Heisman winners talk Suh
I tried to set the world record for most interviews with Heisman winners in a span of 30 minutes. Thanks to an appearance in Hastings last night by six Heisman guys (three Huskers and three Sooners), access was easy.
Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier, Eric Crouch, Steve Owens, Billy Sims and Jason White were signing autographs last night at Allen's Superstore in Hastings. And they will be doing so again today from 3:30 to 4:30 at NU's Wick Alumni Center in Lincoln (which is right next to the student union).
We'll have a lot more on those guys in a story in tomorrow's paper. But one of the things I asked them is if they'd be opposed to voting for a defensive tackle like Ndamukong Suh. Here's their answers:
OU’s Steve Owens: “No, certainly not. I’ve watched him play, I think, three times. ... He’s just overpowering. He’s an incredible football player, so my answer is: No, I’m not opposed to it. I’m certainly going to look at him. When you have a defensive lineman that’s that dominating that can do all the things he can do, he has to be a candidate for the Heisman, certainly.”
NU’s Mike Rozier: “Defensive guys are good, so are offensive linemen too. If it weren’t for those guys, I wouldn’t have gotten it. ... But they’re going to give it to a skilled player. It’s good to just be (in the running). I’m pretty sure (Suh) feels good that his name is just being announced in that running.”
OU’s Billy Sims: “I feel like it can go to a defensive guy. They finally voted for a sophomore guy with Tebow. First time. So anything can happen. That guy’s a great player for sure, without a doubt.”
NU’s Eric Crouch: “I think that as the voters have opened up their minds to freshmen and sophomores ... the voters are actually looking at different things. I think that you’ll see more defensive players get opportunities. But their team has to win too. They have to bring that element of winning to the table otherwise they probably won’t get that level of national recognition that they’re wanting.”
more»Prediction thread: OU-NU
Nebraska is yet to pull off a significant upset under Bo Pelini.
Beating No. 20 Oklahoma would be a surprise, for sure, considering Nebraska's recent struggles.
Beating a Sooner outfit that's one year removed from the national title game would obviously do wonders for Big Red's overall confidence.
Well, whadya think?
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Breakfast with Ted
It was receivers coach Ted Gilmore's turn to speak at the Big Red Breakfast in Omaha this morning, and he was refreshingly up front about the revolving-door situation he's had recently with some of the guys at his position.
As you know, former starters Curenski Gilleylen and Menelik Holt have spent the past two weeks working on the scout team, and neither played against Baylor last Saturday.
Gilmore said that duo, along with Niles Paul, was "playing pretty good ball for us, making some nice plays" before they started stumbling in the Virginia Tech game, "making mistakes that showed in my mind they’re not ready to be every-down players."
So Gilmore gave opportunities to junior college transfer Brandon Kinnie and redshirt freshman Khiry Cooper. Those two, along with Paul and senior Chris Brooks (who's not played the last two weeks because of injury), will play the bulk, if not all, of the snaps against Oklahoma Saturday night.
"As a whole, their heart’s in the right place," Gilmore said of his top receivers.
Breaking down each a little more closely, he lauded Kinnie for having "really strong hands. . . . He’s playing fast now. He’s playing at a high level now. He’s playing with some confidence. The last couple weeks he has really grown and he’s becoming that guy we thought he was."
As for Cooper, who also plays baseball for the Huskers: "Khiry, from zero to 20 yards, you really feel," Gilmore said."He pushes his routes. In the passing game I’m not worried. We’ve got to get him tougher, because he’s not used to getting out on the perimeter and doing some of the things he has to do."
Gilmore also lauded Brooks for being a positive influence on the other receivers while he's been out. He also mentioned how he sees Brooks as a valuable possession-type receiver.
And Paul? Is he the leader Gilmore would like to see?
"Not consistently," he said. "I want Niles Paul to be that guy. . . . The one thing I don't question is his toughness and his want-to."
OK, speaking of want-to, I see a box of Fruit Loops that needs some attention. I'm sure Sip and BC will have a predicitions thread up soon (if it isn't already), and other nuggets leading up to tomorrow night's big game, so keep checking back.
more»Thursday post-practice report
* Leading off: "I'm in the infant stages of my tenure. I'm not in the position right now to measure up to what Bob's done. He's won a national championship. He's won Big 12 championships. I'm finding my way and trying to build a program here. Obviously, he set a hell of a benchmark in how to go about that." -- Nebraska coach Bo Pelini on OU's Bob Stoops.
* Husker senior wideout Chris Brooks, who missed the last two games with a back injury, has practiced all week and will play Saturday, Pelini said. Cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, who reinjured his shoulder last week at Baylor, also will play. "He's fine," Pelini said. "No issues injury-wise."
* True freshman Cody Green made his first college start at quarterback for Nebraska last week. Husker coaches have been mum on whether Green will start again Saturday, or if junior Zac Lee will return to that role. Would Pelini consider alternating Green and Lee? "I don't know about alternating them, but I'm not afraid to use both guys in a game," the coach said.
more»Gillispie in town
If you attend Friday night's exhibition men's basketball game at the Devaney Center, you might see Doc's buddy Billy Gillispie. The former Texas A&M and Kentucky coach attended Wednesday's scrimmage, and I had a nice visit with him afterward.
Gillispie said he wasn't certain how long he would be in town. Of course, it's not like he's got a tight schedule to follow. He said he's enjoying his year off and is traveling the country, watching practices and taking notes on successful coaches and sucessful programs, including OU football, the Dallas Cowboys and several women coaches and coaches of women's teams.
The scrimmage was entertaining. Doc didn't seem to care (outwardly) that shots were being fired up some 8-10 seconds into the shot clock. That might help explain how the Reds scored 58 points in one of the 20-minute scrimmages (complete with officials and media time outs). That, and the fact it appears the Huskers have several more offensive options this season.
Your starting lineup will mostly likely be Lance Jeter, Sek Henry, Ryan Anderson, Brandon Ubel and Brian Diaz.
Christian Standhardinger, by the way, will play in both exhibitions. This will be your last chance to see the freshman forward until January.
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Live chat at 10 a.m.
