Corn Flakes: The Day After Michigan State

by JLew on Oct 30, 2011 1:36 PM CDT in Corn Flakes

Raise your hand if the defense should get their Blackshirts. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)

So I had a work thing yesterday and managed to keep total Husker blackout until I got home in the evening. I was pretty impressed I was able to resist the urge to check the score at all. At least I was rewarded with an impressive Husker win.

Talks of talk about Burkhead, and the return of the Blackshirts. Let's break it down.

Michigan State Spartans vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers - Recap - October 29, 2011 - ESPN

Nebraska's defense, criticized after it allowed 486 yards in a 48-17 loss at Wisconsin on Oct. 1 and leaky in the first half of a 34-27 win over Ohio State two weeks ago, held the Spartans to 187 yards in its best performance of the year.

Just when you doubt the Pelini Bros, they draw you back in with a great defensive performance. Can the defense continue this way?

2011 NCAA College Football Polls and Rankings for Week 10 - ESPN

Nebraska to #9 in the AP

Let's not hog the whole front page, more links after the jump.

Husker Mike's Blasphemy: Blackshirts Emerge from Slobberknocker with Sparty

Nebraska's offensive effort might not look all that impressive at first, until you realize that the Spartans rank in the top ten in all the major defensive categories. Rex Burkhead cemented his place in Nebraska football lore with a gritty, gutty 35 carry performance. The 3.7 yard average won't impress people...but the heart he showed in grinding out extra yard after extra yard all day was memorable.

Big Ten helmet stickers: Week 9 - Big Ten Blog - ESPN

Nebraska RB Rex Burkhead: Burkhead showed against Michigan State why he's one of the most valuable players in the Big Ten. Nebraska fed No. 22 early and often, and Burkhead responded with 130 rush yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries in the 24-3 victory. He also had a 27-yard touchdown reception.

What we learned in the Big Ten: Week 9 - Big Ten Blog - ESPN

Nebraska is the only team that controls its own destiny, but the Cornhuskers still have to go to Ann Arbor and State College, while Michigan would lose a tiebreaker against Michigan State, which has the easiest schedule the rest of the way.

No one said it was going to be easy.

Husker defense answers the bell in stifling Spartans - Omaha.com

Five punts. Four sacks. Two fourth-down stops. One tone-setting interception. One rattled quarterback in Kirk Cousins. One shut-down MSU wide receiver in B.J. Cunningham — zero catches — who was swallowed whole by cornerback Alfonzo Dennard.

Hope faded quickly for Spartans in second half

Keshawn Martin, who led the Spartans with five catches for 58 yards, said it didn't come without great difficulty. "They definitely had our routes figured out. They got good pressure on Kirk, and downfield, they were everywhere. They were right there with us."

Nebraska defense finally earns its stripes - Big Ten Blog - ESPN

In the locker room after a 24-3 win over Michigan State, Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini told his players that he had a present for them. Then he held up a black shirt.

Nebraska strikes another blow for Big Ten chaos theory - Dr. Saturday - NCAAF Blog - Yahoo! Sports

Which is a long way of saying that there is no frontrunner in this conference — and if there is, Nebraska is suddenly as good a candidate for the title as any. The Cornhuskers continue to struggle in the passing game, but compared to Michigan State's offense, Iowa's defense and Michigan's string of futility against ranked opponents (ten consecutive losses and counting), they're in good company. And they control their destiny down the stretch.

HINDSIGHT IT'S 20/20

Week 9 College Football Preview: The Week Before the Week - The Triangle Blog

All signs point to a miserable game from Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez, who will be pressured to gain yards through the air and who isn't exactly lighting things up in that domain (7 TDs to 6 interceptions, 7.79 yards per attempt). Amazingly, Nebraska is favored by four points, which is sort of like Las Vegas mailing you free money. Wink wink.

Remember gambling is wrong... wink wink

Scout.com: at Nebraska 24 … Michigan State 3

What Will Happen: The Nebraska home field advantage might help a little bit, but Michigan State’s lines are playing way too well. The Huskers don’t have a pass rush, and it’ll turn out to be a killer for a secondary that’ll get picked clean by Cousins. On the other side, the Nebraska offensive line isn’t going to have the success it’ll need to make this a game. Michigan State is the real deal, and it’ll prove by taking a stranglehold on the Legends.

So this was posted before the game. So clearly after the game they would change their opinion?

Scout.com: CFN Analysis - Nebraska 24, Michigan St 3

Nebraska fans should rightfully be happy after seeing their team iron out a laundry list of persistent problems. Yet, in the same breath, one shouldn't view this conquest of Sparty as a particularly huge achievement. Michigan State has looked very listless away from home; what you saw on Saturday was a face-plant that should hardly shock the senses.

Or not. "I was not wrong, just what happened didn't follow my logic, therefore it was the teams, and not my fault!"

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Comments

lmao.

