Bleacher Report - Articles by Jason Siffring

To Bo Pelini, It Is All About Team

Jason Siffring — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:10:29 -0500

Remember the Bad Ole Days? Typically we try to erase those from our memories. Unfortunately, there are records kept for as long as records have been kept. So, when our great-grandkids go through the annals, they will always read about a coach named Callahan.

When asked, you’ll have all kinds of things to say about him. We’ll remember that he isn’t fond of hillbillies. We’ll lament on the fact that he humbly said that he excelled in every part of his job. We’ll remember his stunning record as a head coach.

While Bo Pelini’s records are only a year into the making, when the paint has dried on his (hopefully) long career at Nebraska, I think one thing will stick out: his focus on the team being more important than any one individual.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Nebraska Football: Starry-Eyed on the Eve of Signing Day

Jason Siffring — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 06:32:39 -0500

Signing Day is a lot like Boxing Day for me: I know that some people some places celebrate it with all the fervor of a second Christmas, and I also know that I'm not one of those people.

Recruiting has always seemed too subjective for my tastes. Player A is coming to Nebraska? Great, we love him. Player B is going somewhere else? Fine, forget him.

The problem is I'm not sure how else a fan can be expected to respond to all the wooing, committing, decommitting, and non-qualifying. In the end, every year 20 or so new players are going to show up at Dear Old Nebraska U; some of them will exceed expectations, others won't, and that's about the extent of what we know from year to year.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Early Nebraska Recruiting Success Leads to Quiet Finish

Jason Siffring — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:48:06 -0500

Following Bo Pelini’s first full season on the recruiting trail for Nebraska has been an interesting journey.

Normally the month of January is filled with quite a bit of recruiting drama as we try to fill out the final spots while holding on to the verbal commitments already given. This season has followed a little bit different “business model” as the Huskers found a mini-gold rush in October and November and only had a few spots to add to the list down the home stretch.

Of course anything can happen between now and Thursday’s signing day, but the way things seem to be shaking up right now, after Jason Pierre-Paul (Fort Scott (KS) Community College) announced his intentions to play at South Florida, the Huskers seem to have two realistic prospects on the radar.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Nebraska Basketball Providing Inspiration for Huskers Football

Jason Siffring — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:59:59 -0500

Last year, we saw a passionate coach take talent that had been questioned by media and fans and turn the team into a competitive nuisance for other Big 12 schools. I'm not talking about Bo Pelini; I am looking at Doc Sadler and the Husker Men's basketball team.

Both men's basketball and football at Nebraska are in similar positions with respect to the Big 12. Both coaches have the task of returning their teams to a respectable position in this league.

While Bo seems to have had a jump start in that department this year, both he and Sadler are nearing the same cusp. The Husker football team can look to basketball to be inspired to take their game to the next level.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

The Value of Returning Starters and Further Reason for Hope in '09

Jason Siffring — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:08:44 -0500

The reasons for pessimism regarding Nebraska's chances in 2009 seem to center around the following:

1) Nebraska returns the second fewest number of starters in the conference (11). Only Missouri (10) has fewer.
2) Chief among those non-returning starters is Joe Ganz, even after they're gone QBs get all the headlines, but don't forget his top two receiving threats, Swift and Peterson, or the massive right side of the line in Slauson and Murtha.

The reasons for optimism regarding Nebraska's chances in 2009 more or less boil down to momentum. Bo Pelini appears to be building something in Lincoln (cue Tom Waits' "What's He Building in There?"). Oh sure Helu and Castille look live and there's a whole bevy of redshirts waiting in the wings, hopeful hidden weapons if you will, but if you see someone who is bullish on Nebraska in 2009 it's likely based on belief because when it comes to experience, the Huskers have all the makings of a team about to take a step backward.

Or do they?

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Marlon Lucky: A Tribute

Jason Siffring — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:03:10 -0500

In a season full of great stories, it is often easy for certain players to get overlooked. For 2008, I would argue that the most overlooked story is the end of Marlon Lucky’s time at Nebraska.

This may be because he didn’t take the field on Senior Day in Lincoln. The emergence of younger backs could have potentially obscured Lucky’s contribution to Nebraska. Fans may not want to acknowledge what this young man brought to the Huskers during his career.

