Bleacher Report - Bo Pelini

Nebraska and Texas in Big 12 Championship: Let's Get It On

Bugeatersteve Stuchlik — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:30:42 -0500

Last time I checked, the field is 100 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide. The goal posts are 10 yards in back of the goal line and the cross bar of the goal post is 10 feet above the playing surface. Each team gets to play 11 players each for any given play.

I also believe the game is still divided into four 15-minute quarters with an approximate 15-minute intermission between the second and third quarter. One team was expected to be here from the beginning of the season, the other, well you know the story.

I think that you get my point; yes this could be considered a prime example of the “David vs. Goliath”, the “us against the world” type of match-up. Even with the coaches you have the ultimate “gosh golly I can’t believe we are here” persona of Mac Brown going up against “the peoples' champion”, the peoples' coach wearing a gray sweatshirt and pair of slacks, smacking gum so furiously that you worry that he might bite the tip of his tongue off.

Everyone has agreed that this was a down year for the Big 12, only UT has lived up to its pre-season hype. So the Big 12 is putting all of its marbles into the UT bag and its senior leader quarterback Colt McCoy (now is that a perfect name for a quarterback from Texas or what?).

If the Huskers manage someway of winning this game, what does that do to the neat tidy package called the BCS? The Huskers win and then what, TCU in the national championship game? What do the TV kings do with that scenario?

Think about it for a second.

You can bet that the 20 kids from Texas on the Huskers' roster would love nothing more than to come to Arlington this Saturday and walk away from Jerry Jones’ new Xanadu play ground with the bragging rights for the upcoming summer back home.

I have to admit to y’all that I do live here in Texas. I have been here in the Houston area for almost 40 years now, since the second Devaney championship back in 1971, so I know quite a bit about Texas football. Yes, it is true that many high school stadiums down here hold 20-25,000 fans.

It is also true that all Mac Brown has to do is basically open UT’s doors and 20-30 of the top high school players are heading at breakneck speed to get into the program every single year.

They do respect the football played up in Lincoln also, especially since Bo arrived two years ago. They know the game well and recognize that what is happening in Huskernation is a force to be reckoned with, both Saturday and for years to come.

What Pelini and his staff have done in his two seasons in Lincoln is truly amazing. He took over a defense that was ranked (if you can call it ranked) in the hundreds in almost all defensive categories and is now ranked in the top 20 in those same categories with basically the same players.

The Huskers also have their own “Goliath” in Ndamukong Suh. Former defensive coordinator Charlie McBride has called Suh one of the best of all time at Nebraska. This comes from a coach who helped mold players such as Grant Winstrom, Trev Alberts, Jared Tomich, Jason Peter, and Mike Brown.

McBride pointed out that besides the athletic ability that Suh possesses, is the fact that he never takes a play off. Suh draws double teams, triple teams and he still makes plays, he is consistent play after play. That is what make Suh special.

To coin another old adage, the Huskers have a puncher's chance this Saturday in Arlington Texas against the vaunted Texas Longhorns. All we have to do is to play a game similar to the game against Oklahoma—low risk, time and field position, basically, to “dance with who brung ya” as Bum Phillips used to say.

History tells us that the Longhorns have owned us since the formation of the Big 12 and Mac Browns arrival in Austin.

But all history is, is a collection of “what has happened” not what is going to happen. They will play the game on Saturday, even if the Longhorns are favored to move on to the national championship game.

Favorites have been upset in the Big 12 championship game before, just ask Oklahoma in 2000 and 2003 or the Huskers in 1996—the first year of the Big 12 championship—when the third-ranked Huskers took on the unranked Texas Longhorns and lost 37-27.

I am not going to make a prediction on this game Saturday night. I am only going to hope that we play with fire, effort and determination and at the end of the game, we all should remember one thing.

It is “not the victory but the action. Not the goal but the game. In the deed the glory”. GBR!

