We are in a quandary, Mr. “Run The Ball Guy”. Nebraska, our beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers are 13th in the Big Ten conference in rushing offense. They are gaining just under 122 yards a game. I don’t have to tell you that’s pretty atrocious. In their last two games they gained 44 yards on 16 attempts for a 2.75 yards per carry average and 40 yards on 27 attempts for a 1.48 yard per carry average. That’s terrifying.

A guy like you would say, “That’s not Nebraska football!”

You’d be right.

There is good news. Nebraska is third in the Big Ten in passing at 274.4 yards per game. In our last two games, we had 349 yards passing on 47 attempts with 27 completions and 431 yards on 50 attempts with 32 completions.

Obviously, we didn’t beat Ohio State, but we did beat Purdue and we did it through the air. Northwestern is fifth in the Big Ten conference in rushing defense, giving up 118 yards per game. The Wildcats are 13th in pass defense, giving up 270.8 yards per game.

Do you see the quandary?

If Nebraska is going to beat Northwestern, it’s probably going to be through the air.

At this point you have to ask yourself what you want out of this season. I would like Nebraska to at least get to a bowl game and that means winning some more games. I’m okay with my beloved Huskers throwing the ball 40 times a game if it means that we win games. I am not so stuck on a religious philosophy that requires that we run the ball because of some “Nebraska Way”.

It’s okay if we don’t use the fullback. If we don’t use the fullback we can use another guy, like a receiver, who can split out and force the defense to spread themselves out. See, when you stick a fullback in the game, you allow the defense to stack the box even more than they already are. In that case the fullback is not another blocker, he’s just one more guy stacking up the middle when Nebraska’s line can’t even average two or three yards per carry.

So I’m asking you point-blank, Mr. “Run The Ball Guy”, what you want? Do you want to stick to this perhaps outdated concept (at least for this season) that Nebraska has to run the ball or do you want to win some more games?

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It’s always interesting to me to see how Tom Osborne is portrayed by fans. You’d swear that Nebraska won all those games under Osborne by playing mostly native Nebraskans and by running the ball all of the time. I realize this is part of the mythmaking that goes along with being Tom Osborne, but it’s not true.

From the book, “Stadium Stories – Nebraska Cornhuskers”, by Mike Babcock, a man who’s forgot more about Husker football than any of the rest of us will ever learn, comes this revelation on page 105:

"We threw the ball a whole lot. But some people thought we were drab and unexciting, and somehow, the coaching changed had caused it." Part of the problem was efficiency. Counting bowl games, Humm threw for 24 touchdowns with 26 interceptions during his final two seasons.

Even so, Osborne remain committed to the pass. "I used to kid Tom, when he first became the head coach, all he wanted to do was throw the ball," said Jim Ross, the head freshman coach and an assistant athletic director at the time. The veteran assistance among them Fischer and Mike Corgan, tried to convince Osborne to run "once in a while. But Tom wanted to throw it all the time," Ross said.

I reviewed Babcock’s book back in 2007.

So see, Mr. “Run The Ball Guy”? Your legend liked to throw the ball. It’s okay. Even in November.

NEWS

Northwestern vs. Nebraska: Three things to know - Inside NU
The Huskers have struggled for much of the season, but eked out a win last week.

Tale of the Tape: Nebraska's Game-Winning Drive at Purdue | Hail Varsity
However, Nebraska answered the Purdue touchdown that stretched the Boilermakers' lead to 12 with a touchdown drive of its own, going 70 yards in seven plays and 2 minutes and 20 seconds to pull within five. Over the next three drives, the Blackshirts bowed up and allowed just 32 total yards on 11 plays over the next three Purdue possessions. The offense failed to capitalize on the first two three-and-outs, but the third time was the charm.

Nebraska star Johnny Rodgers: Letting go of Mike Riley 'would be horrible'
“You want to get yourself a new coach and bring him into that? That’s torture. Mike, at least, Mike’s priming for it, getting it together and getting the guys experience in that direction. To break up the system and momentum we’re getting set up for next year — we’d really be in trouble next year.”

Sorry, bro! Drew Brown set to pass Kris on Husker FG chart
In his four years with the Cornhuskers, Drew has joined Kris among the best kickers in program history. After his four field goals in last week's win over Purdue, Drew goes into Saturday's game against Northwestern tied with Kris with a career total of 57.

The Petey Post: Hey Offensive Line, Time to Step it Up | Hail Varsity
It hasn’t shown. Between the three of them this season, they have been flagged for holding seven times, with four of those belonging to Gates alone. Foster also has three false start penalties, leading the team. Those are mental mistakes that can’t happen for a team with as small of a margin for error as Nebraska has.

Moos offers thoughts on topic of alcohol sales at Husker games
"At Nebraska, I don't think you need it," Moos said on that subject during a wide-ranging 45-minute interview. "This will be my first home game (this weekend), but it's another sellout. Really don't need that here. And with it comes different fight problems, and disorderly conduct, and all that.

Moos briefed on Huskers' Black Friday history
“That’s the one game our fans, I’ve gotten that sense already, traditionally like to have on Friday,” Moos said. “In the season they don’t like them on Friday because that’s for high school and I certainly understand that too. I got briefed real quick. It happened in the first day. I think I know where the bones are buried.”

Minnesota Football is 4-4 and that shouldn’t shock you - The Daily Gopher
This type of Gophers season was always a possibility.

Illinois at Purdue Preview - Hammer and Rails
It’s the battle for the Cannon, the one trophy Purdue has won the last five years.

Minnesota Football vs Michigan - Week 10 Preview - The Daily Gopher
The Gopher offense will need to step up against a tough Michigan defense to bring back the Little Brown Jug

No. 7 Penn State at No. 24 Michigan State: Game Preview - Black Shoe Diaries
No. 7 Penn State battles with No. 24 Michigan State: Game Preview

Individual Matchup to Watch: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Ohio State Buckeyes - Black Heart Gold Pants
For the Iowa Hawkeyes to have a chance in this game, they need to throw caution to the wind and let Nate Stanley cook

Why November is the best part of college football season - SBNation.com
In college football, August is for arguing, September is for dreaming, October is for bargaining, and November is for everything.

Georgia’s SEC East dominance comes straight from recruiting - SBNation.com
If finding a good QB is a lottery, then it’s best to buy a lot of tickets.

Why Willie Taggart should be on Florida’s coaching search list - SBNation.com
The No. 1 guy is a no-brainer in Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen. The coach, who’s in his ninth year in Starkville, has brought consistent success at a program with little history of it. Stricklin was hired by Florida from MSU one year ago, so the two have a previously successful work relationship.

Tennessee AD comments on report Butch Jones played injured player - SBNation.com
John Currie reportedly met with head coach Butch Jones on Sunday about the matter.

Mike Leach weighs in on the great candy corn debate: ‘It’s awful’ - SBNation.com
He also compared it to fruitcake.

Then There’s This

Students fight with pool noodles in Classics Club’s reenactment of Battle of Troy | News | dailynebraskan.com
According to Michael Lippman, advisor of the Classics Club and associate professor of Classics and Religious Studies, the event began three years ago with the purpose of demonstrating the battle to classics students in a more entertaining and interactive way than typical classroom learning.

Whataburger-Wonder Woman Costume Wins Halloween - Eater
A combination of two things people love