H U S K E R D A N
HUSKERS' "GONE WITH THE WIN" TRAGEDY; HOKIES ESCAPE 16-15
HUSKERS GET "COALE" IN THEIR
STOCKING, LOSE 16-15
HUSKERS END GAME IN A 16-15
"HEARTBREAK 'BO'-TEL"
HOKIES HAVE "WORILDS" OF FUN
EDGING THE HUSKERS, 16-15
Saturday's loss to Virginia Tech was truly a team
effort on the part of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. People who want to throw
Husker safety Matt O'Hanlon under the bus for allowing Hokie receiver
Danny Coale to get behind him late in the game, should cease. There
were so many things the Huskers did wrong Saturday, it would take up too much
space in this column to include all of them.
The Huskers did not-I repeat-did not deserve
to win this game. Time and time again, the Huskers when given golden
opportunities for touchdowns, had to settle for field goals. Punch
in just one of those drives and the Huskers get their
first signature Top 20 road win since 1997.
LAST YEAR'S MELTDOWN
Last year in Lincoln, Ndamukong Suh's questionable
late fourth quarter personal foul, coupled with Bo Pelini's 15 yard
personal foul when he, er, um "criticized" the official's call on Suh, allowed
the Hokies to set up shop deep in Nebraska territory, where they scored and
were able to seal the game.
CHECKS AND BALANCES
There are checks given to all of us in life,
sometimes we're smart enough to cash 'em in, but all too often, we don't.
Think of that, if some one were to write you a check for, let's say, $1,000, who
wouldn't take it immediately to the bank? We'd cash that sucker faster than a Verdigre minute.
And Saturday, the Huskers were given several
checks, many times more valuable, but unfortunately, chose not to redeem
them.
The Huskers committed too many critical penalties,
dropped too many passes, missed too many assignments and yet somehow, managed to
lose by only one point. What a shame.
NO PAIN, NO GAIN
Bo said that this was as painful a loss as he's
ever had in coaching. (I think last year's Texas Tech OT loss ranks above
this one.)
Husker fans must remember that Zac Lee was making
just his third career start-his first road start and the first time he's faced a
good team in a very hostile environment. Frank Beamer and his Hokies knew
if they could pressure Lee, their chances of winning the game would
increase dramatically.
WORILDS OF FUN
Although the Hokies never sacked
Lee, Va. Tech head coach Frank Beamer threw Jason Worilds at him,
forcing Lee into making several bad throws and a number of quarterback
hurries.
This is a young Husker team that played, in my
view, better than I thought they would. Zac at times looked very
good. The defense, save a couple of plays, performed
magnificently.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Yes, it's very unfortunate to lose the way the
Huskers did Saturday afternoon in Blacksburg. However, I think they
will take something from that loss and use it to their advantage
especially when they travel to Columbia, Lawrence, Waco and
Boulder.
I would rather the Huskers play a game like this
against a good team in a hostile environment, than have them beat up
on a patsy at home in Lincoln.
This is a Husker team that isn't quite there
yet-one that is emerging and trying to find its way. Right now, I
like what I see-a bunch of good (not great) players who are trying to be
over-achievers. Stay tuned.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
1.) Punting on 4th and 1 late in the game was
the right call, but I wonder if given the same circumstances next time,
would Bo go for it?
2.) Alex Henry is increasing his NFL stock
with each game. Five field goals? A 76 yard punt? Are you
kidding me? And on the run?!!!
3.) The Red Zone for the Huskers looked
more like the Pink Zone.
4.) The call on Holt's dropped pass was the
right one.
5.) You wonder if Nate Swift would have
caught the ball.
6.) You know he would
have.
7.) Great kickoff return by Niles Paul.
I'm proud of the fellow North High Viking alumnus.
8.) Ross Jernstrom was recently named the new
Sports Director for WOWT in Omaha, succeeding long time Dave "Corncob" Weber who
retired last month after about 100 years with Channel 6. (Just kidding,
Dave!) It must be noted here that Mrs. Husker Dan was Ross' sixth grade
teacher here in Omaha. And that makes ME old...
HUSKER FANS' SALUTE TO THE TROOPS WEEKEND
The featured speaker for our Sunday
morning brunch was Heisman winner, Eric Crouch; the MC was current Voice of the
Huskers, Greg Sharpe; former Husker wingback Anthony "Slick" Steels sang
the National Anthem and Ron Brown (Husker Receivers Coach) delivered
the blessing. But the true heroes of the day and of the weekend were the
veterans who came from as far away as North Carolina, Texas, Kansas and Colorado
to attend the second annual "Husker Fan's Salute To The Troops" weekend at
the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Saturday morning, veterans, troopers and their
families were bussed to Memorial Stadium for an all access tour of the
new Husker athletic facilities. They also got to enjoy a special
Tunnel Walk ceremony that allowed them to run onto the football field to
the Tunnel Walk music. And for a little while that morning, children
and grown-ups got a chance to image what it would be like to be a Husker
football player.
That afternoon, about 300
people were treated to a Husker Football Watch Party. (Note to
self: Next year, let's get a win.) There were Runzas, hot-dogs, cold
cuts, cookies, brownies, popcorn, beverages and even a children's play
area. There were door prizes like Husker autographed footballs, posters,
caps, DVDs, pictures etc. It was a great time to meet and visit with the
real heroes of our time-the men and women who have defended and protected this
great country of ours.
There were veterans from WWII, the Korean War,
Desert Storm, as well as from the War on Terror. Walter Witt, 87,
told me that when he was 18, he was in the Army Corps of Engineers and
traveled from North Africa to Sicily, to Italy and into France and
Germany. He talked about when he was at Dachau Concentration Camp,
the Corps was responsible for digging the trenches that the corpses were
buried.
"I don't understand those who deny the
Holocaust. I was there. I saw it with my own eyes," he told
me.
Another man came up to me near the end of the
Virginia Tech game and wrote a check for Husker Dan's Army. The he told me
about his daughter who had just returned from Afghanistan. "When she was
in Iraq, she was hit by an IED. Her hand was badly damaged, but the doctor
who was treating her said, 'Today's your lucky day. I'm an orthopedic
surgeon who specializes in hand surgery.'"
The man went on to tell me that as a result of
his daughter's experience, she was awarded a Purple Heart and
thankfully, is doing fine. And this guy felt compelled
to donating money to Husker Dan's Army? I told him, you've given
enough already!
It was stories like those that made the weekend
really special. Plans are already underway for next year's event, targeted
for September 18th-19th for the Washington away game.
To keep track of all the latest, go to www.huskersalute.org.
Send your comments to [email protected]. For past Husker Dan columns, click here.