Cornhusker Fans in here!

[BroncoBuff]

Originally Posted by Evenrude

Yeah, they have scheduled patsies like USC, Penn St. and Notre Dame the past few years.

Originally Posted by Kid A

Not to mention Washington, Iowa, UCLA, and Arizona State multiple times in the late 90's.

Whatever gets you through your day, guys ... but the Cornhuskers official site disagrees with you.

True, you're playing USC this year - congratulations. We've played them twice in the last 5. But - your other opponents?

1. Troy State
2. Louisiana Tech
3. Nicholls State

I've never even heard of Nicholls State!

And last year?

1. Maine
2. Wake Forest
3. Pitt

The 3 years before?

1. Pitt - twice
2. Southern Miss - twice
3. Penn State - twice
4. Troy State - twice
5. Utah State - twice
6. Western Illinois
7. McNeese State

You played or will play USC once and Penn State twice in this five year period. Partial credit for Southern Miss and Pitt.

I concede your program is an absolute Top 5 or 10 historically, no doubt about that. But you have a well-deserved reputation for scheduling 2 or 3 "McNeeses" "Troys" "Nicholls" "Maines" "Wakes" "La Techs" and "Western Illinois" every single year.

__________________

BOLD NAMES = teams ferquently ranked in Top 25

[BroncoBuff]

To be fair, let's look at COLORADO in the same period ... this year we open with a last-minute addition of "McNeese"-like Montana State. But in addition to them:

1. Georgia
2. Colorado State
3. Arizona State

Last year? A "McNeese"-like New Mexico State ... but also:

1. Colorado State
2. Miami

The 3 years before?

1. Colorado State - 3 times
2. USC
3. UCLA twice
4. Washington State twice
5. San Diego State
6. Florida State
7. North Texas (don't laugh - 3 straight Bowl appearances)
8. Fresno State

So .... in the past 5 years we've played 2 "McNeese" cupcakes ... NMSU and Montana State. But if you look at the rest of the OOC schedule, you have to hand it to the Buffs. They are fearless. And the OOC schedules are just as tough the years prior. USC another time, Washington, Miami, Michigan, Iowa ... See for yourself: http://www.cubuffs.com/SportSelect.d...255&SPSID=3850

And in the coming 3 years? Florida State twice, North Carolina twice, Georgia, Arizona State, etc.....

__________

BOLD NAMES = teams usually ranked in Top 25

[BMF Bronco]

Originally Posted by BroncoBuff

this year we open with a last-minute addition of "McNeese"-like Montana State.

And in the coming 3 years? Florida State twice, North Carolina twice, Georgia, Arizona State, etc.....

__________

BOLD NAMES = teams usually ranked in Top 25

Yeah, not to mention the powerhouse Montana State this year!

-edit-
guess I should read the whole post first, eh? But dont take MSU lightly or you'll likely to be embarassed.

[BroncoBuff]

Originally Posted by BMF Bronco

Yeah, not to mention the powerhouse Montana State this year!

-edit-
guess I should read the whole post first, eh? But dont take MSU lightly or you'll likely to be embarassed.

I'm sure .... but it's Dan Hawkins debut, so emotions will probably run high.

Amigo, I gave you a jab about living in Montana State's Bozeman a couppla weeks ago .... but that was before I knew you were a Husker.

I hope we have some good fun in the college football forum this year ... and here's to Big Red going 10-1 !!!








(and CU going 11-0 )

[Evenrude]

Nebraska played a home and away series with Notre Dame in 2000-2001, I thought it was more recent than that as I was at the game, and it doesn't seem like it was that long ago (that must mean I am getting old ) They also played Arizona St. the following year (one of your bold teams.) I also think it is odd to include Colorado St. as a "bold" team, but not include Pitt or Southern Miss... both very similar in calibur.

Ok.. two thing that are facts. Colorado has scheduled some tough pre-conferance opponents..... Nebraska has started to schedule tougher opponents the past few years.

I think there are a few reasons for this....

Over the past 15-20 years Colorado has had a lot less to lose, and a lot more to gain by scheduling tougher teams. This is not a slam on the Colorado program, because that is the right way to develop a contender. Nebraska on the other hand had a whole lot to lose..... an early season miscue could mean the difference between a National Title or not. It's not a situation exclusive to Nebraska either... most top teams in top conferances have done the same. As a fan, I didn't necessarily agree with the approach... especially during the "glory year" when I wanted to see them beat all comers.

