The Husker Faithful BLOG

Tommie Frazier is finally in

After years of snubbery, Tommie Frazier is finally in the College Football Hall of Fame. Arguably the best option quarterback ever to play the game, all Frazier did was lead the Huskers to back-to-back national titles, coming within mere points and seconds at a third in a row. Eric Crouch and Trev Alberts were the other Huskers in the list of nominees for the HOF. Chances are good it will take them awhile to actually enter the Hall, with our money on Crouch getting the nod before Alberts.

Now, about that Heisman Trophy, Eddie George. That's right. It belongs to Tommie as well.

Kenny Bell's new tattoo

Kenny Bell tweeted this photo out earlier today. His new tattoo. What are your thoughts?

Rex Burkhead at the NFL Combine

Rex Burkhead put up some pretty impressive numbers at the NFL Combine today. His vertical jump was 39 inches and he broad jumped 125 inches. The disappointing number will be his 40-yard dash time, which was 4.73 seconds. Given his vertical and broad numbers, he should have turned in a lower 40 time. In fact, Burkhead had been running 4.4-4.5 dashes in his training workouts leading up to the draft. To see what NFL scouts think of Burkhead, read the commentary at this link.

There are some interesting comments made, including Rex is "not the most powerful of backs." Most Husker fans would take exception with that statement, but the NFL is another ballgame.

Top 10 Husker commits to watch over the next two years

Today marks another signing day, when future Huskers actually sign on the dotted line. This year more than any other has seen it's share of recruits changing their minds. There have been commitments, de-commitments, re-commitments, and the usual grandstanding and media attention-seeking behaviors I'm sure we all love. On the whole, Nebraska put together a solid class. We're not of the opinion that this is a Top 10 class nationally, but somewhere around 15th would be about right.

Here's a look at how we rank the Top 10 commitments in terms of who will have the biggest impact for the Huskers over the next two seasons.

10) David Knevel (OL) - The best prospect out of Canada and he's coming to America...Nebraska actually. Knevel turned down offers from Alabama, Missouri, and Wisconsin to become a Husker. David is a huge specimen, standing 6'8" and weighing near 300 pounds and has a very high ceiling. He's already in Lincoln, which should help David will add much needed depth to the offensive line and will be a force to be reckoned with for opposing teams.

9) Josh Banderas (LB) - This spot easily could have gone to Marcus Newby, the Huskers other good linebacker who signed on the dotted line today, but we chose to spotlight Banderas because of his family connection to the Big Red (Josh is the son of former Husker tight end Tom). Josh played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl this year as one of the 90 best players in the nation and figures to be a key contributor for the Blackshirts a couple years from now. There's a decent amount of talent ahead of him at linebacker and barring any injuries at that position, Banderas will most likely see his playing time on special teams before the linebacker spot.

8) Maliek Collins (DT) - The Huskers were notoriously thin on the defensive line last season, evidenced by a 265 pound defensive end (Cameron Meredith) playing the tackle position. Collins will have some young talent ahead of him in Vincent Valentine and Aaron Curry, as well as seasoned vets Chase Rome and Thad Randle, but it's our opinion he will be in the two deep by the end of his freshman year. By most accounts, Collins was a top target for the Huskers for quite awhile and a good get for Nebraska considering Maliek hails from the Kansas City area.

7) Cethan Carter (TE) - At 6'4" and 235 pounds, Carter has a chance to get into the mix quickly at the tight end spot for the Huskers. Interestingly, he was moved to fullback two games into his junior season to block for his school's All-Metro tailback. Carter was such a team player about this move he never uttered a word about it. LSU and Ole Miss also offered Carter, but he spurned the SEC to head to be with the Children of the Corn. With Nebraska losing both Ben Cotton and Kyler Reed, they are a bit thin at the position. Look for Sam Cotton and Jake Long to be Carter's competition at the TE spot, as well as fellow 2013 commit Greg Hart.

6) Adam Taylor (RB) - Along with Terrell Newby, Taylor could see some action as a true freshman, especially if there is an early injury to a running back. Taylor is considered by some to be the best running back out of Texas, which brings up the question, when was the last time Nebraska stole the best running backs out of both Texas and California in the same year? And the answer to that is I don't know, but I would guess never. Adam is 6'2" and 200 pounds, so a bigger back than Newby, but still smaller than Imani Cross.

5) Gabe Miller (OL) - Hey, why not. Long snappers don't tend to get too much love, let alone scholarships, so we'll give him some pub here. Yes, he is a long snapping specialist and considered to best among the best in the nation. He hails from Indiana and stands 6'1" and weighs 240 pounds. Gabe doesn't have much competition awaiting him at Nebraska, as Joseph Rotherham is the only other listed long snapper. There you go, Gabe. Go make Husker Nation proud.

4) Chongo Kondolo (OL) - We don't need to tell you how awesome his name is, but we will anyway. Chongo has three years to play two for the Huskers on the offensive line and he comes to NU by way of Fresno City Community College. Kondolo stands 6'4" and weighs 290 pounds, and figures to be a versatile addition to the line. He played tackle at the JUCO level, but may very well get moved to guard, or even center during his time at Nebraska. The Huskers were able to rescue him from having to wear orange and white for the next three years at Tennessee.

3) Terrell Newby (RB) - With the unexpected departure of Braylon Heard, Newby has a great chance to avoid a redshirt year and see some significant playing time spelling Ameer Abdullah and Imani Cross. Considering how the Huskers schedule sets up, we would expect Newby to get into the mix very early on. Many consider him to be the best running back in the state of California, which is quite a haul for Bo Pelini & Co. Newby chose the Huskers because of their brand. That's right, a kid from California who was two years old when Nebraska last won a national championship says the Husker name is still gold. Throw in the fact this guy loves Walter Payton and we think Nebraska got a good one in Terrell Newby.

2) Matt Finnin (OL) - The Huskers held off a late push by Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes for the services of Finnin, a 6'8" 330 pound offensive lineman from the College of DuPage (JUCO). Finnin will have two years of eligibility remaining and will plug a hole for the Huskers at offensive tackle, likely working his way into the mix in 2013 and figuring to be a mainstay in 2014. Matt was also recruited by Oklahoma, Kansas, and Florida State.

1) Randy Gregory (DE) - Matt Davison called Randy the best pure pass rushing defensive end that Bo Pelini has recruited to Nebraska. As a JUCO transfer, Gregory has three years of eligibility remaining and should see significant playing time in 2013, if not start against Wyoming. Remember Barry Turner as a freshman? There's a lot of similarity. Quickness off the edge. Long and lanky (Gregory is three inches taller at 6'6"). Now, if only Gregory can build up his strength without adding a lot of weight, which we maintain, made Turner less effective after his freshman campaign.

The biggest needs for the Huskers and their 2013 class were clearly in the trenches. The offensive line needed replenishing and added depth, while the defensive line just plain needed bodies. The Huskers are bringing in two JUCO offensive linemen that should factor into the mix right away, but NU missed out on some higher profile JUCO defensive linemen as well as a tight end that could have really vaulted this class.

It's nice to see the geographic diversity in this class, something reminiscent of the great Husker teams. States like Texas, Florida, California, and Ohio are well-represented. Throw in recruits from Maryland, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Indiana, and even one from Ontario and you can see how hard the staff has been hitting the trails.

Our overall grade of the class would be a solid B, with the offensive recruits earning a B+. Spring practice is only three and a half weeks away. Hard to believe. GBR!!

Husker Spring Game tickets on sale February 6th

The University of Nebraska Athletic Department put out a press release on Spring Game tickets. Here is what it said.

Nebraska fans will have their first opportunity to purchase tickets for the Red-White Spring game beginning Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 8 a.m. The 2013 spring game is set for Saturday, April 6 at Memorial Stadium.

Nebraska fans may purchase tickets online at Huskers.com, by phone at 1-800-8-BIG-RED or in person at the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office, located in the Stadium Drive Parking Garage (8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays).

All tickets for the Red-White Spring Game are reserved and cost $10 each. All individuals must have a ticket for the game. With the exception of the new seats in the East Stadium all seating areas will be available for this year’s spring game.

Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to ensure good seats for the contest. Each of the past several years, more than 20,000 tickets were sold by the end of the first day of sales.

Nebraska will once again conduct the Drug Free Pledge at halftime of this year’s game. Youth (eighth grade or younger) are encouraged to take part in the Drug Free Pledge on the field, and those who do will be admitted to the game for free. Drug Free pledge participants must secure a ticket in advance of the contest by calling or visiting the Ticket Office. Parents or sponsors of the youth taking part in the pledge will need to buy a reserved ticket ($10).

A limited number of $15 club seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. UNL faculty and staff will be able to purchase reserved tickets to the spring game for $5. Faculty and staff should purchase their tickets in person at the Ticket Office or over the phone, and will also be asked to show their staff ID at the gate on game day. UNL student will be admitted free to the game, but will need to have a ticket in hand for admittance. UNL students may also visit Huskers.com beginning Feb. 6 to secure their ticket.

Fans who met the deadline to return tickets from the canceled 2012 Red-White Spring Game for credit will receive an e-mail before Feb. 6 to explain the redemption process.

2013 Red-White Spring Game
Date: Saturday, April 6
Tickets: $15 club seats (limited availability); $10 reserved tickets go on sale on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 8 a.m., UNL Faculty & Staff, $5; UNL Students, Free (must secure a ticket)

Drug Free Pledge: Youth 8th grade and younger are encouraged to take Drug Free Pledge at halftime (admitted for free, but must have a ticket)

Radio/Internet: Husker Sports Network/Huskers.com

Huskers add another recruit and a familiar name

Drake Martinez, younger brother of Taylor, has committed to the Huskers after being recruited by Michigan State among other schools. Drake is rated 3 stars by Rivals and is listed as an athlete, with the likely position for him being in the defensive backfield. Martinez is the 23rd commit in Nebraska's 2013 class and stands 6'2" and 200 pounds.

Braylon Heard is leaving the program

Junior-to-be running back Braylon Heard is leaving the Husker football program. As first reported by MyValleySports.com, Heard is heading somewhere closer to home and no doubt seeking more playing time.

During Heard's two years at Nebraska, he showed flashes of brilliance but was mired in position changes and buried on the depth chart. Even though he had the second highest average yards per carry last season, Heard was getting less than five carries per game. Playing behind Ameer Abdullah and Rex Burkhead, Heard didn't get the number of touches he deserved, for whatever reason. We were always of the opinion he was the Huskers most fluid runner.

Braylon had even moved to defense before the transfer of fellow running back Aaron Green necessitated a move back to offense.

Given the number of transfers and decommits, Bo Pelini could sure use a strong finish to the recruiting season. National Letter of Intent Signing Day is next Wednesday, February 6th.

Previewing the 2013 Blackshirts - The Secondary

We've already taken a look at the new faces we may see next season for the Huskers at defensive line and linebacker. Now our attention turns to the secondary. Significant returning experience from Ciante Evans, Andrew Green, Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Josh Mitchell means the corner spot will be pretty deep. Safety is another story. Historically, Bo Pelini hasn't played too many freshmen (redshirts or true) unless they have a firm grasp on the schemes, even if they are more physically talented than others at their position. Here are four guys to keep an eye out for in 2013.

Charles Jackson - He originally signed with Nebraska in February 2011, but didn't qualify academically. Jackson participated in the 2011 U.S. Army All-America Game and was the second best cornerback prospect according to Scout.com. Hand it to Charles for getting his classwork done, staying in shape, and still wanting to be a Husker. Although listed as a cornerback, he may get a shot at safety since Nebraska is overloaded at corner heading into the 2013 season. Nicknamed the "Energizer Bunny" by secondary coach Terry Joseph, Jackson brings it all day at practice and looks upon playing at Nebraska as a privilege, no doubt due to the adversity he has faced in qualifying to play college football.

Jonathan Rose - Potentially the best cornerback Bo Pelini has recruited to Nebraska. Rose transferred from Auburn (and who wouldn't want to escape Gene Chizik) and looks the part of a big time corner. At 6'1" and 180 pounds, he's the perfect size for the position, not too short, not too slow. In fact, he will make a strong push for the starting job, likely opposite of Ciante Evans. He will have plenty of competition though, as we noted earlier. Rose was recruited by Terry Joseph out of high school and knew of Husker running back Ameer Abdullah from his high school days as well, leading to Jonathan to sign with the Huskers without ever visiting campus. Since Rose played during his true freshman year at Auburn, he will be a sophomore in 2013 with three years of eligibility. Like Charles Jackson, Rose was a participant in the U.S. Army All-America Game as a senior.

Mohammed Seisay - Seisay played two seasons at Memphis before moving on to Eastern Arizona Community College. He joined the Huskers in January 2012 as one of the top junior college cornerback prospects. Thought to be an immediate contributor, Mo saw playing time in a handful of games in 2012 at cornerback, but failed to become a starter. He will be battling Evans, Green, Baptiste, and Mitchell, but should see more playing time in 2013.

Daniel Davie - Davie is another cornerback like Charles Jackson who will likely get a serious look at safety in 2013 for the Huskers. Davie is a product of Beatrice, Nebraska and stands 6'1" and 185 pounds. He redshirted in 2011 and became a standout scout team player. He recorded one tackle in the 2013 Capital One Bowl. Keep an eye on him for 2013.

So there you have it. Our early look at the 2013 Blackshirts. To review the defensive line and linebackers, click on their respective links.

Previewing the 2012 Blackshirts - Defensive Line

Defensive line

At the end of the 2012 season, Husker fans saw Cameron Meredith, a 260 pound defensive end doing his best to take the place of injured Baker Steinkuhler in the middle of the NU defensive line. Considering Meredith had to go up against the behemoths of Wisconsin and Georgia, this man deserves a few free beers.

Early in the season, true freshmen Avery Moss and Aaron Curry saw some action on the d-line before disappearing completely once conference play began. Along with these two, here are a few names to look out for next season on the defensive line.

Randy Gregory - The 6'6" and 230 pounder is a long and lanky rush end from Arizona Western Community College. On paper, he's perhaps the best pure pass rusher that Bo Pelini has lured to Nebraska. Gregory was committed to Purdue before switching to Nebraska, but he appears to be a solid commit in the 2013 class. He will have three years to play for the Huskers and will likely be opposite of Jason Ankrah at the other end spot. There is a chance Ankrah could be moved inside, however. Given the Blackshirts problems with getting a natural pass rush the last two seasons, Gregory comes in with high expectations and should see action early in the season, if not be a starter the first game.

Vincent Valentine - The 6'3" and 320 pound freshman who redshirted in 2012 will likely see a lot of playing time at defensive tackle next season and will likely be a starter. What makes him special, other than his size, is his quickness, according to line coach Rick Kaczenski. Coming out of high school in Illinois, Valentine was recruited by Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Penn State, among other schools. That shows the projected talent he brings to the table. It's just a matter of developing that talent and turning Valentine into a potent interior defensive lineman.

Avery Moss - The true freshman defensive end stands 6'2" and weighs 260 pounds. Coming out of Corona Del Sol High School in Tempe, Arizona, Moss was offered scholarships by Stanford, Washington, Arizona, and San Diego State. Moss saw action in three of the first four games for Nebraska in 2012, but was shut down with a bum shoulder. He will likely receive a medical redshirt as a result.

Aaron Curry - Saw playing time during the first four games of 2012 and was set to be a significant contributor on the line before injuries (ankle and wrist) derailed his progress. Still his future appears bright according to Bo Pelini and Rick Kaczenski. The 6'1" 280 pounder out of Texas may get a medical redshirt as well.

Greg McMullen - The 6'3" 280 pound defensive end from the state of Ohio was redshirted in 2012. McMullen was offered scholarships by Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Oregon, and Michigan State coming out of Akron's Hoban High School. He ran a 4.6 40-yard dash as a high school senior, so speed is clearly one of his traits. Along with Ankrah, Moss, and Gregory, expect to hear McMullen's name at the DE position next season.

All four true freshmen defensive linemen had the physical talent to play in 2012. If the mental side comes along this could be an exciting group to watch in 2013. Kevin Williams, Thad Randle, and Chase Rome will be battling these guys for PT in the middle next season.

Compared to the 2012 defensive line, next year's bunch looks deeper and faster. The big assumption here is that they get the playbook down. Bo Pelini hasn't been known to play a lot of underclassmen if they don't know the schemes, even if they are more talented. We'll look at the 2013 secondary early next week.

Previewing the 2013 Blackshirts - Linebackers

Much has been written and said about the 2012 Blackshirts and whether they even deserve to be referred to as such given their propensity for allowing too many points, yards, big plays, etc. The criticisms leveled their way are myriad: too slow, took bad angles, poor tacklers, no pass rush, and on and on. What's most frustrating for Huskers fans is that the defense was full of seniors with significant playing experience.

But don't fret Husker fans, there's a good chance next year's crop of defensive players will be a significant improvement on the 2012 group. What makes next year look more promising? We'll highlight 10 defensive newcomers who stand to see significant playing time in 2013 for the Big Red, starting with three linebackers. We'll follow that up with a look at the new faces on the defensive line and in the secondary.

Michael Rose - The highly touted linebacker from Kansas City was redshirted in 2012, but has a good chance to be a starter by the end of the 2013 season. Rose was recruited by USC, Ohio State, and Missouri, but he was the first player to commit to NU's 2012 class. What makes him special is his speed and tackling ability. Nebraska clearly lacked speed throughout their front seven, but especially at the linebacker position. UCLA, Ohio State, and especially Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship exposed these weaknesses. Along with David Santos, Zaire Anderson (see below), and Thomas Brown (also below), the Husker linebacker corps will gain a few steps in the speed department, which should help to improve the defensive stats next season.

Zaire Anderson - He garnered several SEC offers coming out of junior college, but chose to be a Husker. His first season with Nebraska was short-lived, when in mid-September he tore his ACL during practice. Four days later, Anderson took over the starting duties from senior Alonzo Whaley and recorded three tackles against Arkansas State on that torn ACL. He had season-ending knee surgery, but will be ready for fall ball. What got Anderson on the field in place of Whaley was his speed, after the latter struggled in running down and covering UCLA's backs. Anderson displayed his speed in the limited action he saw, as many Husker fans were hoping he'd be the second coming of Lavonte David.

As an aside, very few rookies crack the starting lineup at linebacker in the NFL and you can probably count on one hand the number who were making defensive calls their first season in the league. The one positive to Anderson's injury is that it gives him another year to learn the defense.

Thomas Brown - Named Scout Team Defensive MVP for 2012 at the team awards banquet, Brown is another linebacker with speed and good tackling ability. Thomas also played running back in high school and was recruited by Colorado, Utah, SMU, and Arizona State. Brown will likely be in the mix, either as a starter or in the rotation at the LB position, with the option of using him off the edge as a pass rusher as well. John Papuchis said Brown may end up taking the role that Eric Martin played for Nebraska in 2012. David Santos, who saw some action in 2012, will be a likely starter, knocking one of these three into the first off the bench role, unless Bo & John Papuchis utilize their 3-4 scheme more next season. Santos was recently named as one of the Top 5 Big Ten defensive players to watch in 2013 by ESPN.

The future appears bright at linebacker, assuming these four can stay healthy and learn the defense. We'll review the defensive line tomorrow.

Huskers pick up huge recruiting win in Newby

Terrell Newby, a 4-star recruit out of Chaminade High School in West Hills, California, chose the Huskers over UCLA today at his high school. Newby is rated as the best running back prospect in the state of California for 2013 and stands 5'10" and 180 pounds. He's #67 in the Rivals Top 100 and rated as the 7th best recruit in all of California. In other words, this guy is good.

The Huskers already have a commitment from Adam Taylor, one of the best running backs in the state of Texas. These two in the same class is a home run for Bo Pelini & Company.

Huskers play better, but not good enough to beat Georgia

Heading into the Capital One Bowl, you couldn't find too many people who thought Nebraska had a chance to beat Georgia. Hand it to the Huskers, they came ready to play. For three quarters, the Big Red were even with the Bulldogs, but they couldn't keep pace, ultimately losing 45-31 and finishing the year with a 10-4.

It was clear early on that the Husker ground game was working very well against Georgia's defense. Yet, offensive coordinator Tim Beck mixed in a fair amount of passes. For most of the second half, Beck called a much better game, relying on Rex Burkhead and Ameer Abdullah who finished with 140 and 48 yards, respectively. Hats off to Taylor Martinez, who once again showed his toughness in getting up from several big hits.

Defensively, the Huskers had their moments, but they struggled to get off the field on third downs, which cost them dearly late in the game. The nation's #1 pass efficiency defense gave up 427 yards passing and five touchdowns to Georgia's Aaron Murray.

In the end, Georgia's speed and size was too much for Nebraska to overcome. Thanks to all the Husker seniors for their hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. GBR!

Guess the Score Contest - Capital One Bowl - Nebraska vs Georgia

Get your score entered in our Guess the Score Contest for Nebraska vs Georgia in the Capital One Bowl. Winner gets free Huskers gear or other great prizes. Click on the image below for the official rules and to get your score entered. Good luck & Go Big Red.

Top 25 Gifts for the Husker Fan on Your List

We've compiled our Top 25 gifts for the Husker fan on your list this holiday season, including this Thanks Tom gameday poster. Click the image to see the full Top 25. GBR & Happy Holidays!

Huskers matchup with Georgia offers huge opportunity

In the wake of their disappointing Big Ten Championship game performance, the Husker football team was rewarded with a trip to Orlando to play Georgia in the Capital One Bowl. This is the same Georgia team that was a play away from beating Alabama, winning the SEC Championship, and facing Notre Dame for the national title.

As early double digit underdogs to the Dawgs, Nebraska has a great opportunity to prove the naysayers wrong and finish the season with what would be called a signature win for Bo Pelini. Here's why it could happen.

Under starting quarterback Aaron Murray, Georgia is 1-11 versus ranked teams. That's a bit hard to fathom since they won the SEC East this year, but the Bulldogs only played three Top 25 teams this season. They lost to #6 South Carolina 35-7 and the aforementioned #2 Alabama 32-28. Their sole win over a ranked opponent came against #2 Florida.

The reason the Huskers have a good chance to knock off Georgia doesn't have to do with talent. Georgia clearly has more on the defensive side of the ball. On the offensive side, we'll call it a push. No, the reason the Huskers can beat Georgia has everything to do with the "want to" of both teams. Nebraska is looking to redeem themselves for a poor effort and disappointing result against Wisconsin. Georgia having narrowly lost their chance to play for the national title has much less at stake and are probably a bit miffed at being left out of a BCS game. Florida, whom Georgia beat, sneaked into the Sugar Bowl instead of the Bulldogs.

In other words, it's conceivable that Georgia will be disappointed to be playing Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl, much like the Huskers having to face Washington in the Holiday Bowl a few years back.

In order for the Huskers to beat Georgia, they must hang onto the ball. This, as you're well aware, has been a major contributor to Nebraska's three losses and their need for miraculous comebacks in several other games. There's no sugarcoating this, the Huskers are atrocious in turnover margin. Taylor Martinez has led the entire FBS in fumbles the past three seasons. As electric as his play can be, it's also downright frustrating at times. While he's made some good progress in his game, the turnovers are limiting him from being a true Heisman candidate. Clean these up for only a game and the Huskers have a good chance to win.

Defensively, the Huskers need to go back to the fundamentals. It was apparent against Wisconsin that the Huskers need to work on their tackling and pursuit angles. These aren't issues we should be talking about at this level and this point in the season.

Bo Pelini was outcoached in the Big Ten title game. There's no other way to put it. But he has a great opportunity to return the favor against Mark Richt, who is notorious for underperforming expectations.

The Huskers will have a lot of time to focus their frustrations of their last performance on the Bulldogs. We're predicting a good, close game, despite the difference in talent. A win over a top SEC school would mean 11 wins for the first time under Pelini and clearly give the program some momentum heading into the spring.

Huskers didn't have enough left in the tank

After winning out and finishing the regular season riding a six game win streak, the Huskers ran out of gas against a much-improved Wisconsin Badgers team. Nebraska succumbed to its usual cocktail of turnovers and penalties and their luck finally ran out. The Badgers, who have been on the wrong side of luck for much of this season, finally had the ball bounce their way against the Huskers.

You have to feel for the seniors, who had three chances in four years to win a conference title but couldn't get it done.

We're going to take a couple days to think this one over. In the meantime, we've always been Huskers fans and always will be. This one hurts, but not as much as it does for those players. The Huskers will be back. GBR!

Previewing the Big Ten Championship and Heisman

Operation Win Out is in the books. The Huskers finished the regular season strong, responding to Bo Pelini's challenge of needing to win six straight. The Big Red made it interesting, improbable, and entertaining in the process. Four of the six games involved second half comebacks, with thrilling finishes on the road at Northwestern and Michigan State.

Only Wisconsin stands in Nebraska's way from the school's first Big Ten title ever and their first conference championship in 13 years. This is the same Wisconsin team who had the Huskers on the ropes with a 27-10 third quarter lead in Lincoln, before the Big Red rallied to win 30-27. That Wisconsin team was starting a redshirt freshman quarterback for the first time on the road. This Wisconsin team Nebraska plays Saturday night will start a fifth year QB who has kept his team in back-to-back overtime losses to Ohio State and Penn State.

On the injury front, it's advantage Wisconsin. LB Chris Borland and WR Jared Abbrederis are both likely to play against the Huskers. DT Baker Steinkuhler and C Justin Jackson are officially out for the Huskers. Those two losses are big. Steinkuhler has been doing yeoman's work in plugging up the middle all year, with his breakout game against these same Badgers back in late September. Baker's tall and long presence makes him tough to defend, even if you're the Wisconsin O-line. Chase Rome, Thad Randle, Kevin Williams and Cameron Meredith will rotate at the DT position for the Blackshirts.

Now for the standard comparison of the teams. Nebraska ended the regular season with the #1 rated total offense in the Big Ten. Wisconsin averaged 80 yards less of offense and ranked #8 in the conference. The Badgers rank second in total defense in the Big Ten, trailing only Michigan State. The Big Red rank fourth, but first nationally in pass defense. Wisconsin was the least penalized of Big Ten teams this season, compared to the Huskers who rank 11th in the conference. The Badgers finished the season with a turnover margin of +1, while the Huskers were -8. Once again, turnovers and penalties will play a large role in deciding the winner Saturday night.

Wisconsin's five losses on the season are by a total of 19 points, including three games which went to overtime. If you look at the Huskers five closest wins (Wisky, NW, MSU, PSU, & Iowa), they are by a combined 23 points. Both teams are experienced in close games, but the Huskers have clearly been more successful in closing out opponents this year. Both teams also have conference championship game experience. This is the Huskers third trip in the last four years to the title game, while the Badgers can lean on their experience in last year's inaugural Big Ten championship as well as their Rose Bowl appearances the last two years.

Playing in a domed stadium favors the Huskers, especially on offense. No more wind and cold to deal with, meaning the Big Red will have their full offensive arsenal on display. Tim Beck should utilize Kenny Bell and Jamal Turner on the edges, while relying on Rex Burkhead to do his thing. Defensively, the Blackshirts will need to stuff the running game of Montee Ball. If they're able to do that, which they did in September, it would funnel the Badger offense into the teeth of Nebraska's pass defense.

The Huskers open as 2.5 point favorites over the Badgers, telling you Vegas expects a close game. Our prediction: Nebraska 28 - Wisconsin 24.

Other odds and ends...

Who's your Big Ten coach of the year? A case can be made for Urban Meyer, who took a 6-7 team from a season ago and turned them into a 12-0 bunch this year. An equally impressive feat is what Bill O'Brien did in his first year at Penn State. Facing debilitating sanctions as well as the loss of several key players, O'Brien led the Nittany Lions to a 2nd place finish in the Leaders Division. What about Bo Pelini? As you can see in our previous post about the All-Big Ten team members, the Huskers weren't exactly well represented. That means Pelini got his team to a 10-2 record and the conference championship game with less talent, doesn't it? Unfortunately for Bo, he's not the fashionable favorite and he's been too consistent, winning 9-10 games a year since coming to Nebraska. For whatever reason, the media are more about the turnaround than they are the consistent.

Who's your Heisman winner? Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, Notre Dame LB Manti Te'o, and Kansas State's Collin Klein seem likely to be invited to New York as finalists. The argument for Manziel is that he put up more total offense this season than Cam Newton and Tim Tebow did in their Heisman-winning seasons. He also played a big role in taking down the once thought unbeatable Alabama Crimson Tide. Those are two pretty strong arguments.

As for Te'o, he's regarded as one of the best linebackers in the country and leads his position with seven interceptions (second nationally). Playing for the #1 team in the nation no doubt has given him the stage to overcome what aren't exactly sensational statistics (other than the INTs) for his position. Manti is tied for 51st in the nation in tackles and is 4th on his own team in tackles for loss. An argument can be made that Te'o isn't even the best player on his team. Notre Dame's quarterback is equally as valuable to the success of the Irish as is Te'o. But there's the human element (thanks Tom Rinaldi) to Te'o's Heisman candidacy. Earlier this season, Te'o lost his grandmother and girlfriend in the span of two days. He gets the sentimental vote and definitely has the most outstanding story.

Klein was the odds on favorite to win the Heisman before two things happened. First, Manziel led A&M over Alabama in Tuscaloosa in the upset of the year. The following week, K-State and Klein laid an egg against Baylor. Game over for Klein's Heisman shot, unless he can put up some huge numbers against Texas on Saturday night. There are other candidates out there, but in our book it comes down to Manziel and Te'o.

If we had a ballot it would have Manziel first, Klein second and Te'o third. If a defensive player ever had a Heisman moment, it was Ndamukong Suh against Texas in the 2009 Big 12 title game. That got Suh an invite to New York and a 4th place finish. Ask yourself though, what was Te'o's Heisman moment? Can you point to Notre Dame wins and say they wouldn't have beat their opponent if Te'o wasn't out there? I'm not sure. With Manziel and Klein, it's clear neither of their teams would be as good as they are without them. The fact that Texas A&M went 10-2 in their inaugural SEC season tips the scales in favor of Manziel.

That's all for now, folks. Here's hoping the Huskers bring back the trophy from Indy. GBR!

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Huskers on the All-Big Ten lists

Taylor Martinez was named 1st team All-Big Ten at quarterback by the coaches. Spencer Long was the only other Husker on the coaches 1st team.

The media selected Spencer Long, Brett Maher (K), Eric Martin & Daimion Stafford as 1st teamers.

Ameer Abdullah was named to the 2nd team by the coaches, as was Kenny Bell (WTH?), Jeremiah Sirles, Brett Maher, Eric Martin, Baker Steinkuhler, Will Compton, and Daimion Stafford.

The media 2nd team included: Taylor Martinez, Kenny Bell, Jeremiah Sirles, and Brett Maher (K).

Honorable mentions by the coaches included: Ben Cotton, Ciante Evans, P.J. Smith, and Justin Jackson. For the media, the same list above plus Kyler Reed, Ameer Abdullah, Will Compton, Baker Steinkuhler, and Brett Maher as punter.

Obviously, leaving Kenny Bell off the 1st team is a shock. As is leaving Ciante Evans, or any Husker defensive back off the 1st team after the Blackshirts had the #1 pass defense in the country. In Bo Pelini's weekly press conference today he thought Ciante Evans was their best DB and that he deserved to be on the 1st team.

According to the coaches and media, Bo Pelini didn't have a ton of talent to work with here. Shouldn't that make a good argument for him being the Coach of the Year in the conference? We bet he's third behind Urban Meyer and Bill O'Brien, unfortunately.

Tomorrow we'll have our Big Ten championship game preview.

Huskers ride Superman's cape to Indianapolis

Sensing the need for a spark, Bo Pelini asked Rex Burkhead if he was ready to go in the game at the start of the third quarter. Rex said he was. The senior, all-everything from Plano literally at times put the team on his back, including a nine yard first down run early in the fourth quarter that gave the Huskers some breathing room. Burkhead's 16 rushes for 69 yards led the team, even though he played only half the game. Rex managed to score the Huskers only touchdown on the day, adding to Brett Maher's two field goals to give the Big Red a 13-7 win over Iowa and secure a trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game.

Hats off to the seniors for this one. Alonzo Whaley led the team with 11 tackles and notched a game-clinching interception. Eric Martin was a constant disrupting force for the Blackshirts, scoring several big hits, quarterback hurries, and tackles for loss. Brett Maher did it not only in the kicking game, but in the punting phase of the game as well.

The wind and cold weather played a major factor in the game, limiting both teams to mainly running the ball. Neither team's quarterback threw for over 100 yards. After giving up an early touchdown to Iowa, the Blackshirts held the Hawkeyes scoreless over the remaining three quarters.

With the win, the Huskers completed Operation Win Out, finishing the season with six straight wins. For the third time in Bo Pelini's five years at Nebraska, the Huskers will play for a conference title game.

Next Saturday night at 7:15pm CST. Nebraska vs Wisconsin in Indianapolis. The Big Ten title is on the line and the third time is the charm for the Huskers under Bo Pelini. GBR!

Trap game or no contest?

Coming off an improbable streak of five wins in a row, the Huskers are riding high. Only one game separates them from the Big Ten title match against Wisconsin. Nebraska travels to Iowa City to play the Hawkeyes this Friday in a classic trap game. It comes on the heels of a dominating performance against Minnesota and before a shot at NU's first conference championship in 13 years.

While the Huskers are winners of five in a row, the Hawkeyes have dropped five straight. Kirk Ferentz is the sixth highest paid college football head coach at $3.835 million per year. He trails Nick Saban, Mack Brown, Bob Stoops, Urban Meyer and Les Miles. Bo Pelini makes nearly $1 million less per season than Ferentz.

Under Ferentz, the Hawkeyes have gone 4-7, 7-6, and 8-5 the last three seasons. You have to go back to 2009 when Iowa finished 11-2 with an Orange Bowl win over #9 Georgia Tech to find their last good season.

The problem for Iowa is who better than Kirk Ferentz would they be able to hire? Making matters more complicated, Ferentz signed a 10-year, $40 million contract in 2010 that guarantees him 75% of this money should he be fired. In other words, he's not going anywhere barring a truly horrendous season (see Auburn under Gene Chizik).

This year's Iowa team ranks 11th in total offense in the Big Ten and 9th in total defense. They are in the bottom half for pass offense and defense, as well as rushing offense and defense. They do lead the Big Ten in turnover margin at +12, whereas the Huskers rank 11th at -8. The other stark difference between the Hawkeyes and Huskers is in terms of penalties, with Iowa at #2 in conference, while Nebraska is dead last.

On paper this one looks like a Huskers blowout. This game will be played on FieldTurf though. The Huskers have made a habit this season of not playing their best on the road, relying on several fourth quarter comebacks to notch the victory. Can Kirk Ferentz rally his team on their Senior Day? You can say they'll play for pride. You can say they hope to ruin Nebraska's season with a late season upset. The signs just don't point to an Iowa victory here. The Huskers have managed to play poorly for three quarters against much better teams this year and still found a way to win. The Hawkeyes are no match for a Nebraska team hitting its stride at the right time. Nebraska is a confident bunch with good senior leadership. This game shouldn't be close, as evidenced by the 14.5 point spread favoring the Huskers. GBR and on to Indy the Huskers go!

Video: Tom Osborne halftime tribute

Photos: Tom Osborne and Nebraska vs Minnesota

Notre Dame should remain 3rd; Huskers Senior Day and Osborne's 500th game

Before we get to Husker football talk, here are my thoughts on the BCS. If Kansas State, Oregon and Notre Dame win out, it would be a travesty if the Wildcats didn't make the championship game to play the Ducks. Take a look at the schedules of Kansas State and Notre Dame, they're very similar. The Irish have the following key wins: at #10 Michigan State, vs #18 Michigan, vs #17 Stanford, and at #8 Oklahoma. K-State also played Oklahoma, in Norman, when the Sooners were ranked #6 in the country. The Wildcats other key wins include: at #13 West Virginia, vs #14 Texas Tech, and vs #24 Oklahoma State. Unlike the Fighting Irish, K-State hasn't been taken to overtime this season. The Irish needed the extra session to get by Stanford as well as three overtimes to beat lowly Pittsburgh in South Bend. Five of Notre Dame's 10 wins have been by a touchdown or less. Kansas State only has two wins by less than seven points, having beat Oklahoma by five and Iowa State by six. Both of these games were on the road. In other words, it appears that Notre Dame's schedule hasn't been more difficult than Kansas State's after all.

Neither team plays in a conference title game, but both end their season with a matchup against a ranked opponent. Notre Dame finishes the year on the road at #18 USC, while Kansas State hosts #15 Texas in Manhattan. Despite USC's struggles this season, a win on the road by Notre Dame would carry slightly more weight than a home win over a higher ranked Texas team. Would it be enough for Notre Dame to jump Kansas State? The way the voters behaved last season, anything is possible. Even if Kansas State only beats Texas by a touchdown, that should be enough to hold on to a Top 2 spot. After all, Notre Dame has made a living by barely beating teams this season. Expect controversy though because it is Notre Dame and they have a pretty significant lobby pulling for their inclusion in the title game. Irish head coach Brian Kelly has already began to campaign, as has ESPN radio host Mike Golic, who not only played for the Irish but now has a son on the team.

As for the Big Red, barring a devastating loss to Minnesota or Iowa, all signs point to a rematch with Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. The Huskers needed a 17 point rally (so cliche, isn't it?) to fend off the Badgers back in late September. And yes Huskers fans, it's okay to look ahead to the title game. We're fans; it's what we do. Only the players and coaches need to remain focused on Minnesota. Nebraska fans should be researching hotel options, booking airfare, figuring out where to meet up in Indy, all the while taking out some trip insurance just in case the boys drop a third game.

Speaking of the Huskers and Minnesota, it's another installment of Senior Day for the Big Red. Here's a look at the 29 seniors who will be playing in their last Nebraska home game (in alphabetical order):

Kenny Anderson - DT
Justin Blatchford - S
Rex Burkhead - RB
Joe Carter - DE
Seung Hoon Choi - OL
Will Compton - LB
Ben Cotton - TE
Jase Dean - CB
Taylor Dixon - WR
Sean Fisher - LB
KC Hyland - WR
Justin Jackson - OL
Micah Kreikemeier - LB
Brett Maher - P/K
P.J. Mangieri - LS
Matt Manninger - LB
Tim Marlowe - WR
Eric Martin - DE
Conor McDermott - TE
Cameron Meredith - DE
Courtney Osborne - S
Steven Osborne - WR
Kyler Reed - TE
P.J. Smith - S
Daimion Stafford - S
Baker Steinkuhler - DT
Graham Stoddard - FB
Brandon Thompson - OL
Alonzo Whaley - LB

In addition to Senior Day, Saturday's game against Minnesota will be Tom Osborne's final home game as acting athletic director of the Huskers. This game will also mark the 500th game Osborne has been a part of Nebraska athletics. Several in-game tributes will be done honoring the contributions of Dr. Tom. We'll have photos and videos of the game for your viewing pleasure posted right here next Saturday. In the meantime, these t-shirts honoring Tom Osborne also support the Teammates mentoring program. Get yours today!

Enter our Guess the Score Contest for the Minnesota game

Get your score entered in our Guess the Score Contest for Nebraska vs Minnesota. Winner gets free Huskers gear or other great prizes. Click on the image below for the official rules and to get your score entered. Good luck & Go Big Red.

Crowd noise videos from the Huskers win over Penn State

Hats off to Huskers fans yesterday, for one of the loudest games in recent memory. Not just at times, but fairly sustained throughout the game. Here are a few videos that capture the crowd noise.

Former Huskers Niles Paul and DeJon Gomes took in the Nebraska game.

Second half crowd noise in support of the Blackshirts.

Jamal Turner scores the Huskers final touchdown of the game.

The Blackshirts have Penn State backed up and force QB Matt McGloin to take a safety, giving the Huskers a 29-23 lead.

We'll have more videos next week from the Nebraska-Minnesota game. Also check out our game photos from Penn State.

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Huskers rally again. Big deal. Game photos too.

What would a Nebraska Big Ten football game be without a second half comeback? Saturday's 32-23 win over Penn State marked the fourth time this season the Huskers have come from behind to win a game, this time erasing a 14 point halftime deficit. You all know by now the comebacks against Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Michigan State. Add Penn State to that list.

The Huskers quickly responded in the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns to tie the score less than six minutes into the second half. True freshman running back Imani Cross was responsible for two of the Huskers three second half touchdowns. Jamal Turner scored the final TD off a pass from Taylor Martinez. The Blackshirts forced a safety when PSU quarterback Matt McGloin was forced to throw a ball away in the endzone. Brett Maher would add a field goal to make the final 32-23. With the win, the Huskers are firmly in control of the Legends Division. Their two remaining opponents, Minnesota and Iowa, are struggling this season. While the Huskers cannot overlook either team, one would have to think they could maintain their sloppy ways and still find a way to beat both.

That means a trip to Indianapolis to face Wisconsin for the second time this season likely awaits the Huskers. Wisconsin took care of upstart Indiana today to fortify their lead in the Leaders Division.

At 8-2, Nebraska has thus far avoided the late season stubbing of the toe that we've seen in prior years. In Pelini's first four seasons, the Huskers dropped a home game to an unranked team. Barring a loss to Minnesota next week, Nebraska will go undefeated at home for the first time since 2001.

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Huskers vs Penn State preview

Coming off two must-win games, the Huskers are rolling their way towards the Big Ten title game. Penn State has rebounded from losing their first two games of the season to put together a very respectable win-loss record. These two college football giants face each other Saturday in Lincoln. The Huskers can't afford to overlook the Nittany Lions though. This isn't the same offensively challenged team Nebraska faced last year in Happy Valley. New head coach Bill O'Brien has instilled a toughness and resiliency with his team, as well as developed Matt McGloin into a pretty solid Big Ten quarterback.

Penn State's schedule has been easier than Nebraska's so far this season, having faced and lost to Ohio and Virginia before wins against Navy and Temple. The Nittany Lions only other loss in 2012 came to Ohio State by a score of 35-23. Penn State managed to beat Northwestern by 11 as well. These latter two games were played at Beaver Stadium, whereas Nebraska took on the Buckeyes and Wildcats on the road.

Penn State ranks 4th offensively and defensively in the Big Ten. They have the 2nd rank pass offense, which matches up good with the Huskers #2 ranked pass defense. QB Matt McGloin averages the most passing yards per game in the Big Ten at 271. The Huskers are the nation's #1 pass efficiency defense.

The Nittany Lions have the 5th ranked rushing defense, while the Huskers have the 1st ranked rush offense. From a turnover perspective, these two teams couldn't be any different. Penn State is +9 in turnover margin on the year, good enough for 1st in the Big Ten, while Nebraska is 12th in the conference at -9. Penn State is 6th in the conference for penalties, averaging nearly 53 yards per game. Nebraska is dead last in the Big Ten at 68 yards per game in penalties.

The Huskers and Nittany Lions are #1 and #2 respectively in sacks in the Big Ten, while #8 and #4 in sacks allowed.

