And the Stakes Get Higher
Quite a weekend.
If you live within the Nebraska state lines, or are one of those dumbasses who have absolutely LOVED the Huskers since you were a kid because you found some keychain when you were five or some stupid ass story...I'm surprised you're here. If my team were to get kicked in the nuts like that...and they have...trust me, I wouldn't be anywhere near a site like this. But if you are...good for you.
For the rest of us...lets break down a few things from over the weekend.
* As we've stated all season, each and every Husker game has a theme. After the last Husker loss, the theme was anger. Anger from the farmer people that head coach Bill Callahan should have done more than puss out in front of a national TV audience. This week, a very different feel has come over the Husker faithful. A word that hasn't been thrown around since right about this time last year, when a spunky team from Lubbock punked the hicks in their own backyard.
"Moral Victory"
Yes, the same people who threw fits when experts questioned their team after an overtime win over Kansas, are now demanding that the college football world take notice that they can ALMOST beat a team that gave up 31 points to Baylor. It is true that Texas is defending National Champions and are easily the best team in the south. (I'm not completely sure they're better than A&M, but we shall see). But within that "moral victory" are a few key points that the corn people don't really realize or don't want to admit.First of all, it is unfortunate that Nunn fumbled the ball. Seriously..that hurts. But any group of fans that won a fucking National title because some child molester kicked a ball on the goal line OVER HIS HEAD with his ankles, does not get much sympathy from me. With that being said, nobody is giving credit to the guy for making an outstanding hit to jar the ball loose. It was an outstanding hit, where Nunn had no chance. He caught the ball, had two hands on it..and the helmet hit the ball after he turned his head. (Plus, it was freaking snowing). That's life. Sucks for you.
Second, is the fact that aside from your whopping 38 yards rushing, Texas did everything they could to give that game away. Lest we not forget a missed PAT? How bout two HORRIBLE missed field goals? How about the opening kickoff, where the Texas returner let up and got tackled at the 10? When Mack Brown tried the dumbest trick play in the history of man, the Horns only settled for a chip shot field goal. There's four points there. True, if's and buts...I realize, but Nebraska did everything they could to even stay in it. A trick halfback pass here, a couple of DB's run into each other there. (On Purify's TD). It was not as if Nebraska used suffocating drives to snuff the life out of the UT defense.
Did I mention it was snowing? How many times have you ever seen the university of Texas win a game in the snow? I'm trying to think of one, and I can't even remember them playing in the cold..let alone a snowstorm.
But alas, the better team won...Nebraska lost. Life goes on. Moral victories are fine and dandy if you are into those sort of things. I told you before the game that this Texas team wasn't even CLOSE to the team that won the national title last year. I told you their defense was suspect. I told you Colt McCoy's numbers were mediocre at best. But still...you didn't listen.
Now lies the biggest of trap games for NU as they head to Stillwater to play an OSU team that nobody knows anything about. Will the mighty Hicks restore the order and prevail yet again with their biggest game of the year looming the following week? Will the blackshirts who were torched by Adam Barmann show up? or the group that shocked the world and pulled off the greatest moral victory in the history of sports take the field? We shall see.
* The Huskers' biggest threat to their waltz to Kansas City* (anointed by Mack Brown and every member of the Omaha media) is the Missouri Tigers. Mizzou lost their best rushing defensive lineman in Brian Smith during the monsoon in Columbia this past weekend. I didn't get a chance to listen to much of the game, but it sounded pretty much exactly as the experts had thought. The argument as to whether or not Josh Freeman should have been named the starting QB for the Cats will rage on, as Ron Prince tries to put his stamp on the program.
Another big test awaits Mizzou as the Adrian Peterson-less Oklahoma Sooners come to town next weekend. Mizzou for some reason has been rather resilient this season behind first year starter Chase Daniel. The key for Mizzou to jump on the Sooners is Chase Coffman, their outstanding 6'7 Tight End. The guy had a tremendous game against K-State, and is finding the ball more and more. The key to the game will lie in how well OU keeps the Mizzou offense off the field. Missouri fans have finally started to believe in Gary Pinkel's team, and may actually show up this coming weekend as they did this past Saturday. With the NU game looming, I could see a letdown..but this team is only a knocked fumble out of the end zone away from being 8-0.
