Washington and Nebraska in Holiday Bowl
by John Berkowitz on Dec 5, 2010 4:12 PM PST
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PrintReports on the Internet have been confirmed. Washington and Nebraska will play a rematch in the Holiday Bowl. Tom Shatel of the Omaha World says the Insight passed on the Cornhuskers in favor of Missouri.
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Yep,
saw the same thing, JB. Maybe this time we can get it right! Mush you Huskies!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Expect to Win!!!
Stewart Mandel’s bowl projections, as of their 7:21EST update, also support this.
Keep in mind that, on Friday, Mandel projected us to go to the Holiday Bowl and lose the Apple Cup.
Well uh
Con: I HATE rematches in bowl games.
Pro: I really enjoyed the week running up to the UW-NU game earlier this year, and you guys were gracious hosts.
Still kinda keeping my fingers crossed that it somehow isn’t true though. Neither team deserves this.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
Agreed
Not when we’re headed out to Lincoln in the fall.
But, if it makes no sense, it must be CFB and the BCS!
Completely agree
Just horrible. Literally worst case scenario for both teams.
by MTJ on Dec 5, 2010 5:02 PM PST up reply actions
You guys really do have an awesome fan base. Glad to be sparring with you over the next few weeks.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
Bob Condotta‘s got it now and it looks like he has additional sources and independent confirmation, as well as a good explanation for what’s gone down, even if it’s rumor and conjecture. Surprise! : it’s Dan Beebe’s revenge Part, uh, which part is it this time?:
And one rumor making the rounds is that the Big 12 pushed for favorable matchups for the schools that are staying in its conference. Nebraska is bolting the conference for the Big Ten after this season (which also could be one reason the Holiday would have no trouble taking the Cornhuskers as it would be the bowl’s last chance to get it via the contract with the Big 12).
This is terrible
Honestly, and I hate being negative, this is literally the worst case scenario. How in the world does it work out, that we will play the same team 3 times in 12 months? Just ridiculous. I’m sure the Big 12 lobbied for Mizzou to get into the Insight bowl just to screw over Nebraska.
Once again, College football at it’s best!
Alamo Bowl
Another question is why would the Alamo Bowl prefer Arizona over Washington? We are on a three game win streak, Arizona is on a four game losing streak. We have a better Pac-10 record. Arizona has a better overall record, but they played Toledo and the Citadel. Despite Arizona’s proximity to the Alamo Bowl, I suspect Washington would bring at least as many fans. The Alamo Bowl may regret their decision if they choose Arizona over Washington.
They might hope to lure more Arizona fans than they would Husky fans. Also, consider whom we won our least three against and consider that two of those that Arizona dropped were to Stanford and Oregon. The Alamo might assume Arizona would be more competitive with the Cowboys than we would be. They might be right.
Well,
Keep in mind UW’s 3 game winning streak was against the three worst teams in the conference whereas Arizona’s streak included the top 3 teams in the conference. There is a point about momentum, but I think they would rather have the team that has been ranked and in the national spotlight a little more this year.
by spencer peaty on Dec 5, 2010 5:12 PM PST up reply actions
I don't think that matters
To me, it’s just ridiculous that somebody didn’t step in and say anything about these teams now playing each other 3 times in 12 months, especially after the first game was anything but competitive.
Really, really just takes the excitement out of this bowl game.
by MTJ on Dec 5, 2010 5:14 PM PST up reply actions
I'm not sure the Holiday Bowl had much choice
It’s probably the best they could do considering their conference obligations.
You're right
This is more about the Big 12 pulling a douche bag move by trying to screw Nebraska, which in turn, screws us.
by MTJ on Dec 5, 2010 5:25 PM PST up reply actions
I'm so glad
Nebraska is out of there.
I choose to think of this game as a preview of all the great Rose Bowls to come.
That's a thought
What if Nebraska and Washington play yet again in the Rose Bowl next year?!
Almost
Arizona’s streak included the top 3 teams in the conference
Pretty sure they didn’t lose to UW in that four game stretch. That’s right, we’re the number three team in the conference.
Good point
The standings I was looking at had USC above UW by virtue of overall record. Boy, that Apple cup win was huge. You moved from 5-7 and T5th in the conference to 3rd and the Holiday bowl.
by spencer peaty on Dec 6, 2010 7:21 AM PST up reply actions
Rematch?
