Hate Week Looms
Did you pack your socks? How bout your toothbrush? Did you remember your phone charger? I ALWAYS forget my phone charger whenever I pack up for a trip…especially one where I have no idea how long I’ll be gone.Yes, your journey into hate week begins this weekend, when a similar under-performing former superpower pays a visit to your humble home. I’m sure it’s not just me, but I am getting the feeling that that over-abundance of pride and hope has sprung a gigantic leak in the face of recent thoughts that begin with: “You know, if we play hard and keep it close, I think we can pull out 8 or 9 wins from this season.” Oh sure, some of you are out of your mind predicting 10 win seasons still...but for the most part, fear and apprehension are as much a part of your world now as combines and camouflaged trucker caps.
Truth be told, this is no different than what I told you in July…or what I told you in May or what I even told you right after your season ended so mercifully on the front-range of the Rocky Mountains last November; You simply are not that good, no matter how much harder your boys “try”. Oh sure, they had nice double-digit wins over a mid-level MAC team this season as well as a couple of wins over two WAC doormats…but now we enter that fun time of year, where reality peeks from behind that curtain and yells “SURPRISE” at the top of it’s lungs.
For the moment, I'm going to do the admirable thing and withhold a lot of the true hate and anger that you’ve grown to love within the walls of this blog...because as you know...like the eerie calm before the hurricane comes ashore, Hate Week is looming on the horizon, now only a few days away.
So with that, an abbreviated commentary and a couple of notes prior to the best week of the year :
- Yes, I’m going to be in Lincoln to witness Hate Week first hand and take the fight directly to all 85,000 of you. For those of you who don’t know, I swore off trips to Lincoln in the early 2000’s, when I grew tired of watching my team get punked in new and exciting ways by refs, thugs, criminals and yes..my own coach. At the time, I just figured it was best for all of us that I simply let you have your Saturday afternoons, and I keep my commentary confined to my own four walls. But with history turned upside down, you can make no mistake that I will NOT miss a chance to give my best pity wave to your thousands of fans as they head for the exits after a “hard fought” game that left them “just short.” I’ve waited a long time for this…and I expect to make every second count. More details during hate week.
- I’m not sure about you…but good for Baylor for finally pulling themselves out of the giant lake of crap they've wallowed in since the inception of the Big 12. I don’t think people realize just how good this Baylor team may be. But then again…Vandy is in the top 25, and Florida State struggled to score single digits at home against a mediocre conference opponent. Hell, even North Carolina somehow got decent over the past few years.
- What the hell happened to Rutgers? Didn’t they have a pretty good year a few seasons ago? Now granted, they lost their best player…but props to them for doing their very best Corby and Larry Smith (R.I.P) impressions. Yeesh.
- You want to bash me? I'd suggest setting aside Missouri and booger comments and going after me where it really hurts...the KC Chiefs. Sweet holy Jesus above has any NFL team in the last 40 years sucked giant donkey sack as much as the Chiefs have? Remember last year, when I mocked you all for Bill Callahan driving your program into the ground before hitting the eject button? Carl Pederson is my Bill Callahan, as the King has single-handily destroyed one of the best franchises in the NFL. The tailgating, the crowd, the noise...all gone thanks to Carl. Those of you who like to watch other teams on Sunday afternoon but can't because of the Chiefs...you can stop whining now.
- USC will not go undefeated. Mark it down…put it in blood. If you recall, I told you this last year.
- Why do you people hate Notre Dame so much? Granted, their fans are whiney douchebags just as much as the next group of fans…but as we’ve seen in these parts for decades…the world needs evil empires to keep sports fun. I’ll never be called a Notre Dame fan pretty much ever...but it’s like watching that mean old dog from down the street, hobble on three legs and wallow in it’s own misery day after day. After a while, you just wish somebody would put a slug in that program and either make them disband or at the very least, start all over again. It’s getting pathetic. And no, I don’t see them winning 8 games this year, I don’t care how easy you think their schedule is. (Ok, after finding this picture..it's a little funny.)
- USC will not go undefeated. Mark it down…put it in blood. If you recall, I told you this last year.