You would think the writers at Scout.com would have even the slightest available intellect to know how stupid and contradicting those articles could become – in the event that those picklesniffers were wrong about MSU.

by SteveW0720 on Oct 30, 2011 2:08 PM CDT reply actions

So don't use Scout.com for your gambling purposes, because they fail to account for 18-22 year olds maybe not performing as they should on paper.

Got it.

I think this team is going to have to fight for recognition. But hey, would we really want it to be any other way, folks? I’d rather have us earn respect rather than have it showered on us for accomplishing nothing like other teams.

This is Nebraska. The only thing that should matter is winning the right way, with a clean program and solid fundamentals. Be proud of the young men who represent the N on the helmet, who represent Nebraska and the so-called “Midwest” work ethic.

If some sportswriters on the coast want to disparage that, why not let them? If the media wants us to play in the BCS game, great. Otherwise, we’re in the Big Ten now. All that should matter is that we’re fighting for a trip to the Rose Bowl.

A Cornhusker through feast or famine. Get up, dust yourself off and run the ball. That's the Nebraska way.

by Salt Creek and Stadium on Oct 30, 2011 3:47 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

This

Is the dismissive attitude by the media irritating? Absolutely. Coming into this weekend they already had us in a box, basically saying: “Nebraska’s got no chance as long as Michigan State doesn’t show up flat.” Now that we blew them out, they’ve got their excuses ready to go.

But like you said, none of that matters. I’ve trashed Penn State repeatedly (and still expect an 0-3 November for them) but hey, they’re 8-1, and if they manage to somehow beat Nebraska and Ohio State 7-6, they’ll have earned their trip to Indy regardless of what a mediocre team I think they are. Same philosophy for Nebraska. ESPN and Scout can trash us and our wins all they like, but if we win out (very VERY possible if this new defense sticks) there’s nothing they can do about it. Recognition only matters in the NCG talk and that train left the station a month ago.

Just win, guys.

"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne

by jdhusker on Oct 30, 2011 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Naw, They Didn't Come Out Flat

I understand from a good source on the team that there was just some wind causing problems for Cousins

"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

by UltimaRatioRegum on Oct 30, 2011 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions

The secondary solidified

Dennard played the shutdown corner role and looks like he is 100% healthy. Andrew Green gets the start due to the “light coming on” this week in practice and he looked good. Tim Beck being a freshman himself is starting to find the right rhythm in his play calling. Wisconsin has peaked and the Huskers have played better each week. Since half time against OSU they have played a very confident, physical, and ass kicking brand of football. Hopefully they both win out so we get a rematch in the championship game.

Insert witty retort here.

by Robsa on Oct 30, 2011 6:00 PM CDT reply actions

Wisconsin needs help

If both OSU and Wiscy win out, OSU is in the title game.

"Runners hate everyone. Never forget this."

by MacularDegenerate on Oct 30, 2011 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Thats just nuts to think about isn't it?

OSU was just horrible for the first month of the year, and even 2 weeks ago they were dead and buried as far as everyone else is concerned. I still think their youth will cost them another game (and the division) but they’re becoming a scary team again.

"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne

by jdhusker on Oct 30, 2011 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Forgot Wis lost to MSU

Penn St is sitting in the driver seat. Of course their last 3 games are OSU, Neb, and Wis. If they win those 3 my hat is off to them. The reality is they will be lucky if they win any of the them.

Insert witty retort here.

by Robsa on Oct 30, 2011 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions

OSU needs Penn State to drop one.

A Cornhusker through feast or famine. Get up, dust yourself off and run the ball. That's the Nebraska way.

by Salt Creek and Stadium on Oct 30, 2011 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions

I think we'll take care of that :P

"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne

by jdhusker on Oct 30, 2011 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

That

was the most complete game we have played since Mizzou last year. It is nice to see the defense looking like they should. It takes so much pressure off of Martinez and the offense. That game was won in the third quarter with the long scoring drives. MSU couldn’t score simply because they didn’t have the ball.

by Huzkerfan on Oct 30, 2011 9:11 PM CDT reply actions

I'd argue it was more of a complete game

Last year we jumped all over Mizzou, but then TMart got hurt and the offense was useless for the last 2 and a half quarters. Yesterday was much, much better in my opinion.

"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne

by jdhusker on Oct 30, 2011 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

Most complete game since K-State last year, IMO.

by Cheeseandcorn on Oct 30, 2011 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Except of course, Michigan State is a much, much better team than KSU was

I was in Manhattan for that one though. K-State fans were their usual trash-talking selves so that was an incredibly fun game.

"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne

by jdhusker on Oct 30, 2011 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions

I

meant that was as good as we have played since then I would agree it was a better game than Mizzou. Now all we have to do is avoid the Northwestern trap game. I am still worried about PSU at Happy Valley. That is a really tough place to play. It reminds me of A&M last year for some reason.

by Huzkerfan on Oct 31, 2011 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions