college picks Jul 23 07

The Cyclones were bad last year but were even worse then the 4-8 record they put up. All 4 wins were by a possesion or less indicating the breaks went their way. A team only returning 11 starters that was outgained by over 100 yards per game normally means a dreaful bunch the next season out. Nebraska wins this game by 28.

Matt Jul 23 07

And how have the Huskers stepped up so much? The game wasn't won until the end against the Cyclones last year with a few Horrible calls. And somehow this year they are back to National Champs. Get Realistic!!! See you in September Fuskers!!!

Mase Jul 23 07

Matt, did you um...watch the game? I don't remember ISU ever leading in the game, so I can't say it was really a nailbiter. I'm looking for the huskers to hang 60 on the 'clones and I will be in Lincoln for this one!!! It's going to be my first game in Lincoln in awhile...so, I'll have one hotdog, one Runza, and one Amigo's taco please - lovin' life in BIG RED COUNTRY!!!

Matt Jul 23 07

Put down your Red glasses. I think both teams are getting better, but arrogant articles like this claiming that ISU will lose 8 in conference and comments that you will hang 60 on us make me glad to live in Iowa. And 12 wins is just as unrealistic. Personally I think that the game will be fairly close and that NU may have more horses this year, but will go down in the future once Chizik gets his stable full of his players. But NU fans are stuck 20 years ago thinking that they dominate the Big XII. Missouri will probably get there chance this year.

Trev Jul 23 07

Steve,

Equating us to Ball State? Kind of a low blow. Calling one of our best players a cheater? A real low blow. For a team that is your opinion far superior to Iowa State, I really don't see a need for the cheap shots. Just more a reason not to like Nebraska or their fans. I haven't found a reasonable one yet.

PJ Jul 23 07

If Blythe is a push-off artist, what does that make Purify?

Trev Jul 23 07

Steve,

The cheap shots keep coming. Also, I'm sure you watch hours upon hours of Iowa State film so you have a very good handle of Todd Blythe's playing style. Or you go off of second-hand information. One of the two. Lol at fans making "scouting reports." You Nebraska fans are too funny. Sure Todd Blythe is a push off artist, and Nebraska's O-Line is guilty of holding every play. How does Todd Blythe get away with pushing off so much? Does he just get that much respect from officials? Doubtful.

And you Nebraska fans like statistics and trends. Well here's one for ya. 2003 we went winless in the Big 12. The next year we were supposed to follow that up with another winless year. What happened in 2004? We tied for the Big 12 North title including beating you guys, and we won the Independence Bowl. Not an awesome season, but much much better than most predicted. So I guess you can never really know by basing your opinions off of last season. That's all you have right now in July, but this is a whole new year and hopefully a whole new team and attitude for ISU. I encourage you guys to keep writing us off. We love it over here in Ames.

Mase Jul 23 07

Matt and Trev,
I'll wear red glasses till the day I die. If you can't be confident in your team, what do you have (ISU?). Sorry buddy, but I lived in Iowa for 16 years and got a degree from ISU, and ISU fans really can't say a whole lot. The last time I was in Ames when ISU beat NU in '04, all I heard was complaining all around me by ISU fans and how bad their team/coach was...while they were beating Nebraska! I'm like, savor the flavor because hopefully it won't happen again for awhile. Goes with that saying, "Win like you've been there before"...but I guess they just haven't enough. Although I have to say that they were better about winning than losing when they'd cuss us out and throw stuff at us after the games...not saying thats you guys, but def made it impossible to convert while I was there. Big Red forever!!

PJ - That makes Mo a touchdown artist!

Cyclone Brian Jul 23 07

Man, everytime I try to convince myself that 99% of Husker fans are the sad results of Indian/Buffalo inbreeding many years ago, I read an article like this. Is there nothin better to in Huskerville so as to keep you from daydreaming about BCS championship games or how bad all your opponents are going to be? If you have to sell a product by downgrading all the competitor products, that means you can't sell your product on its merit alone. Calling Blythe a pushoff artist because of one play that could have been called either way when you remove your husker glasses(or cyclone glasses for that matter), is a joke. At least he is still playing for us unlike Husker man No Purity, I mean Mo Purify for you kNU grads. It's a good thing you didn't try and slam Meyer or I'd have to bring up your great QB that embelishes his ego by beating up elderly ladies after stealing their parking spot. I could go on and on but I am sure it would go in one ear and out the other, and without a whole lot of resistant either for that matter.