- Why do you people hate Notre Dame so much? Granted, their fans are whiney douchebags just as much as the next group of fans…but as we’ve seen in these parts for decades…the world needs evil empires to keep sports fun. I’ll never be called a Notre Dame fan pretty much ever...but it’s like watching that mean old dog from down the street, hobble on three legs and wallow in it’s own misery day after day. After a while, you just wish somebody would put a slug in that program and either make them disband or at the very least, start all over again. It’s getting pathetic. And no, I don’t see them winning 8 games this year, I don’t care how easy you think their schedule is. (Ok, after finding this picture..it's a little funny.)Power Poll Number 5:
North:
1) Missouri (4-0) Idle – Nice to know the Tigers can have an “off” week against mighty Buffalo and still run up 600 yards and double the opposing team’s score. Mizzou won’t be making any BCS reservations dropping so many balls in enemy territory, but if that’s your biggest problem…one bad half against Buffalo where you still roll…things are going well.
2) Colorado (3-0) at Florida State – Did I or did I not tell you that Colorado would be better than people thought? A win an pathetic Florida State this weekend and the Buffs are sitting pretty at 4-0 heading into a gigantic game with Texas. I’m not predicting anything crazy like a 5-0 Colorado start…but they did beat an even better south power about this time last year. As any Dan Hawkins team, this team could go south at any time for any duration…but the defense is looking good and the offense is learning how to win. Told ya…s…..
3) Kansas State (2-1) vs. La-Lafayette – Perhaps I saw a different game than everybody else against Louisville last week, but I didn’t think KSU was THAT awful. Oh sure, their defense looked flat, and Josh Freeman was pressing..but isn’t it very Wildcat-like to come out flat like that one week, and then turn around a week or two later and knock somebody upside the head? After a ho-hum appetizer against the Rajun Cajuns…Mike Leach and company come to town. Hmmmmmm.
4) Kansas (3-1) Idle – KU takes on one of their toughest non-conference opponents in years.
5) Nebraska (3-0) vs. Virginia Tech – I would not be shocked if Nebraska comes out of this pillow fight on top…nor would I be surprised if Va Tech knocked the Hicks right upside the head. My brain says Nebraska’s home crowd and Bo-mopia will pull NU through against a sluggish team that will be way out of their element. But my heart knows that this Husker team sucks, and VT is head and shoulders above any team Nebraska has played in quite some time…let alone beaten. We’ll see how I feel later this week.
6) Iowa State (2-2) Idle – Sucks for ISU that their comeback against UNLV fell short. Just as we suspected, the Clones are short on talent, but they’re learning how to fight. Perhaps this “trying harder” thing will become contagious and other teams around the conference will start doing it? Nahhhh. ISU may take somebody out along the way..but they simply don’t have the horses to finish in the pack of this race…even with a feeble old mare past his prime right in front of them.
North:
1) Missouri (4-0) Idle – Nice to know the Tigers can have an “off” week against mighty Buffalo and still run up 600 yards and double the opposing team’s score. Mizzou won’t be making any BCS reservations dropping so many balls in enemy territory, but if that’s your biggest problem…one bad half against Buffalo where you still roll…things are going well.
2) Colorado (3-0) at Florida State – Did I or did I not tell you that Colorado would be better than people thought? A win an pathetic Florida State this weekend and the Buffs are sitting pretty at 4-0 heading into a gigantic game with Texas. I’m not predicting anything crazy like a 5-0 Colorado start…but they did beat an even better south power about this time last year. As any Dan Hawkins team, this team could go south at any time for any duration…but the defense is looking good and the offense is learning how to win. Told ya…s…..
3) Kansas State (2-1) vs. La-Lafayette – Perhaps I saw a different game than everybody else against Louisville last week, but I didn’t think KSU was THAT awful. Oh sure, their defense looked flat, and Josh Freeman was pressing..but isn’t it very Wildcat-like to come out flat like that one week, and then turn around a week or two later and knock somebody upside the head? After a ho-hum appetizer against the Rajun Cajuns…Mike Leach and company come to town. Hmmmmmm.
