Big Red Network

HUSKER UP: San Jose State

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:31:47 -0600

Tomorrow is another Husker game day. If that alone isn’t enough to get you fired up, I proudly present a few more reasons in this week’s HUSKER UP. From an SJSU snub to some finely painted grass and even a motivational chant, I’ve got your juice all bottled up and ready to serve.

Come Again?
This was shaping up to be a pretty mild week for me, at least in terms of interest and excitement for the game. San Jose State didn’t look all that good against UC-Davis, leading me to see this game as a bit of a “cupcake”. The game is a morning kick off and televised only on pay-per-view. Ho hum. No big deal, right?

That is, until I saw this article in the San Jose Mercury News.

Here are a couple of excerpts for you:

The Spartans certainly have a better chance to outplay Nebraska than Tennessee, which was put on the schedule by former SJSU athletic director Chuck Bell.

For several reasons, Tomey looked to Lincoln: It's not as far as Knoxville, not as humid as Knoxville and definitely not as hostile as Knoxville. (Passionate as they are, Cornhuskers fans are among the most polite in college football.)

I’m sorry, but this kind of makes me angry. I hope it bothers the Husker players, too. And, I’m willing to guess that it sort of pisses off coach Pelini. And yes, they all read this stuff.

Folks, you do not – do NOT – think of a game in Lincoln as a welcome respite from some other contest, even one in Tennessee. Yes, NU took some serious steps backward under Callahan. And, I don’t expect NU to be a world beater right away. But I’m sure as heck not going to sit here and be comfortable with some relative nobody like SJSU implying it may be relatively easy to play in Lincoln. Screw that.

Do me a favor. If you are going to this Saturday’s game, be extra loud. Don’t stop yelling until after the whistle blows. I’m not saying to be rude or obnoxious. But, it is time to remind people that Lincoln is no place for an easy game. It’s on our players and coaches to send that message, and on us to support them as loudly as possible.

Best. Landscaping. Ever.
Now it is time for something a little more fun. It appears that some fans really don’t need the help getting fired up. Check out this lawn.

That’s fantastic. And this is one of those great photos that takes on a life of its own on the Internet. I received the photo via e-mail six times yesterday. Okay, sure, it could be a doctored photo. (God bless Photoshop). But, if anyone can provide me with an accurate source, I’d love to interview whoever did this, and offer them the proper public salute.

AV Club Presents - Day by Day…
In reading and watching recaps of interviews with coaches, another good theme is emerging. All of them talk about making progress and getting better every week. They aren’t talking about titles and glory. They are talking about teaching and motivating and getting better. It harkens to what is best about Husker football (“In the deed, the glory.”) and smacks of the greatest Husker motivational chant I can remember.

I give you Grant Wistrom and the 1997 Huskers --

Play that 10 times in a row and tell me you don’t want to go tackle somebody…or at least do your job better.

Cue the Band
Happy Friday, everyone. Enjoy the game, and GO BIG RED.

Hit it --

Weather Forecast for San Jose State at Nebraska

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:45:57 -0600

Here is this week's game day weather forecast, including shout outs for some of your favorite small Nebraska towns.

Weather Forecast for Nebraska vs San Jose State

Tailgating at 8:30 AM CT in Lincoln, NE
Cloudy 54 degrees
Wind: SW 5 mph

Kickoff at 11:30 AM CT
Chance of rain, 66 degrees
Wind: SE 10mph

We're taking requests

What's your favorite small town in Nebraska? Tell us in the comments and maybe it will make next week's forecast!

The Weekly Buzz

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:33:37 -0600

Taking a new approach to the buzz again this week. You get the stories of the week plus my bonus coverage of the games to look out for this upcoming weekend!

First of all, Bo Pelini has a pretty big decision to make coming up since Andy Christensen was found not guilty of sexual assault. I don't envy the guy, and I can't even venture a guess as to what he should do. Let us know what you think over on Steve's article.

Cody Glenn, is receiving well-deserved praise for his linebacking efforts against WMU. The guy was a beast. No way around it, he played his heart out and obviously was having a great time doing it. This was the kind of stuff we were looking for last year and saw so little of it. It was refreshing.

Pelini is liking the Huskers' focus on San Jose State this week. After last week's “tirade” railing on the lack of attentiveness in practice, it's good to hear him pleased. Maybe he whipped them into gear for some of the second half play that seemed to be lagging against the Broncos.