I would be more disappointed if I were a Nebraska fan. The pressure is all on Nebraska. They Huskies have a chance to avenge a loss. They have automatic underdog status. The Huskies are playing better now than they were in September and the Cornhuskers have slipped a little.
But when was the last time two teams played three times in two seasons or three times in one calendar year?!
great
we’re going to be, uh, very…..very very familiar with Nebraska by the end of the 3rd game.
more familiar than with any other Pac-10 team. Yeesh.
Flying to San Diego
Anybody have any tips on where to purchase cheap airfare?
Personally, I'd rather drive
You can avoid the security nonsense and it’s almost as fast. :)
Cheap Airfares?
Their aren’t any! Sorry for the answer.
Southwest is my first look always...
and they do fly to SD, so you’ve got a chance of finding a decent deal. Suggestion, work a couple week days in so you fly on like a thursday tuesday, it will drop price a couple hundred sometimes, though then you’ll have to have a room longer.
Could be worse, it is SD.
"You tell me with confidence that you think Charlie could have done better and I will laugh beer in your face." JohnnyOsprey
by Tyler Jorgensen on Dec 6, 2010 1:01 AM PST up reply actions
I think he deserves to
It was impressive how he got them to play so hard all season despite their record. They showed improvement. Plus, a coaching change would be a disruption. Too many coaching changes ensures failure.
Me too. Stability is a good thing, if you're actually making progress.
I think they are. Good young QB.
As a Husky fan
That is great news for us!
"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
Another year of crappy game day management and a wasted year of Tuel. Coug fans ought to be thrilled.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
You don't see improvement, you're not looking very hard.
Be careful what you wish for. Wulff can coach.
He had better, because anything less than six wins, he’s toast.
Improvement vs enough improvement.
This is a team with maturing talent, but also one that has failed time and again to prevent big first half leads or to make effective game day adjustments. Even coug center wonders about this aspect of their regime
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
I think a lot of cougs agree with you
on the gameday coaching ability. The ability of Wulff to bring in a bunch of talent amidst terrible results, combined with how his team never gives up gives us hope that things will keep improving. I see us getting into a lot more close games next year. With that, there will be much more criticism about the play calling and other game gay items.
by spencer peaty on Dec 6, 2010 7:24 AM PST up reply actions
Wulff has the Cougs motivated but ...
… his staff made some strange decisions during the Apple Cup. In all, I think he’s very much learning on the job as a game day coach. I’m glad that he got another year, though, as I think he deserves to see this thing through a little more. 2011 will come with a line in the sand, I think.
yep
I don’t think there’s anyone that doesn’t think that next year is the make or break year for Wulff – if there isn’t tangible progress in the W/L record, he’s gone. Their OOC schedule is doable – Idaho State is a sure win, UNLV is a probable win, and San Diego State is much improved, but could fall back if Hoke leaves. Cougs probably start 3-0 or 2-1, and get two of their easiest conference games following that in UCLA and Colorado (though both are road games).
So, the schedule sets up as one that could allow for 6 wins and a bowl birth if progress continues in Pullman, and I suspect Wulff will need to win at least 5 games with that schedule to get an extension.
With that schedule....
They should win at least five…I think the Cougs will go bowling next year.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Dec 7, 2010 8:15 PM PST up reply actions
Couldn't agree more.
Yes, they’ve improved. Just not that much. Their recruiting is better, but still near the bottom of the conference. Unless Wulff is a great game day coach, or phenomenal developer of talent, it’s still going to be an upset every time the Cougs win a game in the conference.
Lots of teams were nearly as young as they were, too. And they have better young talent in general (not that the Cougs haven’t found a couple great young players) coming up, and coaches with better track records. The ceiling for the Cougs is pretty low right now.
Holiday Bowl
Playing Nebraska again might be a bit disappointing for fans, since it’s a rematch, but it’s nice that we’ll be in southern California. That’s better for recruiting than going to Texas would be. It will also be more fun for fans and players, since there’s so much to do down there. People can go to Disneyland, the Rose Parade and so on. That’s what our family always did when we went to the Rose Bowl. Make it a big family vacation!
Don't forget Husky Basketball!!
Come support the boys on the 29th/31st against USC/UCLA – great husky week in SoCal!!
I don't mind the rematch
Got good film. Fresh memories of getting pounded in the face by both lines. I’m betting they punch back this time.