4) Kansas (3-1) Idle – KU takes on one of their toughest non-conference opponents in years.
5) Nebraska (3-0) vs. Virginia Tech – I would not be shocked if Nebraska comes out of this pillow fight on top…nor would I be surprised if Va Tech knocked the Hicks right upside the head. My brain says Nebraska’s home crowd and Bo-mopia will pull NU through against a sluggish team that will be way out of their element. But my heart knows that this Husker team sucks, and VT is head and shoulders above any team Nebraska has played in quite some time…let alone beaten. We’ll see how I feel later this week.
6) Iowa State (2-2) Idle – Sucks for ISU that their comeback against UNLV fell short. Just as we suspected, the Clones are short on talent, but they’re learning how to fight. Perhaps this “trying harder” thing will become contagious and other teams around the conference will start doing it? Nahhhh. ISU may take somebody out along the way..but they simply don’t have the horses to finish in the pack of this race…even with a feeble old mare past his prime right in front of them.
South:
1) Oklahoma (3-0) vs. TCU – OU is smashing everything in sight…but there’s something about this team that tells me a letdown is coming. (As it usually does for one or two weeks a year for every Bob Stoops team.) Not sure when it will happen..but I feel like it’s coming…not sure why.
2) Texas (3-0) vs. Arkansas – Crushing crappy opponents left and right, Mack Brown’s team is slowly rising onto the national radar….just in time for OU to kick them in the junk and sending them to yet another boring 8-9 win season with more talent on their roster than most NFL teams. (In the case of the Chiefs..I mean this quite literally).
3) Oklahoma State (3-0) vs. Troy – I thought this game was taking place about 4 weeks ago…but Troy finally comes back to Stillwater to pay for their victory in Alabama last year. OSU is steadily putting the wood to teams…although that 26 point win over a horrible Washington State team on the road is looking less and less impressive. Still looks like an act of God will be the only thing keeping the Pokes from a 5-0 record heading to Columbia on October 11th.
4) Texas Tech (4-0) Idle – I’m guessing Mike Leach will spend the off-week looking through the 1-AA directories, looking for more dates to fill in upcoming schedules. Regardless, the Red Raider schedule…barring a letdown in Manhattan appears to be an absolute joke all the way to a road clash in Lawrence on 10/25. Should be interesting to see where Tech stands in early November when they play Texas, OSU and OU in back to back to back weeks. Good luck with that.
5) Baylor (2-2) Idle – Damn they looked pretty good the other night against a better-than-you-think Uconn team. Nebraska has to go to Waco next season…breaking in a brand new QB in the process. Let this be your first record of me calling the upset nearly 13 months in advance. Then again...will it REALLY be that big of an upset by that time?
6) Texas A&M (1-2) vs. Army – How on earth can you play in that stadium…with that fan support, surrounded by that much high school talent and still suck as bad as the Aggies do? Easy…you have to be led by one really crappy coach. I got to meet A&M fans in Columbia a few years ago, and they are a smart and proud bunch. I realize three games is a little early to press the panic button…but just looking at this train-wreck would make me want to strike the match and get the pot of oil boiling with one hand on the big bag of chicken feathers.
posted by A J at 9:11 PM
28 Comments:
AJ
Ah yes, less than a week until the hate begins in earnest. I have not been posting much, letting the bile and hate warm and congeal into something I will let loose next week.
Now, a few points about your Power Poll. I know that you keep up as far down as you can simply because you know -- as do I -- that the quickest way to anger most Husker fans is to rate them lower than they think they deserve. Kudos on the effort.
I also know that you are keeping KSU up there despite the writing on the wall. Is it because you put them up there to begin with? They can neither run the ball nor stop the run....that is a problem. Until they show they can stop it, they are gonna get a steady diet of the run game. They are 2-1 right now. They will be no better than 4-6 when NU travels to Manhattan. I don't see how in hell they get 8 wins this year.
Looking forward to your official BEL pick on the Va Tech game. A little over a month ago, you said:
Va Tech 27
Huskers 14
Flip that and I think you are closer.....
