2009 Gator Bowl: Nebraska vs Clemson - Postgame Overreaction

by Jon Johnston on Jan 1, 2009 4:47 PM CST in Football Comment 17 comments

Earlier this week, I pointed out that Clemson hadn’t played against good offenses. When I looked at the stats, I thought that our offense would tear them up. Credit to Clemson for that first half - they played much better than we did, their defense thwarted everything we tried to do. Second half - too much complexity, too much multiple, too much for Clemson. Not by a lot, mind you, but too much nonetheless.

- Clemson - 21 points off Nebraska mistakes. The prevailing thought was the Big 12 couldn’t play defense - Clemson ended up with FIVE rushing yards. For. The. Game. Clemson’s James "Thunder" Davis and CJ "Lightning" Spiller couldn’t get it going, when Davis needed only 112 yards to become Clemson’s all-time rusher - nothing doing.

- Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper couldn't make good decisions when under pressure. Good news - under pressure most of the game. Bad news - no pressure at the end of the game when they get to the 10 with around 1:00 left. Then Carlfense kicked in, and we get two big sacks in a row. You know anyone named Carl who's a genius? I know at least one.

- What do you do with an ankle? You TWIST it!

- SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH! - Need I say more?

- QUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUE! - And what about the third guy, when everyone wanted Helu. Castille came in, ran hard, made great plays, great cuts, bailed the Husker offense out when we needed it. Best part of all - no fumbles.

- Joe Ganz gets player of the game, a salute to his last game as a Husker. Tough SOB, ain’t he? I thought for sure he was gone after his head hit the turf on that tackle, but back he was.

- GI guy Todd Peterson was a playmaker in his final game after coming to the Huskers as a walk-on. If he weren’t catching TD’s, he was downfield blocking like his momma taught him. What a great final game.

- This game ranks a beer factor 10. It wasn’t that I poured it down, but it probably kept me from having a heart attack during the game. A great game by both teams, thanks to Clemson for aging me 10 years in a single game. I’m now around 324 years old, 173 of them coming in the last two seasons.

- Shot of the day. It wasn’t on the field, it was at the end of the game. Pelini soaked and celebrating, Dabo Swinney with his head down.

- 2009 is going to be a great year. I feel it already! I don’t want the world, I just want to be on top! Happy New Year!!!!!!!

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They Got What They Deserved

I think that the 2008 Huskers ended up where most rational people thought they would be. The pie in the sky folks will always be off base, and thank god the pessimists were wrong. Bo is not the second coming. But he did grow as a coach before our eyes. He is not there yet. I think that once he figured out that he was hurting the team with his sideline antics, that was a critical shift in the season. Perhaps even the players recognized that he wants to do it right. Here’s to 2009! KU is already counting on being the team to beat in then north. Go Huskers! Let’s get ’em!

by I'm right on Jan 1, 2009 5:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The team did will to overcome all the points they gave up on turnovers in the first half. The Pelinis managed to turn a dismal defensive unit into something formidable in just one season. Next year should be even better.

That sack by Hagg was huge. He wasn’t about to let the QB get away.

off topic..

I like how all the talking heads on television have to act like they’re surprised that the Big 10 is getting their ass kicked in bowl games again. Iowa beat a half-asleep South Carolina team for their only win. Hopefully Texas will kick Ohio State all over the field in a couple days.

by disko on Jan 1, 2009 5:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Awesome Game!

Somehow we found a way to handle their D enough in the 2nd half to make the plays we needed for the ‘W’!

Our D was stellar, just superb!

GBR!!!

by zE bOp on Jan 1, 2009 6:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Held Spiller and Davis to 5 net yds rushing! That’s just sick!

by zE bOp on Jan 1, 2009 6:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Just Wow!

I don’t think I’ve been that wound up during a Nebraska game in years!

My living room is set up for the optimum football watching experience. Big screen TV, Digital surround sound, and my couch is situated between the living room and kitchen, so I can walk behind it and pace back and forth, jump up and down, etc. during the games.

I did as much jumping up and down and pacing during the last two minutes of this game, as I did all season.

What a satisfying victory this was and one to build on for the future of Nebraska football.

The Minnesota Vikings - Undefeated in the Playoffs at Lambeau Field!

by BaldViking on Jan 1, 2009 6:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Q

“…QUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUE! – And what about the third guy, when everyone wanted Helu. Castille came in, ran hard, made great plays, great cuts, bailed the Husker offense out when we needed it. Best part of all – no fumbles….”

The very play before they put Q in, I said out loud, “they gotta put Q in!” And there you have it, the guy rocked! I’ve never gone alone with the criticsim of Q, he’s an excellent back and going to be great next year.

Was very surprised Helu couldn’t get it going though, but our O-line couldn’t stop their D in the 1st half—AT ALL!

Ya gotta play 4 qtrs though, and Clemson is not a 4 qtr team.

"...don't TAZE me, bro..."

by zE bOp on Jan 1, 2009 6:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

DA MAN!:

"...don't TAZE me, bro..."

by zE bOp on Jan 1, 2009 6:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations, corn people

You did the Big 12 proud.

Texas Tech: No. 1 in football graduation rates among NCAA Div-1 public universities

by TT_ on Jan 1, 2009 9:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Seconded...

after Missouri and OSU shit the bed to start the week, the Big XII wasn’t looking so hot. But KU and Nebraska have got things looking as they should and hopefully Tech, UT and OU will continue to show well with the spotlight on a bit brighter.

by hiphopopotamus on Jan 1, 2009 10:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Suuuuuuuuuuh

I don’t know if it was noted elsewhere, but the PA announcer at the game, got into it a bit. Sometime around mid-1st Qtr or start of the 2nd, whenever Suh made a play, he would announce “tackle by Suuuuuuuh”. Don’t know if he’s the usual Jacksonville Jaguars PA guy or someone else the Gator Bowl brought in.

Congrats to the Huskers for the Win, and the Tigers for a hard-fought game. Their fans I encountered here, all but one drunk idiot looking for a fight were very well natured and congratulatory on the win. They’re good folks, and I hope they have some good luck with their new coaching staff.

by Wolvie on Jan 2, 2009 12:24 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

What a game

When I sat down in my seat I thought “I hope this is a good, exciting, game.” My wish was granted. The D was ready, and it was wonderful. Q finally showed up and that makes me very excited for the future. Good job Red!

by Restnessizzle on Jan 2, 2009 9:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

'SUHnami'!

"...don't TAZE me, bro..."

by zE bOp on Jan 2, 2009 1:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Damn!

This was my first Bowl Game. I had to leave my seat and pace the concourse! Clemson and Nebraska both brought it, and it was a great game to attend. The Clemson fans were fantastic. Before, during and after the game. I read that Helu had/has an infected knee. Q rocked the stadium with his run and you could see Old Uncle Mo change into his Red clothing.

GBR!

Bob

by bnahusker on Jan 2, 2009 4:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs