Items from Around the Big 12
13 comments so far
June 15, 2006 by
Here are just a few of the headlines from around the web concerning NU's Big 12 brethren. To summarize - CU considers getting new turf. KSU finally grows a pair. And is OU really back on top?
CU Considering FieldTurf
The University of Colorado has expressed some interest in getting new turf for their field, specifically FieldTurf. According to the story, this would be a change after 7 years with natural grass. IF CU can afford to make the change, I think it makes good sense. FieldTurf is good stuff. It's more durable than natural grass but not the hazard that Astroturf is. And, while it costs a lot to install, it does make your space a lot more multifunctional.
And, this is just one of the manifestations of changing leaders I think. Whether it is a new AD or a new Head Coach, folks sort of want to do the thing "their way." And, Hawkins had an artificial surface in Boise, so it is what he is used to. It's not unlike when Callahan was adamant about lowering the crown on on NU's field. It is what works best for what he wants to do. My only question for CU is - will this new turf be blue like Boise State's was?
The Nebraska Spin -- FieldTurf isn't new to Nebraska. In fact, we were the first to install it. NU has always been innovative like that, no matter what the perception of us being a "rural state" may imply. We were the first with big video replay boards in the 1990's. And now, we're using tiny microchips in pills to monitor player temperature. That is very cool. Truly, when it comes to innovation...there is no place like Nebraska. Thanks for starting to catch up, Colorado.
KSU Ratchets Up Their Schedule
Every year, you could count on some (all) of the national commentators and every NU fan taking a few cheap shots at KSU's schedule. And, that was for good reason. Snyder made no bones about scheduling cream puffs to open the year. It put him much closer to bowl eligibility when he was reviving the program. And, it allowed for his team (often with many JC players) to gel some before any meaningful contests. Well, oh how the times are changing. KSU has Louisville (a pre-season top 10?) on the schedule now, and just announced a series with UCLA for 2009-2010. And, they are continuing talks about playing Miami (of Florida!)
What does this mean for KSU? Well, they may stop being such a punch line when it comes to scheduling. But, they are also raising the stakes on themselves. They're taking what would have been a "sure" win off the slate and adding a game that is much tougher to win, especially when on the road. For a team looking to get back to a bowl for the first time in 3 years, that's being pretty aggressive. On the plus side for KSU, it does create national interest or exposure for them by being on the field (and TV) with these kinds of teams.
The Nebraska Spin -- This probably ends any talks NU was having with UCLA for those same years. Darn it. Often, when you see a conference member playing tough games in the non-conference schedule, you sort of root for them to win. For example, I was pulling for UT against OSU last year. Even though the sight of burn orange normally makes me wretch. Well, my conference loyalty stops short of KSU. I hope they lose 'em all. I hope they get downright embarrassed. The fact that I will pull for Miami should speak volumes about how deep my distain for KSU goes. And, I don't think I'm alone.
OU #1?
Pre-season magazines are crap. Any fan worth a darn knows that. These publications can't possibly know the personnel and situations of teams as much as the local media or the very involved fan or booster. That, and there is a very limited ability to predict anything during this era of parity in college football. Still, these rags make for excellent discussion, particularly when it comes the inevitable "who is #1?" question. An interesting candidate is emerging for the 2006 pre-season #1 - the Oklahoma Sooners.
Many publications have them in the top-10, still more have them in the top 5, and Athlon pegs them as the best team in the land (pre-season). So, does this pass the sniff test? Let's see... Stout defense? Check. They have potential all-conference or even all-America type players at all three levels of their D. Game-changing, Heisman-type player? Check. His name is Adrian Peterson. You might have heard of him. Returning quarterback? Yep. While Bomar didn't have what anybody would call a stellar season last year, it is fair to expect improvement in year two. That, and the guy really is a hellava athlete. So, at first blush, OU can be thrown in the conversation. Sure, why not? Well, lots of reasons. But it IS only pre-season.
The Nebraska Spin -- Here's what throws me off about people picking OU to be Top-10 or better. They were 8-4 last year after a close bowl win. But, when you say they could win the title, everyone nods their heads. NU was 8-4 after a close bowl win. And if you say the Huskers could win the title, the common fan or sports analyst will either 1) laugh, 2) hiss or 3) look at you funny. Obviously, these reactions trace back to the previous season, when NU was 5-6 and OU spent quite a bit at the very top of the polls.
