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H U S K E R D A N
HUSKER DAN'S 2006 PRETTY PERKY, PRECARIOUS, PRESEASON PIGSKIN PIX
Before Husker Dan starts yammering about the 2006 Husker football season,
catch
the following video and see how many times you get shivers just
watching this. It's okay-I'll wait...
Okay, now we return you to our regularly scheduled programming.
Are you ready for some football? Are you tired of having to put up with
the World Cup tournament? Wimmbelton? (Why do the chick players have
to grunt so much?)
Golf? (You gotta wonder about golf. The game makes no sense. At the
most critical times in a tournament, the spectators have to remain SILENT-What
was the inventor of golf thinking? Can you imagine, not being able to
make a sound when the Huskers have it 4th and goal at the Sooner 2 yard
line with 5 seconds to go in the Big 12 Championship game? One play
that will determine if the Huskers win their first championship since
'99, Callahan's first BCS bowl game, and the freakin' crowd is supposed
to remain SILENT!!! How can anyone embrace a game that won't let you
yell and scream and throw things?! It makes no sense! Auggggggghhhhh!!!)
And then there's major league baseball, a game that you can at least
yell and scream at, but they start in, what, like January and it takes
until almost November to figure out who the hell the champion is? Puh-leeeese!
God made college football to save us from all that crap. Write it down.
As Steve The "Forever Red" Clad Loon's Elmer Hicks would say,
"I am right!".
SO LET'S GET STARTED, ALREADY!
Okay, are you excited for the 2006 Husker football season to begin?
Have you been counting the days until the La Tech game? Do you like
to watch movies about gladiators, Joey?
Okay, so skip that last part.
It's time to reveal Husker Dan's pix for '06 (hey, that rhymes!). Here's
how Husker Dan sees things for the Huskers and the rest of the Big 12
this fall.
RED NEXT
Not since '99 have the Huskers won, let alone, played in a Big 12 championship
game. This once proud program that dominated the 90s under the direction
of Tom Osborne, fell on "hard times"-hard, that is, with two,
count 'em two non-winning seasons ('02 and '04) in the past 43 years.
MIAMI COMPASSION?
Oh sure, the Huskers qualified to play in the national championship
game in 2001 (after getting their butts kicked by the Buffs at Boulder
that year) and went on to get clobbered in the Rose Bowl by an NFL team
disguised as the Miami Hurricanes. Only the compassion of Miami head
coach Larry Coker kept the score from nudging toward triple digits.
(Wait a minute-a Miami head football coach with compassion? Woah! What
in the name of Howard Schnellenberger is going on here? What's next,
Steve Pederson at a fund raiser for Ohio U?)
CHANGES?
As everyone in the college football world knows, there was a regime
change at Lincoln (No!), the option was put on waivers, a new coaching
staff and a new philosophy took over in '04. Those changes saw several
players quit the team, coaches "retire", donors withhold donations
and some Husker fans (and you know who you are) become the nastiest
I've ever seen.
In 2004, the Huskers struggled to find themselves. The nadir was reached
during a blowout loss at the hands of Red Raiders of Texas Tech. Even
the most ardent Husker fan began to doubt if the West Coast Experiment
would ever work at Nebraska.
SIDETRACKED
And to add fuel to the doubters' fire, the experiment was further sidetracked
by lop-sided losses last year at Kansas and Missouri and two other games
in which the Huskers trailed by 20 + points. But in true Husker tradition,
the football team found an identity late in the season. The Huskers
quickly went from being MIA on milk cartons to being upstart poster
boys. The Huskers started to find ways to win games, instead of lose
them as they did earlier at home against T-Tech and Oklahoma.
To be sure, even some of the wins weren't pretty. In fact, they were
knock down, butt-ugly victories with the ugliest of them all at home
against Pittsburgh. And the Iowa State win was not centerfold material
either. And don't forget, in the last home game against K-State, the
Huskers tried their best to give the game away for most of 4 quarters,
but somehow, some way, found a way to steal a win.
THE HUSKERS "A WAY" GAME
The character of last year's team, the never give up attitude, may be
the spring board for this year's Husker team. The Michigan game was
a great example of the Huskers beating a team that had much better talent.
In the Alamo Bowl, Bill Busch's special teams saw 7, count 'em, 7 players
go down with injuries, but the Huskers still managed to find a way to
win.
Husker Dan feels good about this year's team-this will be a much improved
team, but the schedule may keep Nebraska from improving dramatically
on their won-loss record.
BLASPHEMOUS
Husker fans may have to be content this season to still be in games
with Texas and Southern Cal in the fourth quarter. (I know I'll get
a tone of mail telling me I'm dumber than Zasu Pitts). Look, I know
that observation seems strange, coming from such a "homer"
as I am.
But let's be real, while those two teams lost some impact players, they're
still loaded with great talent. If the Huskers can win even one of those
games, Husker fans should be ecstatic-especially if the win is at home
against the Longhorns. Why favor a win over the 'Horns than one over
So. Cal? Easy-Texas would be a conference win. A win over the Trojans
would be huge, but I'd rather take a conference win any day.
