Bleacher Report - Articles by C C

A Few College Football Final Thoughts...

C C — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:08:00 -0400

The Big Red faces off against the Spartans of San Jose State on Saturday. The Spartans boast a B-rated spread offense and a Dick-Tomey-coached aggressive defense.

Here are a few nuggets of wisdom as you contemplate blowing the kids' lunch money on the $30 pay-per-view broadcast.

1. Bo Pelini is quite the prankster...the hubbub around the state capital yesterday was the head coach yanking everybody's crank as he sat down for the press. "That was the worst practice I've been a part of in all my years of coaching," Pelini stated before relinquishing, "Just kidding."

As reported in the Lincoln Journal Star, the Husker press corps really got a kick out of that zinger. The LJS failed to note that following the joke, Tom Shatel held up something from the back row and yelled, "Hey Bo, you prankster, you almost got me with this phony dog poo!" Pelini responded matter of factly, "What phony dog poo?"

2. Turner Gill's Buffalo Bulls take on Steve Pederson's Pitt Panthers on Saturday. Coming off Buffalo's 42-17 dismantling of UTEP in Week One, Gill's squad will definitely have Pitt Head Coach Dave Wannstedt's attention.

It's been a hard week for the 'Stache. First, his team dumps the season opener to Bowling Green, then Norelco fires him as pitch man for the Touchdown Tickler Beard & Moustache Trimmer.

3. Don't be surprised if Cody Glenn plays a little more subdued this week. Rumor is the Big Red coaching staff busted him snorting lines of crushed crisp-meat burritos and free-basing ranch last week.

Looks like he'll have eat his Amigos the old fashion way—on the bathroom floor, Hasselhoff-style, after two Jack & Coke fishbowls and 12 shots of Blackhaus.

GBR!

Nebraska Cornhuskers Helmet Stickers for Week One

C C — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:49:00 -0400

Big Red Buckle Helmet Sticker Award Winners for Nebraska's Week One's Victory Over Western Michigan:

Wild Turkey Sticker (To the Player Who Most Exemplifies Bob Devaney's Brand of Smashmouth Defense):

No question LB Cody's Glenn's 12 total tackles, three pass break-ups, forced fumble and general speed and fury on defense is deserving of this coveted award. He will be a much-needed weapon in coverage against split-out running backs and tight-ends with a schedule heavy on spread offenses.

Runza At Halftime Sticker (To the Most Dominating Offensive or Defensive Lineman):

DT Ty Steinkuhler must be tired of his brother Baker getting all the pub. The older 'Kuhler showed up Saturday to add eight tackles in anchoring a strong defensive line. Steinkuhler will be a much-needed base presence to build on a good pass rush and stout rush D that allowed only eight yards on 25 Bronco carries.

Big Red Gum Sticker (To the Offensive Player Who Actually Made Coach Osborne Smirk):

Quarterback Joe Ganz's thrilling 32-yard scamper on the Huskers' second drive made T.O. pop a new piece of Big Red. Pelini was too busy chomping on his Watermelon Wave Bubblicioius. I mean, that guy makes Lenny Dykstra's chaw wad look like a gobstopper. Pelini has 134 years before his stomach finally digests Saturday night's gum load.

Larry The Cable Guy Sticker (Biggest Embarrassment to the State, Country, Planet and Entire Race of Mankind):

Athletic Director Steve Pederson will not likely be relinquishing this award for some time. In the wake of Pitt's opening 27-17 loss to Bowling Green, the former Nebraska AD has obviously picked up right where he left off.

Kevin Cosgrove Playcard in the Pants Sticker (Worst Coaching Move of the Night):

Though certainly not on par with Cosgrove's defensive Titanics, Shawn Watson's failure to establish a strong rushing attack especially deep into the second half has many Husker fans concerned. Does this offense have the ability to control the clock in more challenging contests against quick-strike spreads (like Missouri and Texas Tech)? The stable of running backs (including Ganz) ran 31 times for 159 yards but rarely was successful between the tackles. Nobody faults Watson for sticking with what was working and a 483-yard offensive effort is nothing to nitpick, but a much advertised running attack was absent in Saturday night's success.

Lyle Bremser Man, Woman, and Child Sticker (Best Play of the Game):

WR Nate Swift's 62-yard misdirection catch and run for six showed that the senior wideout has big-play potential. He followed the long scamper with a 2-yard over the shoulder grab on a well-thrown ball from Ganz. With former possession receivers Todd Peterson and Swift starting for a Husker offense that appears to have picked up where it left off in 2007, it will be important to both receivers' confidence to prove they have Purify-esque big play potential.