Should the Tigers prevail, I don't need to tell you what lies on the other side of Saturday. I'm trying not to think about it...but rest assured, it will not be pretty on this site.
* Here is one last thing that kind of goes with that last paragraph. I got a lot of e-mails this weekend that said things like, "If the Huskers would have won, you would have looked like an idiot. You wouldn't have shown your face on your site." This is completely not true.
This is what a lot of you idiots don't get. This is NOT a website about the in's and out's of Nebraska's 2006 team. This is not a fansite that breaks down games...looks at in-depth issues, nor will one game EVER change my opinion of all things Husker. This site is designed to look at things that happen EVERY DAY rather than 12 times a year on football Saturdays. Do I want the Hicks to lose every game? Of course. But that doesn't mean I can't find anything to point out to the rest of the world just how myopic, clueless and arrogant the Red Nation is.So no matter what happens this year, you will always be able to count on me to bring the truth to the masses. Even when the Huskers were winning Championships, it was still as easy as a first date with Paris Hilton to find faults and misconceptions surrounding the "greatest fans in college football." In many ways, it is almost easier to run a site like this when Nebraska is successful.
So those of you hoping...wishing...dreaming for Husker success just to shut me up...you better have some patience. Because no matter how good your team actually is...there will always be a Lawrence Phillips..or a sportscaster who cries over a victory on TV, or a guy who walks around shopping malls with a dead rat with Husker autographs. The ridiculous life of Husker fan will continue...and so will I.
More to come as armegeddon grows closer...now only 5 short days away.
(Photo thanks Lincoln Journal-Star and the digital Missourian)
posted by A J at 10:14 PM
23 Comments:
"This is not a site that breaks down games" Yeah,OK.
from a blog last week:
I then went ahead and looked at some stats, and they were strikingly similar. Texas is #77 in the nation in passing defense...Nebraska is #86. (Memo to Gary Pinkel...THROW THE BALL on 11/4) Texas is #2 against the run, Nebraska is #21. Here's where it gets strange. Texas is #11 in total defense...Nebraska is #51.
Oh fuck off.
That was to make a point...fuck, it was even to state Nebraska had a chance and Texas isn't THAT good. That's not a complete breakdown as every other Husker slobberfest on the internet is...and don't fucking deny it because you know it's true.
Chicken shit.
So let me get this straight Chiefwannabe, you believe Texas was by far the superior team on Saturday, and worked diligently to screw up their chances at a BCS bid. You believe that was essentially a Texas team that self-destructed but was talented enough to hang on against a poor Nebraska team.
I'm not certain I watched the same game you did. Texas did "everything" to give this game away. That statement is similiar to a moron calling a retard, "stupid".
Your analysis shows a lack of understanding about the game of football. You don't think Nebraskas inability to run the football had anything to do with it? You don't think that Nebraskas turnovers had anything to do with it? You don't think Texas lack of turnovers had anything to do with it? You don't think Callahans inability to manage a game has anything to do with it?
I believed Texas was going to roll by 14 over Nebraska and even lost money giving Nebraska that many points. The game I watched showed Taylor was a quarterback unable to handle pressure. The Nebraska offense is nothing to be feared. That Texas can't play in adverse conditions.
bhg: Huh?
What's your point? Texas was by far the better team. Now, am I stupid enough to say Nebraska didn't put up a great effort? Hell no. If you reacall..and I doubt you did...I even said all week that Texas wasn't the Texas of old, and didn't match up very well at all with NU...especially in the bad weather.
UT's defense is indeed fast..but again...they gave up 31 points to Baylor and haven't left the state yet.