Kansas vs. Louisiana Tech » Louisiana Tech Upset Mississippi State 22-14. Their defense forced 5 turnovers. I don't think their offense is enough to put up many points against the Jayhawks, but they could give them a scare if they hold it to a game into the second half.

West Virginia vs. East Carolina » WVU is a serious team. If they smash East Carolina, then we can tell if Virginia Tech was overrated. Virginia Tech's loss to East Carolina forced Beamer to re-evaluate his quarterback situation and burn Taylor's redshirt.

Cincinnati vs. Oklahoma » UC cracked the top #25 a few times last year. We'll see how well the Sooners fare against an opponent that they shouldn't theoretically be able to score 100 points on. Now how about 100 points scored total in this game? We'll be able to see if the Sooner defensive losses last year had any affect.

Texas Tech vs. Nevada » The line on this one only 10 points in favor of the Red Raiders? Does Vegas know something the rest of us don't?

Texans and Jucos to Visit for San Jose St. Game

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:06:41 -0600

Three recruits from the state of Texas are set to visit Lincoln when the Huskers face San Jose State on September 6 along with a trio of players from Fort Scott Community College in Kansas. Running back Dontrayevous Robinson is committed to NU and plays for Trinity high school in Euless, Texas. Robinson will be accompanied by teammate Siosaia Tuipulotu, a defensive tackle recruit that reportedly holds offers from at least five schools including Louisville and Nebraska. Three-star cornerback Andrew Green (per Rivals.com) from San Antonio will visit And for the first time since signing day, we see junior college players emerging as legitimate Husker recruiting targets.

Tuipolutu seems like another one of those under the radar tackle prospects that the Huskers continue to find. He’s built fairly low to the ground at 6’2” and weighs in at a stout 285 lbs. He played only one year of varsity competition and was named first team all-district. If you see this guy’s photo, he looks like he could play division I competition tomorrow. Robinson may get more attention when they come to town, but Tuipulotu is the guy they’ll want to reel in. Hopefully, seeing the campus with a committed friend will get him psyched to join as well.

Green reportedly has at least 9 offers including Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas. At 6'1", he should be better able to handle taller receivers than the sub 6' corners that seem much easier to find.

Brandon Kinnie who attends a junior college in Kansas has been offered by Nebraska and Arkansas and appears to lean to Nebraska. He's 6'3", 218 lbs. and has been clocked at 4.37 (though as always you take the 40 times with a grain of salt). Coming with him is five-star defensive end 6'6" and 280 lbs. Jason Pierre-Paul who has offers from Auburn, FSU, USF, Florida, and Virginia Tech (among others). Jacquain Williams is an outside linebacker who's 6'4" and 220 lbs. He's said to lean to South Florida.

So far it's the largest recruiting weekend in terms of scheduled official visits for the year. So that makes it something of a high-stakes contest (at least from a recruiting perspective). As always, these things have a tendency to change so by the time the game comes around visits may be cancelled or added. Stay tuned.

Plan of Attack: San Jose State

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:17:11 -0600

Much of the talk this week regarding San Jose State has centered on Western Michigan.

No, really, here we are on Thursday and there hasn't seemed to be a whole lot of talk about Dick Tomey and his Spartans yet. That's partially due to the fact that SJSU played, and won in a nail-biter, against a FCS team in Cal-Davis in week one--only the ambitious among us will even see a box score from that game--and partially due to Nebraska's offense. Even with the running game being a relatively low tire on the Watson hot rod last week, it looks like the Huskers have plenty of weapons to handle San Jose State.

That being the case, this week's plan of attack should revolve mostly around staying out of trouble because, as a coach of mine once (i.e. at least 500 times) told me, it's easier to stay out of trouble than get out of trouble.

OFFENSE
There were really only two gripes to be heard with Nebraska's offense against WMU last week: 1) the running game, and 2) despite his overall impressive game, Ganz' interceptions.