The fact that Nebraska is starting to schedule a lot tougher pre-conferance games says a lot about where the program is now. We are no longer on the top of the college football world trying to maintain that perfect record every year. A close game at USC this year will be a big boost to the program, even if it ends up as a loss. In a way we are where Colorado was in the early 90's... but with a lot better facilties and more booster money.

[Nuggets4]

Originally Posted by BroncoBuff

(and CU going 11-0 )

12-0 plus championship games.

[BMF Bronco]

Originally Posted by BroncoBuff

I'm sure .... but it's Dan Hawkins debut, so emotions will probably run high.

Amigo, I gave you a jab about living in Montana State's Bozeman a couppla weeks ago .... but that was before I knew you were a Husker.

I hope we have some good fun in the college football forum this year ... and here's to Big Red going 10-1 !!!








(and CU going 11-0 )

Oh it's always a nice fun battle between myself, FB, and Evenrude against MP and Nuggs, along with others, including yourself. It's all in fun though, we all have some sort of dimented sick ass respect for one another.

[BroncoBuff]

Originally Posted by Evenrude

I also think it is odd to include Colorado St. as a "bold" team, but not include Pitt or Southern Miss... both very similar in calibur.

All your points have merit, though after 5 Top 5 finishes between '89-'96 and another in '01, we hardly have a lot "to prove" anymore. But let me address the BOLDED opponents point quoted ...

I agree that So. Miss and (maybe) Pitt are of 'similar caliber' to CSU if they played each other ... but it's easy to forget that CSU has won the WAC/Mountain West title in like 8 of the last 11 years. If you actually added up how many total weeks the Rams have been Top 25 over the last 10-15 years, it would be a REAL eye-opener.

On a week-to-week basis, the Rams have been ubiquitous - very, VERY often ranked (albeit low teens and 20s). And I think that before last year, they played in 10 straight Bowl games.

Plus, there's the in-state rivalry intense difficulty of that game. The "ewes" have played us about .500 since we started back up with them ... including a couppla painful and costly losses to BVP, the dick-hed

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by Evenrude

\

That's a sweet poster. I have to wonder whether that game mean half as much to USC as it does to Nebraska right now. This will be a huge game for the program, and USC has defined "huge game" over the last few years as the National title game.
I agree with you analysis of the scheduling as well. I have to give props to CU for their scheduling over the years, and I think we all would have enjoyed some stiffer comp for those powerhouse Nebraska teams, but we've been hardly been an exception for scheduling a lighter OOC schedule. As much as people hate Stevie P., he is making an effort to get us some more primetime TV matchups.

On a related note, I can honestly say I will be rooting to see KSU, CU, and the rest of the north get back to holding their own against the South teams.

[NOLA Bronco]

Every big school has to play some cream puffs for financial reasons. Maybe the real reason CU is now playing more "Big Teams" is because they have become a cream puff for those teams.....

Just Kidding. Seriously, NU plays these teams because they are cash cows. 75k are going to show up in Lincoln whether they play Sisters of the Blind or Miami. At CU, you aren't going to fill the stands playing Scrub U. When NU plays these little schools, they can keep more of the money than if they were playing a bigger school. It is about money for both schools. Money rules the day.

FYI La Tech beat up on everyone's favorite Fresno State last year.

[BroncoBuff]

Originally Posted by NOLA Bronco

Seriously, NU plays these teams because they are cash cows. 75k are going to show up in Lincoln whether they play Sisters of the Blind or Miami. At CU, you aren't going to fill the stands playing Scrub U.

Those are excellent points. When you schedule big schools, they demand "home and home" series to split gates ... in the past decade, we H&H'd with all the schools I listed, UCLA, USC, etc ... and right now we're in the middle of home and homes with Florida State, N. Carolina, Arizona State and Georgia.

But of course home games are considerably more lucrative ... when you play "Troy", you don't have to return the visit, so you make more money. And even when "Nicholls" is the guest, the 2nd largest city in Nebraska on Autumn Saturdays is still you-know-where.

So in addition to being brave Buffaloes, we don't have the luxury of scheduling "Nicholls" type teams, cause the gate suffers. Our facilities are below average - still no bubble field - so maybe we should invite a few "Troys" to improve our stuff to attract more top recruits.

