Blogs

Today, Gerogia's President came out saying there needs to be an 8-game playoff system. I find it funny that he claims media and television networks have too much pull, yet his idea for a playoff is something the media has been pushing hard this year. You notice this in the article above. ESPN is seen calling Division I-A the Football Bowl Subdivision while referring to Division I-AA as the Football Championship Subdivision. Do you see the media bias?

Sorry, but I loved every week of the season this year. Not a weekend went by that I didn't laugh, cry, or cheer with utmost excitement. Compare that to any NFL season where there are often "throw away" games played only because they are on the schedule. I don't know about you, but I don't want to see Nebraska play a game that doesn't matter.

The bottom line is this, there is no perfect solution. Some say a playoff is the answer, but every solution always leaves someone out. The popularity of College football is enormous now, so why do we feel the need to change it? Who says NCAA football has to mimic the NFL? I like college football because it is not the NFL, and I don't think I am alone.

Well folks! The video is in. This is the vision Steve Pederson had for Nebraska Football.

Enjoy!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=R6dQQruAfio

It never ceases to amaze me how ignorant some fans are concerning Tom Osborne. One fan (or so called fan) even had the gall to insinuate that Tom Osborne’s agenda as the interim Athletic Director is to get revenge, is nepotistic and this is one big conspiracy.

WOW!

The same Tom Osborne that brought 3 national championships in the 90’s to Nebraska. The same Tom Osborne who, with the recruiting help of Frank Solich, brought in Irving Fryer and Mike Rosier in the 80’s. The same coach who has proven himself among the very elite of college coaches.

But maybe these so called fans are not old enough to remember the legacy Tom created at Nebraska. It’s on the internet. For those that are curious or are too young to remember Tom, go to Google.com and search for Tom Osborne. There you will find the legacy and coaching success of one of the greatest college football coaches of all time.

Steve Pederson has not proven he does not know how to create success. Bill Callahan has proven he cannot coach a college football team to finish in the top 20. But the one who has, some professed fan question.

Back to the nepotistic agenda some accuse Tom of instituting at Nebraska, I say you fans that believe this are way out of line. In fact, if you really want to believe this, there are 100+ other college football teams for you to cheer for (or should I say trash). Not only is this complete hogwash, I am embarrassed to be associated under the same colligate program as you! Tom Osborne’s philosophy of success at Nebraska is for the coaches to have a family type bond for many years to come. When Tom was considering the Colorado coaching position, he was considering ALL of his coaching staff, not just himself.

In bringing back the staff similar to the 2003 season and other past Nebraska coaches, Tom is restoring the qualities Nebraska once possessed. Believe it or not fans, this is not about YOU, this is about Nebraska! It’s your choice if you want to root for this team of not next season, or in the years to come for that matter.

The qualities that made Nebraska special were not found in the dealings of Steve Pederson or in the coaching of Bill Callahan. They are found in the man that defined what the rest of the college football world has been aspiring to achieve: Success year in and year out

The idea of “family” is nothing new to the 2008 Huskers. The idea of “family” has been around since Bob Devaney and carried through 3 decades by Tom Osborne. To those fans that are against the idea of a “family”, look at yourself in the mirror and ask this question: Was I cheering for the teams in the 90’s that won 3 national championship? Because if you were, those teams were built on Nebraska family values and tradition!

He may not be a Husker, but he sure coaches like one. From the sound of it, a heck of a lot more than Coach Callahan ever did. Barry Alvarez said the following about Coach Mangino: "He never compromised what he believed in. He's engrained in them a team spirit." Sounds like a solid coach to me! It is no wonder Kansas seemed to "have our number" for the past 4 years.

Full Omaha.com article

The following is a quote from an ESPN article: "Trying to pick the winners of games after weeks off from competition.... is dumber than giving Bill Callahan a preseason contract extension, then firing him four months later." - Full ESPN Article Here

What I love about this quote is remembering how many Husker fans thought the contract extension was a good idea at the time. At the time of his extension, many Husker fans actually believed that the Pedersen/Callahan experiment was working. Some honestly felt that Nebraska was a legitimate National Championship contender! (I know, I have read your emails and "the Pedia")

This website was created immediately after Callahan took over. We have gone through criticism and full out, hate-filled insults from "the greatest fans in college football" - all because we called a fraud, a fraud. Sorry, but I find it hilarious that the same fans who violently cuss out this website and backed Callahan for 3.5 years demanded that he be fired in the same year they believed he would win a National Championship. Please understand these are not just my words. If I just described you, the ESPN article comment is about you as well.