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The Eternal Optimist: Why Nebraska Has a Shot Against Texas

Josh Klein — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:52:32 -0500

There have been a myriad of articles and fan-posts stating the absolute impossibility of Nebraska beating Texas in the Big 12 championship game.

However, I'm forced to remind the so-called "realists" what that word actually means. A realist notices all possibilities. In fact, the very definition of a realist is: "One who is inclined to literal truth and pragmatism."

Practically speaking, it seems unlikely that Nebraska can pull off this momentous upset, but not impossible, as so many people seem to think.

You see, a realist would notice that the probability of a loss grows with each game played. That's why it is so hard to go 16-0 in the NFL and why it is so hard for teams to stay undefeated in the NCAA. The facts and the data state that it simply isn't normal.

Not that Texas is normal, but bear with me for a second.

For so-called "realists" that are supposedly supporting their team by calling them out in the most negative ways, there are just a few things to consider:

Who gave Appalachian State a shot to beat Michigan?

Who gave East Carolina a chance to pull of the upset against Virginia Tech?

Or better yet, who gave those 1996 Texas Longhorns a chance, even a shot, at beating the much more talented Nebraska Cornhuskers?

Any takers?

Didn't think so.

The real kicker is that this game would be less of an upset than any three of those previously mentioned games.

In 1996 the Nebraska Cornhuskers came into the Big 12 championship game ranked third in the nation with a shot at playing in the NCAA Championship game if they could get past an unranked Texas team in St. Louis.

The Cornhuskers were heavily favored, but a fateful play on a 4th-and-2 changed everything that day. Behind a backbreaking, unthinkable 66-yard pass and an outstanding effort by Priest Holmes, the Longhorns scored the final 14 points and iced a 37-27 shocking upset over the bowl-bound Huskers.

The good thing for the Huskers is that the game is played on the field, not on paper.

There are a few factors that work in Nebraska's favor going into this weekend, and even though they may not be glaring advantages, they should not be underestimated.

For those who like statistics, consider this: Nebraska has allowed teams to score only 31 percent of the time when entering Husker territory. Not red zone scoring, but only when teams get across the 50-yard line.

That means Nebraska surrenders 1.58 points on average every time a team crosses the 50-yard line. Oklahoma crossed the 50-yard line 11 times against the Huskers and scored only three points.

While Colt McCoy is no Landry Jones, this statistic should not be underrated. It's a defensive mindset, and as many teams know, that is half the battle.

There have also been rumblings of Nebraska's lack of depth in the defensive backfield, and the fact that they can't shut down a good passing team. However, Nebraska has faced some of the top offenses in the Big 12 this season, and is still ranked fourth in the nation in pass efficiency defense.

Again, to put the statistic in perspective, Nebraska's defense has faced Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Kansas, and Missouri in Big 12 play. Those four teams all rank in the top 20 nationally in passing offense: Texas Tech (2), Kansas (7), Missouri (15), and Oklahoma (16).

There's a statistical advantage for Nebraska in pass defense. By the way, Texas is ranked 13th nationally in passing offense, that's worse than two Nebraska opponents this season, one of which Nebraska beat.

Obviously Texas' defense is better than Kansas'. In fact, Texas has the No. 1 ranked rushing defense in the nation, and the fifth ranked total defense, something Nebraska hasn't seen this year.

However, this article isn't about the impossibilities of a Husker win, but the possibilities. The defense of Nebraska is the possibility for this Husker squad.

Nebraska is the 11th ranked total defense in the nation, while Texas is the 11th ranked total offense.

The statistics show that Nebraska may not be as far off as some may think in making this a game.

Strength of schedule has been an argument delivered by some Husker-naysayers, and that is a question. Nebraska is ranked 51st in strength of schedule, and the Longhorns hold the 31st spot. However, did you know that only .033 points separate the Huskers from the Longhorns in this statistic?

Enough of the tangible stuff. Enough of the statistics that obviously mean nothing once a team is on the field, which goes twice for SOS statistics.