Given the Huskers senior leadership, the game being played in Lincoln, and more overall talent on the Nebraska side, we predict the Huskers beat Penn State by 10+ points. Don't be surprised if the Nittany Lions hang with the Huskers for awhile though, as Nebraska has proven to be somewhat dicey before the game is on the line. Apparently, no deficit is too large to overcome in the fourth quarter for this team. It would be nice to see a complete game from this bunch, but if they're able to make the Big Ten title game without having played one, more power to them. Cleaning up the turnovers and penalties at this late stage of the season may be a pipe dream, but in order to make and win the conference championship game, one would think some tidying up of the play would be needed.

Guess the Score Contest - Nebraska vs Penn State

Be the closest guess to the actual final score between Nebraska and Penn State and win free Huskers gear or other great prizes. Click on the image below for the official rules and to get your score entered. Good luck & Go Big Red.

Nebraska and Oklahoma to play on the gridiron again

With two months remaining in his job as athletic director at Nebraska, Tom Osborne announced today that the Huskers and Sooners have agreed in principle to play each other in a home-and-home series beginning in 2021. So put that on your calendars.

Operation Win Out rolls on. No big deal.

What can you say, the Huskers have a flare for the dramatic, and for increasing the traffic to Nebraska hospitals. For the third time this season, Nebraska came from behind to win a key Big Ten matchup. For the umpteenth time this season the game started out ugly. Turnovers and penalties with a cup of poor tackling mixed in. But on the day when Taylor Martinez overtook Eric Crouch as Nebraska's all time total yardage leader, it was the return of T-Magic that grabbed the headlines. Despite throwing three interceptions (and two touchdowns), it was Martinez who took control with Nebraska facing a 4th & 10 on their own 42 yard line with 40 seconds left in the game, no timeouts and down 24-21.

Taylor connected with Kyler Reed for a 38-yard gain, bringing the Huskers to the Michigan State 20 yard line with 31 seconds left. Nebraska seems to find themselves in this position quite often, needing a late score to pull off the come-from-behind win. Yet, somehow, they seem to play their best football when the stakes are the highest. Maybe it's the finality of it, knowing there's no room for error. 1st down. Martinez bounces a pass two yards short of his intended target, Kenny Bell. 27 seconds left. 2nd & 10. Just a reminder, no timeouts for Nebraska and they are in field goal range. Martinez is nearly sacked on the 2nd down play, a pass that falls short of Kyler Reed a few yards shy of the endzone. 23 seconds remain. It is now 3rd & 10. Ball is still on the MSU 20 yard line. Taylor drops back and lofts a pass towards Kenny Bell streaking down the right sideline towards the endzone. There is the typical contact between a wide receiver and defensive back, but nothing egregious. The side judge throws his flag. Pass interference on Michigan State. Replay shows it was a bad call. One of many on the day, similar to the personal foul called against Daimion Stafford after he was blocked into the Spartans quarterback out of bounds, which led to an earlier MSU touchdown. Nebraska now has the ball on the five yard line with 17 seconds left and no timeouts. Again, a field goal will tie. It's imperative not to force a pass, take a sack, or attempt to run it and fail to reach the goal line.

Martinez lofts a pass to the back of the endzone, a good pass to Kyler Reed, and Reed is the only player who can catch it, but doesn't come down with it in bounds. 11 seconds left. 2nd & Goal. Likely the final play before the kick team trots on to tie the game. Martinez throws a perfect pass to slot receiver Jamal Turner who beats his man to the edge of the endzone by at least two steps. Just like you practice it...in the backyard when you're a kid. Counting down the final seconds, making the play that wins the game. Only this time it was real.

This time it produced quite possibly the signature win and program defining win for Bo Pelini. Forget that Michigan State wasn't ranked. Coming off a big win over Michigan the week prior, the handing out of the Blackshirts, the risk of a road loss was high, especially against a potent defense such as the Spartans. And Nebraska found a way. Operation Win Out rolls on. The three remaining games are very winnable. Penn State and Minnesota at home, Iowa on the road. Those three teams are all that stands in the way of Nebraska playing in its first ever Big Ten conference championship game.

This game wasn't about stats, even though the Husker offense put up a big number against the Big Ten's best defense. This game was about heart and the growing belief among the Husker players that no deficit is too big to overcome. After all, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. Nebraska finished strong. That's what matters. Let's hope they continue to find a way to win games all the way to the Rose Bowl. GBR!

Why the Huskers will beat Michigan State

The Big Ten's best offense faces the conference's best defense Saturday in East Lansing. Yesterday we took a look at why the Huskers will lose to Michigan State. Today, we'll look at why the Huskers will beat the Spartans on Saturday.

Here's what we know. Michigan State's quarterback is not mobile. Hooray!! Advantage: Nebraska. Actually, it's not right to dismiss the aptly named "Spartan" offense that quickly. Running back Le'Veon Bell is seriously talented. He's accounting for 90% of the team's season total in rushing yards. Michigan State's offense seemed to come together late in their victory last week over Wisconsin in Madison.

Michigan State on the defensive side of the ball...well, see our last post.

So here's what Nebraska must do in order to come away victorious:

Win the turnover battle. Always a popular staple in the keys to the game. Nebaska has been turnover prone, especially on the road this season. If they can find a way to limit their giveaways to zero or one, we think they have a great shot at winning the game. Two or more and it gets a little dicey. That is unless the Blackshirts can steal a couple from the Spartan offense as they did from the Maize and Blue last week. We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the other bugaboo plaguing the Huskers this year...penalties. Nebraska is capable of playing a clean game on both sides of the ball. We haven't seen that in a meaningful game yet this season. If there was ever a time for it, Saturday afternoon in East Lansing would be that time.

Rely on their experience. The NU senior class went through the 2009 and 2010 Big 12 Championship losses and the disappointment of not making the conference title game last season. This is their final shot and a trip to the Rose Bowl is essentially on the line. Ahh, the Rose Bowl. Ever since the loss to UCLA in Pasadena, you can bet the goal of this team is to get back there for redemption (the opponent doesn't matter). The time slot for Saturday's game is perfect. Not too early, not too late. The setting won't be as intimidating as Ohio Stadium, Camp Randall, or the Big House. In fact, there are still tickets available to the game (if you happen to be in the area). The Huskers have built up some momentum after two Big Ten victories in a row. They are not shaken by being down in games anymore. The Huskers have the ability to come back and they know it, especially against a less potent offense like the Spartans.

Win the field position battle with special teams. Brett Maher has corrected his early season troubles in both the punting and kicking games. Maher will need to take advantage of every opportunity to put points on the board Saturday as well as help in switching fields in the punt game. If Nebraska can refrain from giving the Spartan offense a short field, it will go a long ways towards a Husker victory.

Stop the Spartans run game, i.e. Le'Veon Bell, and force them to pass. Nebraska's secondary is the strength of the Blackshirts, although the D-line and linebackers have come on strong of late. No doubt the Michigan game has fueled the defense with a lot of confidence. If NU can make Michigan State one dimensional, the Huskers should be able to get to QB Andrew Maxwell and force some errant throws. A defensive touchdown by the Huskers could be the points that seal this one up.

Use Michigan State's aggressive defense to Nebraska's advantage. Taylor Martinez said this week he likes playing against blitzing defenses. Martinez will have to get the ball out quick, make good reads, not force passes, and protect the ball. Much of this is on offensive coordinator Tim Beck to put Martinez in positions to succeed. (Please, no more read options when on the Nebraska one-yard line.) Another offensive key for the Huskers is Ameer Abdullah, pound for pound the toughest running back in the Big Ten and maybe the country. Without Rex Burkhead able to go, Abdullah will be the workhorse back for the Big Red. Expect to see Braylon Heard and Imani Cross in there as well, but this game may come down to the effectiveness of Abdullah on the ground.

This game is shaping up to be a low scoring, defensive grudge match. We think the Husker defense will create some good scoring opportunities for NU's offense and the Husker receivers will take advantage in the open field. Brett Maher will hit two field goals and Nebraska will have just enough in the way of points to escape East Lansing with a victory. Nebraska 20 - Michigan State 17. GBR!

Why the Huskers will lose to Michigan State

Michigan State has the best defense the Huskers will face this year, better than Michigan's and better than Wisconsin's. The Spartans are the top ranked scoring defense in the Big Ten, 1st in rush defense and total defense, and 4th in pass defense. They are aggressive and fast, and prefer to blitz mobile quarterbacks rather than contain them. Mark Dantonio's bunch was able to limit both Denard Robinson and Braxton Miller, holding Michigan to 12 points and Ohio State to 17. The Huskers will be the fifth ranked team the Spartans will have played this year, while Nebraska only has played two ranked teams.

The Spartans have lost four games this season, three of them by a combined six points. They are 1-1 in overtime games in 2012. Notre Dame is the only team who handily beat Sparty (20-3 in East Lansing). This team is accustomed to playing in close games, defensive grudge matches, and low scoring affairs. Nebraska has been in only two games this season where the final score was less than six points, both of which resulted in come from behind wins by the Huskers. Throw the record books out the window in a game like this. The Spartans are desperately seeking to turn their season around and even though their chances of winning the Legends Division are effectively nil, they will still play for pride and to defend their home field.

After the big win over Michigan and the return of the Blackshirts, the game against Michigan State is ripe for an upset. Last year the Huskers beat Michigan State to take control of the Legends Division, were awarded their Blackshirts, and proceeded to lay an egg against Northwestern the next week, effectively taking them out of the Legends race. This season, the Huskers have been able to avenge their three conference losses from a year ago (Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Michigan). On the flip side, NU's only conference loss was to a team they beat last year (Ohio State). Mark Dantonio will be looking for redemption against the Big Red after Sparty's 24-3 loss in Lincoln a season ago.

So why won't the Huskers win in East Lansing?

Nebraska is a turnover machine, with a minus 8 turnover margin on the season, good enough for dead last in the conference and 111th in the country. Add in the penalty factor (102nd in the country, 12th in the Big Ten) and you have the recipe for an ugly performance nearly every game out. This Nebraska team hasn't played great on the road (see UCLA and Ohio State, as well as Wisconsin and Michigan from last season) and they needed a 12-point fourth quarter rally to beat Northwestern. Three or four years ago, Nebraska was a better road team than home team. For whatever reason, that has been reversed.

Taylor Martinez has improved at getting the ball out quickly, often throwing to his first read. Unfortunately, the Spartans will overwhelm the NU offensive line at times and get pressure on Martinez, forcing him into a couple errant throws. The Michigan State secondary will not drop sure interceptions as other teams have done this year. Nebraska will not be able to establish the run first to open up the pass. They will need to pass first to open up the run. Given the size, athleticism, and speed of the Spartans defense, the Husker offense will struggle to put points on the board.

Check back tomorrow for "Why the Huskers will beat Michigan State."

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Guess the Score Contest - NU vs Michigan State

Be the closest guess to the actual final score between Nebraska and Michigan State and win free Huskers gear or other great prizes. Click on the image below for the official rules and to get your score entered. Good luck & Go Big Red.

BTN to showcase 1994 Huskers team Tuesday night

The Big Ten Network will be airing a one-hour special on the 1994 Nebraska football team as part of their "Big Ten Elite" series. The show will air Tuesday, October 30th at 7pm CST and repeat at 9pm CST.

The 1994 season culminated in Tom Osborne's first national championship, a come from behind win over Miami in the Orange Bowl.

Nebraska vs Michigan game photos, updated polls, and volleyball

Nebraska reenters the polls at #21 in both the AP and USA Today/Coaches. They rank #20 in the BCS poll released today.

In volleyball, the Huskers beat #1 Penn State in five sets today at the Coliseum in one of the more hard fought wins you'll ever see. After dropping the first set 25-12 and falling behind by eight in the second, Nebraska rallied to take the second set 32-30. The Huskers dropped the third by a score of 25-19 before closing out the match with back-to-back set wins 25-23 and 15-10. With the victory, Nebraska still has a shot at winning the Big Ten title.

Below are our game photos from Saturday night's big Husker win over Michigan.

Be sure to enter our Guess the Score Contest for the Michigan State game.

Nebraska defenders earn their Blackshirts

Evidently Bo Pelini wanted to give his defense their blackshirts after the Northwestern game, but the players refused, saying they hadn't earned them yet. Well, Saturday night's 23-9 win over a good Michigan team did the trick. The Blackshirts are back!

Sean Fisher played his best game of the year and possibly his Nebraska career as he recorded seven tackles. Ciante Evans has turned into a very good defensive back. The cornerback record six tackles on the game. It was a team victory for the Huskers as they put together their best performance of the season. Special teams, the offense and defense all contributed in this one.

Kenny Bell scored the game's first points early in the second quarter on a 32 yard touchdown reception from Taylor Martinez. Brett Maher was 3-3 on field goals in the third quarter as the offense squandered two real good opportunities and failed to get into the end zone. Credit the Michigan defense on those two series. Ameer Abdullah's touchdown run with 10 minutes left in the game effectively put it out of reach for the Wolverines. Abdullah finished the game with 101 yards on the ground, in the place of injured starter Rex Burkhead.

The key play came late in the second quarter when Denard Robinson went down with an elbow injury. He would not return to the game and Russell Bellomy, the redshirt freshman who replaced Denard wasn't nearly the threat as Shoelaces. In fact, Bellomy would throw three interceptions, swinging the turnover margin in the Huskers favor. Nebraska gave the ball away twice, but only three points were scored as a result of Husker turnovers.

Was the reffing as terrible as it looked in person? The side judge on the Nebraska sideline seemed to be the guy coming up with penalties against the Huskers at every opportunity. That could be due to Bo having conversations with him fairly often. Either way, Nebraska needs to find a way to clean up the penalties. NU finished with eight penalties for 104 yards, including a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the bench. This came right after a questionable pass interference call. In fact, much of Michigan's yardage on this drive came as a result of Husker penalties.

It seems we say "must-win" game far too often. This truly was a must-win game though. Without it and the Huskers were out of the Legends Division race, out of the Big Ten title game race, and panic would have set in among the fan base. With the win, Nebraska goes to 6-2 on the year and 3-1 in the Big Ten. They hold the tiebreaker over Michigan, also 3-1 in conference play. Nebraska continues to control their own destiny, needing another win this coming Saturday in East Lansing against a struggling Michigan State team. Win and advance. Let's keep this momentum going, Huskers!

Check out our game photos here.

Be sure to enter our Guess the Score Contest for the Michigan State game here and also get entered in our t-shirt giveaway.

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Video: Tom Osborne from earlier this week

Here are a series of videos taken from an event at Kohll's Pharmacy & Homecare in Omaha from Wednesday night. Tom does a little stand up comedy, talks about what made Nebraska special, and reflects on his last conversation with Bob Devaney. Thank you to Kohll's Pharmacy for posting these videos on YouTube.

Is Harvey Perlman the one who needs to be replaced?

October 16, 2007 was the day that Tom Osborne saved Harvey Perlman's bacon. The day T.O. became athletic director at Nebraska, hired to clean up the mess that Steve Pederson had created. Was there any other single human being who could so quickly bring Husker Nation together again other than Osborne? The long and short answer is no.

Flash forward to September 26, 2012, when Tom Osborne announced his retirement as athletic director at Nebraska. Husker fans knew this day was coming, but still it was a surprise. Perhaps more surprising was the relatively short transition period of three months. Many observers had figured it would be a 1-2 year transition, giving Osborne time to nurture the new guy, because nothing short of running a big time athletic department actually prepares someone for the job.

Conspiracy theorists abound on this subject. Was Osborne pushed to retire earlier than he wanted to by Perlman so Harvey could get a new guy in here who would want to hire his own football coach? Was all this a ploy to get Bo Pelini replaced? It's no secret that Bo and Harvey have crossed swords on several occasions over the last five years. Some donors are no doubt upset by the persona of Bo Pelini as it relates to the media. And some are probably disappointed that Pelini's program appears to have plateaued and may be showing signs of regressing.

Whatever the reason for T.O.'s retirement, the way Perlman handled the aftermath was unusual to say the least. It's no secret the search for a new AD began or largely took place before the Osborne retirement announcement. Shawn Eichorst alluded to being contacted in August at today's press conference announcing his hiring. One can't fault Perlman for wanting to keep the process out of the media spotlight, but one can blame Harvey for saying Osborne would be involved in the process only to have that not be the case. Why would you not involve Osborne, a man who has given his entire professional career to the state of Nebraska in various capacities? Not to tap that wealth of knowledge doesn't make sense.

Today's press conference began in weird fashion, with Harvey Perlman stating that Tom Osborne was in the room. Nothing to see here folks, everything is fine. Tom and I are going out for drinks after this for those who want to join us. Okay, that may be a stretch. But rather than welcome all the media members, the athletic department employees, fans of Husker athletics, and set the stage that way, he chose to announce to the world one VIP who was in the room. Tom Osborne is a man of service and his appearance was not in support of Harvey Perlman but for the benefit of the University of Nebraska. Osborne's absence from this presser would have been a bigger story than the hiring of a new AD. He didn't want that to be the case.

Harvey Perlman has been chancellor at Nebraska since April 1, 2001. Prior to that he served as interim chancellor for roughly nine months. Here's a look at some of the decisions Perlman has made during his tenure as chancellor:
--Perlman hires Steve Pederson upon the recommendation of Osborne and many others. Strike one.
--Perlman extends the contract of Pederson and supports the extension of head coach Bill Callahan's contract right before the wheels come off the football program. Strike two.
--Perlman no doubt in self-preservation mode fires Pederson and brings in Tom Osborne as AD. Well done, Harv.
--Perlman along with Tom Osborne lead the Huskers to the Big Ten, escaping the turmoil of the Big 12. This is a great move for the University. Well done, Harv, part II.
--Perlman, taking a page out of Steve Pederson's hiring practices book, appears to make a unilateral decision to hire Shawn Eichorst as the next AD at Nebraska, without consulting Osborne in a significant manner. Foul ball at a minimum, not for the hire, but for the search process as has been publicized and for upsetting Tom Osborne in any way.

Only time will tell if Shawn Eichorst is a good hire or not. Did Harvey bring him in to do the dirty work of replacing Bo? And what are the ramifications of going through yet another coaching change if one were to happen. At this point, midway through the season, this is purely speculation. Pelini must be given a chance to rectify what ails his team. If he gets the Huskers to Indy for the Big Ten title game, then much of this talk is tabled.

One has to wonder though how much longer Harvey will be around. If this decision backfires on him, one would have to think he may be the next to be replaced.

Another big loss changes the process

After a day or two to reflect on the Huskers loss in Columbus, we find ourselves more intrigued by something that happened after the game than during it. After all, what happened on the field wasn't new. It was the same bugaboos afflicting Nebraska that we've seen in several other high profile blowout losses, i.e. the deadly combination of turnovers, penalties, and poor tackling. What caught our attention was a comment Bo Pelini made as he addressed reporters from the bowels of Ohio Stadium after the loss. Bo said he told his team they'd need to "win out" in order to make it to Indianapolis and the Big Ten title game. For a guy who never looks ahead, who never comments on the rest of the schedule, it was an odd phrase. Maybe it was an attempt to focus his team on the bigger goal of playing for and winning a conference title, reminding them of what's at stake, instead of the mundane "we're only focused on the next team we face."

Also catching our eye with Bo in his post-game presser was his tone. It wasn't of anger or disgust, it wasn't of defiance (as in we'll bounce back), it was one of somber reflection combined with a dose of flabbergast. Bo gave off the impression that he's tried everything to correct the big blowout losses on the road in prime time games, but to no avail. In a season where his defense gave up the most yards in school history (653 against UCLA) and now the most points (63) during his Nebraska tenure, Bo apparently doesn't have any answers. In fact, when the Omaha World-Herald's Tom Shatel asked him after the OSU loss why these kind of losses keep happening, Bo said he didn't know. Whether he didn't want to throw his players under the bus or if in fact he doesn't know why it keeps happening, the bottom line is that it does keep happening. As head coach, either way, it's on you, Bo. If your defensive system doesn't work without SEC-caliber talent, then you need to change the scheme or get SEC-caliber talent.

We want Bo Pelini to succeed at Nebraska. This isn't a Fire Pelini website. In fact, it's quite the opposite. In lieu of hiring a rock star head coach, stability is the best ingredient for long term program success. Yet big time programs, and is there one bigger than Alabama right now, have all gone through periods of malaise. Prior to Nick Saban's arrival in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide hadn't won a national title since 1992 under then head coach Gene Stallings. From 1996 (Stallings' final season at Alabama) to 2007, the Crimson Tide had five different head coaches, including one who was fired before coaching a single game (Mike Price liked him some strip clubs). Oklahoma struggled for a decade after Barry Switzer left. That's no excuse to let it happen, but rather an indication that it's not just happening at Nebraska.

Whether Bo Pelini is one of the filler guys or will turn into "The Guy," much of his legacy will be determined by how this team finishes this season. If the Huskers win out, much of this talk is forgotten. If they lose four games in the regular season, miss out on the Big Ten title game, and finish the season with another disappointing bowl loss, then it will be an even longer off-season than last year. So where do we stand?

Here are the positives:
The Huskers are 1-1 in conference play. If they can either win out or manage to lose only one more game during the regular season, there's a real good chance they will make Indy and have a chance at 11 or 12 wins.

The offense isn't bad this year, minus the turnovers. The Huskers rank 16th nationally and 1st in the Big Ten in total offense. Granted, much of these stats were piled up against lesser foes, but very few power conference teams load up on their non-con schedule.

The Big Ten is up for grabs this year because the best team (Ohio State) isn't eligible to play in the championship game. Neither is Penn State. Purdue doesn't look as good as originally thought, leaving Wisconsin as the likely favorite to win the Leaders.

Each remaining game on the schedule is winnable if the Huskers play good in all three phases, limit turnovers and penalties, and tackle.

Here are the negatives:
Nebraska still hasn't figured out a way to stop or even slow down mobile quarterbacks. They face three more this season in Kain Colter (Northwestern), Denard Robinson (Michigan), and MarQueis Gray (Minnesota).

The Huskers are tied for the most fumbles lost in the FBS with 10 and they rank 109th in turnover margin at -6.

The Big Red are the third highest penalized team in the Big Ten, averaging over 62 yards per game.

While each game may be winnable if the Huskers play well in all three phases, they have yet to do so against a good opponent this year.

As inconsistent as the Huskers have been, it's naive to think they will run the table, barring some miraculous new found ability to refrain from shooting themselves in the foot.

Our preseason predictions have been on except for the loss at UCLA. We originally predicted wins at Northwestern and over Michigan, with a loss at Michigan State. Given what we've seen so far this season, we would now switch the loss to Michigan and predict a road win at East Lansing. That's based on the general feel of this team, which has a tendency to bounce back from a devastating loss win a big win.

If you haven't read Dirk Chatelain's article from today, do yourself a favor and check it out here. He lists his 63 takeaways from the Ohio State game.

On a brighter note, get your name entered in our Huskers t-shirt giveaway. We're giving away another dozen shirts over the remainder of the regular season (two per week). You only need to enter once, but you can't win if you don't enter.

Finally, follow us on Twitter @huskerfaithful and Instagram: HuskerFaithful. GBR!

Huskers lose in disappointing fashion to Ohio State

Missed tackles, turnovers and penalties are never a recipe for success, especially against a talented team like Ohio State. Unfortunately for Huskers fans, their team came up short in another prime time road test, falling to Ohio State 63-38.

Nebraska seemed to bounce back well after an early pick six thrown by Taylor Martinez put the Buckeyes up 7-0. The Huskers scored the next 17 points before Ohio State responded with 14 in a row. The game remained within four points until a late first half touchdown by Braxton Miller gave the Buckeyes a 35-24 halftime lead.

Nebraska responded on their first drive in the second half with a touchdown, pulling back to within four points. The Buckeyes would rattle off three straight touchdowns to take a commanding, 56-31 lead. Both teams added another touchdown to reach the final of 63-38.

As we mentioned in the opening, turnovers and penalties were partly to blame. Once again though a mobile quarterback proved a difficult challenge for the Husker defense. Braxton Miller ran for 185 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown, while adding another 127 yards through the air.

Ohio State's running back, Carlos Hyde, was the biggest beneficiary of the attention given towards Braxton Miller. Hyde rushed for 138 yards and four touchdowns, including a 16-yard TD with 48 seconds left in the game, despite the Buckeyes being up by 18 points.

Rex Burkhead led the Huskers in rushing with 119 yards but left the game early in the second half after re-injuring his left knee. He would not return to action. Kenny Bell was the leading receiver for Nebraska with 133 yards on five receptions.

Three interceptions, one lost fumble, and nine penalties for 75 yards put a big dent in the Huskers chances for victory. The defensive struggles that were apparent in the UCLA game reared their ugly head again tonight against the Buckeyes. Some confusion, missed tackles, and missed assignments made a tall task (stopping Braxton Miller) next to impossible.

There's not much else to say about this game. A very disappointing loss that the Huskers will need to bounce back from quickly.

Next week is a bye week before Nebraska travels to Evanston, Illinois to take on Northwestern, who dropped their first game of the season today against Penn State.

Husker Faithful's 2012 Shirt Giveaway!

Husker Faithful will be giving away two shirts to two randomly drawn winners each week over the remainder of the Husker 2012 regular season football schedule. Click the link to get your name entered for your chance to win. Good luck & GBR!

Shawn Eichorst is your next AD at Nebraska

Former Miami athletic director Shawn Eichorst has been announced as the next AD at Nebraska. Eichorst served under Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin before taking the Miami job. He will first serve as a special assistant to Chancellor Harvey Perlman until current AD Tom Osborne officially retires on January 1st. Eichorst leaves a Miami program that will face significant sanctions and penalties for allowing a booster to give lavish benefits to dozens of football players over an extended period of time. All of these violations occurred before Eichorst took the job at Miami.

Rex Burkhead was on Jim Rome today

Rex Burkhead was on the Jim Rome radio show to talk about the Huskers upcoming game against Ohio State as well as his work with Team Jack. You can listen to the interview here.

Guess the Score Contest - NU vs Michigan

Be the closest guess to the actual final score between Nebraska and Michigan and win free Huskers gear or other great prizes. Click on the image below for the official rules and to get your score entered. Good luck & Go Big Red.

Stats...what are they good for?

Both Nebraska and their next opponent, the Ohio State Buckeyes, are fresh off key conference victories. The Huskers pulled off a come from behind win over Wisconsin that was eerily similar to last year's Nebraska-Ohio State game. The Buckeyes earned a hard-fought road win in East Lansing, defeating the Michigan State Spartans 17-16.

Husker fans don't seem as confident heading into Columbus as they were a week ago. Maybe that has to do with the Big Red being 4.5 point underdogs on the road in yet another marquee matchup. Last season those types of games didn't go the Huskers way. Or maybe it's because of the Ohio State QB Braxton Miller, who represents much of the Buckeyes offense. Regardless, here's a look at how both teams compare statistically within the Big Ten.

Scoring Offense: Nebraska #1 (44.8 pts), Ohio State #5 (33.6 pts)
Rushing Offense: Nebraska #1 (306 yds/game), Ohio State #3 (224 yds/game)
Passing Offense: Nebraska #7 (216 yds/game), Ohio State #11 (194 yds/game)

Penalty Yards Per Game: Nebraska #9 (60), Ohio State #11 (65)
Turnover Margin: Ohio State #5 (0.40), Nebraska #9 (-0.60)
3rd Down Conversions: Nebraska #2 (52.38%), Ohio State #6 (43.28%)
Long Scrimmage Plays (10 yards or more): Nebraska #1 (88), Ohio State #3 (72)

Scoring Defense: Ohio State #3 (17 pts/game), Nebraska #7 (20.6 pts/game)
Rushing Defense: Ohio State #3 (101 yds/game), Nebraska #10 (153 yds/game)
Passing Defense: Nebraska #4 (188 yds/game), Ohio State #11 (276 yds/game)
Sacks: Nebraska #1 (19), Ohio State #3 (12)
Tackles for Loss: Nebraska #1 (43), Ohio State #12 (20)
Interceptions: Ohio State #2 (7), Nebraska #8 (3)

Obviously the concern for the Blackshirts heading into Columbus is how to stop or slow down QB Braxton Miller. The Buckeyes were cruising along to an easy victory last year in Lincoln, up by 21 points, when Miller went down with an ankle injury. Cue the greatest comeback in Husker football history. Miller ranks #2 of all Big Ten players in rushing yards per game at 131, trailing only Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell. Through the first five games, Miller has been averaging 18 carries per game. He will clearly be the focus of the Nebraska defense. Ohio State also has a good running back in Jordan Hall, who ranks #13 of all Big Ten rushers in terms of yards per game at 55. As of this post, he is doubtful to play against Nebraska due to a partially torn PCL ligament.

If the Husker defensive line can turn in another performance like they did against Wisconsin, it could be a long day for Miller. More likely the game will fall on the shoulders of the Husker linebackers who will be required to track down and tackle Braxton Miller. If they're able to make plays (i.e. limit yards after contact), we like Nebraska's chances. The Buckeyes haven't looked stellar in any of their five wins. They were notorious slow starters against lesser opponents like Central Florida, California, and UAB. The Huskers themselves experienced the slow start bug last week, something they will need to remedy heading into The Horseshoe.

Our pre-season prediction was the Huskers would lose this game by a score of 31-20. Given the Buckeyes propensity for slow starts and less-than-stellar offensive production thus far, we think the game will be closer, unless the Huskers turn the ball over multiple times. Limit penalties and turnovers, pound the rock and use the pass efficiently, and contain the big play capability of Braxton Miller. That's the Huskers formula for a conference road victory. GBR!

Wisconsin game videos and reaction

Offensive starting lineups:

Husker Power Chants:

Pre-Tunnel Walk:

Tunnel Walk:

After the Tunnel Walk & before kickoff:

Forcing a timeout:

The final whistle:

Game Summary:

Nebraska got off to one of its slowest starts in recent memory, spotting the Badgers a quick 14 points and getting down by as much as 17 points in the first half. The Huskers managed a Rex Burkhead touchdown reception with a little over three minutes left in the first half to cut the deficit to 10 points.

The third quarter began much like the first quarter, with Wisconsin scoring a quick touchdown to regain a 17 point lead, 27-10. Nebraska would own the game from then on, scoring 20 straight points to seal their second big comeback in two years with a final score of 30-27.

Nebraska only allowed 56 rushing yards to the Badgers, despite Montee Ball playing the entire game. Ball ended the game with three touchdowns, with his longest being two yards.

Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead led the Huskers in rushing, with 107 and 86 yards, respectively. Kenny Bell led the Big Red in receiving with 57 yards.

It sure wasn't pretty. Two turnovers, including an uncharacteristic Rex Burkhead fumble on the first series, and an untimely roughing the kicker penalty on Stanley Jean-Baptiste game Wisconsin more possessions than NU would have liked. In the end, the Huskers get the W and move on to play Ohio State.

Hats off to the Blackshirts who dug deep in the second half and to the fans in Memorial Stadium. The crowd noise was definitely felt on the playing field. GBR!

Instagram: HuskerFaithful Photos

Check us out on Instagram (HuskerFaithful). Here are some of our Nebraska Huskers photos.

Video: Barry Switzer tells his favorite Bob Devaney story

This video is part of the Husker movie being put together called "Through These Gates." Read more about it at www.huskersfilm.com.

Husker Adidas shoes revealed

Here's the follow-up video to the teaser one released by Adidas and the university earlier this week. Check it out...

Bielema suspends trash-talking DE for one play and other game notes

Wisconsin defensive end David Gilbert doesn't see improvement in Taylor Martinez's throwing motion, saying "It still looks like he's skipping rocks out there to me." Gilbert explained a bit more in case that wasn't clear enough: "He still can't throw. I'm just going to say it. He still can't throw. He's not going to beat us with his arm." Easy now Tim Beck. That doesn't mean we need to prove this guy wrong by throwing every down.

Gilbert later clarified his comments by calling Martinez "soft." In a swift carriage of justice, Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema came down hard on his tongue-wagging player by suspending him, not for the game, but for one play. Makes one think the coaching staff is endorsing these comments in an attempt to get inside Taylor's head before a big game. It also makes one think Wisconsin doesn't feel very confident in its own abilities and must resort to verbal warfare. Let's hope Taylor has a great game, on the ground and in the air, that Quincy Enunwa introduces this Gilbert guy with a crackback block, and the Huskers roll the Badgers.

We brought this up on Twitter yesterday, but it would be interesting to see the win-loss record of teams who've had players talk trash like this. If we had to guess, those teams lost more often than not.

One more Wisconsin game note, first year quarterbacks have not fared well against Pelini led defenses at Nebraska. Just something to think about when Wisconsin trots out freshman Joel Stave (as in Rico Suave). Plus, Stave is not a running threat. He's a pocket passer. First line of business for the Blackshirts...stop the run. Montee Ball will play Saturday night. If the Huskers can stop the run and force Stave to pass, the Huskers will win that side of the ball. And Joel Stave will get to know Eric Martin more than he'd like to. Then it's just up to the offense to hold onto the ball.

Tom Osborne announces retirement

UNL athletic director and icon, Tom Osborne, announced his retirement effective January 1st. The decision on the next athletic director will be Chancellor Harvey Perlman's to make but Osborne said he would assist in any way he can with the search for a new AD.

Harvey Perlman said Tom approached him in August and notified Perlman it was his intention to step down after this football season on January 1st. Perlman has hired a national search firm to find the next athletic director at Nebraska.

Perlman has interviewed a couple candidates already and made a joke about reporters tracking his car and plane tail numbers so they can figure out where he is.

Press conference at 11am on future of Husker athletics

Tom Osborne and Harvey Perlman will be holding a press conference today at 11am to discuss the future of Nebraska athletics. The rumors going around the Twittersphere and blogosphere are that Tom Osborne will announce his retirement plans. Whether that means now or some point in the future isn't known at the current time. If this is indeed what the press conference is about, we would guess Osborne sticks around for another 6-12 months but names his successor now. Then again, it could be about upgrading the UNL bowling team's facilities. We'll keep you posted.

You can watch the press conference live right here.

Wisconsin game hype and playing through it

Adidas Techfit uniforms. The Big Ten home opener. The revenge factor. There are a lot of supposed story lines heading into Saturday night's matchup with Wisconsin. Perhaps the most important is that Nebraska gets yet another opportunity to play on national television in prime time. Will they block out the hype surrounding this game and focus on playing sound football against the Badgers? This might be tougher than Husker fans think.

The Nebraska football program will be going for win #850 this Saturday night as the Huskers begin their second trip through the Big Ten Conference. Both Wisconsin and Nebraska will be unveiling their alternate, Adidas Techfit jerseys for the game. Wisconsin will be wearing white jerseys with white pants, while the Huskers will have red jerseys and red pants. It's fair to say given the factors outlined above this game is the most hyped since the 2010 home game against Texas. The "Red Out Around the World" game, or "Redemption for 0:01," whatever you want to call it, too much emphasis was placed on that one game. Lesson learned...we think. While that Texas team was more talented than this Badgers team, there are some similarities in terms of the hype and distractions. The Husker players will need to focus on the fundamentals (limit turnovers and penalties, make tackles and plays at first opportunity, establish an effective run game and limit the opponent's ground game) in order to secure their first conference win of the season.

After winning the Big Ten and representing the conference in the Rose Bowl the past two seasons, Wisconsin hasn't looked nearly as formidable as they were expected to be through four games. Most of their difficulties have been on the offensive side of the ball. The Badgers rank 102nd nationally in scoring offense at 21.5 points per game, #113 in passing, and #88 in rushing. All this despite having 2011 Heisman finalist RB Montee Ball and backup RB James White in the lineup. Ball suffered his second concussion of the year last week against UTEP but is expected to play against Nebraska. Believe this or not, before Ball was knocked out of the UTEP game he fumbled for the first time in his career. He had carried the ball 654 carries without a fumble. Pretty impressive.

Wisconsin's season got off to a rocky start as the Badgers barely held on to beat FCS Northern Iowa in their home opener. The following week Bucky's Bunch were held to 207 yards of total offense by Oregon State in a 10-7 road loss. Utah State missed what would have been a game-winning field goal in the waning seconds, which would have handed Wisconsin their second loss in as many games. Last week the Badger offense finally seemed to get on track against a decent UTEP team as freshman QB Joel Stave took over for transfer Danny O'Brien. Stave is expected to start Saturday night against the Huskers.

Much of Wisconsin's offensive struggles can be attributed to the departure of QB Russell Wilson, who is now the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. You may have heard about his Hail Mary interception ruled a touchdown on Monday Night Football. At Wisconsin, Wilson was a true mobile quarterback, fleet of foot with a strong and accurate throwing arm. Head coach Bret Bielema attempted to duplicate the success of Wilson by bringing in another free agent QB signing in Danny O'Brien, but thus far they haven't experienced anywhere near the same level of output as they did with Wilson. Don't forget about WR Jared Abbrederis, who is the leading receiver for the Badgers and a deep threat.

Another factor in Wisconsin' struggles this season is the loss of six assistant coaches to other jobs during the off-season, including offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, who was hired by none other than Steve Pederson at Pittsburgh. Chryst took several other assistants with him, including the coaches responsible for the linebackers, offensive line, and tight ends.

The Badgers defense has been much better through four games than the offense. Nationally they rank #33 in scoring defense, giving up 17.8 points per game. They are led by linebackers Chris Borland and Mike Taylor, who were the top two tacklers in the Big Ten last season.

Wisconsin football staples are a big offensive line, a powerful run game, and a solid defense. These facets are still in place for the Badgers, although to a lesser extent than in past seasons. Still, if last week was any indication, the Badgers offense looks to be more formidable and coming into their own. The Huskers can't take this game lightly and we don't think that will happen. They need to get past the alternate uniform buzz and play sound football. With this game being at home, at night, against a team without a mobile quarterback, we don't see the Huskers coming out on the short end. Given that the Huskers are currently favored by around 13.5 points, we would expect a double digit victory for Nebraska.

Follow us on Twitter @HuskerFaithful, on Instagram (HuskerFaithful), and Facebook.com/HuskerFaithful.

Adidas alternate uniform shoes - teaser video

Guess the Score Contest - Wisconsin

Be the closest guess to the actual final score between Nebraska and Wisconsin and win free Huskers gear or other great prizes. Click on the image below for the official rules and to get your score entered. Good luck & Go Big Red.

The Sea of Red experiences some waves

Nineteen minutes into the Idaho State game, Huskers fans must have been bored because the Sea of Red experienced some waves. Here's a look:

Huskers move up in polls; 5th in Big Ten power rankings

Fresh off their total domination of FCS Idaho State, Nebraska moves up three spots in the AP poll to #22. In the USA Today Coaches Poll, Nebraska is ranked #20, ahead of #23 Wisconsin who the Huskers play next Saturday night.

Michigan and Wisconsin both fell out of the AP Top 25, leaving only three Big Ten teams in this poll.

Tom Diehart with the Big Ten Network reveals his B1G power rankings. Let's cut to the chase: Nebraska is 5th. That's right, behind (in order) Ohio State, Northwestern, Minnesota, and Michigan State.

Huskers mash Idaho State

Going into this game, most Husker fans would have predicted a lopsided affair, but 73-7 may have exceeded expectations. The game was never in doubt as Nebraska jumped all over Idaho State to the tune of 35-0 in the first quarter and 45-0 at the half.

Rex Burkhead put his cape back on for another out of the phone booth performance, rushing for 119 yards on only eight carries. That's a sick 15 yards per carry. Imani Cross also reached the 100-yard mark, but on 12 carries. Taylor Martinez was 9-13 passing, for 165 yards and two touchdowns. In other words, there was plenty of offense by the Huskers:

569 yards, 385 on the ground
An average of 7.4 yards per rush.

Nebraska did however turn the ball over three times and commit nine penalties for 104 yards. A healthy chunk of those penalty yards came on pass interference calls.

The Blackshirts held Idaho State scoreless until two and a half minutes into the fourth quarter. In total, they gave up 210 yards. Time of possession was evenly split between the two teams.

The highlight of the game took place in the stands. A series of waves, some fast, some slow, some normal, got the crowd involved more so than in recent memory. Nice work band and student section!

Next up is Wisconsin, who beat UTEP 37-26 at home. The Badgers have yet to show anywhere near the potency they displayed last season with Russell Wilson at the helm.

The next five games for the Huskers will determine how special, or not, this season will be. Given the state of the Big Ten, it appears to be up for grabs. There's no reason the Huskers can't make a trip to Indy this season and be hoisting the conference trophy. GBR!

Check out our game photos from Idaho State.

Do you like the Huskers? Do you have Dish Network? Read on.

The Big Ten Network and Dish Network have reached an agreement just in time for today's Nebraska vs Idaho State game to be aired on BTN. No doubt quite a few Huskers fans are relieved with the news. Here is the full announcement as seen on the BTN website.

Dish Network update

Moore gone, Rome back

Tyler Moore walked out of practice before the season started and now it's official that he's not coming back. The highly touted offensive lineman has decided to take his talents to The Swamp and play for the Florida Gators.

Chase Rome was another of the higher profile Husker players to depart the team recently, however, it appears he's back on the team. Rome has been practicing with the Huskers all week. It will be interesting to see if he plays right away or if there is some kind of waiting period. Under normal circumstances, Bo Pelini would probably sit the guy for several weeks and make him work even harder to earn back his spot.

Phil Steele loves him some Huskers now

Phil Steele, the expert's expert of college football, has had a change of heart in light of how pathetic the Big Ten looks through three games this season.

In his updated projected standings, Steele has the Huskers winning the Legends Division and going 8-0 in Big Ten play. He believes NU will win at Ohio State and Michigan State as well as beat Wisconsin and Michigan at home. Somewhat surprisingly, Steele picks Michigan to be fourth in the Legends with a 4-4 conference record (losses to Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Ohio State).

In the Leaders Division, Steele predicts Purdue will make its way to Indy for the Big Ten title game with a 7-1 conference record. In second place of the Leaders is Ohio State, who Steele believes will lose to Michigan State and Nebraska.

An interesting development to say the least. If the Huskers were to finish out the regular season with only one loss, they would have an outside shot at the national title game and be a lock for a BCS game. It will be fun to watch this season play out.

Here is the full college football conference breakdown by Phil Steele.

Vote for Rex!

AllState and the American Football Coaches Association have announced their 22 finalists for their annual AllState AFCA Good Works Team. Of course, our own Rex Burkhead is on the list. He needs your vote to make the final cut. Vote early and often, Husker fans!

Vote for Rex here!

How the Huskers rank through three games

We like stats. If you do too, keep reading. Here's how the Huskers rank nationally and among their Big Ten peers after three games, as well as individually.