After enduring massive expectations, and some possible guilt by association on the way to record-setting results, Lucky is now set to leave Nebraska for the NFL. I offer this tribute to a young man who has contributed and helped reshape the way we view running backs at Nebraska.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

The Difference Between 9-4 and 5-7, Pt. 1: The Nebraska Huskers Offense

Jason Siffring — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:05:35 -0500

While it's never exciting to come to the end of another college football season, I will admit to looking forward a bit to this period between the end of this season and the start of spring practice, as it provides valuable time to try and put the 2008 season in context.

We all have our own ideas, culled from hours of watching, listening, and reading throughout the fall regarding what made the 2008 Bo Pelini Huskers different from Bill Callahan's 2007 squad.

But what does the data show? Where were the Huskers better? Where were they worse and how, ultimately, did that translate to the win-loss columns?

We'll split this into a series of three posts highlighting the offense, defense and special teams. First up, "The Spread Coast Offense."

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Gator Bowl Preview: Clemson Q&A with Block-C

Jason Siffring — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:32:35 -0500

A friendly neighborhood Clemson blog has been kind enough to answer some of our questions about the Tigers. Please feel free to check out our Husker response over at Block-C. Let's hope for a great game to start the new year off right.

1. Will the loss of Vic Koenning to Kansas State affect the players or cause any problems in the bowl?

At first it seemed as if the wheels were falling off for us when he quit right after Dabo was named the head coach. Thankfully, we are blessed with assistant coaches that are capable of stepping up big time, as Ron West and David Blackwell have both assumed roles as interim Co-Defensive coordinators. The latest reports are saying the Blackwell will be calling defensive plays against the Huskers.

The local media has covered our bowl practice pretty well, and it seems that there hasn't really been any significant drop-off other than the usual rust accumulated from so much time off. Our defense is still flying to the ball, still making plays, and still looking better every day.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Why Gator Bowl Is the Best Place for Nebraska Huskers and Fans

Jason Siffring — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:57:42 -0500

This article's title could have been “Why I Love the Gator Bowl.” Once the Colorado game was complete, this was the best possible place that Nebraska could have ended up. From its effect on other teams to its television location, this is a great position for the Huskers to be in.

At the beginning of the year, most media and people thought we would end up more like Kansas, playing against a team with four straight losses, on a channel that not everyone picks up, in a time slot when most people are far from thinking about football.

Instead, we are playing a solid matchup when we're probably the best game on (head to head with Georgia v. Michigan State on ABC). The Huskers are also on right before a couple of the biggest bowl games of the year (Rose Bowl, followed by the Orange Bowl). People are going to be settling in for a full day of football.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

A Husker's Holiday Gift Guide 2008

Jason Siffring — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:12:38 -0500

A little more than a week ago, Alex Henery kicked his way into Husker lore. Now here we sitting less than 20 days away from Christmas. The time for gifts is nigh and luckily the Big Red Network is here to help.

The glut of Husker merchandise out there is vast and often ugly. It's not always easy to sift through what's good and what's bad, but just keep this in mind: The key to a good holiday gift is finding something that's good two, three, or 10 years down the line—not just the second it's opened.

We're creating, or rather buying, memories here, people.

Sure, an all expenses-paid trip to the Gator Bowl is at the top of most of our lists and would make for some fantastic memories, win or lose. But for those looking for something they can shove under the tree, read on...

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

College Football: Race for the Biletnikoff Award Doesn't Always Go to the Swift

Jason Siffring — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:31:26 -0500

The list of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award was whittled down to three finalists this week, and it’s a Big 12-only affair with Michael Crabtree, Dez Bryant, and Jeremy Maclin up for the trophy. That’s good.

As loaded as this conference is behind center—all 3 finalists for the O’Brien Award hail from the Big 12—it hasn’t hurt the spectacular signal-callers that the Big 12 is also the preeminent receiving conference in the country as well. The Mackey Award (TEs) is exclusively Big 12 too.

You can’t really argue with the greatness of Crabtree, Bryant, and Maclin. All are deserving. The semifinalists, however, is a bit more difficult to pinpoint.