As always, I hate you....looking forward to next week.
Husker4Yankees
aj,
When Colorado falls to 3-1 will you write another evaluation about how they didn't look that bad against FSU?
What a douchebag you are.
Since Baylor is 2-2 everyone can feel free to call them good and pile on the love. If they were undefeated you would be whinning, sweating bullets, and screaming at the top of your lungs, "BUT WHO HAVE THEY PLAYED?!?"
AJ-
Serious football discussion question here (I don't know if that's allowed here or not, but I'll try).
I realize this is 2008 and Missouri will most likely prison rape Nebraska on October 4. I'm realistic, so I can live with that fact. But I'd like to think about 2009 and beyond.
Is Pinkel building a program that can remain successful in future years or has Chase Daniel been the main reason for the recent success of the Missouri program and Gary Pinkel?
I like to think that the B12N has some darn good coaches that are going to build some successful programs over time - Colorado scares me the most. So far, I like what I see from Pelini, although he needs to pick up on recruiting a little bit. Mangino has put a decent product on the field and I have no reason to beleive that won't continue and maybe even improve. The verdict is still out on Chizik and Prince, and they might have the steepest hills to climb (facilities, location, etc...). Where does Missouri fit into this puzzle over the next 3-5 years?
I'd be curious in hearing your thoughts. A lot of your comments seem to be made to ruffle feathers, but I do sense some football knowledge deep down somewhere...
Thanks.
BS
Rutgers lost their coach? I'm pretty sure Schiano is still there. But yeah, they are terrible.
I got started with Hate Week last week. Playing Turner Gill's team got me in the spirit. You can be sure the Tigers will be a little more focused come 10-4 than they were last week. This obviously does not bode well for bugeater nation. One thing I have to disagree with you about however, the Rams suck exponentially more than the Chiefs could even imagine sucking. Maybe the worst team ever assembled in the history of the NFL. They make the 1985 Mizzou team look like a juggernaut.
http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/champions_national.html
Took me 2 seconds to google. Then you highlight all of it, and ctrl+c and then you ctrl+v into a spreadsheet. That process took me 10 seconds. You then delete the 4 column you don't need which takes about 2 seconds. Finally you put a simple 1 in the first row, and drag it to the bottom which creates 139 years in which I could not find the Missouri Tigers listed once.
You are welcome in advance for educating you on the simply dynamics of googling, copy & pasting, and Excel Spreadsheets.
I'm not sure where you get your feelings on KSU, unless it is just an artificial thing to rile up KU fans. KSU is truly bad this year -- I can't believe you saw the same Louisville game I saw.
I expect you will be right on one thing -- KSU will pull a single big upset this year -- maybe over Tech (wouldn't surprise me) and then proceed to get ass-raped by Missouri, Kansas and Colorado.
Josh Freeman is sure exciting to watch though -- will it be a 50 yard completion or another interception?
I could have sworn they fired that guy.
My bad
THIS JUST IN
http://www.ketv.com/news/17547568/detail.html
If this is true...this might hurt the old NU Public Relations machine a tad. Smacking a woman is one thing...Murder is another.
That thunder arrest is so funny. I have a friend that works at the Lincoln Jail who told me all sorts of crap from his many trips to jail. What a pile...
State43
I don't know if you will have read this by the time you see this comment, but this is too much:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3607349
I wonder if Thunder will be pitching or catching here in a few months.
First, Mizzou will stand a great chance in Lincoln this year. They clearly are a top 5/6 team in the land.
Big concern if I were AJ or any other Mizzery backer..."What happens when Booger Boy graduates?"
One other question or concern. Please dont bring up THunder. As football fans we need to stay on task wityh football.
Murder is the most horrific crime facing our society. Untill the young man is convicted, he is innocent.
I'm not gonna pull the Rae crap out either as that too was a trajic incident involving a young man who used to play for a school but was loooong gone when the crime happened.