Scoring offense - #22 (40.3 points/game) - #2 in the Big Ten
Rushing offense - #8 (295 yards/game) - #1 in the Big Ten
Passing offense - #61 (237.7 yards/game) - #4 in the Big Ten
Total offense - #16 (532.7 yards/game) - #2 in the Big Ten
3rd down conversions - #6 (58.97%) - #2 in the Big Ten
Long scrimmage plays (over 10 yards) - #16 (53 plays) - tied for 1st in Big Ten
Time of possession - #72 (29:31 minutes/game) - #10 in Big Ten
Sacks allowed - #55 (five sacks for a loss of 49 yards) - tied for 5th in Big Ten

Scoring defense - #60 (23 points/game) - #11 in Big Ten
Rushing defense - #113 (225.67 yards/game) - #12 in Big Ten
Passing defense - #25 (174 yards/game) - #4 in Big Ten
Total defense - #74 (399.7 yards/game) - #11 in Big Ten
Sacks - #14 (nine sacks for a loss of 42 yards) - tied for 1st in Big Ten
Tackles for loss - #28 (21 total or 7 per game) - #1 in Big Ten
Opponent's 3rd down conversions - #89 (44%) - #10 in Big Ten
Opponent's long scrimmage plays (over 10 yards) - #57 (36 plays) - #8 in Big Ten

Penalties - #38 (41.3 yards/game) - #4 in Big Ten
Turnover margin - #89 (minus 2) - #10 in Big Ten
Fumbles lost - #109 (5 lost fumbles) - #12 in Big Ten

Here's a look at how individual Huskers are faring thus far in 2012:

Ameer Abdullah
#13 in rushing yards per game with 122.33 - #2 in Big Ten
#37 in punt return yards averaging 11.7 per attempt - 4th in Big Ten
#15 in all-purpose yards with 170.7 per game - #2 in Big Ten
#14 in long scrimmage plays (over 10 yards) with 13 - #1 in Big Ten

Taylor Martinez
#39 in passing yards per game with 237.7 - #1 in Big Ten
#20 in total offense with 296.3 yards per game - #3 in Big Ten

Kenny Bell
#79 in receiving yards with 68.3 per game - #5 in Big Ten
#20 in kickoff returns averaging 29.67 per attempt - #1 in Big Ten
#42 in all-purpose yards with 130 per game - #4 in Big Ten

Will Compton
#23 in tackles with 31 (10.33 per game) - #4 in Big Ten

Here are a few other tidbits:

The Nebraska offense leads the Big Ten in yards per play at 7.3 while ranking 9th in the nation.

Of the Huskers 1598 yards of offense, 55% have come on the ground.

Of the Huskers 219 plays on offense, they have ran the ball 64% of the time.

Taylor Martinez is tied for 10th in the country in passing completion percentage at 70.9%. Nebraska averages nine yards per passing attempt and 26 attempts per game.

We'll update this as the season progresses. Until next time, GBR!

Zaire Anderson out for the year

Just when things were looking up again for the Husker defensive unit, today we get word that LB Zaire Anderson tore his ACL in practice last week and will miss the rest of the season. That's right, last week. Zaire made his first start of the season last weekend and recorded three tackles on a torn ACL.

Head coach Bo Pelini said "it is what it is." Not joking, either. He really said that. His full comments were this: "Unfortunate for him. He was really coming along. But it is what it is. And he'll recover fully. Surprised all of us. But the kid's hurting."

Alonzo Whaley and David Santos will see more playing time again as a result of the injury. The Huskers also have Michael Rose, a true freshman, whose redshirt could be burned if need be.

Monday morning cup of Bo

Bo opens with, "I assume you want to jump right into Idaho State questions." Obviously the topic du jour is Bo's health, of which most of the questions were geared towards today.

Bo said he wasn't feeling well before the game and things got worse in the first half. At the hospital he was given a clean bill of health and is ready to move on.

His heart was checked out, but nothing is wrong. He is very healthy. Overall, Bo was in a great mood for today's presser, laughing several times and cracking jokes.

The other big news of the day is that senior RB Rex Burkhead will suit up and is likely to play on Saturday against Idaho State. The thought here is to knock the rust off before the start of Big Ten play.

More on Taylor Martinez, the Husker youth movement, and Rex

On Saturday, Taylor Martinez became only the second Husker in school history (Eric Crouch is the other) to surpass 2,000 yards rushing and 4,000 yards passing in his career. Taylor also set a single game passing completion percentage record (minimum 10 attempts) by connecting on 92.86% of his throws. The record was previously held by Turner Gill.

Early last week word started filtering out that we would see more of the young Huskers, especially on defense. Zaire Anderson, a junior college transfer, would get his first start against Arkansas State. On the defensive line, Aaron Curry and Avery Moss would see more time. Mo Seisay, another former JUCO guy, finally shed his ankle injury and would carry the load at one of the corner spots, opposite of Andrew Green. David Santos and even Todd Peat, Jr. saw action as well. Given that Arkansas State ran an up-tempo spread offense, it would be a good test for the youngsters coming off the UCLA game which exposed some weaknesses in the Husker defense. For the most part, the young guys didn't disappoint. They added a level of athleticism that was missing in the Huskers second game of the season.

Bo Pelini has tended to play knowledge of the system over best athlete during his head coaching tenure. That's his prerogative. Today's top recruits appear to be less willing to wait several years before seeing the field. Playing the young guys early if they're somewhat ready may yield more big gets in recruiting down the road.

This week's opponent, FCS school Idaho State, will provide one last tuneup for the Huskers before Wisconsin comes to town on September 29th. The Badgers by the way have looked terrible thus far in 2012. Two games in they fired their offensive line coach. They lost on the road at Oregon State and narrowly escaped with a win last week at home against Utah State. Their offense is clearly missing Russell Wilson at quarterback, but their O-line doesn't appear near as nasty as in past years. This game is clearly winnable for the Huskers and don't be surprised if the Big Red are high single digit favorites heading into the game.

Will we see Rex Burkhead this week? There's no need to him to return to action against such an undermanned team, especially given the play of the running backs in his absence. Ameer Abdullah, Braylon Heard and Imani Cross are more than holding their own since Burkhead went down on his third carry of the season. Rex may get a few touches to ease him back into full contact, but is it really worth it against lowly Idaho State?

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Update on Bo, Huskers move up, and Taylor season-to-date

Bo Pelini returned to work Sunday in what was deemed as a normal Sunday for him.

After a thorough defeat of Arkansas State, Nebraska moves up two spots to #22 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

Nebraska also re-entered the AP Poll at the #25 spot after previously being ranked the equivalent of 27th.

Taylor Martinez said before the season he wanted to complete 70% of his passes and most people laughed. Through three games, Martinez is 56 of 79 throwing the ball (70.9%) for 713 yards, seven touchdowns and only one interception. On the ground, Taylor has rushed for 176 yards on 30 carries and notching two touchdowns.

Blackshirts bounce back with dominating performance

After one of the more disappointing defensive performances of the Bo Pelini era one week ago, the Blackshirts were able to effectively shut down the hyped Arkansas State offense.

Obviously the story of the game besides the play on the field was Bo Pelini, who left the stadium at halftime via ambulance with flu-like symptoms. Athletic Director Tom Osborne addressed the situation after the game and said they took precautionary measures with Bo and that Bo is doing fine.

The Husker coaching staff talked about shaking up the defensive lineup and they did just that. Zaire Anderson got his first start with the Huskers at strongside linebacker, taking the place of Alonzo Whaley. Mo Seisay saw a lot of time at corner after sitting out the first two games with an ankle injury. The Huskers also mixed three and four man fronts against the Red Wolves, limiting them to 286 yards of total offense and six points.

For the Huskers offensively, Ameer Abdullah took the brunt of the load, rushing 30 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Ameer also had two receptions for 39 yards. Kenny Bell led the team in receiving yards with three catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Imani Cross and Taylor Martinez both added touchdowns on the ground as well. Speaking of Martinez, he clearly got back on track this week, completing 13 of 14 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. The Huskers did have four turnovers, all fumbles, which is disconcerting. Martinez's fumble led to Arkansas State's only touchdown of the day. Ameer appeared to get out of the way of a punt, but the referees ruled the ball hit Adbullah's foot.

A night and day difference from the UCLA game. Husker fans hope the season won't be as much of a roller coaster as the first three games have been. Next week's opponent, Idaho State, won't be much of a challenge for the Big Red, but it should afford a lot of the younger guys more playing time.

How video technology helps the Husker football team

Here's a good look behind the curtains at what goes into the film sessions and opponent scouting done by the Huskers.

Don't forget to get your score entered in our Guess the Score Contest. The winner gets free Huskers apparel.

Speaking of Huskers apparel, check out all our great Husker merchandise at our online store. A full line of Adidas gear, official jerseys and helmets, ladies and kids apparel, and more!

Follow us on Twitter @HuskerFaithful and on Instagram (HuskerFaithful). GBR!

Nebraska-Arkansas State tickets as low as $27

It's been awhile since Husker football tickets have been this cheap. This website has some available that will get you in for $27 apiece. Granted, Arkansas State doesn't sound like a very good opponent, but they do have some talent. The game could actually be quite good, depending on your definition of good I guess. At $27 though, tickets are selling for roughly half of their face value. Typically you have to haggle with a scalper at 9th & P until 10 minutes before kickoff in order to get them down this far. If you've always wanted to watch the Huskers, here's your chance.

Departure signs and David Oku

Aaron Green, Dijon Washington, Ryan Klachko, Tyler Moore, and now Chase Rome. Five players have left the Nebraska football team this year for various reasons. Some wanted to play closer to home. Some wanted to play, period. Chase Rome apparently was upset at his level of playing time, so he left the team yesterday.

Do the letters T-E-A-M mean anything today? I applaud the decision of Brion Carnes to move to wide receiver. Not only does he want to play, but he wants to help his team win any way that he can. He easily could have transferred to play QB somewhere else, but he chose to adapt and stay at Nebraska.

What to make of these recent departures? Are they troubling? Or are those less committed being weeded out? To some they're a sign that Bo Pelini doesn't know what he's doing. To others, it's a sign of today's me-first, entitlement society. Many of these kids have been told how great they are their entire lives and when they face adversity for the first time they're not sure how to handle it.

David Oku...does the name ring a bell? Anyone who has paid attention to recruiting over the last several years probably knows the name. Oku was a 4-star running back recruit, and the nation's top all-purpose back, living in Midwest City, Oklahoma who decided to move to Lincoln, Nebraska midway through his senior year. He did it to be closer to a girl he met on his official visit to Nebraska. Heavily recruited, Oku ended up signing with Tennessee during the rather short Lane Kiffin era there. To make a long story short, Oku now plays for Arkansas State, the team Nebraska faces on Saturday.

Husker fans old enough remember...

This happens every year after a tough or unexpected loss (which to some Husker fans is every loss). A vocal minority of the fan base is upset at the head coach. They don't think he's getting the job done. He won't ever win the big one. He can't beat so and so.

I wasn't around for the Bob Devaney era, so I can't comment on whether Husker fans wanted him gone at some point, but I do remember most of Tom Osborne's tenure. I remember 1978 when Husker fans nearly ran him out of town. I remember 1987 after the Huskers fell to the Oklahoma Sooners for the fourth straight year fans were chanting "T.O. must go." Never mind that Osborne was leading the Huskers to nine plus wins every season, since he couldn't beat one team, he wasn't good enough for some fans.

It goes with the territory of being a head coach I guess, but in today's world the entire process is sped up immensely. Water-cooler talk has been replaced by 24-7 social media. Snowballs are formed much faster. The tide turns at breakneck speed. That's why it's so important to have some perspective on the situation.

If there is anyone who understands what Bo is going through right now more than Tom Osborne, I am not aware of that person. If the trigger was pulled in either 1978 or 1987, it's quite likely Nebraska would still be sitting on two national championships, which is more than Iowa, but it's not five.

If you thought the 2012 Huskers were going undefeated with their schedule then you need to reevaluate your thought processes. Even with a seemingly weakened Big Ten, there will likely be more Husker losses this season. Even if the Husker defense was playing better than they showed last week, there would still be more losses this season. Is each game winnable? Of course. But an awful lot has to go right for a team to go undefeated. As good as Alabama was last season, they were beat at home by LSU. As good as LSU was, they were beat by the Tide in a rematch. With the parity in college football, going undefeated through the regular season, conference championship game, and national championship game is a tall task, and one I don't think we'll see hardly at all going forward.

I'm about to say something that many Husker fans won't like to hear...the mid-to-late 1990s ain't coming back. It was a much different college football landscape back then. Prop 48, more scholarships, a weaker conference, and a much less potent middle class of college football. Mid-majors didn't upset football powerhouses before the 21st century. Sure there are exceptions, but it didn't happen with the frequency we see today. Louisiana-Monroe upsetting Arkansas on their home field is just the latest example.

Tom Osborne's first five years weren't the same as his last five years. If you support Bo Pelini and his staff, then show it. Show the players you're behind them.

A look back at life after 9-11 from a Husker football perspective

The Nebraska vs Rice football game was supposed to be played Saturday, September 15, 2001. Just four days earlier, our country suffered the worst terrorist attack in our history and over 3,000 Americans were killed. Football didn't seem so important, even in a state like Nebraska where football ranks in the mix of God and family. So the game was moved to the following Thursday. The crowd sang "God Bless America" and held up cards that formed the letters U.S.A. in East Stadium. And then there was the Tunnel Walk:

Nebraska vs Rice was the second college football game to be played after 9-11. South Carolina and Mississippi State had an earlier kickoff time. The Huskers easily won the game 48-3. Eric Crouch and Tracey Wistrom each scored two touchdowns. But the game was second to the sense of community that Husker fans felt being back at Memorial Stadium.

Here's a news report filed that day:

The world had changed. Over time the words "never forget" would come to be associated with this tragic event. For those who were alive in September 2001, it's impossible to forget. I would imagine the same can be said for those who were alive during Pearl Harbor. You don't forget these things. They stay with you the rest of your life. Never forget the men and women and children who lost their lives on that bright and sunny Tuesday in September 2001.

Monday morning cup of Bo

The Monday morning Bo Pelini press conference is usually a tense affair, but especially after a loss. What was Bo's mood today? Where does the team go from here? Here are some snippets from the Bo presser today:

Bo Pelini: Obviously disappointed. Don't have time to cry about it. Need to fix what needs fixed. Can't sit there and worry about what happened. Need to use what happened to make yourself better.

We're looking at personnel and dissecting every piece of what we do. We've got to tackle better. They had a lot of yards after first contact. That goes back to fundamentals. A lot of things we could have done better. We had our opportunities. A lot of what happened was self-induced.

You can't really tackle everyday in practice. Tackling comes from getting your body in the right tackling position. The tackles we missed really hurt us. A couple times it was more than one missed tackle on the same play. Some of the spread offenses put you in one on one situations and having to cover the whole width of the field.

I think we will be tested by Arkansas State. We're playing a lot of these very spread out teams and we're going to see it throughout the season.

We've had games like that before. I know what I'm doing defensively. College football is changing. You see a lot of different types of offenses and week to week you'll be challenged. The day and age of shutting everyone down is probably not happening. Overall we weren't horrible defensively last year. We still have a lot of football left to play.

You have different strengths and weaknesses every year because of changing personnel. We were in a very spread out conference with the Big 12. Now with the Big Ten we've started loading up on linebackers and getting ready a bit more for conference play. You have to use your personnel differently when playing the different types of offenses.

You see a pretty wide variety in this conference. Some pro style. Some spread out teams. Every week is a little different. Confidence is fine. I think guys are angry, which you should be. There's really good leadership on this team.

For the most part, that's what we expected (out of UCLA). We knew we were going to be in some of the one on one situations. We started adjusting and the communication got better as the game went on.

I don't think we've played as well up front as I would have liked. We've kind of let the style of offense dictate what we've done defensively. I want to change that. Just have to make those plays. We ended up with eight tackles for loss and three sacks, but we had opportunities for almost double that. That's a concern for me.

We had our opportunities and we didn't take care of our business. That's coaching and that's making plays on the field. It's hard to find a lot of positives when you give up the kind of yards we did, but I believe what we're doing will be fine in the long run.

There isn't any more "want to" out there. There isn't a guy out there who doesn't want to make the play. Don't question the integrity of our team.

I felt we should have won that football game. We didn't and it hurts. You have to move on. It's part of this profession, but it's sickening.

Taylor had a couple missed reads, but we need to play better around him. Second half he didn't play as well. But we didn't play as well across the board in the second half.

Rex is still day-to-day. He's doing really well. Feeling a lot more confident. Thought it was a 10-20 day injury at first.

Believe me. We're going to be challenged this week. That's a good offense.

You have to continue to evaluate your personnel throughout the year. At the end of the day, you have to put the guys on the field you believe can handle the things you're going to throw at them.

My defenses have tended to get better as the year goes on.

(Overall, Bo answered the questions professionally and was very matter of fact like. Not too much emotion involved, except on the question about the "want to" of his team.)

Taylor Martinez: Life goes on. Everything happens for a reason. Missed some key things. Some of us learned our lessons not to do this or that. We just move on from here. Very important for us to establish a rhythm offensively. Everything we saw we knew they were doing. The mood on the team is great. Glad the loss happened now as opposed to later on down the road. It's a team sport and I think we'll do well down the road. All of us feel the pressure. We're all in this together. I thought Ameer did an excellent job. We can't get too far ahead of ourselves. Need to take one week at a time.

That wraps up our coverage of the Monday Bo Pelini press conference, with special guest Taylor Martinez.

What's that smell? It's the Big Ten.

You know it was a rough weekend for the Big Ten when Minnesota and Indiana put together the most convincing wins for the conference. Besides these two programs, the only other B1G schools to notch a victory on Saturday were Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, and Northwestern. Of the remaining six B1G teams, only Iowa managed to lose at home (a 9-6 defeat to arch rival Iowa State in a scintillating game). The other five schools (Nebraska, Illinois, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Purdue) all suffered road losses. To paraphrase a Seinfeld line, "And you want to be my best football conference? I don't think so."

In other words, the Big Ten is weak this year. Nebraska has as good of a chance as any team to stake their claim for the title. UCLA is a good team. There's a chance they will be 10-0 before they close out their season with USC and Stanford.

As a result of their loss Saturday night in Pasadena, Nebraska fell out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since November 2009, after entering the game at #16. Now they are the equivalent of 27th.

In the USA Today Coaches Poll, the Huskers fell from 14th to 24th.

Sam McKewon at the Omaha World Herald is one of the most knowledgeable sportswriters around. He summed up the defensive issues in these two lines: "Bo Pelini's defense is built for 11 SEC athletes. Too bad there aren't that many on the Husker sideline." It's not the scheme that's broken; it's that Nebraska doesn't have the right personnel to run Bo's defense effectively. That's not a knock on the players, although some will take it as such, but rather a knock on the defensive coaching staff. Square peg, round hole. Nebraska can't create a pass rush from their front four. As a result, the Husker defensive backs (as a whole, a pretty good and athletic bunch) are having to extend their coverage beyond the point of what should be expected. Bo Pelini's defenses start up front. Without an effective D-line, it's not hard for teams to pick apart the Blackshirts (if we can call them that).

Arkansas State comes to town this Saturday with yet another mobile QB to throw at the Husker D. That's not good. NU couldn't find a way to contain UCLA's QB or running back on Saturday. If they expect to bounce back with a victory at home this Saturday, they'll need to do a better job. Granted Ark State doesn't have the same talent as UCLA across the board, but don't be surprised if their offense puts some yards on the Nebraska D.

Speed kills in college football. Look at the success of Oregon over the last decade. Or look at the SEC, which is known for its athleticism and speed. Nebraska is nowhere near these teams in terms of speed. NU has a lot of good football players on their team, but they won't be winning any national championships until speed is a recruiting priority. Only then will they even have a shot.

Judging the Big Ten through two weeks, this would have been the year a good Nebraska team could have put together a special season. Unfortunately, there are too many holes on the defensive side of the ball for that to happen. Nebraska is looking at another 3-4 loss season unless they can turn around their defensive issues.

Nebraska falls at UCLA in disappointing fashion

We should have seen it coming, the roller-coaster that always does. Heading into the season expectations were a little muted after last season's inaugural Big Ten campaign, which didn't go as well as some had hoped. The Southern Miss game changed all those muted expectations.

Taylor Martinez was the real deal. He was a Heisman Trophy candidate again. The run game was clicking, no matter who was behind Martinez. The passing game hadn't looked this good since a road game at Stillwater two years ago. Sure the defense had some holes and the special teams was ordinary, but did I mention how great the offense looked? Expectations immediately were ratcheted higher. Kool-Aid drinking commenced.

The Huskers traveled to UCLA as the favorite, albeit only five points. How could it be so low? Didn't the experts see how we played against Southern Miss? So what if UCLA racked up big yards on Rice. They're a baseball school. Yes, we're without Rex Burkhead, but didn't you see the running back committee behind ready to step in for him?

Let's just say most Husker fans expected a blowout victory for their team. We had nearly 400 entries in our Guess the Score Contest and only 10 picked UCLA to win. However, a fair amount of college football pundits picked the Bruins. I will say it's hard to tell how many truly thought UCLA would win and how many picked against Nebraska just because, like Mark May.

Late in the week, we unveiled our five keys to the game for Nebraska. They were as follows: limit turnovers and penalties, protect Martinez, play stronger defense up front, contain UCLA's QB and RB, and execute better special teams play. Here's how it played out.

Turnovers and penalties - Nebraska lost the turnover battle 2-1. Both of the Big Red's turnovers came in the second half, with Ameer Abdullah fumbling on the first offensive play of the third quarter for Nebraska. Never a good start to a half of football, especially when you defer at the opening coin toss. In the fourth, Martinez threw an INT with just over three minutes left. There were several other Martinez passes that could have or should have been picked by the Bruins, but were dropped.

The Huskers fared better than the Bruins on penalties as well, being flagged seven times for 60 yards. Not terrible, but not great either. UCLA racked up 11 penalties for 126 yards, clearly in sloppy territory.

Protect Martinez - The Husker O-line played well against Southern Miss, giving Martinez plenty of time to go through his progressions, find the open receiver, and even eat a sandwich if he had so desired. Against UCLA, NU had a hard time keeping the Bruins defensive line off Martinez. No play better represents their struggles than with nine minutes left in the game, when Martinez was sacked in the end zone for a safety by an unblocked Bruin. The safety gave UCLA a 29-27 lead, which they wouldn't relinquish. Throughout the game, the Husker O-line struggled in pass protection. Martinez rarely had time to go through more than one read. In the run game, the Huskers had a little more success, especially in the first half. Nebaska accounted for 439 yards of offense, with 260 coming on the ground, but only 84 yards on the ground after halftime. Martinez finished the game 17-31 (55% completed) for 179 yards and one INT. Unfortunately, Martinez went 4-14 in the second half, gaining a mere 30 yards through the air.

Play stronger defense up front and contain Hundley and Franklin - Let's face it, the front seven of the Huskers is not the fleetest of foot. Throw in quite a few missed tackles, especially tackles for loss, against a quicker opponent and you have the potential for disaster. Johnathan Franklin posted his second 200 yard rushing game in a row - 26 carries for 217 yards. Franklin accounted for 276 all-purpose yards and notched a receiving touchdown. Brett Hundley threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns, plus he ran for another 53 yards. UCLA managed 653 yards of total offense against the Huskers, the second most all-time against a Nebraska defense.

The Huskers have a lot of hard-working, hard-hitting players on defense. They have some good tacklers. Unfortunately, what UCLA did to the Huskers tonight is a sign of things to come. Mobile quarterbacks continue to torch Nebraska's defense. Too often against UCLA, Nebraska had a defensive end or middle linebacker responsible for covering Franklin, which is a terrible mismatch. They don't have the speed at these positions necessary to expect success. The Huskers clearly miss Lavonte David, who was an excellent tackler as well as being fast enough to cover a RB coming out of the backfield.

Finally, special teams play needed to improve upon their opening game disappointment. Brett Maher struggled early, shanking his first punt, before seeming to find his stroke in the second half. Maher finished the game three of four on field goals, with makes from 54, 43, and 40 yards. UCLA's special teams improved from their first game, but were not great, as their kicker connected on only two of four field goals. Special teams advantage to the Huskers, but not by a lot.

One more point worth mentioning, NU offensive coordinator Tim Beck went away from the run too early. With 6:49 remaining in the game, three timeouts, and NU trailing 29-27, Beck called three pass plays in a row. All three were resulted in incompletions, forcing the Huskers to punt. Once again with 3:23 remaining in the game, Nebraska threw on the first two plays of the series, with the second pass intercepted. Beck must have realized at this point of the game that Martinez was not on his passing game as he was against Southern Miss.

Run the ball on first down. If you get four yards, run it again. NU was clearly more effective on the ground against the Bruins, yet they went away from the run late in the fourth. As a result, the Huskers netted only eight yards in their four fourth quarter drives. Let that sink in.

It's tough to measure the impact of Rex Burkhead's absence. Ameer Abdullah ran hard, accumulating 119 yards on 16 carries and scoring two touchdowns. Martinez added 112 yards rushing on 13 carries, including a 92 yard touchdown. Net out his long TD run and his rushing totals look much more pedestrian. This is largely reflective of the O-line play and Tim Beck's play-calling.

The issues on offense are more easily correctable. Those on defense are more Jimmys and Joes related than X's and O's. The season is still young. There are 10 regular season games remaining. Nebraska doesn't have an easy schedule. They will need to respond to this loss by ticking off two wins giving them some momentum heading into the Wisconsin game. As the Badgers lost today to Oregon State, they are clearly not the same team from last year. In fact, the same can be said about the entire Big Ten. No team has looked exceptionally good yet in the league. That should give hope to Huskers fans. Keep calm and Husker on. GBR!

Ode to Bob Devaney video

Found this on YouTube today and thought it was worth sharing, especially for you "vintage" Husker fans, i.e. those who remember the good ole days with the Bobfather at the helm.

Stanton highlights and the Martinez brothers

Couldn't be in California last night to watch Huskers QB commit Johnny Stanton's high school football game? No worries. Here are the highlights of the game. Check out the Husker red in the stands! The Omaha World-Herald had a reporter there and he filed this story.

Turns out, Taylor Martinez has a younger brother who is pretty good at football too. Drake and Taylor have a lot in common. Here's a good article on the two.

Be sure to stock up on Huskers merchandise via our online store. If it has a Nebraska logo on it, chances are good we carry it.

Huskers Cali connections

Nine current Husker football players hail from the state of California. You may recognize some of their names:

Thomas Brown - freshman LB - Gardena, CA
Quincy Enunwa - junior WR - Moreno Valley, CA
Eric Martin - senior DE - Moreno Valley, CA
Taylor Martinez - junior QB - Corona, CA
Cameron Meredith - senior DE - Huntington Beach, CA
Josh Mitchell - sophomore CB - Corona, CA
Daimion Stafford - senior S - Norco, CA
Corey Whitaker - freshman OL - Murrieta, CA
Evan Williams - freshman QB - Foster City, CA

Rare are the opportunities for California kids to play in their home state while at Nebraska. The last time the Huskers played in southern California was against Southern California in 2006.

Taylor Martinez is looking forward to taking on the school he idolized growing up. UCLA recruited him as a safety and didn't have confidence in him as a quarterback.

Cameron Meredith will have close to 300 family and friends in attendance.

How many Husker fans do you think will make their way into the Rose Bowl? I'll go with 25,000. Too high or too low?

Husker Faithful's Guess the Score Contest - Idaho State

Be the closest guess to the actual final score between Nebraska and Idaho State and win free Huskers gear or other great prizes. Click on the image below for the official rules and to get your score entered. Good luck & Go Big Red.

Did you miss the starting lineups? Watch this...

About 20 minutes prior to the start of any Husker game, HuskerVision does the starting lineups. In case you missed the first game or were already woozy from the heat, here's the video:

Top 5 Keys for Nebraska at UCLA

The Huskers looked good in their home opener. They'll have to carry over some of that magic as they face UCLA tonight. Here are Husker Faithful's keys to the game for Nebraska.

Turnovers and penalties - The Huskers did a phenomenal job last week against Southern Miss in both of these categories. No turnovers and no offensive penalties the entire game. When was the last time that happened? You can look that up when you're done reading this post. Defensively, Nebraska had two penalties. It's difficult to overstate how important these two items are in determining a successful team from one that is relying on the bounce of the ball and sheer luck. Replicating the Southern Miss game in these two categories will put Nebraska in a great position to come away with a victory against the Bruins.

Protect Martinez - Taylor Martinez put up some gaudy numbers last week and the reason he was able to do so is because his offensive line gave him time to throw the ball. Taylor also showed a much-improved pocket presence, sensing when defenders were getting close and sliding up or out of the pocket. UCLA's defense will turn up the heat on the Husker O-line as well as Martinez. They will need to respond accordingly. Protect Martinez and allow him to throw effectively and this becomes another scenario where the Huskers come out on top.

Be stronger up front defensively - Enough has been said and written about the sub par game the Nebraska defensive line turned in against Southern Miss. One would think this would irk these guys a little, maybe provide some extra motivation heading into the Rose Bowl. Husker fans better hope it was just an off game and Huskers D-line coach Rick Kaczenski said his unit can get better. One bright spot against UCLA, the Bruins are quite young on the offensive line. But let's be honest, the last time NU had a truly awe-inspiring front four was during Ndamukong Suh's last season in red. The last couple of years we haven't had much of a pass rush from the front and at times, especially during conference play, this unit was pushed around. Don't get me wrong, they are a functional unit. It's just that we need more than functional. Alas, we're only one game into the season and probably standing too close to the rooftop edge when it comes to the D-line play. Moving on...

Contain Brett Hundley and Jonathan Franklin - These guys combined for 282 yards rushing against Rice in Week 1. To be fair, Franklin compiled 214 of those. Hundley did however complete 21 of 28 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns. Also to be fair, it was against Rice. Still, both are very capable of big games. The Blackshirts will more than hold their own if they can limit the big plays from these two guys. One other guy to watch is TE Joseph Fauria, who stands 6'7" and weighs 255 pounds. Against Rice, Fauria 3 receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Better special teams - Referring to either team's special teams after the first game is really an insult to the word special. Between Nebraska missing two field goals and allowing a kickoff return for a touchdown and the Bruins missing three extra points last week, both teams weren't even ordinary in this phase. If this game is as close as some pundits predict, you have to give the Huskers a special teams edge. Brett Maher had a bad game. He was probably overdue. Now that it's out of his system and time to move on. Don't you worry, Husker fans. He will return to being clutch.

If the Huskers can manage these keys well, they'll easily move to 2-0 on the season, with or without Rex Burkhead.

East Stadium expansion continues...

It's hard to go a day without someone posting a photo of the East Stadium expansion going on at the home of the Huskers. Today happens to be our day. But it's not just any old pic. There's some substance to this one. If you look real closely you can see bricks! That's right, bricks. We haven't seen so many since Chris Dudley played for the New Jersey Nets. But this is a football blog. So without further adieu, here's your East Stadium expansion photo update of the day.

Press clippings and buying into the hype

Last year's inaugural Big Ten season was a roller-coaster ride for the Huskers. A lot of ups and downs, typically in back-to-back weeks. This year's team has decided it's not going to buy into the hype heaped upon them by the media and fans. Unfortunately, their performance against Southern Miss, at least the offense, has made this a little more difficult.

After one game, Husker Nation seems to be dreaming of conference titles again with the hope that Saturday's matchup against UCLA in the Rose Bowl will be merely the first of two games to be played by the Big Red in the venerable stadium. Throw in the Bruins have a new coach, are unranked, and young and most Husker fans are thinking a relatively easy win is in store.

In fact, many pundits are picking the Bruins to upset Nebraska on Saturday. The current Vegas line for the game is Huskers by five points. Seems kind of paltry, no? So what are the "experts" seeing that us fans are not?

For one, UCLA's team speed, especially on offense. Redshirt freshman Brett Hundley and running back Jonathan Franklin are both fleet of foot and will no doubt challenge the Blackshirts. Second, there is talent on defense. The Bruins won't make the NU offensive line look like the Pipeline as much as Southern Miss did.

In other words, while the season is young, NU will face its first true test on the road this weekend in Pasadena. GoJoeBruin.com picks UCLA to win 45-38. We agree on the score, but think the Huskers will come out on top. In order for that to happen though, NU's offense will need to be efficient, limit penalties and turnovers, and survive without Rex Burkhead, who is still questionable for the game.

A few more thoughts heading into the UCLA game

Did anyone notice the number of penalties against the Huskers offensive line last Saturday? That's right, there weren't any. Zero false starts and zero holding penalties. In fact, Nebraska only had two penalties (both pass interference calls) totaling 30 yards.

The up-tempo offense of the Huskers virtually eliminated the risk of any delay of game penalties as well. Penalties, especially on the offensive line, have been a burden the past couple of seasons, so it would be a major point of improvement to eliminate the majority of these drive killers.

One guy who didn't get any credit after the Huskers game on Saturday was Barney Cotton, or should I say the much-maligned Barney Cotton. After Tyler Moore left the program (he's not coming back), Cotton was on the hot seat, at least as far as many Husker fans and beat writers were concerned. One game into the 2012 season and Barney's seat seems to have cooled a bit.

Should Rex Burkhead play this weekend? That was the question we posed on this website and on our Facebook page. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents said to rest Rex until he's healthy. We agree. There's no need to rush him back to action when Ameer Abdullah, Imani Cross, and Braylon Heard are waiting in the wings. These three put together quite a game against Southern Miss, rushing for a combined 177 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries.

Speaking of offensive weapons, the Huskers passed the ball to 10 different receivers against Southern Miss. Three tight ends, six receivers and a running back all notched a reception. There's no doubt the Husker offense was clicking against the Golden Eagles.

Get your official black Nebraska helmet

We've been asked by many people when we'd be getting in the official, regulation size and authentic Nebraska black game helmets. Well, they're here. Click on the image for more information about getting one.

Huskers move up one spot in latest AP poll

Nebraska moved up one spot in the latest AP poll from #17 to #16 after their comfortable win over Southern Miss 49-20 on Saturday.

Here's how other Big Ten teams fared in the latest poll:

Michigan fell precipitously after the shellacking they took at the hands of Alabama. The Wolverines dropped from #8 to #19. For some reason the pollsters loved Ohio State's throttling of Miami (OH) 56-10. The Buckeyes jumped four spots from #18 to #14, leapfrogging the Huskers in the process. We'll chalk this up to two factors: 1) Urban Meyer is their coach, and 2) he used to coach in the SEC. Seriously, did anyone think Miami of Ohio would give them a battle? Interestingly enough, they did for half the game. The score was 21-3 at the break before the Buckeyes outscored the Redhawks 35-7 to finish the game. As former Husker Eric Warfield pointed out on Twitter, it doesn't really matter where Ohio State is ranked since they're not eligible for post-season play and come to think of it, they probably shouldn't be ranked at all.

Michigan State is the highest ranked Big Ten team at #11, followed by Wisconsin at #13.

UCLA game week update

Injuries...they happen every season and to every team. After going through fall camp without much in the way of injuries, the Southern Miss game wasn't so kind to Nebraska. Rex Burkhead sprained his MCL and is listed as day-to-day, although he will make the trip to UCLA and according to Bo, might play. Tim Marlowe will be out longer with a broken collarbone suffered while diving to catch a ball in the endzone. He will likely miss several more games. Ben Cotton, who suffered a rib injury in Saturday's win, will be fine for the UCLA game.

Special teams weren't close to it last Saturday and coach Ross Els knows it. Giving up a 100-yard kickoff return after your team had built a 14-0 lead could have turned the momentum. Lucky for the Huskers, the offense was humming along. Brett Maher would like to have his first game of 2012 back, after the senior pre-season All-American missed two field goals and shanked his only punt of the day for 21 yards. Els said there will be some personnel changes on special teams but didn't give any details. Maher will be fine according to Pelini.

The Blackshirts did a fine job against Southern Miss, giving up only 13 points and containing their mobile quarterback pretty well. One concern to watch going forward is the defensive team speed in the front seven. This week's game against UCLA should provide a good test for Nebraska's defensive unit, given the Bruins have a mobile QB and a good running back. As the opening spread (Huskers -5) indicates, Vegas thinks this will be a close game. We think it will be higher scoring as both offenses look to be ahead of their defensive counterparts.

Finally, don't forget that Husker Faithful has another Guess the Score Contest up for this week's game. Head on over to the GTSC page to get your guess entered.

Follow us on Twitter @HuskerFaithful, on Instagram (HuskerFaithful), and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HuskerFaithful).

Burkhead's status and Taylor's honor

Good news Huskers fans, Rex Burkhead is listed as the #1 running back for Nebraska's matchup with UCLA. Rex sprained his MCL on his third carry against Southern Miss. Bo Pelini says Rex will travel to UCLA but he is day-to-day.

Taylor Martinez was named co-Big Ten player of the week. See our last post for Taylor's final numbers from his outstanding first game of 2012.

2nd half thoughts - Nebraska vs Southern Miss

Injuries and special teams dominated the first half. Oh, and Taylor Martinez. What a half by the junior QB. With his 249 yards of total offense, he moves into 2nd place all-time at Nebraska surpassing Zac Taylor. In addition, the Husker offense was 8-10 on third downs. Pretty impressive.

As one of our Twitter followers pointed out, Nebraska's up tempo offense may begin wearing down the USM defense as the game progresses.

USM trying an up tempo offense of their own as we begin the second half.

Alonzo Whaley comes up with a big fumble recovery for the Blackshirts, halting a USM drive into Nebraska territory.

I keep forgetting how little I like Ed Cunningham as an announcer.

Brett Maher is having a bad day. He just shanked his first punt of the day. Said another way, his first punt of the day was a shank.

The Blackshirts force a USM punt. On a side note, there hasn't been one TV shot of Bo Pelini yelling at the refs, or of Bo chewing gum madly. Back to the game...

Taylor Martinez is now 20 of 26 for 278 yards, 3 TDs and no INTs. Any Heisman love coming?

Braylon Heard makes it into the game...before Imani Cross.

Kyler Reed gets on the board with a touchdown pass from Taylor Martinez, giving the Huskers a 35-17 lead with 7:36 left in the third. More props to Taylor who takes his completion percentage to 76% on the day. 23-30 for 317 yards and 4 TDs.

Blackshirts force another USM punt, with a decent return by Ameer Abdullah. The Taylor Martinez show returns to the stage.

Imani Cross gets his first carry of his Nebraska career. Kyler Reed continues to catch everything thrown his way. Good thing for the Huskers they have a lot of weapons on offense.

Braylon Heard takes the handoff in for a 10 yard touchdown. Huskers up 42-17 with 2:44 left in the third. Nebraska's O-line beginning to wear down Southern Miss.

Nebraska only has two penalties through three quarters of the game. This should not be understated.

Around college football, with 10 minutes left in the game, Iowa is trailing Northern Illinois (in Iowa City) 17-9. Florida is struggling against Bowling Green, winning 17-12 late in the third.

The 4th quarter begins with USM facing a 2nd and 7 from the Husker 30 yard line. The Husker defense forces another field goal from the Golden Eagles, which is good. 42 -20 is the score with 13 minutes remaining.

Braylon Heard is having himself a nice day. He's up to two carries for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Wisconsin is about to blow it versus Northern Iowa...in football.

Five touchdown passes for Taylor Martinez (tying a career high) as he connects with Ameer Abdullah for a nice touchdown. Huskers up 49-20. About time for a backup QB to enter the game, no?

Avery Moss and Aaron Curry enter the game for the Blackshirts, both true freshmen. P.J. Smith records a sack for the Huskers. Five minutes left in the game. Corey Cooper just drug down the USM running back for a loss. Huskers force a punt.

And the winner of the Huskers backup QB prize is Ron Kellogg III (RKIII as one Twitter follower referred to him). I don't think you will see a finer hander offer of the ball than RKIII. He's Imani Cross's new best friend. Speaking of Cross, this guy is a bowling ball running downhill.

That's a ballgame. The Huskers win 49-20 over Southern Miss. Now attention turns to Rex Burkhead and the severity of his knee injury.

Taylor's final numbers 26 of 34 for 349 yards and five touchdowns. Completion percentage of 76.5%, ahead of his own goal of completing 70% of his passes this season.

Ameer Abdullah finishes the day with 15 carries for 81 yards. Quincy Enunwa was the Huskers leading receiver with six catches for 65 yards.

All in all a great offensive showing for Nebraska. Defensively there are still some question marks and weak spots. Special teams needs a lot of work. Until next week, GBR!

1st half thoughts - Nebraska vs Southern Miss

Tim Marlowe leads the Huskers out of the tunnel with the American flag.

White shoes for the team instantly makes them faster.

Maher, Compton, Cotton, Burkhead are captains. Huskers win toss and choose to receive. Bo must like the NU offense.

Huskers throw on first play - an out to Enunwa. Rex second play. Mike Marrow third play.

Rex 57 yard touchdown run after mishandling the hand off from Martinez. No big deal.

Husker defense looks a little slow early in defending against the run.

Up temp offense for the Huskers on the second series. Abdullah in for Rex.

Martinez showing good patience and very good accuracy in passing the ball early. A bullet to Enunwa for a first down was as hard as we've seen him throw it.

Should have been a pick six but USM defender dropped ball.

Martinez responds well and hits Bell on a 26 yard touchdown. Perfect pass from Taylor.

Special teams lets USM return a 102 yarder for a TD. Now 14-7. Brett Maher misses a field goal badly. Who's the special teams coach again? That's right, Ross Els.

Fair to say freshman WR Jordan Westerkamp will redshirt. Tyler Wullenwaber and Steven Osborne have already played today.

Martinez 8-10 for 102 yards passing in first quarter. Rex Burkhead three carries for 68 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, Burkhead is now on the bench with an ice pack on his knee. Will be an interesting development to follow.

USM marches down the field and scores a touchdown. Now 14-14. Husker mishaps keeping Southern Miss in this game. Need to tackle better. Defensive line isn't holding their own against the Golden Eagles. Need improvement here.

Husker offense needs to respond after USM ties it up at 14.

Nebraska's offensive line is starting to struggle in the run game. Thank goodness for Jamal Turner, who has a flare for the dramatic. He catches the ball on the left side and reverses course to bring up a 3rd and 1. Mike Marrow narrowly gets the first down.

Ameer Abdullah looks decisive and speedy early on for Nebraska. With Burkhead on the bench, Abdullah is the guy right now. Expect to see Imani Cross at some point.

Talyor Martinez passes to TE Jake Long for an easy touchdown: 21-14 Huskers. An 11 play, 59 yard drive for the Big Red. NU has 125 yards rushing and 139 through the air.

Update on Husker injuries: Rex Burkhead is done for the day with an MCL sprain. Tim Marlowe is in the locker room with a separated shoulder.

Will Compton and the Blackshirts come up big with a sack and three and out.

Tyler Evans with his first catch of the day, good for a Huskers first down. A pass interference that wasn't called leads to another missed field goal by Brett Maher. He's now 0-2 and a lock for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to not necessarily the best kicker in college football.

USM has figured out Nebraska struggles against mobile quarterbacks. They are going with freshman Anthony Alford. Hopefully this isn't another Kain Colter of Northwestern kind of day for Nebraska's defense.

Will Compton is the defensive MVP thus far. He's all over the field making plays.

Jason Ankrah is down now with a knee injury. He's walking off the field which is a miracle given the video replay. The Blackshirts hold USM to a 45-yard field goal to make the score 21-17 with just under two minutes left in the half.