It seems logical and desirable to assume that Nebraska is really going to try and come out and run the football on Saturday. They have something to prove there and, while SJSU starts four upperclassmen across the defensive front, the Spartans did allow 4.54 yards per carry in 2007 to rank 88th in the country. San Jose State held Cal-Davis to 61 yards rushing in their first game, but that's Cal-Davis. Everyone could heave a huge sigh of relief if Nebraska was able to dominate this game on the ground but one of the hidden lessons from game one was that Shawn Watson sees no need to be stubborn with the football. If SJSU stacks the box like WMU did, don't expect him to keep running just to prove a point. That's a welcome change from the recent past.

In terms of the passing game, this might actually represent a good test for Ganz patience in the passing game. Last year the Spartans ranked 10th in the country in interceptions with 20 total. Their leading ballhawk (6 INTs) and returning tackler (41 solo), Christopher Owens, is back for his senior season at corner back. The have talent on the other corner as well in Coye Francies. Phil Steele's preseason #4 ranked JC transfer played at Oregon State before redshirting last year.

DEFENSE
Not surprisingly, Nebraska trailed SJSU in just about every major defensive category last year. The good news, however, is that the Spartans run the spread offense and Bo Pelini isn't hearing any of that offense du jour jibbajabba.

After trying out three QBs in his opener, Tomey has named former blue-chip prospect Kyle Reed the starter this week. Against UC-Davis, Reed was nearly perfect going 14 of 18 for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns. The problem if you're a Spartans fan is that that stat line represents all of Reed's Division 1-A experience, but he's not without a weapon.

After moving over from the defensive backfield prior to last year, senior wide receiver Kevin Jurovich ranked 12th in the nation in total yards in 2007 with 1183 (98.6/game), hauling in 9 touchdowns along the way. Against Kansas State last year, Jurovich didn't find the end zone but he did catch 10 balls for 82 yards so he's done more than just see Big 12 talent. Suffice it to say, if you've seen a San Jose State highlight from last year, it probably involved Jurovich. He's their playmaker and his ability or inability to succeed should provide a good base line for analysis of the defense in game two.

FINAL VERDICT
In college football circa 2008, it's never safe to assume a victory over anyone but I think that's just what most Nebraska fans are doing, myself included. While the match-up lacks the first game, first glimpse intrigue of last week or the pass happy oddity of New Mexico State, SJSU actually looks like a good opponent for game two, almost like a tailor-made test based on what we saw in week one.

Worried about Ganz' turnovers? San Jose State has a proven defensive backfield that should provide a good test.

Worried about the 340+ yards the Blackshirts gave up through the air last week? The Spartans have a seemingly strong QB-WR combo that should merit watching.

Worried about the running game? On paper SJSU doesn't look like they'll offer much resistance but that's only more reason to be concerned if the Cornhuskers struggle in the trenches again.

While San Jose State has talent in spots and experience overall, it's tough to see Nebraska truly getting pushed here if they don't lose the turnover battle by a considerable margin.

Look for the run early and often, then enjoy the potency of the playaction pass. Defense? Just look for improvement and fewer blown assignments.

Game Day Pocket Guide for San Jose State

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:33:41 -0600

Sure, this week's opponent doesn't look very intimidating on paper, but we can't let our guard down. You know Bo is keeping the players and coaches focused this week. We fans need to be prepared as well.

Make our pocket guides part of your pre-game ritual and you'll have lots of useful information in your pocket. Depth charts, schedules, stats, random facts... they're all in there.

Take a second right now to print one for yourself and one for your buddy. (He'll feel obligated to buy the first round.)

» Print the 2008 San Jose State Game Day Pocket Guide

Related: If you're hungry for more comprehensive stats and random facts, take a look at the official game notes put out by the Sports Information Directors from Nebraska and San Jose State

Andy Christensen Presents an Opportunity for Pelini

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:23:21 -0600

After a not guilty verdict made Andy Christensen available to return to Nebraska it put Pelini in a position to send a message about discipline or further strengthen the depth on the NU offensive line. Some consider Pelini to be in a no-win situation since he’ll be criticized either way, but in reality he seemingly can’t lose.

Christensen had been a starter ahead of Mike Huff. He’s definitely a better run-blocker and probably is at least equally good to Huff in pass protection. With a sixth year of eligibility possible, he could definitely be helpful next year when Huff, Matt Slauson, and Lydon Murtha will all have graduated.