But, I ask you this. In an era when it seems like every team sort of starts fresh each year, we have seen radical improvements (OU 2000, ND last year, etc) and colossal disappointments (Tennessee didn't qualify for a bowl last year!). So, why shouldn't NU be able to throw their hat in the ring right next to OU's? We have momentum, a returning quarterback, a stout defense and a potentially improved running game. I'm just saying...OU being thought of that way may speak well for NU.
Boy I hope those two teams meet up in KC in December to see who is better.
Did you enjoy this article?
Get Husker news by email
Follow us on Twitter
Related Stories: Big XII
Post a comment
AuditCat Jun 15 06
We LOVE that Nubsker disdain.
We LOVE that we won in Lincoln 38-9, in front of 5,000 KSU fans and 200 Nubsker fans (at the mid-4th Quarter to the end of the game).
We LOVE that Josh Freeman 'dissed'(Josh has disdain? nah...) Nebraska for little ol' K-State.
We HATE that Nebraska showed their 'class' by firing Frank Solich after a 9-3 season and a loss to K-State.
We LOVE that Nubskers are so confident of their future success versus K-State, after a last minute field goal win over K-State in Lincoln.
We respect the great traditions of Nebraska football.
We respect the, what now appears to be minority, classy fans of Nebraska (appeared to be about 200 in 2003, see above).
We hate that Nebraska got whupped by Jayhawks.
Good luck Big Red.
See (a few of) you in Manhattan.
Meni Jun 15 06
Why OU being considered number 1, and not NU? Sure we were 8-4 last year, just like you. We played the toughest schedule in football.
We improved all year, and our bowl game beat BCS #5 Oregon.
Darren Jun 15 06
Meni,
Nice point about Oregon's end-of-year ranking. Hadn't considered that. I agree about your schedule, too. Tough stuff.
As additional counter points I'd point out that NU did play OU and TTech right up to the hilt. Especially with that Tech game being litterally in our hands. So, I'd say we're right there with you. Or, at least closer to getting over the hump.
Also, I don't want it to be mis-understood. I'm not arguing that OU shouldn't be considered, or that NU should be considered instead of OU. I'm just saying we have reason to be optimistic because OU is being considered. I think of OU a serious rival and a measureing stick for NU's success. Not like KSU...who does not warrant that from Big Red. More on that topic later.
darren Jun 15 06
Oh AuditCat,
Do you know how many times I've browsed KSU fan sites and seen that same tired argument posted over and over and over? The fact that one of you purple folks busted it out just because I said I had "distain" for KSU must mean I got a little close to the heart. Whoops. ;-)
Here, as always are the same counter-points for every time these topics come up.
- Series record - 72-15-2. Learn it. Love it.
- Am I speaking of the past too much? Nope, we beat you last year. And, how did your bowl game work out? Not so much...
- The Solich firing was a lot more than just 9-3. That's pretty well documented in a lot of places. Callahan is entering season 3. Let's agree to move on. I know we have
- Glad you respect our great traditions. The 5 NC trophies and the consecutive sellouts are nice. More of both to come, I hope.
- NU fans have over-run your erector set stadium so many times I've lost count. You really want to talk fan following with NU? Come on...I can bust out my photo album from road games where stadiums (including your folding chair section) and local bars were loaded with RED. Rent a clue.
- Yes, KU beat us last year. How that relates to KSU, I'm not sure. All amazing runs must eventually end. You can check the series record with them too, if you like. Or you can just refer to all of the supposedly "lesser" programs that KSU wasn't able to get by recently. Glass houses being what they are.
darren Jun 15 06
KSU fans,
I notice many of you love to throw the "classiest fans in America" line in NU fans' faces sometimes. Just to be clear, I've never initiated anything with another fan. I've reacted to some stuff, sure. And NU fans applaud our opponents, and we never boo. I dare you to show me any other place where that is true.
So, why my "distain" for KSU? It has nothing to do with on the field stuff. KSU hasn't earned that like a team like Miami has.
In 1998, a drunken KSU fan urinated on the woman who is now my wife. You read that right, he peed on her. On your fabulous grassy knoll, he was being a jackass to Husker fans, and she asked/told him to knock it off. So, he pissed on her and her friends. Another female friend of mine had loose change thrown at her that day, and it cut her face. So, pardon me for laughing out loud anytime a KSU fan tries to use "class" as an argument with NU fans.