Namely, where was Nate Swift’s name? In addition to the three finalists, three more Big 12 receivers were listed among the 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff award: Chase Coffman, Kerry Meier, and Quan Cosby.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Huskers Game Day Pocket Guide for Kansas

Jason Siffring — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:59:06 -0500

The Jayhawks haven't won in Lincoln since Lyndon Johnson was president. You can bet the Fighting Manginos will come out swinging, hoping to end that streak.

The Jayhawks are led by a seasoned quarterback, junior Todd Reesing, who is only 83 yards short of KU's career passing record. Both teams have suspect passing defenses. Expect this game to be another high-flying, high-scoring affair.

We're one win away from bowl eligibility, so get your game face on, Husker fans.

» Print the 2008 Kansas Game Day Pocket Guide

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Nebraska's Plan of Attack Vs. San Jose State

Jason Siffring — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:17:11 -0400

Much of the talk this week regarding San Jose State has centered on Western Michigan.

No, really—here we are on Thursday, and there hasn't seemed to be a whole lot of talk about Dick Tomey and his Spartans yet.

That's partially due to the fact that SJSU played and won in a nail-biter against a FCS team in Cal-Davis in Week One—only the ambitious among us will even see a box score from that game—and partially due to Nebraska's offense.

Even with the running game being a relatively low tire on the Watson hot rod last week, it looks like the Huskers have plenty of weapons to handle San Jose State.

That being the case, this week's plan of attack should revolve mostly around staying out of trouble, because as a coach of mine once (i.e. at least 500 times) told me, it's easier to stay out of trouble than get out of trouble.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

A Quick Note to Londen Fryar from Nebraska Fans

Jason Siffring — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:26:56 -0400

Dear Londen,

Allow me, for a moment, to speak on the behalf of Nebraska fans the world over: We wanted you here.

Many of us have been asking ourselves all week, "Why is Irving Fryar's son playing against us?" Thanks to the recent story on mlive.com, we now have our answer: It was all Bill Callahan's fault.

None of us are really surprised. Blaming Bill Callahan was named Nebraskans' second favorite sedentary pastime in a recent Gallup poll, trailing only watching football.

I mean, your father had delivered not a grainy game film, but a DVD right into the hands of the former head coach, and, at least figuratively, he said "Meh." Perhaps it was too technical for him, but I digress.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Point Bo Pelini: Kirk Herbstreit Now Loves the Huskers?

Jason Siffring — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:37:34 -0400

The second first game of Bo Pelini's career at Nebraska is still four days away, but you can already give him one win in 2008: He's made a believer out of Kirk Herbstreit.

I know Nebraska fans have no love lost for the ESPN analyst, thanks to his histrionics surrounding an Internet poll a few years ago, but I honestly find his analysis as strong and insightful as anyone's on the GameDay set.

True, he's up against Corso, Holtz, May, and Howard, so that's sort of like winning the Big Ten of late, but personally I have no problem putting stock in what he says.

This year, based on his recently released Herbie awards, he's bullish on the Cornhuskers.

How'd that happen?

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Relatively Speaking, The Wiseguys Like Nebraska

Jason Siffring — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:58:42 -0400

Earlier this week, the Las Vegas Sports Consultants emerged from their smoke and grease-board filled offices, took off their green-tinted visors to wipe their collective brows with Rolex-clad wrists and unveiled their pre-season poll to the adoration of media and coaches poll haters the world round.

I tried to pack that first sentence with as many tired bookie stereotypes as possible, but I missed the most important one, the commonly held belief that bookmakers are 100 percent objective.

The reason this stereotype exists, of course, is because bookies care not who wins that Friday night San Jose State-Houston game. They only care that, when the game kicks off, they’ve got equal money (or close to it) on both the Spartans and Cougars. After that, the vig takes care of the rest.

You could say that, on a week-to-week basis, Vegas oddsmakers are beholden to perceived market value rather than true market value (so long objectivity!) but to determine the former you have to have a pretty good idea of the latter.

There is no Kelvin scale when it comes to college football power polling, but if there was you could imagine it existing deep in the catacombs of some Vegas casino, the places normally reserved for composite characters in a Ben Mezrich book, visible only to those privileged and powerful enough to not only create it but keep it a secret as well.