Matt Jul 23 07

Wherever you got that ISU fans are not confident is beyond me? Knock us all you want, and we will come back for more. Most Husker fans are all talk when the going is good and most are also not Alumni, season ticket holders or donors that run there mouth the most. In fact the loudest Huskers I know barely have even visited Nebraska but a few times in Lincoln. Keep talking though because there is a STORM COMING!!! And it is the REAL BIG RED!!!! (CARDINAL RED AND GOLD BABY!!!)

Katie Jul 23 07

"2003 we went winless in the Big 12. The next year we were supposed to follow that up with another winless year. What happened in 2004? We tied for the Big 12 North title including beating you guys, and we won the Independence Bowl. Not an awesome season, but much much better than most predicted."

Just like a typical ISU fan, basing success on inconsistency. I don't think you get winning and won't for a while. We measure success at a different level. To get respect you have to earn respect - and wearing stupid smack talk T-shirts to a regular season conference game, DOES NOT COUNT :)(I remember the whole student section wearing them, what they said escapes my mind)

String a couple good seasons together and we will talk about ISU football, until then keep practicing.

Matt Jul 23 07

Hardly Katie, but whatever floats your boat. Huskers base success off History. Not to mention the ton of bandwagon fans. Somehow a person who jumps on board and talks history thinks they are big. The only consistency that I will agree with you on is the fact that true fans whether Fuskers or Clones are the ones that are with the program year after year, DONATE to the program and follow conistently. Talk this practice crap all you want, but you are probably a 300 lbs. lady who hasn't got off your couch for more than a twinkie during a game.

Cyclone Brian Jul 23 07

"Just like a typical ISU fan, basing success on inconsistency. I don't think you get winning and won't for a while. We measure success at a different level. To get respect you have to earn respect - and wearing stupid smack talk T-shirts to a regular season conference game, DOES NOT COUNT"

Just like a typical kNU fan thinking their hot sh*t on a gold platter when all they are is a bunch of cold terds on a paper plate. We have to wear smack talk shirts because the typical arrogant kNU fan don't ever shut up long enough for us to respond.

Trev Jul 23 07

Katie,

You obviously missed the point. I wasn't touting the success of Iowa State. I was just saying that it's hard to guage what a team will do in a given year if you use last year's results. Had you read that I didn't consider it to be an "awesome" year in 2004, you might have figured that much out.

As far as earning respect goes, this Nebraska regime hasn't earned respect from me. Tom Osborne's teams had my respect. They were very good and kicked our butts 9 out of 10 times. Callahan's teams aren't even close to that level yet, yet Nebraska fans want that kind of respect from us. Ridiculous. How about you take a little of your own advice. Let this regime win a little more consitantly and you might get the respect you think you deserve. Speaking of consistancy, you guys were consitantly mediocre at best from 2002 through 2005, which, in turn, does not make me feel as if you're deserving of the respect you think you should have. You're trying to ride a high horse but it doesn't quite work.

scott Jul 23 07

Last time I checked this was a Husker site, so what other than "red glasses" would you expect here? You ISU fans are a special bunch. There is no disputing the fact that on any given day any team COULD pull of the upset. All this article (and every other Big 12 analysis) says is that ISU is in a down year. As for the Todd Blythe comment, I'll just say the guy has frightening talent, push-offs or not. And for the offensive line holding, every line at every level of football could probably be called for holding on nearly every play. Now for Cyclone Brian, why shouldn't Husker fans dream about a championship? If we're saying that, in theory, ISU could put up a decent record with mostly mediocre talent, why is it unrealistic to think that, in theory, if a more talented Nebraska team goes 12-2 with a Big 12 title they have a BCS title shot (a shot, not saying it's likely)? We expect big things from our team, if you don't have national title aspirations (or at least the expectation to win), why play? To all ISU fans (and any other non-Husker fan posting on this site) either stop whining when we voice our opinions, or wait until you field a better team and start to own us like we have traditionally owned you.

Andrew Jul 23 07

I did not know that ISU had fans?

Matt Jul 23 07

Judging from that remark Andrew, that probably isn't even the beginning of what you don't know.

