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Nebraska Football: Where did it start, all that stupid preseason talk about Nebraska being a freshman contender, and maybe a favorite, for the Big Ten title?
And why do some in the sports blabber and blog circle still talk about it as if it weren’t obvious that the Nebraska football team is blessed to be 4-0 and undeservedly lucky to be ranked No. 8 in the country. And the country we’re talking about is America!
Get this, from Pete Thamel in today’s New York Times:
“If the [Wisconsin] Badgers were playing in Lincoln on Saturday, Nebraska could easily be considered the Big Ten favorite.”
The guy must be drinking his cocktails mixed with water from the East River. Easily be considered the Big Ten favorite?
Let’s remember the past before we look to Saturday and No. 7 Wisconsin.
NU 40, Tennessee-Chattanooga 7
NU 42, Fresno State 29.
NU 51, Washington 38
NU 38, Wyoming 14
Nebraska played like gentlemen at Laramie, letting the clock expire instead of taking a final score from the Wyoming 2-yard-line. It also annoyed Nebraska fans, the ones giving 24 points, who wanted to beat the point spread
Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini previously said the Huskers aren’t yet playing championship football. On Saturday he said they’d need to “step it up” for Big Ten play. He also said the team’s improvement was a process that was continuing.
No argument here, coach.
Wisconsin hasn’t looked like a big deal either, if you define big in terms of LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama and even Oregon. Still, Wisconsin is 4-0 in non-conference games against less-than-standout competitors; and although looks might not count for much, they have looked better than Nebraska.
The Badgers’ passing attack in particular has looked better, make that far better, than Nebraska’s pass defense, whether on the defensive line or in the secondary. Quarterback Russell Wilson’s middle name is probably Accuracy. This is especially true when his target is wide receiver Nick Toon.
Wisconsin thumped South Dakota 59-10 at home Saturday, with Russell-to-Toon accounting for two scores. And a lot of Badgers reserves saw game time.
“I’m very excited for this week to finally get here,” Badgers Coach Bret Bielema said, with a hint of Yogi Berra’s style. “You guys might’ve heard, but we’re playing Nebraska, so there are some fun things to prepare this week. It’s a really exciting time for us because you put in all this hard work and effort into getting through the non-conference schedule, playing as clean as you can and get into a Big Ten race. There’s also the opportunity to play at home and at night. It’ll be a great scene, a great environment for college football and hopefully it’ll be a nice infomercial all week for University of Wisconsin.”
As soon as Bielema saw Nebraska on this year’s schedule, he began lobbying indirectly for the game to be played at night, in Madison. He got his wish.
It was July 30 when Andy Baggot of the Wisconsin State Journal was asking whether the Huskers-Badgers tilt would be the biggest game ever at Camp Randall Stadium.
Regardless of whether it is or isn’t, it’s a big enough game to warrant the national television audience that will see it. First Big Ten game for NU. Wisconsin No. 7. Nebraska No. 8. Both teams 4-0.
When the Huskers take the field against Wisconsin, they won’t just have to play up to their potential, they will have to play over-their-heads and out-of-their-minds football.
The kind Lawrence Taylor was talking about in that famous sideline video where he exhorts his NY Giants teammates: “Let’s go out there like a bunch of crazed dogs and have some fun!”
It might take a bunch of crazed dogs to beat a bunch of fired up Badgers who, rightfully or otherwise, believe they are the rightful and presumptive heirs to the Big Ten title.
And why do some in the sports blabber and blog circle still talk about it as if it weren’t obvious that the Nebraska football team is blessed to be 4-0 and undeservedly lucky to be ranked No. 8 in the country. And the country we’re talking about is America!
Get this, from Pete Thamel in today’s New York Times:
“If the [Wisconsin] Badgers were playing in Lincoln on Saturday, Nebraska could easily be considered the Big Ten favorite.”
The guy must be drinking his cocktails mixed with water from the East River. Easily be considered the Big Ten favorite?
Let’s remember the past before we look to Saturday and No. 7 Wisconsin.
NU 40, Tennessee-Chattanooga 7
NU 42, Fresno State 29.
NU 51, Washington 38
NU 38, Wyoming 14
Nebraska played like gentlemen at Laramie, letting the clock expire instead of taking a final score from the Wyoming 2-yard-line. It also annoyed Nebraska fans, the ones giving 24 points, who wanted to beat the point spread
Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini previously said the Huskers aren’t yet playing championship football. On Saturday he said they’d need to “step it up” for Big Ten play. He also said the team’s improvement was a process that was continuing.
No argument here, coach.
Wisconsin hasn’t looked like a big deal either, if you define big in terms of LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama and even Oregon. Still, Wisconsin is 4-0 in non-conference games against less-than-standout competitors; and although looks might not count for much, they have looked better than Nebraska.
The Badgers’ passing attack in particular has looked better, make that far better, than Nebraska’s pass defense, whether on the defensive line or in the secondary. Quarterback Russell Wilson’s middle name is probably Accuracy. This is especially true when his target is wide receiver Nick Toon.
Wisconsin thumped South Dakota 59-10 at home Saturday, with Russell-to-Toon accounting for two scores. And a lot of Badgers reserves saw game time.
“I’m very excited for this week to finally get here,” Badgers Coach Bret Bielema said, with a hint of Yogi Berra’s style. “You guys might’ve heard, but we’re playing Nebraska, so there are some fun things to prepare this week. It’s a really exciting time for us because you put in all this hard work and effort into getting through the non-conference schedule, playing as clean as you can and get into a Big Ten race. There’s also the opportunity to play at home and at night. It’ll be a great scene, a great environment for college football and hopefully it’ll be a nice infomercial all week for University of Wisconsin.”
As soon as Bielema saw Nebraska on this year’s schedule, he began lobbying indirectly for the game to be played at night, in Madison. He got his wish.
It was July 30 when Andy Baggot of the Wisconsin State Journal was asking whether the Huskers-Badgers tilt would be the biggest game ever at Camp Randall Stadium.
Regardless of whether it is or isn’t, it’s a big enough game to warrant the national television audience that will see it. First Big Ten game for NU. Wisconsin No. 7. Nebraska No. 8. Both teams 4-0.
When the Huskers take the field against Wisconsin, they won’t just have to play up to their potential, they will have to play over-their-heads and out-of-their-minds football.
The kind Lawrence Taylor was talking about in that famous sideline video where he exhorts his NY Giants teammates: “Let’s go out there like a bunch of crazed dogs and have some fun!”
It might take a bunch of crazed dogs to beat a bunch of fired up Badgers who, rightfully or otherwise, believe they are the rightful and presumptive heirs to the Big Ten title.
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