Nebraska football fans these days are excited over the hire of Bo Pelini. Well not everyone, you see there are a couple websites still holding onto the past 4 years. We all know the story of what happened in 2003 and what happened a couple weeks ago with Tom Osborne announcing Bo Pelini as the new Head Coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. For the first time in 4 years there is hope. Hope for the return of greatness. Hope for the return to dominance. Hope for traditions to be restored.
In a recent article in The Eureka Reporter, senior wide receiver Maurice Purify stated “It’s crazy out there,” Purify said. “They expect a lot. Every game there are 90,000 people there to watch you play, and thousands of fans line up after the games to get your autograph. But the only thing they care about is winning. That’s it.”
Do the athletes on the team really think that all we care about is winning? Do they not realize what husker football means to the State of Nebraska? Do they know absolutely nothing about the traditions that where destroyed under Steve Pederson?
Yes winning is nice, and yes success is measured by wins and losses, that that is not all we care about. We are not just fans of the team; we are all members of Husker Nation!! We take pride in our team, we proudly wear our colors, and we proudly follow the team. Our blood is Husker Red, most have been fans since birth, unfortunately the Johnny Come Latelys became “fans” after the 1994/1995 seasons. They have no idea what it means to be a Cornhusker. Those “fans” never heard Lloyd Bremser on the radio. They never saw the Game of the Century; they never saw Mike Rozier run from one sideline to the other sideline on his way to the Heisman Trophy. They never witnessed the fumblerooski or Johnny the Jet Rodgers punt return for a touchdown.
They never felt the pain and agony suffered when Nebraska lost or the Joy when Nebraska beat Oklahoma. Those fans call themselves true husker fans; they verbally attack on message boards anyone who has a different opinion. They failed to see that the program was in ruin, heading in a tailspin towards mediocrity. Mediocrity, the very place former Athletic Director vowed to not let happen. Nebraska went from a 10-3 winning season in 2003 with a new staff with a lot of promise; in 2004 Nebraska went 5-6 season under Bill Callahan in his first season. Forty-two consecutive non-losing seasons ended in 2004 along with a 35-year run of bowl appearances.
Suddenly husker nation seemed to be ripped into two groups. Those that held onto tradition established by Bob Devaney continued thru Tom Osborne and Frank Solich, to the ways of Steve Pederson and Bill Callahan. Many were infatuated with the modern passing offense. Long gone were the days of the power running game. The walk-ons on the teams dropped drastically to make the team “more manageable”. Everyone seemed to be caught up in the hype of rival’s rankings. If we didn’t have a top 10 recruiting class we have nothing, as some would say.
If you had an opinion that differed from the philosophies of the Callahan/Pederson regime you were scrutinized and harassed via message boards. Even today a few weeks into the Osborne/Pelini regime it continues. It doesn’t take much searching to find many message boards that are still split on many aspects of the State Of Husker Football. Maybe someday the days of old will be back, more than likely there will still be a group of the so called “true fans” that are still holding on tightly to the Era of Mediocrity. The ironic thing about the 2004 to 2007 era is that that last time Nebraska had a losing season was under a coach with the same first name in Bill Jennings.
Bill Jennings was replaced by Bob Devaney and Bill Callahan was replaced by Bo Pelini. Bo and Bob another coincidence of first names? Only time will tell. Like Bob Devaney, Bo Pelini has a fire and intensity that you can’t help but get excited about. Someday husker nation will be one again. Just like Dorothy trying to find her way home from OZ, husker nation is also trying to find their way home from mediocrity. Pelini may or may not be the answer, only time will tell, but the future looks bright. A coach can only do so much to bring unity to husker nation, wins will do a lot. Maurice Purify is right, we do care about wins, but there is so much more to it. He may not realize it now, but in the future he will see what it truly means to be a Husker.