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...