There is something besides statistics that gives Nebraska a chance in this one. Some place where paper meets physicality and mental toughness meets resiliency. I'm talking about the intangibles of this team.

Sure it hasn't been pretty at times. Any Husker fan will point to the 9-7 loss to Iowa State and agree. But it has been successful. There's really no arguing that.

Nebraska goes into the Big 12 championship game having already reached their preset goal of winning the Big 12 North. No one expected them to win the Big 12, and certainly no one expected them to go to a BCS bowl.

There is no pressure for Nebraska to win this game; there are no strings attached or coaching jobs hanging in the balance.

Believe it or not, there is no winning or losing of a Heisman trophy for the Huskers in this game or surviving yet another physical game in their grueling gauntlet.

The only pressure on this team is the pride of winning one more game. This team wasn't given a chance to even win the North after the epic collapse against Texas Tech and Iowa State, but they succeeded in that. Why then, is it impossible for the Huskers to win the Big 12 championship?

Besides the opportunity to go into the Big 12 championship game with no strings attached or expectations, Nebraska also boasts a variety of players that have been either rejected or otherwise simply not pursued by the Longhorns in recruiting.

Nebraska fans saw what this sort of chip on the shoulder can do if it is handled in the right way, like earlier this season in the game against Iowa State. Iowa knows how it feels too, as they almost experienced a season-crippling loss to the University of Northern Iowa earlier in the year.

Some people may see this as a bad thing.

However, with this type of talent in the right hands, that aspect can make a team like Nebraska downright dangerous and inspired for football games such as this.

In the end though, it's finished on the field. But hold fast Husker nation, lest we forget the unpredictability of college football. There is a chance, and it is held in the belief that we can survive the battle and come away with a win.

Have faith Husker Nation, it can be done.

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Against Texas for the Big 12 Title, The Huskers Are in Trouble

Scott Hansen — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:42:28 -0500

Nebraska fans need to be realistic. Those heading down to Arlington, Texas next weekend for the Big 12 Championship to encounter unbeaten Texas are in for a rude awakening.

Of course, a Husker shocker would be fantastic. A Husker win would make the Big 12 look more pathetic than it already is in the national frame of mind, but Nebraska beating the Longhorns on the Big 12’s grandest stage is nothing more than a long shot at best.

Nebraska’s defense, at times, has been great. Holding Oklahoma to three points in over 100 offensive snaps is admirable. But this is Texas.

Texas has the most experienced quarterback in the country in potential Heisman Trophy winner Colt McCoy.

Nebraska has faced a plethora of non-experienced signal callers the entire season. Texas has second- and third-teamers the Huskers would love to get their hands on.

Nebraska has two key true freshmen from Texas in backup quarterback Cody Green and surging running back Rex Burkhead, players that Texas didn’t want. That’s the difference in 2009 between Lincoln and Austin.

Instead of recruiting against Texas and Oklahoma for the best The Lone Star State has to offer, Nebraska gets the players Texas and Oklahoma doesn't want.

Texas is miles ahead of Nebraska. Even Oklahoma is miles ahead of the Huskers despite its 6-5 record this season, and anybody else in the Big 12 North for that matter. The Big 12 North, quite frankly, is a joke.

Nebraska’s offense is paltry. Zac Lee—another player local press such as the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star overhyped before the season even started—is not even the best quarterback in the Big 12 North.

In fact, Nebraska would have a better chance to beat Texas if Green were to get the start next Saturday due to his running ability.

True, Texas A&M scored 39 points and found some holes in the Texas defense. But the Aggies have a far better offense than Nebraska’s one-dimensional three-times-up-the-gut-and-punt attack.

If Nebraska struggles to run the football against lowly Colorado, what do you think will happen against the athletes Texas has on defense?

When kicker/punter Alex Henery is one of your best offensive weapons, Nebraska doesn’t belong on the same field as Texas.