Quincy Enunwa is nearly impossible to bring down with just one defender. He's broken quite a few tackles already this game.

Jamal Turner with a big play on a reception from Taylor Martinez. Steven Osborne with a fabulous catch in the endzone for a touchdown, giving the Huskers a 28-17 lead with just over a minute left in the half. Martinez ends the first half with 247 yards on 18-23 passing.

Apparently the Eric Martin isn't playing report from BTN earlier was erroneous. He was sighted on the defensive line by Sean Callahan.

Half time score: Nebraska 28 - Southern Miss 17.

Husker starters for Southern Miss

Offensive:
Taylor Martinez - QB
Kenny Bell - WR
Tim Marlowe - WR
Quincy Enunwa - WR
Rex Burkhead - RB
Ben Cotton - TE
Brent Qvale - T
Jeremiah Sirles - T
Justin Jackson - C
Seung Hoon Choi - G
Spencer Long - G

Defensive:
Jason Ankrah - DE
Thad Randle - DT
Baker Steinkuhler - DT
Cameron Meredith - DE
Sean Fisher - LB
Will Compton - LB
Alonzo Whaley - LB
Andrew Green -CB
Josh Mitchell - CB
P.J. Smith - S
Daimion Stafford - S

As we mentioned earlier, Eric Martin will not play today. Also, Mo Seisay is not suited up. He had been struggling with an ankle injury the last week of fall practice.

Eric Martin update

It appears that Eric Martin won't be playing in today's Husker game against Southern Miss. The senior defensive end is apparently nicked up a bit, even though the coaching staff was mum on any injuries heading into the season. BTN first reported that Martin will be out for today's game but didn't list a reason. It's possible too that Martin is being benched a game for his off-season Twitter rant about getting his scholarship check.

True freshman Avery Moss will likely see a fair amount of playing time today as a result. Moss was one of four freshmen that Bo Pelini said were ready to contribute right away.

Huskers depth chart is out - surprises inside

Brion Carnes isn't the backup QB or the backup to the backup. He's the fourth string QB. Senior Ron Kellogg and true freshman Tommy Armstrong are tied for the #2 spot behind Taylor Martinez.

Seniors Damien Stafford and P.J. Smith are your starting safeties. Junior Andrew Green is one starting corner, while Chanted Evans, Josh Mitchell, and Stanley Jean-Baptiste are listed as co-#1's at the other corner.

Jamal Turner and Tim Marlowe are both listed at the #1 spot for slot receiver.

For more on the depth chart, check out Huskers.com.

Check out Husker Faithful's Instagram Photos

Rex Burkhead, Brett Maher, and Justin Jackson

Rex Burkhead fans (and who isn't) will want to check out www.rexburkhead22.com. This website is the University of Nebraska's first attempt to promote Superman in his campaign to get some Heisman love. It features photos of Sexy Rexy as well as #FactsAboutRex.

Brett Maher has been named a pre-season All-American. He is the only Huskers representative on the list.

Imani Cross, the freshman running back built like a Mack truck, continues to impress in fall camp. Expect to see the big back on the field early and often this season.

The 2013 game between Nebraska and Southern Miss is expected to be played in the New Orleans Superdome, instead of in Hattiesburg. Geaux Big Red!

Justin Jackson looks to be the starting center for the Huskers heading into the 2012 season. The fifth year senior walk-on was awarded a scholarship just a week ago. Well deserved too.

Husker football news - Tuesday, August 28th

Rex Burkhead isn't getting much love from the Heisman pundits. The listed odds of Superman hoisting the trophy are 50-1, the same as Washington QB Keith Price. Matt Barkley is the favorite at 3-1, followed by Montee Ball at 7-1.

Some tidbits from yesterday's Husker press conference:

Bo Pelini said they would play freshman QB Tommy Armstrong if they needed to, which we take to mean he's the #2 QB behind Taylor Martinez. Ideally, Martinez makes it through the season without missing any games and Nebraska doesn't have to burn his redshirt.

Justin Jackson appears to be your starting center. Bo Pelini said if the season started today, Jackson would be the guy. Cole Pensick has been seeing time at center and both guard spots during fall camp.

Will Compton thinks the Blackshirts can be "pretty dang good" this year.

Bo said Rex Burkhead wants to play every snap, but that the coaches need to regulate and manage his number of carries. Pelini also said Nebraska is deeper at running back this season, which benefits Rex. The game plan appears to be lightening the load on Rex as the senior tries to become #2 on the Huskers all-time rushing yard list.

Taylor Martinez said it would be kind of neat to try out for the Olympics in four years. We assume it would be a speed event.

Nebraska's game against Southern Miss will be on either ABC or ESPN2 depending on which part of the country you live in. Kickoff is set for 2:35pm CST.

After beating UCLA over the weekend, the Husker volleyball team is #1 in the AVCA poll. As Gina Mancuso put it though, the Huskers want to be #1 on December 15th rather than now.

Frank Solich and the Ohio Bobcats open their season at Beaver Stadium taking on depleted Penn State. Can the Fighting Frankies knock off the Nittany Lions?

Check out some of our newest Huskers apparel and merchandise

These are but a few of our new Huskers products for the 2012 season. Check these and more out at ShopHuskerFaithful.com.

How the Huskers fare all-time against their 2012 opponents

We like an historical perspective when it comes to everything, so why not take a look at how Nebraska has done against their 2012 opponents since the beginning of time.

Southern Miss - The Huskers are 2-1 all-time against the Golden Eagles, with all three games having been played since 1999. Nebraska's only loss occurred in their last meeting, a 21-17 home defeat to Southern Miss in 2004. Two of the three games have been decided by less than 10 points.

UCLA - In 10 games, the Huskers hold a slight 6-4 advantage in wins against the Bruins. The last time these two teams faced each other was in 1994, a 49-21 win for the Big Red. UCLA won the first three meetings against Nebraska before the Huskers took six of seven beginning with the 1973 season. Nebraska is 2-3 when facing UCLA on the road.

Arkansas State - The Huskers have played the Red Wolves once in their illustrious history. That game came in 2009 and resulted in a 38-9 win for the good guys.

Idaho State - Formerly known as a Divison I-AA team (now Football Championship Subdivision - FCS), no historical records were available on this matchup. Safe to say if the Huskers have ever played Idaho State, they would have pounded them.

Wisconsin - Nebraska is 3-3 all-time against the Badgers, but 2-0 at home. The Huskers look to extend that to 3-0 when they open Big Ten play against Wisconsin this season. The first meeting between these two teams took place in 1901, which resulted in an 18-0 Badgers win. Nebraska no doubt will be looking to avenge this loss in 2012 (or maybe last season's defeat).

Ohio State - The Huskers are 1-2 all-time against the Buckeyes, with their only win coming in dramatic fashion last season. Nebraska overcame their largest deficit ever to win 34-27 in Lincoln. Ohio State beat the Huskers twice in the 1950s, games that most Husker fans reading this blog probably don't remember.

Northwestern - The Wildcats have won two out of five against the Huskers, with their first meeting all the way back in 1902. Northwestern victories over Nebraska occurred in 1931 and then again 80 years later. Let's hope it's another eight decades before NU loses to NU.

Michigan - Nebraska has a losing record all-time to Michigan at 2-4-1. Twice these teams have met in bowl games, with each team winning one. Who can forget the near-miraculous finish of the 2005 Alamo Bowl? Lucky for Nebraska, a miracle wasn't in the cards for the Wolverines. Nebraska plays host to Michigan in Lincoln this season looking to avenge a blowout loss in the Big House a year ago.

Michigan State - Nebraska has never lost to the Spartans. Six times these two teams have faced off, but only once in East Lansing (where the Huskers travel in 2012). The Big Red gave Michigan State their only Big Ten loss during the 2011 regular season, as the Blackshirts effectively shut down QB Kirk Cousins and the Spartan offense.

Penn State - In 14 meetings, these two teams have each won seven games, with the Huskers taking three of the last four. Given the sanctions handed down to the football program at Penn State, it may be a number of years before they beat Nebraska again.

Minnesota - These two teams have played 52 times, with Minnesota holding a 29-21 advantage in the win column. For those paying attention, the other two games were ties. This series dates all the way back to 1900, but it's been Nebraska which has dominated since the 1960s. In fact, 1960 was the last time Minnesota beat Nebraska, a stretch of 15 straight wins for the Huskers.

Iowa - Our sometimes friendly neighbor to the east, Iowa has been thoroughly dominated by Nebraska over the years, as the Huskers hold a 23-8-1 all-time record. The last time Iowa beat Nebraska was in 1981, a game played in Iowa City. The Huskers are 8-6 when playing at Iowa, which is where they close out the 2012 regular season.

There you have it. A look at how Nebraska has fared against their 2012 opponents. Here's hoping the Big Red add a victory against them all this season.

Kyler Reed feels a need for speed

It's no secret the Husker offense has a lot of weapons. First and foremost Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead, enough right there to give defensive coordinators heart palpitations. Throw in a solid group of receivers including Kenny Bell, Quincy Enunwa, Tim Marlowe, and Jamal Turner and it becomes difficult to get all these guys the touches they deserve come game time.

And then there is Kyler Reed, the Huskers main receiving tight end. I believe he is Nebraska's secret weapon on offense. Two years ago the Big Red utilized him to the tune of 22 receptions for 395 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns. During the 2012 season, Nebraska under-utilized Reed, throwing to him 15 times for 257 yards and only one touchdown, which came in the final regular season game against Iowa.

In order for the Husker offense to reach its full potential, Reed must play an integral role. He has the speed of a wide receiver and the size of a smaller tight end. He catches balls thrown to him and gets open. Tim Beck and Taylor Martinez need to find him more often in 2012. Given the other offensive targets and the run heavy style of last year, Reed may be in line for another performance like last season's, albeit with a few more touchdowns. But we'd like to see Kyler eclipse his 2010 receiving numbers and give Nebraska's opponents one more facet to scheme for during game weeks.

Here's a good article on Reed from the Daily Nebraskan.

Check out this Project Red, Huskers pump up video!

The Rex Burkhead for Heisman website has been found

Credit Husker Locker for finding this domain name: rexburkhead22.com. Credit Husker Faithful for figuring out who owns the domain (see below):

Now, it's just a matter of when this site goes live. One would think it would have to be in the next 10 days. GBR!

Best and worst case for Nebraska (via ESPN)

The Big Ten bloggers are at it again. Today, they take a look at Nebraska and project the best and worst case scenarios for the 2012 Huskers. Here are a few highlights:

Best case - After the UCLA game, a Husker win, Taylor Martinez says, "See you in January." Bo Pelini cracks a half smile after NU beats the Badgers. Nebraska's only loss in the regular season is to Michigan State. They win the Big Ten, Rex is a Heisman finalist, Taylor high fives Tommie Frazier. You get the idea. Other than losing one game, the best case appears to be a Husker fan's wildest dreams coming true.

Worst case - To sum it up, basically the 2011 season again...only much worse. Most Husker fans won't want to read through this. I fear an uptick in blood pressure coming on.

See for yourself what Adam Rittenberg thinks. Safe to say Nebraska will likely fall in the middle of these two extremes.

What are your thoughts?

Husker sports news - Wednesday, August 22nd

Rex Burkhead got some love yesterday from ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit as he was named to the All-Herbie Team. Herbstreit and co-host Rece Davis took a few moments out of their hour long SEC love fest to talk up the talents of Superman.

Bo Pelini addressed reporters after practice on Tuesday and the subject of Husker newcomers came up. Pelini mentioned four freshmen who are ready to play if the season began today.

Imani Cross is a man, but he's not 40. The running back has received a fair share of attention since arriving on campus, with his physique being compared to a 30-year old man's. In other words, Cross has a body built for Big Ten football. He's listed at 6'1" and 225 pounds and passes the eyeball test according to BTN's Tom Dienhart. In addition, Cross has been working overtime and is often the last player to leave the practice field.

Avery Moss, a defensive end from Tempe, Arizona as well as Aaron Curry, a defensive tackle from Keller, Texas are having stellar camps for freshmen. Physically and mentally they are ready if called upon.

Andy Janovich, a walk-on from Gretna, should see time on special teams this season and is competing for time at fullback. Consider this the biggest surprise coming out of fall camp.

As for other big names players in the freshmen class, Michael Rose will likely redshirt and one would have to think even though QB Tommy Armstrong might be #2 behind Taylor Martinez but unless Martinez gets injured in the first half of the season we wouldn't bet on seeing Armstrong until next season.

Former Husker linebacker Blake Lawrence had his Nebraska football career cut short by concussions, suffering four of them during his two years in the program. Read his story, the advice he has for those impacted by concussions, and what his best friend and former teammate Adi Kunalic are doing now in social media.

Husker basketball coach Tim Miles has been having some major success on the recruiting trail of late. Yesterday came the news that Miles and his staff landed the services of Tai Webster, a point guard from New Zealand. In fact, Webster is the youngest player on the New Zealand national team and would be a Top 25 recruit if he lived in the U.S. Webster chose Nebraska over LSU, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest...in other words schools with basketball tradition. College basketball analyst called Webster's commitment "a definite coup" for the Huskers.

More love for Rex Burkhead

Kirk Herbstreit once spoke fondly of Nebraska football. And then came his famous ridiculous rant about why Nebraska shouldn't have the #1 and #2 college football teams of all-time. With college football season quickly approaching, Herbstreit is out with his Herbie Awards.

Herbstreit saved his best for Rex Burkhead, which he named to his All-Herbie Team and noted it represents "what a college football team should look like." Rex would shrug off the award, but the guy can't possibly garner as many accolades as he should. He's simply the best ambassador for Husker football in a long time.

Pat Forde's pre-season Top 25

Pat Forde, a college football writer for Yahoo! Sports, is out with his pre-season poll. Here it is. See if you can figure out which teams are missing.

1 - Alabama
2 - USC
3 - LSU
4 - Oregon
5 - Oklahoma
6 - Michigan
7 - Arkansas
8 - West Virginia
9 - Florida State
10 - Wisconsin
11 - Georgia
12 - South Carolina
13 - Clemson
14 - TCU
15 - Michigan State
16 - Kansas State
17 - Ohio State
18 - Virginia Tech
19 - Texas
20 - Boise State
21 - Stanford
22 - Oklahoma State
23 - Louisville
24 - North Carolina
25 - Utah

Really Pat? We used to like you. Prepare for the wrath of Husker Nation now. Of course, maybe that's your secret recipe to garner attention for yet another meaningless pre-season poll.

Husker football news - Sunday, August 19th

Daimion Stafford first made an imprint on Huskers fans the same time he made one on the Tennessee-Chattanooga running back. But there's a lot more to the senior Husker safety than big hits. This is a great article about Stafford's struggles and what drives him to make the next level.

Those of you wondering why Nebraska doesn't promote their best players for the Heisman Trophy will be happy to know they are taking a more aggressive approach with Rex Burkhead.

Follow us on Twitter @huskerfaithful and on Instagram (HuskerFaithful). Check out our Facebook page too.

Five Husker walk-ons earn scholarships

As is the case almost every season, Bo Pelini awards walk-on players with football scholarships. This year Bo recognized the hard work of five walk-ons: Brett Maher, Spencer Long, Justin Jackson, Seung Hoon Choi, and Justin Blatchford.

Maher picked up where Alex Henery left off, giving the Huskers a valuable weapon in the kicking and punting game.

Spencer Long started every game for the Huskers a season ago and looks to be a mainstay on the offensive line in 2012.

Justin Jackson is in the mix for the starting center job along with Cole Pensick. The senior from Roca, Nebraska had been playing on the defensive side of the ball before a switch this spring.

Seung Hoon Choi took over at left guard on the offensive line last year when Andrew Rodriguez suffered a foot injury. The senior from Lincoln Christian high school looks to play a big role on the offensive line again in 2012.

Safety Justin Blatchford, also a senior, played in all 13 games a season ago and figures to be an integral role on both special teams and on the defensive side of the ball for the Huskers.

Congrats to all five former walk-on players.

Husker Faithful Ticket Giveaway Winner

The entry period for our ticket giveaway has officially closed. As soon as a winner is determined, verified, and contact has been made, we will be posting their name on this page. Thanks to all who entered.

AP pre-season college football poll is out

The Associated Press finally released their pre-season college football poll this morning and the Big Ten Conference has five teams within the Top 25.

Michigan is the highest rated B1G team at #8, followed by Wisconsin at 12, Michigan State at 13, Nebraska at 17, and Ohio State at #18.

The consensus seems to be about the same on Nebraska no matter which poll is referenced. Husker fans should be happy their team isn't the favorite. Bo Pelini much prefers his team to be viewed as an underdog. They've got their wish heading into the 2012 season, which kicks off in two weeks.

Husker football news - Thursday, August 16th

Huskers seek to end 12-year league title drought

Jeremiah Sirles says the team is "tired of being good." They're ready for the next step. Jason Ankrah believes the defense will be a Top 10 unit this year thanks to their depth. Kyler Reed says the key this year is "less turnovers and less penalties." Tight end Ben Cotton says the team has a new focus "and that's getting that ring."

Husker fall camp has seen some injuries so far (beware paywall)

True freshman offensive lineman Corey Whitaker tore knee ligaments and will be replaced by Brandon Chapek on the 105-man roster. Thad Randle, who had the injury bug last year, tweaked his knee, but should be fine for the September 1st matchup against Southern Miss. Sean Fisher is awaiting his medical school entrance exam results and finds that football practice is a nice distraction. Former Husker QB and now grad assistant Joe Ganz is helping Taylor Martinez in a big way, getting more one on one time now that he has been elevated from an intern position. By the way, have you noticed on the Omaha.com Big Red section the new paywall popup they have? Have you also noticed you can still scroll down the page and effectively read the articles behind the popup? Kinda defeats the purpose, but don't tell 'em.

Fanfare, criticism part of being a Husker lineman (beware paywall)

Behind the scenes of the Nebraska football alternate jersey

Stafford not about to get comfortable

Qvale on the brink for the Huskers

To celebrate the grand opening of our new online store, we're giving away two tickets to the Nebraska-Southern Miss game on September 1st. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. One entry per person and per email address. Giveaway ends this Saturday, August 18th at 10am CST. Click here for official rules and to enter your name.

Check us out on Twitter @huskerfaithful and on Instagram (HuskerFaithful). Of course, we're also on Facebook.

Husker football news - Wednesday, August 15th

ESPN football analyst Ed Cunningham thinks Nebraska has the talent for a breakout year in 2012. Cunningham says he doesn't see another Big Ten team going into the season that is head and shoulders better than the Huskers. Ed will be on the call for the Huskers September 1st opener against Southern Miss. Now it's quite possible Mr. Cunningham is sucking up to Husker fans who still remember him lambasting Eric Martin for a couple big special teams hits during the 2010 season that ultimately led to Martin's one game suspension.

Tyler Moore leaves and Brent Qvale steps up. Before Moore left town though Qvale was already sharing reps with the first team, proof of how much improvement the latter offensive lineman has shown in 2012. Qvale has been hampered by the injury bug during his Husker career, but he says he's 100 percent now.

Nebraska wide receiver Quincy Enunwa has been known to lay out opposing defenders, making room for his teammates to score a touchdown. Given the choice, Enunwa would prefer it that way. Q as his teammates call him is the most physical wide receiver on the team and perhaps in the Big Ten. NU will rely on him to help their perimeter run game this season.

Want Johnny Rodgers' autograph? Love cotton candy and corn dogs? Then you should be in Grand Island for the Nebraska State Fair between August 24th and the 26th. The Heisman winner and Husker legend will be on hand signing autographs.

The Omaha World-Herald is looking for the biggest Husker fan. You can submit photos of yourself in full Husker garb and/or tell them why you chose your Husker spirit license plate. They'll publish the winner in their Big Red preview edition.

Two more things...be sure to enter the Husker Faithful Ticket Giveaway for your chance to win two tickets to the Nebraska vs Southern Miss game on September 1st. Click the link for Official Rules and to enter the contest.

And in case you haven't noticed, we have hundreds of new products in our BRAND NEW online store. Click on the product links at the top of the page to see the new Adidas sideline gear as well as any other Husker merchandise you could want.

Can we really blame Barney Cotton?

Tyler Moore left the team and appears to be taking a semester off, barring some last minute change of heart. Ryan Klachko, another former Husker offensive lineman, is rumored to be transferring to Illinois. Both Moore and Klachko were former 4-star offensive line recruits out of Florida and Illinois, respectively. Both players are at least temporarily heading back closer to home.

After practice on Monday, Cotton addressed reporters' questions about the departure of Moore, the role of social media in today's world, and why the offensive line coach isn't protected from the media glare at Nebraska.

Let's go back a little further in the Barney Cotton file. He came to the Huskers from Omaha Burke and played offensive line for Nebraska from 1975-1978. Cotton played four years in the NFL for Cincinnati and St. Louis. His coaching career began when his playing days ended. St. Cloud State in St. Cloud, Minnesota was his first stop, where he coached the offensive line for six seasons. The following two seasons (1995-96) he was head coach at Hastings College. From 1997-2002 he worked with Tony Samuel at New Mexico State, coaching the O-line once again.

In 2003, he served as the Huskers offensive coordinator under a revamped Frank Solich staff, leading the Nebraska offense to a Top 10 finish for rushing yards. The following three seasons Cotton was the OC and O-line coach for Iowa State, followed by a season at the high school level in Ames. Then Bo Pelini took the head coaching job at Nebraska and called upon a familiar face in Cotton, having worked with Barney in 2003 on the Huskers staff.

Barney Cotton was already walking on thin ice if you ask some Husker fans. Some of the offensive struggles over the past several years can be pinned on the offensive line. False starts and other penalties, sacks given up...basically drive killers. Casual fans see a lineman jump and immediately blame the line coach. Only at Nebraska is the offensive line scrutinized as much as it is here. But can we really blame Cotton for the departures of Moore and Klachko? Both kids were from out of state and could have struggled with life away from home. If Cotton is chewing on these kids, trying to get them to play better, what's wrong with this? Isn't that what football coaches do? "You're either getting better or you're getting worse" is what my high school football coach would say. Cotton is old school, just like Pelini. Some kids today want to be pampered and have a sense of entitlement. That doesn't work with old school coaches. You earn every minute of playing time during the weeks of practice and you never stop competing. Maybe Moore didn't like the fact his starting position was pulled after five games last season. Maybe he resented Cotton for trying to push him harder than he wanted to work. Who knows? The point is that if Barney Cotton were a poor coach, he wouldn't be on staff at Nebraska. Most people who are anti-Barney (the coach, not the purple stuffed animal) probably have some ill-conceived notion he's the reason we haven't won a conference championship in 13 years or he's the cause of the helium shortage ravaging the world right now.

Do we really want kids in the program who aren't giving it their all? Do we need players who put themselves before the team? Good for Tyler Moore taking a semester off to weigh his options. While he's professed his love for Nebraska, Bo Pelini and Tim Beck, Moore turned his back on his teammates when he left. It would be very difficult to return to a team you walked out on. As much as they'd welcome you back there would still be lingering doubts as to whether or not you would desert them again. I would be very surprised if Moore plays another game for the Big Red. That bridge has been burned.

While it hurts to lose two promising prospects, Nebraska still has a good group of offensive lineman, who by all accounts, are committed to the Huskers and to playing for Barney Cotton. Brent Qvale was challenging Tyler Moore for the starting left tackle position before Moore left town. Andrew Rodriguez and Jeremiah Sirles are competing for starting tackle positions as well.

Will someone tell me how many games we just lost with the departure of Tyler Moore? While it stings losing a player of his caliber, he wasn't the quarterback or the starting running back. Nebraska will survive just fine without Moore.

Husker football news - Monday, August 13th

Here's the latest news on Tyler Moore, the Husker offensive lineman who returned home to Florida late last week. If he is in fact taking a semester off, I can't see him returning to Nebraska. Too bad. He was a good player.

Sad news Husker fans. No more red balloons to be released after Husker touchdowns. Due to the worldwide, some say even global shortage of helium, there won't be any red balloons filling the skies above Memorial Stadium. Instead, I suggest we all light Chinese lanterns, those made famous during the Fourth of July celebrations. Whose with me?

Tyler Moore, the recently departed offensive tackle, was not at practice on Monday. This is not a good sign. Over the weekend, there was a report that he would sign with South Florida and finish his career with the Bulls. No word yet on whether that was merely internet fodder or one South Florida fan's pipe dream.

For a guy whose been playing football only since his sophomore year of high school, Seung Hoon Choi has come a long way in a short amount of time. Credit his love of weight lifting for him being the projected season opening starter and left guard.

New kickoff and touchback rules will affect special teams in uncertain ways this season. Kickoffs are being moved from the 30 yard line to the 35, with the hopes of more touchbacks and less bone-jarring hits. Touchbacks will be moved out to the 25 yard line. So the trick becomes lofting kickoffs that land short of the goal line, forcing the opposing team to return them and hoping to keep them short of the 25 yard line.

Omaha.com did a Q&A with former Husker Neil Smith. Find out what the two-time Super Bowl Champion is up to these days.

Husker football news - August 10th - Afternoon Update

Rumors are swirling today about Husker offensive tackle Tyler Moore, who apparently walked out of practice today. He wasn't happy about something. The next time Bo Pelini is scheduled to meet with the media is after Saturday's practice. I wouldn't expect any word from him before that time and quite possibly not even then. I would be shocked if Moore is not the starting tackle against Southern Miss. He became the first true freshman in school history to start the season opener last year. He's widely considered to be the Huskers best offensive lineman heading into the 2012 season.

Former Husker wrestler Jordan Burroughs got his gold medal today. The other former Husker named Jordan (Larson) will help Team USA volleyball go for the gold this Saturday.

And Tim Miles picked up his first commit of the 2013 season in Nick Fuller, a 6'7" guard from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

Jonathan Rose is a Husker

First rumored a week or so ago, former Auburn cornerback, Jonathan Rose, made it official today by signing transfer papers to play football with the Cornhuskers. Rose was heavily recruited by then Tennessee defensive backs coach Terry Joseph, now in the same position with the Huskers. Ameer Abdullah, also from the state of Alabama, factored into Rose's decision as well. The two played in a high school all-star game together before going separate routes to college.

Rose will use his redshirt year this year and have three years to play. He is 6'2" with long arms and can run, making him an ideal cornerback.

Coming out of high school, Rose was a U.S. Army All-American competitor and one of the most highly touted defensive backs of 2011. Rose chose Nebraska over Florida State.

2012 Huskers by Position - Offensive Line

There seems to be depth at the offensive line position for Nebraska heading into the 2012 season. Given the number of injuries the Huskers had last season on the O-line, the depth is much needed. Here's how the position looks with nearly a week of fall practice under their belts.

Offensive tackle is a four-way battle at the moment between Tyler Moore, Jeremiah Sirles, Brent Qvale, and Andrew Rodriguez. One sophomore and three juniors, all with significant game experience. Moore became the first true freshman at Nebraska to start the season opener on the offensive line. Sirles started every game of the 2010 season before being in a three man rotation last year. Qvale is a versatile guy, with experience at both tackle and guard. Rodriguez had his 2011 season cut short by injury, but saw action at guard before switching over to tackle in the spring. The likely scenarios here is that all four will see significant playing time in 2012, even if two are proclaimed the starters.

At the guard position, walk-ons Seung Hoon Choi and Spencer Long finished the season strong for the Huskers. Choi hails from South Korea, but moved to Lincoln during junior high. He didn't play football until as a sophomore in high school. Prior to the 2011 season, Choi had seen action in only one game. The senior looks to be the starting left tackle against Southern Miss. Spencer Long enters the 2012 season with the experience of starting every game the prior season.

At the center position, Cole Pensick and Justin Jackson seem to be the current #1 and #2. Mark Pelini is #3. Pensick backed up Mike Caputo the past two seasons, seeing action in a handful of games. He is the likely opening game starter for the Huskers.

Once again the offensive line seems to have some depth as well as experience. Last year's crew helped the Huskers rank #15 in the nation in rushing offense at 217 yards. Injuries will occur on the line this year as they do every season. Thankfully, the Huskers have experience waiting on the bench at several O-line positions.

Win FREE tickets to the first Husker football game!

In case you hadn't noticed, Husker Faithful has a new online store. See the new product links above? Whatever Huskers gear and merchandise you want, chances are good we now carry it. To celebrate our Grand Opening and to thank our customers we're giving away 2 tickets to the Nebraska vs Southern Miss football game on September 1st. The giveaway begins August 9, 2012 at 8pm CST and ends August 18, 2012 at 10am CST. It is open to U.S. residents age 18 or older. Only one entry per person and per email address. For the Official Rules and to enter your name in our giveaway, click on this link. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. By the way, these are pretty good seats. The photo above was taken from them. Good luck and thanks for entering. Don't forget to do some shopping while you're on the site!

Husker football news - Thursday, August 9th

Bo Pelini picked up the 13th commitment of his 2013 recruiting class when Zach Hannon, an offensive lineman from the Kansas City area, agreed to be a Husker. The 6'4" 300 pounder chose Nebraska over Missouri and Arkansas. With the addition of QB Johnny Stanton and now Hannon, Nebraska has had some recent recruiting successes.

Bo Pelini and hot seat continue to be mentioned in the same sentence. Why is that? All the fifth year head coach has done has win 9-10 games a year, while competing for a conference title twice. In our opinion it would have to take several subpar years before Tom Osborne would even think of making a change. There have only been a half dozen coaches who have won nine games in each of their first four seasons at the helm of a program. Bo is in pretty elite company with that accomplishment.

Alonzo Moore, a DB in the 2012 recruiting class, has been cleared academically to play by the NCAA. The Huskers continue to be the most likely team to land Jonathan Rose, the DB transfer from Auburn as well.

Here's what else is being talked about this morning:

Husker D-linemen getting up to speed

Zimmerer gets his shot at starting fullback

Nike is better than Adidas at making uniforms

Hooper's Larson hasn't lost sight of Husker roots

Husker football news - Wednesday, August 8th

This should come as no surprise to Husker fans, but former Blackshirt Lavonte David has cracked the starting lineup for the Tampa Bay Bucs. David was drafted in the 2nd round, with the 58th overall pick and has been praised for his football instincts. During his two years at Nebraska, David compiled 285 tackles, including a school record 152 in 2010. He ranks fourth all-time at Nebraska in tackles, and again, he did it in only two seasons.

It's no secret the Nebraska defensive line hasn't been the same since Ndamukong Suh graduated. The unit recorded only 21 sacks last year, 11 of which came during conference play. That was the second lowest total since 1981. With three of the starting positions pretty much locked up, there are still some question marks. New defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski likes what he has to work with, and he plans to attack opposing offenses.

Alonzo Whaley's time has come. The senior linebacker will attempt to fill the shoes of the recently departed Lavonte David at the WILL position. Whaley has matured and progressed over the last couple years and he credits a talk he had with Bo Pelini where the coach challenged him. Alonzo has taken care of his grades and conducted himself well off the field. Now it's time for him to shine between on the FieldTurf.

The problem with too many leaders. During Big Ten Media Days, a question was posed wondering who the team leaders were on offense for the Huskers. The answer came back that nearly every starter was a leader. That's great and all, but teams don't need that many leaders. They need 2-3 guys, and sometimes only one on each side of the ball, to command the huddle, to be the go-to guy when adversity strikes. Bob Hamar with the Grand Island Independent takes a look at the 2012 Huskers and their efforts to cultivate leaders. On offense, it should be Burkhead and Martinez. On defense, Will Compton appears to be the undisputed leader.

Husker football news - Tuesday, August 7th

Some practice tidbits:
-The Huskers moved to a late start time for practice in an effort to beat the afternoon heat. The 6:45pm start to their first padded practice was to take less of a toll after a summer filled with workouts in the blazing heat.
-Andrew Rodriguez realizes his playing days are likely numbered, so he's more focused and going to give his full effort each and every play.
-Ameer Abdullah has a sister who works in the White House and a brother who is a lawyer, so his expectations are high for himself. He's also shaved off his dreads, making him almost unrecognizable upon first glance. Abdullah said his freshman season was just okay. He wants to improve in a lot of areas, including blocking.
-JUCO transfer and potential starting corner Mohammad Seisay tweaked his ankle in practice yesterday and is likely out for a couple days. Nothing serious from the sounds of it.
-Offensive coordinator Tim Beck is pleased with what he's seen from freshman QB Tommy Armstrong, but the rookie is still taking snaps with the third string at this point.
-Cole Pensick has the early lead in the battle for the center position, ahead of Justin Jackson and Mark Pelini.
-Auburn defensive back Jonathan Rose will visit Nebraska sometime this week and the Huskers appear to be the only real candidate at this moment for his services. The former 4-star prospect was recruited by defensive backs coach Terry Joseph when Joseph was at Tennessee. Rose would have to sit out a year upon transferring, but will have four years to play three.
-We posted this story yesterday on Twitter and Facebook about the legendary Husker Bobby Reynolds. More interestingly though are some of the techniques former Nebraska head coach Bill Glassford used to motivate and teach his players. Among these were three practices a day, having to enter their dining hall by monkey bars with pads on, not being given water breaks, and having a fat man's table for those he thought needed to shed a few pounds. Much of what Glassford did wouldn't fly today. Judging by his record (31-35-3), his tactics weren't all that successful either.
-Jamal Turner, who played quarterback in high school but switched to receiver last season, misses playing the QB position.
-Ryan Klachko, the recently departed offensive lineman, tweeted last night that "I'm a lot of things and lazy isn't one of them." This was apparently in response to Bo Pelini's comments after practice two days ago about Nebraska's culture, implying Klachko didn't fit it.
-Don't forget to visit our new online store, full of brand new merchandise for the 2012 season!

Wisconsin's alternate jerseys for the Nebraska game

I gotta admit, I like the Huskers alternates more than these. But that's not saying much. What are your thoughts?

Husker football news - Monday, August 6th

Nebraska is evidently in the running for former Auburn defensive back Jonathan Rose, who was released from his scholarship by Gene Chizik over the weekend. Rose was a 4-star prospect coming out of high school and chose Auburn over Alabama, Georgia, and Florida State. He will have to sit out a year wherever he lands, but Terry Joseph is on the case for Nebraska. We should know in the next two weeks where Rose chooses to finish his college career.

Over the weekend you probably read Taylor Martinez saying his goal was to complete 70% of his passes this season. Last year he was just over 56%, while in 2010 he was at 59%. So 70% would be a big jump in terms of passing efficiency. You want your quarterback to be confident and borderline arrogant; the position demands these traits. It's not immaturity as this Bleacher Report author suggests, but rather setting a goal high enough that it's not too easy to attain. Will Martinez complete 70% of his passes in 2012? Probably not, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't have 70% as his goal. You can say what you want about how Martinez handles himself in front of the media, but remember he'll still be 21 years old when this season begins. Unless you were in the national spotlight, it's difficult to imagine what its like at that age. Some people love the attention, while others just want to play or coach the game. Some Husker fans have already closed the book on Taylor Martinez, even though they're only half way through it. Let's continue reading to see how the story plays out.

What three former Huskers are in the NFL Hall of Fame? Unless you're a Husker trivia junkie, you may only get one of these. Two are from the World War I era. The third is from the early 1960s. One would have to think Will Shields is a future Hall of Famer, but as of now, there's only three Huskers in the Hall.

Brett Maher is just another in a Penn State continues to hemorrhage players, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Their only returning offensive starters at the moment are their quarterback and center. This from an offense that was a notch above impotent in 2011. With each transfer, the Nittany Lions chances of rallying the troops fades a little further.

Husker Faithful has a brand new online store!

Check out the hundreds of new products, including Adidas sideline wear, player hats, and more available through the brand new Husker Faithful online store! If it has a Husker logo on it, chances are good that we now carry it! Gear up for the 2012 season now. Click on the image below to see all the new products for 2012.

2012 Huskers Fan Day in Pictures

Here are some photos we shot at today's Husker Fan Day. It was a hot one down on the field.

The 2012 Nebraska Football Media Guide...for your viewing pleasure

Every Husker fan should have a copy of this year's media guide. It's packed full of good Husker football nuggets, which are great with ketchup.

Open publication - Free publishing - More big ten

Pre-season USA Today/Coaches Poll is out

The pre-season USA Today/Coaches Poll came out this morning and Husker fans should be pleased. Nebraska begins the season ranked #16 in the Coaches Poll. Fellow Big Ten teams in the Top 25 include: Michigan #8, Wisconsin #12, and Michigan State #13. The Huskers finished the 2011 season in the #24 spot. Incidentally, Nebraska faces the three other ranked Big Ten teams during the 2012 season. So, the Huskers at #16...too high, too low, or just right?

Huskers must utilize tight ends in 2012

Last season, TE Ben Cotton played in 11 games and caught 14 passes for 189 yards. To be fair to Cotton, offensive coordinator Tim Beck, and Taylor Martinez, Cotton isn't the fleetest of foot and he's more of a blocking tight end, but he can catch the ball. Kyler Reed, at 6'3" and 230 pounds is a wide receiver in a tight end's body. In 2011, Reed saw action in 12 games and produced the following numbers: 15 receptions, 257 yards, and one touchdown. A little over 21 receiving yards per game for Reed last year.

Compare those numbers to Reed's output in the 2010 season, which saw him catch the ball 22 times for 395 yards and a school record for tight ends with eight touchdowns in 14 games. His yards per game at 28 wasn't much higher than a season ago, but he was clearly utilized more in the red zone.

Both Reed and Cotton are seniors this year, with 36 and 38 games as a Husker under their belts, respectively. Both are offensive team leaders, with Cotton being more of the vocal variety. Reed represented Nebraska at Big Ten Media Days along with Rex Burkhead and Will Compton.

Nebraska football fans don't need to look too far back in the annals of Husker history to find a comparable tight end comparison. Mike McNeill, now with the St. Louis Rams, set a school record for tight end receptions with 32 and tied the then record for tight end touchdowns at six in 2008. Over the last 30-some years, Nebraska has cranked out a fair number of good tight ends: Matt Herian before his injury, Johnny Mitchell, and Junior Miller are the first that come to mind. Kyler Reed is in this same vein.

Tim Beck and Taylor Martinez need to find a way to return Reed to his 2010 productivity levels, especially in the red zone touchdown department. Given what Nebraska has for receiving targets coming out of the backfield (Rex Burkhead, Ameer Abdullah) as well as at wide receiver (Kenny Bell, Quincy Enunwa, Jamal Turner, Tim Marlowe) it may be a tall task getting Reed (or Reed and Cotton) this many touches. They need to make the effort. There's a potent weapon on the Huskers offense that is being underutilized and his name is Kyler Reed. Get the man the ball in 2012.

Husker Faithful's 2012 Season Predictions

The Huskers are projected to finish third in the Legends Division, behind Michigan and Michigan State. While we think the pundits have it correct, we can foresee this working to Bo Pelini's advantage, who prefers to motivate his troops with the underdog mentality. Here's how we see the 2012 Nebraska football season playing out:

Southern Miss
Southern Miss is still looking for a starting quarterback. Junior QB Chris Campbell's name was linked to the starting job coming out of spring practice, but incoming freshman Anthony Alford, who was named both Mr. Football and Mr. Baseball in Mississippi last year, will also be in the mix. Whichever QB wins the job, they will have big shoes to fill. Austin Davis ended his career last year as the school's all-time passing leader, overtaking many of Brett Favre's records. The Golden Eagles come to Lincoln with a first time head coach as well. Ellis Johnson was the defensive coordinator of South Carolina last season, but he left to take this job before facing Nebraska in the bowl game. While Southern Miss has enjoyed recent success under previous head coach Larry Fedora, they don't have the same level of talent across the board as does Nebraska. As long as the Huskers can hang onto the ball and not commit a lot of penalties, they should beat the Golden Eagles handily. Our prediction: Nebraska 38, Southern Miss 20.

UCLA
Jim Mora attempts to reincarnate the Bruins as a winning football team and reverse the curse that was Rick Neuheisel. The Bruins return Kevin Prince as their quarterback, but he's not a lock to start in 2012. The junior threw for 1828 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2011, as UCLA endured a disappointing 6-8 season. Somehow that was good enough to win the Pac-12 South Division. The Bruins have a feature running back in senior Jonathan Franklin, who joins Rex Burkhead on the Maxwell Award watch list. The defensive side of the ball features former 5-star defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa, a target of Nebraska before he chose Westwood for his collegiate home. UCLA has talent and will get more in the coming years, but this is Mora's second game at the helm and the Bruins won't have enough cohesiveness to beat the Huskers. Our prediction: Nebraska 35, UCLA 24.

Arkansas State
Just this week it was announced former Auburn running back Michael Dyer was booted off the team after details of a traffic stop back in March became public. A person in the car with Dyer had a handgun as well as marijuana. Dyer left Auburn after he experienced some off-the-field troubles there as well. Not that Arkansas State had much of a chance to begin with, but this is the final blow to any hopes of them beating the Huskers. Ark State, like NU's first two opponents, also has a shiny, new head coach in Gus Malzahn. The former offensive coordinator at Auburn coached Cam Newton to the national title and Heisman Trophy in 2011. Malzahn has said he wants to run an up-tempo offense, an up-tempo defense, and yes, even an up-tempo special teams. While Ark State has no doubt taken an uptick (or will soon), they won't have enough to take down the Huskers on their home ground. Our prediction: Nebraska 38, Arkansas State 13.

Idaho State
The Bengals hail from the Big Sky Conference and face the likes of Montana, Montana State, and Eastern Washington on an annual basis. Despite that, last season wasn't a particularly good one for Idaho State as they chalked up only one conference victory and two wins overall. Let's be honest, this game won't be close. Your tailgate beers will still be nice and cold when this game has been decided. Here's your check. Thanks for coming. Our prediction: Nebraska 48, Idaho State 9.

Wisconsin
The Badgers come into the 2012 season looking to win their third straight Big Ten Championship. A year ago, Montee Ball rushed for nearly 2,000 yards to lead the nation and tied an NCAA record for total touchdowns with 39 (Barry Sanders did it in fewer games). Ball was a consensus All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist. Wisconsin led the Big Ten in scoring offense, rushing offense, and total offense in 2011. However, they did so with QB transfer and grad student Russell Wilson at the helm. The loss of Wilson leaves some question marks at the quarterback spot, even with the transfer of Danny O'Brien, the Badgers second QB free agent in as many years. O'Brien comes to Madison by way of the University of Maryland, where he graduated in only three years. He had a ho-hum 2011 season, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns, losing his starting job for part of the season, and breaking his arm (not necessarily in that order). With Montee Ball behind him, O'Brien won't be expected to be the next Russell Wilson. On the defensive side of the ball, Wisconsin returns linebackers Mike Taylor and Chris Borland, the Big Ten's top two leading tacklers in 2011. The Badgers were in the upper half of the Big Ten in all the major defensive categories a season ago. One final note, six assistant coaches departed for other jobs after last season, including offensive coordinator Paul Chryst. How this will affect Bret Bielema and the Badgers is unknown at this point. Wisconsin comes to Lincoln on September 29th, fresh off their scrimmages with a bunch of nobodies. They have cemented themselves as the K-State of the Big Ten in terms on non-conference scheduling. Our prediction: Nebraska 38, Wisconsin 35.

