I refuse to pick on the Huskers like everyone else has in the media even if they deserve it.  So, I will not point out individual mistakes within the Husker program.  No matter how apprent and obvious those mistakes are!  There has been enought of that, and I am sure you have heard or read it all this week.

Just Win Baby…  I don’t care how you do it, just win the next 2 games.  The next 2 games are at home, and are the best chance for Husker wins.   These 2 home games will dictate what will happen with this teams entire season.  And, this coachings staffs hide.

Win the next 2 games and the grumblings of Husker Nation will fade (a little).  Win the next 2 games and who knows good things may start to happen.  A split would basically leave the Huskers a big question for a bowl game.  Callahan, I will predict now that if this Husker Football team does not go to a bowl game your goose is cooked.  Lose the next 2 games and there is no reason to have faith that the current Husker Football program will RESTORE THE ORDER!  Lose the next 2 games and the Huskers will have officially backslid to a level below mediocre.

It starts tomorrow with OSU.  A team the Huskers had on the ropes last year down in Stillwater and blew it.  That game last year showed the signs of this entire season.  A big lead blown due to lack of adjustments.  A stubborness that exists still today.  An arrogance of such a magnitude, that it disrespects the opposing coaches intelligence. 

Please stop sacrificings this teams ability due to your stubborness of a pre planned scheme.  We already lost the Bowl Streak due entirely to your stubborness.  If you want our allegiance as fans show your loyalty to the program first and not your pride.

Just Win Baby!

GO BIG RED!

Well, I think the Husker Football program is in deeper trouble today than we fans could possibly imagine.  Pederson’s cry of not letting the Huskers slide into mediocrity must be haunting him today.  Because, as of today, the Huskers have slid right past mediocre and right into despicable.I feel Husker traditions are on the verge of going away to never return. 

I have enjoyed the family and Nebraskan camaraderie for nearly 30 years that Husker Football brings each fall.  Those traditions include a winning effort and attitude!  (And, if not winning, at least being competitive.)  These traditions have been passed down for generations, and if something is not done soon these traditions will go away.  It is apparent that the current coaches cannot get the job done.  There are many obvious and probably not so obvious reasons for their failure.  You can find the fodder on this in any Nebraska papers sports section. 

Pederson’s faith in Coach Callahan must be shaken nearly to the point of no return.  I say, start the search now for a new head coach for Husker Football, and as the rest of the season plays out, do the ground work behind the scenes.  This must be a clandestine operation.  Then, once this season is over let it all come down quickly like a hammer. 

The effect on recruiting would be minimal if done hastily with a positive and energetic sense of direction.  The current players may be upset and we may lose some of them.  But, the new coach must bring a needed energy to a lifeless program.  The new head coach must be more like a General rather than an Accountant.  It pains me to say that the Husker program must be overhauled again.  I see no alternative.  This coaching staff has had ample time, and has not proven it has what it takes to RESTORE THE ORDER! 

I am the Husker Fanatic, and I pray for Nebraska.

Another week, and another game.  The difference?  No T.V. and that’s about it.  The Huskers won 35-17.  But, I heard the Huskers looked as bad as they have all year.  The post game stats show that too as I am sure you have heard how the Huskers gave up a despicable 100+ plays, gave up 400+ yards of offense, and the Husker offense struggled too.  When you factor in 2 crucial penalties and turnovers it was a very sloppy win indeed. 

And guess what adds insult to Husker Fan injury!  Colorado upset #3 Oklahoma, and K-State beat the Longhorns in Texas.  Those are 2 awesome wins for 2 new Big 12 North Coaches.  I would hate to be in Coach Callahan’s shoes this week!  He was sure ripped apart by all the sports talk radio show hosts.  In fact, the whole team was ragged on over the airways.  Callahan, Cosgrove, everything and everyone.  I think even Herbie got dissed!

Well, I am going to stick up for the Huskers. First, I watched all the clips of the game and I think the defense looked more energetic and hungry.  Grixby played as well as any Husker DB in memory, and I saw better tackling.  Yes, there were mistakes by some of the younger guys just getting more playing time.  That is going to happen.  It is better to let the them Bleed with the Blackshirts now with a win, than later after a couple losses.  And let’s just say the west coast offense had issues with that 40 MPH gusts!  Have you ever tried doing anything in that kind of wind?  Not easy

So what needs to happen?  This young Husker team needs CONFIDENCE!  Someone needs to step up and be the leader.  Someone needs to make it their personal responsibility to up the level of play on defense.  It can be a coach or a player, but someone needs to fill that role.  Personally, I think it needs to be a player that can lead by example and get more out of those around him!  Who is going to be our Ray Lewis??