But he’s not essential. The Huskers return three of four offensive tackles from this year’s team and redshirting freshman Brandon Thompson could be ready to move into the two deep by next season. D. J. Jones could also move to tackle, if needed. If he didn’t, then Jones, Keith Williams, and Ricky Henry would all be likely two-deep players at guard and Cruz Barrett could well make four. Derek Meyer, a transfer from Kansas State who had started there will also be available next year and redshirting walk-on Brian Thorson (who turned down a scholarship to Buffalo) could compete for time as well. It’s conceivable that Baker Steinkuhler could be thrown in the mix on the offensive well. So clearly, the Huskers have plenty of options on the offensive line. Christensen also missed a lot of practice time, which would mean at least for 2008 he’d be fighting an uphill battle trying to get back on the field.

That puts Pelini in the position of adding a quality lineman to an already strong group or making a point about off-the-field behavior to the rest of the team. Sure there’s criticism either way, but there’s also a benefit either way. Pelini can handle criticism, so it would seem that he and the Nebraska program stand only to gain. Either way, expect Pelini to make a good call.

The Big Picture: Nebraska vs. Western Michigan Photos

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:48:20 -0600

Today we're introducing another new feature called The Big Picture. After every Husker home game we'll bring you a series of photos that tells the story of the game - in a format you probably won't see anywhere else. They're shot by our go-to guy on the sideline, Kirt Manion. And they're big. I mean BIG!

We want you to see what Bo sees from the sideline - what Ganz sees when he lines up under center - what Glenn sees when he's crushing a ball carrier. We want to take you inside the game, in a way that you won't see anywhere else.

Enough talk. Let's see the Big Picture from Western Michigan.

Bo Pelini leads the Huskers out of the tunnel in his first game as full-time head coach

Receivers coach, Ron Brown, observes pre-game warm-ups

Larry Asante picks up a few blocks on a kickoff return

Cody Glenn picks up one of his nine solo tackles

Joe Ganz drops back to pass. He was 20-36 for 345 yards, 4 TDs and 2 INTs on the day.

Todd Peterson lunges forward after one of his three catches on the day

Marlon Lucky scores on a 14 yard run midway through the first quarter

Quentin Castille running away from the defense

Joe Ganz in the pocket. The NU offensive line did not give up a single sack against Western Michigan.

Ndamukong Suh serves up a pancake block. NU coaches are tracking pancakes again this season after taking the past few seasons off.

Barry Turner applying pressure

Ganz drops back, looks to his left...

...Checks down field...

...And delivers.

Bo is always watching.

Thanks to the Boston Globe for the inspiration (and name) for this feature.

What shots do you want to see in the future? Leave your requests in the comments and we'll do our best.

Knowing is Half the Battle: A Brief History of SJSU Football

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:00:41 -0600

What do we know about Nebraska's next opponent, San Jose State? Three things:

1) Dick Tomey's their coach.
2) The Spartans will start a former VHT QB in Kyle Reed. The guy was swimming in stars coming out of high school and originally committed to Cal.
3) Nebraska better not (can't?) lose.

But there has to be more to the Spartans than that, doesn't there? Of course there is and it all begins in 1893...

Con...tin...uity

Sometime in 1893, they don't know the actual date, San Jose State started playing football with a 18-0 loss to the San Jose YMCA. Perhaps shamed by the fact that they had, you know, lost to the local YMCA the program would play only one game over the next four seasons and then take an even longer break from 1901-1920 due to a lack of interested participants. From 1943-1945, SJSU took their final break from playing football due to World War II, a war that the program would be directly involved in.

Stopping the run..errr...crawl.

In December of 1941, San Jose State traveled to Hawaii to play a couple exhibition games. The games never happened but Pearl Harbor did. Unable to get off the island of Honolulu, many Spartans were used as part of a defense plan against the theoretical amphibious assault from the Japanese. When that never came some players still chose to stick around joining the police or armed forces.

Coaches

While Dick Tomey may be the coach with the most wins to his name to take the helm at SJSU, he's hardly the most famous to ever grace the sidelines.

Between 1979 and 1983, while his son John was slinging footballs and baseballs all over Palo Alto, Jack Elway was guiding the Spartans to 35-20-1 record but that presumably would've been better if his lifelong in-home visit with John had been more successful. Dan Hawkins scoffs at this sort of lack of discipline/inability to close. Oddly, after John was done at Stanford Jack took the head coaching gig.