Ohio State
Damn you Urban Meyer. Why did you have to take your talents to our conference? Last season, Luke Fickell was the interim head coach, taking over for the disgraced Jim Tressell in the wake of Tattoo-gate. This season, Fickell resumes his duties as defensive coordinator, giving the reigns to the man who molded Tim Tebow into the quarterback he is today. Meyer will attempt to utilize the strengths of dual-threat QB Braxton Miller, who had a pretty impressive freshman season in 2011. Defensively, Ohio State is solid and sound. The Buckeyes aren't eligible to play in the Big Ten Championship game, meaning unless Wisconsin royally screws the pooch they will have a cakewalk to Indy. The Buckeyes host the Huskers a week after their game at Michigan State. Unfortunately they won't be very nice hosts. Our prediction: Ohio State 31, Nebraska 20.

Northwestern
Husker fans don't need a reminder of what the Wildcats did in Memorial Stadium last year, but we'll give it to them anyway. With Nebraska controlling their own destiny in the Legends Division, NU (that's Northwestern) QB Kain Colter stepped in for the injured Dan Persa. As Nebraska fans have seen throughout the past five years, mobile quarterbacks tend to give our defense fits. This was no exception as Colter almost single-handedly willed Northwestern to victory. The rare triple threat QB, Colter is Northwestern's top returning passer, rusher, and receiver. Throw in recent USC transfer WR Kyle Prater and NU ups its passing game potential. Even with Colter at quarterback and the Huskers past struggles in stopping mobile quarterbacks, we don't see the Wildcats pulling off the upset in back-to-back seasons. Bo Pelini & Company will find a way to neutralize him, especially with a bye week of extra preparation. Our prediction: Nebraska 35, Northwestern 20.

Michigan
Michigan was the surprise team of the Legends Division in 2011, beating Ohio State for the first time since 2003 and earning a BCS bowl victory (an overtime Sugar Bowl win against Virginia Tech). Credit QB Denard Robinson, a much stronger defensive unit, and the departure of RichRod for their success. The Wolverines ranked second in the Big Ten in both scoring offense and scoring defense last year. The 2012 season doesn't shape up as nicely for them, however. They begin the season facing the 2011 BCS Champion Alabama Crimson Tide at Jerry World and round out their non-conference slate with a road trip to South Bend and the Fighting Irish. Conference games include road trips to Nebraska and Ohio State. In other words, Brady Hoke and his boys have their work cut out for them this season. Despite the schedule, Michigan is favored to win the Legends Division. The Wolverines travel to Lincoln a week after their rivalry game against Michigan State. They are a well balanced team. Even if the Huskers don't come unraveled as they did in Ann Arbor last season, we think this is an uphill battle for Nebraska. Our prediction: Michigan 31, Nebraska 21.

Michigan State
Michigan State enters the 2012 season having to rebuild its offense after the graduation of three skill players (QB Kirk Cousins, WR B.J. Cunningham, RB Edwin Baker). Running back Le'Veon Bell should carry a heavy load for the Spartans, while junior QB Andrew Maxwell has been with the team for three years and should be able to step right in. Defensively, the Spartans return their top two tacklers, defensive end William Gholston, as well as 18 of their top 22 players from a year ago. Six are on pre-season award watch lists. The one bright spot for Nebraska is they travel to East Lansing a week after the Spartans finish up back-to-back Big Ten road trips to Michigan and Wisconsin. The Huskers were able to stifle Kirk Cousins and the Spartan offense a year ago and will need to do the same to have a chance in this game. We don't see the Husker offense having a tremendous amount of success against this stout defense, therefore, the Blackshirts should hope to keep this game a low scoring affair. Our prediction: Michigan State 24, Nebraska 17.

Penn State
RB Silas Redd announced he will play for USC this season. TE Kevin Haplea is taking his talents to Tallahassee. QB Rob Bolden has moved on to LSU. In other words, the floodgates are opening and there's no telling how much of Bill O'Brien's team will depart. Who can blame them? Why be punished for something you had no hand in? Bill O'Brien is trying to rally the troops, but he'll face an uphill battle, not just this season, but for the next decade. The Nittany Lions didn't have much of an offense last season and with the aforementioned departures they'll have even less of one in 2012. Their strength last season was on defense. The departure of DT Devon Still will hurt, but given who they have on their roster as of now, the defense should still be pretty good. Regardless, by the time PSU comes to Lincoln, their spirit will likely be broken. Our prediction: Nebraska 27, Penn State 10.

Minnesota
Historically, Minnesota football has been as exciting as Nebraska basketball. Every now and then they'll get some talent and make waves. Despite the amiable head coach Jerry Kill, the talent hasn't poured into the Twin Cities just yet. The lone exception is QB MarQueis Gray, who is mobile and a decent passer. Unfortunately, he's on a talent island by himself. Minnesota should suffer through another season like 2011 and pose no threat to the Huskers in Lincoln. Our prediction: Nebraska 34, Minnesota 17.

Iowa
The Huskers aren't getting any love from the Big Ten pundits, but Iowa is the Rodney Dangerfield of the Legends Division. Despite a boatload of returning talent, especially on defense, no one is predicting a successful season for Kirk Ferentz. This could be due to the Hawkeyes posting at least five losses in five of the last seven seasons. Yet somehow Ferentz has managed to hold onto his job. Iowa returns their top two tacklers, top two interception leaders, and top passer from 2011, but running back is a question mark. Iowa has a new offensive coordinator, Greg Davis, who comes to the Hawkeyes from the Texas Longhorns, run out of town after two disappointing seasons in Austin. This will be a much tougher Farmageddon than many Husker fans want to admit and could go either way. Our prediction: Nebraska 27, Iowa 21.

There you have it...a 9-3 regular season. No Legends Division title and no Big Ten Championship. Probably not what many Husker fans want to see. (Actually, we want the Huskers to go 14-0 and win a national title, so there's no malice in our predictions.) Throw in a bowl victory for Bo & Co. and 10 wins would be admirable given the strength of schedule this season. Most college programs would love to be able to complain about 9-10 wins a season. Unfortunately, Bo isn't at one of them. Keep your heads up, Husker fans. The 2013 schedule looks a whole lot easier than this year's.

One more prediction:

Taylor Martinez will have a better year than 2011, rushing for over 1000 yards and eclipsing the 2000 yard mark in passing, while completing 60% of his passes. His touchdown to interception ratio will be better than 2-1 and his on-the-field leadership will be noticeably better. Expect his progressions to improve now that he's in the second year of a new offensive system. In other words, give the guy a chance. Scott Frost and Eric Crouch both struggled early in their Husker careers before winning over Husker fans with success on the field. Given that Martinez still has two years to improve, we think his best football is ahead of him.

Chime in. Let us know what we've got wrong.

Husker football news - Tuesday, July 31st

Bo Pelini was the featured speaker at the 2012 Husker Kickoff Classic Monday in Columbus, Nebraska. Bo was joined by his staff, who each spoke at the event. When it was Bo's turn he said he views his staff as equals; they don't work for him. Pelini also spoke of Taylor Martinez and his big improvement in the off-season.

Kyler Reed was just nine years old the last time the Huskers hoisted a conference championship trophy. Bo Pelini said at Big Ten Media Days it doesn't matter where the pundits pick the Huskers. What matters is what happens on Saturdays.

An interesting note in the recruiting realm. Christian Lacouture, a highly touted defensive end from College Station, Texas, who has committed to the Huskers is moving up to Lincoln to attend Lincoln Southwest for his senior season.

Jordan Larson helped Team USA beat Brazil yesterday in Olympic volleyball. Larson recorded 18 points, 16 kills, and one block. Brazil was the 2008 champion and ranked second in the world behind the U.S.

A reminder that Nebraska's Fan Day is this Friday, August 3rd from 2pm-3:30pm at Memorial Stadium. Autograph and picture seekers should arrive early because the lines are typically long. Husker Faithful is hoping to get some photos of the event which we will share here and on our photos page.

2012 Huskers by Position - Defensive Line

When you think of the Nebraska football program many things come to mind: national titles, the sellout streak, option offense, and the Blackshirts defense. Other schools have nicknames such as USC and Running Back U, or Penn State and Linebacker U. Over the years though, the Huskers have produced some pretty good defensive linemen. We’re not making a case for Nebraska to be known as Defensive Line U (there are plenty of others who are eligible), but we’ll take a look at past and present Husker defensive linemen in this position review.

Rich Glover. Danny Noonan. Christian and Jason Peter. Jared Tomich. Grant Wistrom. Broderick Thomas. Ndamukong Suh. We could go on and this list isn’t exhaustive of great Husker defensive linemen, but it shows the caliber of talent the Nebraska football program has produced at this position.

New defensive line coach, Rick Kaczenski, who comes to the Huskers via their Farmageddon rival Iowa, has some talent and depth to work with in 2012. Nebraska returns three of its starting four defensive linemen from a season ago. The only loss is Jared Crick, who missed the second half of last season with a torn pectoral muscle. The projected starting defensive ends are Cameron Meredith and Jason Ankrah, with Eric Martin figuring to see some time as well, assuming Bo has forgiven him for his Twitter outburst a few weeks ago. In the interior, Baker Steinkuhler, Chase Rome, and Thad Randle figure to see the most playing time.

Meredith has made 27 straight starts for the Huskers at defensive end and the senior from Huntington Beach, California will be a leader for the Blackshirts this season. At the other end spot, Jason Ankrah started nine games for the Huskers as a sophomore and had a strong spring which will likely propel him into the starting spot in 2012. Senior Eric Martin will also see plenty of playing time this season at the end position. Fellow senior Joe Carter is the fourth Husker defensive end who returns with significant game experience. Donovan Vestal is one of the younger players at the position to keep an eye on. The sophomore from Arlington, Texas has yet to play a game for Nebraska.

Defensive tackle was a position ravaged by injuries last season, significantly affecting the play of the Blackshirts. Baker Steinkuhler, a two-year returning starter, looks to pick up where he left off last season, after he earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors a year ago. Sophomore Chase Rome is back after offseason surgery stemming from a late season injury. Rome saw significant playing time before the injury during 2011, filling in for other injured D-tackles. Thad Randle also experienced the injury bug last season, but is expected to be full speed come fall camp. One other DT to watch is Jay Guy. The sophomore from Houston, Texas filled in for injured line players last season and looks to gain playing time in 2012.

It's been several years since the Huskers have had a true dominating force on the defensive line. Nebraska doesn't have that dominator in the middle or on the edge this season, so they will have to play sound team defense in order to improve upon their underwhelming performance a season ago. Depth at the defensive line position should help, assuming injuries don't decimate the position again this season.

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Huskers as seen through Pixlr-o-matic

Here are some game photos from the last couple of years that we edited using Pixlr-o-matic, the Android photo app. We're planning to add more game photos using this or Instagram for the 2012 season. Check back here and on our Photos page.

Husker football news - Saturday, July 28th

All the talk yesterday was of the Huskers alternate uniform they will bring out for this year's Wisconsin game. Comparisons have been made to the Domino's Noid guy, as well as to the Texas Tech Red Raiders or worse. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the big N on the front. I would have liked to have seen all black jerseys with red and white accents, or a black jersey with white pants. Something a little less drastic (some say futuristic) than what Adidas rolled out. In other words, they're underwhelming to me. I'm no blue hair, but I would have liked to seen them stick a little closer to tradition rather than jump into the abyss with the likes of Maryland, Notre Dame, and any other team trotting out in ugly uniforms. At least the players seem to like them and if it helps recruiting and brings in more revenue for the university, more power to them. I won't be buying one and seeing the Huskers run out of the tunnel against Wisconsin wearing solid red isn't going to make me cheer louder. There is something to sticking with tradition and then there is abandoning it altogether, even if only for a game. If you haven't seen the new unis, check out our last post.

Bo Pelini doesn't think anything good comes from Twitter and therefore has officially banned his players from tweeting. This ban is in effect indefinitely. Eric Martin's epic check rant was the culprit this time.

Will Compton credits his teammate nicknamed Superman for turning him on to reading books, especially those dealing with sports psychology. Actually, Will has come a long way since his days in high school. Catch up on the leader of the Blackshirts in this article.

How will the Huskers do in 2012? The York News-Times asked five Nebraska football fans for their perspective.

Former Husker and NFL veteran, Russ Hochstein, has signed a contract to play for the Arizona Cardinals. Hochstein played the majority of his 11-year career with the New England Patriots, winning two Super Bowl rings in the process. Russ also has short stints with Tampa Bay and Denver.

If you haven't checked out our ridiculously low-priced Husker apparel, we've got shirts, hats, and ladies wear up to 35% off. Items won't last long.

Are these the new Husker alternative uniforms?

What are your thoughts, Huskers fans?

Bo answers questions at Big Ten Media Days

The much-awaited Big Ten Media Days are upon us. Bo Pelini, wearing a suit and tie, took his 15 minutes to offer up a brief opening statement, which was followed by a dozen or so questions. So what did the head man have to say? Here are some snippits:

Will Compton is our undisputed leader on defense.

On the three Husker players representing the team in Chicago: It was hard to pick only three guys because we have a lot of leadership on the team.

On Nebraska's first trip through the Big Ten: Very impressed with the depth of the league from top to bottom.

On whether he's looking forward to the Ohio State game (his alma mater): I don't look forward to the Ohio State game more than any other one.

Bo also said the seniors in the program have had a pretty unique experience, getting to play in Big 12 venues like Oklahoma and Texas as well as in Big Ten venues.

On competitive balance within the Big Ten: Who could have envisioned what's gone on? Those decisions are made by others. It's way above my head.

Bo on Taylor Martinez: My expectations for him are high. Seems like he's been around forever, but he's only a junior. His best football is ahead of him.

Bo on Rex Burkhead: He's a special player and a special kid. Multi-talented. He's the definition of a role model. I wouldn't trade him for another player in the country.

Bo on the defense: I feel good about our defensive unit as a whole.

And then Bo exited stage right, no doubt to answer the same questions over and over again from the assembled media. Ya know?

Husker football news - Thursday, July 26th

Big Ten Media Days begin today. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini is scheduled for the 1pm CST time slot. His comments will be carried live on TV by the Big Ten Network, as well as online at BTN2Go. Here is the complete schedule of coaching appearances for today. Current Huskers Rex Burkhead, Kyler Reed, and Will Compton will represent the team.

A noticeable absence from the Nebraska contingent is Taylor Martinez, whose name was added to the Manning Award watch list.

Jared Crick, Lavonte David, Alfonzo Dennard, Marcel Jones and other former Huskers enter their first NFL training camps. Here are some details about where these ex-Huskers are competing for jobs.

We'll have more on Big Ten Media Days later today. In the meantime, check out our HUGE Summer Sale, going on now!

Husker football news - Wednesday, July 25th

In the wake of the NCAA's harsh punishment against Penn State, it's no secret that some current Nittany Lion players are looking to take their talents elsewhere. USC wants Silas Redd. DB Ross Douglas visited Nebraska last Friday before committing to Michigan. There will be others, too, especially if PSU struggles this season as the Omaha World Herald's Sam McKewon predicts.

The Big Ten Media Days in Chicago run tomorrow and Friday. Penn State will dominate the discussion and all the prominent coaches in the conference will be asked their opinion. Lucky for these guys, Gary Pinkel already produced the playbook on what not to say about Joe Paterno during the SEC's media gathering. The Pinkel Factor reigns supreme.

Here is an interview with QB commit Johnny Stanton after his Elite 11 performance.

Another Top 10 list of players to watch in the Big Ten courtesy of the oldest newspaper in Illinois. Rex Burkhead is the only Husker to make this list.

Yesterday, the university put out a new time lapse video of the East Stadium construction project. It's worth a watch.

And don't miss out on Husker Faithful's HUGE Summer Sale! We've marked down nearly all of our shirts, hats, and ladies apparel, up to 35% off. We've got to make room for our new inventory items. Pick up some unique Husker gear on the cheap! GBR!

A look at the final third of the Huskers 2012 season

Now we take a look at the home stretch. In theory, the final four games should be a smoother ride for the Huskers than were the previous four. With that said, games in East Lansing and Iowa City will test the Big Red. Michigan State is predicted to finish second in the Legends Division by the Big Ten sportswriters, behind Michigan and ahead of Nebraska. While Iowa will either be a very good team or a very mediocre team. One never knows with Kirk Ferentz at the helm. So here's a look at how Nebraska closes out the 2012 regular season.

Michigan State
2011 record: 11-3
2011 Big Ten record: 7-1 (Legends Division champions)
Head coach: Mark Dantonio (6th year)
Offensive starters returning: 5 (RB Le'Veon Bell, most of their offensive line)
Defensive starters returning: 8 (DE William Gholston, CB Johnny Adams, CB Darqueze Dennard)
Key losses: QB Kirk Cousins, WR Keshawn Martin, WR B.J. Cunningham, RB Edwin Baker, DT Jerel Worthy
2012 non-conference schedule: Boise State, at Central Michigan, Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan (hat tip to the Spartans)
Series record vs Nebraska: 0-6 (0-1 at home)
Fun fact: Legendary Husker coach Bob Devaney began his coaching career at Michigan State and it was Duffy Daugherty, then head coach of the Spartans, who recommended Devaney for the Wyoming job and later the Nebraska job. Here's a good story on Bob and Duffy.

Michigan State enters the 2012 season having to rebuild its offense after the graduation of three skill players. Running back Le'Veon Bell should carry a heavy load for the Spartans. Defensively, they return their top two tacklers along with the freak of nature defensive end William Gholston. The Spartans are deep in the defensive backfield as well. Michigan State hosts the Huskers after back-to-back Big Ten road trips to Michigan and Wisconsin. Hats off to the Spartans for scheduling Boise State and Notre Dame in their non-conference schedule. This game may decide the Huskers fate in the Legends Division. Nebraska found a way to stifle the Spartan offense last year. They will have to do the same in order to win this season.

Penn State
2011 record: 9-4
2011 Big Ten record: 6-2
Head coach: Bill O'Brien (1st year)
*Offensive starters returning: 5 (QB Matt McGloin, RB Silas Redd)
*Defensive starters returning: 4 (LB Gerald Hodges)
Key losses: WR Derek Moyes, DT Devon Still
2012 non-conference schedule: Ohio, at Virginia, Navy, Temple (yawn!)
Series record vs Nebraska: 7-7 (2-4 in Lincoln)
Fun fact: Not much happiness in Happy Valley these days.

*Given the NCAA sanctions that came down on Monday, it's tough to handicap the Nittany Lions heading into the 2012 season. One of the stipulations in the sanctions is that current players can transfer to another school without having to sit out a year, as is normally the condition. This could open the floodgates for a mass exodus and severely impact the Penn State football program for many years. Already there is talk of RB Silas Redd being recruited by USC. If he were to leave you'd have to think others would see the writing on the wall.

The $60 million fine and loss of 10 scholarships per year for four years, as well as the four year post-season ban will render PSU football to the scrap heap in a short time period. The late Joe Paterno was also stripped of 111 victories (from 1998-2011), making Bobby Bowden once again the winningest coach in major college football. How long before Bill O'Brien looks for another job? Why you would want this one for the next 4-5 years is beyond me.

Minnesota
2011 record: 3-9
2011 Big Ten record: 2-6
Head coach: Jerry Kill (2nd year)
Offensive starters returning: 7 (QB MarQueis Gray)
Defensive starters returning: 6
Key losses: S Kim Royston, LB Gary Tinsley
2012 non-conference schedule: at UNLV, New Hampshire, Western Michigan, Syracuse
Series record vs Nebraska: 29-21 (9-9 in Lincoln)
Fun fact: The Huskers dropped 84 points on the Golden Gophers in 1983. Minnesota has lost 16 of the last 17 games against the Huskers, dating back to 1959. Prior to that was a different story. These two teams first played each other in 1900.

Minnesota football historically has been as exciting as Nebraska basketball, prior to the Tim Miles era. Their quarterback has some skill, but unfortunately, no one else around him does. Minnesota should suffer through another season like 2011 and pose no threat to the Huskers in Lincoln.

Iowa
2011 record: 7-6
2011 Big Ten record: 4-4
Head coach: Kirk Ferentz (14th year)
Offensive starters returning: 6 (QB James Vandenberg, WR Keenan Davis)
Defensive starters returning: 5
Key losses: RB Marcus Coker, WR Marvin McNutt, Jr.
2012 non-conference schedule: vs Northern Illinois in Chicago, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Central Michigan
Series record vs Nebraska: 8-23-1 (6-8 at home)
Fun fact: Eric Crouch once steamrolled an Iowa defender en route to the end zone. Click on the link if you don't know what we're talking about. One more fun fact...Nebraska has five national titles to Iowa's zero.

The Hawkeyes return their top two tacklers, top two interception leaders, and top passer from 2011, but running back is a question mark. Iowa has a new offensive coordinator, Greg Davis, who comes to the Hawkeyes from the Texas Longhorns, run out of town after two disappointing seasons in Austin. Iowa has posted at least five losses in five of the last seven seasons under Ferentz, so his leash may be short. Iowa looks at best a middle of the pack Big Ten team this year and will most likely suffer another 4-5 loss campaign.

That's a look at the last third of the Huskers' season. Two see our first and middle third reviews, click on the links. Less than 40 days till the Huskers take the field against Southern Miss. GBR!

Husker football news - Monday, July 23rd

Big Ten Media Days take place in Chicago this Thursday and Friday. Much of the talk will no doubt center around the Penn State situation and whatever the NCAA hands down today. But there will be some actual on the field football talk as well. In an unofficial poll of Big Ten media writers, Nebraska was picked to finish third in the Legends Division, behind Michigan and Michigan State. Over in the Leaders Division, Wisconsin garnered the first place spot, followed by Ohio State, who isn't eligible to play in the Big Ten Championship game this season.

The newest Husker commitment, QB Johnny Stanton, was named one of the Elite 11 quarterbacks yesterday afternoon at the Elite 11 competition. While he didn't earn MVP honors at the camp, Stanton proved to his doubters that he's more of a complete quarterback, especially in terms of passing, than previously thought.

The Huskers find themselves in four of the Top 10 key games in the Big Ten in 2012, according to the Detroit News. Nebraska's games against Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, and Iowa make the list.

Former Husker defensive tackle Jared Crick enters his first NFL training camp with the Houston Texans. Crick was drafted in the 4th round after a torn pectoral muscle caused him to miss much of the 2011 season.

Here's an interesting read from Dirk Chatelain on Bob Devaney's impact on the Nebraska football program. Bill Jennings didn't understand the state's ego could be boosted from its football program. Bear Bryant in 1955 said the Huskers weren't very talented. Something needed to be done. Enter the Bobfather.

Finally, Monday morning at 9am, the world will hear what punishment the NCAA is handing out to Penn State. Chances are good the death penalty will not be used. Not this time and not ever again. Instead it will likely be a mix of post-season bans, scholarships taken away, and financial penalties, including fines. Whatever the sanctions, it won't do anyone any good. Not the victims, not the student-athletes at Penn State, and not the Big Ten. Still, something should be done. Shame is clearly not enough, especially since most Penn State fans are in denial or defiance of the situation.

2012 Huskers by Position - Linebackers

The Huskers enter the 2012 season without the services of Lavonte David, whom without a year ago the Huskers could have finished 7-6 instead of 9-4. The turning point in the season for Nebraska came when David stripped Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, sparking the Huskers to their greatest come from behind victory in school history.

Will Compton takes over as the leader of the defense in 2012. Last season, Compton recorded the second most tackles for the Blackshirts with 82 (behind David's 133) and earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. Will excels in the classroom as well, taking home Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2011. He will be relied on in a big way and will be a key figure in the Blackshirts level of success this year.

Seniors Sean Fisher and Alonzo Whaley are the other two returning linebackers with significant game experience. Fisher will look to nail down the starting BUCK linebacker position, while Whaley is hoping to crack the starting lineup at WILL after coming on strong in the final three games of last season.

Bo Pelini has been proficient at bringing in junior college transfers to plug holes on both sides of the ball. Husker fans hope Zaire Anderson is the next big contributor on defense. The 5'11" 220 pounder hails from Philadelphia and comes to Nebraska via Riverside Community College in Riverside, California. Rivals.com listed Zaire as the top JUCO linebacker and 13th rated junior college player in 2011.

David Santos, a redshirt freshman, will likely be in the mix to replace David at the WILL position along with Whaley. Santos nearly saw the field last season before the coaching staff decided not to burn his redshirt. He hails from Spring, Texas and was a high school teammate of Nebraska cornerback Charles Jackson.

Backing up Will Compton at the MIKE linebacker position is sophomore Trevor Roach, who took over last season in the middle while Compton was injured. The Elkhorn, Nebraska native came to the Huskers as a walk-on and will look to build upon his success from a year ago.

Nebraska's success in 2012 will be largely dependent on the play of the Blackshirts. Key to this will be the play of the linebackers.

Welcome to the Big Ten - Part II

A few posts ago, we previewed the Huskers non-conference schedule and predicted a 4-0 start for the Huskers. The month of October (technically September 29th to October 27th) might be one of the toughest stretches this year for any team not in the SEC Conference. Nebraska faces what we consider to be the top three teams in the Big Ten in a four game stretch. Luckily for NU, two of these three will be played in Lincoln. We'll take a look at the four teams representing the Huskers Big Ten death march.

Wisconsin
2011 record: 11-3
2011 Big Ten record: 6-2 (Big Ten Champions)
Head coach: Bret Bielema (7th season)
Offensive starters returning: 5 (RB Montee Ball, WR Jared Abbrederis)
Defensive starters returning: 6 (LB Mike Taylor, LB Chris Borland)
Key losses: QB Russell Wilson, WR Nick Toon
2012 non-conference schedule: Northern Iowa, at Oregon State, Utah State, UTEP (Kansas State is jealous of this non-con schedule)
Series record vs Nebraska: 3-3 (0-2 in Lincoln)
Fun fact: Head coach Bret Bielema closely resembles the school mascot Bucky. Seriously.

The Badgers (or "Baaaadgers" if you're from Wisconsin) come into the 2012 season looking to win their third straight Big Ten Championship. A year ago, Montee Ball (pronounced Money Ball) rushed for 1,923 yards to lead the nation while tying an NCAA record for total touchdowns with 39. Ball was a consensus All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist. Wisconsin led the Big Ten in scoring offense, rushing offense, and total offense in 2011.

The loss of Russell Wilson leaves some question marks at the quarterback spot, even with the transfer of Danny O'Brien, who graduated from Maryland in three years. O'Brien had a ho-hum 2011 season, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns, losing his starting job for part of the season, and breaking his arm (not necessarily in that order).

On the defensive side of the ball, Wisconsin returns linebackers Mike Taylor and Chris Borland, the Big Ten's top two leading tacklers in 2011. The Badgers were in the upper half of the Big Ten in all the major defensive categories a season ago. One final note, six assistant coaches departed for other jobs after last season, including offensive coordinator Paul Chryst.

Wisconsin comes to Lincoln on September 29th, fresh off their scrimmages with a bunch of nobodies.

Ohio State
2011 record: 6-7
2011 Big Ten record: 3-5
Head coach: Urban Meyer (1st season)
Offensive starters returning: 7 (QB Braxton Miller, TE Jake Stoneburner, WR Chris Fields)
Defensive starters returning: 9 (DL John Simon)
Key losses: RB Dan Herron, tattoo parlor revenue
2012 non-conference schedule: Miami (OH), Central Florida, California, UAB (Urban Meyer guaranteed to start 4-0)
Series record vs Nebraska: 2-1 (0-1 in Lincoln)
Fun fact: Urban Meyer began his coaching career at Ohio State as a grad assistant in 1986 and 1987 and has come full circle. Our boy is all growed up.

Last season, Luke Fickell took over for the disgraced Jim Tressell after Tattoo-gate. This season, Fickell resumes his duties as defensive coordinator, yielding the head spot to the man who molded Tim Tebow into the quarterback he is today. Meyer will attempt to utilize the strengths of dual-threat QB Braxton Miller while minimizing the playing time of lead-footed backup Joe Bauserman.

Ohio State should be considered a co-favorite to win the Leaders Division along with Wisconsin. They will have a potent defense led by All-Conference 1st team defensive lineman John Simon, but the Buckeyes will go only as far as Miller can take them.

The Buckeyes host the Huskers a week after their game at Michigan State. The Horseshoe in Columbus is on par with The Big House in Ann Arbor for great Big Ten venues.

Northwestern
2011 record: 6-7
2011 Big Ten record: 3-5
Head coach: Pat Fitzgerald (7th year)
Offensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters returning: 6
Key losses: QB Dan Persa
2012 non-conference schedule: at Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Boston College, South Dakota (hey look, an SEC team)
Series record vs Nebraska: 2-3 (1-2 in Lincoln)
Fun fact: Kain Colter is Northwestern's top returning passer, rusher, and receiver, making him the rare triple-threat QB.

Husker fans don't need a reminder of what Northwestern did in Lincoln last season (a 28-25 win over #9 Nebraska in case you do). It was the Kain Colter show then and it's shaping up to be the Kain Colter show in 2012 as well.

Northwestern has always been a scrappy team, never understanding they should be the token doormat of the Legends Division. Pat Fitzgerald, who played for the Wildcats, is an excellent coach, his players are smart, and they love nothing more than beating those of lesser intelligence.

Northwestern returns home to face the Huskers after back-to-back Big Ten road trips. Earlier this month, Northwestern announced they had already sold out the Nebraska game. Thank you Husker fans for making that possible.

Michigan
2011 record: 11-2
2011 Big Ten record: 6-2
Head coach: Brady Hoke (2nd year)
Offensive starters returning: 6 (QB Denard Robinson, RB Fitzgerald Toussaint)
Defensive starters returning: 7
Key losses: WR Junior Hemingway, C David Molk
2012 non-conference schedule: Alabama at Cowboys Stadium, Air Force, Massachusetts, at Notre Dame (winner of Best Non-Conference Schedule for a Big Ten Team in 2012)
Series record vs Nebraska: 4-2-1 (0-0-1 in Lincoln, a 6-6 tie in 1911)
Fun fact: Head coach Brady Hoke has experience in Memorial Stadium, having led Ball State to within a point (41-40) of Bill Callahan's Huskers in 2007.

Michigan was the surprise team of the Legends Division in 2011, beating Ohio State for the first time since 2003 and earning a BCS bowl game (an overtime Sugar Bowl win against Virginia Tech). Credit QB Denard Robinson, a much stronger defensive unit, and the departure of RichRod for their success. The Wolverines ranked second in the Big Ten in both scoring offense and scoring defense last year. The 2012 season doesn't shape up as nicely for them, however. They begin the season facing the 2011 BCS Champion Alabama Crimson Tide at Jerry World and round out their non-conference slate with a road trip to South Bend. Conference games include road trips to Nebraska and Ohio State. In other words, Brady Hoke and his boys have their work cut out for them this season.

The Wolverines travel to Lincoln a week after their rivalry game against Michigan State.

This four game stretch is a doozy for Nebraska. Going undefeated during this stretch is highly unlikely, but if the Big Red can pull it off, then we'll have a championship caliber team to call our own. We'll take a look at NU's four remaining games next week. For now...Go Big Red!

Heard is the word

Braylon Heard was recruited by the Huskers to play running back. The Youngstown, Ohio native decided in the off-season to move to cornerback to help the team's depth at that position. Now with the departure of Aaron Green, it's running back which seems a bit on the thin side. Tim Beck announced last night that Heard is moving back to his original position. He will rejoin senior Rex Burkhead, sophomore Ameer Abdullah, freshman Imani Cross, and walk-on King Frazier at I-back.

Burkhead nominated for Allstate Good Works Team

We received this official email from the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team people earlier today:

I am writing to share some exciting news about University of Nebraska-Lincoln running back Rex Burkhead, who was just announced as a nominee for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® -- the most prestigious off-the-field honor in college football. More often than not, college football players are remembered for their accomplishments on the field and are rarely recognized for their achievements outside of football. Through the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, Allstate and the AFCA recognize the community service contributions of these young men that may otherwise go unnoticed.

As protectors of the integrity of the sport, Allstate and the AFCA are honored to announce Burkhead as a nominee, who boasts an impressive resume of community service accomplishments, which include:

 Mentoring a 6-year-old boy with a rare brain tumor, meeting 3-4 times per week, along with additional phone calls and video chats
 Hosting a family lunch and tour of Memorial Stadium for a boy who was recovering from a life-threatening illness
 Appearing on a public service announcement challenging youth to avoid bullying
 Serving as a huddle leader for the Nebraska Fellowship of Christian Athletes

From the 117 nominees, two 11-player Good Works Teams will be selected and announced in late September – one for the Football Bowl Subdivision (Div. I-A) and the other for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and NAIA. In its fifth year as sponsor, Allstate has assembled a prominent selection panel including former Good Works Team members and well-respected college football media members. Past members of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® include Super Bowl champion quarterbacks, Peyton and Eli Manning, ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer and 2011 Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.

If you have any questions regarding the official announcement, available here or below, or would like more information on Burkhead and his good works, please contact me.

Is anyone surprised in the least that Rex made the list?

Husker football news - Thursday, July 19th

Nebraska quarterbacks, both current and future, are getting more recognition. Taylor Martinez was added to the Davey O'Brien Award watch list, which is given to the nation's best collegiate QB. Martinez joins 33 other quarterbacks on the list, including Iowa's James Vandenberg, Braxton Miller from Ohio State, and Denard Robinson of Michigan. This is Taylor's third straight year making the O'Brien watch list. The junior signal caller has racked up 5500 yards of total offense during his first two seasons, already ranking him third all-time for Nebraska.

Recent Husker QB commitment Johnny Stanton is competing in the Elite 11 quarterback competition, along with 24 other soon to be college QBs. Early reports suggest Stanton is faring well. The finals of the event will be televised on ESPN August 7th and 14th.

Ever wonder what a game preview looks like from the other side? Here is GoJoeBruin.com's look at the Nebraska-UCLA game. Here are some key takeaways. 1) UCLA's secondary is their defensive weak spot, so the Huskers should have success throwing the ball. 2) Their front seven are strong, so NU may have a difficult time running against the Bruins. On the other side of the ball, UCLA has two QBs in the mix, one a pocket passer and the other a dual-threat quarterback. Nebraska has notoriously struggled against mobile quarterbacks, making this position decision one to watch for Husker fans. Bruins fans on the other hand are hoping to be whining over nine win seasons, like Husker fans. Joe Bruin predicts Nebraska 31, UCLA 20.

Remember names like Dave Humm and Jerry Murtaugh? These Huskers greats are involved in different ways with the Husker Greats Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing "medical and emergency assistance to former athletes who lettered in sports while attending a university or college in the state of Nebraska." Former Husker QB Dave Humm was diagnosed with MS after a 10-year NFL career, ultimately losing the use of his legs. Husker great Jerry Murtaugh, along with others, established this foundation to support former Nebraska athletes, recognizing that an "athlete's connection to the state doesn't end after three or four years." For more information, visit the Husker Greats Foundation website.

In case you missed it, another former Husker has given back to the community that helped launched his pro career. Prince Amukamara, now a defensive back with the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, donated $10,000 in football gear to Lincoln High School.

A look at the Nebraska's 2012 non-conference schedule

The Huskers 2012 schedule breaks down nicely into thirds. There's the non-conference third, the "welcome-to-the-Big-Ten-Part-II" third, and the home stretch final third. Today, we'll take a look at the non-conference portion.

The one theme among Nebraska's non-conference opponents in 2012 is new faces. Each of the first three teams the Big Red face this season have new coaching staffs. The Huskers open against Southern Miss, who are coming off an impressive 2011 season which saw them win Conference USA. New coach Ellis Johnson brings an SEC pedigree to the Golden Eagles, having served most recently as defensive coordinator for South Carolina. Johnson left the Gamecocks before the bowl game against Nebraska last season. He takes over for Larry Fedora who left for the North Carolina job.

Southern Miss is still looking for a starting quarterback. Junior QB Chris Campbell's name was linked to the starting job coming out of spring practice, but incoming freshman Anthony Alford, who was named both Mr. Football and Mr. Baseball in Mississippi last year, will also be in the mix. Whichever QB wins the job, they will have big shoes to fill. Austin Davis ended his career last year as the school's all-time passing leader, overtaking many of Brett Favre's records.

The Huskers have faced Southern Miss three times in their history, holding a 2-1 advantage. The last time these two faced each other was in 2004, a Golden Eagles win in Lincoln 21-17 during Bill Callahan's first year. Frank Solich had more success against Southern Miss, leading Nebraska to wins in 1999 and 2003.

A new coach, new quarterback, and the first game of the year against Nebraska in Memorial Stadium...that's a tall order for any team. Don't be surprised if Southern Miss puts up a fight, but the game shouldn't be in doubt late as the Fresno State game was last season.

The Huskers second foe in 2012 is UCLA, who didn't exactly prosper under the tutelage of former Colorado golden boy Rick Neuheisel. He was fired at the end of last season as UCLA sought to take their program in a different direction...up this time.

Jim Mora tries his hand at the college game after 25 years in the NFL and the last two spent as a TV analyst. Mora brings a defensive-minded attitude to his new team, replacing whatever it was that Neuheisel tried during his inauspicious tenure. The new coach with the same name as his legendary father will attempt to get the Bruins back to the Rose Bowl Game and end the school's 13 year drought.

The Bruins return Kevin Prince as their quarterback, but he's not a lock to start in 2012. The junior threw for 1828 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2011, as UCLA endured a disappointing 6-8 season. Somehow that was good enough to win the Pac-12 South Division. The Bruins have a feature running back in senior Jonathan Franklin, who joins Rex Burkhead on the Maxwell Award watch list. The defensive side of the ball features former 5-star defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa, a target of Nebraska before he chose Westwood for his collegiate home.

Nebraska and UCLA have hooked up 10 times, with the Huskers holding a slight 6-4 advantage. The two teams last faced each other nearly 20 years ago, during the 1993 and 1994 seasons. Big Red is 2-3 when playing at UCLA, with their last road victory a one point affair (14-13) in 1993.

Not to be left out, Arkansas State also has a shiny, new head coach in Gus Malzahn. The former offensive coordinator at Auburn coached Cam Newton to the national title and Heisman Trophy in 2011. Going out on a limb here, he won't be blessed with that kind of talent at Arkansas State. Malzahn has said he wants to run an up-tempo offense, an up-tempo defense, and yes, even an up-tempo special teams. While Ark State is no doubt on the rise, they won't have enough to take down the Huskers on their home ground. This game should be another case of "thanks for coming and here's your check." Nebraska's only other meeting with this opponent came during the 2009 season, with the Huskers easily winning 38-9.

That brings us to Idaho State. For a school that has little to no football tradition, they have cranked out some notable gridiron alumni, including: Jared Allen, Merrill Hoge, Evan Dietrich-Smith (who Ndamukong Suh "tripped" over last Thanksgiving), Marvin Lewis, and Buddy Ryan's favorite punching bag, Kevin Gilbride. The Bengals hail from the Big Sky Conference and face the likes of Montana, Montana State, and Eastern Washington on an annual basis. Despite that, last season wasn't a particularly good one for Idaho State as they chalked up only one conference victory and two wins overall. Let's be honest, this game won't be close. Your tailgate beers will still be nice and cold when this game has been decided.

Husker fans should look at this year's non-conference slate and expect to go 4-0 to begin the season. Then again, when was the last time Husker Nation ever expected to lose any game?

Next week we'll take a look at the monster, middle third of the 2012 season.

2012 Huskers by Position - Defensive Backs

It's no secret Nebraska's defense took a statistical step backward last season. The Blackshirts yielded nearly a touchdown more last season versus the 2010 campaign. With the loss of Jared Crick, Lavonte David, and Alfonzo Dennard, it will be a tall task to reverse the trend. Beginning in the defensive backfield, we'll take a look at the Huskers by position over the next few weeks.

No doubt part of the defensive struggles from the 2011 season can be attributed to injuries and a revolving door. Among the defensive backs, Alfonzo Dennard wasn't 100% for very much, if at all, during last year. The other corner spot saw Andrew Green and Ciante Evans seemingly in a never-ending battle to win the ire of Bo Pelini. Seriously, was there ever a time when Ciante Evans went off the field that Pelini wasn't in his ear about something? And what about Stanley Jean-Baptiste? He made one of the bigger plays of the year on defense, the interception of an Ohio State pass that continued the momentum leading to the greatest comeback in school history. Then he basically disappeared from the lineup. Speaking of unsolved mysteries, what happened to Josh Mitchell, who saw playing time early in the season before disappearing altogether? Will either play a factor this upcoming season? All told, nine DBs started at least one game during the 2011 season.

If there is one thing Bo Pelini has excelled at it's bringing in junior college transfers who can make an immediate impact. Think Lavonte David and DeJon Gomes for starters. This year it's Mohammed Seisay who is expected to make a splash at the cornerback position. Seisay is a highly touted JUCO transfer with D-1 experience at Memphis before he landed at Eastern Arizona C.C. He will likely be in the mix at cornerback, challenging Andrew Green and Ciante Evans for a starting position.

Braylon Heard has moved from running back to cornerback and looks to be in the mix as well. Given that Heard doesn't have any game experience, he is less likely to beat out Green or Evans to become a starter than is Seisay.

At the safety position, Daimion Stafford returns for his senior season, coming off an impactful 2011 (just ask that Tennessee-Chattanooga running back). Courtney Osborne, who showed flashes of greatness during the 2010 season, took a step or two backward last year. He will once again compete for a starting safety spot, along with Harvey Jackson and Corey Cooper.

In addition to some new faces in the defensive backfield, there's a new man coaching the position. After only one season, Corey Raymond departed for the LSU DBs job. Bo Pelini plucked Terry Joseph (cousin of former Husker QB Mickey Joseph) out of Tennessee, bringing not only his SEC experience but recruiting ties to the Deep South. Raymond was a change-up from his predecessor, Marvin Sanders, preaching a less physical style of play. With Joseph at the helm, expect Husker defensive backs to revert to the style of play seen under Sanders.

All in all, there are several holes that need to be filled at the cornerback and safety positions. If the Husker defense is to return to dominance, they'll need to have a strong defensive backfield, allowing their pass rush time to get to the opposing quarterback. Nebraska has been fertile ground for defensive backs, with 13 former Huskers drafted to the NFL the past 12 years. So the Huskers have had success in developing talent at this position. Who will step up in 2012? That's the million dollar question.

Follow Eddie on Twitter @EddieHusker
Follow Husker Faithful on Twitter @HuskerFaithful

Today's Husker news - Monday, July 16th

A staff writer for the Houma, Louisiana newspaper caught up with Husker QB Taylor Martinez down at the Manning Passing Academy this week. Martinez is a camp coach along with many other college quarterbacks. He expresses a love of Bo Pelini, who is a father figure to many of his players.

One of the Bleacher Report writers takes a look at the reasons recruits choose Nebraska.

Let's go streaking, Memorial Stadium-style!

