H U S K E R D A N
WAITING FOR NUMBER
2
About the title: My daughter has been in
the midst of potty training her 23 month old daughter, Ella. She
has already mastered the tinkling part, but still has a way to go on
the other half of the assignment. So my daughter sent me a
picture of Ella sitting on the potty, a book resting on her lap. The
title of the picture is, "Waiting For Number 2".
And now you know, the rest of the story.
(Relax, I don't think the title will be a metaphor for the 2009 football
season.) Besides, most Husker fans will be looking for another kind of pot
this fall. Read on.
A HUSKER REIGN
BO
Husker fans are eagerly awaiting the debut of the
second year of the Reign of Bo Pelini. Husker fans are hoping that,
as legend has it, there will be a pot of gold at the end of
this year's Reign Bo.
Here are some observations I have of the 2009
Husker team, just weeks away from the opener.
The Huskers:
1.) Will win the BT North
division.
2.) Will be in every game this
season.
3.) With the loss of Kody Spano, will be
thin at QB, but will be good enough to win most games-if Zac Lee stays
healthy.
4.) Despite the loss of Nate Swift and Todd
Peterson, the receiving corps will be very good. Look for the tight ends
to continue to improve.
4.) Will be much better on special
teams.
5.) Will lose OC Shawn Watson who will
take a head coaching job after the season.
6.) Will have a first round draft pick (Suh)
in the 2010 NFL draft.
7.) Will have a very good defensive line that
in turn, will make the backers and secondary look good.
8.) Roy Helu, Jr. will rush for 1,000
yards.
9.) Will go to another January bowl
game.
10.) Will enjoy their 300th consecutive
sellout September 26th. (It's bold predictions like this one that have
made what I am today...)
And now it's time for more.
HUSKER DAN'S PRETTY, PERKY,
PERSPICACIOUS, PRESEASON PIGSKIN PROCRASTINATIONS, ER,
PROGNOSTICATIONS!
Husker Dan has consulted with his ouija board,
sought the advice of his always reliable palm reader, Madame Foo Foo, his
astrologist, a numerologist and even a proctologist to give you all you
need to know about this year's Husker football team.
Toss out all your preseason magazines you've spent
a fortune on and use this column to gather all the information you
need to know about this year's Husker football fortunes.
THE 2009 SEASON
September 5th Florida Atlantic
(W)
Game #1 of the Sun Belt Conference playoffs
Howard "Helicopter" Schnellenberger comes to
Lincoln. Anybody remember the '84 Orange Bowl?
September 12th Arkansas State
(W)
Game #2 of the Sun Belt Conference
playoffs
September 19th @Virginia Tech
(L)
This one is winnable for the Huskers, but will
be difficult with a QB in only his third career start and his first career road
game in a hostile environment. Close, but no cigar.
September 26th Louisiana
Lafayette (W)
The Huskers win the Sun Belt Conference.
The numbers 1962 and 300 will rule the
day.
October 8th @Missouri
(W)
Will this be payback time for the
Huskers?
October 17th Texas Tech
(W)
See above.
October 24th Iowa State
(W)
The Cyclones continue to struggle.
October 31st @ Baylor
(W)
Can the Huskers avoid a Halloween upset at
Waco?
November 7th Oklahoma
(L)
The last time the Huskers beat a Top Ten team was
in 2001 and the Sooners were the victim. Will history repeat itself?
Memorial Stadium will be rockin' for this one.
November 14th @Kansas
(W)
This one may be for the BT North
title.
November 21st Kansas State (W)
(W)
Another tough season for the 'Cats.
November 27th @Colorado
(W)
The Buffaloes always seem to play the Huskers
tough. Had it not been for a miracle 57 yard field goal last
year in Lincoln, the Buffs would have been bowl eligible. Does CU have
enough talent to make it close this year?
BIG 12
NORTH
Nebraska
Kansas
Colorado
Missouri
Kansas State
Iowa State
BIG 12
SOUTH
Texas (The 'Horns have won 3 of the last
4.)
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas Tech
Baylor
Texas A&M
December 5th Big 12
CHAMPIONSHIP
Texas (L)
The Longhorns are very long on talent and short on
patience.
OREGONIANS FOR
NEBRASKA
Roger Parmeter, with the Oregonians for Nebraska
told me about their Husker Picnic coming up this Saturday in Dabney State
Park in Troutdale, Oregon. For more information, go to http://www.or4ne.com/
HUSKER FAN'S SALUTE TO THE
TROOPS UPDATE
The Second Annual "Salute To The Troops"
celebration will take place at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln, the
weekend of September 19-20. I think all the paid rooms have been taken,
but veterans can still reserve rooms at a military rate.
Veterans from any branch of service from any war
and their families are invited to attend. The event is not open to the
public. For more information on how you can donate to this great cause and
to register, go to www.huskersalute.org. Remember,
all donations are tax deductible.
HUSKER DAN'S
ARMY
Due to the kindness and generosity of Husker fans,
we have been able to send many Husker Care Packages this summer to men
and women who are stationed overseas. We are close to catching up on
the backlog of troopers who have been on our waiting list.
We carry no reserve in this account. As soon
as we get donations, we send a check to the Red Zone in Omaha, who in turn,
fills the packages with Husker goodies, including media guides, coins, flags,
caps, T-shirts etc.
We limit the Care Packages to those
serving in the Middle East. All we need is the APO address of the trooper
and we will send Husker Care Packages as soon as we have funds to do so.
To register, email me at [email protected]. To donate to the
cause, make your checks payable to the Northeast Kansans For Nebraska,
Att: Husker Dan's Army and send them to:
Gary
McGirr
President, Northeast Kansans
For Nebraska
3610 SW Woodvalley
Terrace
Topeka, KS
66614
Once again, thanks for all your kindness. To
all who will be attending our "Salute" weekend, I look forward to meeting all of
you.
Send your comments to [email protected]. For past Husker Dan columns, click here.