THE HUSKER SEASON
La Tech (@ home)
Should be a great day for Husker fans who want to see if this team can
pick up where it left off last year. In this game, Matt Herian will
score his first of many TDs he'll score this year.
Nicholls State (@ home)
Will Harrison Beck and Kenny Wilson get to play? Will Cody, Marlon and
Leon wake up the Husker running game? Will every player who suits up
that day for the Big Red get into the game?
Southern California
Sure, it's easy to focus on what the Trojans won't have this fall, rather
than the stockpile of great recruits they've been signing for the past
bazillion years. If the Huskers can pull this puppy out on the road
(!), it would be truly amazing. Bill Callahan's Huskers will have come
of age. The swagger will be back. But more than likely, this will be
in the "L" column for the Huskers.
Troy State (@ home)
The Huskers will either have an emotional letdown (with a "W"
at So. Cal) or will be looking for somebody to take out their frustrations
on after a loss to the Trojans.
Kansas (@ home)
Look for the Huskers to make a statement in this game. Let's just hope
the statement is spelled "Payback".
Iowa State
Another big road test for the Huskers. Make no mistake about it, the
Cyclones are waiting for this one. Jack Trice Stadium will be rocking.
Head coach Dan-o, Barney Cotton and Mike Grant will be champing at the
bit. Is it payback time for the double OT loss the 'Clones suffered
last year in Lincoln? Methinks the Huthkers willeth triumph in thith
one.
Kansas State
The big question will be, will Josh Freeman play in the game? (Yawn)
The Wildcats have had too many changes-coaches, schemes. Does this all
sound familiar to Husker fans?
Huskers get their 2nd conference road win.
Texas (@ home)
There hasn't been a game like this one in Lincoln since the Thooners,
er, Sooners came to town in 2001 (Who can forget Thunder to Stuntz to
Crouch?!). This will be a hard ticket to get, especially if the Huskers
have a Trojan win under their belt. Like USC, the Longhorns will have
a ton of talent. If the Huskers are in the game in the 4th quarter,
Husker fans should be happy. Chalk up another "L".
Oklahoma State
Anyone who has been paying attention to the Cowboys of late know they
can be pretty formidable at home. Husker Dan sees an ambush at either
Stillwater or at College Station. Be happy with any kind of win in Oklahoma.
Missouri (@ home)
Everyone is talking about the experience the Tigers have this fall.
This will be a win for the Huskers-why go against tradition that's held
up since 1978?
Texas A&M
This isn't your father's Aggie team, but playing in College Station
can be dangerous for opponents. The Huskers will stumble either here
or at Stillwater.
Colorado
This contest is losing its luster really fast. This one will likely
be meaningless for both teams. The Huskers will have already clinched
the BTN and will be thinking about the Sooners and visions of a BCS
bowl invitation.
BIG 12 NORTH
HUSKERS
Boy, Husker Dan's really going out on a limb with this pick. In 2006,
Nebraska will have an experienced QB, good receivers (TE Matt Herian
is back!), an improved O-line, one of the best defensive front lines
and linebacking corps in college ball. Throw in an average North Division
and the Huskers should be the team to beat in the BTN. The Big IFs:
the development of the O-Line, the running game, the health of #13 at
QB, and finding a replacement (like that's even possible) for record-setting
punter, Sam "You Send Me" Koch.
IOWA STATE
But for a field goal kicker who could come through in the clutch, the
head coach Dan McCarney's 'Clones would have won the BTN the past two
years. And what did ISU do to get such a killer schedule this season?
K-STATE
The Wildcats let the game in Lincoln slip away from them. They'll be
waiting to derail the Huskers in Manhattan this fall.
KANSAS
The Jayhawks had their way at home with the Huskers last year, racking
up 40 points. This year, the ambush will be in Lincoln.
MISSOURI
The Tigers have lost Brad Smith, but this fall, they bring a wealth
of experience on both sides of the ball. The question is, what would
Coach Gary Pinkel prefer, talent or experience?
COLORADO
Look for the Buffs to take several years to climb out of the mess left
by Gary Barnett.
BIG TWELVE SOUTH
OKLAHOMA
This year, Rhett (Frankly, my dear) Bomar and Adrian Peterson and a
great Sooner defense will restore the order in the South.
TEXAS
Sorry Mac, Vince is gone but Adrian ain't.
TEXAS TECH
A new QB is nothing new for Mike Leach and the Wed Waiders, but enough
experience returns to make the Waiders a dangerous foe. Weaw-wee!
TEXAS A&M
Dennis Franchione is in the hot seat. What may save him is a big upset
this year-let's hope it's not the Huskers.
OKLAHOMA STATE
A weak defense makes it tough to win in the Big 12. Just ask Bill Callahan.
BAYLOR
The Bears have improved, but aren't ready to turn the corner just yet.
The Bears and Cowboys will battle for last place.
And there
you have it. If you'd like to give Husker Dan a piece of your mind,
you may email him
here. For past Husker Dan columns click
here.
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