That’s a long way of saying that no poll is perfect but, for my money, the LVSC poll strives the hardest towards the ideal and what’s better, they like Nebraska more than any pundit not named Matt Hinton.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Running Nebraska Through the Eliminator

Jason Siffring — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:06:48 -0400

I understand why Georgia is the consensus No. 1 team in the country. That doesn't mean I believe it to be true, and it doesn’t seem like anyone else does either.

Returning talent and strong finish aside, nobody seems to think that Georgia can make it through their schedule unscathed but, because college football hates logic the way ‘Bammers hate Aubies, the Dawgs are voted the top team in the country even though everyone can agree that they won’t end up there.

Or maybe they will. I wasn’t expecting much out of ESPN The Magazine’s college football preview, but as it turns out I learned something before I even opened it up.

On the overleaf to their Knowshon Moreno cover they diagrammed out “The Eliminator,” a set of statistical milestones every BCS champion has met since 2003. They are as follows:

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

We're No. 46: AP Poll Reaction from a Nebraska Fan

Jason Siffring — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:38:44 -0400

The Associated Press released their preseason football poll. And, like the coaches' poll released earlier this summer, Georgia tops the list of teams.

Among the 25 teams ranked, five are Husker opponents in 2008. Nebraska received one vote good for two points, and the 46th spot in the preseason.

I can complain about the lack of any genuine accuracy in most pre-season polls (hello, no games have been played!), or claim that Nebraska is better than No. 46 (but hey, they were 5-7 last year), and worry about the fact that NU plays such a tough schedule (wait, this is the Big 12, brother!).

But, I can guarantee you that NU head coach Bo Pelini isn't doing any of those things. Assuming he follows the polls, I suspect they only fuel his competitive nature.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

How Good is Bo Pelini at Recruiting?

Jason Siffring — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:06:48 -0400

There was a lot of buzz earlier this off-season voicing their concern over Bo Pelini's recruiting skills.

ESPN had a question and answer session a few months ago with fans discussing the ability of Pelini to get the Cornhuskers some big names.

There were a couple other instances in the media where he was criticized for his lack of four- and five-star recruits. I think the basis of those concerns are unfounded.

Do you absolutely need to get a truckload of those highly touted high school players? I don't think so and I have a theory why.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Iowa State Breakdown: More of the Same

Jason Siffring — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:22:55 -0400

The Iowa State Cyclones are a team that I sometime forget about. It's just easy to overlook them on the Nebraska schedule or mark them as an automatic win.

I hope that Bo Pelini does not make my mistake. In this AAS (After Appalachian State) world that we live in, no coach should forget about any team, even if their record was 3-9 the year before.

In the past six years, the Cyclones have averaged around 5-7 with about 2 or 3 wins in conference.

If one conference win in 2008 is Baylor, that means someone is going to get the surprise of their season against Iowa State.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Brandon Johnson Fights for Time at ISU

Jason Siffring — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:08:39 -0400

I grew up in Western Nebraska. Not North Platte or Kearney or Valentine, but real Western Nebraska, nearly equidistant from the Wyoming and South Dakota borders and just 1000 feet short of being a mile high Western Nebraska.

Most people just call it the sticks, and that's fine. I don't need to wax poetic about it to either prove or disprove that notion.

The fact is, there aren't a lot of people out there. It's part of the beauty of the place, but when it comes to producing Division I football talent, population density is your friend.

That's what makes the fact that Rushville's Brandon Johnson is entering his senior year at Iowa State that much more remarkable.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

What Do the Nebraska Cornhuskers Have in Joe Ganz?

Jason Siffring — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 05:01:55 -0400

Based on what we've seen thus far, there are two sides to Joe Ganz. On one hand you have a quarterback who compiled a 163.38 QB rating in three games as a starter.

If he had compiled the same rating over the entire 2007 season, it would've ranked third in the country, trailing only Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow.

On the other hand, you have a quarterback who threw seven interceptions in three games as a starter. That's one fewer interception than Bradford threw all season and one more than Tebow did.

Statistically speaking, if you want to do the simple math and extrapolate Ganz' 7:3 INTs to Games ratio over a 12-game season you get 28 total picks, but we all know that's not going to happen, right?

Right?

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Kevin Dixon Kicked Off Nebraska Football Team

Jason Siffring — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:30:12 -0400

The buzz this week is all about Dixon getting the boot, Helu stealing some spotlight, and Nebraska being a team under the microscope this year.

