HUSKER
HEADLINES:
SMITH SIZZLES; HUSKERS FIZZLE, 41-24
BIG WED WAP-UP
IDENTITY CRISIS
Two elderly men who hadn't seen each other for several years, met
on a street corner one afternoon.
"Do you know who I am?" the man asks as the two shake hands.
The other gentleman looks at him, pauses for a moment and says, "How
soon do you have to know?"
That's the way Husker fans feel these days. They never know one day
to the next, which Husker team is going to show up. Will it be the
one that runs the ball most of the game, one that passes, one that
has an even split between running and passing, one that makes circus
catches or the one that drops passes your grandmother could make?
LUCKY #13
No one really knows from game to game if the O-line will let #13 get
nearly beheaded or one that doesn't allow a sack the entire game.
They don't know if #13 will have time to pass and if he does, will
he throw a perfect strike into the end zone for a TD or hang on too
long and take a big loss? They don't know if they'll see a defense
that overwhelms opponents or one that is as full of holes as a politician's
promise.
I said after the Tech game, that if all three phases of the Husker
football team (offense, defense and special teams) ever show up at
the same time, the Huskers could be dangerous.
SUPERMAN
All three did show up Saturday-the only problem was they showed up
for only one quarter (2nd). The rest of the time, the Huskers had
trouble getting even one facet to work consistently. On Saturday,
Missouri was (I hate to say) the better coached team and the Tigers
played with more determination. And the Tigers had one huge advantage
in that game and that was "All World" sensation, Missouri
senior quarterback Brad Smith. (Okay, so our defense at times made
him look better than he really was.)
Never mind. Smith was brilliant. His performance was one of the best
individual displays I've seen in college football in a long time.
DEJA VU
After the 41-24 shelling by the Tigers Saturday (which was the score
of the 2003 Husker-Tiger game), many fans were bewildered over Kevin
Cosgrove's defensive game plan.
PROLLY
Is Brad Smith that good? Absolutely. Will he ever play that well again
as a Missouri Tiger? As The Red Clad Loon would say, prolly not.
Brad Smith took a lot of heat after his worst career performance the
week before in an OT win over the visiting Iowa State Cyclones. There
were many Missouri fans who thought freshman Chase Daniel, because
of his performance in the ISU game, should be the starter and that
Smith should be the back-up guy. So what does great player do when
his back is against the wall?
Come out with a vengeance against Nebraska.
SHIFT CITY
And that's what Brad Smith did Saturday. Against a sometimes confused
and questionable Husker defense, Smith took off and never stopped.
Thank goodness (for the Huskers) that Missouri head coach Gary Pinkle
opted to replace Smith with freshman QB Chase Daniel in the 2nd quarter.
The result was a shift in momentum that allowed the Huskers to get
back into the game at the half with a 24-24 tie.
FUMBLE-ROOSKY
And just when Husker fans thought Nebraska was about to take control
of the game in the third quarter, Terrence Nunn had the ball stripped
from him, the Tigers took over at their own 3 yard line and mounted
an 8 play, 97 yard scoring drive that put the Tigers up for good.
Momentum had swung in the Tigers' favor and the Huskers were never
able to recover.
What's a Husker fan to do these days? Getting shut out in the second
half by a defense that is ranked about 100th in the nation, doesn't
sit too well with Husker fans. As I said, Mr. Smith may never come
close to the performance he had against the Huskers Saturday, but
there is no question that he was the difference in the ball game Saturday.
SILVER LINING
But there are some positives coming out of the Missouri game:
1.) It's the last time the Huskers have to play Brad Smith in Columbia-or
anywhere else.
2.) The Huskers likely won't have face the Longhorns for the BT title.
3.) The Huskers are still only one win away from bowl eligibility.
4) The Huskers are hosting the Sooners this Saturday and have games
at Kansas, at home with K-State and at Colorado to end the regular
season.
5.) All those games are winnable.
LETTERS FROM HUSKER DAN'S ARMY
(Readers: Gary McGirr with the Northeast Kansans For Nebraska alumni
organization in Topeka, Kansas forwarded the following email messages
to me that were exchanged between Gary and a Husker soldier serving
in Iraq. This proves that the members of HUSKER DAN'S ARMY do, indeed,
make things happen! Thanks to all of you who are making a difference!)
Dear Lt. Col. Pospisil (USAF)
Our Northeast Kansas alumni/fan chapter are very happy to send you
this gift. We appreciate your efforts as well. Thanks for doing what
you are doing in Iraq. I will share this note with our board members
and members of NE Kansas for Nebraska and with the General of Husker
Dan's Army, Husker Dan himself.
Thanks to Dan
we found out about you and several other Nebraskans in Iraq. We sent
a total of 4 sets of DVDs to different locations in Iraq. We will
try to determine if we have the Baylor game or another game recorded
and try to do this again. Thanks again for your service.
Gary McGirr and Northeast Kansas for Nebraska Alumni Chapter.
Dear Gary:
Just opened your package with the Husker DVDs! Thank
you very, very much for your efforts! All I've been able to see prior
to this video is a few plays (the Pitt game messed up field goal attempt
and block) on ESPN Sports Center. I really appreciate your efforts
and I hope to convert a few college football fans with these DVDs!