BC and I will hold our weekly live chat starting at 10 a.m.
Don't hesitate to ask BC about his respect and adoration for the Big Ten Conference.
more»Opinion: OU-NU should be every year
Berry Tramel, longtime columnist for The Oklahoman newspaper, says it's time to bring back Nebraska-Oklahoma on an annual basis.
"Time to trash the Big 12's balanced schedule and make the Sooners- Huskers an annual rite," he writes in his column.
"College football was built on rivalries like this. College football needs games like this.
We've got enough Florida-Tennessees and Boise State-Oregons. Enough OU-Texases. Enough Bedlams.
We need more games that celebrate all that is great about sport. We need to preserve and treasure traditions, not cast them to the street in the name of equitable scheduling.
The Southeastern Conference realized that back when it expanded to 12 teams and two divisions in 1992. The SEC adopted a scheduling format to protect the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry. The Crimson Tide and Volunteers play every year despite being in opposite divisions. All other SEC teams were given an annual crossover opponent, too, but clearly, the format was fueled by Bama-Tennessee."
Sounds like a plan.
Click here for the rest of the column.
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1959 Husker reunion
More than 30 players from Nebraska's 1959 team will have a reunion this weekend in Lincoln.
The Huskers finished 4-6 that season under Bill Jennings. But they pulled off a landmark triumph, a 25-21 decision over No. 19 Oklahoma that ended the Sooners' 74-game conference unbeaten streak. It was also NU's first win over OU in 17 years.
Classes were canceled at Nebraska the following Monday to allow the celebration to rage on.
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An area to watch Saturday
Lots of chatter this week about Nebraska's scuffling offense and the hardships it likely will encounter against Oklahoma's excellent defense.
The Sooner offense obviously could have problems of its own, especially in the trenches.
Notice the Oklahoma depth chart shows Ben Habern, a redshirt freshman, as the starting center. At left guard, the Sooner depth chart lists senior Brody Eldridge, who actually started four games at tight end and one at center this season. He played three seasons at fullback. At right guard, OU starts sophomore Stephen Good.
If you're a Nebraska fan, you have to like the matchup of Ndamukong Suh and Jared Crick against Oklahoma's interior offensive line.
Just something to think about . . .
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Life after Texas
After Friday's loss at No. 2 Texas, John Cook said the Huskers need to "run the table" to build up the confidence it will take to make a big run in the NCAA Tournament.
Step one is tonight, and Nebraska is off to a good start against Missouri at the Coliseum, winning set one 25-19.
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Wednesday practice report
Nebraska worked out inside the Hawks Championship Center on Wednesday, three days before tangling with the Oklahoma Sooners.
"It was a good mental day for us," Husker defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said. "It was a good practice all the way around -- I think both sides of the ball."
Pelini complimented Oklahoma's offensive scheme.
"They create good matchups and we've got to try to counter that," he said. "And we've got to play fast or we're going to be in trouble."
The Sooners moved the ball at will against the Huskers last year in a 62-28 win. Among many issues Nebraska had was trying to deal with the fast-break offense OU sometimes throws at defenses.
"We didn't do any of it well last year in terms of their tempo," Pelini said. "It's something we've prepared hard for this week. You just can't ever fall asleep. They use the tempo to their advantage when they've got the momentum and they start speeding things up. You've got to be ready for that and you've always got to be aware that that's what's going to happen. We just keep reminding our guys in ways that we practice and just create an awareness of that tempo."
As for Oklahoma's offensive line? "They're big, they're physical, probably the best test for us this season. So we're going to have to come to play for sure."
more»Green analyzing Green
Cody Green says he's his own worst critic. He pointed out one such example of a detail he wasn't doing well in Saturday's game against Baylor.
“Things like after a handoff on a zone read, finishing the play. We always have one man to block pretty much, and that’s an end or say a backside safety on a handoff play that if I just finish out my naked," Green said. "At the end of the game, I started getting lazy with that, started watching the game. And we always say if you want to watch the game on the field, go buy a ticket. That’s really what I started doing at the end of the game, started being a spectator instead of actually playing. That’s one thing that I was hard on myself for. Yesterday, Wats really showed it to me.”
more»Big recruiting weekend
The Huskers will be hosting plenty of recruits this weekend when the team tangles with Oklahoma.
At this time, at least eight recruits who haven't yet made a commitment to Nebraska are expected to visit Lincoln.
The most highly-touted prospect on that list is Corey Cooper, a four-star safety from Maywood, Illinois. Cooper is committed to the Illinois, but still making a visit to Nebraska. He's ranked 15th at his position by Scout.com and 17th by Rivals.com.
Also expected to visit:
Jay Guy, defensive tackle from Houston, Texas (Scout: 4 stars, Rivals: 3 stars).
Tobi Okuyemi, defensive end from Plymouth, Minn. (3 stars).
Derrick Malone, safety from Colton, Calif. (3 stars).
And then there are four prospects from Roosevelt High School in Corona, Calif., who are anticipated to visit:
Wide receiver Austin Hill (3 stars).
Cornerback Joshua Mitchell (3 stars).
Wide receiver Tyler Slavin (3 stars).
Tight end Harold Mobley (Scout: 2 stars, Rivals: 3 stars).
All of these players have received offers from Nebraska.
It's also worth noting that defensive end Chase Rome, the highly-regarded Husker commit out of Columbia, Mo., is also expected to be in Lincoln for the game.
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Three keys for Big Red
Clearly, Nebraska coaches are preparing their players for a very physical Oklahoma team. Physicality -- a word that exists only in the realm of sports? -- is a theme this week. A buzz word, if you will.
Three keys to Nebraska upsetting Oklahoma:
1. Match OU's physicality on both sides of the ball. Husker defensive coordinator Carl Pelini regards the Sooners' offense similar to the way he regarded Virginia Tech's. "We had to match Virginia Tech's physicality," Carl said. "The difference between Oklahoma and Virginia Tech is Oklahoma's more versatile. Oklahoma's even physical in its 'small' sets. When it runs the ball in spread (formations), it runs physically. Oklahoma comes off the ball and knocks you."