Then there’s that infamous Husker quote about Husky wide-outs tipping runs by lolly-gagging off the line. Tighten that up, get them to guessing a little, Jake might have enough time to actually DO something.
This is ridiculous!
According to an article by Anthony Gimino from the Tucson Citizen, if Arizona goes to the Alamo Bowl
The likely opponent for the Wildcats is Oklahoma State, which is a bit awkward. The teams will meet in the second game of next season in Stillwater, meaning they will play each other twice in a three-game span.
Absolutely ridiculous
With even the SLIGHTEST amount of cooperation between the bowls and conferences this could have been avoided. I’m not so much mad about dropping to the Holiday Bowl—its a very nice bowl and location—its that this is such a transparent attempt to stick it to Nebraska—and you guys very unfairly got stuck in the crossfire.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
What's funny about this (to me)
is i think you guys would have had an easier time beating UCONN in the BCS than UW in the holiday.
by NewHuskyBeliever on Dec 5, 2010 5:36 PM PST up reply actions
Haha
I completely agree. That was actually a running joke in Big 12 circles for quite some time. No matter what, the loser of the Big 12 title game was going to have a tougher opponent than the winner.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
It's as much the Alamo's fault
as it is the Big 12’s. Or Washington’s! Had the Huskies won one more game . . . ?
Like it is with all things, there is plenty of blame to go around.
Alamo Bowl
I think Washington deserved to be picked over Arizona, partly because Arizona played Toledo and the Citadel. Washington would have won those games, adding one or two wins to their overall record, (depending on which two out of conference teams were substituted). The Sagarin ratings had the Huskies at number one in strength of schedule nationally.
Watching the ESPN bowl selection chucklewits
Strength of schedule NEVER enters the discussion. It’s as if all schedules are created equal. Cream-puffs for everybody.
The SEC figured this out a while ago.
by NewHuskyBeliever on Dec 5, 2010 7:22 PM PST up reply actions
Troy and Florida Internation are NOT creampuffs!
"You tell me with confidence that you think Charlie could have done better and I will laugh beer in your face." JohnnyOsprey
by Tyler Jorgensen on Dec 6, 2010 1:04 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, but the direct loss is hard to overcome.
Hard to fault the Alamo when Arizona just destroyed Washington this season.
Sorry guys
This is your reward for winning the Apple Cup. I guess you can just repeat to yourself “15 extra practices, 15 extra practices.”
Although, I wouldn’t put it past you guys to pull off the upset. Nebraska will surely be unmotivated, while UW has all the momentum and an itch for revenge. I could see it being a good game.
"I mean I was like, okay, there you go, you wanna hit me? There you go, one pitch for you. You don't get it? You have no chance." ~ Felix Hernandez
I expect a closer game this time
While I generally have been a fan of Sark’s play-calling, the Nebraska game was not a good example – it may have been the worst play-calling he’s done since he’s been here, and I also think he didn’t do a very good job managing the team psyche – they were way too tense going into that game.
This time around I’d expect to see Sark trying to establish the run game much more so than in the first game. Both because it’s the better strategy and because the Huskies have improved in this area over the course of the season. I’d also expect Sark to try to ease Locker into this game and not put too much on his shoulders in the passing game right off the bat. Nebraska has arguably the best pass defense in the country, so trying to win on Locker’s arm is probably not a good idea. Not that Nebraska’s run defense is poor by any means, but it’s the weaker part of a very strong defense, and the Huskies had some success in this area the first time around.
I would also expect that our defense will fare a little better this time around. They played better against Oregon’s spread option, leading me to believe they will be more disciplined this time around against the Huskers (though losing Tokolahi is a big blow).
As well, I wonder how much the behind the scenes issues between Martinez and Pellini may have an effect on things. No doubt the motivation would seem to favor the Huskies – they have little to lose, the most to gain, and revenge as motivation.
I’m not nearly as bummed by this matchup as others…
I agree
They’re without Niles Paul, too, and they could lose OC Shawn Watson who reportedly interviewed for the Vanderbilt job today. A lot of people want Watson gone but, even if he is hypothetically responsible for all the woes NU has seen this year, I find it hard to believe that turmoil with the OC is going to help them going into a bowl, not to mention the turmoil we’ve seen at QB. I have no idea why they didn’t go to Cody Green last night. He was very solid againt Colorado but that’s it, right? They were playing Colorado. But now they’re playing us, and they don’t respect us that much either. So I worry about seeing Green instead of Martinez.