I think the Husker “D” has a great chance to prove themselves at Missouri.  Yes, Missouri is undefeated but their wins are not that special.  They have not played a USC or even a Wake Forest.  The Huskers are the Tigers first real test. Our Huskers are tested and battle hardened.  And, not just the battle on the football field, but also the battle field of public opinion. Let’s face it the Husker “D” has a huge chip on it’s shoulder.   That chip has been there for a month, and now it is time to knock it off!   And, quite frankly the Blackshirts are pissed off!   

The Missouri game presents a great opportunity for the Blackshirts to shine in a hostile stadium.  Can they do it?  I think they can, and I think they will.  If nothing else the law averages dictate that the Blackshirts are overdue for a great game and I think the numbers up.  I think the costly errors committed last week will not happen.  I believe the Blackshirts are going to punish every receiver on every catch.  The defense is going to hit so hard they are going to knock the snot bubbles out any Tiger with the football.  The Blackshirts that bleed Husker red are ready, willing, and able.  I think Missouri is in for a RUUD surprise! 

I am the Husker fanatic  and I Bleed for the Blackshirts!!!

Repeat after me.  The Huskers are 3 and 1 heading into Big 12 Conference play.

Now, I could write that the Huskers could just as easily be 1 and 3.  I could write that the Huskers Defense has been deplorable, laughable, and downright disgusting.  And, I could ceratinly write that Cosgrove should be gone because the BlackShirt “D” is called….  But, I wont….  I also will not write that Zach Bowman should be admired for not wearing his Blackshirt.  And, that the rest of “D” should have joined him.  Attitude reflects leadership.  I think Bowman has the right attitude.  I am unsure if the rest of the defense does.  Time will tell…

Anyway…

What I will write is that the 3 -1 Huskers have not gelled, have not played well together, have not been a team!  And, truthfully that says it all.  There is nothing worse that you could say than that about a football team.  To me, football is unlike any other sport because the concept of teamwork and team mates are more important than any other sport.  Again, this is my opinion.  But, in football you literally bleed together.  I am certain many will argue the point, but does it matter.?

What does matter?

The Huskers are 3 -1.  And, before the season started I accepted that this would be a good start for the Huskers.  Sure, I had dreams the Huskers would stomp Nevada and Wake.  And, I dared to believe the Huskers might possibly win against USC.  I also thought the Ball State game would be an easy ticket to score because it should be a laugher.  And, I would be sky high if the Huskers were 4-0 and ranked in the Top 5.   Red kool aid for everyone.

Still, the Husker are 3 -1 and can still meet all their goals and even my expectations.  Now, we can entertain the reasons of why the Huskers will not finish in the Top 25, will lose half their Big 12 games, and go to the weed whacker poolan pocket fisherman bowl  :)   Yes, the Huskers have under achieved on every level.  So, there is no logical reason to believe the Huskers can win the North and win a big game.  But, I sense a change.   (GULP, the Kool aid)

Cosgrove knows his defense has not been working, he is on the hotseat, and he knows his job is on the line.   It may not matter in the end.  But, I believe, ok, I HOPE!  Big changes have been made.  There are obvious signs of the change.  The younger  kids are suppose to be getting more playing time, a probable change at linebacker, and Major Culbert has been moved back to defense.  And, a rumored new defensive scheme/strategy?  

And, rest assured, Callahan is over seeing it all.  He has run the Husker Football program like a CEO.  Now, is the time to micro manage.  Callahan knows he has been fortunate, and he still has time to control this teams destiny for the better.  He can turn this team around and bring Huskerfan back to his side.  Only he can be responsible.   He MUST take charge!  Now, is the time to show some nuts and make the needed changes.  He knows he has to put up or get out.  Yep, you can count on the fact these changes were made.  I just hope they work!

Yes, the Huskers are right were I thought they would be.  They are 3-1 heading into conference play.  They can STILL accomplish EVERYTHING.  Attitude reflects leadership…

I think Huskerville needs a break from all the Husker Football talk.  So, touching on a different subject would be cool.

Today, 20 September 2007, the sporting world has forever dramatically changed.  It probably went unnoticed by you.  Or possibly, you noticed the change, but have not considered all it’s ramifications.  In the sporting world it was a small blip on the proverbial radar screen.  No big deal.  But, I believe, Pandora’s Box is now open.

Today, the golf powers that be issued an edict.  The edict, or as it is called in sport, a policy change, announced by the professional golf tours was that all professional golfers are going to be tested for performance enhancing drugs starting next year.  Small blip on the radar screen.   Here is the direct statement.

“But for the problems in other sports, I doubt we would be at this point,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in a conference call with the leaders of six major golf organizations. “We are where we are given the way of the world. And I think it’s a positive day for golf because we are together [and] we are spending a lot of energy to do it right.”

