associated with an elite program. Kinda like that ugly, bigfoot-looking Kardashian girl does with her hot sister Kim.

Anyone ever wonder why Kansas State decided to name their Stadium Bill Snyder Family Stadium? Me neither. But really could they have picked a worse, less intimidating name for a stadium? Its kinda like naming your son milton, I'm sorry to all the Miltons out there, but you're not going to intimidate anyone. And before and K State fans take a shot at Memorial Stadium, it was built to acknowledge the veterans of past, present, and future wars, so if you don't like the name, you don't like the veterans and thats just wrong. Take that hippy thought to Boulder. Oh yeah, and don't forget your Power Towel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A-05wPlQQ40)

While were on the topic of power towels and other K State failures. Why is Willie the Wildcat a half-cat, half-man hybrid? I know that K State is a agricultural school and somewhere down there I'm sure that there is a livestock breeding program, doesn't this mascot open the doors for all sorts of inter species breeding jokes? I always knew those people were pussys. Atleast they are wearing the right color...

Here's some trivia for you. Name the only school the the Big 12 conference that has NEVER won a National Championship in ANYTHING. I'll give you some time...Did you guess it? It's not Baylor, or Iowa State,...Thats right. It's K State. For being the fourth oldest Big 12 institution, you would think that they could have added atleast one. Even if it's in women's bowling.....oh,...wait...Nebraska's good at that too. But I'm sure they have a better in-conference reputation right? Well, I'm afraid not. They are barely edging out Missouri for the fewest conference title's by a 7-6 margin. This purple color is looking more and more fitting...

After those stats, what can we really talk about? Rich tradition? Talented athletes? unfortunately no. While the SDSU game was a hard one to swallow, historically, Pelini does well with extra time to prepare. Look for the blackshirts to have addressed the problems we all witnessed and shut down Kansas States talented runningback. Look for Nebraska to run up the score early to force KSU to throw the ball, which has not ended up good for any of the Husker opponents this year. If KSU is able to hold the Husker offense to minimal points while chewing clock with their run game, the Huskers may be in trouble, but look for the Huskers to come out 5-0, and the Mildcats to,...well...fall back into their place.

I'm sorry KSU if I was a little harsh on you this week. Keep your heads up. Your university produced the talented Kirstie Alley, and activist Erin Brokovich. But here's the kicker, you also produced DeLoss Dodds, current Athletic Director of the University of Texas. Screw. You.

Here's to Nebraska beginning their farewell tour in the Little Apple with a win over KSU. After the game be sure to head to Aggieville for some of the best fun in a college town you can have. There's a bar there that serves a drink called a fish tank, and unlike Duffy's in Lincoln where your drink comes in a little fish bowl, these drinks are literally served in fish TANKS. Look! I found one thing they can claim superiority to!

One last note, any fanbase that celebrates every first down, doesn't deserve to be on television, so let's hope the blackshirts can help them out with proper primetime etiquette. We all get it, that was "another K STATE first down!" That's what happens when you get 10 yards....

The sky isn't falling yet, but Chicken Little sure is looking...

I knew it. I just knew it. Last week I called the matchup between SDSU and the Huskers uninteresting, and that it wasn't even worth writing an article about. I should have remembered that IF something can go wrong, it WILL...

I think it all started when the University scheduled homecoming for the SDSU matchup. Apparently not even homecoming could get people excited for this one. But they don't have any other option because the "Red Out Around The World" is already scheduled for our next home game against what probably will be a 2-loss Texas team. My how that publicity stunt continues to look more and more ill-planned.

Anyways,...as we all recovered today from the hangovers (figuratively and literally) we experienced from yesterday's game, our heads still may feel a little fuzzy, but might we have a more clear view of who this Husker team really is? Newspapers all week reported that the Huskers would blow South Dakota State out of the water coming off a big win against Washington. It appears that the Husker football team must have been more focused on the newspaper articles and drinking the Big Red Kool Aid, instead of preparing for the game. In a game where SDSU was supposed to be a punching bag, it looks like this time the punching bag hit back, and the Jackrabbits made the Huskers look like Jackasses.

From the start the Huskers looked unmotivated, and unexcited about having to play this "lesser" opponent. The Jackrabbits on the other hand were playing in the game of their lives. Memorial Stadium is a world of difference compared to their home field with a capacity of around 15,000 seats. The big stage did not appear to intimidate these wascally wabbits won bit. The Jackrabbits played with emotion, drive, and determination, and accomplished something most underdogs can't; they kept it up throughout the game.