Everybody with eyes knows Nebraska’s defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is the best defensive player in college football. Suh may even be the best Nebraska defensive player since Rich Glover, but Suh is just one man.

For as good as he is, Suh can be stopped. And if there is an offensive line in college football that would be able to handle Suh one-on-one, it’s the one that belongs to Texas. Texas is a different element Nebraska has not seen this season.

McCoy is great, giving the Longhorns a probable Heisman winner despite his numbers being drastically down from 2008 when McCoy finished second in the race behind Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford.

Nebraska doesn’t have a defensive back in its arsenal that can stop either Jordan Shipley or James Kirkendoll.

Shipley should be a Heisman candidate in his own right, catching 99 passes in 12 games this season for 1,292 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Kirkendoll has reeled in four of his six touchdown grabs in the past two games for Texas. It’s a bad matchup for the Nebraska defense.

Nebraska should be able to make Texas’ running game non-existent. Tre Newton leads the Longhorns with 477 rushing yards this season, but averages 5.7 yards per carry.

McCoy is second on the team with 368 yards thanks to his near 200-yard effort against A&M.

But that’s the problem. Texas can survive solely through the air and force as many mismatches at Texas Tech did against Nebraska in a 31-10 victory in Lincoln earlier this season. McCoy and all of his weapons in the passing game will likely pummel Nebraska’s secondary.

There is more to Texas’ receiving corps than just Shipley and Kirkendoll. Malcolm Williams, Dan Buckner, John Chiles, and Marquise Goodwin have combined for 135 catches and 10 touchdowns.

Nebraska’s secondary is not that deep and it is where Texas’ advantage over the Huskers goes off the charts. Nebraska's defense has feasted off playing poor offensive units, with the exception of Texas Tech.

Texas has the ability to hit the home run with no less than six different options in the passing game. Nebraska’s best defensive back is a heavy hitter in Larry Asante.

Nebraska is susceptible deep, which the Blackshirts have proven time and time again against Virginia Tech, Missouri, and even in the last play of Friday’s 28-20 victory over Colorado.

Nebraska earned the Big 12 North title and should be happy with that and a possible trip to either the Cotton Bowl or the Holiday Bowl. If Nebraska goes to the Holiday Bowl and faces a program like Stanford, it is a game Nebraska should have no problem winning.

There are three good teams in 2009 in BCS conferences, those are Alabama, Florida, and Texas. After those three, everything else is up for debate and is nothing more than a jumbled mess.

When programs such as TCU, Boise State, and Cincinnati all have valid arguments to get into a BCS game, it shows you how screwed up college football has been this season.

Give Nebraska coach Bo Pelini and his staff a lot of credit for turning the fortunes around following losses at home to Texas Tech and Iowa State.

The season could have spiraled out of control in Lincoln, but Pelini righted the ship quickly to win a watered-down Big 12 North.

Nebraska could be good enough in 2010 to win the entire Big 12. But not in 2009 against this Texas team with one of the better quarterbacks ever to come out of the Big 12 in McCoy.

It’s just a bad matchup for the Huskers. Texas should win this game by at least two touchdowns and storm into the BCS National Championship Game with a good chance to win it.

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A Letter To The Nation: Bo Pelini Is Not Far Off

Josh Klein — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:04:08 -0500

Amidst the rumors surrounding high profile coaches such as Les Miles and Charlie Weis there is one coach silently making strides to greatness.

His name is Bo Pelini.

Now hold on a minute before you accuse me of wearing scarlet colored glasses.

This has nothing to do with being a Nebraska homer, but it does have everything to do with a renewed tradition and expectation. One that Bob Devaney started and Tom Osborne continued shortly thereafter.

From 1962 to 2001, every single Nebraska team that took the field under three different coaches, Devaney, Osborne and Frank Solich, won at least nine games.

That's still an NCAA record. Then Bill Callahan came to town and gave Nebraska their first losing season in forty-four years. Not only that, Callahan never had a nine-win season with the Huskers.