Mase Jul 23 07

Matt and Co.,
Since you know me so well, I guess you also know that I was born in Lincoln and lived in Nebraska for 8 years, have most of my family there and worked on my family farm there countless summers (with my uncle who happens to be an ex-husker FB player). So you can call me bandwagon all you want, but I put up with a dump truck full of $#&% at ISU since they actually won a few against NU while I was there. And I took it while I wore the real RED! I base my ISU knowledge on the fact that I lived and went to school there (saw countless fans leave in the first half of lopsided games - throw stuff at and boo their own band)...and I have also been to countless Nebraska games with family and friends and bowl games from Florida to Texas to California watching my huskers win or lose (or lose badly). So I will be in Lincoln meeting up with my Iowa and Nebraska friends and family to hang out and watch (with some ISU fans too), and I will hope the huskers hang 60 on my alma mater regardless, cuz I hope they hang 60 on everyone, even USC. I know its not realistic or perhaps even reasonable, but I want my team to play awesome every time. So call me a bandwagon fan all you want, but I've been wearing husker red since I was in the crib. I'm so tired of you ISU fans always wanting a medal for rooting for your team (for one quarter) even though they've sucked most of your life. Sorry...but I'm also tired of the whining! Now, if you want to call Notre Dame fans bandwagon, be my quest, but bandwagon fans don't have record selling sell-out streaks going...

Cyclone Brian Jul 23 07

Scott,

I have no problem with dreaming about BCS championships. What I have a problem with are the majority of Husker fans I have come in contact with who try to downgrade other teams to make their team sound so much better. Last year was the worst I have ever seen. Maybe it was predicted preseason that ISU and NU would be fighting it out for the B12 North(until we laid an egg the size of the astrodome), but I have never had so many huskers tell me how bad ISU sucks other then tell me about the merits of the husker team that makes them good. I'll root for NU when we are not playing for them, but if I have to deal with meatheads who think their God's gift to football, I won't for very long. You guys starting to act like the black and gold red headed stepsisters in Eastern Iowa futurly known as EIUCC.

Katie Jul 23 07

"fans whether Fuskers or Clones are the ones that are with the program year after year, DONATE to the program and follow conistently. Talk this practice crap all you want, but you are probably a 300 lbs. lady who hasn't got off your couch for more than a twinkie during a game"

I think you underestimate the Husker Nation. We actually have a fan base that includes women. I bet the women in our fan base are probably more knowledgeable about football then a large % of your total fan base. I have only cheered for one team my whole life and I even graduated from UNL **GASP**.. I donate regularly in the form of student loan payments. Imagine that I think I fall into all your criteria for being a Husker Fan, thanks for clarifying it for me!

I probably was a bit harsh in my comments, but it really gets me fired up when other programs want to only talk about the last 5 years and only the last 5 years.

Let's focus on 2004 and on I guess that seems to be the year that Iowa State wants to start counting... Works for me!

See you in Lincoln in 2007 -- I am sure you will be able to spot me eating twinkies at my tailgate ** Smile**

Take Care Clone Fans -- I enjoy the off season banter!

Staci Jul 23 07

Matt,

Let's just assume that the only women who know a thing or two about football are overweight and only watch the games because they are too lazy to get up off the couch. Well, that may be the case over there in Ames - but you will find a different story over here in Husker Nation.

Have a good season - come join us when it's over!

Andrew Jul 23 07

What I don't know is why anyone would want to cheer for ISU.

Matt Jul 23 07

I just know I've been in Nebraska and the hot chicks were visitors

Andrew Jul 23 07

Matt,

Just because they are not from Lincoln does not make them visitors, it is a big state you know.

Katie Jul 23 07

Good Point Jason --

Go Big Red!

No matter how you argue it, the huskers look better then the clones this year.

It will take Gene a while to get things on track, lord knows we understand transitions.

I think it is silly for Nebraska and Iowa fans to ever argue about geography and hot chicks... USC can bring that - Iowa State well ummm..

Take care football fans!

Andrew Jul 23 07

Yes, third grade was fun but we are all well past that time. The fact is ISU has no offensive line and a middle of the pack defense at best. They have been playing us tough of late, like most other Big 12 North teams, but that does not erase the fact that they a pretty talent less team (except for 2 players). Good luck to them next season, I just don't know if the new coach is cut out for the job.