Meanwhile, Oklahoma's defense is tenacious and talented, especially the front four. "You have to have control at the line of scrimmage," said Bo Pelini, essentially putting the onus on Nebraska's inconsistent offensive line.
Said Husker offensive coordinator Shawn Watson: "Using the Oklahoma-Texas game as an example, those were two heavyweights duking it out. We'll have to be relentless. You have to stay in there and keep swinging."
2. Don't let Oklahoma's offense control the tempo. This isn't a vintage OU offense, but it has its moments. Carl Pelini points out the Sooners' ability to quicken the pace. "It's like a snowball effect -- they get rolling and they speed the tempo up and it's hard to stop the momentum," Carl said. "That's something you really have to preach to your guys." The best way to combat this phenomenon? "You have to make a play. You have to slow the momentum. You can't let that style get into your head, because it can."
3. Be strong out of the gate. OK, we all remember what happened last season in Norman, Okla. The Sooners scored four TDs in the first 5 1/2 minutes. In the last three meetings between these teams, the Sooners have scored a TD within the first three minutes. Yes, a fast start is always important in any game. But I think NU's scuffling offense needs things to go well early to bolster its confidence.
Then it'll be time to settle in for a slugfest. I still think this game could be very close . . .
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Gathering of gridiron greatness
No fewer than 20 major award winners from past Nebraska and Oklahoma football teams will be on hand Friday night for a private dinner at the Champion's Club, just west of Memorial Stadium.
The group will be honored at halftime Saturday night.
Among those scheduled to attend: Larry Jacobson (1971 Outland), Johnny Rodgers (1972 Heisman), Dave Rimington (1981 and 1982 Outland, 1982 Lombardi), Dean Steinkuhler (1983 Outland and Lombardi), Mike Rozier (1983 Heisman), Will Shields (1992 Outland), Trev Alberts (1993 Butkus), Zach Wiegert (1994 Outland), Tommie Frazier (1995 Unitas), Aaron Taylor (1997 Outland), Eric Crouch (2001 Heisman).
Steve Owens (1969 Heisman), Greg Pruitt (College Hall of Fame), Joe Washington (College Hall of Fame), Tom Brahaney (College Hall of Fame), Billy Sims (1978 Heisman), Tony Casillas (1985 Lombardi), Brian Bosworth (1985 and 1986 Butkus), Rickey Dixon (1987 Jim Thorpe), Derrick Strait (2003 Thorpe and Nagurski), Josh Heupel (2000 Walter Camp), Jason White (2003 Heisman).
Tom Osborne and Barry Switzer also will be on hand.
The award winners are also invited to attend a special ribbon cutting Friday night for Nebraska's new Heisman room and major award display in the Osborne Athletic Complex.
more»Watson keeps open QB options
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson left open the door after Tuesday's practice that both Cody Green and Zac Lee could be called on in Saturday's game.
"That's not outside the realm of possibility," Watson said. "We'll see how this week goes in practice and what our best combination would be. And if that's one, we'd consider that."
Watson isn't ready to declare a starter. "They have to earn it in practice," he said. "We'll see how this week works out."
Watson said Green and Lee have become really close despite their competition for playing time.
"They've probably become best friends with one another," he said. "They really do help each other out in the classroom. And obviously in the game, earlier in the season, when Zac was playing, Cody was his help. And Zac did a great job with Cody on the sideline this Saturday, just helping him keep his poise in situations and work through some rough spots. After I talked to him, I noticed when I got involved with some other players, Zac was over there helping him."
more»Burkhead's return?
Bo Pelini shed some positive light on
Nebraska’s running back situation Tuesday when he said true freshman Rex
Burkhead could return in time for the Huskers’ final game at Colorado.
“Obviously,
for sure for the bowl game,” Pelini said. Burkhead, who’s rushed 23 times for
118 yards, has missed the last three games with a foot injury.
Cody G: Still have to earn it
Bo Pelini wasn't going to declare anyone a starting quarterback on Tuesday (though he didn't offer a correction to a question that asked specifically how CODY GREEN would handle this OU defense).
I know it frustrates some that he won't flat-out commit to Green. But coaches have said all along players have to earn their position each week at practice. So Pelini would be going against what they're preaching if he just named Green the guy early this week.
It is worth noting that Green was the only quarterback to come before the media at Tuesday's press conference.
"I think I still have to earn (the job) and that's just the way everyone's mentality is around here: It's not your job right now. You have to go earn your spot," Green said.
Does the true freshman think he did well enough to keep the starting position?
"I think I did," Green said. "It was a W, but still I made some mistakes, of course. The interception and the fumble, those turnovers were costly and could have turned the game around. Thankfully we have the defense that is just being a beast of a defense right now. Those Blackshirts are really showing out right now."more»
Landry Jones earns Bo's respect
OU redshirt freshman quarterback Landry Jones clearly has Bo Pelini's respect. "Everybody wants to compare him to (Sam) Bradford," Pelini said Tuesday. "I don't know how many games he's started -- maybe five or six. Sam Bradford developed into the best college football player in the country last year. Pretty tough shoes to fill. But I think he's done remarkably well. He has that offense clicking right now. They're doing a heck of a job. And really, it all starts with him. "The offense hasn't changed much with him. They run their stuff. I think they're playing very well around him. They're very efficient on offense right now." Jones has started five games total, including the last two, for the 20th-ranked Sooners (5-3, 3-1 Big 12). He was the co-Big 12 offensive player of the week after tossing four touchdown passes last week against Kansas State. He's completed 62.4 percent of his throws for 1,657 yards and 17 touchdowns, with six interceptions.
Pelini: Suh acted responsibly
Bo Pelini said Tuesday he's "really proud" of the way Ndamukong Suh handled matters in the wake of his car accident early Sunday morning.
"He called me right away," Pelini said. "He told me exactly what the situation was, where he was, what happened. It was an accident. I thought he handled it the right way, very responsibly. He's fully prepared to take care of the damages and all of that."
Lincoln police cited the Nebraska senior DT on suspicion of negligent driving. Suh told police he swerved to avoid hitting a cat or dog in the road, according to a police accident report. His 2003 Land Rover struck three vehicles parked along U Street in between 30th and 31st streets at about 2:20 a.m.