Big Red Buckle Sticker (Best Player/Coach/Play/Moment of the Game):
There is no question that the best moment of the night came following LB Cody Glenn's third-down pass break-up securing the opening three-and-out for the Blackshirts. Coach Pelini ran over to Glenn and plastered his bare forehead into his running-back turned linebacker's facemask. Not only did the headbutt demonstrate that Pelini's defensive personnel was ready to atone for 2007's mistakes, but it reminded all of Nebraska why Tom Osborne made the hire he did last December. Pelini's fire was echoed by LB Coach Mike Ekler and D-Coordinator Carl Pelini's passion on the sideline throughout the Western Michigan contest.

Quick Takes On Nebraska's 47-24 Victory Over Western Michigan

C C — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:48:00 -0400

1. The Faithful has to be pleased with Shawn Watson's new look option set and Joe Ganz's ability to hit the edge.

Unfortunately, for Husker fans who still idolize Turner Gill and Tommie Frazier, watching the new Nebraska quarterback stumble through defensive pitch reads and trip up in the backfield is like reminiscing over Jack Nicholson's performances in "Easy Rider" and the "Shining," only to then turn on "The Bucket List."

2. Joe Ganz's playmaking ability, timing, and capacity to extend the play with his feet make his 345 yards and four touchdowns on Saturday night even more impressive. Two late interceptions may add caution for Big Red fans who are ready to annoint Ganz the next Brett Favre.

Remember, what separates a gunslinging quarterback who from a quarterback who balances interceptions with his potential to make the big play is his wins-loss record.

Win—you're Tony Romo. Lose—you're Rex Grossman and nobody wants to be Rex Grossman.

3. One of the keys to Bo Pelini's 2003 defensive success in Lincoln was his use of LB Demorrio Williams. Cody Glenn's 12 tackles and sheer ability to cover sideline-to-sideline may offer an inexperienced linebacking corps Williams-like speed and anticipation.

Pelini's ability to use Glenn's running back skills on his defense may be the best hybridization since Dairy Queen added Kit-Kats to their Blizzard arsenal.

4. After holding the Broncos to a stingy 102 first-half yards, over-pursuit and an inexperienced secondary were to blame for a late-game defensive let-down.

The front four was aggressive and dominated at the point of impact, producing four sacks and a persistent pass rush. Unfortunately, safeties Matt O'Hanlon and Larry Asante's aggression was nullified by being consistenly out of position.

First-timers at cornerback, Prince Amakumara, Eric Hagg, and Anthony West made rookie reads. San Jose State, New Mexico State, and a bye-week should go a long way in correcting these mistakes before Virginia Tech and Missouri roll into Lincoln.

Fundamental wrapping up and defensive pursuit was dramatically improved over last season's Dancing with the Stars approach to tackling.

In 2007, Husker fans watched a slow regression for the Blackshirts. Bo and Carl's defense is sure to show dramatic improvement week to week.

What player wants to face the wrath of Brothers Pelini??? (SEE PICTURE - Bo pictured trying to pass a corncob dipped in liquid magma. Is it just me or does Carl Pelini look like he should be facing off against Pete Weber in ESPN's coverage of this week's Denny's PBA Tour in Duluth?)

Prediction: NU 45 - WMU 21
Actual Score: NU 47 - WMU 24

What can I say—the ghost of Beano Cook visited me with some insider information. What? Beano's not dead? Then how can you explain his corpse on ESPN?

Kevin Cosgrove in Where Are They Now? The Bill Callahan Regime

C C — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:04:00 -0400

Kevin Cosgrove, Defensive Coordinator, 2004-2007

THEN: Maybe second to only Steve Pederson as the fiercest offender of Big Red tradition, Cosgrove piloted the worst defensive effort in the rich 117-year history of the program. The Faithful know the stats—114th in scoring defense (37.9), 112th in total defense (467.8 yard a game), and 116th in rush defense (232.2 yards a game).

Sprinkled with a little Pederson arrogance and a dash of Callahan ambivalence, Cosgrove's apathetic defense added the final ingredient to the '07 recipe for disaster.

NOW: Signed on as volunteer with his son's Edgewood High School football program back in Madison, Wisconsin, Cosgrove just could not resist the temptation to stuff another playcard down his pants, throw on some women's Oakley sunglasses, and pretend to understand tradition by dressing monochromatic.

Cosgrove spent most of the summer tooling around the homefront with the latest Time magazine jacked down the front of his Wranglers and using the refrigerator's dry erase board to overanalyze how he was going to navigate the morning paper. Having had enough, Mrs. Cosgrove finally encouraged her husband to pull the Sudoku out of his waistband and do something productive this fall.

LINE TO REMEMBER: "Hey Dad, where did you put my homework?"

Bleacher Report - Articles by C C

A Few College Football Final Thoughts...

Nebraska Cornhuskers Helmet Stickers for Week One

Quick Takes On Nebraska's 47-24 Victory Over Western Michigan

Top Seven Stories from Nebraska Cornhuskers Camp

Kevin Cosgrove in Where Are They Now? The Bill Callahan Regime