While not a head coach, Dennis Erickson was part of Elway's staff and Bill Walsh, who played two years at TE and DE for SJSU, was a grad assistant there in the 50's and, at least according to Wikipedia, wrote a master's thesis entitled "Defensing the Pro-Set Formation." My kinda guy, my kinda school.

Throw in Dick Vermeil, MA in 1959, and while San Jose State can't claim to do a lot of winning on campus they are one of only three schools that can claim to have two alums who have coached Super Bowl winning teams. The other two? Arkansas and, of course, Dayton.

QB U?

I wouldn't say that but Steve DeBerg and Jeff Garcia are both alums. Neither of them, however, had the hype of one Mike Perez. In their 1987 season preview Sports Illustrated quoted Bill Walsh as saying Perez was the "best QB on the West Coast since John Elway." (Notice all the connections there?) Four years later Rick Reilly was quoting Perez in a story about the World League of American Football for the same magazine. I must admit, however, that this TD pass is pretty impressive.

Upsets?

There aren't many. The biggest came in 1980 when the Spartans beat a Mike Singletary led (and top ten ranked!) Baylor squad as a 27.5 point underdog. As of this writing, Nebraska was favored by 26.5, so I guess a win for the Spartans on Saturday wouldn't technically be the most shocking thing ever.

Overall, SJSU is 1-9 against the Big 12 conference. Their lone win was in 1963 against Kansas State but the Spartans could've been favored there considering that then KSU head coach Doug Weaver never won more than three games--and thrice won zero--in his seven seasons at the helm.

Nebraska has played San Jose State once, winning 49-13 in the year 2000.

Blogpoll Ballot – Week 1

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:38:23 -0600

Here again we present the Big Red Network ballot for the college football top 25 poll at M Go Blog. Like the AP and coaches, I pushed USC ahead of Georgia on the strength of the performance against Virginia and the bland performance against Georgia Southern, respectively.

I nearly moved KU into the top 25 and could next week (even if they still seem likely to lose a week later). Virginia Tech, Illinois, and Tennessee all drop out while South Carolina, UCLA, and Cal move into the rankings.

1. USC
2. Georgia
3. Ohio State
4. OU
5. Florida
6. West Virginia
7. LSU
8. Texas
9. Mizzou
10. Auburn
11. Wisconsin
12. Texas Tech
13. BYU
14. Arizona State
15. Alabama
16. PSU
17. South Florida
18. Oregon
19. Wake Forest
20. Fresno State
21. Utah
22. South Carolina
23. UCLA
24. California
25. Nebraska

Husker Watch Site Report: Kirkland, WA

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:25:03 -0600

Editor's Note: Today we're introducing a new regular feature that spotlights Husker watch sites around the country. Send photos from your (official or unofficial) Husker watch site to tips@bigrednetwork.com.

If there's one thing I learned living outside the state of Nebraska for the past ten years it's this: On any given fall Saturday, in any city around the country, if you look hard enough, you can find fellow Nebraskans to watch the Husker game with.

This week, we're shining the spotlight on the Washington Cornhuskers alumni group in Seattle, Washington.

Jason Grotelueschen, president of the Washington Cornhuskers alumni chapter, reports that this week over 250 Husker fans watched the game at The Lucky 7 in Kirkland on the banks of Lake Washington, east of Seattle.

There were also over 70 Cornhuskers at O'Blarneys Pub in Olympia on the south side of Seattle.

Local Radio Coverage

For a number of years, Husker fans and Nebraskan-owned businesses have sponsored radio broadcasts of Husker games on local Seattle-area radio. You can listen to every Husker game live on KKNW/1150AM in Bellevue, WA or KLAY/1180AM in Lakewood, WA or online at 1150KKNW.com or KLAY1180.com.

Husker Watch Sites near Seattle, WA

If you find yourself near Seattle on game day, check out one of these official Husker watch sites:

Lucky 7 Sports Bar
12715 NE 124th Street
Kirkland WA
Phone: 425.821.7717

O'Blarney's Irish Pub
4411 Martin Way E
Olympia, WA 98516
Phone: 360.459.8084

If you live in the Seattle area, you should consider joining the Washington Cornhuskers alumni group because there's no excuse for watching the game alone when you're a Husker fan.

If you'd like to have your alumni group or unofficial Husker party featured here, send your photos and reports to tips@bigrednetwork.com.