According to the accident report, a preliminary Breathalyzer measured the 22-year-old Suh’s blood-alcohol content at 0.035 percent. The legal limit for drivers in Nebraska is 0.08 percent.
Pelini said Sunday the accident won't affect Suh's playing status.
In March of 2008, Pelini said his team had a zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol use.
"The zero tolerance is obviously for drunkenness, that type of thing," Pelini said Tuesday. "He was far from drunk. I know exactly where he was and what he did that night. This doesn't really fall into that category. I deal with those situations kind of on a case-by-case basis. If somebody's drunk and gets into trouble, they're going to have an issue. That wasn't the case here."
However, Pelini said, Suh will be disciplined internally because he was ticketed.
"What I told him was, I understand why he was up that late, but that's probably the thing I was most disappointed in," the coach said. "Any time you're up that hour of the night -- I understand why he was -- you leave yourself at that hour for things to happen."
Pelini said Suh, in the hours before the accident, was at someone's residence, had dinner and fell asleep. "He got up and was going to his house downtown," the coach said.
Pelini began his media session by immediately addressing the Suh situation, without being asked, "because I want him to be able to concentrate on football."
"I told him not to field any questions about it," the coach said.
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Bo Pelini live at 11:30 a.m.
. . . Or thereabouts.
Ndamukong Suh also is scheduled to speak at the weekly Nebraska football gathering for media.
more»A history lesson for OU players
Bob Stoops was asked in what ways the coming of the Big 12 impacted the Nebraska-Oklahoma rivalry, now that the teams play only twice every four years.
Does it diminish the intensity of the rivalry?
"I think there's no question it's changed," he said. "It's different. You think back in the old Big Eight days. For so many years it was Oklahoma and Nebraska at the top of the league and battling at the end of the season every year.
"There's no denying the difference now that it's changed and you don't play every year, and you're not in the same division. All of that has changed it to some degree."
Are young players aware of the history of the rivalry?
"We always put it in front of them," Stoops said. "But young guys in today's world, history's a year or two. But you do your best to educate them on it. You like to them to understand where the rivalry used to be and the tradition of it."
more»Stoops impressed with Husker 'D'
Bob Stoops knows a good defense when he sees it.
"Very physical -- a great front four," the Oklahoma head coach said when asked for his impressions about Nebraska's defense.
He said the front four "is where I always believe defense begins. Better defenses are really good up front."
Nebraska enters Saturday night's game ranked ninth nationally in total defense (267.6) and fourth in average points allowed (11.3).
Stoops said the Husker defense has "physical guys across the board. Very disciplined, which you'd expect from watching Bo's defenses."
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Monday update
Seems ironic that Nebraska football will be featured tonight on a sit-com named "Big Bang Theory," considering the Huskers' lack of bang on offense lately.
But Jeff Korbelik tells us what we need to know about the CBS show tonight.
Now, for practice. Not much to report. Bo Pelini was rather quiet in a brief, 2-minute meeting with reporters.
Running back Roy Helu (shoulder) is practicing and no longer wearing a green, hands-off jersey. "I think he's doing OK. We'll see how the week progresses."
Pelini said he didn't know any information regarding tight Kyler Reed, who left Saturday's game with an injury.
Nothing to update on the quarterbacks. Pelini wouldn't say when or if he'd name a starter. We'll assume it's Cody Green, although Pelini said the starter "would have to earn it this week."
Asked if Green provided a spark Saturday, Pelini said: "I don't know about that."
No talk of Ndamukong Suh, although Suh will address the media like he does every week at the Tuesday news conference. Cody Green will also speak.
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Mangino looks for Reesing to rebound
Kansas coach Mark Mangino raised eyebrows Saturday when he benched Todd Reesing with 7:05 to go in the Jayhawks' 42-21 loss at Texas Tech.
Redshirt freshman Kale Pick replaced Reesing with the Jayhawks trailing by two touchdowns.
"No. 1, he wasn't getting great protection from the offensive line, and I didn't want him taking any more shots," Mangino said Monday of his reasoning for removing Reesing. "No. 2, things just weren't in sync for our whole offense -- not just him. I thought it was in his best interest and our team's best interest to take him out of there for the last couple series."
Mangino said Monday Reesing will be the starter Saturday when KU (5-3, 1-3 Big 12) plays at Kansas State (5-4, 3-2) in a critical game in the North Division title chase.
Reesing "is ready to go. He wants to win. I don't see any problems with him about anything. I think the least of his worries ought to be coming out of the game. He's going to focus on getting himself better and getting back into sync."
Kansas might be facing a "must" win at Kansas State in terms of the North race, not that Mangino talks to his players about it.
"First of all, they'll read all the papers and listen to all of you guys, so they'll know that," Mangino said. "But they're not going to hear that from me. My message is, we have to get ourselves better. We have to improve fundamentally. We have to improve our assignments. We have to improve in a lot of areas in all three phases of the game.
"When you do that, then you have a chance to win. If you don't do that, all that other stuff doesn't mean anything if you don't take care of your business out on the field."
more»NU-KU on ABC
The Nebraska-Kansas game on Nov. 14 will kick off at 2:30 p.m. and be televised regionally by ABC.
At least three of Nebraska's final four regular-season games will be on ABC. We won't know the TV status of NU's Nov. 21 home game against Kansas State until six to 12 in advance of it. But it's seeming more likely with each week that that game will also be picked up by a television network given the implications it might have on the Big 12 North race.
Other Big 12 games on TV that day:
Texas at Baylor (FSN, 11 or 11:30 a.m.)
Missouri at Kansas State (Versus, 11:30 a.m.)
Texas A&M at Oklahoma (FSN, 6 p.m.)
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State (ABC, 7 p.m.)
Pelini looks for better run game
Husker coach Bo Pelini said Monday that running back Dontrayevous Robinson, who got dinged after catching a screen pass late in the third quarter Saturday, should be ready to practice this week.
"We've got to get better production," Pelini said. "We need to run the football better. We got to block better. We got to run more consistently. We have to not miss holes. We just need to execute better in that phase of our game."