Your "I told you so" blog here gets more pathetic by the entry. Seriously, is that why you do this...so you can make every prediction under the sun, and then say "I told you so" when 25% of them are right? How about keeping track of all the stuff you're wrong on? I guess that would kinda defeat the purpose of this thing...to keep your diarrhea-filled head as inflated as possible. I don't really disagree with many of your thoughts about NU's football team, but you're still just a gigantic douche.
Boo Hoo...somebody doesn't like your team.
Throw a hissy fit at somebody who gives a shit.
Sorry BS...forgot about your question earlier.
"Is Pinkel building a program that can remain successful in future years or has Chase Daniel been the main reason for the recent success of the Missouri program and Gary Pinkel? "
I don't claim to be a college football expert...that's what's funny. But, since you asked for my opinion, I shall give it to you as I see it regarding your question.
* I find it funny when people always say, "You idiot, you think Mizzou is some sort of dynasty blah blah blah." No, I don't..nor have I ever even hinted at that.
However, that's not to say the talent level hasn't been increased 100 fold over the past 5 years or so. Personally, I don't think Mizzou's talent was ever THAT bad under Gary Pinkel..but the stigma of "woe is us..we're going to lose I just know it" was EXTREMELY difficult for Pinkel to get rid of.
Actually if you think about it...Pinkel didn't really get rid of it...Chase Daniel did. With that being said, Daniel is a once in a generation QB who is going to make a really really good coach someday. (Listen to him talk...seriously, the guy knows his stuff.)
But the turning point for Mizzou was Brad Smith. Not his entire career...but the second half of his final game.
IF you recall, Mizzou was getting assblasted by Spurrier and S.Carolina in the Independence Bowl, and was down HUGE just before the half. After a big pick, Smith went absolutely apeshit, and brought Mizzou back to win the game. Brad Smith was a great player, but he VERY seldomly led 4th quarter comebacks...let alone like that.
That game and that moment was key, because it gave Mizzou success to build on...something that was never there before.
Right afterward...Daniel took over, and the program took off.
Now, do I put it all on Daniel or All away from Pinkel? No. It's probably a mix. The program will suffer without Daniel but isn't nearly in as bad as shape as when he left it.
Pinkel has a tremendous staff that has been with him for 17 years...all of them. By making adjustments, he proved that he is willing to make changes for the betterment of his program. The whole "Pinkeled" again mantra is dead, because Dave Christensen is damn good and Pinkel lets him call what he wants.
So in conclusion...no, I don't see Mizzou being THIS good in the near future beyond 2008. But do I think we'll see the days where I'm just hoping for moral victories? No. The program has too many good things going for it at this point in terms of boosters...facilities and a really really pissed off fanbase.
I for one am enjoying the ride while it lasts.
Hope that helps.
leoyou crush animals AJ....you REALLY do
AJ--I think you're dead on about Missouri after Chase leaves. I can't wait for that day, but Mizzou will be fine. I remember a few years ago when there were rumblings about firing Pinkel and I kept wishing they would. I had a feeling he was going to succeed in time.
He won't be able to--and shouldn't have to--win like this forever. Just like, as a 'Hawk fan, I knew last year was just fun and they probably wouldn't be able to duplicate last year again this year. I completely understand just enjoying the various levels of success and ignoring the people who try to remind me that Kansas sucked in past years. I remember--that's why I'm appreciating this.
I bet Nebraska doesn't fire the next guy who manages to win ten games in a year. They're just learning what all we used to go through for decades on end.
Have a great day.
Bob
AJ
You're sandbagging!! A post that long from you and my blood pressure didn't go up even a point. I don't even feel right calling you Ass Jack after that. You must be saving it for your "Hate Week".
Here is a little spark for you.
NU 35
MU 28 Go Big RED!!
AJ:
Let "Hate Week" begin as soon as possible after the NU vs VT game. I am looking foreward to see what you have for us.
Are you going to the NU vs Mu game? If so, how the hell will you deal with all the RED? Oh I know.......you be as drunk as a "Red Neck Missoura Skunk". You won't even know what you are looking at!
I just hope you have a seat with all the rest of your kind. I would hate to see you and your kind mixed in with the rest of us......but who knows maybe your fellow Tiger fans would learn something about being the best kind of football fan if a few of you mixed in.
