@schadjoe: Arkansas has hired Bret Bielema away from Wisconsin!

Congratulations to Ameer and Imani!

Special Teams Player of the Week

Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska

So., PR, Homewood, Ala./Homewood

· Returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown in Nebraska’s victory over Idaho State on Saturday

· Marked Nebraska’s first punt return touchdown since October 2010

· Also added 49 rushing yards and finished the day with 129 all-purpose yards

· Earns his second Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week award

· Last Nebraska Special Teams Player of the Week: Brett Maher (Nov. 14, 2011)

Freshman of the Week

Imani Cross, Nebraska

RB, Gainesville, Ga./North Hall

· Rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in Nebraska’s victory over Idaho State on Saturday

· Scored on a 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter

· Recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game, helping the Huskers to 385 yards on the ground

· Wins his first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor

· Last Nebraska Freshman of the Week: Ameer Abdullah (Sept. 12, 2011)

No Reads today. Work-related absence.

But here's a quick run-down of yesterday's stories:
- Burkhead will play on Saturday (poor Idaho State). Oh, and pro scouts are impressed with his work ethic.
- Pelini is okay [but hates playing below Division I-A (FBS)] (He even joked with the media (**). Okay, maybe he's NOT okay.)
- The team isn't saying they're looking past Idaho State(**)
- No one is suggesting Pelini or anyone else should be fired.

Taylor Martinez, Nebraska
Jr., QB, Corona, Calif./Centennial
• Threw for a career-high 354 yards and tied a career best with five touchdown strikes to lead the Huskers to an opening-day victory over Southern Miss
• Completed 26 of 34 passes (76.5 percent) and became the sixth Nebraska quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 career yards
• Guided Nebraska to 632 yards of total offense, the most in fifth-year coach Bo Pelini’s tenure
• Wins his second career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award
• Last Nebraska Offensive Player of the Week: Taylor Martinez (Oct. 10, 2011)

Congratulations, Taylor! Well-earned! (Bell, as expected, was the other Offensive Player of the week.)

"Michigan is ranked No. 1 in the country going to Nebraska the next week. In an unexpected snowstorm, they lose on a last-second Brett Maher field goal. "

Brett McMurphy
‏@BrettMcMurphy
Champions Bowl RFP's sent to Dallas, New Orleans, Atlanta, Phoenix, Houston, Orlando, Nashville, San Antonio, Tampa & Jax

Aug. 1, 2012

MADISON, Wis. -- University of Wisconsin senior Montee Ball was the victim of what Madison Police are investigating as an "unprovoked assault" early Wednesday morning. Here is a link to the Madison Police report on the incident: http://www.cityofmadison.com/incidentReports/incidentDetail.cfm?id=13553

Below is a statement from Wisconsin head football coach Bret Bielema ...

"My concern right now is for Montee's health and well-being. Montee has been released from the hospital and is under the care and supervision of our sports medicine staff. We will continue to evaluate him as we approach the start of fall camp this weekend. I do expect Montee to make a full recovery."

If this program weren't named Nebraska, then I would look at a schedule that includes tricky non-conference visits from Southern Miss and Arkansas State, a non-conference visit to a blank slate of a UCLA team, and in-conference visits to Ohio State, Northwestern (which won at Nebraska last year), Michigan State and Iowa, and I would say that simply going undefeated in non-conference and going .500 in conference might signify pretty solid play and reasonable success.

But after the teases of 2009-10, and after the move to a new conference that didn't exactly bow to them on the field, one can sense Husker fans getting a little restless. I can't imagine anything less than a strong run at a division title (which would mean at least 9-3 or 10-2) would be considered much of a success.

He also hinted that he wished the system was in place in 1997, when Michigan and Nebraska shared the national championship in Osborne's final season as football coach.

"I know in 1997, we were in a difficult situation," Osborne said. "We were undefeated, and Michigan was undefeated, and we very badly wanted to play Michigan and we were pretty much a free agent and able to move at that time, but Michigan had contractual obligations with the Rose Bowl.

9. The fact Nebraska was considered the 17th best team at any point of last season should tell you what an abomination the 2011 season was.