It was a universal effort from the PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour, U.S. Golf Association, Royal & Ancient Golf Club, Augusta National Golf Club and the PGA of America, meaning the policy ultimately would cover golf at the highest level all over the world, including the four major championships.  (Full article here http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3028771 )

You may have thought  Great!  The golfing world just joined all the other exisiting professional sports.  It is about time.  It was the right thing to do.  End of story right?!

You could not be more wrong!  Golf is a sport of a different feather.  Professional golfers are gentile, golfers are respectable professionals, golfers are the best role models in all of sport.  And as Tim Finchem stated the only reason they are testing is becuase of the problems in other sports.  So, in essence he admits that all professional sports are tied together in at least some respect.  And, thus Tim Finchem opened Pandora’s Box that will change the face of all professional sports. 

And, here is why.  Remember, Casey Martin?  He sued the PGA several years ago over the right to use a golf cart and WON!  Casey had a physical impairment that prevented him from walking.  Prior to this every professional golfer had to walk the course they were competing on.   

So, now, the PGA has a legal precedent to allow an amendment to policy due to a physical impairment.  Do you know who Shaun Micheel is?  Well, he won the PGA Championship a few years back which is a major.  And guess what?  In 2005 Shaun Micheel was diagnosed with low testosterone, a physical impairment, and now is taking synthetic testosterone which is a steroid…  Golf had no anti-doping policy so his steroid use was allowed.  Until now.

I see big problems coming down the road for all professional sports because the PGA will soon be forced to allow steroids in its sport.  Now, I am no lawyer (but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night)  but, I see no wiggle room on this.   And, once that happens the dominoe effect will reach across all sports.  It will only be a matter of time. 

If golf allows steroids in its sport a precedent will be set.  There will be new definitions of physically impaired by athletes from all sports, and the drugs for those impairments will be coming to your favorite football, basketball, and baseball player.  These players will be diagnosed with some physical impairment that will justify their personal use of the same performance enhancing drugs that are banned for everyone else. 

Gee, I wonder where the players unions will fall on this one.  And, how can the professional sport organizations manage to control all of this?  I don’t think they can.

The probabilities of what is a physical impairment are endless.  Pandora’s Box is open and soon athletes will be suing their way to permitted drug use.  

Where it all will end is anyones guess, but Pandora’s Box is open.  Let the physically impaired circus begin.

Patience is a virtue…

I keep telling myself this cliche as I have watched the Huskers play over the last few years.  But, I freely admit that it may be time to push the panic button.  Now, it may be true that USC is just that dominant in college football these days. 

But, the Husker D just can not get it done under Coach Cosgrove.  The defensive showing against USC follows a poor effort against Wake Forest.  And, need I remind you of the defensive collapse last year against OSU?  Blame it on his leadership, blame it on his scheme, and blame the lack of talent.  The bottom line is that Coach Coz is not getting the job done. 

By the way, did we ever blitz?  Did you see the size of the holes for the USC running backs?   You could have drove a Nebraska Furniture Mart truck through those holes.  It was absolutely embarrasing. There was 300+ yards of rushing given up by Coach Cosgrove’s “D” and it was not done by anything fancy.  It actually looked like the old Husker smash mouth football.

Anyway, I could go on and on…  But, what is the point. 

Patience is a virtue, and I guess we have no choice…

Well, it is finally USC week.  This is the week most Husker Fans have been waiting for since the end of last football season.  This is the week we should find out what kind of Husker team we fans have.  The Huskers have 4 years of Callahan West Coast offense recruits.  It is time to produce.  But, at this point of the season I honestly have no clue what to expect from this team.  How could anyone?  A blowout win against Nevada. Followed by a very close win, that just as easily could have been a loss to Wake Forest.  The defense can be brilliant, or a sucker for the misdirection play.  The Offense can run like a machine, or be as unpolished as a junk yard car.  What do we fans know after 2 games?  Nothing… 

Well, almost nothing.  You can be sure Huskerfan will go to the USC game.  You can be sure this game will be a sellout.  It is certain that this game will be the loudest all year.  It is certain that USC has dominated college football for the past 5 years. 

Can we fans be certain that the Huskers will not get blown out?  There is no way to tell.  The reason is because what has been certain for the last 4 years of Husker football is unpredictability and inconsistancy.  And, after 2 games this year, there is no comfort for us Husker fans to believe something has changed.  Will this be the Huskers big win under Callahan?  I sure do hope so, but don’t bet the Beemer! 

This game certainly will be a bench mark.  Are the Huskers a Top 10 Team?  A Top 20 Team?  Or, something else…  Must the Huskers win to gain National and local respect?  Yes and no.  A win would put the Huskers squarely back into the national spotlight.  A win catapaults this team into the top 10 and National Title contenders.  A win guarntees some 5 star recruits.  A win puts the Husker program back to where it is suppose to be….