My whole point was...I wouldn't start giving myself the North because of a "moral victory" over a team with as many question marks as UT has. McCoy is still a freshman right? last time I checked...he was.
And as for the turnovers...last time I checked, that's part of the game. Turnovers are if and buts. If you're going to go that route, I'd like Texas A&M to give their win over Mizzou back, because Will Franklin can't hold onto the ball at the 1 yard line on a 64 yard bomb.
It goes both ways. Turnovers are caused by pressure. Pressure is caused by both good defenses and bad offensive fundementals. It's simply part of the game.
And what don't I "understand" about the "game of football?" Of coruse you couldn't run. Texas doesn't exactly have the same defensive standing as mighty ISU or K-State. Duh.
Dr Contradiction:
" I told you before the game that this Texas team wasn't even CLOSE to the team that won the national title last year."
Yeah, you also said:
"For one, most of the UT team has played in the National Championship game before. (Including Colt McCoy, who was on the sidelines at the game)."
You are priceless.
Quite frankly, I saw two teams that, at best, should be ranked somewhere in between 12-25 and are very fortunate to have not played much quality opposition. I know kNU played at USC (wondering how good they are) and they got Boat Raced. So did Texas against OSU. Other than that, i don't think either team has played a team worth a shit, except MAYBE OU, who held TX to 200 yards offense. The NU/TX game was sloppy and ugly and I came away from it thinking Texas is not a top ten team (yet. they certainly have the talent, but as a team they are not that good) and NU is a decent team that deserves to be in the top 25 but cannot afford to assume wins over anyone left on their schedule.
Also, on a neutral site, with half way decent weather, TX will beat NU by two or three TD's which they were well on their way to doing before nu had some big plays sprinkled in there (to their/BC's credit).
JG
AJ,
Man you showed me, you must be the president of Mensa, no wait, you must be the master of the universe, giver of life and ruler of the air, oceans, and the land. All should pause for a moment to know that we have stumbled upon such greatness. Your brilliant insight into the game of football has renewed my spirit, I am reborn a new man.
So according to your logic either Nebraska is a superb defensive team, or Texas has a very poor offense? There were a lot of Texas fumbles, so one or the other must be true, according to your great and wonderful insight into the game of football.
I did notice that Texas seemed to regain their own fumbles, something Nebraska was not as fortunate to do. (What's that due to, good conditioning, sacraficing a chicken in the locker room before the game, eating bean pies at half time? Let's get your insight all great and wise master of the universe.)
It was a game, both teams made mistakes, and missed opportunities. (That was a shot at the "we beat Michigan last year" people, and the "Keller" people.)
People that watch a game with bias, are generally not good at providing any type of reliable analysis of the results. Similiar to giving a gun to a blind man, sure he'll make a lot of noise, but chances are he won't hit anything.
Stick to what you know, go after the Husker fans.
Everything you say is to "make a point", unfortunately most of your points contradict each other.
Of course, it doesn't matter because if anyone brings a counter-point you can just easily do one of a number of things:
-Refer to a point that you made a blog earlier, since you have enough for every side of every issue.
-Call the person an idiot
-Swear at the person (probably just done to make another point).
-If all else fails, come up with some vague answer like "You just made my day" or "I live for posts like that".
Of course you don't break down games, you have too many excuses to make for the opponents and pot shots to take at the Huskers to bother with any of that.
That's just dumb. Of coruse stupid comments make my day. That's why I post them...that's why I enjoy them so much. When some idiot flies off the handle at me, it just goes to show that I'm right. Which is what it's all about anyway right?
As for making points and contradicting them...that's just stupid. Everybody and their dog knows that NU's biggest weakness is their DB's. So how many times did UT go deep? 1. How many TD's came from that? 1. It's not that hard to figure out that the weather took away from that.
And how can I "take a stance on every side"? Why, because I said Texas wasn't THAT good? Wow...you got me there.
I've never said NU doesn't have a nice little team. Of coruse they do. To say otherwise is really really stupid. The problem is people like you who DEMAND that the world respect them. That's what makes people like me make blogs like this.