Nebraska Big Plays Put Broncos Away

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:31:34 -0600

For the Huskers, big plays were the name of the game on Saturday. On offense, it was Joe Ganz piling on the passing numbers and making plays with his feet. On special teams, it was Alex Henery hitting all four of his 44 yard attempts and all of his extra points to continue his perfect kicking record. On defense, it was Cody Glenn. Period. End of Sentence. 12 tackles, 3 for loss, 3 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, and a lot of fist pumping were what he brought to the table against Western Michigan. We in the blogging business call that “Bringing Your A-Game.”

First of all, let's get this out of the way: the Western Michigan Broncos are going to be a bowl eligible team this year. They returned 10 starters on defense and have a highly touted passing attack. The Hiller to Ledbetter connection is likely going to be the best in the MAC conference this year. Yes, they are a non-conference opponent. But they also faced a Missouri team last year, playing to a 52-24 loss. So for those fairweather Husker fans, please realize that this should not have been a 70-0 type of game.

To look at the big plays we had, I broke down the yardage into some charts. If we look at the plays from 1 through 67, a pattern does not seem to emerge.

However, when we look at the chart from least to most number of yards in a play, we start to see something interesting.

(note: I gave a zero for no gain rushes, incomplete passes, and interceptions)
The Huskers had 11 plays between 10-20 yards and 8 plays with more than 20. That's over 25% of our plays that gained enough for a first down and better! All I heard about last year was how big plays made all the difference. On defense, the Broncos were able to run 74 plays to our 67. However, the Nebraska defense was up to the task, holding them to only 7 plays between 10-20 yards and only 2 over 20 yards. I'll take 8 big plays to 2 any game of the year.

On the other hand, it wasn't all sunshine and kittens and smiley faces all day. There were some (fixable) mistakes that need to be taken care of before getting to conference play. Offensively, our running game was a disappointment. Roy Helu, Jr. had the most luck in terms of rushing yards, but that could have had more to do with fresh legs late in the game than anything else. They offensive linemen are putting on a strong face, but I really think that the shuffling is affecting the chemistry, a critical component of a good running line. Expect it to settle down in the next few weeks without further issues. We'll have our 200 yard rushing game in the next week or two.

The adjustments made by Bo Pelini were evident in terms of getting the penalties under control in the second half. Anthony West practically handed Western Michigan their first touchdown. Fortunately, those types of mistakes are easy to avoid in the future. The mistakes that worried me were seeing O'Hanlon out of position or playing catch-up on at least three plays. Looking at the stats from above, it didn't appear to burn us. I'm hoping we don't have another Pat Ricketts on our hands here.

Overall, I'm just being a little picky. I needed to find something good and something not so good from the game, but I was trying not to just be “a fan.” I am very happy with the win and see much potential for a bowl-bound team this year. We're still a (not so) far cry from championship games, but this is a pretty solid beginning to the Bo Pelini era.

QB’s No Longer Separate Teams From the Pack

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:25:06 -0600

There was a time in college football when a good quarterback was a rare commodity. I’m not talking about a good locker room leader or a capable field general, but rather someone you could ask to throw 30 or more passes in a game and be confident that they would complete more passes than they’d miss on and they would throw more touchdowns than interceptions. Nowadays, four-star quarterback prospects are passed around like NU basketball tickets – hardly a scarce commodity.

San Jose State’s Kyle Reed is a perfect example. Reed was a top prospect for Cal in 2005. But he didn’t win the starting job with the Golden Bears and instead went shopping for a starting spot elsewhere. He ended up at San Jose State where he came in late to save the Spartans’ bacon against lowly UC Davis.

Shouldn’t a quarterback of that caliber have had better options when things didn’t work out at Cal? You would think so, but the reality is that there are a lot of good quarterbacks to go around. The Big 12 alone is loaded with quality quarterbacks, Sam Bradford, Graham Harrell, Chase Daniel, Todd Reesing, Josh Freeman, Colt McCoy, Joe Ganz, and Cody Hawkins are all likely to have efficient seasons from the quarterback spots. Heck, even Baylor has two four-star quarterbacks on its roster.