But a loss??? It all depends.  If the Huskers play like they did against Wake Forest they will lose by at least 4 touchdowns.  If that happens there will be MANY questioning everything from Coach changes, Offense changes, and pay raises.  And nationally, everyone will feel sorry for us Nebraskans because Husker Football is all we got!  But, if the Huskers lose while looking good?  (If there is such a thing).  Huskerville may be content for a time.  

Is it possible Coach Callahan could lose this game and still win over Huskerfan and the nation.  Absolutely!  For that to happen the Huskers must certainly look good in this game.  Then, the Huskers must be consistently and predictably good the rest of this year.  As a Husker fan I certainly hope the Huskers look good (and win).  But, as stated, certainty and Husker Football have been problematic for 4 years. 

The question is whether it will be more of the same this year.

I know the cliche’ “A win, is a win”  and of course there is the Al Davis line “Just win baby…”

But, after watching the Huskers put forth a dismal effort against the Demon Deacons, I have to wonder… is there cause for alarm?  I suppose the defense played OK, as they only gave up 13 points and in the end saved the day.   But, those misdirection plays will haunt me.  The Huskers could have lost.  And, some would say they deserved to lose.  Insert one of the cliches here……….   

What concerns me the most is the Husker Offense looking inept.  Is the Wake Forest defense that good?  Did the Husker O play that poorly?  Are the Huskers over rated?  Were the Huskers looking to USC?  Time will tell and that time is coming soon, this Saturday.

As I watched the game I really believed the Huskers were on the verge of breaking loose at any moment.  They seemed confident, but unable to execute on offense and rush defense.  Overthrown passes to wide open recievers will never get the job done.  Hopefully, that was first road game jitters.  For once, the game plan seemed sound.  Heck, I was even thinking that if the Huskers could get a TD on that last drive they would have at least covered the spread, and the win would look pretty. 

On the last 4th down play I thought for sure the Huskers would pass for a first down or TD.  (Remember, Texas did that exact thing to the Huskers a few years ago).  But, no it was a failed run attempt against an 8 man front which did leave just enough time for the Demon Deacons to conjure up one last drive to spoil the Huskers early season. 

Thankfully, the Huskers pulled it out. 

It is still too soon to tell if there is cause for alarm in Husker Nation.  The Huskers are 2-0 and we have USC at home.  That game will tell much, if not everything about this years Huskers.

Remember, “A win is still a win” or even better “Just win baby”

Yes, the cat is out of the bag.  I, yours truly, the Husker Fanatic, went to the Nevada game. 

And, what a great first game it turned out to be.  I circled the stadium with the HotHuskers.com road crew before entering because it was cool to see the Husker Sites.  I only make it to maybe 1 home game a season, so for me it is a treat.  I had never seen the statue of Coach Osbourne and Brook Berringer.  Ckeck our gallery for a pic of the Husker Hotties standing by the statue.   It is very symbolic of Husker Football.

The BUZZZ as I entered the stadium was about 2 things.  The NEW/OLD Tunnel Walk, and whether Michighan would lose.  The new Tunnel Walk is very cool, and Michighan is now the laughing stock in college football.  Nuff said.

As Huskerfandom sat in wait of the opening day kick, there was no thought of whether the Huskers could possibly lose to the Wolfpack.  But, after a few Husker misfires and a go ahead TD for the Wolfpack the crowd seemed in total shock.  I was stunned too, and it sure was quiet during that play except for the one lone Wolfpack fan yelling go, go GO!  Hey, maybe that was the Anti Husker.  But, I am sure, that I was not the only Huskerfan in the stadium thinking would we be like Michighan.  Even now I shudder to think…

I believe last years Husker team would not have responded as well as the 2007 version of the Huskers.  Heck, I saw the 2006 team fold at OSU in person.  And, no need to remind me that there is a long way to this season too.  Still, this Husker team showed moxy, poise and character.  The defense played lights out, and the Offense turned out 600+ yards and made it look easy.  They were as stone cold as Tiger Woods on a 3 foot uphill straight in putt.  The Big Red made it look that easy.  Sure, they made mistakes, but hey, this was the first game.

Next, the Huskers go to Wake Forrest.  The Demon Deacons are a good team and should be respected as they are the defending ACC Champions and went to a BCS Bowl game.  Remember those?   This will also be an emotional home upener  as this is their first home game since their Basketball Head Coach passed away earleir this year. 

I would look for the Huskers to try and establish the run and mix in some play action passes.  If the Huskers can get a big lead early I think the offense may actually open up more.  They are going to need the pass game polished for USC next week.  And, their is nothing like game experience.  Still, this game could be close.  But..

 I am taking  the Huskers to win 35-17.