[NOLA Bronco]

Originally Posted by BroncoBuff

So in addition to being brave Buffaloes, we don't have the luxury of scheduling "Nicholls" type teams, cause the gate suffers. Our facilities are below average - still no bubble field - so maybe we should invite a few "Troys" to improve our stuff to attract more top recruits.

But if you invite more Troys, you will not fill your seats. Vicious cycle for CU.

Lets not make this about anything more than it really is - money. Most big schools don't schedule more than 1 good OOC opponent, because they don't want to suffer too many early losses and miss out on a bigger bowl game at the end. It can work out great, or it can crap on you. Some of these schedules are made years in advance, to the point that a good opponent today, might actually suck 5 years later when you actually play them.

If there was a legit playoff system, you might see more schools schedule tougher opponents, hoping it will get their teams ready for a playoff run.

Fans and players want to play the tough team everyweek, but its the people running thr program that keep in mind the financial windfall at the end if they make it through with few bruises.

[BroncoBuff]

Originally Posted by NOLA Bronco

But if you invite more Troys, you will not fill your seats. Vicious cycle for CU.

Lets not make this about anything more than it really is - money.

That's half of it, at least ... but CU could be scheduling lesser opponents that attract crowds ... lesser teams in big conferences, but they don't. They deserve half credit for that.

Just beat USC on Sept. 16 ... please!

We'll beat Arizina State the same day, making it a Big XII North day!

[BMF Bronco]

Originally Posted by BroncoBuff

That's half of it, at least ... but CU could be scheduling lesser opponents that attract crowds ... lesser teams in big conferences, but they don't. They deserve half credit for that.

Just beat USC on Sept. 16 ... please!

We'll beat Arizina State the same day, making it a Big XII North day!

Don't worry, we're going to smoke them!

[BMF Bronco]

bump! this cannot be on the bottom!

[NOLA Bronco]

Swiped from a Husker board.

Dan Alexander busting through for 80 yards out running Ben Kelly.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=u8_dlhnRg...an%20alexander

[Evenrude]

'skers start practice today.

Here's a nice article from USATODAY.

Revolution nearly complete at Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. — The evolution at Nebraska is now bordering on a revolution.

Two years removed from a painful 5-6 season that marked the debut of coach Bill Callahan, the Cornhuskers hope to build on the momentum of a season-ending three-game winning streak last year, including a victory against Michigan in the Alamo Bowl that punctuated an 8-4 season.

Moreover, the Huskers are becoming more familiar and comfortable with the pro-style West Coast offense Callahan installed after arriving from the Oakland Raiders. And thus the Cornhuskers are becoming more dangerous.

The Big 12 North Division title is there for the taking and would be a legitimate first step toward getting the Huskers, who begin practice Thursday, back in the national picture. Nebraska is the preseason pick by conference media to win the North.

"I don't think we're that far away at all," says senior quarterback Zac Taylor, who set school season records last year for passing yards (2,653), completions (237) and attempts (430). "We feel if we take care of business, we'll be playing in some big games."

Taylor might best represent the new look of the Cornhuskers. A transfer from Butler County (Kan.) Community College, Taylor was being recruited by Memphis and Marshall two years ago when an unexpected call from Nebraska offensive coordinator Jay Norvell just before Butler County's season ended sent him north to Nebraska.

It took awhile for him to grasp the offense. But once he did, the records started to fall. That's how fast things can change these days for one of the nation's legendary programs. "I wasn't even sure they were looking at me," Taylor says.

Taylor, from Norman, Okla., started his career at Wake Forest but transferred to Butler County after two years, realizing the Demon Deacons' offense wasn't for him.

"He just took off last year; he just absorbed another level of the offense and was capable of taking us to new levels," says Callahan.

The changes have come with head-spinning frequency the past couple of years for the Cornhuskers and their fans, who were used to decades of rushing records and earth-moving offensive lines under former coaches Tom Osborne and Frank Solich.

At the same time Taylor was putting up record numbers through the air, the program that for decades personified the running game with a long legacy of great I-backs, finished last in the Big 12 in rushing at 96 yards a game.

That might not be exactly what Callahan wants, but there's a process to go through, he says.

"When you change a system and you change a culture, you're changing a whole profile of what you look for in talent," says Callahan. "Our emphasis (coming in) was a pro-style player, skill players, receivers, running backs, tight ends that would fit a pro-style attack.