In a case of Jeckle and Hyde, T-Magic looked more the part of T-Tragic. Martinez consistently under threw his wide receivers, and under threw them bad. When he did finally throw a catchable ball, unfortunately he stared down his receivers, giving the defense plenty of time to step in front for an easy pick. There were too many plays where I was dumbfounded, trying to figure out where the ball was intended to be thrown as it appeared it had no clear destination. While I understand that he is a redshirt freshman, this poor passing is going to catch up with us. We're just lucky that it happened in this game, instead of one in conference play. (Anyone remember Iowa State '09?) One bit of advice to T-Tragic: taunting an FCS opponent isn't cool. Especially when they stuck with you and showed you that you don't intimidate them. It's kind of like getting into a fight with your younger brother, and barely win. Even if you win in the end, you still kind of lose... Seems like Husker Nation may have jumped on the Heisman Hype a little too soon. Thanks ESPN.

The run game looked miserable. Looks like the Jackrabbits watched some film this week. Stop the run and we have NOTHING. I mean, we do only have 2 passing TD's in four games. That single threat attack will not hold up against better teams. I declined a few free Husker tickets this weekend and I am kind of glad I did. It was rough enough watching it on Pay Per View (also free to me). I was actually more entertained watching a class C Highschool football game this Friday, and I had to fork out 10 bucks for that one. At least those kids wanted to be there. Hats off to SDSU, they played with everything they could.

But like I said earlier, the sky is not falling quite yet. We now have a bye week to prepare for Kansas State and I am sure that Bo will have the guys ready to play that Thursday night game in Manhattan. I would like nothing more than to see Bo put Old Man Winter-Snyder in his place and make him rethink coming out of his retirement. The Huskers will need to find a way to improve the passing offense during this break or it may be a long in-conference stretch this season. You cannot be one-dimensional in this day an age. Just can't. Chicken Little can relax for now. The Huskers are 4-0 and take away one game, have looked pretty descent. Another poor showing however might open the doors for doom and gloom mummers around Husker Nation.

But not all was lost this weekend. Here are a few things that can make all of us smile.

The Husker game for the most part was less than a blip on the sports scene around the nation. Being a pay per view game, not many people saw it, including voters, so that may have helped the team maintain their ranking. (Top ranked team in the Big XII at #6)

And while were talking about pay per view, I don't care what anyone says, the Ticket Express girl is sexy. She would definitely NOT be "facebook deleted" in my book.

Texas lost. That's something we can all celebrate. Plus their top ranked rushing defense looked overrated. That could be a good thing for the Huskers. Oh yeah, Texas is also now ranked #16 and #21 in the polls. ESPN isn't humping them anymore either and Gameday will NOT be at the Red River Shootout. Like the whore they are, ESPN has moved on to a new in-crowd.

TCU, Boise State, and Oregon, all looked beatable this week.

Alabama and Arkansas had a great game, and Arkansas had it all but won before pissing it down their legs.

Pelini again proves he is always good for a laugh. Did you hear his short interview before going into the locker room at half. Priceless.

Missouri is unranked in the AP poll despite being 4-0.

I think we all need this week off after the showing on Saturday. While I'm not too worried at this point, i might keep one eye to the sky,...just incase...

A look at the top 25

With three games down, (which is creeping up on 1/4 of the season already done) let's take a look at the top 25, and hypothesize how the huskers would do if matched up with any of these teams.

I usually do a preview of the upcoming opponent, but this week's match up with SDSU is laughable at best. With the jackrabbits ranking towards the bottom of the FCS division, the Huskers have a greater chance of losing the red-white game than this one. Although, one stat for you, SDSU's placekicker is 1/5 on the season on field goal attemps. So even if it's close, we won't have to worry about getting beat with a last second field goal.

On to the polls: For credibility purposes we'll be using the coaches poll. AP writers would vote Notre Dame and USC into the championship every year if they could.

#1 Alabama: Ingram and company would most likely roll (tide) the Huskers. Hate to say it, but the D Line is suspect and looks like a run heavy offense could push them around up front. I don't want to completely count the Husker's out, but it would take an improved effort up front.