Of course, Pelini has lived the Nebraska-Oklahoma rivalry from both sides, having served as the OU defensive coordinator in 2004 when the Sooners beat the Huskers 30-3 in Norman. (You probably remember that game most for the infamous "hillbillies" line.)
About Nebraska-Oklahoma, Pelini said: "Anytime you've played for a long time and the games are meaningful, there's going to be a different air to the game."
The coach said the attention Jared Crick is receiving just shows the type of football game he played Saturday. "I'm proud of him," Pelini said.
more»More love for Crick
Even coaches who weren't involved in Saturday's Nebraska-Baylor game are talking about Jared Crick.
Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said Monday he and his staff were discussing Crick this morning.
"He's that good," Rhoads said. "That entire defensive football team and entire front seven play awfully well together."
As expected, Crick was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Yesterday, he was recognized as the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week.
more»The Big 12 North crawl
The standings are as so:
Kansas State 3-2
Nebraska 2-2
Iowa State 2-3
Kansas 1-3
Colorado 1-3
Missouri 1-3
The schedule sets up as so:
Kansas State: Kansas, Missouri, at Nebraska
Nebraska: Oklahoma, at Kansas, Kansas State, at Colorado
Iowa State: Oklahoma State, Colorado, at Missouri
Kansas: at Kansas State, Nebraska, at Texas, Missouri
Colorado: Texas A&M, at Iowa State, at Oklahoma State, Nebraska
Missouri: Baylor, at Kansas State, Iowa State, Kansas
So what do we make of this?
*** If Nebraska wins its final three games of the season it wins the division (so long as Iowa State drops one of its last three).
*** Don't dismiss Missouri from this conversation. Just look at the Tigers' schedule down the stretch.
*** Kansas will either be right in the thick of it or basically eliminated from the race based on this week's game against Kansas State.
more»NU-OU at 7 p.m.
The Nebraska-Oklahoma game will kickoff at 7 p.m. and be televised on ABC.
Other Big 12 games on TV:
Texas-Central Florida 11 a.m. (FSN)
Kansas-Kansas State, 11:30 a.m. (Versus)
Oklahoma State-Iowa State, 2:30 p.m. (ABC)
more»Gilmore: Holt, Gilleylen must work way back
Junior Niles Paul, sophomore Brandon Kinnie and redshirt freshman Khiry Cooper received the majority of snaps among Nebraska wideouts against Baylor, with freshman Antonio Bell making a brief appearance. Meanwhile, neither senior Menelik Holt nor sophomore Curenski Gilleylen, regular contributors for most of the season, played a snap. Gilleylen is from nearby Leander, Texas. "They have to come back to work and do it every single day -- every single snap in practice -- and get themselves back in position because we need them," Husker wideouts coach Ted Gilmore said. "We need them all." No argument there.
Crick receiving fanfare
I saw Jared Crick was honored with a helmet stick last night on ESPN. He's also been named the Walter Camp Foundation Defensive Player of the Week.
His friend in the trenches, Ndamukong Suh, claimed this honor earlier this year.
You'd figure a few more honors will come Crick's way this week. It'd be a real surprise if he weren't the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week.
As Eric Hagg joked after the game yesterday, the sophomore from Cozad's stat line yesterday is what some guys hope for in one season.
The numbers: 13 tackles (10 solo), and a school-record 5 quarterback sacks. He had 7 tackles for losses, a fumble recovery and broke up a pass.
Not bad, huh?
NU-OU kickoff time?
We should find out today what time the Nebraska-Oklahoma game kicks off this Saturday. Given last night's results, I suspect it will be either 2:30 or 7 p.m. on ABC.
The other option is an 11:30 a.m. kick on Versus, but I think since NU and OU both won that renders that possibility very unlikely. We'll let you know when we find out.
more»A few final thoughts...
"You suck Watson!" a red-clad fan yelled toward the Nebraska locker room after Saturday's game, although offensive coordinator Shawn Watson was nowhere in sight.
Bo Pelini heard the fan's outburst and, after his postgame session with reporters, walked toward the group of Husker fans, apparently looking for the Watson hater. The guy probably should be glad Bo didn't find him.
Green: A moment I'll remember forever
Well, whatever happens, Cody Green has already entered select company. He became just the second true freshman to start at quarterback for Nebraska. The other is Tommie Frazier.
Green said he felt comfortable in the role, and felt like things were rolling in the first half.
"In the second half ... we kind of went out there and just shot blanks," Green said. "We're lucky enough that our defense came up big enough in the second half for us. But you know those games like that you really can't go out and throw a blank in the second half. We just have to go back and go to work."
Green said he and Lee had been getting equal reps until the very end of the week. Then Green started taking more snaps with the top unit.
Green said he really appreciated the support from Lee this week and during the game. Such support was needed after a bad throw by Green was picked off and returned 45 yards to close the score to 20-10.
"I got to give it to Zac, I got to give it to the rest of the guys that helped me out with it too," Green said. "They just circled around me and pretty much said, 'Hey, don't be afraid to make mistakes. We got your back. Just go out there and play your game. We're going to play ours.'"
Green said it was a dream come true starting at this level. With his home town being just a three-hour drive away, he said about 50 people close to him wanted tickets.
"It felt good. It felt real good," Green said. "It's every young kid's dream to start for the college team your freshman year. It was one of those moments I'll remember forever."
more»What the Bears said
Here's some of what Baylor coaches and players had to say after their 20-10 loss to Nebraska on Saturday.
"It couldn't have started out any worse than it did," Baylor coach Art Briles said. "I don't think you have to be a football follower for years to understand that isn't how you want to start a football game. ... That in itself set us back and I am just proud that our guys continued to fight."
Said quarterback Nick Florence: "It is frustrating. A play slips through your hands. We had plays at the end and we didn't do it. We fought hard in the second half. It was a valiant effort, but it does hurt when it was so close."
About the interception he returned 45 yards for a touchdown, Cliton Odom said: "I was just in the right place at the right time. It happened so fast, I was definitely thinking about taking it to the house. I think it was a pretty big play. It got us going."