Bring on the Hate!
Gomer
AJ:
Seriously, What do legal charges of any kind against a "former" football player who played some years ago have to do with the university now?
The Thunder C. issue is not a University of Nebraska issue. This should go for any player from any university.
Fans should not flame the former university. The former player is his own man/woman and should have to walk his own path for which he has chosen.
Gomer
1) Oklahoma (3-0) vs. TCU – OU is smashing everything in sight…but there’s something about this team that tells me a letdown is coming. (As it usually does for one or two weeks a year for every Bob Stoops team.) Not sure when it will happen..but I feel like it’s coming…not sure why.
________________________
Sadly, I feel the same way. I am starting to get that feeling every week, that this could be that week that OU lets their guard down and drops the ball.
The only hope that keeps me sleeping at nights is that in every player interview, their saying the attitude is so much different this year. They are becoming a cohesive unit/team.
I just hope it stays that way through Jan.
Just got finished watching the USC/OSU game. It made me think that if the big bad Trojans can be toppled by a 1 win 2 loss bunch of busy Beavs, then some Tigers can be brought down by a group of cornholing, cornshucking, idiot Nub hick fucktards(I know you like that one)who wouldn't give O-Westside a challenge. That is what is great about college football. On any given day a group of no talent, no depth, rag-a-bag whiney loser Davids can bag themselves one Goliath!!
The Tigers better bring IT because Bo-Mopia will have the Corn Palace chock full of some obviously dillusional version of IT and IT is going to be a battle I await with optimistic anticipation.
Win or lose I'll stick with my Huskers. That is just how Red rolls!
NU 28
VTech 7
One giant at a time Go Big Red!!
NUGymRoam
That's funny. The last time I 'sat in' with the sea of red for the NU/KU game in Lincoln 2 years ago I was treated to rafts of unsportsmanlike behavior.
While waiting for Eric Washington to be secured and sent to the hospital, the sea of red was so bored they had to start the wave.
Then the whole situation was so funny the student newspaper turned the whole event into a joke the next week by posting a political cartoon that suggested that Mangino wanted to eat a guy who, at the time, had no feeling in his legs.
I learned plenty that day.
In the deed the glory, right?
Red Legger....
I call bullshit on the wave during the time he lay on the field. I go to way too many NU games, that one included, to let you get away with that shit. The place was pretty freaking quiet when he lie on the field...no wave in sight.
I am one of the few NU fans who sees completely through that "Classiest Fans" BS. However, if you are gonna shit on us, come correct....
I won't defend the Daily Nebraskan as it is a POS paper...even by campus media standards.
AJ: What is the background on the picture you posted of a fire in the grandstands?
ne-jhawk--I remember that, too. It made me sick watching on TV. Nebraska fans can talk all they want about how classy they are, but when the whole stadium is celebrating on national television while a kid is down on the field unable to move, they are nothing but classless, inbred, shit licking, cow fisting, butt pirates.
I'm far away from Lincoln and Lawrence, but the people watching that game at the bar told me they couldn't believe it. One guy told me he hadn't seen a group of people like that since the news cameras showed people in various places around the world celebrating the September 11 attacks.
That's right you 'Husker fans--you are as classy as Al Queda!
Carve that in stone in your fucking stadium!
Seventy-six mother fucking points ass jockeys! That will never go away! No matter what you ever do to Kansas again, you can never make up for 76 points. You could hang 400 on us sometime, and it won't be as big a deal because, after all, we're still Kansas. To make up for it, you'd have to score 5,000 points in a single night at Allen Field House.
Bob
Hey Bob! you're right. 76 points will never go away.
Just as 88-23-3 will never go away.
Big friggin' deal, you beat us by 37 points.
Just as 70-0 and 63-10 or 63-7, 41-0, 41-3, etc., etc., etc.
The amount of vitriol you display only betrays your unmitigated jealousy.
But try as your team might, it would take 65 straight years of winning to get even with the Huskers. That's a number that no matter how much you try will never go away.
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