#2 Ohio State: This one is a toss up. For some reason I think the blackshirts could stop Pryor, while Martinez and company score points on their D. Luckily, the Huskers and Buckeyes will get to see how they match up with each other in just little over a year. Big 10, here we come.

#3 Boise State: Honestly. F*ck these f*cking blue donkey f*ucks. Try playing legit teams and then maybe someone will respect you. We all learned at an early age that you don't get street cred by whooping up in 6th graders,...when your a junior in highschool. Try playing a whole schedule of legit teams, instead of hanging your hat one signature win against VaTech. This weekend I'm a beaver fan.

#4 Texas: This year the Huskers wont need 60:01 to win the game. I look forward to the defense shutting down that junior high offense they have going there, and making Garrett Bieber wish Colt McCoy was still the one getting thrown around like a rag doll.

#5 TCU: See Boise State. Except I can actually stand you guys. Partially because you don't have blue turf, and partially because you aren't cry babies from Idaho.

#6 Oregon: High powered Oregon Offense, meets lockdown, ball hawking blackshirts. This one's a toss up. At least the Oregon duck could be confident that he would be doing FAR LESS pushups than he is used to.

#7 Nebraska: This is a pretty accurate rating for the Huskers thus far.

#8 Florida: Sorry Gaytors, Jesus is now a Broncos fan. Have fun in the top ten while it lasts. You'll finish the year probably ranked in the teens or 20's.

#9 Oklahoma: Wish the Huskers and the Sooners could meet up this year. Will probably happen in the last Big XII Championship game, and will be settled then. Oklahoma has been up and down thus far and failed to beat Nebraska last year. The way the team has looked so far this year I would say the Huskers have the edge. Time will tell in this matchup.

#10 Wisconsin: To this point they have not impressed. I welcome the future matchups between the Badgers and the Huskers in the "Who's the REAL big red Bowl". Huskers win this one.

#11 Arkansas: This weeks matchup with Alabama-Arkansas will tell us more about this team. No denying they have a talented QB, but ask Jake Locker how much that helps. Huskers win.

#12 LSU: Geaux Tigers. While they will be battle tested in the SEC, the combination of blackshirt D, and explosive ground game, I think the Huskers win this game. Husker's couldn't let Bo get beat by his old team.

#13 Utah: Really? The Utes? Go play with TCU and Boise State.

#14 Auburn: Gene Chizik can run, but he can't hide. Husker's make Gene think he is back at Iowa State.

#15 South Carolina: Like Gene, The Husker's remind Spurrier how fun it is to play them. Maybe he could keep this one closer that 62-24.

#16 Arizona: This matchup is so 2009. Will Arizona be able to score a point this time? Husker's remind the Wildcats, how it is run, Husker style.

#17 Stanford: Toby's gone. It's nice while it lasted, now go back to where you came from. Your mascot is a tree for god's sake.

#18 Iowa: Nice showing against Arizona. Hope you're ready for the first annual Farmageddon next year. The Husker's show them how it's done.

#19 Miami: They may have SWAG, but Jacory also has an interception problem. Not a good thing while playing such an opportunistic defense. Huskers roll the Canes in a National Championship rematch.

#20 Penn State: Looks like a new rival in the making. Look forward to these matchups and hopefully can make it out the Happy Valley in the future, but the Huskers have the edge in this place and time. Joe Pa needs to go. All good horses get put out to pasture eventually.

#21 West Virginia: Who?

#22 Michigan: Someone tell that QB to tie his shoes. Another great football matchup for the Huskers in the future. Right now the Husker's are a better team period.

#23 Michigan State: If they can beat up your big brother, they can beat you up too. Sorry Spartans, but it took you a trick play in overtime to beat Notre Lame.

#24 Missouri- MIZ-WHO? Let's hope this year's game isn't played in a downpour. Delusional missery fans have already played out that excuse for losing. Also, their star QB Gabbert seems to have a problem over throwing his receivers. Not to mention it took the tigers until the last minute to beat SDSU last week. Remind me why these guys are ranked again?

#25 Oklahoma State: While their stats look good so far, I have always heard that there are three types of lies: Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics. Anyone who tells you that the Cowboys would beat the Huskers would use all three.

There you have it. A completely biased, uneducated, and half-hearted look at the top 25. What would you change?

Locker Who?

