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?

At Corn Nation, we like to support all things Husker, not just the football team. I'd like to consider myself passionate about all Husker sports, so if you have a group or event that's Husker-related, please let us know about it.

The Husker Soccer Ultras are a new fan group that is trying to increase support for the Husker Soccer team. They are intent on generating a more European-oriented rowdy environment with chants, banners and songs - as the group's flyer states, they are "dedicated to bringing the fanatic back to the Husker soccer program."

They're looking for fans who are Loud, Red, Proud and Passionate to sing Nebraska to victory. The Ultras have pre- and post-game parties at "The Bar", located at 17th and P and they will be giving away free tickets to the soccer games. If you're on Facebook, you can find more information about them in the "Husker Soccer Ultras" group.

The next soccer home game is 12:30 PM Sunday (note the time change) against UAB. The Husker soccer team has started the season 0-3, so they could use the support!

It may not be Europe, but it sounds like a helluva lot of fun to me. I'll be bringing my family down to the New Mexico State game next weekend and attending a soccer game the next day. All three of my kids play soccer, so if the football doesn't indoctrinate them enough, maybe the Ultras can help.

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. ]

As Husker Mike pointed out earlier, this is such a bad week for college football that even that networks are struggling to find games decent enough to broadcast. Sad thing is, people like Mark May, Lou Holtz and all these guys that do this for a living have to pretend it’s a weekend like any other. They’ll be playing up the parity, the “everyone has athletes" angles, but don’t believe it. It is a weekend of suck.

Since we don’t do this for a living, we don’t have to pretend. We’re not going to bother predicting (or caring, maybe?) about all of the Big 12 teams. There are games against four IAA teams this week, so what’s the point?

In that spirit, Mike and I had a conversation about a few of the games, but instead of predicting all the Big 12 games, we decided to just pick the overall score of the Big 12 versus the opponents. I’d encourage you to do the same in the comments section.

Overall points Big 12 versus opponents:

Husker Mike: 657-181
Corn Blight: 723 -191.

Texas Tech - Nevada
Corn Blight: How many points do you think Texas Tech will score over Nevada?
Husker Mike: Tech will probably score in the 40's.
Corn Blight: 40's?
Husker Mike: But Nevada might score 35 or more.
Corn Blight: Graham Harrell will score 40 by himself. And I mean himself - Graham Harrell & Michael Crabtree 40, rest of team 38 for 78 points
Husker Mike: Well, I figure all of Tech's scoring is going to be touchdown passes.
Corn Blight: to 56 for Nevada. So Texas Tech 78, Nevada 56.
Husker Mike: 78-56?  Youwza
Corn Blight: oh hell yeah.
Husker Mike: I'll go 49-45 Tech.
Corn Blight: Wow. That's close.
Husker Mike: I think Nevada is better than the team that got spanked 52-7 in lincoln.
Corn Blight: I gave them 56 points. They'll be tired. I take that back. They'll score 56 and then, like the stock market approaching a new high, they'll get scared to go over 56. Have they ever been over 56? Probably not. It's a terrifying ceiling for some teams.
Corn Blight: Plus, no one plays defense anymore. lt's a lost art. like blacksmithing.

Texas A&M - New Mexico
Corn Blight: Texas A&M will score 8
Husker Mike: Wow, Sagarin has A&M #70 and NM #79. Why the hell is A&M traveling to NEW MEXICO
Corn Blight: they want to recruit in New Mexico.
Husker Mike: pfffft
Husker Mike: Does Bobby Newcombe have a little brother?
Corn Blight: Hey, New Mexico puts out one or two guys a year don't they? They'd put out more, but they're all out deer hunting.
Husker Mike: Or looking for aliens
Husker Mike: A&M 13 New Mexico 9
Corn Blight: New Mexico 10, Texas A&M 8
Corn Blight: I'm thinking the Aggies go 0-12 this season. Javorskie Lane will cry a lot.

Georgia Tech - Boston College
Husker Mike: GT got their token 1-AA win in...now reality hits. Transformations like that take time.
Corn Blight: Georgia Tech doesn't have Chan Gailey anymore. That's worth five more points a game right there. The game should just start 5-0 for GT
Husker Mike: BC 35, GT 9
Corn Blight: BC 27, GT 14
Corn Blight: That's 9+5  you know.
Husker Mike: OK, that's 1 FG, 2 safeties, and a TD
Corn Blight: Works for me

Miami - Florida
Husker Mike: Randy Shannon ain't the answer at the U, either.
Corn Blight: They needed him. They're not in jail. They have to have a cooling off period, like the earth.
Husker Mike: Florida 45, Miami 13
Corn Blight: Florida 31, Miami 10

Stanford - Arizona State
Corn Blight: Dennis Erickson versus Jim Harbaugh. That game could be worth watching just to see the coaches expressions.
Husker Mike: Upset spe-shul
Husker Mike: The Tree 27, Sparky 24
Corn Blight: I keep going back to that deal with the devil on Erickson.
Corn Blight: I'll go with just the reverse, Sparky 27, Tree 24