That's something that changed under the first year of Bo Pelini. A win over Clemson in the Gator Bowl gave Nebraska its first nine-win season since 2004, when the Huskers won their ninth game under interim-head coach Bo Pelini in the Alamo bowl against Michigan State.

Then Pelini was run out of town, thought to never return. Until last year, when he took the Huskers to the Gator bowl. It was a much improved season from the 5-7 Huskers a year before.

On Friday, Pelini looks to do one better; he looks to gain his ninth victory in regular season play against Colorado.

Bo Pelini has studied under some of the most intelligent men in college football. Men like Bob Stoops, Les Miles and now Tom Osborne have mentored this up and coming football coach.

But he may not be up and coming anymore. The knock on Bo is that he hasn't won that big game that would make you say, "Okay, this guy has what it takes."

All that could change next Saturday. I know, we can't look forward. Colorado is this weekend; they could lose, and then what?

For the sake of argument let's assume that the 8-3 Huskers beat the 3-8 Buffaloes this Friday and head to a Big 12 Championship game in Dallas next week.

They would most likely be ranked in the Top 25 of both polls; they would be 9-3. The best thing of all? No one expects them to win! In fact, most sane Husker fans wouldn't even be too angry at a loss. As long as it's not of the 62-28 variety.

Therein lies the problem for Texas. With last year on their mind, a national championship on the horizon and a possible Heisman in the works, they have everything to lose. Nebraska, at most, loses...just as expected.

If Bo Pelini wants to get the "wow" votes about his coaching ability it all starts with this Big 12 Championship game. If he can somehow pull off the biggest win in recent Nebraska history and send the Huskers to a BCS bowl for the first time since Solich's team got spanked in the National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes in 2001.

Don't look now but Pelini is turning into a great coach. He is turning this Nebraska program into something special. It's not a Weis quick fix, or a Saban miracle, but it has been a steady flow of improvement. Look at the numbers; they speak for themselves.

In 2007 Nebraska finished the season 5-7 allowing over 39 points per game. Callahan got canned and in came Pelini.

Faced with the same players and a better strength of schedule, Pelini led the Huskers to a revamped style of defense that saw them drop the points per game margin by ten and increase the winning output of the team by three wins in the regular season.

I remember watching the Nebraska-Texas Tech game on Fox Sports Net. Prior to the game the analyst was asked if Nebraska would make a bowl game that season. His answer: No. They aren't talented enough and Bo Pelini hasn't shown that he can compete in the North.

That analyst was most likely surprised when the Huskers tied for the lead in the North and won a Gator Bowl bid against the Tigers of Clemson. What Pelini has done is impressive to say the least, and he won't stop here.

In 2009 Nebraska's season looked all but over after a pathetic 9-7 loss to the Iowa State Cyclones at the midway mark. Instead, Pelini rallied his troops and rattled off four straight wins including one over Oklahoma, the first win against that squad since the 2001 season.

I'm not saying Nebraska will compete for National Championship next year; I'm just here to warn the nation. Watch out, Bo Pelini is coming, and it's starting to look like a good thing for Husker nation.

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Bo Pelini's Defensive Turnaround Will Be Key If Huskers Upset Longhorns

Michael Huckstep — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:01:39 -0500

Yes, I know that Maurice Purify (pictured) no longer plays for Nebraska. So save your emails.

Yes, I know the Huskers lost the game shown in the above photo.

And yes, I know that Nebraska still has one more important game before the Huskers play in the Big XII Championship. Bo Pelini has been quick to point that out to everyone who's shoved a microphone in his face. The Huskers don't need to get ahead of themselves.

After the division-clinching victory over Kansas State, Pelini said as much. This week's priority is Colorado.

But what else is Pelini supposed to say? Whether you believe that he and his coaching staff have looked ahead to Texas or not, he gave the right answer. It's called "coachspeak." While it's sometimes maddening, it's uniformly consistent.