In a game where the stage was focused around NFL prospect Jake Locker, and how he would fair against the touted Blackshirt Defense, viewers expecting a heavyweight battle might have been disappointed in the David vs Goliath showing.

It started out rough for Locker, throwing an interception on his first drive. It really didn't get much better for him throughout the night as he went 4 for 20, with around 75 yards total passing, and two interceptions.

Now if that didn't look bad enough, lets see if i can make it look just a little worse for him. While he completed four passes to his own receivers, he completed two passes to the Nebraska defense. Simple math shows he completed 50% as many passes to Nebraska, as he did to his own players.

Of his four passes to his own players, one of them went for a touchdown. That's 25% of his completions resulting in touchdowns. Not too shabby....

Now look at his "completions" to Nebraska. Of the two of those, one of them went for a touchdown. That's a whopping 50%! Even better.

Overall, that's 6 total passes thrown by Locker that were caught, resulting in two touchdowns. 33%. He should really use this fuzzy math next spring when trying to convince the NFL teams that he is still an elite quarterback. At the very worst, he could probably come visit Omaha and play for the Nighthawks.

Enough about Locker. Lets talk about Martinez. The best quote I hear this weekend I believe came from a Sports Illustrated writer who wrote, (not a direct quote) "While Locker was busy falling out of the Heisman race, Martinez was busy inserting him self into it." That's pretty big praise on a national forum for a redshirt freshman. While I'm all for praising Martinez, as he has been every bit T-Magic, and making 80-yard touchdown runs an almost expectation now. However, lets not jump the gun quite yet. Let's remember that Taylor has exactly one passing touchdown. (Granted Kinnie was one yard from making that two passing TD's for T-Magic). It also Took Taylor 3 games to get that 1 passing TD. Now if Nebraska finds them self down at some point this year at halftime (AND THEY WILL), they will need a spark to elevate them to overcome a deficit. Great teams are not one dimensional, and need to have a backup plan. And while I'm not saying Taylor can't throw, and maybe its the case of "Why throw, when we can run it for 10 yards a play?", from what I have seen, I'm not betting my last dollar on Taylor's arm quite yet. Not saying that cant change. I'm just not gonna feed into the hype quite yet. Only because Nebraska has a history of being disappointed year after year. But here's to keeping our fingers crossed, and probably getting out of non conference games undefeated!

A couple other notes from this weekend:

Arizona beats Iowa: Good. I'm already tired of those beakers who think they are cool because they copied the Steelers uniforms. Your still from Iowa, a state with no cities, and no rivers.

Michigan state beats Notre Dame in overtime, with a fake field goal that goes for a touch down on fourth down. That's some big balls sparty, big balls. Way to show Jesus who's boss.

Oklahoma, you almost lost to Airforce a week after beating Florida State like the redheaded stepchild they are. Please make up your mind on whether or not you are going to be a good team this year.

Texas: A win against you is looking more likely each week. And Garrett Gilbert is a pussy. Tell him to get a man haircut and ditch the Justin Bieber look. Stupid longwhorens.

Iowa State versus Kansas State in Arrowhead Stadium. This was an awesome game. I'm sure all 3,500 people in attendance had a blast. Seriously, did you see the television coverage with the stadium nearly empty? More Nebraskans traveled 1,300 miles to Washington than the combined ISU/KSU fans that travel 2-4 hours to Arrowhead. No wonder your teams were left sucking the left tit of Bevo when it looked like the Big XII was going to implode. Have fun suckers.

Mizzou: Nice win over San Diego State. It only took you 59 minutes to lead this game. While great teams find ways to win, I don't think this saying applies when you are playing San Diego State. When will Chicken Little start screaming the sky is falling for the tiggers? I'm guessing probably on 10/30/10 when the Nebraska Defense shows exactly why Nebraska is not upset that the Gabbert Bros are in MIZWHO black and gold, instead of Scarlet and Cream. Maybe T-Magic will give them high fives as he runs by for a touchdown. We all know he has time to waste.

Well, until next time, remember that the worst day as a Husker is still better than,...well,....almost anyone.

A battle of the Husk's

This week the Huskers travel to the University of Washington, or as the locals call it "U-Dub" to battle the Huskies. The Puppy Dogs have a talented QB in Jake Locker that the blackshirt Defense is looking forward to defending, and hopefully,...embarassing. But you can get that coverage on ESPN. This aint ESPN.

