Big Red Network Excerpts

Husker Resolutions for 2009

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:59:11 -0600

2008 was quite the year for Husker faithful as Bo Pelini and company made great strides for a first year coach. We here at BRN think that Pelini's honeymoon period has been given an extension. Fans, donors, and higher-ups at the University probably think the same thing, too. As we begin the New Year celebrating an intense bowl win, the Nebraska Cornhuskers need to have a few resolutions in mind to keep up that momentum and extend the grace period into 2010. Before another season starts again, we will probably get this stuff thrown at us all the time.

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Blow Up The BCS

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:50:51 -0600

On Thursday, Oklahoma and Florida will play for the coveted and hotly debated BCS National Championship. Somebody will win and be crowned. It will be a moment for fans and media to enjoy. And yet, because of undefeated Utah, (and very talented one loss teams from USC and Texas), a debate will likely rage on. The 2009 season could end up in a split national title, with somebody else taking home a symbolic (if not real) Associated Press title, as voted by AP members. Some clamor for a playoff system. But, there are flaws to that idea as well. So, I'm here to ask the question - why not just blow up the BCS and go back to the way it was? Many coaches - including Nebraska's Bo Pelini - are likely in favor of doing just that.

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The Difference Between 5-7 & 9-4 Part 1 - The Offense

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:05:35 -0600

While it's never exciting to come to the end of another college football season, I will admit to looking forward a bit to this period between the end of this season and the start of spring practice as it provides valuable time to try and put the 2008 season in context.

We all have our own ideas, culled from hours of watching, listening and reading throughout the fall, regarding what made the 08 Pelini Huskers different from Callahan's 07 squad, but what does the data show? Where were the Huskers better, where were they worse and how, ultimately, did that translate to the won-loss columns?

We'll split this into a series of three posts highlighting the offense, defense and special teams. First up, "The Spread Coast Offense."

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In Other Bowl Action

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:21:56 -0600

The Gator Bowl was obviously the high point of this bowl season for most Husker fans, but there have been a number of games since that night that were no doubt of at least moderate interest. The Orange Bowl featured 2008 and 2009 nonconference opponent Virginia Tech against Big East champion Cincinnati, the Cotton Bowl featured Texas Tech against a Mississippi team led by former Texas quarterback Jevan Snead, the Sugar Bowl featured BRN’s own blogpoll darling Utah, and the International Bowl featured Buffalo against Big East also-ran Connecticut. Texas plays Ohio State tonight in the Fiesta Bowl where they could conceivably earn a share of the national title.

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Honeymoon Extended

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:27:49 -0600

New coaching hires generally enjoy a honeymoon when they take over a program, particularly ones where the predecessors were fired for underperformance. Such was the case with Bo Pelini. While bad losses to Missouri and Oklahoma could have ended the honeymoon for Pelini, they didn’t. Still, losses to Colorado and in a bowl game might well have. Nebraskans don’t have much of a stomach for losing. More than three decades under Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne can have that effect on you.

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Huskers Come Up Big in Second Half

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:06:28 -0600

This week the Big Red Network's Brandon Vogel listed five reasons the Huskers would win and BRN's Darren Carlson outlined his nightmare that could cost the Huskers victory. In many ways, they were both right. The Huskers played strong defensively for most of the day, yielding only 210 total yards and 14 first downs. But mistakes by the Husker offense and special teams nearly cost them the game as they gave up 21 points off of three turnovers.

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Live Coverage of the 2009 Gator Bowl - Nebraska vs Clemson

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 08:43:32 -0600

Join us for a Gator Bowl edition of our interactive live chat. Festivities will kick off at 11:45 AM CDT.

Here are some helpful links to enhance your game day experience:
» Live Audio | Live Stats | Bowl Game Scores

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My Clemson Nightmare: Why Nebraska Could Lose

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 04:39:21 -0600

I'm not posting this because I want the Husker's to lose. It's just the opposite. I almost want it too much. Winning the Gator bowl and getting to nine wins would be a fantastic way to cap the season and set NU up with real momentum for 2009. I'm writing this because deep in my gut I have a fear that the Huskers could very easily lose this ball game...maybe even get gutted by Clemson. This is the kind of thing that keeps me up at night, I guess. That, and too much coffee. I suppose you want some rational reason why the Huskers could get run on January 1. So, I'll offer them.