Ross' middle screen play was a thing of beauty!
BTW, while growing up, I lived in Loup City for 5
years--a small town 45 minutes away from Grand Island. My family shopped
in Grand Island all the time at "5 Points" and the Conestoga
Mall. We also competed against Grand Island Central Catholic.
VR,
Todd J. Pospisil,
Lt Col, USAF
Chief, Security and Justice Sector, Joint Contracting Command-Iraq
(JCC-I)
DOS/JCC-I
APO AE 09316
FROM THE EMAIL BAG:
Dear Husker Dan:
I just had a thought (brilliant idea??). Try to get the word out that
for future Husker games, ask fans to bring in a grocery sack with
the words "Blackshirts Sack Attack!!" written in large letters
on them and hold them up whenever there is a sack of the QB.
What do you think?
Regards,
Larry Brew
"THE HUSKER ELVISES"
Dear Larry: We'll give it a try. Husker fans, listen up!
HD
HUSKER DAN SEZ
Earlier this year,
Tulsa World sportswriter, Dave Sittler, (formerly with the Omaha World
Herald) wrote a column taking Husker head football coach, Bill Callahan
to task for not knowing about the history of the nearly century old
rivalry between Nebraska and Oklahoma. In his column, Mr. Sittler
referred to former Husker lineman, Bill Callahan's "f-ing hillbillies"
remark he (Callahan) made after the Sooners had handed the Huskers
a 30-3 butt kicking last year in Norman.
And regarding Bill Callahan's reaction to the orange tossing Sooner
fans, Sittler wrote that he was amazed that "Callahan had never
witnessed fans throwing objects to celebrate their team's upcoming
bowl trip..."
Sittler continues: "Callahan needs to educate himself on why
it's (the NU-OU series) considered one of the classiest in all of
sports. Callahan apparently still doesn't either grasp the deep pride
both schools and their fans take in the 93-year old series, or simply
doesn't want to get what makes this game so unique....Where does this
uneducated interloper get off with this type of ignorant behavior?...they
(Nebraska officials) should order Callahan to do his homework on the
rivalry's rich heritage. Callahan has ample time to crack the OU-Nebraska
history books before the teams meet October 29th in Lincoln."
ORANGES
AND BATTERIES
First of all, it's unlikely Bill Callahan would have been surprised
by fans throwing objects onto the playing field, considering his years
as an assistant and head coach of the Oakland Raiders. (Remember,
Raider fans are known as "The Battery Chuckers".)
So what could have caused Callahan to make his infamous "hillbillies"
comment? Could there have been something else that happened that would
have upset the Husker head coach? Could there be more to the story?
Maybe.
FAN TAKES
The answer may lie in what some Husker fans who were at that game,
witnessed that night. Fans told me of seeing some rather sloshed Sooner
fans pouring urine on some unsuspecting Husker fans. I don't know
if these idiots tried to do the same thing with Husker players and
coaches, but if they did, it would be reasonable, in the heat of the
moment, for Bill Callahan to refer to those dipsticks as "f-ing
hillbillies".
Bill Callahan is the son of a cop and the product of the southside
of Chicago. The man's tough as nails-he's seen a lot. Callahan is
as competitive as they come and it would be understandable that he
would sound off if he and his players had been violated in such a
manner. I'm not condoning his behavior, but his comment could have
been justified.
MOVE ON
I've been to more Husker-Sooner games than I'm willing to admit, and
in most cases, the fans on both sides have been classy. But apparently
not last year in Norman.
It's best to "fugittaboutit" and move on. There's a game
to be played in Lincoln this Saturday. Anybody remember?
HEAD SCRATCHING
There will be much written this week about the great games in the
NU-OU rivalry. Some of the greatest highs and lows in Husker history
have been experienced in these games. Johnny Rodgers, Jerry Tagge,
Jeff Kinney will be interviewed this week. Film clips of the classic
games will be shown. And what the broadcasters will be scratching
their heads about all week is how these two programs, which were once
at the top of the college football world, are now struggling just
to become bowl eligible.
Both the 5-2 Huskers and the 4-3 Sooners find themselves in a "must"
win situation this Saturday in Lincoln.
The Huskers should win this one. These two teams are pretty evenly
matched, with the Huskers having an edge on defense and with their
having the home field advantage.
Adrian Peterson, the injured and much heralded Sooner running back
may play Saturday, but it will be a question of how effective he will
be. OU struggled to beat an improving Baylor Bear team in Norman last
Saturday, winning in double overtime.
DON'T SAY A WORD
I wouldn't be surprised if this game also goes into OT. If the Huskers
don't take care of ZT and the ball, the Huskers could come out on
the short end of the deal. The Big Red of the North has lost 2 out
of its last 3 games, so this is a huge game for the Huskers. Win and
Nebraska will go bowling, lose and, well, let's not discuss it.
Nebraska has home cookin' and that will mean a lot. The 80,000 red
clad Husker Faithful will be loud, the joint will be jumpin'. Hang
on to your hats for this one, boys and girls. Huskers win a close
one.
HUSKERS:
31
THE BILLY-BOBS 24
If you'd like to give Husker Dan a piece of your mind or if you would
like him speak at your next Husker event (Husker Dan lives in the
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