Honestly, I'm tired of hearing about Locker. What has he ever done? Yeah he maybe beat a USC team LAST YEAR, and then went on to lose like what? 5 conference games after that win. Well, the sun shines on Iowa State,...I mean...a dogs ass every now and then too. I didn't even mention that they went 0-12 just a year prior. But thats something that all great QB's experience,..a winless season...

Hopefully the blackshirts can come in there this week and show the country that just maybe he has benefited from playing in a relatively week conference.

Anyways, I hear that the Husker fans are flocking to Washignton for this game, and that there could be up to 25,000 Husker fans in the stadium. I just hope they stay safe as the stadium reportedly is experiencing substantial deterioration, and is slated to get a major renovation beginning at the end of this season costing a reportedly 300 million dollars. The largest renovation of an NCAA facility. Big problems cost big money I suppose.

It's really hard for me to get to excited for this game, or atleast write an interesting preview of this game. From the research I have done, there jsut really isnt anything notable about this university. Kinda boring overall actually. I did find that they have been rated as the #1 nursing school since that statistic has been kept,.....what a bunch of Sallys....

Here are a few other things I was able to find:

16 of the last 18 starting QBs for Washignton have gone on to the NFL...okay thats kind of impressive...

The football team was unbeaten in 63 straight games (still a record) and also one 39 consecutive games during that period (second longest streak). Too bad this happened from 1907-1917; I heard Yale was a powerhouse back then too.

Washington did dominate in recent history however, winning the National Cahmpionship in 1985, 1990, and 1991. Thats nothing to shrug your shoulders at...especially when the 1991 team rallied to score 27 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win 36-21 against then #9 Nebraska. I'm starting to dislike these dogs even more.

As it turns out, Nebraska and Washington have somewhat of a history together. We are all aware that Washington Stadium is rumored to be the loudest place to play. With nearly 70 percent of the seats located between the end zones, covered by metal roofs, no wonder it is loud. Is actually holds the record of being the loudest recorded stadium in college football. During a 1992 night game, ESPN measured the noise level at 135 decibels, the loudest mark in NCAA history. Guess who they were playing, thats right,...Nebraska. Guess who won?.....lets not talk about it.

Also, prior to the 2000 season, the school was among the leaders adopting FieldTurf, trailing only Memorial Stadium's installation by one season.

Really thats about all I have. Heres to a good game. My money is on Nebraska to cover the 3.5 point spread. And Heres to hoping Crick and Co and put a punishment on Locker. While the sunshines on a dogs ass every now and then, I hear the forcast is for cloudy weather on Saturday. Doesn't look good for these dogs.

Growing Pains and a "you-know-what-chewing"

Well, another week has passed, and now we know more, (or in some cases less) about the college football landscape this year. Lets first recap the Husker game...

The huskers were slow to start, and Taylor Martinez's first couple pass attempts started to make people think about changing his nickname from T-Magic, to something slightly less impressive, maybe "T-David Blaine when he does stupid stunts like freezing himself in ice", or "T-Sigfried minus Roy." He missed open receivers, and missed them badly. Just when he was beginning to earn his nickname, a huge run gets called back by a penalty. Something that would go on to be the theme of the day for the Nebraska Offense. All in all, T-Magic was able to show why he he is so special, and just what he can do with the ball. He had the longest run by a Nebraska freshman, ran for over 100 yards again, and now has 5 rushing tds on the year. I just hope he is able to make these runs, and survive these mistakes (fumbling the ball to himself) against better opponents. But for now, I'll take the growing pains. Pelini just better tell him to start checking his left side, because quality opponents will see that is his blind spot.

We also learned this week that Niles Paul can't run the wildcat. Nice hands on that opening second half play. But, he still gets more poonanny than I do, so really I am in no position to bash on him. Play on Paul.

Anyone ask themselves before the game why the huskers didn't recruit NFL prospect, and Idaho QB Enderle who is from North Platte, Nebraska?? Here's your answer. 5 picks on the day. That's a good enough reason for me.

We are also finding that Crick is a stud, and can be a force even without the assistance of Suh. Did you catch that hit he put on Enderle? Thats two games in a row where he has made Suh-like hit on a QB. I like what I see from him.