Still, I do agree that it will be more competitive this time around. My thing is that I have baggage with Nebraska and playing them, for me, is almost as much of a heart attack as an Apple Cup. I’m liking it more and more by the minute, though.
It's a good final test.
What the heck is a bowl supposed to be? The Dawgs will have every opportunity to demonstrate what they’ve learned in ten games. At the very least, it will be an interesting view of Sarkisian’s coaching ability. Whatever the line is, I’ll throw my allowance on them, just for sport.
I dunno, Bugs...
I’m pretty fond of my first-born. Been one of my better investments.
My allowance, on the other hand, is roughly good for all you can eat at Mick-D’s…
Maybe Olive Garden, depending on how the week’s going…..
I didnt mean to be literal
and refer to yours. All I meant to express is that I would like nothing more than to destroy Nebraska.
It is a land, my friends, where they put ketchup on salmon. I shudder to think of it.
Can't blame them for covering all that Texas Orange colored Salmon
With some Husker Red.
Good heavens, man, not ALL of us would commit such a sacrilege!
We use tartar sauce. Right after we take it out of the deep fryer.
/lolWUT?
//kidding,ofcourse
"...water for the corn." — petromax spambot
Farmed Fish Is All You Get In Nebraska
If all I could get was Atlantic salmon, that comes from fish farms, then I would be using deep fryers, tartar sauce and ketchup too.
It is SO GOOD to be a still-local Husky. Home games, with tailgates featuring fresh, wild, Pacific salmon. All you need to go along with that BBQ’d feast is beer – lots of it!
not always, and this is my point
I lived in Nebraska for 1844.5 days (give or take 30 minutes and excluding vacations). In that time, I found wild salmon twice. Once was at an Albersons on the outskirts of Omaha. The other was at a fancy little bistro in Lincoln.
I would see salmon more than you would think (but still not relatively often) and I would always ask my server, is it farmed? (I don’t do the farmed salmon thing, but I am not judging anyone who does (just kidding!).) Of course, my servers would never know and, more often than not, no one in the kitchen would know. But this one time (it was Mrs Dodger’s birthday), I asked, they checked, and it appeared that, indeed, someone actually had wild salmon. Were they sure? Yes. This went on for a while. I was convinced. I ordered. I rubbed my hands together. Nom nom nom nom nom nom nom! I was so happy! So so so so so so happy!
Have I mentioned I like salmon?
And then? The horror. Ketchup. Smothered with it. Very, very fancy place. Expensive.
Worst part? Mrs Dodger’s birthday meant I could not respond with the appropriate amount of Grumps.
OMG! Now That's F'ing Hilarious!!
Sounds like you need to spend more time back at “Home”, Bugs. Next Mrs. Doger’s B-day, I’d suggest Ivar’s Salmon House. Seems it would be worth the traveling.
This is Bugs's dream scenario.
…for me, San Antonio and a fresh opponent would have been more fun. However, the rematch will give us the chance to truly gauge in-season improvement and could provide a remarkable story of redemption for Jake who got skewered after this game by 4 out of 20 Duck fans.
Speaking of Ducks, I just can’t see them beating Auburn right now. A BCS loss would leave the ducks high and dry in their best ever season AND preserve our ability to taunt them for not winning a Rose Bowl in decades. That would be a very happy new year.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
man, I hope so
But even if Auburn beats Oregon, there’s a non-insignificant chance Auburn will end up having to vacate the title over the whole Cam Newton situation. Oregon backing into a title is obviously better than them winning one outright, but it would still be a tough pill to swallow.
There’s also a sizable part of me that would be sick to see a 5th straight BCS champ from the SEC, and to hear more crap about how much better the SEC is than the Pac-10.
Oregon backing into a title would be almost too sweet to fantasize about!
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
I get the Duck hate
but I’ve spent too long in the wasteland. I’m tired of hearing about how the Pac-10 is a raggedy band of FCS schools. I’m tired of the arrogance. I’m tired of being mocked. Let the Ducks eat them alive. I can think of fewer fates that would be worse.
Oregon winning the game outright would be the worst possible outcome.
…lose, and their best season becomes forgotten. Lose but claim it later because of a possible eligibility issue and the highlight of their existence as a football program becomes one painful asterisk.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
Holiday Bowl
Shame on you, Dan Beebe…college athletes deserve better.