» This week's top story is Kevin Dixon being kicked off the team for his bad behavior. Both the Lincoln Journal Star and the Big Red Network looked at the bright side of what happens when a great player gets the ax.

Someone will now have an opportunity to step up and gain that necessary experience for the years ahead. While it would have been great to see him in the regular rotation, his loss will be one young player's gain.

Out of all this is the impressive manner in which Bo Pelini has handled himself and the strict ways he has dealt with his players breaking the rules.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Huskers Use Huddle to Gain Edge

Jason Siffring — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:22:00 -0400

Bo Pelini is the type of coach who squeezes every bit of effort from his staff and players, but there is only so much you can do to impart football wisdom. That's where Agile Sports comes in with Huddle.

Pelini now has a tool available at Internet's reach to pass on his vast insights quickly and efficiently to the other coaches and his players. Up to 150 Huskers can get connected to this system in order to analyze footage, play selection, and communications between the staff, and everything you can find about upcoming opponents.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Kansas State Breakdown: Dead End Ahead

Jason Siffring — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:30:43 -0400

I've been calling all of the analysis in this series “breakdowns,” but this is the first team where the name has a double meaning. The Wildcats look to have the bleakest future of any team that Nebraska will face this year.

Ron Prince's reliance on JUCO transfers to patch this team up will cost Kansas State their long-term stability—he's sacrificed the development of young talent to hold onto his job for a couple more years.

The only way to make a dent in the Big 12 is if he somehow gets five or six great (not just good) players out of his JUCO frenzy.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

A Semi-Serious Discussion of the Bo Pelini Polka

Jason Siffring — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:04:04 -0400

There were really only two responses when CornNation unearthed George Dare’s “Bo Pelini Polka” last month:

1) This is the worst song I’ve ever heard.

2) Hey! Look at that! Nebraska already has a song for Bo Pelini, and it’s a polka. It’s the worst song I’ve ever heard.

But neither of the above is an appropriate response to a polka song written by a native Nebraskan about the head coach of the Cornhuskers, because that very notion should be just about the best thing we’ve ever heard.

In theory, it's certainly the most Nebraskan.

» Continue Reading

→ Visit Big Red Network for your daily Husker football fix.

Kansas Breakdown: One Hit Wonder

Jason Siffring — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:30:39 -0400

The Kansas Jayhawks had a magical season last year. Plagued by strength of schedule complaints from the media, they had two solid chances to prove their meddle. Although they lost to Missouri, they are no longer cellar dwellers in the Big 12.

With the No. 2 scoring offense in the country and the best turnover margin, the stomped on lesser opponents at home, and won solidly on the road.

The 42 points per game were aided by the defensive efforts. Controlling the run game proved critical for them. Allowing less than 100 rush yards per game helped them control the clock. Their defense only allowed an average of 16 points per game.

The possibility of getting the same 12-1 record this year has dramatically decreased, though. They play the toughest Big 12 South opponents. If they can come away with just one win from the Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech match-ups, it should be considered a victory to fans.

They also have to play at South Florida, which may prove too much to face a team trying to make a point—the same point Kansas was trying to make in 2007. It's tough trying to prove you should be considered a top 10 contender every year.

With a returning linebacking corps, they should continue to see success on run support. Unfortunately, they will really miss Talib and suffer with fewer interceptions and/or more passing touchdowns against them. Returning nine defensive starters will ease that burden, and defensive backs will step up to fill the roles, just not enough.

On offense, Todd Reesing is the key. He loses a tackle, running back, wide receiver, and tight end around him. To make up for that is nearly impossible. He's the kind of solid player who can minimize that kind of impact, but he will get knocked down more than the 26 sacks allowed last year.

Durability is the key against a schedule full of national powerhouses and a couple of trap games: Colorado before Oklahoma and going to Lincoln the week before Texas comes to town.

Kansas is likely looking at the type of schedule that could hand them up to seven losses this year. I don't see how they will be competitive for the Big 12 North title against Missouri. By the time they get to Nebraska, they could be beat into submission.