Baylor players said they didn't make a lot of adjustments on defense at halftime. "More than anything I think it was everyone doing their responsibilities," linebacker Joe Pawelek said.
more»Postgame: Huskers 20, Baylor 10
It wasn't easy. Cody Green looked good for the first three offensive series before finding the going rough. But ultimately, Nebraska leaves Waco with a 20-10 win.
"He had some rough spots," Husker offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said of Cody Green. "I'll tell you what he did, though. He competed and that's what I was really pleased with, the fact that he competed. ... He did some things that freshmen sometimes do first time out. He's got a lot to get better at, but no doubt he competed. ... We didn't ask him to do much. We just asked him to kind of manage us."
Watson said Nebraska went into the game with a very simple offensive game plan for Green's first start. The decision to start Green was made on Thursday.
Is Green the starter now? "We'll see where we're at," Watson said. "I think mine and Bo's approach everyweeks is to let those guys hammer it out in practice. I think Cody's done a really nice job and he's giving us some things in the run game. With our tailback situation that's important right now."
Said Husker coach Bo Pelini: "Anytime you go on the road and win it is an an accomplishment. It was a good win for our guys. It was a win. We won the football game."
About Cody Green's interception, Pelini said: "That guy is trying to make a play and he just made a mistake. He made a bad throw and they took advantage of it. Good for them."
About the dominating done by Jared Crick, Pelini said: "They turned their center to (Ndamukong) Suh and they were trying to double-team Suh and he took advantage of it. He is tood good of a football player if they are going to do that."
About the blocked punt return for a touchdown, he said: "That was really big for us. It got us momentum. WHen you are starting Cody it takes the pressure off of him a bit."
more»Questions about the Baylor game go here
This is for those inquisitive souls who'd like a player or coach to address your topic after the game.
What's on your mind?
more»Game thread: NU at Baylor
Mike Babcock gave us a nice nugget as we pulled into the Floyd Casey Stadium parking lot.
Today matches the only two Gotham Bowl winners.
By the way, anybody know who's starting at quarterback?
Speaking of that, Brian Rosenthal was just hanging out at the North Texans for Nebraska tailgate. Tom Osborne spoke briefly to the group and called today "a watershed game."
Added Osborne: "We've made a few changes and you'll see them on the field today."
Game on.
It's Gameday
Usually at this time each week, I give this thread the title "Happy Gameday." But I'll let you decide for yourself by about 3 p.m. today how happy you are about it.
The outcome of today's game should provide interesting conversation no matter what. A loss and I assume there will be a minor meltdown by many back home. Maybe not in the Chernobyl category like 2007, but still....
I think the Huskers will take care of business today. And my prediction (prediction, I say) is Cody Green will start. That's a fascinating element to today's game: How much of a youth movement will there be on offense? How much Green? How much Dontrayevous Robinson? We already were told redshirt freshman Khiry Cooper would start at wide receiver. It's possible (possible, I say) that the Huskers could have three freshmen on the field at skilled positions at the same time.
If Green does start, keep in mind that he would be only the second Husker true freshman to start at quarterback in the modern era -- joining Tommie Frazier in 1992. But we shall see. You know Zac Lee will have a lot to prove if given his chance. Only sure bets: Nebraska won't turn the ball over eight times today and Suh will be Suh.
more»
Biz Buzz: More restaurant news
Restaurants opening and closing seem to make up about 80 percent
of Biz Buzz news right now, but at least this one is positive.
Lincoln Life: Cell Phone Clowns (on unicycles)
Interesting
study: Seventy five percent of people walking and talking on
their cell phones failed to notice a purple-clad clown riding a
unicycle near them. Poor Shriners.
Taking over for a legend
Assistant coach Nathan Moseley has been promoted to head coach
for the Omaha Westside girls soccer team. He replaces Don Gilpin,
who started the program and was state runner-up six times before
retiri
Bring a shovel and help with Sunken Gardens Saturday.
Siers traded
I’ll miss talking to Siers. He was nice, energetic and smart. I remember once he stopped me in the training room. How do you always come up with all those story ideas, and write those stories so quick after games, he asked? How do you always beat the snot out of people, I asked in return? We’re both just doing our job, I guess!
It’s obviously tougher to be a hockey enforcer in Year 2 in the USHL, when lots of people have learned their lesson.
Siers had nine points in 50 games for the Stars last year. He had one assist in 10 games this year.
I asked Stars coach Jimmy McGroarty why he traded Siers?
“He needed a chance to play in his last year in the league,” McGroarty said. “I didn’t foresee him playing a lot. The next couple games, yes, but I didn’t want it to be too late. He still has scholarships in the wings. We need to give him a chance to play, and Waterloo has always asked about him”
Siers was a 4.0-student in high school. There are some good academic schools looking at him for hockey.
Lincoln travels to Waterloo on Saturday. I would guess he’ll be in the lineup.
The (big) moves begin
It’s becoming clear Lincoln won’t sit back and watch a struggling season. Today, the Stars traded forward Jimmy Siers and goalie Steve Racine to Waterloo for draft picks.
Coach McGroarty is looking for a new goalie, but for Saturday he’ll likely use emergency backup Nick DeGarmo of the Jr. Stars.
McGroarty said he couldn’t Siers enough ice time, and knows there are some colleges that would like to see him play more.
The Stars have added Jon Puskar full time. He played for the Stars some last year and was having a good year in Canada.
Brodie Reid is expected to play Saturday after being hurt, as will Steve West. Ryan Dzingel will come up from the minors to help again. Brent Tate will come off the 45-day IR and should play.
Garrett Peterson and Kyle Gibbons will both have two-game league suspensions for the fight at Tri-City on Tuesday. They’ll both serve those Saturday and next Friday.
We’ll have more later.
more»The Top 20
From the good news department, several teams that include former Stars and schools that Lincoln players are committed to are in the Top 20 poll for college hockey.