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Oklahoma State, Oregon Light Up the Scoreboard

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:52:07 -0600

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, Oklahoma State @ Oregon, San Diego Qualcomm Stadium, Dec. 30, 8 p.m. Eastern, ESPN

The name of this game will be offense. Oklahoma State gains 489 yards/game and 41 points/game. Oregon gains 478 yards/game and 41 points/game. Of that yardage, the Cowboys rush 256 and the Ducks rush 277. After Missouri's close game last night, I'm hoping to hear analysts shut up about how the Big 12 may not be that good offensively, but it could be that our defenses are bad. One of these teams will have to stop their opponent at least two times in order to win this game. OK State has the defense to quiet those commentators and win this game.

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Five Reasons Nebraska Will Win the Gator Bowl

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:56:27 -0600

Las Vegas didn't find much to separate Clemson and Nebraska in this year's Gator Bowl, installing the Tigers as a slight 1.5-point favorite when the line opened. You had two teams with ugly mid-season losing streaks and strong finishes against the easiest parts of their conference schedules. You had a stingy defense facing a high-powered offense. You had two coaches whose name's rhymed (can't be overstated or overlooked). Add it all together and, even from the national pundits, you got a giant collective shrug of the shoulders.

But there are some very good reasons Nebraska will win the Gator Bowl. Here are five of them.

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Missouri v. Northwestern: Expectations Gone Awry

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:43:53 -0600

Valero Alamo Bowl, Missouri @ Northwestern, San Antonio Alamodome, Dec. 29, 8 p.m. Eastern, ESPN

2008 was supposed to be Missouri's year. Fans, players, coaches all thought that the Tigers were going to be in the hunt for a National Championship very late into the game. Their hopes for a title game shot were pretty much dashed after their second loss in as many weeks to Texas. Northwestern was pretty much the exact opposite. They were not expected to make any kind of impact, but being ranked in the top 25 and in a bowl game was beyond their hopes at the beginning of the season.

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Florida Atlantic No Longer a Laugher

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:49:41 -0600

The Huskers are likely to get some grief for scheduling three teams from the Sun Belt conference in 2009. And while these teams may not get respect nationally, they can’t all be taken lightly. In particular, the Owls showed some fight in earning a bowl berth and winning the game. Those who took Tom’s advice and checked out the Motor City Bowl saw them dispatch with the de facto home team in Central Michigan behind junior quarterback Rusty Smith.

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Non-Big 12 Bowl Games Huskers Should Watch

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:39:42 -0600

This year, the bowl season brings opportunities for both our 2008 and 2009 non conference strength of schedule to increase. Two 2008 opponents and three 2009 opponents are in bowl games this year. Here's a little preview of those teams' games.

Florida Atlantic (6-6) @ Central Michigan (8-4) » Motor City Bowl, Dec. 26, 8 p.m., ESPN » The Florida Atlantic Owls are on tap for the Huskers in 2009. This could be a tough game for them as the Chippewas average 427 yards/game, enough to make them 24th in the NCAA. FAU has the nation's second best tackler to match up against this high powered offense. Unfortunately both teams are allowing around 30 points/game, so there may not be much stopping anyone.

Central Michigan looks like they have the advantage on paper with a 15-11 vs 19-28 turnover margin, and a much better special teams set. But Owls coach Howard Schnellenberger may be remembered by Husker fans as the man who coached Miami to a 1983 Orange Bowl win over the Huskers and a National Championship. I still give the edge to the team that was able to hang within a touchdown against Ball State, Chippewas, 38-28.

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Happy Holidays from Big Red Network

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:45:35 -0600

The BRN team would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.

We thought about doing one of those cheesy commercials that you see on TV where the cast of a sitcom or local news team is sitting on a couch wearing Santa hats and in unison says, "Happy Holidays!"

But, we thought this video of Christmas lights set to Hail Varsity was a better way to share the true message of the season.

Merry Bowl Season everyone!

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The Coaching Carousel Stops: What Have We Learned?

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 04:26:23 -0600

The annual coaching carousel ride appears to have come to a stop for this year, at least in the Big 12. So, it is time to ask what we might have learned from this year's round of apple cart tipping. Quite a bit, I think. Well, we know that Turner Gill isn't in the Big 12 (yet), Iowa State looked to a local talent, KSU looked to their past and Mike Leach isn't afraid to at least look around. Here's a team-by-team rundown of what this year's coach departures and arrivals may have told us in the conference.

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