Hold That Line. Please!
6 comments so far
October 29, 2008 by
At the time, it wasn't much of a play to remember. Just one holding penalty at the tail end of the third quarter during a 35-0 blowout of New Mexico State. Nebraska didn't even take the penalty because it didn't help them, they recorded a 7-yard sack on the play and took the loss of a down over those extra three yards.
But now, five games later, that play is notable for at least one reason: It was the last holding penalty to be called on a Husker opponent in the season to date.
Since then Nebraska's played 21 entire quarters and defended against over 285 offensive plays without being the beneficiary of a free 10 yards courtesy of football's most mundane penalty. Isn't this supposed to be the penalty an official could call on every play? Not against Nebraska, apparently.
If you're looking for support for the "Pelini's hurting his squad with this constant hemming and hawing" theory, this might be your supporting evidence. I'm not big on conspiracies but if you are this is your magic bullet. Just by the sheer odds against a five-game drought, you'd think Nebraska would've gotten at least one holding call to go their way since they started conference play.
But no, nada, nothing. I'm not naive or bold enough to think that officials, aware of Pelini's tendency to "converse" coming in to the game or perhaps even a previous victim of one of his "conversations", would set out to keep their flags in their pockets out of spite but they are human beings and, at this early juncture in his career, the Pelini reputation probably doesn't help.
Look at it this way, say you're on your way to Target to buy some more JerseyNaps and you get cut off by some jerk in a white Cadillac. You might honk your horn, maybe you give him the bird but you're probably not going to take down the guy's plate number (it read 'BMRSNR' for the record) and make a point out of tracking him down and cutting him back off.
However, when you both reach the Target parking lot at exactly the same time--as is inevitably the case with one good law abiding driver like yourself and another maniac who switches lanes 15 times in a mile and ends up stuck behind the trash collectors as you cruise by--and all the spots are taken except for one and you and your new nemesis both see it at the same time but you have a slight inside track are you going to give up that spot to the guy who just cut you off? No.
This is karma, the circle of the life of a jerk. You didn't set out to get your revenge, a judgment call simply presented itself and you reacted as normal human beings react: "Screw that guy, that's what he gets."
Is this the reason why Nebraska hasn't been the beneficiary of a single holding call since September? Probably not but it's something to think about.
Nice guys finish last but they also probably get the occasional holding penalty to go their way. As Pelini continues to grow as a coach I think he'll find a happy medium between pacifist and tyrant but until then one of my goals for this week's Oklahoma game is the same goal I had for Iowa State and Baylor: I just want a holding call.
And a win. A holding call that cements a Nebraska win.
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tom Oct 29 08
I hope you get your wish. Because what kind of mascot is a Sooner? That's right, a cheater.
darren Oct 29 08
Excellent research, Brandon. Thanks for airing some dirty laundry. (har). Oh wow, that’s bad, even for me.
Seriously, I have two thoughts. First officials are humans, and subject to opinions, bias, emotions – whether they be conscious our sub-conscious. I just hope they are in the right “mood� to start helping NU with a few holding calls.
Next…it is incumbent on our defense to start forcing the issue when it comes to holding calls. When you are the aggressive attacker, running past linemen and tight ends, it puts them in a situation where they almost have to hold you. And, its so egregious that the refs have to call it. So, maybe that is one hidden measure of how effective a defensive front is…how many holding penalties do they generate? In the case of NU, we might still have a long way to go.
OU7timesCHEATERS Oct 29 08
HALARIOUS!
Brandon, I couldn't help but laugh my ass off thinking of how many times similar instances have happened to me.
I do think that the "mouth" does work against you and your reputation gets around the officiating circle. Especially if you are labled a 'whiner', you know, like a certain blogger we know. Anyway...
If this were last year, you could have all of the false start penalties you wanted, courtesies of Phil "THE LOAD" Loadholt. Not this year though, he seems to have it under control.
There should be no reason that NU won't get a holding penalty (or 6) from OU. This rivalry has not gotten the proper respect since the inception of the Big 12 Conference but should still inspire superhuman performances as in past games. I mean it's still Oklahoma/Nebraska, right?
As far as a Sooner being a cheater?? I'll bet you cannot name at least 36 instances where the Sooners have ever cheated. Heh, heh...
GBR!!
jon johnston Oct 29 08
Nice perspective!
We aren't getting the calls this year and you make a good point out of it.
Suh, OTOH, there's times the guy would have to be drug down by a couple guys to stop him.
tom Oct 31 08
OU7, I just think it's funny that your mascot was named after a group of people who broke the law in order to steal a nice plot of land. I'm pretty sure that Norman was probably founded on one of these "Sooner" grounds (I just made that up). The only reason I can make fun of mascots is because it takes one to know one.
OU7times Oct 31 08
Tom,
What is this "LAW" of which you speak?