Last week it was the defense, this week the offense. By the time conference play starts the Huskers need to figure out the penalty problem, or Bo is going to give out a few more "you know what" chewings. His jaw must get really tired the way he goes to town on that piece of gum all game, and then have to put in overtime chewing you know whats.

SO...how about the hokies? As much respect as I have for the Virginia Tech team (great games, great fans in the past years games) I am glad they lost for one reason. They are one of two BCS teams on Boise States schedule and to this point, looked like Boise State was going to hang their hat on their win over VT. Well, that win isn't looking all that impressive now, as the Hokies lose to FCS team James Madison, and fall to 0-2, and out of the rankings. That loss looks worse than whatever that thing is on Coach Beemer's face. So Boise fan's, if that is your signature win this year, that you are going to use to plead your case to get into the National Championship game, then you better have lawyers like OJ, because this glove just doesn't fit.

James Madison: On behalf of the rest of the country, THANK YOU!

Dear Turner Gill and Kansas: Please decide what kind of team you are going to be this year. The team that loses to FCS North Dakota State, or the team that knocks off #17 Georgia Tech. Please make up your mind because your making my weekly pick'em league very difficult. I am 0-2 with you.

Dear Oklahoma: See my note to Kansas.

Michigan and Notre Dame: Thank you for playing each other. It was a win-win either way because no matter who lost, i was happy with the result. I am actually happy that Notre Dame came up short because now Dr. Lou will have to pump up some other team. But as we all know, if you have an "S" in your school's name, you aint getting any love from Lou, because he can't pronounce it.

So, with two weeks down, what do we really know? Not much more than we did before the season started. Big XII play starts this week for some teams and I for one will be a Texas Tech fan, as the try to beat the long whorens.

For all you husker fan's heading out to Washington, here's to Crick knocking Locker out of the game in the first quarter with a nasty sack.

The Idaho Vandals: Things you might not know

Next up for the Husker's is the mighty Vandals team from the wack,...uh,...I mean WAC conference. While we all wait patiently for Saturday, (and hope Bo does not explode before then on some community college beat reporter asking him stupid questions about who the quarterback will be) I was able to dig up some info on this formidable opponent.

Did you know that the Idaho campus is located in MOSCOW, Idaho? Did you know that there was even a Moscow Idaho? Can you even find Idaho on a map of the USA? It really is just one of those states that you probably wouldn't miss. And lets be honest, other places grow potatoes too so we really wouldn't be out much if Idaho suddenly disappeared, or Canada suddenly pirated it from us. I doubt we would even fight them for it. Okay, okay, enough Idaho bashing.

Idaho actually competed in the Sun Belt conference in football from 2001-2005. Yeah, that makes sense......

The Vandals home football field is in a dome. The Kibbie dome is an 18,000 seat dome that also doubles as the basketball and volleyball arena. How can you bash a dome?

Boise State only leads the overall rivalry series by four games over Idaho 21 games to 17 (Although Boise State has won the last 11 meetings). Can we all agree to root for Idaho when they play Boise State this year? Only one week down, and Kirk Herbstreit already has me tired of hearing about the Blue Donkeys.

An area of campus has a Spanish War Memorial statue that had its hand cut off. This statue was later repaired by handless artist. Not kidding...This statue can be found on the Administrative lawn. This lawn was designed by the same brothers that designed Central Park in New York. Now theres a change of scenery.

The UI student union has a movie theatre in it. Lucky bastards. Then again, what else do they have to do...

An on campus steam plant runs pipelines underneath campus sidewalks to keep them clear of snow and Ice in the winter. If you say you have never slipped on UNL sidewalks and bounced up quickly to look around to see if anyone saw you (even though you had just probably shattered 3 vertebrae) you are a damn liar. UNL take note.

Sarah Palin attended Idaho. Not going there.

ESPN commentator and 3 time superbowl winning guard Mark Schlereth attended Idaho.

They have a pretty cool fight song: Go Vandals

Came a tribe from the North brave and bold,
Bearing banners of silver and gold,
Tried and true to subdue all their foes,
Go Vandals! Go mighty Vandals!

Go Vandals go,
Fight on with hearts brave and bold,
Foes will fall before your silver and your gold,
The victory cannot be withheld from thee,
So, all bear down for Idaho,
Come on old Vandals, go!

I-D-A-H-O,
Idaho, Idaho, Go! Go! Go!

The victory cannot be withheld from thee,
So, all bear down for Idaho,
Come on old Vandals, go!
Let's go!