West Virginia - East Carolina
Corn Blight: Is West Virginia - ECU worth talking about?
Husker Mike: Since ECU took out Tech last week, I s'pose
Husker Mike: Don't ask me about this one though.I'm going to SWAG it.
Corn Blight: SWAG?
Husker Mike: Simple Wild A$$ Guess
Corn Blight: Oh, yeah, you have to.
Husker Mike: WVa 37, Lou's Boy 13
Husker Mike: Or should I say.... RichRod's $4 million:  37, Lou's Boy 13
Corn Blight: yeah, West Virginia still has a gob of offense.
Corn Blight: Mountaineers 28, ECU 21.
Corn Blight: Wait those are scores from the old days where people play defense
Corn Blight: WVU, ECU 35-24

Duke - Northwestern
Husker Mike: Sad thing that might be one of the better match ups out there
Corn Blight: This is the Big 10 vs. the ACC, isn't it. There's something horribly ironic that it's one of the better games of the weekend
Husker Mike: Northwestern usually sucks, Duke consistently sucks
Husker Mike: NW 18, Duke 6
Corn Blight: Battle of the nerds?
Husker Mike: NERRRRDS!!!!!111!!!11!!!  Bwent Mushbewgew
Corn Blight: Maybe this weekend was pre-arranged by a whole bunch of carefully placed genius schedulers, all in an effort to get some exposure, some recognition.Husker Mike: What exposure?
Corn Blight: We're talking about it, aren't we?
Husker Mike: Yeah, but we're sitting in our parents basement with our laptop in our underwear.
Corn Blight: Northwestern vs Duke is broadcast online at CSTV's XXL site. NERDS will see it.
Corn Blight: Northwestern 23, Dukies 16


Ohio - Ohio State
Corn Blight: Ohio vs Buckeyes. OMG!
Husker Mike: Ohio really wants this one.
Husker Mike: tOSU really wants the Trojans.
Husker Mike: tOSU favored by 35.
Husker Mike: If I was going to vegas, I'd put my money on the Bobcats.
Corn Blight: If you were taking points, I might take Ohio.
Husker Mike: Bobcats tired of being dissed by OSU.
Corn Blight: You're talking yourself into this.
Husker Mike: I know...I'll just take the points.
Husker Mike: tOSU 27, OU 13
Corn Blight: tOSU 52, Ohio whatever 52-34 is.
Husker Mike: wooowee
Corn Blight: 18. That's it. It's 18.
Husker Mike: But 86 points?
Corn Blight: No defense anywhere anymore. So OSU 52, OU 18
Husker Mike: True

Buffalo - Pittsburgh
Husker Mike: Oh wow...
Corn Blight: What's that?
Husker Mike: Picking that game.
Husker Mike: Heart:  Turner Gill 35, Steve Pederson 24
Husker Mike: Head:  Pitt 27, Buffalo 10
Corn Blight: I'm picking Buffalo 23, Pitt 20
Corn Blight: because I think Dave Wannstache really sucks that bad and for some reason Turner Gill has those guys believing. Even scoring 42 against UTEP.
Husker Mike: The Pornstache sucks royally, to be sure.
Corn Blight: Granted UTEP isn't the greatest competition, but hey, everyone would have said that about Buffalo before that game too. That, and I BELIEVE IN KARMA!
Husker Mike: Karma...heh heh

Nebraska - San Jose State
Husker Mike: Oh... NU 56, SJSU 13
Corn Blight: Nebraska 56 - sounds right.
Corn Blight: but the Spartans will score 20 and everyone will complain.
Corn Blight: They'll score 20 in the second half. After a 35-0 lead in the first half for Nebraska.
Husker Mike: If it's against the scrubs, I won't be as upset.
Corn Blight: hopefully we'll see a lot of guys playing.
Corn Blight: Nebraska 56, SJSU 20

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?

…

What a huge week for the Big XII conference in football!  Look at these matchups!

• Southeast Missouri State @ Missouri
• Cincinatti @ Oklahoma
• Texas @ Texas El-Paso
• Texas Tech @ Nevada
• Louisiana Tech @ Kansas
• San Jose State @ Nebraska
• Oklahoma State @ Houston
• Eastern Washington @ Colorado
• Kent State @ Iowa State
• Texas A&M @ New Mexico
• Northwestern Louisiana State @ Baylor

Whew!  Takes your breath away, doesn't it?  Here are the Sagarin ratings for this weekend's opponents:  221, 42, 141, 81, 98, 117, 74, 104, 134, 79, 179.  That's an average opponent rating of 106...and there are only 119 teams in division 1-A (ok, the "Bowl Championship Subdivision").

Continue reading this post »

Quick note, I did not include Thursday's South Carolina - Vandy game in my list of games this week, so you're okay for a couple days yet, but be sure to get your picks in.

Week 1 Winners Are As Follows:

I still have yet to hear from three of you regarding your mailing addresses so you can pick up a free copy of "A Sea of Red 2008". If you're not interested in that, contact me anyway.

You can still join the game, keep in mind we're trying to give away prizes on a weekly basis, so you can still win a week and get something. That's not so bad, is it?