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Sign up for our email list to be notified when we update the HF Blog. December 17th, 2009
Wildcats, Going Incognito, Turner Gill, Big 10 Expansion, and Texas Football
Beware the Wildcats of Arizona: Still basking in the glow of Ndamukong Suh's Heisman Trophy push and his overall trophy haul, Husker fans better not overlook Arizona as an opponent in the Holiday Bowl. Under Mike Stoops, the U of A has posted back-to-back eight win seasons and was an overtime loss to Oregon away from a berth in the Rose Bowl. Stoops is known for his defense, as is apparently every other college football coach from Youngstown, Ohio. The last time the Wildcats were this good on both sides of the ball was 1998, when then head coach Dick Tomey led his team to a 12-1 season that culminated with a win over the Huskers in the very same Holiday Bowl. Coach Stoops is in his sixth season in Tucson, but until the 2008 season he was largely considered to be on borrowed time. Eight wins last year led to the Las Vegas Bowl, the program's first since 1998, and seems to have resurrected Mike's coaching career. This game is sure to be a defensive battle, like the Huskers other big games this season. Expect a close game in the high teens, with NU pulling it out late.
Going Incognito: Former Husker offensive lineman, Richie Incognito, was released by the St. Louis Rams of the NFL after two personal foul penalties for headbutting an opponent and then arguing about it with Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo. Richie had four other games in his pro career that saw him draw two personal foul penalties. Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News both have listed Incognito as one of the dirtiest players in the league. At Nebraska, Richie was suspended indefinitely from the team by then head coach Bill Callahan for repeated disciplinary problems that included fighting with a teammate. Maybe a UFC career awaits Mr. Incognito.
Turner Gill takes over as head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks. Surely Husker fans want him to succeed, but just how much success are we willing to tolerate? We know we don't want him hoisting the North championship very much (as in, there's no shame in second place, Turner). We also know that many Nebraska fans will be rooting for him every week of the season but one. Most likely it will take Gill a couple of years to build the program in his image, as he did with Buffalo. One would think after Mark Mangino left his imprint on the KU football program, the Jayhawks would be happy to see Turner walk through the doors. The only losers in this situation, besides Mangino, would be the KU students who bought "My coach can eat your coach" and "Our coach is phat" t-shirts. Regardless, here's wishing Turner (almost) all the success in the world.
Big 10 Expansion: The Big 10 (with 11 teams since 1990, when Penn State joined) is considering expanding to 12 teams so they can incorporate a conference championship game and enjoy the extra dough that follows. Notre Dame seems content to remain independent. Why share a TV contract with other teams when you don't need to, right? Other teams apparently in the mix are Missouri, Pittsburgh, UConn, and Syracuse. Nebraska has been rumored as a potential expansion team as well, but mainly by people on the radio in Nebraska who were disgusted by the ending of this year's Big 12 Championship game. (You know why they did it? The BCS!!) Tom Osborne was even asked about the possibility of joining the Big 10 if they were to offer NU on a radio show earlier this week. While closely guarding his real feelings, Oborne did say that he has been dismayed at how the power structure of the Big 12 conference has moved south since its founding. In fact, this is something that T.O. warned about as the league was being formed. Once again, Dr. Tom was right. But true Husker fans should want their team to stay in the Big 12 and work even harder to stick it to Texas, rather than running to the Big 10 right now. While the idea of playing Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, and Penn State does seem palatable, are we willing to sacrifice playing Oklahoma completely? My only question is what would they call another Big 12? Here are some ideas: The Bigger 12, the Biggest 12, The Big Dozen, or the Miniohiowa Conference.
The Texas Longhorns and their athletic supporters were featured in a Wall Street Journal article today. UT has "the nation's biggest, wealthiest and most eccentric collection of college football boosters" which has led to Texas having, by far, the most revenue of any college football program. Last year, the Longhorns took in $87.6 million, a 20% increase from the previous year, and $20 million more than second place Ohio State. With money like that, Texas can practically buy a championship.
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