1. Miami (41) 6-1-1 (Carter Camper, 8 pts. in 8 games)2. Denver (4) 5-2-1
3. North Dakota 4-1-1 (Jason Gregoire, Chris VandeVelde)
4. Michigan 4-2 (Chad Langlais, starting GK Bryan Hogan)
5. Cornell 1-0
6. Yale (1) 1-0
7. Boston University 2-3 (Colby Cohen)
8. UMass-Lowell 4-2
9. Notre Dame 4-3-1
10. Nebraska-Omaha (JJ Koehler, Ryan Kretzer)
11. Bemidji State 5-0-1 (Kyle Hardwick)
12. Colorado College 4-1-1
13. Alaska 5-0-1
14. Princeton 1-1 (Eric Meland, Michael Sdao, Mike Kramer)
15. Vermont 2-3 (Justin Milo, Dan Lawson)
16. Boston College 2-2 (Jimmy Hayes)
17. Michigan State 6-2 (Chris Forfar, 2 goals in 8 games)
18. Wisconsin 3-2-1 (Mike Davies, Ben Grotting, Pat Johnson)
19. UMass 4-1
20. Minnesota-Duluth 5-2-1
I know some folks here get the mega cable sports package. Have you see any of the former Stars in action?
And how about the UNO Mavs with their new coach and new-look Ryan Krezter with four points in five games??
Let me know if I missed somebody. Plenty of guys playing for teams not in the Top 20 if you want to add those, also. Quinnnpiac was close close to making the list.
more»
Game 12: Tri-City 2, Lincoln 1 (Stars drop to 4-8)
Lincoln will look to try to make a big jump after losing 5-1 to Tri-City on Saturday. The Stars are still banged up, but that's not going to change anytime in the next month.
Forwards
Lynch-Brockett-McCarron
Gibbons-Peterson-Shine
George-Mermis-Siers
‘D’
Lauwers-Hibbeler
Bruneteau-Baumbick
Hoshaw-Weissenhofer
Net
Coreau
Scatches: Hanson (injured), Ammon (injured), West (injured), Reid (injured), Tate (IR), Rayner (IR), Gerths (Team USA).
Here is the spot to talk about the game if you're listening on the radio or the WWW.
more»Game Day Report
Last weekend, Lincoln had three players injured, two more on the 45-day injured reserve, Steve Racine was sick and forward David Gerths is playing for Team USA in the World Junior A Challenge. Another veteran player, Steve West, left Saturday's game against Tri-City with an injury.
"We have players right now," Stars coach Jimmy McGroarty said. "Obviously, we're missing some players, but that's no excuse. What that does is give other guys an opportunity to step up in the power-play role, the penalty-kill role. Some guys have got to appreciate the opportunity in front of them and not take it for granted.
Tonight's game
Tri-City has already made a big turnaround from an 11-win season last year. The line of Radoslav Illo, Josh Berge and Anthony DeCenzo played together for Tri-City last season, and has combined for 12 goals this year.
more»Getting to know: Rookie forward Dominik Shine
He’s from Pinckney, Mich., and won national championships in ’08 and ’09.
FAVORITE PRO ATHLETE: Ryan Getzlaf.
FAVORITE MOVIE: Wedding Crashers.
FAVORITE WARM-UP SONG: ‘She’s Coutry.’
GREATEST INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE: My Grandpa Frank.
FIRST PLAYED HOCKEY: 5 years old.
MY BEST HOCKEY STRENGHT: Grit.
WHAT SPORT, OTHER THAN HOCKEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY: Ultimate fighting.
WHAT I MISS MOST FROM HOME: My little sister.
BEST THING ABOUT BEING A HOCKEY PLAYER: Hitting.
more»McGroarty: "We look discombobulated."
Tri-City beat Lincoln 5-1 on Saturday at the Ice Box. Stars coach Jimmy McGroarty was searching for answers after the loss. The Stars were out shot 32-19. Tri-City was 1-for- 4 on the power play and Lincoln 0 for 7.
“Tri-City looked like a team, and we look discombobulated,” McGroarty said. “We looked like we didn’t know sometimes about the forecheck, or what we were doing on our power play. You got to pay attention to details, whether you’re working or at school or playing sports. That’s what’s going to separate the really good players from the average players.”
Tri-City also beat Lincoln 4-1 this season. The Storm are 6-1-1, a BIG turnaround from last year.
more»
Players of the Week
The United States Hockey League on Monday announced the weekly award winners for the fifth week of the 2009-10 USHL regular season.
Congratulations to Matt Bailey of the Sioux Falls Stampede, named Reebok Offensive Player of the Week; Nick Bailen of the Indiana Ice, selected as CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and Matt Hemingway of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, who earned honors as the USHL Goaltender of the Week.
Bailey registered five points (2g, 3a) and a plus-three rating as the Stampede earned consecutive victories. He dished out two assists in Friday’s 4-0 shutout of Lincoln. The following evening he scored two goals on two shots and collected one assist for a three-point effort in the 7-3 win vs. Sioux City. The 18-year-old native of Winnipeg, Manitoba leads Sioux Falls in scoring with 12 points (6g, 6a) and is currently riding a three-game point streak (3g, 3a). Bailey is in his second USHL season after scoring 24 points (10g, 14a) in 58 games last season for the Tri-City Storm.
Bailen recorded three points (1g, 2a) and plus-three rating during Indiana’s two-game sweep of Waterloo. He assisted on the game-winning goal in Friday’s 2-1 victory, and then scored his first goal of the season while also collecting an assist during Saturday’s 7-0 win. The Fredonia, New York native is currently tied for the team lead in scoring with six points (1g, 5a). The 19-year-old defenseman played his 171st USHL regular season game on Saturday which ties him for the most by a player in Ice history. Currently in his fourth USHL season, Bailen has scored 48 points (14g, 34a) in the League.
Hemingway made just his second USHL start on Friday, but stopped all 30 shots in the 2-0 victory over the Chicago Steel. The 18-year-old from Alexandria, Minnesota earned the key road win over the League’s top offensive club, which had averaged 4.88 goals per game coming into the contest. Hemingway has won both his starts during his first USHL season and currently has a 1.92 GAA and a .943 SV% for the RoughRiders.
Join the conversation
I’ve had a few people ask about how to post comments on the new Blue Line Blog. It’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it.