Why so many good quarterbacks these days? There are more obsessive Dad’s than ever, more obsessive coaches, and more obsessed kids. School age boys are falling behind girls academically and that’s been largely attributed to an overemphasis on athletics over academics among boys. With the camps and the videos, and the weights and the ahem, nutritional enhancements, it’s no wonder that high schools are churning out an army of good quarterbacks each year.

But a good quarterback is no longer a differentiator in college football – it’s table stakes. You absolutely need one, but just having one won’t carry your team to glory. Gone are the days when a Doug Flutie or Ty Detmer could single-handedly upset a juggernaut. It’s now about what you put around that quarterback. Who’s got the big receiver (Jeremy Maclin comes to mind)? Who’s got the pass-rushers to rattle the cages of these hotshots (any surprise OU keeps winning the Big 12 or that the SEC keeps winning national championships)?

Yes, a truly transcendent player like Vince Young or Michael Vick can still elevate a team and create an advantage. But who’s that player in 2008? Maybe West Virginia's Pat White? Is there another? Not that I see (and Missouri fans, spare me the Daniel talk, he’s a nice player but he’s no Vince Young).

Reed will give San Jose State a chance on Saturday, but only a small one. Joe Ganz all but neutralizes the advantage he would provide. The Spartans need their defense to perform like they did against UC Davis – only against much better competition. The Spartans don’t have a Marlon Lucky. They don’t have an offensive line like the one NU can march out there. They’d probably be happy to take NU’s second-team O-line.

That’s why this game against NU probably won’t be close, even though San Jose State has a quarterback that puts up the kind of numbers that would have made him a star a generation ago.

Lingering Labor Day Thoughts

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:05:25 -0600

As I write this, I know that Nebraska played two days ago. Maybe it is the holiday weekend or the unique weekend football schedule (ISU played Thursday, CU on Sunday). But for some reason, I still feel the need to offer a few of my lingering thoughts on Week 1 for 2008. Some are related to NU, others the Big 12 and some to the national picture. To stay on top of the current NU discussion, consider Steve's take on expectations, Brandon's Gladiator theme and especially Steve's uncanny ability to turn the page and move to the next week. For my part, here's some random caffeine-fueled input for my fellow over-thinkers.

More Highs than Lows for NU
Like a lot of fans, I came out of the NU game against Western Michigan with a few mixed emotions. But, know this - there is a LOT to be optimistic about from Saturday. And remember this football truism; a team never improves more than they do in between their first game and their second game. As Bo said, you "never know what you have until the real bullets start flying". The players now have experience at game speed, with can't be replicated. And, the coaches have game film with which to coach to. The thing that NU needs to work on WILL be addressed, that's for sure.

Other NU Thoughts:
Joe Ganz ability with his feet is incredibly valuable in this offense. We didn't see everything he can do as a downfield runner yet. But the ability to side step pass rushers or make plays outside the pocket is a big factor, and will give defensive coordinators some pause before "sending the house" at Ganz.

One week in to the season, I'm ready to declare that NU has a great kicking game. They have a consistent punter (who doubles as an excellent holder), a boomer of a kick-off specialist, and (perhaps most importantly) a place kicker they feel confident in. Pelini didn't hesitate to send Alex Henery out there four times for 40+ yard attempts. The kid converted them and showed that he is a real weapon. He's a skinny assassin. Special teams are the "hidden third" of football, and often decide ball games.

We have not seen the best of the Husker defense, not by a long shot. The secondary was missing some of their best players. That alone makes a difference. I was pleased with the effort of the front four. Steinkuhler in particular made a lot of plays. At linebacker, I love the Cody Glenn story as much or more than anybody. But, in the 4-3 defense the weak side linebacker is supposed to make plays. They have to be the best athlete and playmaker on the field (Williams, Farley, etc). Also, Glenn was around the ball a lot because - in part - they were trying to pick on him. Hey, it was his first game. I'd say he passed the test with flying colors. But, I still know we are razor thin at linebacker.

Finally, give some respect to Western Michigan. They showed a lot of fight, especially in the second half. Hiller kept slinging, even when there was pressure. Ledbetter is one of the best tight ends that Nebraska will face all year. Yeah, I see you over there Chase Coffman. And, most importantly, the Bronco defense tackled well. NU rushing for just 138 yards has a lot to do with the Broncos being sure tacklers. That's the sign of a solid and well coached team that returns a lot of starters. It should serve them well as the season rolls along.