November 3, 1962. The Huskers lost to Missouri in Lincoln on Homecoming by a score of 16-7. Thus began the longest consecutive sellout streak in college football, which today stands at 318 games. Fifty years this November. The streak, if you can even call something that has endured for this long a streak, began under Bob Devaney. It was carried on by Tom Osborne and Frank Solich, survived the Bill Callahan era, and now seems in good hands under Bo Pelini.

Huskers lose a 2013 commit to Arizona State

According to @ASUDevilscom on Twitter, 2013 Husker commit Tre'vell Dixon has changed his mind and decided to be an Arizona State Sun Devil. Such is the fickle world of recruiting. Here today, gone tomorrow. Dixon was a 4 star athlete out of Baldwin, Louisiana who had yet to visit campus. With his departure, the Huskers' class stands at 12.

Beck on Martinez and the state of Husker football

Gerry Dinardo, an analyst with the Big Ten Network sat down with Nebraska offensive coordinator Tim Beck to break down some film of Taylor Martinez. It's worth a watch.

Patrick Runge over at Bleacher Report says the window of opportunity is closing for the Husker football program. The further they get away from their glory days of the mid-90s, the harder it will be to sell kids on tradition.

I disagree with him a bit here as would Stewart Mandel, who calls Nebraska one of the "kings" of college football. The Huskers had a stretch of 22 years (from 1972 to 1994) where they didn't win a national title. As long as Nebraska is in the mix for a division and conference championship year in and year out, they will be able to sell their tradition. It doesn't matter that kids were four years old when NU last hoisted a major trophy. Nebraska is one of the winningest college football programs of all-time. Their facilities are as good as the best out there. The fan base is rabid. Nebraska still has a lot going for it, even without beaches and nice weather. Honestly, how tough are kids if they can't play in cold weather anyway?

What Nebraska can't afford to do is suffer another Callahan-like era of futility. That doesn't appear to be in the cards. Just remember, the 2012 season is a tough one for the Huskers. The following two seasons (Taylor Martinez's senior season included) are much easier from a conference scheduling standpoint.

Two Huskers make Outland Trophy watch list

Spencer Long and Baker Steinkuhler are among the 70 or so watch list players up for the Outland Trophy. Long started every game in 2011 as an offensive guard, while Steinkuhler is a two-year starter on the defensive line.

Nebraska has had eight different Outland Trophy winners, with Dave Rimington earning the award twice (1981 & 1982). Other winners include: Larry Jacobson (1971), Rich Glover (1972), Dean Steinkuhler (1983), Will Shields (1992), Zach Wiegert (1994), Aaron Taylor (1997), and Ndamukong Suh (2009).

Brett Maher was also added to the Ray Guy Award watch list, given to the nation's best collegiate punter. Maher yesterday was named to the Lou Groza watch list.

How the Huskers compare against top programs

Written by Eddie Ventura

Let's take a look at where Nebraska stands in comparison to the top programs of Alabama and LSU based on last season's performance.

Out of four major statistical categories (passing, rushing, points per game and points allowed), the Huskers hold their own in three. It's not hard to guess where the biggest improvement must come from in 2012 for the Big Red.

Passing

Both LSU and Alabama rely on the running game, similar to the Huskers. The Crimson Tide finished the 2011 season ranked 66th in passing nationally, averaging 215 yards per game. Nebraska and LSU were neck and neck for passing game futility, ending the 2011 campaign at 104th and 106th respectively, averaging 162 and 152 yards per game.

Rushing

In the rushing department, the Huskers actually rank higher than both Alabama and LSU. The three teams finished 15th, 16th, and 22nd. The Big Red averaged 217 yards on the ground, while the Tide ran for 215 and LSU 203. While yards per game is seemingly an apples to apples comparison, consider the latter two play in the SEC. These are some of the fastest, strongest, and toughest defenses in the country, so Alabama and LSU have earned their yards on the ground.

Points per game

LSU and Bama both averaged over 35 points per game in 2011, while Nebraska scored a touchdown less at 28. A high scoring offense isn't necessarily indicative of a national championship caliber team. In fact, you've all heard that defense wins championships. So how do these three compare in points allowed?

Points against

Alabama was in a class by itself in terms of defense during the 2011 season. The Tide gave up an average of 7.7 points per game. That's simply ridiculous. LSU was second in points allowed last season at 11.2. Nebraska, meanwhile, came in at 46th in the nation, giving up an average of 24.8 points per game. That was nearly a touchdown higher than during the 2010 season.

What these comparisons show is that Nebraska's offense isn't that far away from a championship level. The problem is on the defensive side of the ball, where the Huskers must reverse their slide from a year ago. If the Blackshirts can hold teams under 20 points a game in 2012, the Huskers may very well get over the hump and win the Legends Division and potentially a Big Ten title. That's a big "if" though considering the number of new faces on the Blackshirts. Players will need to step up to replace the Big Three from a year ago.

Follow Eddie on Twitter @EddieVenturaIII.

Another Groza Award finalist and Big Ten media days

Brett Maher is the latest Husker kicker to be mentioned as a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, which goes to the nation's best kicker. All you need to know about this prestigious award is that Alex Henery did not win it. How that is possible isn't quite understood. Never fear Husker fans, Maher too has the chance to be snubbed by the committee in favor of a lesser-deserving kicker of the pelota. Or will he be the one to break the Groza curse. Reverse the curse, Brett!

In other news, Eric Martin will not represent Nebraska at Big Ten media days. No word on whether he was even in the running for the honor, but after his Twitter meltdown/comedy show/request for funds from last night, he surely won't be going. Instead, Rex Burkhead, Kyler Reed and Will Compton will represent the Huskers as they converse with the pundits of the Big Ten. Have no worries, Rex Burkhead will represent the Huskers well. I know that was a concern of some of you.

Was Ameer Abdullah's freshman campaign a fluke or the real deal?

Written by Eddie Ventura

Ameer Abdullah made a big splash for the Huskers in 2011. His honors include Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week (vs. Fresno State) as well as the College Football Performance Award for National Kickoff Returner of the Week.

As a 5'9" 150 pound freshman, Abdullah was an excellent asset for Tim Beck and Nebraska's new "Oregon-like" spread offense and a nice change-of-speed back alongside Rex Burkhead. Ameer ran for 150 yards on 42 attempts and scored three touchdowns. But as the awards above indicate, Abdullah didn’t become a household name around Nebraska because of his rushing abilities. The kicking game is where Abdullah excelled. On 26 kickoff returns, Ameer gained 763 yards, including a school record 211 return yards against Fresno State. So what can be expected of Abdullah in his sophomore season?

While Husker fans like seeing Abdullah break off the big returns, we also don’t want to see him back deep too often. Kickoffs, other than to begin the game or start the second half, mean the opposing team has scored. So the less return chances Ameer gets, probably the better.

Expect to see more of Abdullah entering the game to spell Rex Burkhead. Additionally, Abdullah will likely be a major threat in end-around plays. Early last season, Ameer was a consistent gainer in the pitch game. Now as a sophomore, he has added the proverbial "meat to the bones," which will either make him tougher and stronger, or slower. Let's hope his speed isn't a casualty in the run game.

In 2011, Abdullah averaged 29 yards per return and recorded seven returns of 35 yards or more. Abdullah's longest return for a touchdown in 2011 was 100 yards, which sparked the Huskers big fourth quarter against Fresno State. Expect more electrifying plays in the kickoff game as well. Good field position in the return game sets up the offense nicely and having a take-it-to-the-house threat back there for the Huskers is a good thing.

Expectations will be high for Abdullah in 2012, especially with the transfer of Aaron Green to TCU depleting the running back corps. It will be tough for him to duplicate his feats in the kickoff return game, but the guy just might be up to it. On numerous occasions last season, he picked the team up with a big return. The Huskers will be looking for more of the same from Ameer in less than two months.

Follow Eddie on Twitter @EddieVenturaIII.

Husker football news - Wednesday, July 11th

We told you about Eric Martin's tweet that made in on ESPN yesterday afternoon. The big-hitting senior defensive end didn't stop there. In a series of tweets Tuesday night, Martin repeatedly claimed, "we need our checks," in reference to scholarship money, of which he is apparently running low at the moment. Most of the tweets were of a humorous variety, but again, we can't help but think Bo Pelini may ban his players from Twitter if they don't show a little more restraint.

ESPN's Big Ten bloggers ranked the conference coaching jobs in terms of attractiveness based on the following four criteria: tradition, facilities, recruiting location, and recent success. The Nebraska coaching job ranked fourth, behind Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. The Huskers were knocked for recent success and the lack of a good recruiting base in the state.

Bo Pelini along with several other NCAA coaches were on hand for the Youngstown, Ohio "Camp of Champions" clinic that is running this week. Pelini had a good quote about Nebraska saying, "There's always high expectations at Nebraska, and we wouldn't have it any other way."

Big Red Network takes a look at the wide open Big Ten this season, based on the over/unders for team wins.

Here's a good profile of Husker football recruit Gabe Miller.

Anticipating Husker players to be banned from Twitter in 3, 2, 1...

Just a regular Tuesday in the early part of July? What could possibly happen to be news worthy? Leave it to ESPN.

Mark May and Brock Huard predicted the Huskers will hard-pressed to win 8 or 9 games this year. Eric Martin was apparently watching their program and fired off this retweet with comment: "SMH, why y'all tryin' us?" Now, if you were an ESPN producer, this is the stuff of your dreams. So of course, they air it. We are now in a bunker deep within the bowels of Memorial Stadium awaiting the wrath of Pelini who will soon decree no mas Twitter. At least that will be the likely result. Of course, this matter will be handled internally and he will have no further comment on the situation, other than to once again reiterate his hatred of the 4-team playoff system. Hang in there, Eric.

Kyler Reed finds his name on the John Mackey Award watch list, which is presented to the nation's top tight end. Now, if there was only a way to actually get Reed the ball in games, he might have a chance to win the award.

It amazes me someone can conclude from two seasons that Taylor Martinez's passing has gotten progressively worse. His first two years included two different offensive coordinators with two different philosophies. The cart is officially before the horse. I propose a Taylor Martinez moratorium for the time being. Let the kid perform on the field this season before jumping to conclusions (a game made famous in Office Space).

Taylor Martinez: The good and bad

Written by Eddie Ventura

Ever since Taylor Martinez earned the starting quarterback spot for the Huskers his name has been mentioned by fans every day across the state of Nebraska. Even though he was one of the most prolific freshmen in Husker football history, consistency has been an issue for Martinez.

Taylor's game day performance varies widely. In one game, he throws three touchdowns and rushes for two with no interceptions or fumbles. The next week he throws three interceptions, no touchdowns, and rushes for 37 yards. This is what causes some Husker fans to wonder if Taylor is the right person under center for Nebraska. But what are the alternatives right now? Even with a big lead, the coaching staff has chosen to keep Martinez in the game, which eats into the playing time of backups like Brion Carnes. Without a doubt, Bo Pelini and Company have hitched their wagon to the Taylor Martinez star.

With every negative there is a positive (unless we’re talking about Dan Beebe). During the 2011 season, Taylor ran for over 100 yards on three occasions. He passed for over 200 yards in a game twice. His campaign last season didn't match the number of electrifying plays as during the 2010 season, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. While these types of plays conjure up images of the all-time Husker greats at quarterback (Tommie Frazier, Turner Gill, and Eric Crouch), Martinez realized he didn't need to be THE guy. Especially when you have Rex Burkhead standing a few yards behind you on every play.

Taylor has shown improvement over the last two seasons, while enduring a change at the offensive coordinator position. Given he'll be in the same offensive system this year, expect further improvement. With age comes maturity and leadership, two qualities which will help Martinez and his teammates deal with adversity.

I'll admit I enjoyed seeing him break long touchdown runs (and who wouldn't if he played for your team), but there's a lot more to the position of quarterback. Taylor must improve upon his reading of defenses and decision-making. Too often during his first two seasons he threw into double and triple coverage. Often times this resulted from him feeling pressure in the pocket, causing him to either exit quickly or throw the ball away. His pocket presence will continue to develop.

Eric Crouch wasn't a Heisman Trophy quarterback as a freshman or sophomore, or even a junior. The next two seasons will define Martinez, not his first two.

Follow Eddie on Twitter @EddieVenturaIII.

Husker football news - Tuesday, July 10th

Taylor Martinez has been working with a quarterback coach since last spring in an effort to improve his throwing motion and footwork. Steve Calhoun believes the junior-to-be is making strides and will have his best year yet in 2012. Incidentally, Calhoun has also been coaching recent Husker QB commit Johnny Stanton. No word yet on the role he may have played in securing Stanton's commitment.

Jamal Turner was the equivalent of a football supernova last season. He started out bright and hot and fizzled quickly, rarely seeing the ball once conference play began. Turner is among a group of Husker receivers that was tabbed the Big Ten's best by Athlon Sports. Can Jamal learn the playbook and return to his electrifying ways in 2012?

Steve Sipple of the Lincoln Journal-Star calls QB recruit Johnny Stanton "rugged" and "built like a linebacker." Most importantly about Stanton might be the fact that Tim Beck beat out Wisconsin for his services.

Ivan Maisel at ESPN.com asks the question, "Does a program make the coach?" Take away Tom Osborne's tenure at Nebraska and the Huskers still sport a .657 winning percentage. Other programs are mainly defined by one successful coach, including Florida State with Bobby Bowden.

Talk of Bo Pelini's seat becoming warm, or even hot, is a bit premature in our book. It would take a dramatically awful season (think 2007 under Bill Callahan) for the temp to rise on Pelini's hind end. Tom Osborne recognizes the factors that lead to success. Programs aren't built in four years time, unless your name is Nick Saban. Pelini has brought the Huskers back to being good and is working on taking the team to the next level. Keep in mind, the Huskers' Big Ten schedule is tough again this year, but the following two seasons Big Red sees some of the weaker conference teams. So while this year may be another nine win regular season, looking a little further down the line and the skies clear a bit for Pelini and Company. The 2012 season, like every one before and after, is a big year. Nebraska can't afford a step back, but a lateral step shouldn't result in the heat being turned up. Osborne knows the challenges that come with the job. He himself stared down the fans who were calling for his job in the late '80s. And he persevered. We think Bo will as well.

Huskers land big commitment and other football news

While the Huskers aren't practicing or playing games, there's still quite a bit of chatter regarding the team the last few days. Here's a recap:

Today brings a big recruitment coup. Johnny Stanton, a 6'2" 220 pound QB from Rancho Santa Margarita, California has committed to the Huskers. Nebraska out-dueled Oregon, Wisconsin and USC among other schools for Stanton's services.

Rex Burkhead has been named to the Maxwell Award watch list and Sports Illustrated says Burkhead is a possible Heisman candidate.

Bo Pelini still isn't a fan of the recently agreed upon four-team playoff system to replace the BCS. Pelini told his hometown newspaper, the Youngstown News, that if it doesn't work with two teams, how will it work with four teams? In fact, Bo favors going back to how it was before the BCS.

SBNation.com put together this projected statistical profile for the Huskers in 2012. It's worth a look.

According to Phil Steele, the Huskers fit the national championship team mold. Fellow Big Ten members Michigan and Michigan State also make his final 11 cut.

Athlon Sports recently announced the Huskers have the Big Ten's best wide receiver corps heading into the 2012 season.

The Omaha World-Herald's Sam McKewon takes a look at how the Huskers have fared against mobile quarterbacks and what the 2012 season brings in this category.

Nebraska's Fan Day is August 3rd

On August 3rd from 2-3:30pm at Memorial Stadium, Husker football fans will have an opportunity to see their favorite Nebraska players up close and personal. Get there early, as the lines form quick and move slow. If getting autographs isn't your bag, I would just head for the field to wander around and take it all in. One other tip...bring some water. Something about an early afternoon in August tells me it might be a little on the warm side, especially on the FieldTurf.

The loudest game in Memorial Stadium history

Having attended games for the better part of 30 years, I've seen and heard some pretty raucous crowds at Memorial Stadium.

More recently the crowd noise at the stadium has been, shall we say, weak. There are a couple moments that stand out over the past five years or so.

The 2010 showdown against Missouri, a day game mind you, is a game where Husker fans made a difference. Recall a Mizzou 1st and goal from the Nebraska six inch line. Three consecutive stops by the Blackshirts led to a Tigers field goal. Granted, Nebraska had dominated early, but Missouri was mounting a comeback, until this stand. Husker fans could feel it and the players could feel them.

A certain defensive battle in 2009 against Oklahoma comes to mind as well. Granted, fans didn't really jack up the decibel level until a key fourth quarter OU offensive series with the game on the line. Matt O'Hanlon's third interception of the game came with 27 seconds remaining, sealing a 10-3 victory for the Big Red.

Skip over the Callahan years, because well, most Husker fans have blocked those four years out anyway.

The 2001 game against Oklahoma, another day game, did have its moments in terms of crowd noise. A certain catch by a future Heisman Trophy winner kind of fired up the Husker Faithful. Still though, day games have an uphill climb in trying to eclipse the noise level of a night game.

Go all the way back to 1992 to find your top two loudest games in Memorial Stadium history. The runner-up is Kansas. The second night game in a row for Huskers fans. NU was ranked #7 and the Jayhawks entered the stadium at #13. Three hours later, the Big Red having fully dominated, walked off the field with a 49-7 win. The crowd was into the game throughout, but their enthusiasm was set up by the prior week's game.

October 31, 1992. #8 Colorado vs #8 Nebraska (I forget how the polls worked back then to have two teams ranked the same, but I digress). Halloween night and homecoming to boot. Colorado riding a 25-game conference unbeaten streak heading into the game. The weather was cold and rainy. The crowd was lubricated, evidenced by the towering pile of empties, not just in the student section. Calvin Jones ran wild. Twenty-one carries for 101 yards and three touchdowns. The game was never close, yet the crowd noise seemed to rise with every Husker score. Watching the game from the West Stadium press box level smoking section (to get the open air feel, out of the elements, with a free nicotine fix included), the noise was unlike anything ever heard at the stadium. Nearly deafening. Make that as deafening as possible while still retaining some hearing. Final score: 52-7 Huskers. By far the loudest game in Memorial Stadium's illustrious history.

Nebraska's newest Hall of Fame inductees were announced today

Frank Solich headlines the list of former Huskers inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. Alongside the former coach are Ahman Green (1995-1997), DeJuan Groce (1999-2002), Josh Heskew (1995-1998), Steve Manstedt (1971-1973), Dale Klein (1984-1986), and Bill Weber (1981-1984).

In addition, Dan (Larry the Cable Guy) and Cara Whitney will be awarded the Clarence E. Swanson Meritorious Service Award for their generous support of the Husker football program.

The official ceremony will take place Friday, September 21st.

To read the biographies of the inductees, click on this link.

Best Husker reads of the day

Harvey Perlman is sticking by his +1 preference instead of a playoff to the chagrin of nearly everyone else in the world. Read more...

HF's thoughts...Harvey is doing his best captain of the Titanic impression. The four-team playoff is the best approach, not a plus one. Getting school presidents to see it this way seems to be the challenge.

Tom Osborne says he wanted to play Michigan in 1997 to settle the championship. Read more...

HF's thoughts...Huskers would have won. The Big Ten is slow and none of the teams are very good. At least that was true before Nebraska joined the Big Ten. Now, they're second only behind the SEC for best football conference.

Huskers net two more football recruits this weekend

The Huskers picked up two more commitments over the weekend, bringing their total to 11 in the 2013 class. Bo Pelini and Company are hitting the state of Ohio particularly hard this year, with four of the class hailing from the Buckeye State. Here's how the 2013 class breaks down so far.

By position:
QB - 0
RB - 0
WR - 1
TE - 1
OL - 2
DE - 2
DT - 0
LB - 2
DB - 1
P/K - 0
ATH - 2

By state:
Ohio - 4
Nebraska - 1
Texas - 1
Indiana - 2
Wisconsin - 1
Louisiana - 1
South Dakota - 1

By Rivals.com stars:
5 stars - 0
4 stars - 3
3 stars - 7

By player

Josh Banderas
Linebacker
Lincoln, NE (Southwest)
6'2" 220 pounds
4 stars
Verbal on 4/12/12

Tre'Vell Dixon
Athlete
Baldwin, LA (West St. Mary)
6'1" 195 pounds
4 stars
Verbal on 1/23/12

Nathan Gerry
Athlete
Sioux Falls, SD (Washington)
6'2" 206 pounds
3 stars
Verbal on 6/16/12

Kevin Gladney
Wide Receiver
Akron, OH (Firestone)
6'1" 182 pounds
3 stars
Verbal on 6/11/12

Greg Hart
Tight End
Dayton, OH (Archbishop Alter)
6'5" 225 pounds
3 stars
Verbal on 5/16/12

Christian Lacouture
Defensive End
College Station, TX (A&M Consolidated)
6'5" 255 pounds
3 stars
Verbal on 5/5/12

Courtney Love
Linebacker
Youngstown, OH (Cardinal Mooney)
6'1" 225 pounds
3 stars
Verbal on 4/22/12

Marcus McWilson
Defensive Back
Youngstown, OH (Cardinal Mooney)
6'0" 195 pounds
4 stars
Verbal on 2/27/12

Gabriel Miller
Offensive Line
Mishawaka, IN (Penn)
6'0" 235 pounds
Not rated yet
Verbal on 6/17/12

A.J. Natter
Defensive End
Milton, WI (Milton)
6'6" 240 pounds
3 stars
Verbal on 4/16/12

Dan Samuelson
Offensive Line
Plymouth, IN (Plymouth)
6'5" 275 pounds
3 stars
Verbal on 5/22/12

Former Husker Dennard arrested for assaulting an officer

Alfonzo Dennard, the former Husker cornerback, was arrested early this morning after an altercation outside of a Lincoln bar resulted in him hitting a police officer. He was charged with 3rd degree assault on an officer and resisting arrest. Projected as a late second round draft pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Dennard will undoubtedly fall into the third or fourth round as a result of this latest incident. Fresh in the minds of NFL scouts was how Dennard's college career came to a close, duking it out with South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery in the Capital One Bowl. Prior to that, Alfonzo was a potential first round to early second round pick. Poor timing for the Rochelle, Georgia product to have a chip on his shoulder. Let's hope he gets his NFL chance and channels this energy on the field, rather than off.

Going through Spring Game withdrawal? Check this video out...

Update: Spring Game has been canceled

UPDATE: Bo Pelini said there are too many logistical issues with players' schedules to hold the Spring Game on Sunday. Therefore, this will be the first time since 1950 that there hasn't been a Red-White Spring Game. Thanks to Husker Max for that tidbit.

ORIGINAL: Tom Osborne announced shortly after 1pm on Saturday that the annual Red-White Spring Game would not be played due to inclement weather. There is a chance the game will be played Sunday, however. University officials will decide Sunday morning. Regardless, Rex Burkhead is our Spring Game MVP.

Husker Faithful's Spring Giveaway!

Over the next two weeks leading up to the Spring Game, we will be giving away a t-shirt each day to the first right answer of our Husker football trivia question. We'll post a new question each day on our website as well as links to the question on our Facebook page and Twitter account 15 minutes before the question is live. Winners will be notified via email, so please provide a valid email address. Only one winner per household during the two week Spring Giveaway. Thanks for being a fan of Husker Faithful and good luck!

East Stadium expansion and Pinnacle Bank Arena construction photos

We posted some photos showing the progress being made on both the East Stadium expansion as well as the new downtown Pinnacle Bank Arena. You can view these either through our Photos page or via our Facebook page.

Check out this time lapse video of the East Stadium expansion

Huskers miss out on Peat, but get Valentine, Moore and Curry

Heading into signing day, the Huskers 2012 recruiting class stood at 14. DT Aaron Curry of Keller, Texas picked the Huskers over Iowa in his announcment this morning making the total 15. Four-star athlete Alonzo Moore became the 16th member of the class and Vincent Valentine rounded out the 2012 class at 17.

But it was the one who got away that will get much of the attention. Andrus Peat, a 5-star offensive lineman, who has a brother already at Nebraska and a cousin on the way, decided to take his talents to Palo Alto and play for the Stanford Cardinal. Nearly every recruiting expert thought Peat would join his family members and become a Husker. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be.

Devian Shelton is the other big name who got away, wooed by a very late USC offer.

The loss of these two recruits takes the shine off what was set up to become a very good class. Still, it ended up being a pretty good class, depending on which recruiting service you fancy.

The Huskers were ranked #32 in the country by Rivals heading into Signing Day. Getting three out of their final five targets moved them up to #24 with a 3.35 average star rating. Fellow Big Ten members are ranked as follows: Ohio State (#4), Michigan (#6), Purdue (#34), Michigan State (#40), Iowa (#41), and Penn State (#50).

Here's a look at the Huskers 2012 class...

By position:
QB - 1
RB - 1
WR - 1
TE - 1
OL - 2
DL - None
DE - 2
DT - 2
LB - 4
DB - 1
P/K - None
ATH - 2

By state:
Arizona - 1
California - 3
Colorado - 1
Georgia - 1
Illinois - 2
Louisiana - 1
Missouri - 1
Nebraska - 1
Ohio - 2
Texas - 2
Utah - 1
Virginia - 1

By Rivals.com stars:
5 stars - None
4 stars - 6
3 stars - 11
1 star - None

By player

Jared Afalava
Linebacker
South Jordan, UT (Bingham H.S.)
6'3" 220 pounds
3 stars
Signed LOI

LeRoy Alexander
Athlete
Toledo, OH (Whitmer H.S.)
6'2" 190 pounds
3 stars
Signed LOI

Zaire Anderson
Linebacker
Riverside, CA (Riverside C.C.)
6'1" 220 pounds
4 stars
Signed LOI

Tommy Armstrong
Quarterback
Cibolo, TX (Steele H.S.)
6'2" 210 pounds
3 stars
Signed LOI

Thomas Brown
Linebacker
Gardena, CA
6'2" 215 pounds
3 stars
Signed LOI

Sam Cotton
Tight End
Lincoln, NE (Southeast High School)
6'4" 240 pounds
3 stars
Signed LOI

Imani Cross
Running Back
Gainesville, GA (North Hall H.S.)
6'1' 220 pounds
3 stars
Signed LOI

Aaron Curry
Defensive Tackle
Keller, TX (Fossil Ridge)
6'3" 298 pounds
3 stars
Signed LOI

Greg McMullen
Defensive End
Akron, OH (Hoban)
6'5" 255 pounds
4 stars
Signed LOI

Alonzo Moore
Athlete
Winnfield, LA (Winnfield H.S.)
6'2" 170 pounds
4 stars
Signed LOI

Avery Moss
Defensive End
Tempe, AZ (Corona Del Sol)
6'4" 245 pounds
3 stars
Signed LOI

Michael Rose
Linebacker
Kansas City, MO (Rockhurst)
6'0" 230 pounds
3 stars
Signed LOI

Mo Seisay
Cornerback
Eastern Arizona Community College
6'2" 200 pounds
4 stars
Signed LOI

Paul Thurston
Offensive Lineman
Arvada, CO (Arvada West)
6'5" 274 pounds
4 stars
Signed LOI

Vincent Valentine
Defensive Lineman
Edwardsville, IL
6'3" 300 pounds
3 stars
Signed LOI

Jordan Westerkamp
Wide Receiver
Lombard, IL (Montini)
6'2" 190 pounds
4 stars
Signed LOI

Corey Whitaker
Offensive Lineman
Murrieta, CA (Vista Murrieta H.S.)
6'5" 270 pounds
3 stars
Signed LOI

Very few teams maintain superior play year-in and year-out

The stat about Nebraska finishing in the Top 25 for the third season in a row and joining only seven other teams to accomplish the same feat got us thinking. How many teams have finished in the Top 10 in each of the last three seasons?

Only Alabama and Boise State have managed to finish in the Top 10 in each of the past three seasons. We all know how Boise State does it, by playing a weak schedule for the most part, typically stepping up to face one tough non-conference opponent a year. Alabama has done it the old fashioned way, by earning it.

Some Husker fans aren't happy with Top 25 finishes for their team. Urgent memo...there's nothing wrong with consistently finishing in the Top 25. As evidenced in our previous blog post and above, not many teams are up to the task. Let's consider it a starting point, a foundation if you will. Something to build on. Does it add hardware to the trophy case? Not the crystal kind Husker fans want, but the great Nebraska teams of the past didn't just jump up and snag a couple trophies without first having established a foundation.

Husker fans want championships. They feel entitled. But college football has changed dramatically since Tommie Frazier and Scott Frost were running and passing at will against SEC teams in national championship games. Scholarship limits have flattened college football. The days of one or two teams dominating a conference for decades on end are over. Coaching turnover, a bad recruiting class and rules violations are just several of the potential roadblocks for one team running roughshod over an entire conference for an extended amount of time.

We should be happy our team has finished the last three seasons in the Top 25. We should also understand that neither Bo Pelini nor his staff or players are satisfied with that result. This year got away from them as did last year. It's something that needs to be corrected yesterday if Nebraska wants to return to the elite level.

Alabama had one penalty in the entire game last night against LSU and it wasn't on the offense. Even though Nick Saban and the Tide had the game in the bag when the penalty took place, Saban was furious. He's a perfectionist and his team nearly pitched a perfect game. Bo could do more to prevent the undisciplined play we've seen from the Huskers all too often, especially in big games. Too many penalties and turnovers. The great teams don't do that. The fixes aren't complicated and the team isn't that far away. If Bo can close out the 2012 recruiting class with a few key pieces, they very well may be on their way. Only hindsight is perfect.

Huskers finish season ranked 24th in polls

Coming off a Capital One Bowl loss to South Carolina, the Huskers finish the season ranked 24th in both polls. Nebraska is one of only eight teams who have ranked in the Top 25 in the final AP poll the last three seasons. The other seven are: Wisconsin, TCU, Alabama, LSU, Oregon, Virginia Tech, and Boise State.

While many Husker fans, dare I say a majority, are not satisfied with nine win seasons, especially when the losses occur in the fashion they did this year, Nebraska is in pretty select company with that list. It's quite obvious how hard it is to maintain a high level of performance year in and year out.

Teams that aren't on this list include Michigan, Ohio State, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Texas, Oklahoma, and Penn State. Those are some big names.

So while the sting of losing yet another bowl game to a team that we had a chance to beat is very disconcerting, the team under Bo Pelini has accomplished something. With a few key additions, this team can win a Big Ten Championship and play in a BCS bowl game. Let's hope the recruiting season ends favorably for the Huskers so we have some momentum heading into spring practice. Keep the faith.

2011 Season Review by Eddie Ventura

By the end of Nebraska’s inaugural Big Ten season, the Cornhuskers finished 9-4 (5-3 Big Ten). Those numbers are exactly the same as Bo Pelini’s first year as head coach of Nebraska. Four losses every season is not good.

With four straight wins, the season started off great. Nebraska looked like they could be, or were, the best team in the Big Ten. The defense was supposed to be outstanding. There was CB Alfonzo Dennard in the secondary, LB Lavonte David stopping running backs from getting into the secondary, and DL Jared Crick frightening quarterbacks across the nation. New offensive coordinator Tim Beck (former running backs coach) promised more of a spread offense. Even having to play some of the top teams in the nation, the Cornhuskers were still considered the front-runner to play in the first ever Big Ten Championship.

The 2011-2012 season started off as one of the regular "big dogs" against "little dogs" games. Tennessee-Chattanooga coach Russ Huesman said, "We may have a kid or two that could get a backup role, and obviously every one of their guys could come start for us." Nebraska stomped on Tennessee-Chattanooga 40-7.

After that beat down came the Fresno State game, which gave Husker fans everywhere quite a scare. The Bulldogs led most of the game, but Nebraska came out on top with a 42-29 win. It came as no surprise to many since Fresno is typically one of the non-AQ teams to upset many BCS schools.

We could consider the next two wins (against Washington and Wyoming) "easy" and they did seem to come with ease, but there were still some wrinkles left to iron out before Big Ten play began.

The first Big Ten game for the Huskers came with a lot of excitement. ESPN’s College Gameday was down in Madison, Wisconsin and "Coach" Lee Corso even wore one of the iconic "cornheads," choosing the Huskers over the Badgers. Even after a reassuring first quarter, Taylor Martinez ended three straight drives with interceptions and Nebraska went on to lose the game 48-17.

Then came three straight wins against Ohio State, Minnesota and Michigan State. Nebraska came in a favorite against Ohio State, but apparently waited until they were down 21 points to finish the greatest comeback in Nebraska Cornhuskers football history. Minnesota was as predicted, not a blowout but a fairly easy win. Facing Michigan State, Nebraska was considered an underdog yet managed to beat the Spartans.

Nebraska became leaders of the Legends division after the win over Michigan State, then they faced Northwestern. The Cornhuskers came in favorites to the game yet lost in embarrassing fashion with many mental mistakes and turnovers.

Nebraska then went on to beat Penn State in one of the most memorable college football games in history, not because of what happened during the game but what happened leading up to it.

Nebraska traveled to Michigan the following week, a team that looked stronger, faster, and more disciplined than the Huskers. Michigan ran all over Nebraska’s defense, with Denard Robinson leading the way. The defeat of new rival Iowa made it seem like the loss to Michigan would be the Huskers' last.

Coming into Orlando, Florida, the Huskers had to face South Carolina and head coach Steve Spurrier. The previous time Steve Spurrier faced a Nebraska team he saw the back of a certain #15 jersey (Tommie Frazier’s) for three straight hours.

Steve Spurrier put that last game against Nebraska behind him and led his team to a 30-13 win over the Huskers.

Overall, Nebraska finished with a 9-4 (5-3 Big Ten) record. Even though Bo Pelini kept up with Tom Osborne's tradition of nine wins every season, so many things went wrong this season that kept Nebraska from contending for the Big Ten Championship, let alone the Legends division.

Edward Ventura is a 16-year old Nebraska Cornhuskers fanatic. He is the creator of one of the LARGEST Nebraska Football Facebook pages and is a Nebraska sports junkie.

Follow Eddie on Twitter: @EddieHusker

Huskers in Orlando, hit Best Buy for some shopping

Part of the Capital One Bowl swag for players was a $420 gift certificate to Best Buy, which had to be used on the bowl trip. Today, the Nebraska football team went shopping. Rex Burkhead eyed a Norelco trimmer/shaver. Some players chose to buy gifts for family and girlfriends. Others loaded up on DVDs and video games, iPads and cell phones. But it wasn't all shopping for the guys. Towards the end of this HuskerOnline.com video, Brandon Kinnie shows off his dance moves.

It's back to work for the Huskers, with a couple practices remaining before Monday's game against South Carolina.

John Papuchis is your new defensive coordinator

Bo Pelini announced today that John Papuchis has been promoted to defensive coordinator and Rick Kaczenski has joined the staff. Papuchis had been the defensive line coach, which will be Kaczenski's new role. No word yet on whether Papuchis will retain the special teams coach and recruiting coordinator roles, but it's highly unlikely.

Iowa assistant likely to join Huskers staff

Rick Kaczenski, currently Iowa's defensive line coach, is rumored to be joining the Huskers staff soon. John Papuchis would likely be elevated to defensive coordinator with Kaczenski taking over the D-line duties from J.P. Kaczenski is a Notre Dame grad and has been at Iowa since 2005. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz tonight announced Kaczenski has left the program to pursue other coaching opportunities. Ferentz didn't say where he was headed and nobody at Nebraska will confirm Rick is N...yet.

Caputo, Martin in trouble over the weekend

Senior center Mike Caputo was arrested for DUI around 1am Sunday. Apparently, he was found asleep behind the wheel of his car, which was running and had the lights on.

In past years, Bo Pelini has suspended players arrested for DUI, including Rickey Thenarse and Baker Steinkuhler before last year's Holiday Bowl game against Washington. If Caputo were suspended, either Cole Pensick or Spencer Long would assume the role of center.

Caputo has been a leader on the offensive line throughout his career at Nebraska. At 6'1" and 275 pounds, he is an undersized lineman, but Caputo makes up for his size with his toughness and tenacity.

Eric Martin was charged with leaving the scene of an accident on Sunday as well. Apparently, he backed into a car in the North 27th Street Wal-Mart parking lot and left without providing any information.

Bo Pelini has yet to announce who will be the Huskers' defensive coordinator next season. Out on the road recruiting, it's possible Pelini already has someone in place and is waiting to announce it upon his return to Lincoln.

In other Husker news, Ron Brown is not retiring.

The Capital One Bowl game can't get here quick enough.

Nebraska headed to the Capital One Bowl to play South Carolina

It's official, Nebraska is headed to the Capital One Bowl in Orlando to face the SEC's South Carolina Gamecocks on January 2nd. South Carolina is ranked 10th in the last AP poll and finished 9th in the BCS poll.

The Gamecocks two losses occurred to Auburn (16-13) and at Arkansas (44-28). The only other ranked team SC played was #17 Clemson, who they beat 34-13. They do not have a mobile quarterback.

Carl Pelini to Florida Atlantic?

It appears to be a done deal. Carl Pelini is likely to be named the next head coach of Florida Atlantic, replacing legendary coach and traveling man, Howard Schnellenberger. Carl's name has been rumored before so this shouldn't come as a total shock. Sean Callahan of HuskerOnline.com tweeted earlier tonight he thought John Papuchis may be promoted to defensive coordinator.

Four Huskers earn Big Ten All-Conference Awards

The Big Ten handed out their All-Conference awards tonight and the Huskers fared well, represented in all three phases of the game.

On offense, Rex Burkhead was named 1st team All-Conference Running Back along with Wisconsin's Montee Ball.

Defensively, Lavonte David was named the best linebacker in the conference and was also named 1st team All-Conference. Alfonzo Dennard too was named most outstanding player at his position as well as 1st team All-Conference.

On special teams, Brett Maher cleaned house, reaping awards for the best punter as well as kicker in the Big Ten.

Second team honorees include Mike Caputo and Spencer Long, who made the coach's and media's lists, respectively.

Honorable mentions include Mike Caputo, Will Compton, Austin Cassidy, Spencer Long, Daimion Stafford, Cameron Meredith, Marcel Jones, and Ben Cotton.

A little perspective

It took Tom Osborne until his 10th year at Nebraska to win more than 10 games. Nine years of nine or 10 wins each season. That's a model of consistency. Yet it almost wasn't enough to keep the now legendary head coach in Husker red. In 1978, after six years at the helm, Osborne seriously considered bolting for the open job at Colorado, no doubt influenced by calls for his ouster at Nebraska. After all, Devaney had won two national titles less than a decade before and the program hadn't been back to the national title game under Osborne.

Dr. Tom decided to stick it out with Nebraska and a few short years later his persistence paid off. In his 11th season at Nebraska, Osborne got his national title shot, but the Huskers fell one point short. It would be another 10 years before Osborne returned to the national championship game. Finally, in the 1995 Orange Bowl, in his 22nd year at Nebraska, it happened. And it not only rained, but it poured. Three national titles in four years and it could have been more. A missed field goal in the 1994 Orange Bowl, a 19-0 defeat in the desert and a Big 12 title game loss in 1996, are all that stood in the way of two more titles. Those are the breaks. The stars don’t always align. The gods don’t always smile on you.

During this week's press conference, current head coach Bo Pelini said he doesn't care about outsiders' perception of the program. He thinks he's done a good job, not only on the field but in stressing the student aspect of student-athlete. And he's right for the most part.

By beating Iowa on Friday, Pelini secured his fourth season in a row with at least nine wins. If Nebraska wins their yet to be announced bowl game, Bo will have his third 10-win season in a row. Yet for some reason there's a growing segment of Husker Nation who think Bo doesn't know football and the program has stalled. They point to the way in which Nebraska lost at Wisconsin and Michigan and of course the home loss to a scrappy Northwestern. Keep in mind injuries have decimated the team this year, especially on the offensive line. Only two guards made the trip to Penn State, Seung Hoon Choi and Spencer Long, both walk-ons. Chalk up the Wisconsin loss to several factors: going away from a conservative offensive game plan, facing an experienced team in a hostile and unfamiliar environment, and being out-muscled up front. The Michigan game was still in reach until a crucial roughing the punter call gave Michigan new life and allowed the Wolverines to extend their lead to 21 points. Then it snowballed on Nebraska. I have yet to hear a good explanation about why fumbles and dropped passes become contagious, but they do.

Let's be honest, we're a fickle fan base. We Husker fans think our team should be playing for a national title every season, regardless of the fact that Nebraska has played in six national title games in the last 30 years. We're stuck in the mid-'90s, anchoring our annual expectations to the greatest team in college football history. Sure, blowout losses at Wisconsin and at Michigan hurt and give the appearance of a program that isn't close to being "back," whatever that means. Losing to a Northwestern as a three touchdown favorite at home is inexcusable. The inconsistency on a game by game basis can be alarming at times. Yet when you step back and look at the overall record, most Husker fans would have to agree that 9-3 is about in line with expectations heading into the inaugural Big Ten season.

The program is clearly ahead of where it was under Bill Callahan and roughly equal to where it was under Frank Solich, once he had his own recruits. Sure Pelini has a lot of work to do. He must recruit high-caliber athletes and desperately needs to replace Alfonzo Dennard and Lavonte David on the defensive side of the ball. Without those two players, the Blackshirts are at best a middle of the pack defensive unit in 2011. The next several years will ultimately determine Bo's fate. Luckily, there isn't a more understanding athletic director in the country than Tom Osborne, someone who knows the demands of being the head coach at Nebraska, but also the power of persistence and not changing with the wind. Pick a system, stick with it, perfect it, and good things will happen. That was his philosophy and it paid off. Judging Osborne four years into his tenure would yield similar results to what Bo Pelini has accomplished.

As fans, we should be happy with 10-win seasons, with the expectation that eventually the stars line up, the Huskers win the Big Ten and possibly get a national title shot. It took Osborne over 20 years to build his greatest teams of the 1990s. Changing out coaches every 4-5 years when they fail to win championships isn't the answer. The answer is time.

Iowa game reaction

Saturday marked the final home game for 21 seniors, including Brandon Kinnie, Yoshi Hardrick, Alfonzo Dennard, Austin Cassidy, Terrence Moore, Mike Caputo, Tyler Legate, Lance Thorell, Lavonte David, and Jared Crick (whose season ended weeks ago). Replacing David and Dennard will be at the top of the list for Nebraska in the offseason.

Rex Burkhead set a team record for rushing attempts with 38 with the last carry coming against his wishes in the victory formation. Apparently, Burkhead didn't want to have the record on a carry like that, but his linemen wanted him to break the record. Superman gained 160 yards and scored a touchdown against the Hawkeyes just a few days after walking around in a boot. As a team, the Huskers rushed 61 times for 222 yards. Taylor Martinez added another 163 yards through the air, going 12 for 22 on the day on a gimpy ankle, which he injured early in the game.

Iowa's QB, James Vandenberg, was 16 for 35 in the passing department. Marvin McNutt, the Hawkeyes best receiver, had only four receptions for 29 yards. Alfonzo Dennard had a lot to do with holding McNutt to his lowest total this year. Prior to today's game, McNutt had five 100-yard receiving games in a row. Perhaps most importantly, the Blackshirts held Iowa to 2 for 12 on third downs.