All you need to do is push “Join This Group” in the upper left part of this screen. It won’t take long for you to create an account and you’ll be posting away. You even get to come up with a cool username (Hockeygal, Siers fan, I live for the Walking Taco, etc.).
There is plenty to talk about this season with a captain from Omaha, a Lincoln-born player getting a chance, a team that is struggling in part thanks to injuries, etc.
I’d love to read your thoughts on the team. Your comment may also appear in the newspaper someday with your profile name.
more»
Lincoln-born players makes history
(Photo by Erin Duerr, Lincoln Journal Star) 
Will Suter (above No. 18) was a fill-in player for the Lincoln Stars this weekend, making history by being the first Lincoln-born player to play for the Stars. He played at the Ice Box for the first time Saturday, but the Stars lost 5-1 to Tri-City.
"I always wanted to play for the Stars," Suter said. "Just being a part of this was great. I loved it."
Game 11: Tri-City 5, Lincoln 1 (Stars drop to 4-7)
(Photo by Erin Duerr, Lincoln Journal Star)
Check out 8 photos from the game HERE.
It’s Halloween night at the Ice Box. Nothing great to report on the costume front yet, but give it time.
The Stars are still beat up.
Forwards
Lynch-Brockett-Gibbons
Hoshaw-Peterson-McCarron
Siers-Mermis-Shine
George-Suter
‘D’
Bruneteau-Baumbick
Lauwers-Weissenhofer
West-Hibbeler
Net
Coreau
Emergency backup
DeGarmo
Scatches: Hanson (injured), Ammon (injured), Reid (injured), Tate (IR), Rayner (IR), Gerths (Team USA).
Check back for updates and offer your take here.
Game 10: Sioux Falls 4, Lincoln 0 (Stars drop to 4-6)
David Gerths is with Team USA.
Will Suter is one of the fill-in players. He's from Omaha and putting up big numbers with the Russell Stover program. Lincoln Jr. Stars goalie Nick Degarmo is the emergency goalie.
Forwards
Gibbons-Brockett-McCarron
Mermis-Peterson-Shine
Lauwers-Suter-Siers
Lynch-George
'D'
West-Hibbeler
Bruneteau-Baumbick
Hoshaw-Wissenhofer
Net
Correau
Scratches: Reid (injured), Hanson (injured), Ammon (injured), Rayner (IR), Tate (IR), Racine (sick), Gerths (Team USA).
Here is the spot to talk about the game to help the rest of us out.
more»
Roster madness
The biggest move was when Lincoln traded Brett Chartier to Green Bay. Lincoln gets a third round pick, and it could become a second round pick based on what Chartier does in Green Bay. McGroarty says the move had nothing to do with off-ice conduct.
“It was time for a change,” McGroarty said. “He’s a good player and wanted to stay in the league. I feel like I failed him because I couldn’t get to him. He’s a phenomenal kid and needs to play. It’s tough to trade our most skilled player.”
Lincoln has added forward Patrick George, and he’ll play
this weekend. George played for Indiana in the preseason. McGroarty liked him
at the Fall Classic, but was committed to the Lincoln guys. Andrew O'Leary, who had battled illness, was traded for George and will play closer to home.
Brent Tate and Will Rayner are both on the 45-day injured reserve, but don’t count against the 23-man roster.
Jared Hanson is injured and may miss another four weeks. Andrew Ammon is hurt and may be out awhile.
Dominik Shine started on the affiliated roster, but after six games was added to the regular roster and should be here all season.
All the guys on the affiliated roster have games with their teams this weekend, so they won’t be able to get called up to help Lincoln. Lincoln may try to add an area player for the weekend to help the cause.
So in summery, Lincoln may only have nine or 10 forwards this weekend, and has some open roster spots, even with accounting for Tate and Rayner.
I’m healthy and will be at the Ice Box on Saturday dressed as a sports writer. See ya then.
more»USHL Players of the Week
Congratulations to Jaden Schwartz of the Tri-City Storm, named Reebok Offensive Player of the Week; Bryce Aneloski of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, selected as CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and Jeff Teglia of the Omaha Lancers, who earned honors as the USHL Goaltender of the Week.
Schwartz registered seven points (2g, 5a) and a plus-four rating in helping the Tri-City Storm win three straight games during the week. He scored two goals in the first period of the 4-1 win vs. Lincoln on Tuesday. On Friday, he dished out three assists in the 5-3 win over Youngstown, and then added two more assists in Saturday’s 3-1 win vs. the Phantoms. The native of Wilcox, Saskatchewan has at least one point in each of his last six games, the longest active USHL scoring streak, and has multiple points in four games during that span. The 17-year-old forward is in his first USHL season and leads the Storm with 11 points (4g, 7a) in seven games.
Aneloski registered a League season high six points (3g, 3a) in Saturday’s 7-2 win vs. Team USA. The defenseman also recorded the first hat trick of the 2009-10 USHL season scoring all three of his goals on the power play, which ties a League record for power play goals in a game. The six points are the most by a USHL player since Kyle Flanagan of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders scored six points (1g, 5a) on November 29, 2008. Aneloski also fired a League season high 12 shots on goal during his six-point game. The native of Pekin, Illinois added an assist in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Lincoln and now leads the entire USHL in scoring with 15 points (6g, 9a). The 19-year-old has already eclipsed his point total from a season ago when he scored 12 points (4g, 8a) in 38 games played.
Teglia posted two victories with a 1.00 GAA and a .956 SV% for the Lancers during the week. He made 25 saves in the 5-1 win vs. Chicago on Thursday, and then stopped 18 shots for his first road victory of the season in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Sioux City. It is the second weekly honor of the season for the native of Bloomingdale, Illinois native after capturing the award following the USHL’s first week of play. Teglia, 18, currently leads USHL goaltenders with a 1.61 GAA and is tied with Indiana’s Cab Morris for the League’s top save percentage (.935). Teglia has allowed just one goal in each of his four victories this season helping the Lancers to the top of the West Division standings (6-1-0).
more»
Matter of Opinion: More gullible, more stupid
What does it mean when new medicines, even drugs that have been prescribed for years, no longer can be proven more effective than sugar pills?
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