"We need to take one game at a time."

"We can't look past anyone on our schedule."

And so forth and so on, ad nauseam.

But we sportswriters are not bound by the same rules. We can write about anything we want, whenever we want, and run the risk of looking foolish later.

So, do I think that a Nebraska victory this Friday is a given?

Absolutely not.

Colorado, whose season began circling the drain almost as soon as it started, would love nothing more to beat the North Division Champion Cornhuskers. It would be like Bactine on the skinned hides of the Buffaloes, taking some of the sting out of their disastrous 2009 campaign.

But it's been that way ever since former Colorado coach Bill McCartney made the Buffaloes' annual contest against the Huskers their "red letter game."

Throw out the records; this is for more than just bragging rights. There is actual hatred involved in this "rivalry," which puzzles many Nebraska fans who, hearkening back to the heyday of the Big Eight, always thought that Oklahoma was their biggest rival.

While I'm on the subject, thanks Big XII. Thanks for removing the annual clash between Nebraska and Oklahoma. One of those games is only considered to be the "Game of the Century," even to this day. No need to keep that yearly battle alive.

No, sir.

OK. Sarcasm mode off. I digress.

The intent of this article is to address some of the impatient Nebraska fans, those I've seen on this website and others, and their assertion that Husker Nation has settled for mediocrity.

There have been many that have called for Shawn Watson's head. While I may not agree, I can see how some of the frustrations surrounding the Nebraska offense might manifest themselves that way.

What I really have an issue with is the segment of supposed Nebraska backers who no longer believe that Bo Pelini is the coach to lead the Huskers back to national prominence. That segment is out there, believe me. I've seen them.

I attribute this mainly to two things.

First off, a sizable portion of Husker fans grew up in the '90s, when the Huskers were routinely pummeling their opposition. They're not used to seeing the Big Red struggle against teams they used to dominate. When Frank Solich's record was less than stellar (for reasons we can debate from now until Judgment Day), the university brass panicked and made a coaching hire that easily set the program back five to ten years.

Nebraska fans who grew up in the '70s and '80s were used to several cruel setbacks during the period between the Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne Championships.

In short, they had weathered a long stretch of Nebraska near-misses and Husker heartbreaks. They're from a generation that is less demanding and perhaps more appreciative of the incredible run that the Big Red enjoyed in the 1990s.

Secondly, I believe that some fans are losing sight of the big picture.

Pelini is in only his second full season. How many years did it take the great Dr. Tom Osborne to win his first national championship?

I'm not necessarily advocating that we give Pelini 20 years to work things out, but let's tap the brake a little, shall we?

Why, you ask? Read on Husker Nation.

Although I'm not a "stats guy," as I believe that they can be manipulated to bolster practically any argument, a cursory look at some very simple stats shows that Pelini has made great strides toward improving this team.

True, the improvement has come defensively, and the offense is still woefully inadequate, but it's been the Pelini defense that has put the Huskers back into the Big XII title game in his second season.

Let's look at those stats, shall we?

In 2007, the Nebraska defense surrendered an average of 37.9 pts/gm and 476.8 yds/gm.

In 2008, Pelini's first year, the defense improved, giving up 28.5 pts/gm and 349.9 yds/gm.

So far this year?

The Blackshirts have further improved, allowing only 10.3 pts/gm and 281.3 yds/gm.

To put it in further perspective, Nebraska ranks third nationally in pass efficiency defense, third in scoring defense (behind only Florida and Alabama), and eighth in total defense.

The improvement doesn't end there either. The Huskers rank 14th nationally in rushing defense, 14th in sacks, and 17th in pass defense.

Does this mean that Nebraska will crush Colorado? No.

Does this mean that the Huskers will win the Big XII? Again, no.

