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A run-down of sporting stories from the weekend covering Nebraska athletics, the Big Ten and around the world.
FOOTBALL IS ALMOST HERE, helmets may change the tide of the game this fall and Volleyball has an excellent opening weekend. Those stories and more below.
5 days to kickoff! It's Southern Miss Game Week!
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Football (0-0)
Huskers Ready for Transition to Game Week - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
The greatest headline ever. CAN YOU FEEL IT?
Previews
(** x alot) Preview : Husker Extra and here's the OWH's.
If you want to burn through your LJS or OWH free access, here are the links to their Big Ten and Big Red previews.
(**) McKewon: Beck, Husker offense on the spot this time - Omaha.com
If we lose Saturday, it's Sam's fault.
(**) Camp rewind: A look back at the fall camp that was : Husker Extra
Eric Martin talks about centaurs.
(**) Red Report: A walk-through before the curtain goes up : Husker Extra
A lot of things still up in the air this week.
A lot more Nebraska football and other stories after the Jump!
Announcements
Nine Huskers Named to Senior Bowl Watch List - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
Tied with Georgia and Alabama. (Yes, Rex is on the list. So is Maher!)
(**) No more saving stubs: Husker student tickets go electronic - Omaha.com
Sounds more like the University is cracking down on the secondary market. Not particularly moved on this, since I was excited to go to the games. I don't like the not being able to move between stadiums since they got rid of football blocks in 2009. How do you get to sit with your friends?
(**) Barfknecht: Headaches could result from new helmet rule - Omaha.com
Here's hoping helmets stay on during crunch time.
Player Pieces
Bo used to tell the opposing linebackers the play every time. He’d say, "We’re going to run power right." And they couldn’t do a thing about it.
Tim Marlowe opens up with some insights on Youngstown, Ohio.Ohio football sounds like something else.
Hail Varsity: The Depth Chart Puzzle – Offense
Offensive line coach Barney Cotton has considered rotating centers, but I don’t think that’s the perfect situation for the "quarterback of the offensive line."
If Cotton rotates centers, I suspect the offense will suffer and come January Cotton will be asked to retire. I can't see him taking another job like Watson.
Hail Varsity: The Depth Chart Puzzle – Defense
DIME: 1A) David Santos, 1B) Corey Cooper, 1C) Zaire Anderson.This is intriguing. Nebraska could go with a more traditional dime set with the true safety Cooper or they could go big with hybrid linebackers in Santos or Anderson. That could make things very interesting once Big Ten play rolls around.
Options are nice to have. What do you think?
Hail Varsity: Practice Report – Day 22
–Pelini tapped the brakes a bit on the Tommy Armstrong hype."Tommy’s come in and done a good job," Pelini said. "Everybody’s trying to anoint him (but) nothing’s been decided as far as the number two (quarterback) position is concerned. He’s had a nice camp."
If we had a spring game, we'd be anointing him No. 1, right?
Santa Margarita good enough to win on the road | margarita, sa - Sports - OC Varsity
Can he play in the Spring Game so we can anoint him No. 1 next April?
(**) QB Armstrong knows how to make a good first impression : Husker Extra
I think the best part is the selflessness of the older QBs and their willingness to help despite the fact that Armstrong might be the future for Nebraska. How cool is that?
(**) Healthy Qvale is hungry for first NU start - Omaha.com
Stay healthy!
Coaching
(**) Pelini's first four years at NU leave him hungry for more - Omaha.com
Here's to four more years for Pelini, with better days ahead.
(**) Steven M. Sipple: Papuchis made his own luck in career rise : Husker Extra
Coach Joseph's comments are kind of eye-opening. "Surviving"? Let's hope we rise above that this fall.
(**) NU taking another run at the option - Omaha.com
YES.
Opinion
(**) Shatel: A Fiesta in Year 5 for Pelini and NU - Omaha.com
A nice list of optimism. I have to disagree on losing to Sparta. We might still go 10-2, but I think loss #2 is to either Minnesota or Northwestern, just to keep us annoyed.
(**) Shatel: Husker history unfolds differently with Osborne in governor's mansion - Omaha.com
Why wouldn't Boehm hire Paul Johnson, the preeminent OPTION KING, if he was looking for a return to the Nebraska of old?
Southern Mississippi (0-0)
Previewing the 2012 Southern Miss Golden Eagles - Corn Nation
Our own Husker Mike previews the moving target that is Southern Miss.
2012 Southern Miss Football Preview: Old Hands And New Faces - SBNation.com
Bill Connelly reviews Southern Miss. football. Stiff challenge?
USM QB race still tight week before opener | Hattiesburg American | hattiesburgamerican.com
As for how many quarterbacks will play, that is yet to be determined. Hopefully their QB uncertainty doesn't cause any fits for Nebraska this Saturday. (Doesn't it feel great to read that?)
Best wishes their way - here's hoping they bring their best to Lincoln.
(**) Defense is a tradition with Golden Eagles - Omaha.com
Sounds like they'll have a lot of moving parts that need to be settled by Friday.
Volleyball (3-0)
The Husker ladies had quite the weekend to open their season, sweeping their opening slate, 9-2. (3-0, 3-2, 3-0)
N-Sider Q&A: Lauren Cook, UCLA and More - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
I would always compare UCLA to Nebraska, and you just can't compare it. I say this over and over again, but Nebraska really is like the perfect school.
Heh. Especially after Saturday, amirite?
Huskers Sweep Saint Louis - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
Win #1
No. 4 Huskers Down No. 1 UCLA - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
Win #2. Nice that they could down UCLA at the Coliseum.
Huskers Take Down Fighting Irish in Omaha - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
And win #3. Hell of a way to open the season, ladies! (And Notre Dame losing is always nice.)
Women's Soccer (2-3-0)
Freshmen Duo Leads Huskers to 2-0 Win - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
Freshmen Jaylyn Odermann and Katie Kraeutner led the Nebraska soccer team (1-3-0) to its first win of the 2012 season on Sunday afternoon at the Nebraska Soccer Field with a 2-0 shutout of the New Mexico Lobos. Odermann notched both her first career goal and assist on the day, while Kraeutner added her first career goal.
Way to go!
Following a 4-3 double-overtime win by the Nebraska soccer team last season on the road at then No. 25 Virginia Tech, the No. 16 ranked Hokies avenged the loss on Friday night at the Nebraska Soccer Field with a 3-2 overtime victory.
A tough loss but so it goes.
Other Stories
i dont hate u guys - Corn Nation
Good luck in the SEC, Mizzou. Y'all will need it.
Get well soon, Prince.
No. 24 Boise State picks Southwick to start at QB - Yahoo! Sports
This guy is going to face an impossible feat: if he wins, it's Chris Petersen. If he loses, it's him. That sucks.
Auburn center Dismukes suspended after arrest - Yahoo! Sports
Perhaps the SEC should consider player character in addition to talent?
Kansas suspends longsnapper for 3 games - Yahoo! Sports
Well, that won't help.
No. 23 Gators to play Brissett, Driskel in opener - Yahoo! Sports
If you have two QBs, you have no QB.
Army determined to get back to winning ways - Yahoo! Sports
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. Oh, Army. You're so cute! (TEN YEARS.)
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Join me every morning Monday to Friday for a round-up of the day's stories. Comments, rants and cat pictures are welcome below! (Not a member of CornNation? Join today and take part in the conversation!)
Have a great start to Southern Mississippi Week!
-Salt Creek and Stadium