Husker Up: Week 1, 2009
3 comments so far
September 4, 2009 by
It's the Friday before the opening game. You are having a hard time thinking about anything but Husker football. You are less productive at work because you chat about your Saturday plans with co-workers. Your spouse is a little upset because you seem distracted all the time. Or maybe you are putting off studying for a quiz you have coming up. Well, guess what, I'm here to make all of that worse. It's time to HUSKER UP for the first week of the season.
Notable Quotable
Lets start off with a meaningful quote from the head man himself. When asked about expectation at the Big Red Breakfast this morning, Pelini had this to say.
"I was hired to win football games, and I expect people to hold me to it. And if we don't play to a certain level, I expect to be criticized. If we don't play as good as fans want us to, trust me, I'm going to take it on my shoulders first."
This is incredibly refreshing to hear. In an age where coaches often ask for patience from their rabid fans, and must continually justify several million dollars worth of compensation, NU fans have a coach willing to embrace and shoulder those expectations. Basically he's saying... "Bring it on." How great is that?
On My Soap Box
Pardon me for a second while I get on my soap box...
The waiting this off season felt especially brutal. And it reminded me that there is a reason college football is so special - it's rare. And, in most any reasonable economy, things that are scarce have more value. That's football. More specifically, it's college football. We as fans only get 12 weeks of guaranteed action during the season. Sure, you might get a bowl game or a conference title game. But, compare that to the pros, where they play 16 for sure and many teams get playoff games. In baseball and basketball, there there are ton of games. Not so in football. It's rare. It's valuable.
Now you know it is rare, so act like it. I ask of you - expect of you - Husker fans, appreciate every single week. Get the absolute most out of each game. Cheer your butts off if you are in the stadium, rally the people around you watching the game. I'm extremely confident that Coach Pelini and his staff have made sure that the team know what a privilege each game is. To be the best fans in football, we must match (or exceed) that commitment and energy. What we get to see is special, and valuable. So cheer like crazy for each of every one of the 12 weeks we are given. If we get more, great. Cheer even harder for those. Demonstrate the value with your actions.
There, now I'm stepping down off of my soap box...
Worth 1000 Words, Minimum
It's a night game tomorrow. Is there much of anything better than Memorial stadium at night? Feast your eyes on this.
There it is. Right in front of you. Still just a little bit away, but oh, so ready. You can almost hear the tunnel walk music, the band, and the chants of "GO BIG RED". You can smell the Runzas and feel the anticipation. That's Husker football under the lights, folks.
The AV Club Presents...Tradition, of Course
Picking out the AV Club selection for this week was easy. We offer this classic and fantastic presentation of Husker football's tradition and power. It's proof that you don't need a hard rocking guitar to get pumped up. This makes me want to hit something, or at least go toss the ball around.
Cue the Band
You've heard from Coach. I've lectured you on value. Your mind is full of Husker images. What's left? Oh, just the fight song... When you hit play on the file below, get up and clap along. Or grab your co-workers, spouse, kids or somebody to clap along with you. Celebrate! Husker football has arrived!
Hit it...
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Greg Morrow Sep 04 09
"Get the absolute most out of each game."
Yeppers, Darren!
Whether or not love is in the eye of the beholder, the Corn are beholden to us and we're sure 'nuff beholden to them. I see some of that with Boise State. But, since the Oregon game was the supposed biggest home game in their history, they're about 94 years behind us, starting around the first Notre Dame game. Nice to see a program like that still in it's "embryonic" stage...
Defense will set the tone tomorrow, for the first time in half an adolescent's lifetime. Gap penetration from Suh and crew and confident physical safeties, exacting a toll in their lanes. Hopefully, nobody will ask an Owl about that silly big N burning, right after the game.
Nebraska practically fell outta bed and still finished 2nd statistically, in conference total D. This year, with improved team spead and much more competitive depth, could we finally see an opponent physically overwhelmed?
We'll still likely see a new QB need a few games, to hit stride.
Bill Kerr Sep 05 09
" It's rare. It's valuable."
That is one of the smartest things I have read in a while, Darren.
Dwayne Sep 05 09
That video is always worth watching before a game. The one that always takes me back is Rozier's run against UCLA, and I still have always felt that's been the best tandem NU has seen in the backfield ever. Tag that play with the call of the greatest play by play guy ever and there you have it. ...seat's taken.