"The receivers we had our first year were primarily blockers in the option system. Now we have kids catching 40-45 balls a year, and that's still not where we want it to be, but that (speaks to) the transition of personnel that goes with a change in systems."

The team's improvement last year was not limited to the passing game. Nebraska's defense also started coming into its own. Seven starters return to a unit that led the nation with 50 sacks and also had 140 tackles for loss.

Among the returnees are senior ends Adam Carriker and Jay Moore, who give the Huskers a potentially dominant pair of pass rushers. Carriker had 9½ sacks last season and Moore 14 tackles for loss.

"We've got athletes and a lot of players who can go out there and really play," Moore says. "And we have players who can really shut a lot of teams down if we play up to our abilities."

Both started their careers under Solich and have lived through the transition.

"We're on the same defense for our third year now, and it's amazing how much better you can get if you run the same things three years in a row," Moore says.

"You can see the painting starting to get finalized here. Earlier on, you weren't really sure what he was doing. It was like watching (the late painter) Bob Ross on TV. You'd say 'What exactly is he doing here?' Then it was, 'Wow! You can see what he's doing.' "

Moore, a lifelong Huskers fan from Elkhorn, Neb., would like nothing more than to be remembered for rekindling title dreams around a state crazy for the team.

"I lived those (championship) moments," Moore says. "I was watching all the games, celebrating with friends and family. You want to get that taste and feeling back and get the state back to a winning attitude. Things are starting to come around again."

[jhns]

Go Huskers!! Big 12 Champs this year!!!

[Florida_Bronco]

Good article Evenrude, I'm excited for this season.

Originally Posted by jhns

Go Huskers!! Big 12 Champs this year!!!

Welcome to the party!

[12th man]

He skipped practice because he wasn't getting much reps or playing time. what a baby. His mom is pissed too. Becks mom said this to say about her son and zack taylor: "“It’d be different if (Beck) was sitting behind Matt Leinart or Brady Quinn,” Beck-Bothwell said. “Zac’s OK; I wish him all the best, but he’s just OK."

Here is the entire atricle:

QB Beck skips practice
BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL and STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Saturday, Aug 05, 2006 - 11:10:45 pm CDT

Harrison Beck watches a receiver on the first day of the Huskers preseason practices Thursday. (Eric Gregory)

Nebraska sophomore quarterback Harrison Beck, apparently upset over lack of practice time, skipped Saturday’s practice, only the Huskers’ third of the season.

Coaches were initially concerned they couldn’t locate Beck, who was with the team in the morning but disappeared shortly after noon. Evelyn Beck-Bothwell, Beck’s mother, said her son text-messaged her late Saturday afternoon with the message, “I’m safe.”

Beck-Bothwell said from Florida her son has been frustrated because he’s not getting enough practice repetitions. She said junior Joey Ganz is receiving the brunt of the snaps behind senior returning starter Zac Taylor.

“It’d be different if (Beck) was sitting behind Matt Leinart or Brady Quinn,” Beck-Bothwell said. “Zac’s OK; I wish him all the best, but he’s just OK. The bottom line is, my son isn’t learning anything. He’s just on his own. If he got more time and attention from the coaches, he would be ahead of (Taylor). That’s just my opinion, but I’m his mother.

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“He knows that playbook. It’s just an issue of not getting respect from the older players.”

Callahan, who addressed the media after practice regarding Beck’s absence, said through Nebraska media relations that he didn’t want to respond to Beck-Bothwell’s comments until he had a chance to talk to Beck.

Calls from the Journal Star to Beck’s cell phone late Saturday afternoon went directly to voice mail.

After practice, Callahan said Beck had given no indication of unhappiness.

“No, not at all,” Callahan said. “I’ve talked to the players about it, and it really comes as a real surprise and shock to all of us right now.”

How had Beck been performing during the first two practices?

“Pretty good,” Callahan said. “Really, very well, in fact. We’ve been very encouraged.”

At Thursday’s press conference to open Nebraska’s fall camp, sophomore running back Cody Glenn said Beck had been working on becoming more focused.

“Harrison, he’s the kind of guy who’s got all of the physical tools, he can throw it a mile, he can throw it harder than anybody else I’ve seen in my life,” Glenn said. “But he has to mature a little more. You saw it a lot during 7-on-7 stuff this past summer, how he’d come in and take control and try to be more of a leader, as opposed to last year, where he kind of goofed off and jacked around. This year, it’s like a totally different Harrison.”