Around the Big 12
Here are my brief takes on how the rest of the conference foes faired in the opening weekend of the season.

- How much does it suck to be a Texas A&M fan right now? Not as much as it sucks to be Athletic Director Bill Byrne. Losing to a Sun Belt school (at home!) to open the season doesn't inspire confidence.

- Iowa State handled an inferior opponent as they are supposed to. I'm not going to get carried away. But the Cyclones are my "sneaky" pick in the Big 12 North. They could go bowling. Seriously.

- Kansas State, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas beat up inferior opponents. Their tests will be coming later in non-conference.

- Missouri beat a quality Illinois team in another shootout. That's a nice win, but it hardly answers questions about the Tiger defense.

- Colorado vanquished Colorado State by a margin that is not in line with this typically close series. Is that a bellwether of good things to come for the Buffs? Hawkins looked good, and the new freshman back is the real deal. But, I didn't see a lot of playmakers on the outside, and the defense is far from frightening.

- Oklahoma State picked up a quality opening win. Traveling to another BCS conference school out of your time zone and getting a win is always a good way to start. Washington State isn't a world beater, but they are better than most of the opponents faced by Big 12 competition this week.

- Texas Tech and Baylor were their usual selves. Tech put up big numbers but gave up 24 points to Eastern Washington. Baylor played hard for another new coach, but ran in to a buzz saw against Wake Forest. At this point, are the Demon Deacons the favorite in the ACC? I think so.

Elsewhere In America
Speaking of the ACC, they really took it on the chin with supposed standard bearers Clemson and Virginia Tech losing to start the year. Side note - I love my wife. Why? Because she is the only person in our pick 'em contest who called Alabama's win over Clemson. When ask her reason, she said "Tell me the last time Clemson won a big game." Duly noted, dear. This is what happens when you marry a woman who listens to sports talk radio all day.

The Virginia Tech loss to East Carolina concerns me. With quarterback Sean Glennon playing poorly, you almost know that the Hokies will pull Tyrod Taylor's redshirt off of him and insert him in to the lineup. Otherwise, they don't have any playmakers. The Huskers ability to defend Virginia Tech may have just gotten much, much more difficult.

Also, Michigan lost to Utah in Ann Arbor. Enjoying the transition, folks? And, Pitt lost to Bowling Green out of the MAC. While part of me still thinks Pitt is a contender in the Big East, Nebraska fans can all smirk at the outcome for Steve Pederson and his former NFL head coach.

Sizing Up San Jose State

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:29:54 -0600

Husker fans thought it was cause for concern when their team managed less than 140 yards rushing against Western Michigan. What's it say about San Jose State that they managed only 42 yards rushing against UC Davis - a school famous only for a Supreme Court decision it was involved in about affirmative action.

Add to that another 231 passing yards on 34 attempts (with two interceptions) and you get 273 total yards for the mighty Spartans against the answer to a legal trivia question. As long as you can be confident as a Husker fan that Bo Pelini's boys on defense are no worse than the UC Davis unit (which admittedly you might have been reluctant to think a year ago), then the Huskers might well hold the Spartans to 13 points as the Aggies did. To be fair, it could have been 14 points if San Jose State hadn't missed an extra point.

It doesn't help San Jose State that the Huskers will come in with something to prove. Joe Ganz wants to prove he can avoid turnovers. Marlon Lucky wants to go over 100 yards rushing and the offensive line wants to prove they can clear the way for 200 yards rushing. The Husker defense wants to hold a team to less than 24 points (which might not be a problem against a team that averaged just over 20 points a game all last season). The Husker secondary will want to show they can take away the big play. Most importantly, the NU starting defenders will want to earn back their blackshirts.

Barring complete self-destruction by Nebraska, it's hard to imagine a scenario where the Huskers lose this game. The question will just be in what manner they win it. Sure San Jose State could have been caught looking ahead to NU against the Aggies. and maybe NU will be looking ahead to Virginia Tech. But unless our eyes have totally deceived us about who these teams are, not just this season but last season too, then the Huskers should cruise in what could be a name the score contest. Will NU score over 60 points for the first time against an out of conference opponent since Correll Buckhalter graduated? Will they pitch the first shutout of the Pelini era (and for only the second time since Bo Pelini coached the defense)?

I can't see why not.