Kenny Bell had his best game of the season with five receptions for 93 yards. Husker receivers had no problem holding onto the ball today.

Special teams wasn't exactly special today, but they weren't as disastrous as last week in Ann Arbor.

Nebraska again struggled in the penalty department, racking up nine for 74 yards, although several were questionable calls, including a late pass interference call against Dennard. The Huskers did win the turnover battle, forcing an Iowa fumble and interception.

For awhile it looked like the Blackshirts might get their first shutout of the season, but the Hawkeyes scored a touchdown with 3:26 remaining in the game. Regardless, Nebraska's defense was stout all game long.

Next up for Nebraska is likely either the Capital One Bowl or Outback Bowl, depending on whether or not two Big Ten teams make BCS bowls. The Huskers will find out after next weekend's games are played where they are headed. Either way, Nebraska has a chance to win 10 games for the third year in a row.

Check out our photos from the game.

Nebraska at Michigan - Game reaction

Michigan extinguished any remaining hope of Nebraska reaching Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship with a 45-17 win over Huskers.

Other than Lavonte David, the Huskers didn't begin the game well. Michigan punched them in the mouth to the tune of 10 points before Nebraska responded. David recorded eight tackles in the first quarter alone. The Huskers got on the scoreboard with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Martinez to Brandon Kinnie. Nebraska tied it up on the foot of Brett Maher a short time later. Denard Robinson added another touchdown before half. Considering Nebraska didn't play well, a 17-10 halftime score had to give the Huskers confidence.

Michigan quickly added two more touchdowns in the third quarter, thanks to two Husker special teams mistakes. Nebraska fumbled the second half opening kickoff and then had a punt blocked. The Wolverines took a 21-point lead as a result. Nebraska answered with a nifty Ameer Abdullah touchdown run, which featured Martinez handing the ball off to Rex Burkhead who pitched it to Ameer. Huskers down by 14 and gaining momentum.

The play of the game came on Michigan's next series. The Blackshirts forced a three and out and a Michigan punt. Wil Richards, a special teams player for Nebraska, came in for the block and brushed the toes of the punter's left foot. Since this happened to be the plant foot of the punter a 15-yard personal foul penalty was awarded. First down Michigan. Several minutes later, the Wolverines put up another seven and the momentum had clearly left the Huskers. Several fumbles and dropped passes later and it was game over for Nebraska.

The offensive gameplan was reminiscent of earlier in the year, focused on Taylor Martinez. Where was Rex Burkhead? The junior workhorse carried the ball only 10 times for 36 yards. Martinez ran 16 times for 49 yards and completed 9 of 23 passes for 122 yards. Multiple drops plagued the Husker receivers again. Nebraska was never able to get into an offensive rhythm. Whenever they went to the hurry-up, no-huddle offense, Michigan players became injured. This wasn't a coincidence.

Defensively, the Blackshirts again struggled with a mobile quarterback. Denard Robinson threw the ball fairly effectively, finishing 11 for 18 and 180 yards and two touchdowns. The Husker secondary looked out of position too often and couldn't make plays when given the chance.

Lavonte David and Will Compton did play well. David was a tackling machine, especially in the first half. Terrence Moore also played well for the Blackshirts. After losing his father to cancer earlier in the week, Moore recorded an interception off a tipped pass. During his return of the INT it appeared he was trying to pitch the ball to Alfonzo Dennard, but Moore was called down prior to the pitch.

Michigan was able to possess the ball for 41 of the 60 minutes in the game. Nebraska fumbled the ball three times and lost them all. In addition, the Huskers had eight penalties for 73 yards and finishing 3 for 13 on third down.

Nebraska needs to return to the drawing board and find a way to beat Iowa next Friday. While hopes of the Big Ten Championship are gone, a 10-win season is still in the cards.

Sunday Morning Quarterback: Penn State

The Nebraska-Penn State game on November 12, 2011 was a typical Big Ten Conference-style game. Low scoring, a defensive battle, physical, and one that came down to the final minute. This is what Big Ten football represents. The week leading up to the game and right up until kickoff was anything but typical, however. Heinous allegations of child sex abuse rocked the Penn State campus and the entire country. Joe Paterno was fired, students rioted in protest, then held a candlelight vigil for the victims two days later. People were wondering if the game should be played, and if so, should it be played somewhere other than Beaver Stadium? Tom Osborne wanted assurances from Penn State that their players and fans would be safe in attending the game and even went as far as to suggest Husker fans may not want to wear red. There was even a bomb threat at the stadium. In the end, it was determined the game would be played.

Penn State players walked out of their tunnel arm-in-arm. Both teams met at midfield before the game. They shook hands and then took a knee. A stadium of 108,000 people went silent. Ron Brown gave a two minute pre-game prayer, a portion of which can be seen here. It was a fitting way to acknowledge that this wasn't just another football game, that there was something much more important about this one. Then a football game broke out. It seemed to take both teams awhile to settle in as neither team scored in the first quarter. It wasn't until Brett Maher hit a 41 yard field goal with 10:55 left in the first half that the first points were put up on the scoreboard. Nebraska added a two yard touchdown run by Ameer Abdullah right before halftime. 10-0 Nebraska.

The Blackshirts forced a Penn State fumble which Eric Martin recovered early in the third quarter. The Huskers embarked on an 8-play, 52-yard drive which culminated with a Rex Burkhead 14 yard TD run on a last second pitch by Taylor Martinez out of the option. Nebraska was up 17-0 and appeared in control. Penn State would fight their way back though, adding a touchdown with five minutes left in the third. The Nittany Lions second touchdown followed a mishandled exchange between Burkhead and Tyler Legate. Replays show that Yoshi Hardrick recovered the fumble, but the referees awarded it to Penn State. The game was now 17-14 with just under six minutes remaining. Nebraska couldn't do anything with their ensuing possession and were forced to punt. Momentum was clearly on Penn State's side. That is, until the punt. Brett Maher unleashed his best punt of the day, a 61-yarder that pinned Penn State deep in their own territory. If the Nittany Lions were going to win the game, they'd have to drive 89 yards and they had just under four minutes to do so.

Penn State moved the ball out to their own 37 yard line. On 2nd & 1, Lavonte David stopped Stephfon Green for no gain. On a 3rd and 1, PSU running back Silas Redd got the call. Again, Lavonte David stopped him for no gain. Penn State recognized they couldn't punt the ball here with just under two minutes remaining, so they decided to go for it on 4th and 1. Again they handed the ball off to Redd and again Lavonte David came up big, stopping Redd in his tracks, inches short of a first down. The referees brought the chains in to measure and confirmed Penn State was just short. David saves the day for Nebraska again, three plays in a row.

Nebraska took over with 1:49 remaining in the game. Penn State had two timeouts left. Burkhead gets the call four plays in a row, but the Huskers can't pick up a first down. With 49 seconds left, Penn State gets the ball back. The Blackshirts hold and the Huskers win 17-14. A big win for Nebraska, who keeps their outside chance at a Big Ten title game appearance alive for another week. Next up is Michigan. Another road trip for the Huskers. Another must win game. Then Nebraska needs a win over Iowa. Without two wins to close out the regular season, it doesn't matter if Michigan State loses to either Indiana or Northwestern.

Some observations from the Penn State game:

Taylor Martinez's confidence and play continues to improve. Compare the Martinez of 2010 to how well he has played since the Wisconsin game. And then remember he's only a sophomore. Say what you want about his passing style, but put in the right situations, he's pretty effective. In the game on Saturday, you saw Martinez engineer a 12 play, 80 yard drive which resulted in a touchdown just before half. A lot of good decisions were made by Taylor during this drive.

Rex Burkhead again showed his versatility. Besides being the workhorse of the offense, the Huskers put him at quarterback numerous times on Saturday and even rolled him out for a halfback pass shortly before halftime. Burkhead finished the day with 121 yards rushing on 25 carries. Burkhead's touchdown came on an option play in which Martinez made a good, late pitch. Rex did account for the only Husker turnover on the day, but that was more a function of Penn State's defensive line blowing up the play.

Lavonte David continues to play bigger than his size would suggest. He's a tackling machine who will be playing on Sundays. His talents were never more on display than during Penn State's second to last possession, which saw him come up with three stops in a row, including the key stop on 4th and 1.

Brett Maher has virtually eliminated the Husker fan base from saying how much they miss Alex Henery. Equally effective as a field goal kicker or a punter, Maher did what Henery used to do...change games for Nebraska with his right foot. Pinning the Nittany Lions deep, late in the fourth quarter was only part of Brett's impact on Saturday.

No Jamal Turner again. His only time on the field came during the pre-game prayer.

Watch Bo Pelini's post-game press conference here. He does a phenomenal job and three times says he didn't think the game should have been played. Proper prospective from coach.

From all accounts the Penn State fans were very hospitable to Nebraska fans that made the trip. Next week, we'll see how the Michigan fans treat the new kid on the block.

Until next week....Go Big Red!

Sunday Morning Quarterback: Northwestern

A top-10 ranked Nebraska team loses at home to unranked Northwestern and late last night an earthquake was felt in Lincoln. It was a strange day for sure.

For the third year in a row, Nebraska found a way to lose a game over an inferior opponent. Two years ago it was nine turnovers against Iowa State. Last year it was dropped passes against Texas. In 2011, it was a bunch of things. First the positives...

Taylor Martinez - 28 of 37 passing for 289 yards and two touchdowns. Four of those incompletions were drops, meaning Martinez's completion percentage should have been higher than 76%. Yesterday marked only the third time Martinez has thrown for more than 200 yards in a game.

Baker Steinkuhler - nine tackles, two for loss, a sack and a tipped pass that led to a Huskers interception. With Chase Rome out due to a pulled muscle, the defensive line didn't have its normal depth, and it showed.

Hey, did you hear where Michigan lost too?

Now for the negatives...

The offensive line play was subpar. Arguably the strength of the team in 2011, the O-line failed to show up against the Wildcats, one week after dictating the game to a much better Michigan State defense. Mustering only 122 rushing yards, allowing 11 tackles for loss, and struggling on third and short for much of the game, isn't a recipe for success.

Northwestern, the 98th-ranked defense in the country, managed to keep the Huskers off the scoreboard until there was 2:26 remaining in the first half. Brett Maher kicked a 36-yard field goal, which remained Nebraska's only points until a Tim Marlowe touchdown with 3:52 in the third quarter. This is a defense that had been giving up 44 points in their previous seven Big Ten conference games.

The Blackshirts were handed out this past week. Is it too late to go back to the no-name defense that beat Michigan State? On Northwestern's final scoring drive of the game, the Wildcats ran the ball 13 consecutive plays and covered 66 yards. The play of the game was Northwestern's decision to go for it on 4th and 1 late in the fourth quarter from the Huskers 18-yard line. Their four-yard gain kept the drive alive and led to the game-clinching touchdown. A field goal would have given the Wildcats a six-point lead and the Huskers some belief they had a chance. Instead, Pat Fitzgerald signaled to his team that they weren't going to give Nebraska the chance to win it with a touchdown. As it turned out, that was the difference in the game.

As if anyone forgot, two key turnovers by the Huskers cost the Big Red at least six points, if not 10 or more. Rex Burkhead's fumble was only the second lost in his career.

Nebraska rarely has three timeouts remaining late into a game. They usually spend one or two realigning their defense. But with a little over two minutes remaining and all three timeouts, we thought it strange that Bo Pelini didn't opt to begin using them when it was clear Northwestern was going to score. Hard to understand why you wouldn't try to keep as much time on the clock as possible in that situation.

With the loss, Nebraska now needs Michigan State to drop one of their final three games, either at Iowa, against Indiana, or at Northwestern. Anything can happen, but it would have been much nicer to know your title hopes were in your control. Winning out for the Huskers won't be an easy feat either. Penn State will have had a bye week to ready themselves for the Huskers and Michigan, with Denard Robinson and a tough defense, will be a test for the Big Red.

This is one of those games that make you scratch your head. The possibility of a letdown was there after the big win against Michigan State a week ago and the awarding of the Blackshirts. Hopes of a Big Ten title are slipping away, but not out of reach just yet; anything less than a trip to Indianapolis will likely be viewed as a step back under the Pelini regime. There's still a lot of football to be played. Michigan State could easily lose at Iowa or possibly even at Northwestern. The trouble is that Nebraska could easily drop one or both of their next two road games. Now is when the rubber meets the road. We'll see how bad this Husker team wants it and what kind of leadership they have in the locker room. A loss to a team like Northwestern can submarine a season or build a resolve that propels the team to finish strong. We're all hoping to see the latter.

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Sunday Morning Quarterback: Michigan State

Nebraska hadn't yet put together a full four quarter game against a good opponent until yesterday's 24-3 win over the Michigan State Spartans. The Huskers came up B1G when the chips were down, with a defensive performance worthy of the Blackshirts title. In fact, the game should have been a shutout. Safety Daimion Stafford dropped what should have been a sure interception, which gave the Spartans a fourth down opportunity to kick a field goal. Those were MSU's only points on the day.

Without a win against Sparty, there was virtually no chance at making the conference championship game in Indy. With the win, Nebraska controls their own destiny. If they win out, NU makes that trip and plays for the Big Ten title in its inaugural season in the league.

There's still a lot of work to do, including tough road games to Happy Valley against the surprising Penn State Nittany Lions and to the Big House to face the Michigan Wolverines. The Huskers can't afford a letdown the rest of the way. With the win over the Spartans, NU is tied atop the Legends Division with Michigan at 3-1.

Back to the Blackshirts for a minute...how about the play of Lance Thorell? The senior, walk-on defensive back from Loomis, Nebraska came up big, picking off MSU quarterback Kirk Cousins on the Spartans first drive of the game and returning it to their 25-yard line. That set up NU's first touchdown of the game, scored by Superman himself, Rex Burkhead. More on him later.

It was crucial for the Huskers to stake out an early lead. At least that was our thought heading into the game. As it turned out, the Blackshirts dominating performance didn't require a lot of points from the offense. Will Compton played his best game of the year, with seven tackles. Alfonzo Dennard looks to be 100% again, as he along with Daimion Stafford helped the Nebraska D to limit Kirk Cousins to 11-27 passing for only 86 yards. Dennard and Stafford each had three pass breakups. Hats off to the NU secondary for shutting down the Spartan receivers and giving the D-line enough time to get to Cousins. The Blackshirts recorded four sacks on the day and never let Cousins get into a rhythm. Eric Martin played his best game from the defensive end spot, racking up two sacks and three tackles. Lavonte David is almost easy to overlook because he does this every game, leading the team in tackles with 13.

Andrew Green played his best game of the year as well, registering seven tackles and a performance that's easily forgotten in the total team effort. Green started ahead of Stanley Jean-Baptiste, who had gotten the nod last week at Minnesota.

Offensively, it was the Rex Burkhead Show. The junior running back led the Huskers with 130 yards rushing on 35 carries and two touchdowns on the ground. Talk about a workhorse. Interestingly enough, one of those touchdowns was the result of a video replay to see if he had fumbled short of the goal line. Upon further review, the ball broke the plane of the goal line...touchdown Nebraska. Rex also added a touchdown catch of 27 yards shortly after leaving the game with what looked like a bad ankle injury. Burkhead playing in the Legends Division seems appropriate. Not only will he go down as one of the most beloved Huskers of all-time, but Rex has put this team on his back late in games and willed them to victory.

Tim Marlowe did his best impression of two of his fellow receivers when he took a reverse 39 yards ala Kenny Bell and got caught near the goal line ala Brandon Kinnie. Speaking of BK, after an early drop, the senior receiver had two catches for 23 yards. The Huskers won this game on the ground though as Taylor Martinez only threw the ball 13 times while completing seven passes.

Again, a lot of work remains, but seeing this effort from the Huskers, especially on the defensive side, couldn't have come at a better time. Northwestern and Iowa aren't looking as good as some thought they might be this year, but Penn State has exceeded expectations and playing at Michigan is never easy. If the Huskers can replicate their effort from yesterday in these two big road games, the Big Red likely makes that trip to Indianapolis.

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Sunday Morning Quarterback: Minnesota

Nebraska did what they were supposed to do, win a game handily and don’t give the opponent a chance to come back. Minnesota was told how it was going to be early on as the Big Red nearly scored at will in the first half. The Husker defense (a group we used to call the Blackshirts) kept Minnesota off the scoreboard until 6:45 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Boy, a shutout would have been nice. Just saying. Speaking of the Blackshirts, is this the week they're handed out? I nominate Dirk Chatelain to ask Bo the question.

The gameplan clearly was to run the ball against a Gopher defense that ranked near the bottom of Division One. As a team, the Huskers racked up 346 yards on 56 carries, while passing 23 times. Seventy-nine offensive plays with a 71% run and 29% pass breakdown. There was even an Austin Jones sighting. The senior running back carried the ball one time, albeit for no gain. But the day was about Rex Burkhead yet again. The junior running back hit the 100 yard mark for the fourth time this season and crossed the 2,000 yard mark for his Husker career. He added a touchdown and carried 41% of the rushing load for Big Red.

Kenny Bell's early 2nd quarter 82-yard touchdown on a reverse was the highlight of the game. Bell broke a freshman record for longest play from scrimmage as well as the longest play for the Huskers in seven years. Asked if he was the fastest player on the team, Bell said it was probably Tyler Wullenwaber. That’s who I would have said, right after I checked the roster to make sure Kenny didn’t just make up a name.

On the plus side, NU’s offense put together scoring drives of 11, 10, 14, and 17 plays. Its cliché, but being able to run the ball and sustain drives keeps the opposing offense off the field, wears down the defense, and chews up clock. If Nebraska wants to make it to Indy, they will need to replicate these types of drives in the coming weeks.

Nebraska didn't have a turnover on the day, but still managed two fumbles, including one that kept a Husker drive alive. Technically, the 4th & 1 pitch to Aaron Green was a backwards pass and therefore could be advanced. If Green had fumbled the ball and then hit it forward, NU would have turned the ball over on downs. Instead, the 4th down conversion led to the Huskers first touchdown of the game two plays later.

Defensively, the Huskers put together a good half to three-quarters of a game. Nebraska held Minnesota to 3 of 11 on 3rd down conversions. If there’s a better defensive statistic than opponent’s 3rd down conversions, I’m not aware of it. Getting off the field is of utmost importance and 3rd down is the money down.

Chase Rome’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was disappointing. Austin Cassidy was close to the back of the end zone, having already scored, when Rome unloaded on a Minnesota offensive lineman, a cheap shot that drew the ire of Bo Pelini, who had a one-sided conversation with Chase shortly thereafter. Other than that penalty, NU had four penalties for 28 yards.

In summary, the Huskers did what they were expected to do. How much can we glean from this game? Is it possible to tell if NU has improved over the bye week? Not much and not really, respectfully. Nebraska returns to playing good competition this Saturday when Michigan State comes to town.

If you didn't get a chance to watch the Wisconsin-Michigan State game, try to catch the replay on Big Ten Network. It was clearly the Game of the Week and will go down as one of the best (or worst if you're a Badger fan) finishes of all-time. I would have preferred to see a three-overtime, grind it out finish considering the Spartans are next on the schedule. Instead, Sparty has now won two emotionally draining games in a row. Here's hoping the third time is the charm for their opponent. The Big Ten Legends Division title is likely on the line. If Michigan State beats Nebraska, they’re in the driver’s seat, so the Huskers need to put together their best game of the year. The road gets easier for MSU, not so for Nebraska.

Game time is 11am, so set your alarm clocks early. Nothing like tailgating BEFORE the sun comes up.

How individual Huskers rank nationally and Nebraska in the Big Ten

We take a look at how individual Husker players rank nationally as well as how Nebraska ranks within the Big Ten.

Taylor Martinez
34th in rushing yards with 584
78th in passing yards per game at 169
26th in points per game at 9
30th in total offense at 266 yds per game
tied for 2nd with most rushing plays over 40 yards at 4

Rex Burkhead
26th in rushing yards with 635
13th in points per game at 10
62nd in all-purpose yards with 120 per game
tied for 20th with most rushing plays over 40 yards at 2

Ameer Abdullah
4th in kickoff return yards average at 31.90
4th in kickoff yards per game at 106.3
37th in all-purpose yards with 136.3 per game

Lavonte David
tied for 31st in tackles with 58 total
tied for 23rd in tackles per game at 9.67

Brett Maher
2nd in average yards per punt at 47.30
25th in field goal percentage at 84.6%
13th in points per game at 10
tied for 6th in kickoffs, averaging 68 yards per

Here's how Nebraska ranks in major categories within the Big Ten Conference.

Total Offense: 4th
Scoring Offense: 2nd
3rd Down Conversion %: 5th
Red Zone Conversions: 4th
Sacks Allowed: tied for 4th

Total Defense: 8th
Scoring Defense: 9th
Opponent 3rd Down Conversion %: 8th
Opponent Red Zone Conversions: tied for 8th
Sacks: 9th

Time of Possession: 11th
Turnover Margin: 10th

Again, what sticks out is the Huskers being in the top half of the conference offensively and the bottom half defensively. Through six games, it's the offense carrying the defense, a notable change from the past two seasons.

How the Huskers rank nationally midway through 2011 season

Here's a statistical look at how the Huskers rank nationally in major categories:

Offensively

Scoring Offense: 22nd at 37 pts per game (leader is Wisconsin at 50.2)
Rushing Offense: 11th at 247 yds per game (leader is Army at 361)
Passing Offense: 102nd with 172 yds per game (leader is Houston at 435)
Total Offense: 49th at 419 yds per game (leader is Houston at 603)
3rd Down Conversions: 50th at 42.68% (leader is Wisconsin at 60%)
Red Zone Conversions: tied for 23rd, scoring 89.66% of the time
Time of Possession: 96th
Interceptions: tied for 64th with 6
Fumbles: tied for 3rd most at 17
Fumbles Lost: tied for 30th at 4
Fumbles Lost %: 9th at 23.53%
Sacks Allowed: tied for 36th at 1.5 per game
Tackles for Loss Allowed: tied for 21st with 4.83 per game

Defensively

Scoring Defense: 67th at 27.2 pts per game
Rushing Defense: 75th at 167.83 yds per game
Passing Defense: 40th at 204.8 yds per game
Total Defense: 58th at 372.7 yds per game
Opponent 1st Downs: tied for 54th at 19.7 per game (leader is Alabama at 10.4)
Sacks: tied for 89th with 9 sacks (1.5 per game)
Tackles for Loss Per Game: 116th at 3.83
Fumbles Forced: tied for 90th with 4
Interceptions: tied for 68th with 5
Opponent 3rd Down Conversions: tied for 96th at 44.68%
Opponent 4th Down Conversions: tied for 59th at 50%
Opponent Red Zone Conversions: tied for 66th at 83.33%
Opponent TD % in Red Zone: tied for 90th at 66.67%

Team & Special Teams

Turnover Margin: tied for 64th at -1
Penalties: tied for 41st at 5.5 per game
Penalty Yds Per Game: tied for 51st at 49.3 per game
Kickoff Returns: 2nd with a 28.83 average
Punt Returns: 36th with a 10.31 average
Punting: 2nd with a 47.3 yard average
Field Goal %: tied for 25th at 84.6% (11 for 13)

Obviously, the struggles are on the defensive side of the ball. Allowing your opponents to convert 45% of their 3rd downs and 67% of their Red Zone opportunities into touchdowns is troublesome. With the loss of Jared Crick and nothing but conference games remaining, it's tough to see a lot of improvement statistically.

It should be pointed out that the most important stat of them all is the Huskers are 5-1 midway through the 2011 season.

The Angst and Adulation of Bo Pelini

By Brett Baker of HuskerLocker.com

If you had told me prior to the 2011 season that Nebraska would rally from 21 points down in the second half against THE Ohio State University to beat the Buckeyes, I would have downed a celebratory shot, danced a jig and reached for my iPad. I'd need to use the Orbitz app to scout trip prices to Indianapolis for the inaugural Big Ten Championship game. Sadly, that's not what I did last Saturday night.

No, this win, while exhilarating, was not what one dreams of when envisioning victory. This was a depleted Buckeye squad that owned Nebraska for the better part of the game. Don't get me wrong, I respect the comeback as much as the next guy.

Those young men in scarlet and cream did themselves and their school proud, but let's be honest. The Cornhuskers should have rolled THAT Ohio State Unveristy football team. After a deep exhale and a few high tens following the game, I gathered my stuff from my buddy’s place and headed home with my daughter.

Before I got there, heck, before I got halfway to my doorstep, my Twitter feed started to fill with chatter about some kind of "moment" between the Huskers head coach Bo Pelini and Omaha World Herald reporter Dirk Chatelain.

Apparently, Bo had taken exception with Dirk's article from the day before. This was an article that was critical of both Taylor Martinez's play and of Pelini's handling of his sophomore quarterback.

Fellow Husker Locker contributor Brian Towle had sent the piece to me shortly after it was posted online and I'll be perfectly honest - I thought Dirk nailed it and I've said as much long before now. Evidently, Bo did not share that sentiment. Brian also said that "the gloves were off." Apparently, this is a sentiment that Bo shared.

As I began to piece together the events of that postgame press conference, I thought, “We should have seen this coming.” Nebraska fans should have seen it coming because personally, I think Bo was ready to pop before Saturday. During his brief meeting with the media on Thursday, he went out of his way to tell the assembled members of the press how little their work affected him or his players.

He went on to say that they neither read, watched, nor cared what was written or said about them. He said this in a manner as to belittle the people who were there to do their jobs. I recognized this behavior the moment I saw it.

Having covered San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich for more than a decade now, I'm more than familiar with the snide, back-handed manner in which a perfectionist and condescending genius can regard the media.

Popovich can be charming and playful during one session with the media, then dismissive and sarcastic the next. Why? I have no idea. Perhaps he does it because he can. When you are the biggest fish in the nation’s seventh-largest pond, you don't really have to worry about pleasing the media when you have brought four NBA championships home.

Spurs fans love him because he wins, so they don't need for the media to love him. The thing about San Antonio is that it's a softball media town. It's not Philadelphia, Chicago or New York.

There is no adversarial relationship with the press because sadly, most of them are fans more than they are journalists. What they also know is that to cross Popovich is to risk being shunned, mocked or cut out of the process more than they already are.

I see a lot of Gregg Popovich in Bo Pelini.

Over the past few days, a number of people have taken sides in the fallout of the Pelini & Chatelain brouhaha which is ridiculous, but to be expected. As I was sorting through the aftermath, I asked a friend of mine (a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist) for his take on Chatelain's piece.

Since he's not a Nebraska fan, I figured he'd be a fair barometer of where the piece really fell. He said that while it was critical, it was far from unfair.

To some Cornhusker loyalists, anything other than complete and total support of Pelini is nothing short of treason. Then are those that remember what The Nebraska Way used to mean. I know it's beyond reasonable to expect another coach to match the level of success established by Tom Osborne.

However, I don't think it's beyond reasonable to expect the head coach of any University of Nebraska athletic team to carry themselves in a manner that honors Osborne and the way he has presented himself for the more than 40 years he's been associated with the University.

This is where Pelini fails. He says he doesn't care about what the media writes or says, but his actions betray his words. If he didn't care, then this wouldn't be an issue. He would have let Chatelain's article pass like a leaf blowing in the wind, but he does care, so when he says he doesn't, he's being disingenuous. Why? What's with the tough guy facade that's used to bully people who want nothing but a few minutes from him? Why not be honest? Why not be civil?

On the day before Dirk's article was published, Bo had the perfect opportunity to tell the media exactly what he thought - That he was, in fact, worried about what had been written and said in the days following the loss to Wisconsin, but he chose not to. In essence he lied, not only to the press, but to himself.

Unfortunately, he chose an inopportune moment to be honest. He, not Dirk, turned the buzz after the Ohio State game into a hot button topic for Husker Nation.

A man in charge of his feelings that had a grasp of the situation would have asked Dirk for a few words in private after the press conference, but Bo isn't in charge of his emotions. That much is obvious. His past is his past. The evidence is there.

Defend him all you like, but you know it to be true. If you or I behaved like he does in our place of employ, we would be out of a job in short order.

That being said, I do recognize that working in a newsroom, office building or a warehouse isn't anything like being the head football coach at a legendary football program. That doesn't excuse his sideline explosions, though.

Others like to justify Bo's behavior by saying it proves that he has his players’ backs. Tom Osborne had his players’ backs and he never ranted and raved. He did what he believed to be right and took the slings and arrows of the nation for his actions. I'm specifically referencing the Lawrence Phillips saga.

Pelini can't even begin to imagine the glare of that spotlight, yet Osborne handled that level of scrutiny with a grace and poise that few will ever possess. However, it's a grace that we can all strive for. Yes, even Bo Pelini.

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Sunday Morning Quarterback: Ohio State

For two and a half quarters, it looked as though the Huskers would be facing an extremely long bye week. Then a funny thing happened. Down 20-6 at halftime and 27-6 midway through the 3rd quarter, Lavonte David stripped the ball from OSU quarterback Braxton Miller. Two plays later, Taylor Martinez scores on an 18-yard run, making it 27-13. Then Sean Fisher knocks Braxton Miller out of the game on the next series (4:46 left in the 3rd) and the Big Red’s momentum continues to build. Nebraska puts together its best drive of the night, going 80 yards on seven plays, ending with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Martinez to Quincy Enunwa. 27-20 with 1:44 left in the third. Midway through the 4th quarter, Taylor eludes defenders long enough to hit Rex Burkhead out of the backfield for a 30-yard touchdown, tying the game at 27 with 7:35 remaining.

Enter Stanley Jean-Baptiste, who only two weeks ago was low on the depth chart at wide receiver. Stanley scored a big interception with 6:29 left in the game, giving Nebraska the ball on their own 22 yard line. Not even a minute and a half later, Rex Burkhead dove into the endzone for the go-ahead touchdown. 34-27 with 5:10 remaining in the game. The Blackshirts stopped Ohio State and the Huskers were able to run out the clock after gaining several first downs. Game over. Huskers win. All is good in Husker Nation and Bo is still upset at the media (or at least Dirk Chatelain) for calling out his quarterback on Friday.

Martinez had his best game of the season when it counted. He was 16-22 passing for 191 yards, two touchdowns and one INT. On the ground, Taylor ran for 102 yards on 17 carries and scored a touchdown. Most notably, Taylor completed his first 10 passes of the night and did a great job of checking down to Rex Burkhead out of the backfield. Credit Martinez and also offensive coordinator Tim Beck for putting his QB in good situations.

Offensively, Martinez shared the spotlight with Rex Burkhead, who ran for a game high 119 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown. Rex added another 59 yards in receiving, including the game-tying touchdown on a 30 yard reception from Martinez. Kyler Reed even had three receptions on the night. In total, seven Huskers were on the receiving end of a Martinez pass.

Hats off to the offensive line for a hard fought game. Ohio State’s highly ranked defense only managed two sacks of Martinez, but when the game was on the line, NU’s O-line took over. Nebraska racked up 195 rushing yards in the second half after being held to only 37 in the first 30 minutes.

Nebraska had two fumbles, but didn’t lose either. The Huskers had six penalties for 50 yards on the night, compared to Ohio State’s nine for 75 yards.

The Blackshirts were led by Lavonte David, who had 13 tackles and the biggest play of the game and perhaps the season with his strip of Braxton Miller. Will Compton added 10 tackles and Chase Rome registered the only sack for the Huskers on the night. The secondary stepped up big after a poor showing in Madison. Ohio State managed only six completions on the night. Poor tackling plagued the team and the front four continue to struggle in getting a pass rush on opposing QBs. In the last quarter and a half, the Buckeyes managed only 39 yards of offense.

The 21-point deficit marks the largest comeback in school history and the biggest since being down 17 against Texas A&M in 2002. All it took was 18 minutes for the Huskers to score 28 points and save their season. This game has to rank near the top for most exciting Husker home games. The other one that comes to mind is the 2008 game against Colorado which saw Alex Henery kick a go-ahead 57-yard field goal followed by Ndamukong Suh steamrolling Cody Hawkins on his way to a pick six.

Former Husker players in attendance for the game Saturday night included: Neil Smith, Will Shields, Ndamukong Suh, Dominic Raiola, Dave Rimington, Johnny Rodgers, Grant Wistrom, Jason Peter, Eric Hagg, DeJon Gomes and Todd Peterson.

Be sure to check out our game photos on the Photos page.

For the Cornhuskers, Buckeyes have become Cardinals

By Brandon Cavanaugh of HuskerLocker.com

The stage had been set. The Nebraska Cornhuskers were under the brightest of spotlights, including headlining ESPN College GameDay, and being featured in the primetime ABC game. What followed was absolute humiliation of Nebraska on every level, live and in high-definition.

While Southern Cal walked into Lincoln and pummeled the Cornhuskers, Wisconsin had the privilege of doing so in friendly confines. Nebraska and Ohio State haven’t met since 1956, but the significance of this week’s game is eerily similar to one four years ago against the Ball State Cardinals.

For those who have seared the Callahan Era from their brain for completely understandable reasons, allow a brief refresher. An upstart Ball State squad came into Lincoln following the Huskers’ drubbing by the Trojans in 2007 and hope was high among the Nebraska faithful for an immediate rebound.

The results were less than encouraging. Nate Davis, Ball State’s upstart sophomore quarterback, torched the Nebraska secondary to the tune of 422 yards. The Cornhuskers would deny the upset bid thanks to a Bo Ruud pick-six and Maurice Purify touchdown catch. Nebraska had their own “free agent” in former Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller who performed well, throwing for 438 yards and three touchdowns.

Following the heroics that saved the Huskers further embarrassment, Nebraska would drop six of its next seven games. The head coach was promptly removed following a shootout during the final contest of the season, and the rest is history. Bo Pelini finds himself in a position not unlike that 2007 squad, except the pieces to this season’s puzzle are scattered a bit differently.

In 2007, Keller was far from perfect, but he did manage 2,422 yards passing and 14 touchdowns. He also set Cornhusker records for passing accuracy and single-game yardage. In 2011, Nebraska has sophomore Taylor Martinez delivering more passes that result in eventual scores for the opposition thanks to a 5-4 interception-to-touchdown ratio.

Perhaps what’s most concerning about the 2011 squad is that prior to the season, this defense appeared loaded. With Jared Crick, Lavonte David and Alfonzo Dennard all returning, fans likely anticipated black practice jerseys being handed out by now. Five games into the season, the Cornhusker defense is giving up 377 yards per game.

To be fair, Nebraska didn’t have those three talented athletes all healthy and on the field at the same time until reaching Madison. Unfortunately, even their presence didn’t affect a vastly superior team across the board nearly enough. The loss to Wisconsin is behind Nebraska and now comes a very crucial game for the Cornhuskers.

Neither Ohio State’s Joe Bauserman nor Braxton Miller is going to be confused for Nate Davis circa 2007. In addition, three very talented players in running back Daniel “Boom” Herron, wide receiver DeVier Posey and offensive lineman Marcus Hall had their suspensions extended as of yesterday. While Las Vegas’ coffers were promptly filled following this news, Ohio State’s cupboard isn’t entirely bare.

The good news for Nebraska is that this game presents an opportunity for a massive shift in morale and direction for the entire 2011 season. Pelini and company have the necessary talent to bounce back on both sides of the football, but changes are necessary for Pelini’s “process” to begin an upward trend. If the Cornhuskers are going to have a successful inaugural season as a member of the Big Ten, it’s time to erase the drawing board and start from scratch.

While there’s little doubt Taylor Martinez will start against the Buckeyes this week, the call to relieve him in favor of another option, be it Brion Carnes or Rex Burkhead, needs to be made. Burkhead has proven to be a rock at running back. This is one position where Cornhusker fans know they have a reliable leader and talented corps.

Jamal Turner is being sinfully underutilized. There’s no reason that he should be held back any longer. It doesn’t matter if he’s used as a wide receiver, quarterback or even running back. Turner needs to be on the field, as all playmakers should be. Nebraska’s offensive line is quite reliable overall. The work of John Garrison and Brendan Stai is clearly meshing well with what Barney Cotton already had in place.

On defense, the Cornhuskers may want to consider moving the versatile Jared Crick to the outside opposite Cam Meredith and plug the middle using Steinkuhler, Moore, Randle and Rome. Unfortunately, Sean Fisher doesn’t look like he’ll ever regain his old speed which necessitates one of three things: Move Daimion Stafford to linebacker, a Peso-style hybrid, or burn David Santos’ redshirt.

Despite only having one game under his belt, Alfonzo Dennard wasn’t attacked much by Wisconsin. The same can’t be said for the rest of the secondary. Where is Antonio Bell or Josh Mitchell? At this point, is giving P.J. Smith or Courtney Osborne truly not worth a shot? Yes, the defensive backfield is still a work in progress, but as it stands, it’s hard to comprehend why the coaches wouldn’t start mixing up personnel until they find a group that clicks.

If these changes are made and an absolute commitment is made by Tim Beck to stick to an effective game plan (See: First quarter vs. Wisconsin), Nebraska will very likely avoid a record mirroring 2007’s. However, if there is little to no shakeup, Taylor Martinez remains under center, and square pegs keep being slammed against round holes, the Buckeyes are good enough to beat the Cornhusker team seen last Saturday in Camp Randall Stadium.

A 41-40 win over Ball State in 2007 was an ominous sign of things to come. If Nebraska’s first Big Ten home game is a loss, the difficult challenges that Nebraska faces this week may be welcomed in comparison come this Sunday.

Follow Husker Locker on Twitter @huskerlocker. For more, check out HuskerLocker.com.

Sunday Afternoon Quarterback: Wisconsin

Hats off to Wisconsin. Their team is legit after all. Some thought their weak non-conference schedule made them look better than they really were. Turns out, they're really that good.

Nebraska isn't deserving of a #8 ranking after all. Today, the new polls came out and the Huskers are #14 and #15. Seems about right if you ask me. Wisconsin rises three spots to #4, which also seems appropriate.

Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World-Herald sums up my thoughts about the game best in this article. Basically, NU offensive coordinator, Tim Beck, pulled a Shawn Watson. He went away from what was working, even if it's slow and methodical, to something that rarely has worked in Nebraska's history...relying on the pass.

Taylor Martinez isn't a passing quarterback. Sure, he made some questionable throws, three of which resulted in Wisconsin interceptions. The question is, who put him in the position to be throwing in the first place. That lands at the feet of Beck. A coach's job is to put his players in position to succeed. Why do we continue trying to fit a square peg through a round hole?

We've got Rex Burkhead, a man whose nickname is "Superman," being vastly underutilized in the backfield. Behind him are Aaron Green, Ameer Abdullah, and Braylon Heard. Enough depth in other words to run the ball much more than we did Saturday night.

I don't understand the need to go away from what's working. Especially when running is clearly the strength of the offense.

Defensively, there are many issues that need ironed out. Our secondary continues to struggle, making it difficult for the defensive line to sack the quarterback. Playing a very mobile QB like Russell Wilson forces the D-line to play more of a contain defense, similar to the Pelini Brother's scheme for Tyrod Taylor at Virginia Tech in 2009. This puts a lot of the pressure on the back end of the D. Michigan's Dennard Robinson will be the next QB the Huskers face who is truly a dual threat.

The bottom line is that the secondary shouldn't be getting beat deep as much as they have this year. In theory, you should never get beat deep. It happens, but unfortunately all too often in 2011. Safe to say that no Blackshirts will be handed out this week.

As for Madison, what a beautiful city. A great tailgating scene and gameday environment, the picturesque lakes that are on either side of downtown Madison, just a great time. And the Badger fans were nice, too, except for their students. They weren't exactly Colorado bad, but they were at least cocky Mizzou fan bad.

What I can't figure out though is why Barry Alvarez and Wisconsin fans in general allow the student section to behave the way they do. At one point in the second half, some of the students were chanting "Eat &*^%" while the other half responded "F-You." They let Lee Corso have it too for picking the Huskers. A common chant to opposing fans is "A-hole."

Everything else was top notch. The tailgating and food is tremendous. Regent Street and State Street are great. So why tolerate this bad behavior from the students. Why not say no more "Jump Around" if these vulgar chants continue? I'm not that far removed from college, but for some reason this really stuck in my craw.

The aforementioned "Jump Around" is pretty cool, albeit a little weird from the upper deck. The entire stadium is rocking during the whole song, which is played before the 4th quarter begins. Hats off to the UW student section for their enthusiasm in starting the wave, slowing it down and speeding it up. With a blowout game, fans needed something to focus on.

The Huskers will bounce back. Ohio State isn't who we thought they were. Hopefully the Big Red can take out their Badger frustrations on the Buckeyes. Arguably, the toughest Big Ten game of the year is out of the way. It didn't go in our favor, but it's time to get back to work because there are many games yet to be played. GBR!

(Be sure to check out our photos from Madison on the Photos page.)

Sunday Morning Quarterback: NU vs Wyoming

We'll sum up Saturday night in Laramie by calling it The Rex Burkhead Show. Rex was in effect, to the tune of 170 yards on 15 carries. As a team, Nebraska ran for 333 yards while passing for 157.

Brandon Kinnie had his best game of the year with three catches for 31 yards. Kinnie had been struggling up to this point, so its good to see him get back on track.

Brett Maher had another big day, especially on kickoffs. The Huskers had six touchbacks, taking advantage of the thin air. Maher also had what appeared to be a 50-yard field goal taken away from him. He kicked the ball over the right upright, from 50 yards out, and the referee signaled it was no good. Replay reviews weren't exactly conclusive, but the ball appeared to have been slightly inside the upright. Brett had the distance for 65 yards on that kick, if not even further.

On the negative side, NU continues to suffer from fumbleitis, putting the ball on the ground four times, even if losing only one. Better competition will expose the Huskers lax ball control.

Taylor completed only 12 of 21 passes and had some bad misses. This marks the fourth game in a row that Martinez's pass completion percentage is around 50%. This needs to rise in a hurry.

Defensively, the tackling was very poor at times (again).

All three of these facets need to be cleaned up in a hurry for the Huskers road trip to Madison. Speaking of Wisconsin, here's our thoughts on the Huskers' first true test of the season.

Wisconsin is 11th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 45 points per game thus far. Meanwhile, they're giving up only 8 points per game, which puts them at third in the country. The Badgers are averaging 5.59 yards per carry and they've scored 18 of 19 times in the Red Zone. Surprisingly, the Huskers and Badgers are tied in turnover margin, with both teams at zero.

Wisconsin has fumbled and lost only one, while the Huskers at times appear to be trying out for Doc Sadler's squad.

The Badgers average 49.3 yards per game in penalties versus the Huskers 39.3.

So we've all seen the gaudy numbers put up by the Badgers, but just who have they played so far in 2011?

Wisconsin's first game of the season was against UNLV, a team who is now 1-3. The Running Rebels have lost to Washington State and Southern Utah in addition to Wisconsin. Their lone win came against Hawaii. UNLV ranks 101st in points scored and 118th in points allowed.

The Badgers played Oregon State in their second game, winning 35-0. Oregon State is 0-3, including a loss at home to Sacramento State in overtime and a 27-19 loss to UCLA. Oregon State ranks 112th in points scored and 86th in points allowed.