Beck played in two games last season as a true freshman, completing 1 of 10 passes with an interception. He missed the latter half of the spring season and sat out the Red-White Spring Game with a sore shoulder.

Beck reported to fall camp healthy and in improved shape, having lost some 20 to 25 pounds. He also was unleashing strong throws in practice.

“He’s been looking good,” Nebraska receiver Nate Swift said after Saturday’s practice. “I mean, he had his arm strength back from his shoulder injury. He was looking good. He was looking crisp out here and running the offense pretty good. I didn’t think he had anything to be mad about, you know. I don’t know what’s going on.”

Did Beck give any indication to players that he was unhappy?

“He hasn’t said anything to me,” Swift said, “and I haven’t heard him say anything to anybody else.”

Beck was a prep standout at Countryside High School in Clearwater, Fla., and was ranked by Rivals.com as the nation’s No. 3 pro-style quarterback and the 20th-best prospect in the state of Florida. He was among the first players to commit to Nebraska’s 2005 recruiting class, giving his oral commitment in June of 2004. He turned down offers from Florida, Florida State and Miami.

“Maybe if he would’ve stayed in the SEC, he would’ve been playing,” Beck-Bothwell said. “Maybe he made the wrong decision, I don’t know.

“I know he has some growing up to do, but it’s not like he’s getting in trouble. He’s doing everything he’s supposed to do.”

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com. Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
http://journalstar.com/articles/2006...f192281949.txt

[Kid A]

First of all, Beck's mom needs to STFU. So far Beck has done zilch while Zac Taylor was the only reason this team won several of their games last year. Anytime a parent makes comments like this to the media, you know they are a little nutty. Second, Beck needs to get his punk @ss back to practice if he ever wants to have his teamates respect, let alone ever start. This kid had sounded like a class act every since we recruited him, but this is such a p***y move. Hopefully this is just a brief period of insanity on his part. I know Eric Crouch threw a little hissy fit when he wasn't starter one year and that worked out OK, but seriously what is he thinking? This is the THIRD day of practice, and he's complaining about reps?

[Florida_Bronco]

I don't know about this. Harrison hasn't said anything to his team or the media (as far as I know) about being unhappy, so maybe it's his mom just being a tool.

I played against Harrison Beck, and the kid is extremely talented and never gave much of a hint that he was a p***Y, so I'll withold judgement.

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by Florida_Bronco

I don't know about this. Harrison hasn't said anything to his team or the media (as far as I know) about being unhappy, so maybe it's his mom just being a tool.

I played against Harrison Beck, and the kid is extremely talented and never gave much of a hint that he was a p***Y, so I'll withold judgement.

I hope your right. He has seemed like a great kid since he arrived. It sounds like mom might be leading him down the wrong path, ironically. I think/hope he's smart enough to put this incident behind him and show what he's worth. If he stays he is almost guaranteed to start next year, so I'm not sure what he's worried about. I just got a little ticked at his mother for badmouthing Zac. We can only hope her son is half as tough or as good a leader as Taylor has been for us.

[Florida_Bronco]

Originally Posted by Kid A

I hope your right. He has seemed like a great kid since he arrived. It sounds like mom might be leading him down the wrong path, ironically. I think/hope he's smart enough to put this incident behind him and show what he's worth. If he stays he is almost guaranteed to start next year, so I'm not sure what he's worried about. I just got a little ticked at his mother for badmouthing Zac. We can only hope her son is half as tough or as good a leader as Taylor has been for us.

His mom is probably a Gators fan or something and is all asshurt that Harrison left home to play for Nebraska. Maybe she hasn't forgotten the 1996 ass whooping in the Fiesta Bowl

Seriously, I won't put much stock in it until I hear Harrison himself say something. It's unlikely that he'll come out and say "my mom doesn't know what she's talking about" but it won't be hard to tell if he's unhappy or not.

[Kid A]

Well the news is getting worse. Beck skipped a second day of practice and is not talking to the coaching staff. Apprently his step-dad called Callahan or something. This really isn't a problem for this season, but we might have a hole at that position now for next year.

A more immediate problem is that Zac Bowman tore his ACL and will miss the season. He had really improved throughout last season and was a sure starter. We'll need a young guy to step up big at that position.