The Huskers should get away with one, maybe edging them out 27-24. KU should still see a bowl game at the end of the year, completing their goal of making it two years in a row for the first time ever and ending the season 8-5 with the bowl game win.

Missouri Breakdown: Where Credit is Due

Jason Siffring — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:30:33 -0400

Let's start off by giving credit where credit is due. The Missouri Tigers were a great football team in 2007. Statistically speaking, they were one of the best. It's pretty straightforward what made them so good, and what will likely make them just as good in 2008: Chase Daniel.

Gary Pinkel has kept the same staff for a number of years, turning them into a finely-oiled machine. He has built the team around the skills of an agile, athletic, and very intelligent football player. Averaging 39 points per game is not out of the question again.

70 offensive touchdowns in 14 games. 490 yards per game. One of the top teams in almost every offensive category that the NCAA keeps track of. Their 33 turnovers gained versus 20 lost was also a huge part of getting so many points.

Just one team stopped them from being in a national championship game. It's hard to believe that they didn't beat Oklahoma when you looked at all of their stats. They were highly efficient in critical downs and protected their quarterback and the ball.

Of course everyone thought of Mizzou as this explosive offensive powerhouse, but their defense turned out a modest 23 points/game and only allowed around 378 yards/game - about the middle of the road in the NCAA last year. Expect improvements on the defensive side of the ball as seven seniors are expected be starting in the fall. If they can average 40 points/game and hold opponents to an average of 20 points/game (which is what I expect them to do), they have more than a shot to win against every opponent on their schedule.

Unfortunately, this includes Nebraska. Vegas oddsmakers hand three points over to the home team in every game. If Nebraska wins at Memorial Stadium this year, it will likely be by those three points. The Huskers averaged 33 points per game, but averaged over 60 when Joe Ganz was leading the team!

I doubt we can average 60 points per game, but we will need everything Ganz can muster against one of our toughest opponents of the year. I'm going to have to give the edge to the Tigers, 42-38. Prove me wrong Bo Pelini. Prove. Me. Wrong.

A Relatively Short Essay from a Nebraska Fan on Why I Now Hate Missouri

Jason Siffring — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:00:40 -0400

I think I hate this Missouri football team. I'm not certain because I've never had strong feelings for the Tigers before this season, but I've found myself actually thinking a lot about the Missouri-Nebraska bell this summer.

It's not like some rivalries (OU-Texas, Alabama-Auburn, et al.) where the football is just the physical manifestation of some deep-seated regional tension. I feel no ill will towards the Show-Me State as a whole. In fact, my family tree has some pretty deep roots there.

I do hate the 2008 Missouri Tigers...and the Cardinals...and Budweiser now that it's Belgian (as if they didn't have enough beer)—but beyond those three things I'm perfectly fine with Missouri.

Now, this is uncharted territory for me, this sudden hatred, and I think that's because this is uncharted territory for the University of Missouri football program as well. They're supposed to be good this year, really good, and that raises two very interesting questions: 1) Who likes a favorite? and 2) How will Missouri respond to their new status as reyes del norte?

Like every Nebraska fan who grew up with two conference daddies in the Big 8, and then the Big 12, I followed pretty conventional hating guidelines. Oklahoma was the first rival, and then there was...not Oklahoma.

When my Big 12 daddy made Christmas a triennial affair and replaced it with Easter—"It's still happening at the same time each year," he would scream—I tried to play along, but truth be told I liked a lot of things Colorado had to offer as well (Coors Original, Rockmount shirts, the idea of snow-shoeing).

And if Colorado was like replacing Christmas with Easter, then Missouri was like the 4th of July, a stand-alone holiday where all you hoped for was to see something entertaining and not have to work too hard to do it.

Now, of course, that's all completely different. Nebraska can't go down to Columbia these days without giving up 41 points. The Tigers are the defending Big 12 North champions and a unanimous preseason pick to repeat as such.

They're the consensus No. 6 team in the nation to start the season. They might have a Heisman trophy winner in their backfield. Jeremy Maclin is as volatile and lethal as nitroglycerin.

Suffice to say, these are heady times for the Missouri Tigers.

And that's why I hate them. Because while Gary Pinkel was taking the Tigers to unparalleled heights in 2007, Bill Callahan was pushing Nebraska to can't-be-believed lows—and that disparity has me coveting that damn bell like never before.

