All week long I’ve made fun of our opponent coming into this game. There was the 72-3 preview  (which I wasn’t serious about 72-3, but maybe hopeful). There was the 56-20 prediction. Humble pie or crow, you can take your pick, but I deserve every bit of crap that anyone wants to give me this week.

- Time to adjust your expectations about this season. For those of you who pegged us at 10-2, what are you thinking now? Still possible with some corrections?

- Mike McNeil has to do a better job of blocking from the end position.

- Mike Huff is driving me crazy. The guy isn’t finishing his blocks. That can be corrected, but it’s reflected in the play of the rest of the line. The coaching staff can track all the pancakes they want, but until they start releasing the statistics or mentioning them you can be sure of one thing - this line isn’t being NEARLY as physical as it should be.

- On that same regard, Barney Cotton can defend his guys and he should. He’s right when he says that we can’t block five guys with four, but they’d better figure out how to correct the lack of a running game because we’re going to see that all season long

- For the game day thread, I made a reference to the movie ‘300’, stating that “They’re gonna get killed. The only question is whether or not they’ll be as dramatic in the process.”  The Spartans played tough football, congratulations to them. They died when Kyle Reed left the field.

- I like the idea that Castille was back in the game not long after his fumble on the option play.

- Defensive line played very well. Two interceptions by defensive linemen? Think they have something to prove?

- Linebackers, secondary.… ah... not so much.

- Adi Kunalic is an underrated weapon that will serve us well in Big 12 play. Think Jeremy Maclin.

-  After seeing the play several times, I am guessing that Barry Turner is done for the year.

- We found a return guy. Niles Paul changed the game, thank God.

- Penalties. Need I say more?

Game Time: 11:30 AM Central

Television: Pay Per View Information

Internet-Streaming Audio: KRNU, Huskers.com
Radio:  Affiliates, Sirius Satellite 127

Live Stats: Huskers.com

Stories: Keys to Victory, Preview (Not A Serious Preview this Week, so you know)

Husker Items of Interest: 

As of this morning, Nebraska Cheerleader Katie Rockwell has moved into third and isn't too far behind for second place in the Athlon Spirit contest. She's a ways behind the ACC leader, though.

The #2 Husker Volleyball team swept No. 14 Cal Poly, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-20) last night, providing further proof that they're not to be taken lightly this season.

NU kicker Alex Henery is perfect so far, and I don't mean this season, but for his Husker career.  The Nebraska and Big 12 record for consecutive field goals is 18, held by our own Kris Brown. 

Just about a year ago today we were preparing for Wake Forest. Sorry to do that to you, but I have to ask the same question the politicians love to ask - "When it comes to Husker football, are you better off now than you were four years ago?"

Welcome to our game day thread. Please join us for comments and conversation about the game today. To post, you need to create an account by clicking on the 'Sign Up" button at the upper left. All you need is an email address.

Once you join Corn Nation, you're free to join any other SB Nation blog with the same account if you want to annoy our Big 12 counterparts, or something like that.

If you need more incentive, accounts are free!

Nebraska Cheerleader Katie Rockwell needs your support as she is this year's Big 12 entrant in the Athlon Spirit contest. Round One is happening now, she is currently in fourth place behind the ACC, Big East, and SEC. That just ain't right.

She needs as many Nebraskans as possible to hop online and vote! Voters can register for free (and it's easy) online the link above. (Yes, Athlon changed the rules this year so that you need to be registered to vote. In an election year. Imagine that.) Everyone can vote 20 times per day, per account. Voters on Facebook can vote 10 more times a day, through the Sideline Spirit application.

Spartan coach Dick Tomey would rather come to Nebraska than go to Tennessee. You have to wonder if the Spartans will take the field performing a pre-game ritual where there's plenty of screaming and then they lift up their garments and show their buttocks to the enemy before the battle begins.

A nice homerific article complete with coach cliche'. Doesn't end there, though:

As if that won't be read in the Nebraska locker room. I don't think we'll need that level of incentive, but thanks anyway.

As a follow-up note that the Spartans took a pay cut to play our Big Red, as they're only getting between $750,000 and $900,000 as opposed to the $1,000,000 they would have gotten from Tennessee. (When you put all the zeroes in there, the numbers look daunting, don't they?)

When I read this, I remember the uproar about the schedule Steve Pederson left us with and the high cost of playing patsies. I'm sure when Osborne returned he was in shock about what the arms race had done to college football. There's your proof.