Eric Lambi Jul 23 07

I'd like to make some wagers with the writer of this article or anyone who believes this drivel. If you think it is "likely, if not probable" that the cyclones lose all of their Big XII games, you must believe the odds are roughly 50-50 that this will happen. I am willing to bet any amount of money you want that this will not happen (some reasonable cap will have to apply, but I don't think people in Nebraska have much money anyway, so I doubt it will be a problem).

Andrew Jul 23 07

Eric,

Do they play Baylor this year or something?

Andrew C Jul 23 07

ok you big red fans need to get a life..the big red going 12-2 is more unrealistic then ISU going 0-8 in big 12. You will never be as good as you once were.

Gregory Morrow Jul 23 07

I knew this was going to be a top blog site!
Cudos again, to the BRN staff!

As far as respecting opponents, I'm more of a respecting individual players, guy. Take Brett Meyer, for instance. I've always got high regard for a player who has been the guy of his team- for what, his whole career? One of the reasons why college football is my favorite sport at any level.

As far as Iowa St. in particular, I only comment after seeing the Lithium deprived posts of these Cyclone fans.
You're great! Don't be a stranger come the week of.... Apart from that, I'd have skipped this one.

I do want to mention that I think the firing of Dan McCarney was a mistake. If there isn't a Cyclones Hall of Fame, McCarney should be it's charter member- and don't wait until he dies.
Other than that, I don't have an opinion on the Cyclones, because this year anyway, they're irrelevant and aren't entitled to my opinion.

ze robertinho Jul 23 07

This is the game that NE's Extreme Blowout Dysfunction goes into remission:

NE-63

ISU-3

ze robertinho Jul 23 07

Has the long awaited real time blogging arrived?

I think it has ~ Good job!

McCartney was not a big time guy, but then ISU is not a big time school--for CFB. Can't get the playas, doesn't matter of GOD was coaching for you.

Anyway, I think the TX guy Chizyzzzzizisick will be a vast improvement for the 'Psychs'.

Up yer meds, dudes!

ze robertinho Jul 23 07

The thing that's sad for the Psychs is that they had a golden opportunity while BR was in early transition mode to actually win the Big XII north, but did they?

What was it, wide left or wide right vs MO that year......hmmmmmmm?

ze Jul 23 07

Andrew C,

"....the big red going 12-2 is more unrealistic then ISU going 0-8 in big 12...."

Actually, both are not out of the realm of reality. Isu could pull a 'Colorado', maybe worse: 0-12

Ze Jul 23 07

ISU put the 'Ame(s)' in 'lAme(s)'!

....it's what I'm ze-in....

brad Jul 23 07

Good lord! What a shocking article! For instance, who knew that fans of a team that is 2-7 all time in bowl games were going to be so defensive?! And more shocking still, who even knew there were this many cyclone fans in existence?!?!

Wes Jul 23 07

Us, there are more Clone fans than you think. I happen to live in Omaha and watch to see if the huskers can get back top where they were in the nineties. It will be hard though due to texas and oklahoma.

zE Jul 23 07

'....a team that is 2-7 all time in bowl games....'

I remember that stat. Big Red has probably played in double the # of NC games than total # of Clone bowl games. I'll have to look it up.

And it goes w/o saying that we've one nearly as many NCs as total # of Clone bowls(but I'll say it anyway).

doombob Jul 24 07

Man, oh man there are a ton of comments on this page. I just didn't want to be left out. Here it is: Nebraska won't lose to Iowa State at home this year. Iowa State will have a tough time winning more than 3-4 games this year. When I wrote the E.B.D. comment, I was thinking of Nevada, Ball State, and Iowa State this year. Our 2nd stringers are going to get some playing time in those games this year. That would be the only reason we don't see blowouts of epic proportions. That is all.

Scott Jul 25 07

You notice the ISU fans don't like the opinions but they keep coming back for more. Don't they have a YRN(yellow/red network) or something?

I guess you have to have knowledgeable fans to start something like that.

You know it's going to be an exciting year in Ames when they're talking about anywhere from 1 win to 3 or 4 wins.

OU7times Jul 25 07

Jason, I'll always look at you as the "VOICE of REASON". Thanks BRN, I LOVE this website!

ze robertinho Jul 25 07

p.s. to Doombob.

I live in MA and post on the Red Sox site. As of today, a thread on Tim Wakefield has reached nearly 10,000 posts(that's not a misprint)! 49,000 views!

That's exceptionally high, but threads there regularly get up past 400.

Fan generated threads, by and large.