PRELUDE TO MISSOURI
MISSOURI
AND THE SECOND SEASON
There are three seasons this year for the Nebraska Cornhuskers: The Sun
Belt Conference, the Big 12 Conference and the Post Season. Now that the
Sun Belt conference championship has been won by Nebraska (!), the real
season begins Thursday when the Huskers face the Missouri Tigers in Columbia,
Missouri, where they haven't won since Eric Crouch dazzled Heisman voters
with his amazing touchdown run in 2001.
In fact since 2001, the Huskers have managed only two victories over the
Tigers, winning 24-3 in '04 and 34-20 in '06, both in Lincoln. Missouri
has home wins of 24-13 in '03, 41-24 in '05, 41-6 in '07, and have won in
Lincoln the last two times they met, 34-20 in '06 and last year, 52-17.
A LITTLE SPAT
Last year's embarrassing loss seemed to put a punctuation mark on the series.
In post game comments after last year's game, Tiger quarterback, Chase Daniel
accused the Huskers of playing dirty, adding that one of the Husker players
actually spat on him during the game. Daniel's accusations were proved false
a few days later.
Do I think the Huskers will be motivated by revenge Thursday night? Maybe
a little, but I doubt if that's going to be the Huskers' main focus. If
the start of the Big 12 Conference schedule doesn't get you going, nothing
will.
Thursday night is a chance for the Huskers to make a statement-not about
getting back at Missouri, but by beating a ranked conference team on the
road, something the Huskers haven't done since it pulled out a last minute
win at Texas A&M in 2006.
2008 NOSE DIVE
After pummeling the Huskers last year, the Tigers went on to lose to Oklahoma
State, 28-23, Texas, 56-31, Kansas, 40-37 and to Oklahoma, 62-21.
And this was supposed to have been the Tigers' best team ever. Huh? How
could that be? This year the Tigers must try to win without stars like WR,
Jeremy Maclin, TE Chase Coffman and QB Chase Daniel.
THE BLAINE GAME
Much has been written recently about first year Tiger quarterback, Blaine
Gabbert who de-committed from the Huskers after Nebraska head coach Bill
Callahan and most of his staff were fired at the end of the '07 season.
So in '08, Blaine took his ball and headed west to Columbia where he'll
be doing all he can Thursday night as a sophomore to continue Missouri's
dominance over the Huskers.
I've seen him play in only one game, at Nevada. Blaine has a very good arm,
can throw the kick outs and can toss it 70 yards down field. Gabbert, at
6'5", 240 pounds with his rocket arm, is what NFL scouts love to see.
He also can be deadly when he's chased out of the pocket. He reminds me
a bit of Kansas' Todd Reesing in his ability to improvise.
NO TYROD
But one thing Gabbert doesn't have is speed. He's a drop back passer, not
a Tyrod Taylor. Gabbert does have some good receivers, led by 6'5"
WR, Danario Alexander. If Gabbert has time to throw, it may be a long night
for the Scarlet and Cream. But where the Tigers' fall short is with their
running game.
One of the keys to a Nebraska victory is if the Huskers can make the Tigers
one dimensional. They must get Gabbert out of his comfort zone. If he has
to scramble all night, it could be a long night for the Tigers.
The Huskers must win the turnover battle and need to limit the number of
costly penalties that have plagued them this fall. And when the Huskers
get into the Red Zone, they need touchdowns, not field goals.
If the Huskers can run effectively, Nebraska should win the game.
SCHEDULE
You have to scratch your head wondering about this year's Tiger team. While
the combined record of Husker foes is a modest 7-10, Tiger foes have a 6-12
record. This record is diminished when you look at one of their wins was
over a 3-2 Furman team that lost last weekend, 19-12 to Elon...Elon? Are
you kidding me?
So far, the Tigers' only "signature" win is over a 1-3 Illinois
team whose only win is over Illinois State. The Tigers also struggled into
the fourth quarter in their win at Nevada. Excuse me, Nevada? Furman?
I'll take the Huskers' 3-1 record that includes a last minute loss at Blacksburg.
The Huskers also destroyed Arkansas State, 38-9. This is the same Arkansas
State team that took Iowa to the wire Saturday before losing 24-21 at Iowa
City.
The Tiger faithful will have all day to get "prepared" for the
8:05 kickoff in Columbia. This will be a very noisy, hostile environment,
but one that shouldn't be any more intimidating than Blacksburg.
If they can learn from the loss to the Hokies, Nebraska should come out
on top Thursday night.
HUSKER DAN'S ARMY
As many of you know, HDA has been sending Husker Care Packages to men and
women serving in our armed forces in the Middle East for about four years.
Right now thanks to your donations, we are close to being able to fill the
backlog of requests.
If you are serving in the military in the Middle East or know someone who
is, please email me with the person's APO and email addresses. We will get
the trooper on our list and send boxes full of Husker goodies, like T-shirts,
posters, coins, hats, sweatshirts etc. Each box costs $50, so the more you
donate, the more troopers we can send packages to. Remember, our men and
women who risk their lives defending this great country of ours don't ask
for much in return. This is one way for all of us to say thanks.
Make your checks payable to:
Northeast Kansans For Nebraska
Attention: Husker Dan's Army
Send your donations to:
Gary McGirr
President,
Northeast Kansans For Nebraska
3610 SW Woodvalley Terrace
Topeka, KS 66614
All donations are tax deductible.
TICKETS FOR TROOPERS
We're also trying to launch a program that will allow Husker fans who can't
make it to Husker games to donate their tickets so that a veteran or trooper
can use them. We would also accept donations in order to buy tickets to
give to our service men and women. If you have tickets to give, please email
me at [email protected]. To donate, use the above address. Be sure to specify
"Tickets For Troopers" when you donate.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, HUSKERPEDIA!
David Max has a piece in Huskerpedia that tells about how HuskerPedia is
celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. Let's hear it for David Max
and Joe Hudson! They have created a site that allows several hundred thousand
Husker fans everyday to keep up with the world of Husker football. Without
HuskerPedia, Husker Dan's Army and "Husker Fans' Salute To The Troops"
could never have been possible.
CORRECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Several of you wrote to tell me that I erred when I said that it was "Shirley
and the Band" was the name of the group that plays each week at the
Sidetrack. Of course it's Joyce! Even Zasu Pitts knows that. Again, from
time to time and without any warning, I INTENTIONALLY make mistakes in my
column just to see if anyone is paying attention. Those of you who wrote,
you may go to the head of the class.
BEST PLAYS IN "THE STEAK"
Many of you have sent me your list of the top plays that have happened during
The Streak (300th consecutive sellouts). Unfortunately, I'm getting plays
that were played at Oklahoma, the Fiesta Bowl etc. Make sure the list of
plays you send happened at Memorial Stadium. That's where The Steak happened.
JACOBS' LADDER
I received this email last week from Dean Jacobs, who is an outstanding
a photographer and world traveler. Catch his Husker game day pictures and
his archives in his web
site.
Dear Husker Dan:
I've only been to a hand full of (Husker) games over time, but have always
enjoyed the experience. I was working in Rwanda when NU played in this last
Gator Bowl, so I had a good friend set up a video Skype on her computer
and face it towards the TV so I could watch it in the wee hours of the morning
in Africa.
I don't consider myself a hard core fan, but I do take pride in my state and what I feel the game represents for us, a place where dignity is practiced, where things such as kindness and decency is honored and not trivialized. Where effort, hard work and passion are celebrated as a value and not cheaply created at someone's expense.
Both on and off the field.
I have traveled all
over the world in my own way and my own time, met wonderful ordinary people
of all makes and kinds in their homes and places of life. Game day at Nebraska's
Memorial Stadium represents the best of humanity of our great state and
that's something we all can take a little pride in. It gives us a chance
to be associated with something good.
Dean Jacobs
Fremont, NE
Thanks, Dean. You are a class act!
HUSKER FANS' SALUTE TO THE TROOPS
Our second annual "Salute" event is over for the year, but I want
to say thanks to several people who were kind enough interview me about
the event:
1.) "Heartland Focus" hosted by Jeff Beals. Jeff is a very successful
author and speaker and is a commercial real estate representative with Coldwell
Banker Commercial Real Estate in Omaha, Nebraska. The program aired
Saturday, September 5th.
2.) Stephanie Costanzo , Lincoln's Channel
8 (ABC). Her interview was filmed at Memorial Stadium, Saturday, September
19th and shown that same day.
3.) Erika Tallon, Lincoln's Channel
10/11. Erika is a native of Phoenix, Arizona and enjoys Lincoln and
the Midwest. When she first got her job In Lincoln, she scheduled an interview
with Tom Osborne. Of course not being from the state, she had no clue how
important he was. Her associates were all envious. After her interview,
she discovered who Osborne was and how much he means to the state of Nebraska.
"Now, I'm one of his biggest fans," she admitted. Thanks to Erika
and all those who helped us spread the word.
THE HUSKER ELVISES ON ABC-TV
The Husker Elvises were also on TV, this time at the 300th sellout game
last Saturday. Larry Brew, aka, Lesley Presley sent me this film clip of
ABC's "Good
Morning America" show. Thank yew, thank yew verah much!!
TURNER GILL
There is also a great TV
interview with former Husker player and assistant coach, Turner Gill
who is the head coach of the University of Buffalo. Turner is and always
will be, a class act.
Send your comments to [email protected]. For past Husker Dan columns, click here.