You may have noticed The "Buzz Up" logo next to the headlines. That's because Corn Nation is now part of the Yahoo Buzz publisher program. Basically, it's a Digg-like system that allows readers to promote the best content on the web.

Bottom line, if you like what we're doing, lend us a hand and Buzz us Up. (For what it's worth, I hate that phrase, but I wouldn't mind the results.)

Since your account on Corn Nation allows you to easily join any other blog (like those of our rivals and opponents), you might consider joining the SB Nation blog and giving feedback about what you like and don't like about the new platform. They should have tutorials as well.

A couple items of note - you can easily create your own Fanshots and Fanposts - if you'll notice, user swanee80 created one all by hisself earlier today and if he can do it, anyone can do it. Use them to post news items about Nebraska football or other sports for discussion. If you like the posts, recommend them so they move up the list.

That's all for now. Don't forget to support Katie Rockwell and Go Big Red!

You wouldn't want to let her down would you?

Saturday’s game (11:37 A.M. kickoff so get the Bloody M’s out early) versus the San Jose State Spartans has a bit of a special meaning for me. While insignificant in strength of schedule stature, the Spartans were the very first game that my father and I got to see during a tear of season ticket runs starting a ways back in 2000. A young man by the name of Deonce Whittaker gave NU some fits that day, but a fond memory nevertheless.  

SJSU and New Mexico State couldn’t have been slated at a better time for Bo Pelini’s first year at Nebraska as several units appear to be MIA. There is talk of Rickey Thenarse taking over in a safety capacity but due to rumors of injury, I think that may be a game time decision. Andy Christensen was found not guilty in a case regarding inappropriate directions to the nearest Chipotle and Coach Pelini stated that things are pretty much up in the air on his return to the team.

Looking at the game against the Spartans just what does Nebraska need to do to consider the game a success?

- Looking at the fact that these same blue and yellow (gold?) warriors squeaked by the University of California-Davis 13-10, I would expect a decent to large margin of defeat, so I’m not going to concern myself with that. Check back with me on Sunday to see if I am, in fact, concerned with that. If NU can’t hang near half a hundred on SJSU or at least come close to a shutout something is amiss.

- Point A leads to Point B which leads to Point C. A large margin of victory could be on the arm of Joe Ganz, but it really shouldn’t be. The offensive line needs to show immediate improvement and actually allow Marlon Lucky to run between the tackles. Criticize #5 all you like, but it doesn’t matter how good you are in his situation. DeMarco Murray couldn’t make things happen with defenders two yards into the backfield after the snap. If NU finds a running game then watch out Spartan fans. Things could (and probably will) get ugly.

- Secondary play must improve. I’m not concerned with the cornerbacks as I feel the young guns will come along in due time, but safety play needs to be addressed and I feel that Bo more than likely got that message across to Coach Sanders. Call it a gut feeling. If Rickey can’t go look for Major Culbert to get some solid playing time. Ideally Thenarse can return by the time the Aggies of New Mexico State come to town. Matt O’Hanlon may find himself warming the bench unless absolutely necessary.

- Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Dobson couldn’t have been happy with the hands-on-hips look during the second half against WMU. Given Nebraska’s only one game into the season, but I found the second half and especially the fourth quarter distressing in terms of effort available to give in the first place. The pass rush shown in the first half naturally needs to translate over to the second and even if you know your assignments, being gassed will end success. I look for a marginal improvement this week as that sort of turn-around can’t be expected in a week’s time, but three quarters of solid performance isn’t asking too much. Heck, give me 2 ½ and sub some second stringers in.

- Speaking of which, I think it’s about time we got to see what the future Huskers that haven’t touched FieldTurf can do. Show me Sean Fisher, Pat Witt, maybe even Marcus Mendoza with some Will Compton on the side. You get what I’m saying. We’ve gotten past the first game, Nebraska is 1-0, it’s time to get the newbies experience good or bad if up by 28+.

- Is Cody Glenn the real deal or a flash in the pan? Obviously a key question on everyone’s mind going into the game, but I believe that Cody will be a holy terror all year long. Not to say he’ll always put up mind blowing stats, but his presence will be felt and he will need to be accounted for by opposing offensive coordinators.

In essence if Nebraska can establish some manner of running game going into NMSU along with shoring up safety play and staying fresh a bit longer, I think the Cornhuskers will not only be able to call the game a success, but a blowout margin of victory that will have the Big Red Backers smiling will be had even if frosting is left all over the field from this cupcake. 