I can argue counterpoints all day. As soon as you make one that makes sense..I'll be sure to do that.
BHG: Texas fumbled the ball for a variety of reasons I'm sure..good defense being one of them. But I say again..how many times does a Texas team practice...let alone play..in an environment like that?
If that game is played in a Dome at a neutral site, Texas wins by 21. Take that how you want.
My bad..I accidentally deleted the last reply...which called me out by saying, "Most of Texas's team played in the National Championship last year...yet this isn't teh same team..I'm confused".
My bad for taking your nameless, faceless slam and hitting the wrong button. My apologies.
Point is...Vince fucking Young. Not sure if you've heard of him...but he's rather good and may have had something to do with winning the title last year.
Also, how many Texas games...including the National Title game were played in the snow?
A valid point...but let me ask you this: Would Texas of 2005 have let Baylor score 31 points in Austin?
Anxiously awaiting your faceless reply.
Just wondering how both of those comments can come from the same person. Its a blatant contradiction.
Yeah, posting your name makes you tough. Gimmie a break.
Tee Dub..good points.
Captain Anonymous...care to add anything yourself? or just want to comment on my comments?
AJ,
Also if I see one more feature (ABC or on Gameday) about how great the Nebraksa offense is and how brilliant Cally is cause of how intircate and difficult it is to call plays and explain their offensive terminology, I will puke. They had Craig James and the halftime brain trust, marvelling at the gobbledy gook coming out of Zac taylor's mouth as he attempted to tell the offense what the hell the next play was. This makes Cally a) smart and b) a good coach? Wouldn't you think, if every two years or so your QB is going to be about 19 and about 5 games a year he will be playing somewhere where he can't even hear himself fart that you might want to tone it down a bit? Just cause it takes 20 seconds to rattle off the next play call in the huddle doesn't make the offensive gameplan geniuswork.
Also, did anyone notice Cally maing all those weird faces, he looked like someone with Tourettes or something, but maybe it was just real cold.
JG
Football is funny that way. Playcalling is only great when something works. Look at all the praise Houston Nutt got for that trick play against Auburn. What if that doesn't work? It's a dumb call.
Pretty much as in anything else...there are no bad plays, just bad execution and bad decisions. I don't think his play calling was that outstanding as compared to other games...the plays just so happened to work.
I would have liked to have seen what would have happened though if the wind wasn't blowing 900mph and Texas was able to attack the pinkskirt secondary.
Guess we'll never know.
And what is Texas' weakness? Their DBs as well. You're the one that pointed out Baylor's ability to pass and score on Texas.
You also pointed out that a lot of Nebraska players are from Texas so the weather affects them as well.
Both teams would have liked to have thrown more.
Hicky McHickerson
That's funny. Somebody who writes this blog said that NU matches up well with Texas for that very reason. Again, on a dry day, it would be interesting to see how many points UT could have put up.
So you are saying that the weather had absolutely no affect on UT or their plan of attack? And no, I didn't say your whole team was from Texas..I said "places not used to that type of wether."
But that's Ok..it's more fun to make stuff up
First of all, I am not the same "anonymous" as previously listed. I am a nebr native that left the jim jones kool-aid drinking state to attend another big 8 (old school) university and had my eyes opened for the first time. I don't give a crap for the hicks of the horns, but the play that is not mentioned that could have led to the nubs win was a fumble late in the fourth quarter after mc coy gets sacked. I think by number 94 and while the ball is free on the ground, he would rather pump up his arm to the roar of the self-proclaimed greatest fans in the world and watch a tx ol recover the loose ball...etc...although my memory may fail, these are the same people that brag about the hundreds upon thousands of academic all americans...so maybe the hick fans should remind this guy that you play until you hear a whistle, then soak in all the cheers.
Its also a real hoot to talk out of both sides of your mouth..
(before game) Texas has too much talent. Remember they are only a few months removed from winning it all.