Just a word from a friendly Cornhusker.
Husker Nation is really, really pissed about this, but it has nothing to do with our feelings toward UW. I see from most of your posts that you all agree playing the same team three times in 12 months is just frigging stupid.
I was surprised by the outcome of the first matchup, and considering we seem to be heading in different directions here at the end of the season, I don’t expect this game to be a repeat of the first. Best of luck to you all – here’s to making the most out of the shit sandwich we just got handed.
"...water for the corn." — petromax spambot
We understand your frustration... You did get screwed.
But reading your thread on your site makes it pretty clear that most of you have no regard for us as a challenge. One guy posted 52-0. The irony is that in the first meeting, it was UW that was overconfident. I think the roles have reversed. You still have a talent advantage, but we aren’t exactly Iowa St here.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
We definitely
aren’t exactly Iowa St here
The best analogy, I think, was
This will just seem like another Kansas.
Definitely the most apt, especially since this makes you the Buffs, right?
A word from the same
Because I am, I kid you not, an alum of UNL just as I am Washington alumni. May I please tell you what I find galling, with all due respect? It’s to be told by the self-proclaimed “Nicest Fan Base” in the world that playing us is a
shit sandwich
It’s unfortunate to play the same team three times in one year, yes, but I think that I speak for most of us here when I say that it is an honor to play Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.
Poor choice of words on my part.
Playing you guys isn’t the crappy part – it’s playing the same team three times in the space of a year, no matter who they are. My apologies.
I can’t speak for my friends over at CN, but as I said, considering you guys are on the upswing and we seem to be falling apart, I’m not taking this one lightly at all. It’s an honor to play UW as well.
"...water for the corn." — petromax spambot
I'm not trying to pick a fight, I appreciate the sentiment,
and I apologize if I overreacted to your post, Rev.
I’m a Husker, too, although, admittedly, my passion for Nebraska is a very distant second behind mine for Washington. I get why we — Nebraska — is angry, and I personally am angry because I only get one bowl instead of two. But you folks are complaining to the wrong people. We have not been to a bowl game in a long time. It’s hard to work up sympathy for you. Nebraska’s suffering under Solich and Callahan was nothing compared to ours. We barely made it a bowl this year. To be “congratulated” in this way by our opponents less than twenty-four hours after one of the most important victories in our program’s history — speaking only for myself — is very insulting.
One last thing, and I’m not talking directly at you — I’m talking to everyone at Corn Nation who may or may not have stopped by here or be planning on it. People on the Left Coast aren’t as stupid as you all think we are. We have computers and we actually know how to use some of them. You can obviously say whatever you want at CN and the Dawg Pound, both, but it’s a little much when X is said there, and then Y is said here, and then X is said once the poster is back over there. It’s the hypocrisy that annoys me more than anything else.
Finally, the thought occurs that if this were the Irish and the Trojans, they and the world might make the best of it. I know that I want to make the best of it, and I believe you are sincere in your wish to do that to. I was not kidding earlier when I said that I hope that this is a matchup that we will continue to see in Rose Bowls for years to come. In my younger years, I didn’t consider things to be right with the world unless Washington and Michigan were bound for Pasadena. But if we had scheduled and played an OOC game with Michigan to start the season and drawn them a second time for New Year’s Day, no one here would be complaining. I would like it if we could have something like that with Nebraska one day. One could argue that the Holiday Bowl is not the Rose Bowl, certainly, but the complaints I’m hearing have less to the with the Holiday Bowl and more to do with us.
Thanks for coming by, Rev. Maybe I’ll see you at O’Rourke’s next September.
And, for the last time until next October, Go Big Red.
One of my favorite NU losses
was ‘91 to Washington. If I remember rightly, that was the last home loss for NU until Texas in 1998. It was a hard-fought game and there’s certainly no shame in losing to a co-national champion. I’d be more than happy to renew the rivalry in the Rose Bowl in 2012 as well – unless one of us gets to go to a “higher” game next year.
"...water for the corn." — petromax spambot
Nebraska's in the Big Ten Now
Which means there is no “higher” game than The Rose Bowl.
I was an undergraduate that year, and I remember that game pretty well myself. Oddly enough, some of my most vivid memories from that season come from watching games on television — especially, after the games in Husky stadium, standing in bars, cheering on whomever was playing Miami … Miami. Bah. Maybe an asteroid will hit the Sun Bowl this year.