Have a different take? Feel free to comment or shoot an e-mail to Blankman17@gmail.com

[Editor's Note - this was originally published earlier, but is moved up today because that's where it belongs. You guys like "key" articles on Friday, right? Well, here it is. ]

It's a given that I'll be watching the SJSU game Saturday, plopping down another $29.95 to Fox. It's looking like the pay per view ordering process is about the same as it was last week, except maybe the Dish Network and DirecTV channels have changed a little.

I talked my sister who lives in Lincoln last night and she said that there were tons of people in line at the cable store to buy the game. You have to stand in line? What friggin' century is the cable outfit living in?

Are you buying this one? Are you like me and you have to watch because of a Husker dependency problem? Or was your experience not worth the effort this week? Or do you think it's just too much of a stinker?

Hi, My Name is Jon. I'm A Huskeraholic.

Just like last week, we'll be here with a Game Day thread. I won't have nearly as many beers in me by the time rolls around (at 11:30 am I can pretty much guarantee it will be zero), and I'd love to have the company.

The upcoming game against San Jose State isn’t all that interesting when you look at the two teams, so instead of doing a regular preview, I sat down with our new mascot Cobby to discuss the upcoming game. (I wouldn’t consider this so much as talking to myself as I would another voice in my head. And yes, he answers back, so just go with it, eh?)

Who are we playing this week?

The San Jose State Spartans.

The Spartans!? You mean like in the movie "300"?  Will they have swords?
No, they won’t have swords, but it might make it more interesting if they did. 
They’re not any good?

No. It’s hard to get excited about this one, everything appears that it should be an old-fashioned Nebraska butt-kicking where the Huskers win 72-3. If we don’t there’s something wrong.

What’s so bad about 72-3?

Well, it’s not much of a challenge is it? Kind of like setting the PS2 to the easy level and squashing the crap out of an already bad team.

And what’s so bad about that?

(Realizing there is no winning this one) Let’s move on, shall we? San Jose State is the third largest city in California, 10th largest in the country. It’s a ways north of Los Angeles, just south of San Francisco. It’s actually not too far from Yosemite National Park. There was an old song - "Do you know the way to San Jose?" - we could look it up in iTunes if you want.

No.

Why not?

You said it’s old. Is there anything interesting about the San Jose State football team?

They run the spread.

What’s that?

It’s the offense of today, the latest fad. Michigan paid millions of dollars to get a coach who knows how it works. Teams that run it automatically have a huge advantage over those that don’t, so everyone worries about defending it and everyone wants to be running it or they appear out of fashion.

What do you think of the spread?

I think it’s just another term for margarine.

You created me so you could torture me with bad jokes? That’s really cruel.

(Thinking maybe I did create him for that purpose....) Let’s continue. San Jose State had to come from behind for their win last week. They had to score a touchdown with eight seconds left to beat UC-Davis.

Who’s UC-Davis?

Exactly. San Jose State has a fairly respectable coach, Dick Tomey. He’s fourth on the active wins category behind Bobby Bowden, Joe Paterno, and Mack Brown. I’m not 100% sure if that’s because he’s really good, or just that he’s been around for a long time. Still, if you’re a head coach for a long time, you can’t be all bad.

Do they have any good players? Or what about statistics? People love those.

Well, against UC Davis, the Spartans rushed for 42 net yards, 28 of those coming from their new starting quarterback Kyle Reed, and 20 of that on one play. They threw for 231 yards, Reed after coming in the second half was 14 of 18 for 132 yards and two touchdowns and he finished with a 176 passing rating. Reed was at Cal, but transferred. Then there’s a guy named Kevin Jurovich who caught 11 balls last week, including the game winner.

On defense there’s defensive back Christopher Owens who returns this year whose 12 career interceptions are tied for second most amongst returning players this season. He picked off #13 last week. He’s a projected NFL draft pick, too.

That doesn’t sound too bad.

You can almost always make numbers sound good. The most important statistic about San Jose State is the number 15,465. That was the average attendance at their games last season. Given they have a large number of young players, it’s going to be 14-0 before they stop thinking "Sea of Red" and start thinking about playing football.

Is there anything good about this game?

  Two things I can think of. It’s a chance to see a whole bunch of young guys play for Nebraska and how they look on the field. That’s not so bad. The other thing to remember is that the previous regime would have served this plate of poop up and asked us to pretend it’s a steak dinner. At least there’s not the pretense this time around, which is rather refreshing.

It's on pay per view for $29.95, which is a lot for this kind of game.

So, if it costs too much and it’s going to be a bad game then why are you going to watch it anyway?

 
Because I can’t bare not watching it.

Did you ever stop to think you may have a dependency problem?

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