(after game) Texas isnt close to what they were last year.
My favorite was before the game. Saying that COLT MCCOY was at the Rose Bowl, albeit on the sideline... as if that had gained him experience.
Which is it? Texas has a bunch of talent ... or .... they lost a bunch? Either way, you were wrong once. You cant have it both ways.
Also, I wasnt aware that KSU had a pair of 270lb running backs, seeing how that is the only way a tailback can run all over Missouri.
Uhhhh...excuse me. READ the posts where I said...and I quote...."I'm just not feeling a big Texas win".
WHY!?!?
Because I told you they're not as good as they were or as good as people think they are. I also said they're not a good matchup against NU, and the weather and young QB could pose a problem.
IT DID.
Why is this so fucking hard to figure out?
As for the Mizzou comment...whatever. As I've stated many many many times...I'm a Mizzou fan..but I'm a realist. I know Mizzou has a slim shot of winning in Lincoln because I know kicked balls..or 5th downs..or Matt Turman or whatever else can go wrong up here will go wrong.
I'm fine with it. I accept it. Is Mizzou that great? THAT great no. Pretty good and capable of beating NU? Sure.
You'd make a lot more sense if your knees weren't knocking so bad. And by that remember at the beginning of the season when you all said, "anything less than the North is a failure?" Well, you're a Mizzou and or OSU/A&M loss away from pissing that away.
chew on that a while.
PS - KSU ran on Mizzou when it was 41-14 in a monsoon. Not exactly a measuring stick type situation. Either way...I hope you're confident. Seriously...the lower profile Mizzou has coming in..the better their chances.
Hopefully one of your players will say something stupid to really get things going.
Buffenstein,
Of course Nebraska lost the game. Did it take you a couple days to figure that one out? Buffenstein apparently is a little upset that his team will not be bowl eligible for this season. I imagine that Buffenstein was hoping that Texas would put similiar numbers as last week so that he could puff out his chest when telling Husker fans how bad their team was. Instead he was left with a game where Nebraska had an opportunity to win the game, and gain some momentum, something the Buffs have struggled to do this year.
From what I'm reading, it appears that most of the posts are not demanding respect for Nebraska rather bringing to light the inconsistency of the analysis of the game by AJ.
My opinion of AJ analysis was that he should play to his strengths and focus on bashing the kool-aid drinkers vs. giving an analysis of the game.
Comments were made about where Texas and Nebraska should be ranked. My opinion is that after Ohio State, there is a fairly significant drop-off in team play. My opinion is that the only team to beat Ohio State is Ohio State showing up and playing poorly.
AJ, is there any doubt that one of the 'Shucker jackoffs will say something stupid? That's a little like saying "The sun might rise in the east tomorrow morning." The only question is how many will say something stupid.
Buffenstein,
How many times do we have to hear how great of a CU fan you are? It gets a little old hearing how persecuted you are because of your allegance to the Black and Gold.
Let's all weep openly for Buffenstein, for he has been greatly wronged, and therefore we should all suffer greatly with weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Your comments posted talked bout how Nebraska fans were complaining because they "deserved" to win, and you criticized the fans because these were 18-23 year old kids. Yet, your own comments talk about cheering not just for your team, but anyone that beats the Huskers.
I'm confused, is your beef with the Cornhusker fans, or the 18-23 year old kids playing for the Huskers that wouldn't know you from Adam?
Yes, you wrote that you weren't feeling a big Texas win, then you wrote another blog that said:
*I wrote a couple of days ago that I wasn't feeling a good Texas showing in Lincoln this weekend. I actually take that back. The more I think about it..the more I'm giving Husker home field WAYYYYYYY to much credit.
So, you hedged your bets and now can refer to whichever post best fits. I guess that's causing all of the rest of us to be confused and unable to read.
As to my other post, you said fair weather means Texas airs it out and wins by 21. I'm just saying fair weather also allows Nebraska to attack the Texas secondary.
-Hicky McHickerson
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