Rev
Was referring to the BCS National Championship.:P
Just a comment
It hasn’t been the Omaha World since 1889, it looks like your list of newspaper names have gotten some cob webs lol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_World-Herald
Man I'm just happy to be in a bowl.
Stop complaining everyone and make the best of it. After all, WE’RE THIRD IN THE PAC-10 WITH A 6-6 RECORD!
It's a lose lose situation for Nebraska
It’s not any disrespect intended for UW, but since we already beat you guys pretty bad earlier this season…if we don’t go out and hand it to you again, then it looks bad for us. And if we do blow you out again, then everyone will say “meh, that was expected” And then of course…if we lose to you, that would be the most disappointing way to end an already somewhat disappointing season
I look foward to playing Washington.
Great school. Great fanbase. Great state. I hope there will be many more end-of-year games with the Huskies in California. How about next time we meet in Pasadena?
Four times in 2 years works for me
As long as #4 is in the 2012 Rose Bowl.
Yes, this is how to think of it. No one would be complaining if UW/Michigan met up in the rose bowl after already playing each other early in the season. These 3 games in 12 months will hopefully spark a long and fruitful rivalry between the schools… and remember, we can make it 4 games in 2 years at next year’s Rose Bowl!
by Northwest Purple on Dec 6, 2010 9:34 AM PST up reply actions
Luv Da' UN
Okay, so maybe I am being too optimistic, with that half-FULL glass point of view, but I really like UN fans, and I think this is a great team/school to be building up a bit of a rivalry with. UN is right up there with Ohio State and LSU, who have also been very recent, great guests in Husky Stadium and Seattle.
While this Husky/Husker blogging is a little emotional at times, it sure is a lot better than the trashy, abusive BS that we get from the Assholio Cougs & Ducks. Seems that UN must provide a decent education too, and also turns away the WSU/UO level of applicants. :-)
Further more, as far as I can feel, there is nothing to do but be happy, if not thrilled, with the upcoming Holiday Bowl. As far as playing UN again so soon, it give us the advantage of having some experience to grow from. Given the current conditions, we Huskies also have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. The nail-bighting pressure is all on the Huskers for this game. And for that, they did indeed get a tough deal.
But when you are changing conferences, how much love do you expect? from the people you are divorcing?
First off, its NU :P
The UN is some kooky organization that puts Iran on women’s rights councils and critiques the US’s human rights record /political rant
Apart from that, good post. I’m afraid you aren’t getting the best image of Husker fans right now, but don’t worry, in about 5 days or so, we’ll start to go into football withdrawal and this game will look much more appealing.
Also a good closing thought. I have to admit that none of us saw this coming, although in hindsight, I don’t know how we didn’t.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
It could be a classic game
Just depends on how both sides approach it.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Dec 6, 2010 2:26 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, the more I think about it
The more I think this could be a really wacky game.
On UW’s side, I’m kind of expecting the kitchen sink approach. Defensively, I expect them to have an aggressive game plan that calls for lots and lots and lots of blitzing. OU certainly showed that it could be successful against NU, so why not try it? I mean sure, it’s making you vulnerable to big plays, but those will probably happen anyway, and you might as well try to force some mistakes while you’re at it.
Offensively, you’re gonna need to score, and score more than you did last time. That may be tough, because Nebraska’s rush defense, including both linebackers and interior defensive line, is the most improved aspect of the Nebraska team since we last met. It’s Locker’s last game and he’s probably itching to purge his mind of what happened in September. Add in that Nebraska’s secondary just gave up its first 300 yard passing game in about 2 and a half years….I’d say what the hell, turn Locker loose and see what he can do.
On Nebraska’s end, the focus will be completely on getting the players ready to play. One remedy that we employed last year before the Holiday Bowl was adding a major wrinkle—the wildcat formation—on offense. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see some new wrinkle especially on offense. We’ve thrown around the idea of switching to a hurry up no huddle tempo. We might throw in a slew of trick/gadget plays, who knows, but I think the Nebraska coaches will probably try to throw in some stuff to keep the players engaged and motivated heading into this game.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
If Wats throws in a hurry-up scheme,
we just might make it through a game without having to call a time out to avoid a delay of game penalty.
"...water for the corn." — petromax spambot
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