Oh, and you aren't our rivals either, even geographically. OU is our conference rival. OU is like the brother you have growing up who you always play against and want to beat. And, on those days you don't win, you still respect him and even cheer for him.
KSU is more like that annoying younger cousin who always wants to play. So, you let him. And, even though you beat him dozens, even hundreds, of times, he manages to win a couple. And then at every single holiday, he has to bring up those same couple of wins. And, you are just sick of hearing about it from your little Purple cousin.
Rivalries are built on pretty even results and respect for the opponent. We aren't rivals.
Jerry Jun 15 06
AuditCat,
Right on, brother! One more point I would like to add to your comments.
We LOVE that Bill Snyder's last home game was not a sell-out. So what if he was the architect of the greatest turnaround in college football history? That's all in the past! He's GONE! Who CARES?
Slacker Jun 15 06
Hmm. Never initiated anything with another fan? How do you explain the 900 or so cheap shots at KSU in this article then, you moron?
Look, if you want to consider yourself better than us, go right ahead. You're not. You're even with us and it drives you insane.
darren Jun 15 06
Slacker,
In the initial article I was giving KSU credit for scheduling with guts - Louisville, UCLA and "the U". Hefty stuff. Sure, I was being a little chippy, saying I wanted KSU to get embarrassed. That's my opinion. Sorry. But, I don't think that amounts to cheap shots.
I didn't really start swinging until AuditCat brought out that same tired stuff. That's his deal. So, I rolled with it.
And, we are better than you. We are not even. It's not perception. It's math. National titles - 5 to 0. Series record - 72-15-2. Heisman trophies - 3 to 0. Games won, conference titles, consecutive sellouts, bowl games, All-Americans, Academic All-Americans, the list goes on and on. What part of that sounds even to you?
YetAnotherCat Jun 16 06
Darren, a thought:
I have never heard a Cat fan claim that Historically we are on equal standing with Nebraska. We all know how good Nebraska *used* to be. We all know about Coach D's national championships, Dr. Tom's early struggles (if you could call them that) and then his much more recent successes in the mid-90's, but the fact is, as Jerry said about former HCBS, he's gone. It's HISTORY.
The fact is, 2005 KSU lost by 2 points at Lincoln, even in a very down year. Before that, we won 4 of the last 5 meetings with Nebraska and 5 of 7. We have won a division and conference championship more recently than Nebraska. All that, plus the fact that we've outscored you 178 to 101 over the last 5 years, tends to say that our programs are on pretty equal footing *right now*, if not leaning slightly in our direction.
Just something to think about when you say that KSU is not as good as Nebraska. Right now, I would say that we are. You're right about history, but we don't live in history, we live right now, and anyone that focuses completely on history will miss out on same great games and some great seasons to come.
Again, just some things to consider.
YetAnotherCat Jun 16 06
Meant to also say that, up till the "Nebraska Spin" section, the portion on KSU was well written and an enjoyable read. But just like when Darren tries to *prove* Nebraska is currently superior to KSU, that "NS" section is nothing but spin, trying to change or alter or introduce irrelevant facts into a story to make it fit one's viewpoint, regardless of how invalid that viewpoint may be.
darren Jun 16 06
YetAnotherCat,
Uh, I think Jerry was being sarcastic. ;-) I doubt you love that your beloved coaches last game wasn't a sellout.
And, you say you don't live in history. But, all of your points are about...recent history. That's history too.
How about this - I believe we are better than you - then, now and always. You disagree. Fine.
I think we'd agree that the only measure of the PRESENT time will be this fall in Manhattan. See you there. I'll be one of the thousands wearing red.
darren Jun 16 06
YetAnotherCat,
Glad you thought the front part of the article was good. Thanks. We just want to put out good content for folks.
About the Nebraska Spin section - right. That's why I called it SPIN. The whole point is for it to be one person's fairly biased "take" on the events in question. It's not like I called "the real facts" or something. No false advertising here.
Not sure what you were expecting. This is a Husker blog site, after all.
Jerry Jun 16 06
Darren,
You're wrong. I've been a KSU football fan since...well, since they started winning! And, you know what? I'll remain a die-hard Cat fan until I take my last breath, or until they start losing. Whichever comes first. Who knows? If the Huskers return the college football elite, I just may be the guy in red sitting next to you at the Big 12 championship game!