But I think this is good, this hatred. The metaphorical backed into a corner, swing from the heels attitude will be useful come October 4—and it's not all Nebraska has going for it.

As the most heralded Missouri team in the school's history, the '08 Tigers will have to deal with something that's mostly foreign to the Missouri football program: national expectations.

In 2007, Missouri finished No. 4 in the AP poll, the highest end of the season ranking in their history—but they started the season unranked. In 1960 the Tigers started the season unranked before ascending to the top spot in the polls, a ranking that wouldn't be reached again until last year, and finishing at No. 5.

Note specifically the "unranked" connection in those previous two sentences.

The only good comparison for what this 2008 team is attempting to do—replicate or best the winningest season in school history while, and here's the key here, being expected to replicate or best the winningest season in school history—are the '68 and '69 squads.

The 1968 Missouri team finished ninth in the AP poll at 8-3, then climbed to sixth at the end of 1969 by going 9-2.

But I have a feeling that Tigers fans are looking for a little more than a two-loss season and top 10 ranking this season. They could be favored in every game they play—at Texas on October 18 seems like the only possible exception—and they have a lofty ranking that will only be bolstered by a deceptively "tough" season opener against Illinois.

Regardless of what Nebraska does against Virginia Tech, the first real test for the Tigers looks like their trip to Lincoln, where they haven't won since 1978 (a span that encompasses my entire life). Think that will be a big game?

Honestly, I like our chances. I'm not sure what bearing the Missouri teams from '78, '88, or '98 have on this current iteration, but I do know that none of them were expected to win in Lincoln. This team is—and I like that.

Are historical advantages real or just psychological? If it is just psychological, isn't that almost as good as being real?

Either way, I like where we're at 73 days away from homecoming.

So why do I hate this Missouri team with an unusual breadth and depth this season? Because Missouri is better than they've ever been and, right now, they're better than Nebraska.

For that reason, going forward I am completely focused on loathing Missouri.

And the Cardinals.

And Belgian Budweiser.

But that's it.

2008 Opponent Previews: Missouri

Jason Siffring — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:57:35 -0400

Rather than begin our previews with Western Michigan, we thought we’d start by highlighting the all-important Big 12 North. Missouri is the favorite in the North, and with good reason.

The Tigers may have found their own Johnny Rodgers in Jeremy Maclin. If that sounds like an exaggeration, remember that Maclin was a consensus All-American as a redshirt freshman. They also return Chase Daniel – a Heisman finalist – along with most of their defense.

In fact, Mizzou could be the favorite in every game on their regular season schedule. Only a trip to Austin might find the Tigers as underdogs, and that’s not a lock. Texas will have faced Arkansas, traveled to Boulder, and faced OU before their home date with the Tigers, and could be beaten up physically, psychologically, and by the AP voters.

The weakness for Missouri might be the linebacking. The standout unit from a year ago is banged up. Sean Weatherspoon, an all-conference pick, had surgery to repair a torn labrum. It’s hard to say if that’s a big deal or not. It certainly would be if he were a pitcher.

More seriously, Van Alexander tore his ACL in 2007, and we know the true recovery time for those injuries tend to be 18 months to two years. But it doesn’t appear that anyone has stepped up to take over for him on the depth chart.

The Tigers also haven’t won in Lincoln in 30 years. But even if they slipped against NU, they might go 7-0 in the Big 12 otherwise, meaning the Huskers would have to win in Norman or Lubbock to maintain a conference lead over Mizzou.

Not only does last season’s lopsided loss make to Missouri make a Husker upset seem unlikely, but Pelini’s defense didn’t have a banner day against Pinkel’s team back in 2003 either. Could Pinkel have Pelini’s number?

There seems little question that Missouri is the team to beat in the Big 12 North. Hopefully, their one year tradition of winning the North will be trumped by nearly 30 years of history. But the program has taken a major step forward from being lucky to win eight games, to being a lock to win at least that many.

Only trips to Lincoln and Austin, and neutral site games in Illinois and Kansas City seem remotely likely to trip up the Tigers in the regular season. Maybe it’s too early for Mizzou fans to be booking their tickets to the Big 12 title game, but they’ll definitely want to save the money and keep the calendar clear for a while.