Also, I read a story this week of a Nebraska family who has a son playing for Idaho. The article mentioned that they had said, blood is thicker than husker red and that they would be rooting for Idaho this weekend. They are voted off the island. You failed as parents for sending your son to Moscow. Now you are rooting against the huskers? Fail number 2.

Well there you have it. What isn't to love about Idaho? Domes on campus, handless artists fixing handless statues, and a former stomping ground of Sarah Palin (even you democrats have to admit shes a good lookin cougar, and was probably a sexy little kitten back in the day).

My prediction Martinez at starter, Green in the second quarter, Lee in if we have a comfortable lead.

It will be 21-3 at half.
35-10 Final.

Here goes another season: things we've already learned

So as a new season of NCAA football begins, it is only natural that a new year of the Daily Opinion follows suit. In this edition, we will look at what can be taken away from week one, both from the huskers, and from the rest of the country.

1) Taylor "T-Magic" Martinez: Showed that he could come in as a redshirt freshman and run the husker offense efficiently against a lesser opponent. Whether he can do it against more skilled teams is still a question, but that will be answered in time. For now, it is hard not to have visions of Tommie Frazier and Eric Crouch-esqe accomplishments from young #3. Try to resist placing unrelistic expectations on a true freshman quarterback. I've already read some facebook posts from some delusional fans of Martinez winning the heisman this year. You're setting yourself up for failure to expect greatness weekend and week out from such a new quarterback. There are going to be dissapointments as the season goes on, just try not to jump on the opposite bandwagon when it happens. Remember, after Zac Lee looked amazing last year in the first few games we thought we had a golden arm at QB. Now hes #3....

#2) Cody Green: Efficient in the offense. Looked more comfortable than last year, and saw an overall improved player on the field.

#3) Zac Lee: It's kinda hard not to feel bad for this guy. looks like his skills just don't fit into the schemes that Bo and Watson want to run. I still hold me break when he takes off running,..straight up and down,....eyes to the ground,....waiting to get decleated every. single. time. Still showed that he could control the offense he ever needed.

#4) The "better than last year defense": Looked sloppy and not as advertized. Yet i have to remember that we gave up big yardage to Sun Belt teams last year. While Defenses usually are more prepared in the opening weekend as compared to offenses, this defense will improve. just look at the track record. Also have to take into account the injuries they've had.

#5) Crick: Nice hit on that QB. Absolutely amazing. Props to the kid for getting up. I bet he had to go to the lockeroom and wipe after that one.

#6) HuskerVision: Please update the tunnel walk. It is the same as last year, just different highlights. You have like nine months, to put together some new graphics for the intro, yet you just switch the highlights? C'mon, I could put something new together in nine months with windows movie maker, or powerpoint. Heck, if anyone from the athletic department is interested in my services let me know. I give you good price.

#7) Burkhead/Helu: You are both studs. Many a coed has probably already told you this and rewarded you for your services. Atleast, they'll have a story to share with the grandkids. Aren't groupies great?

#8) Rice University has a volunteer marching band called the M.O.B.(Marching Owl Band) because they have an enrollment of 5,500 students and don't have enough students to field a full marching band.

#9) That school of 5,500 students loss to Almighty Texas (enrollment 50,000) by only seven points. Suck it Texas. Garret Gilbert is a douche. Saw 'em off.

#10) Missouri struggled with Illinois. Good. I'm sure mizzou fans will have an excuse though. Gabbert looked good though.

#11) The Little XII went 11-1 this week. Thank you Kansas. Turner Gill, you may have your hands full this year.

#12) I found myself rooting against every big twelve team this weekend. A part of me hopes that the big 12 just implodes this year, and Nebraska comes away smelling like Rose Bowl,...I mean roses.

#13) Dan Hawkins: way to not start your son this year idiot. Every day you are at Colorado, makes it look like you were not the mastermind behind Boise State. You won't have a job come this winter. Sorry.

#14) TCU: Way to beat Oregon state. Now take the next the next 14 weeks off and we'll see you in a BCS bowl, or even worse the national championship. Oh wait,...you did schedule more games this year, could tell from that high school schedule of yours. Good luck against the college for the deaf and blind.

#15) Boise State: The state of Idaho could disappear and no one would care. I cannot stand your stupid team with no one on your schedule. Go blow TCU.