In their third game of the season, the Badgers took on Northern Illinois, which ranks 108th in points allowed. Wisconsin easily handled the Huskies 49-7. Northern Illinois is 2-2 on the season, with a loss to Kansas and wins over Army and Cal Poly.

In their fourth game, Wisconsin beat up on South Dakota, an FCS school, winning by a final of 59-10.

So Wisconsin hasn't exactly played a murderer's row of teams to open the season. They've put up big numbers and had their way with much lesser competition. Nebraska has faced a slightly tougher schedule to date, but also looked a little less convincing against these teams.

The Huskers will have to do three things to win in Madison: 1) not turn over the ball, 2) tackle much better, and 3) have an effective run game. More Rex Burkhead and the freshmen triplets and less Taylor Martinez on the ground. In the air, Taylor really needs to get dialed in and throw catchable balls. Defensively, Nebraska will see the toughest offensive line, possibly of the season, next Saturday night. Oh, and the atmosphere of Camp Randall at night...the Huskers can't get rattled by one of the loudest stadiums in the country.

The spotlight will be bright on the Huskers next Saturday for sure. We'll know much more about our team a week from now. GBR!

Nebraska Football: Knee-Jerk Reactions - Wyoming

By Brandon Cavanaugh of HuskerLocker.com

- Alfonzo Dennard played up to the level that just about anyone would during their season debut while still working through injury.

- Corey Cooper could be a solid cornerback. He needs to work on his hip movement, though. Dennard had the same issue when he was younger.

- Yoshi Hardrick has become a beast on the offensive line. He, Marcel Jones and Mike Caputo are injecting some much-needed leadership into an overall young unit.

- Why Choi is just seeing the field now is a mystery.

- You will either tackle Rex Burkhead or get shoved to the turf. The good news is that you’ll walk back to the huddle with about two or three teammates who suffered the same fate.

- The WildRex formation’s always a treat.

- 333 yards rushing, 24 first downs and a third down conversion rate over 50 percent will win plenty of ballgames.

- It’s a near guarantee that if you put the ball on the ground four times against Big Ten opposition, you’re not getting three of them back.

- Kenny Bell answered the question of whether or not Nebraska would be penalized for making a hand gestures following a score. If he had a pair of the new gloves on, it would've looked far cooler.

- The defense just seems disorganized. Not really sure if they’re out for themselves, mentally revved up too much, etc.

- Organized scrimmages are over. Expect to see the kitchen sink thrown at Wisky and OSU as the bye week allows Nebraska to switch things up heading to Minneapolis.

Husker football recruiting update

With the loss of Deion Jones to LSU, here's how the Huskers class looks today.

By position:
QB - 1
RB - None
WR - 1
TE - 1
OL - 1
DL - None
DE - 1
LB - 2
DB - None
P/K - None

By state:
Colorado - 1
Illinois - 1
Missouri - 1
Nebraska - 1
Ohio - 1
Texas - 1
California - 1

By Rivals.com stars:
5 stars - None
4 stars - 3
3 stars - 4
1 star - None

By player:

Zaire Anderson
Linebacker
Riverside, CA (Riverside C.C.)
6'1" 220 pounds
4 stars
Committed 10/19/11

Tommy Armstrong
Quarterback
Cibolo, TX (Steele H.S.)
6'2" 210 pounds
3 stars
Committed 9/19/11

Sam Cotton
Tight End
Lincoln, NE (Southeast High School)
6'4" 240 pounds
3 stars
Committed 6/20/11

Greg McMullen
Defensive End
Akron, OH (Hoban)
6'5" 255 pounds
4 stars
Committed 6/23/11

Michael Rose
Linebacker
Kansas City, MO (Rockhurst)
6'0" 230 pounds
3 stars
Committed 7/5/10

Paul Thurston
Offensive Lineman
Arvada, CO (Arvada West)
6'5" 274 pounds
4 stars
Committed 6/24/11

Jordan Westerkamp
Wide Receiver
Lombard, IL (Montini)
6'2" 190 pounds
3 stars
Committed 5/6/11

Aaron gets the Green light

By Brett Baker of HuskerLocker.com

It's hard to believe that it's been four years since I first saw Aaron Green create magic on the football field. If "magic" seems like hyperbole, I'd be hard pressed to come up with another word for 428 yards rushing and nine touchdowns in a single game. It was also just his second game as a varsity running back at San Antonio's Madison High School.

In his third game as a Cornhusker, he's beginning to show Nebraska fans a glimpse of that amazing athletic ability. With Ameer Abdullah sidelined with a tweaked ankle after another monster kickoff return during the Huskers’ contest against Washington, Green got his biggest dose of Beck Ball on Saturday and he made the most of it. With 61 yards of offense and two touchdowns on only six touches, the freshman put his stamp on the game.

As impressive as his two scores were, they weren't what impressed me the most. Early in the fourth quarter with Nebraska up 20 points and looking to put the game out of reach, Green got the bulk of his carries, but there was one that stood out. On first and ten at the Huskies’ 23-yard line, Green got the handoff and broke right for an eight-yard gain. The run was most impressive for what he didn't do.

During his high school days, the only knock on Green was that he tended to look for the sidelines after a big gain. After this particular carry, Green was headed for the sidelines, but before getting there he turned up field, put his nose into the chest of the defender and gained another two yards.

To most fans this would be just an average play. To me it showed a lot more; that the kid is tough, hardnosed and has a head for snap live game decisions. Keeping the clock running and picking up a couple of yards was the right call, and he made it.

Given all of the teeth gnashing that's gone on with Taylor Martinez and his decision-making over the last 12 months, it's good to accentuate the positive when it happens. What makes this all the more satisfying is that Green didn't expect to get the touches that he did, but he was ready, willing and plenty more than able.

The best part is that Nebraska fans haven't seen his best yet. With each tote of the rock he's that much closer to breaking off the kind of run that kept him in the same sentence with Texas' Malcolm Brown during the recruiting process. While Husker fans dream of Green running in acres of space, I'm going enjoy the thought of him doing the little things that make for a great running back.

Huskers firm up QB depth chart with addition of Armstrong

By Brandon Cavanaugh of HuskerLocker.com

After former Nebraska quarterback Cody Green decided to transfer to Tulsa and Kody Spano chose to hang up his pads for good, the Cornhuskers’ quarterback depth chart has been cause for worry. Tim Beck’s new offense takes a physical toll on its signal-callers which made signing quarterbacks this recruiting cycle a necessity. Enter Tommy Armstrong.

The 6’2” 210-pound athlete from Cibolo, Texas’ Steele High School likely won’t be the only quarterback that Nebraska picks up this cycle because of the aforementioned lack of depth, but he’ll be bringing a big game mentality with him from the Lone Star State.

Armstrong took in Nebraska’s game versus the Washington Huskies this past weekend and despite what appeared to be weather straight from Seattle, the Cornhuskers' offense had plenty of fireworks to put on display for its visitors. “I had a great time. I was bonding with the coaches and the players. It felt like home, like I could be there the next four or five years of my life,” said Armstrong.

It didn’t hurt that plenty of Texans were making plays on the field for Nebraska including San Antonio native Aaron Green. The true freshman Husker running back had encouraged Armstrong to follow him to Nebraska following Green's eventual commitment to the Cornhuskers.

Steele High School head football coach Mike Jinks couldn’t be more excited for his pupil’s future. “It’s a great day for Steele High School and it’s a great day for Tommy Armstrong,” he said. “He’s become a leader in our program and a leader in our community.”

Armstrong and Nebraska had strong communication dating back into the summer months and according to Jinks, the Cornhuskers made a lasting impression. “In the back of his head, I think Nebraska’s always been number one.”

In 2010, Armstrong had the good fortune of having one of the most highly-rated running backs in the country share the backfield in future Texas Longhorn Malcolm Brown.

This year, he’s stepped his game up and has led Steele High to a 3-0 record while rushing for 337 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also yet to be intercepted while completing 20 passes out of 37 attempts for 372 yards and five touchdowns.

When it came time to make a decision, Armstrong sounded confident. This past weekend's visit provided what appears to have been the tipping point. “It just felt right,” he said.

Sunday Morning Quarterback: NU vs Washington

You can tell these two teams are officially tired of playing each other. Cameron Meredith tweeted after the game, "Nothing better than beating a cocky team with no respect."

For the third time in 12 months, the Huskers and Huskies battled. For the second time, the good guys came out on top 51-38.

With 12 minutes left in the game, and the Huskers up 44-17, it was looking like it would be a repeat of the Big Red's blowout win in Seattle last year. Then Washington outscored the Huskers 21-7, keeping the game somewhat in doubt until the final few minutes.

Plenty to work on for the Huskers, especially defensively. The cornerback play was spotty, something that will be helped by the return of Alfonzo Dennard next week, but Dennard alone can't cure what ails the Blackshirts.

The defensive line play through three games hasn't been as dominating as in the past few years. Part of the reason again goes back to the secondary play. If opposing wide receivers aren't open, which they weren't a high percentage of the time with Amukamara, Hagg, Gomes and Dennard patrolling, then the D-line will eventually track down the quarterback. So far this year, we're not seeing the lockdown secondary, meaning QBs are unloading the ball much more quickly.

The Husker D allowed Washington's Chris Polk to average nearly six yards per carry as he racked up 130 rushing yards on the day. He's a good running back, but the Blackshirts could have contained him better.

Offensively, the line play was much improved over the first two games. NU ran the ball 55 times for 309 yards. Rex Burkhead carried the load with 120 yards, while freshmen Braylon Heard and Aaron Green both managed seven yards per carry. Green had his first two touchdowns as a Husker, one receiving and one rushing the ball.

Still, there are many facets of the Huskers game that needs cleaned up before conference play begins. The October 1st showdown at Madison will reveal exactly where this team is and how they stack up against a formidable opponent.

We'd like to see Taylor Martinez complete a higher percentage of his passes. Taylor has excelled in the last two games at the long ball, but still struggles in the shorter, timing routes. Drops have played a role in his lower pass completion percentage, but part of that is on him.

Next up...the Wyoming Cowboys, which should reverse the Huskers' trend of playing better competition each week. One final non-conference tuneup before the trip to Madison. It's critical Nebraska gets some momentum heading into Big Ten play.

Nebraska Football: Knee Jerk Reactions - Washington

By Brandon Cavanaugh of HuskerLocker.com

- One of two things is a liability: Andrew Green or Corey Raymond’s coaching. Alfonzo Dennard will determine which.

- On the other hand, it turns out Aaron Green is a baller. Braylon Heard, come on down!

- That Rex guy’s pretty good, too.

- Nebraska has approximately a 29 percent third down conversion rate over the past two games. However, they’ve scored 40-plus points in the first three contests of a season for the first time since 1995. Pass the Aleve.

-It’s safe to say that Ameer Abdullah could score on any given return. When’s the last time that could be said about a Cornhusker? Maybe DeJuan Groce…maybe.

- In health news, Taylor Martinez finally decides to stop shaving years off of his life by sliding.

- Mathew May’s heads up play deserves an extra tip of the cap. That sort of play will win you games that you probably should lose.

- Chris Polk ran for a ton of yardage and it came as no surprise. Not necessarily because the interior defensive line got worked over, but he’s a damn good back. The line issue may want to be resolved before the Huskers hit Madison in black, though.

- Brett Maher shanks a punt, but redeems himself by making one of the better tackles of the afternoon.

- Stafford and David are tackling machines, but again none were for a loss.

- Seven times the Cornhuskers entered the red zone and seven times they scored. That’s a bingo.

- Is this the first college football game in recent memory where a ref needs to be worried about getting fined by the FCC over an issue with the game clock?

-The bottom line's three wins and no losses. It’d be a lie to say after being up 44-17 that the final score of the rubber match against Washington wasn’t disappointing, though.

Link to article on HuskerLocker.com

Ameer Abdullah - SEC speed in the Big Ten

By Brandon Cavanaugh of HuskerLocker.com

It was late January 2010 and Nebraska needed another running back recruit in the worst way. Then-running backs coach Tim Beck made it a personal mission to stop in Homewood, Alabama to solve this problem.

The devil may head down to Georgia for souls to steal, but Beck’s job was to enter the Yellowhammer State and leave with a prized recruit in a style appropriate for a sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Approximately 15 days passed between Nebraska’s offer and Abdullah’s eventual commitment. As a senior at Homewood High School, he’d rushed 157 times for 1,795 and 24 touchdowns. He also caught 24 passes for 561 yards and four touchdowns. In what will surely come as a complete shock to anyone who either saw the slugfest against Fresno State or the game’s highlights, he also had four touchdowns via punt return.

Everything was going swimmingly once Abdullah committed, but a potential worst case scenario for Nebraska cropped up: Auburn was making a late push for the 5’9” 185-pound back. There was talk that he’d even be visiting the home state school, but that’s where Beck came in. He was going to keep Abdullah under the Big Red banner or die trying. Once the Alabama native’s letter of intent was signed, Nebraska had officially stolen one of SEC country’s best-kept secrets.

Beck had an ace up his sleeve for this recruiting battle. Then-verbal commitment Aaron Green was developing a friendship with the running back coach’s target. Once Abdullah committed, the two running back recruits couldn’t have been happier. “We're both excited,” Abdullah told the Omaha World-Herald back in January. “I think we like the direction Nebraska is taking its offense.”

During his recruitment, Abdullah had travelled to Tennessee as the Volunteers took on Kentucky, but Rocky Top was no match for the Big Red thanks to one of Nebraska’s most important recruiting tools - its fans. While he didn’t have an opportunity to take in a Cornhusker home game himself, if you find a Nebraska fan, you’ll likely find someone ready to talk football, game day be damned.

In what may have signaled the beginning of a thrilling stint as a Cornhusker, Abdullah delivered a shot to the jaw of the Fresno State Bulldogs’ upset hopes Saturday Night in the form of a 100-yard kickoff return that sent the Memorial Stadium crowd into a frenzy.

"It was a turning point of the game," Abdullah told the Omaha World-Herald. "It was huge." His performance against the Bulldogs has already cemented his place in the annals of Husker history. The true freshman set a school record with 211 kick return yards.

His coming out party adds another intriguing element to one of Nebraska’s many Big Ten showcase games in 2011. When Nebraska travels to the Big House to face Michigan for the first time since the 2005 Alamo Bowl, two of the conference’s fastest quarterbacks will take center stage in Denard Robinson and Taylor Martinez.

While “T-Magic vs. Shoelace” may dominate the headlines that week, Ameer Abdullah fired a warning shot over the bow of the Big Ten. If a team makes the mistake of letting him touch the ball on a return, they’ll likely learn their lesson the hard way.

It’s almost guaranteed that Cornhusker fans haven’t seen the last of Abdullah’s special team prowess in 2011, but a large question looms – What happens should his offense line start clicking and opening up holes for the true freshman running back?

Nebraska fans anxiously wait for that day. 11 other teams hope it never comes. Notre Dame found out firsthand what it’s like to have hopes dashed by a player courted by the SEC in Michigan's Robinson. The difference between Abdullah and Robinson is that the latter has had the national spotlight on him since his recruitment began.

Abdullah has stepped into it for the first time in over seven months since signing his letter of intent. If his play against Fresno State is any indication, the attention he draws only going to intensify as his days in scarlet and cream continue.

For more from Brandon Cavanaugh, check out Husker Locker.

Sunday Morning Quarterback: NU vs Fresno State

Positives:
-NU's return game thanks to Ameer Abdullah. The true freshman had five kickoff returns for 211 yards, a school record, including a 100-yard touchdown early in the 4th quarter.
-Young receivers stepping up, including big catches by Kenny Bell and Jamal Turner. Kyler Reed had a 53 yard reception in the 4th quarter that set up a Huskers touchdown as well.
-Penalties...Nebraska only had 3 for 25 yards.
-Martinez had a big play filled night, with runs of 57, 38, and 46 yards, and pass completions of 38, 42, 43, and 58 yards.
-NU found a way to win. Given some of the other day's games, a win is more important than style points.

Negatives:
-Brandon Kinnie continues to struggle, dropping several more passes last night.
-No sacks. Fresno State continually rolled out their quarterback, neutralizing the Blackshirts pass rush.
-NU's defense didn't force a turnover. Credit Fresno State's QB Derek Carr for a game well-played. The lone turnover credited to Nebraska came on a vicious hit by Quincy Enunwa after a Martinez interception.
-The reliance on big plays from the offense. Other than late in the fourth quarter, Nebraska struggled all game to methodically move the ball. Nothing wrong with big plays in general, but living and dying by them isn't a good thing. Better Big Ten defenses will figure out a way to limit NU's big plays, and then what do we have?
-Kick/punt coverage is susceptible to giving up big plays. Fresno State's smaller, scat backs posed problems for the Huskers in special teams coverage as well as in the running game.
-Fumbles...Nebraska just can't seem to hang onto the ball. Three fumbles, none of which were lost, is troubling. A majority of these are from Taylor Martinez, which given the big numbers he puts up (219 yards passing, 166 yards rushing) is something us Husker fans evidently will have to live with.

Next week's game against Washington doesn't look like a cake walk anymore. In fact, no games look easy from here on out, not even Minnesota. The Huskers are a young team, dependent on the big play offensively, who must find a way to come of age quickly. In other words, don't book that trip to Indy just yet.

Husker Faithful's Sunday Morning Quarterback: Tennessee-Chattanoga

Here are our observations from the Nebraska vs Tennessee-Chattanooga game:

Players that stood out

Daimion Stafford - Wearing the #3 jersey, it turns out Stafford has more than jersey number in common with former Husker Rickey Thenarse. The guy can hit like Thenarse too. Let's hope for Daimion's sake that he grasps the defensive concepts better than Rickey did. Stafford's hit on the Mocs running back was clearly the hit of the game.
Lavonte David - This should come as no surprise, but David was all over the field, leading the Huskers with nine tackles on the day. He will be relied upon heavily at the linebacker spot throughout the season. His combination of speed and tackling abilities make him as important as Jared Crick to the Blackshirts.
Ameer Abdullah - The true freshman running back made his mark in the return game, where he racked up 69 yards on five returns.
Cameron Meredith - The junior defensive end was the most effective Blackshirt on the day, tallying three tackles, two sacks, an interception and he recovered a block field goal attempt by the Mocs.
Jamal Turner - He only touched the ball twice, but managed to turn a no-gainer into an 19-yard first down. His speed is electric, so the Huskers will no doubt utilize him more and more as the season moves along.
Brett Maher - We're not ready to annoint him King Henery II just yet, but making a 50-yard field goal into the wind is an impressive way to start your college career. Maher had at least 10 yards of clearance on this kick, too. Brett in all accounted for 16 of the Huskers' 40 points, making 4-4 field goal attempts and 4-4 extra points. In addition, Maher averaged 52 yards on his four punts.

Players/positions that were underwhelming

Brandon Kinnie - The most senior wide receiver and an offensive leader, Kinnie dropped two passes he should have caught and only garnered two catches for seven yards. Expect a better effort from BK in all remaining games.
Taylor Martinez - Sure Taylor looked good running the ball, but he continues to struggle at times in the passing game. Completing only 50% of your passes will encourage opposing defenses to stack the box. Hopefully we can chalk this up to first game jitters and having a new offensive coordinator. As long as Taylor remains healthy, he's a threat with his feet. If he can develop into a decent passer, defenses will have a more difficult time gameplanning.
Offensive line - Disappointed in the play up front. Having outweighed their opponents by roughly 50 pounds, Nebraska should have had more sustained drives than they did. In fact, the Huskers should have been able to dictate their offense to the Mocs defense, but that didn't happen. Relying on the big play will be the downfall of this offense once the Big Ten schedule begins. The O-line must be able to grind out 10-12 play drives.

Other notes

Penalties - The Huskers had only three penalties for 33 yards. Keeping these numbers down is a big must once conference play begins.
Fumbles - Nebraska shouldn't be fumbling the ball against a team like the Mocs, yet they had four fumbles and lost two.
Tyler Moore - Became the first true freshman to start on the offensive line for the Huskers in decades.
Captains - Tyler Legate, Lance Thorell, Austin Jones, and Jim Ebke
Fullback - Tyler Legate's fullback trap on the first play of the game was the first carry for a Husker fullback since 2004. That's seven years!
Martinez - Taylor's 7-yard TD run in the first quarter was his first rushing touchdown since the K-State game in 2010.

Around college football

The Game of the Season - Friday night's 50-48 Baylor win over TCU has staked an early claim to the game of the year. No doubt there will be a better finish down the line, but this game is why we all love college football.
Notre Dame - Is any team perennially overrated as much as the Fighting Irish? They should fall out of the Top 25 for their effort against South Florida. If they don't, maybe
Michigan next weekend can take Notre Dame out of their misery.
Georgia - How Mark Richt still is the Bulldogs head coach is beyond us.
Kansas State - The Ecokats barely escaped with a 10-7 win over Eastern Kentucky.
Northwestern - Beat Boston College without their starting quarterback, Dan Persa. A good win for Pat Fitzgerald's bunch.
Michigan - The Wolverines game was cut short due to weather, meaning all bets placed on the game were for naught. Bettors did receive their money back.
Colorado - Made Hawaii look like a Pac-12 team instead of vice versa, losing to the Rainbows 34-17.
Wisconsin - Their dismantling of UNLV showed their are the cream of the Big Ten crop. The Huskers will have their hands full when they travel to Madison on October 1st.
Minnesota - Lost at #25 USC 19-17. A good start to the Jerry Kill era for the Gophers.

Be sure to check out our game photos from Nebraska vs Tennessee-Chattanooga.

SI predicts the Huskers will win the Big Ten Championship

Sports Illustrated is out with their annual college football preview issue. Jared Crick is on the cover, along with Oklahoma's Landry Jones, Stanford's Andrew Luck, Alabama's Trent Richardson, and South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery.

The Huskers are ranked #9 heading into the 2011 campaign by the magazine and they play a prominent role in SI's coverage of the Big Ten conference.

Nebraska and Michigan State will tie for the Legends Division title (6-2 in conference; 10-2 overall), but the Huskers will move on to the championship game due to beating the Spartans head-to-head. Indianapolis will be the site of the Big Red's rematch with the Wisconsin Badgers. Nebraska presumably makes up for an earlier season loss in Madison by beating the Badgers to take the first ever Big Ten Championship.

Crick is predicted to be the best defensive player in the conference and SI thinks Nebraska may have the Big Ten's best defense.

Other Top 25 ranked Big Ten teams include Wisconsin at #11, Michigan State at #13, and Ohio State at #19. Incidentally, the Huskers play all three this season.

Speaking of Michigan State, check out their three games leading up to their October 29th matchup with the Huskers: October 1st at Ohio State, October 15th versus Michigan, and October 22nd versus Wisconsin. That stretch will define their season. The Huskers on the other hand will need to finish strong, as their final three games are road trips to Penn State and Michigan and a post-Thanksgiving game versus Iowa.

Bubba signs with the Royals

Reports out of K.C. are that Bubba Starling signed with the team for $7.5 million over three years. Less money and less years than many expected before the deal was announced. Good luck to you, Bubba. You made the right choice for you and your family.

Bubba gone bye bye

In just over an hour, Bubba Starling will announce his decision, or it will be leaked by Scott Boras or the Kansas City Royals. Either way, Bubba will wake up tomorrow as a member of the Royals to the dismay of Husker fans around the country.

Some of you may be holding out hope that Bubba would announce he's all N and lead the Huskers to national titles and Heisman trophies. That his extraordinary talents would be utilized on the college gridiron instead of the major league diamond.

At one point maybe there was a decent chance of him staying at Nebraska and eventually becoming a member of the Husker pantheon. Not so anymore. Scott Boras, the super agent (or advisor) representing Starling is known for getting his clients top dollar. Ten million is the price tag for Bubba, according to Boras. Tonight at 11pm CST is the deadline for the Royals and Starling/Boras to come to terms. Most likely the number will be around $8.5 million. Whatever the number, a deal will get done. There is virtually no chance he returns to Lincoln at this point.

The fact that Bubba hasn't been practicing with the Huskers leaves little doubt about which way he will choose. If Bubba was intent on playing football at Nebraska, he wouldn't have left Lincoln this past Thursday after summer classes ended. In fact, he wouldn't have sat out fall practice. This isn't a case of Bubba not having made up his mind and waiting to see how much the Royals can scrounge from their couch cushions. He's not going to go to the wire Monday night and turn down $8.25 million simply because it's not $10 million. Like it or not, his Husker football experience was simply leverage used by Boras to raise the temperature of the Royals' hot seat. Make no mistake, K.C. can't afford to not sign Bubba, even as they can barely afford to sign him. As with past negotiations, Boras will take the Royals right up to the 11th hour before urging Bubba to accept K.C.'s offer. Just like Carl Crawford, Bubba Starling will be the one that got away. The one that could have led the Huskers to a national title game. The one that chose Royal blue over the Power of Red.

Life changing money is hard to pass up. There's no guarantee the money will still be there 3-4 years from now. A lot of bad can happen in that time span. Better to take the sure thing now and have football as your fallback if baseball doesn't pan out.

So long Bubba. Thanks for the memories (from Fan Day). We hope to see you at Kaufman Stadium soon, playing alongside former Husker great Alex Gordon. Hey, if for some reason the baseball thing doesn't work out, we Husker fans hope to see you back in Lincoln in five years or so.

2011 Fan Day photos

The 2011 Fan Day, also known as "Bubba Starling Fan Appreciation Day" was a rainy affair. Ominous clouds hung over the stadium, no doubt sent by the Kansas City Royals organization to rain on Bubba's Nebraska parade. Throw in Taylor Martinez and the quarterbacks table was a popular destination, followed closely by the running backs.

Check out our photos from Fan Day. We've got T-Magic, Rex, Bubba, Compton, Meredith, Martin, Dennard, Turner and more.

2011 Nebraska Football Field Guide pre-order

Now through August 12th, you can order Big Red Network's 2011 Nebraska Football Field Guide. The guides will go to print on the 13th and be in your hands by September 3rd, in time for the season opener. Click here to order yours. Here's a little more about the Guide:

The 2011 Nebraska Football Field Guide is a small notebook that fits in your back pocket. It is packed full of information you need for each game like:
•rosters
•stadium information
•stats & trivia
•and even a bit of travel information (like the best place for good eats in Madison, WI)

It's not meant to sit on the shelf next to the other year books and preseason previews you've already bought. It goes where you go on game day; to the sofa or bar or stadium.

Do you ever want to jot things down during or after a game? Things you want to remember 20 years from now like stats, observations, score by quarter, how many runzas you ate? There's space for that too.

You must order before August 12th though to get yours before the first game.

More Huskers in the NFL news and Fan Day

Since our last Huskers in the NFL update, the following former Husker players have signed:

Fabian Washington - New Orleans
Carl Nicks - New Orleans (re-signed)
Brandon Jackson - Cleveland
Stewart Bradley - Arizona
Scott Shanle - New Orleans (re-signed)
Barrett Ruud - Tennessee

In other news, the Huskers Fan Day is this Friday at 2:30 CST at the stadium. Husker Faithful will be on hand to snap a few photos, which will be up on our Photos page shortly thereafter.

Huskers in the NFL update and Big Ten Championship tickets

As a follow-up to our last blog entry, here are more NFL transactions involving former Huskers:

Mike Smith plans to sign free agent deal with the Saints.
Zac Lee will get a chance with the Seattle Seahawks.

On the flip side, these Huskers were let go by their respective teams:

Correll Buckhalter by the Broncos
Kris Brown by the Cowboys
Stewart Bradley by the Eagles
Scott Shanle by New Orleans

It's also looking like Barrett Ruud will be let go by the Tampa Bay Bucs, meaning three former Husker linebackers will be on the market looking for a new NFL home. We'll keep you posted on further player movements.

Tickets to the Big Ten Championship game go on sale this Saturday at 9am CST through Ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000. The December 3rd game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Former Huskers sign as free agents

Now that the NFL lockout has ended, the dreams of numerous former Huskers will be realized. In addition to the Huskers drafted, here's a rundown of the undrafted free agent signings of former Huskers from today.

Mike McNeill - Indianapolis Colts
Adi Kunalic - Carolina Panthers
D.J. Jones - Miami Dolphins
Ricky Henry - Chicago Bears
Rickey Thenarse - Seattle Seahawks
Pierre Allen - New York Giants

Preseason rankings, when the Huskers last lost to Big Ten foes and UFL news

If there's one thing everyone can agree on, it's that Minnesota and Indiana will finish last in their respective divisions. Beyond that, there isn't much of a consensus. Phil Steele even split the Legends Division between Nebraska and Michigan State, while The Sporting News picked Northwestern second in the Legends. Here's a look at how the Huskers and other Big Ten teams are predicted to finish by various pollsters.

Nationally, the Big Red are preseason #8 on a composite basis (five polls), with individual poll rankings ranging from #9 to #12. Fairly consistent. Behind the Huskers in the national composite ranking is, are you ready....Notre Dame. That's right. The Fighting Irish are Top 10 preseason. In fact, Phil Steele, Athlon Sports and the Rogers Poll have ND at 6th, 6th, and 5th respectively. These same outfits rank Nebraska at 10th, 12th, and 11th. Maybe they know something I don't. Did the number of service academies double in the offseason?

We tweeted the first one of these earlier today. (By the way, if you're on Twitter and not following @huskerfaithful, what's the deal? Check us out.) It has been this many days since the Huskers lost to these Big Ten opponents:

Iowa - 10,894 days (9/12/1981)
Michigan - 9,322 days (1/1/1986)
Ohio State - 20,008 days (9/29/1956)
Wisconsin - 13,442 days (9/21/1974)
Minnesota - 18,552 days (9/24/1960)
Indiana - 18,895 days (10/17/1959)
Purdue - 19,280 days (9/27/1958)
Northwestern - 29,136 days (10/3/1931)
Michigan State - an eternity
Penn State - 3,222 days (9/14/2002)
Illinois - 31,691 days (10/4/1924)

In United Football League news, the Omaha Nighthawks late today announced the signing of former Husker wide receiver Maurice Purify. Tuesday morning they will announce Heisman Trophy winner, Eric Crouch, has been added to the Nighthawks roster.

In other UFL news, former Husker QB Zac Lee was signed by the Las Vegas Locos.

Ndamukong 3000, Athlon Sports picks the Huskers, Woodhead and Bubba

Here's a quick run-through of the latest Husker-related news:

Athlon Sports tabs the Huskers to win the Legends Division and Wisconsin to win the Leaders Division. In the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game, Athlon predicts Nebraska to be the champion and finish 6-2 in conference and 11-2 overall.

So what do NFL players do during a lockout? How about drive across Europe and party it up in London, Paris and Monte Carlo. In case you missed them, here are three videos produced by NFL.com chronicling Ndamukong Suh and Cody Glenn touring Europe in the Gumball 3000. Webisode #1, Webisode #2, Webisode #3, and finally, Webisode #4.

Former Chadron State running back and current New England Patriot, Danny Woodhead, just inked a two-year endorsement deal with Skechers. And from the archives, who can forget Woodhead trying to sell his own jersey at a Modell's sporting goods store?

Now for what seems to be a weekly, if not daily, Bubba Starling timeline update:

July 9th or 10th - Bubba arrives in Lincoln (Omaha paper says the 10th, all others say the 9th)

July 11th - Begins Huskers summer conditioning program

August 6th - Fall practice begins

August 15th - Deadline for K.C. Royals to sign Bubba

According to the Kansas City Star, Starling will not enroll in summer classes at Nebraska. Royals GM Dayton Moore was asked if it was possible that Bubba could play college football in the fall and pro baseball in the summer. Moore's response: "That's possible. But not something we could consider. This game is tough. You've got to commit."

BONUS: This interview with Larry The Cable Guy. Check out our Larry The Cable Guy Camo Nebraska hats.

Until next time...GBR!

How the Huskers have fared against Big Ten opponents all-time

With the 2011 Husker football season fast approaching, we thought we’d take a look at how our beloved Big Red have fared all-time against their new conference opponents. First up are the teams NU will face in 2011. Of these, three are in the Top 10 for most program wins in college football history, joining the Huskers.

Wisconsin - Nebraska’s first game in the Big Ten Conference is a doozy. Camp Randall Stadium is known as one of the toughest environments for opponents, especially at night, as this year’s contest will be. The Huskers are 3-2 all-time against the Badgers. These two teams last played in 1974, which saw Wisconsin edge NU 21-20 in Madison. The other NU loss occurred way back in 1901, in a game played in Milwaukee. The other three matchups (1964, 1965, and 1973) saw the Big Red win by a combined score of 88-18.

Ohio State - Surprisingly, these two teams have only played twice (1955 & 1956) in their illustrious histories, with the Buckeyes coming out on top in each. It should be noted that both of these games were played in Columbus, so apparently the home-and-away concept was still a few years off. Ohio State is 5th on college football’s most winningest programs list at 819, right behind the Huskers (827). This year’s matchup lost some of its luster when former coach Jim Tressel was fired for not disclosing his knowledge of NCAA infractions. In a related story, noted sports car enthusiast Terrelle Pryor has decided to take his talents to the NFL Supplemental Draft.

Minnesota - The much-anticipated matchup of a Husker offense versus a Cosgrove defense was not meant to be. Former Husker assistant Kevin Cosgrove was "not retained" by the Gophers and is now coaching at Akron. Regardless, the Huskers and Minnesota do have quite a history. In fact, all-time the Gophers hold the edge over NU with a 29-20-2 record. Granted nearly every Minnesota victory happened before the Vietnam War, with Nebraska winning each time since 1963 (14 games in all). Gopher fans probably remember eighty-four in eighty-three. The Huskers "Scoring Explosion" offense put up 84 points on the Gophers in 1983, which remains the most points scored in a game by the Huskers in the last 100 years. Since you asked, they put up 119 points on Haskell in 1910, besting the 1983 effort by a mere five touchdowns.

Michigan State - Nebraska is 5-0 all-time against the Spartans and we sure as heck aren't going to let that domination change in 2011. You'll recall the last meeting between the two teams was Bo Pelini's first as a head coach. The Big Red won the 2003 Alamo Bowl by a score of 17-3, Bo was promoted to head coach by Steve Pederson, and two national titles later, he we are. At least that's how it should have happened. Interestingly, the 14-point win by Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl is the smallest margin of victory in any of the five meetings between these two teams. Unfortunately for Sparty, they ran up against the 1995 and 1996 Huskers, which if I remember right had some decent players.

Northwestern - Better known for their business school than their success on the football field, the Wildcats did enjoy a modicum of success under Gary Barnett, who later went on to coach the Colorado Buffaloes. The 1995 season saw the Wildcats beat Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State on their way to the Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl appearance. On that 1995 team was current head coach Pat Fitzgerald. The Huskers hold a 3-1 all-time record against Northwestern, or NU as they call themselves. (How about the winner of this year's game gets the rights to "NU" for the next 100 years?) The lone win by the Wildcats came in 1931, the same year that the Empire State Building opened for business. Hopefully no skyscrapers will divert our attention enough for "NU" to beat Dear Old Nebraska U in 2011.

Penn State - There are few plays that chap the hides of Husker fans (at least those old enough to remember) more than the 1982 Nebraska-Penn State "catch" by Mike McCloskey. The #2 Huskers had just drove 80 yards in 13 plays to score the go-ahead touchdown with 1:18 left in the game. Nittany Lions quarterback Todd Blackledge responded by driving his 8th-ranked team down the field. Enter Mike "Even I admitted I was out of bounds" McCloskey. Blackledge threw a pass to the Huskers 2-yard line which McCloskey caught about three feet out of bounds, but side judge Ray Charles "saw" it differently. With four seconds left, Blackledge found his tight end in the back of the Huskers end zone with a low pass that many Husker fans thought was trapped. But the mob had a lot of money riding on the Nittany Lions that day. Final score: Penn State 27 - Nebraska 24. The Big Red didn’t lose another game all season. Penn State on the other hand got smoked by Alabama 42-21, yet still played for and won the national championship. Karma is a son-of-a-gun though and in 1994, the Big Red’s defeat of Miami was enough to compel voters to choose the Huskers over the Nittany Lions for the national title. Penn State fans moan about this just like we do about 1982. Overall this series is pretty even, aided by the aforementioned side judge who used his white cane to determine McCloskey was in bounds. Penn State holds a narrow 7-6 lead, with the last six contests (all since 1980) split evenly. Penn State is 7th on the list of college football’s most winningest programs.

Michigan – Like Ohio State, Nebraska and Michigan have not faced each other enough. Thankfully, that will be changing very soon. As the other perennial power (in theory) in the Legends Division, the Wolverines are just now pulling out of a nose dive induced by former coach Rich Rodriguez, whose tenure could be compared to that of Bill Callahan’s at Nebraska. Too much change apparently is not a good thing and neither is forgetting to play defense. All-time, Big Red is 2-3-1 against Big Blue, with the last meeting coming in the memorable 2005 Alamo Bowl. The feisty Huskers led by quarterback Zac Taylor outdueled Michigan 32-28, but only after a heads up play during Michigan’s rendition of the “play to beat the band” by backup safety Titus Brothers. The only Husker home game came in 1911, which resulted in a 6-6 tie. Michigan football has the most wins of any college football program with 877.

Iowa - The Missouri River Rivalry if you will. Since 1903, Nebraska has a 22-8-1 record against the Hawkeyes. At home, the Huskers are 14-2-1 and have won by an average of two touchdowns in those games. Why do I bring this up? This year’s game between the two schools will be played in Lincoln the day after Thanksgiving. I believe I’ve seen three articles now professing Iowa’s hatred for Nebraska fans. No doubt they are still hurting from Eric Crouch treating their players poorly.

Well that’s a look at how the Huskers stack up historically against this year’s Big Ten opponents. Now here’s a look at the rest of their new conference mates.

Indiana - Nineteen times these two teams have faced each other and only seven times have the Huskers come out on top. Three ties and nine losses round out Nebraska’s all-time record against the Hoosiers. The last four meetings, all in the 1970’s against Lee Corso-led IU teams, resulted in Husker victories. From 1936-1947, these programs played each other every year, with the Hoosiers clearly dominant. Indiana has been the doormat of Big Ten football for some time now. New head coach and former Oklahoma offensive coordinator, Kevin Wilson, hope to change that. Former Husker linebackers coach, Mike Ekeler, is now co-defensive coordinator for the Hoosiers.

Illinois - The first three meetings between these two schools took place at the turn of the 20th century, with the Huskers winning all three. The next three were in the Roaring ‘20’s and saw the Illini win two of three. The most recent three games (1953, 1985 and 1986) saw the Big Red go 2-0-1. The result is a 6-2-1 all-time record against Illinois.

Purdue - Nebraska and Purdue have what you might call not a lot of history. Only one game has been played between these two and the Boilermakers came out on top by a score of 28-0 in 1958. Enjoy this long unbeaten streak against the Huskers for another two years, Purdue fans.

Overall, the Huskers have a winning record against five of the 11 other Big Ten schools. It should be fun to watch that number slowly tick up in the years to come. GBR!

Husker football recruiting update

With the addition of linebacker Deion Jones out of New Orleans, the Huskers 2012 recruiting class stands at six, broken down as follows.

By position:
QB - None
RB - None
WR - 1
TE - 1
OL - 1
DL - None
DE - 1
LB - 2
DB - None
P/K - None

By state:
Colorado - 1
Illinois - 1
Missouri - 1
Nebraska - 1
New Orleans - 1
Ohio - 1

By Rivals.com stars:
5 stars - None
4 stars - 2
3 stars - 3
2 stars - 1
1 star - None

By player:

Sam Cotton
Tight End
Lincoln, NE (Southeast High School)
6'4" 240 pounds
3 stars
Committed 6/20/11

Deion Jones
Linebacker
New Orleans, LA (Jesuit HS)
6'2" 210 pounds
2 stars by Rivals, 3 by Scout
Committed 8/9/11

Greg McMullen
Defensive End
Akron, OH (Hoban)
6'5" 255 pounds
4 stars
Committed 6/23/11

Michael Rose
Linebacker
Kansas City, MO (Rockhurst)
6'0" 230 pounds
3 stars
Committed 7/5/10

Paul Thurston
Offensive Lineman
Arvada, CO (Arvada West)
6'5" 274 pounds
4 stars
Committed 6/24/11

Jordan Westerkamp
Wide Receiver
Lombard, IL (Montini)
6'2" 190 pounds
3 stars
Committed 5/6/11

Take the day off July 1st

Those of you who get the Big Ten Network may want to consider taking July 1st off. BTN is rolling out the (big) red carpet, officially welcoming the Huskers to their new conference.

The programming kicks off at 11am with the unambiguously titled, "The Big Ten Welcomes Nebraska." At noon, the 1998 Orange Bowl featuring Nebraska vs Tennessee will be shown. This beatdown is followed by the 1997 National Championship game, which airs at 2pm. Here is the remaining schedule:

3:30pm - 1995 Orange Bowl featuring Nebraska vs Miami

5:30pm - Finished Business: The 1994 National Championship

7:00pm - a repeat of The Big Ten Welcomes Nebraska

8:00pm - Decade of Dominance: 1995 Nebraska Football

9:30pm - repeat of the 1998 Orange Bowl featuring Nebraska vs Tennessee

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear BTN will be airing the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, which saw the Huskers completely throttle Florida to the tune of 62-24. Some guy named Tommie Frazier had a pretty decent game if I remember correctly. Either way, this is a nice welcome on behalf of the Big Ten for Nebraska. And a well-timed one at that, considering July seems to last about 12 weeks.

Husker headlines - June 16, 2011

Former Husker and current Detroit Lion defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh, has made the most of the NFL lockout. He participated in the Gumball 3000, managed to be named Detroit's most powerful athlete, and is even holding a football camp for kids. Yet he still finds time to play in the Husker Legends Golf Event in Columbus. This just scratches the surface of what's keeping the big man busy these days.

Here's a shocker..."Iowa State has not fared well against the Huskers in football over the years." Truer words were never spoken by this Clone Chronicles blogger. Who knew that Iowa State fans hated Nebraska? Maybe the Cyclones 16-84 all-time record against Nebraska has something to do with it. They should be directing their hatred towards Texas, who dramatically destabilized the Big 12 Conference for smaller schools like Iowa State and Kansas State.

Nebraska is two weeks away from officially joining the Big Ten. Of course everyone is already looking ahead to the fall when the local college team plays the likes of Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Iowa. Even Big Ten commish, Jim Delany, is looking forward to the Huskers vs Badgers on October 1st.

The Huskers need your vote!

ESPN unveils yet another bracketology experiment, this time dealing with which college football program has the best tradition. Right off the bat, the Huskers are paired up against THE Ohio State University. The Luckeyes are the #2 seed, while our beloved Huskers are a 15 seed. Apparently, zero to little thought went into the seedings and even the field, as Colorado inexplicably is a #6 seed. Ralphie running onto the field is enough to scare the committee into including the Buffs evidently. The point of this meandering commentary is that, 1) ESPN still hates Nebraska, and 2) get out and vote for your Huskers right here. Taking the Big Ten by storm starts today.

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