But what it does mean is that Pelini is doing what he knows best—which is build a championship-caliber defense. Additionally, I have faith that if the administration thinks that Watson is not the OC to get the offense running on all cylinders, Bo & T.O. will make the necessary changes. The program is in good hands.

To bail out on Pelini in hopes of luring a "marquee" coach to Lincoln (an unrealistic prospect, at best) would only create more instability in a program that has had more than its fair share this decade.

Besides, it would be a waste of Pelini's defensive accomplishments thus far—which, barring some incredible offensive explosion, are Nebraska's only hope of upsetting Texas.

So, whether you care to admit it or not, Pelini's transformation of the Blackshirts into one of the best defensive units in the country is the primary reason that the Huskers find themselves vying for a Big XII title (regardless of the outcome).

And it's the only reason this debate is even possible.

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A Husker Thanksgiving: Give Thanks Thursday, but Remember Black Friday.

Josh Klein — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:26 -0500

There are plenty things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend. Not only as a person but as a Husker fan.

We can be thankful for a myriad of things, from rebounding after a heartbreaking loss to Iowa State to take four straight games, to the fact that Ndamukong Suh came back his senior season to prove that he is the best defensive lineman in the game.

Yes there are things that might garner some criticism this year, the play-calling, lack of offense, defensive busts at inopportune times etc. But why focus on these things when we have so much to be thankful for?

For starters, Nebraska has beaten two of its three Big 12 South opponents, not something many North teams can say they have done.

Also, Nebraska has improved so remarkably defensively that people across the nation, and yes, even on ESPN are starting to take notice.

The list does go on, from starting off a paltry 4-3 to getting to an 8-3 record and asserting themselves as the team to beat in the Big 12 North once again.

We can give thanks for the return to Northern aggression as a whole or to the Blackshirts rise to dominance, not only in the Big 12 but in the nation.

We can, and should give thanks for all of these things this Thursday, but we mustn't look past Friday.

It's known as Black Friday a reason. Oh you thought I was talking about shopping? No I'm talking about the Colorado Buffaloes.

As any Husker fan knows, come Friday, you can throw out the records because it doesn't matter if Colorado is 11-0 or 0-11 at this time in the year, you can bet on one thing: They will come to play against Nebraska.

Last year the Buffaloes were heavy underdogs again in Lincoln, but that all changed on the first possession of the game. Nebraska was handed one of their most difficult tests of the season that day, and barring a 57-yard miracle of a field goal from the always clutch Alex Henery the Huskers may have been looking at a 7-5 season instead of 8-4.

What difference does a game make? Try thousands of dollars. Instead of going to the Capitol One or Insight.com bowl Nebraska got the invite to the Gator Bowl, in January.

This year the Huskers are guaranteed at least an eight-win season, they are also guaranteed the title of Big 12 North champion, but Friday holds a bigger prize for Husker nation.

What could a game against a 3-7 Colorado team possibly offer? Nebraska has clinched the North no matter what and will be playing Texas in the Big 12 championship game no matter what, so what does Friday have to do with anything?

I would argue that this Friday may be the next most important game on the schedule. From recruiting potential to national recognition. But most importantly Bo Pelini's second nine-win season.

If Nebraska can beat the pesky Buffaloes this Friday, they will move to 9-3 on the season and 6-2 in the Big 12. We could play the what-ifs for ages and state that Nebraska could be 11-1 and in the middle of National Title talks, but that's crazy.

If you are who your record says you are, then I want to be that 9-3 team with a shot at Texas. A win against Colorado all but hands Nebraska a national ranking in both the Coaches and the AP Polls.

Going into that Big 12 championship game as a ranked team may not seem like a big deal, but it is. Because when you are ranked, everyone is forced to recognize that you have a chance.

So yes, let us be thankful for all the things this season has brought us. For the ups and downs and for the winning of the North. But let us not forget or overlook Black Friday, because Colorado is where the next win lies.

9-3 sure does sound better than 8-4, it's time to send Dan Hawkins out the way he came in. Give us one more thing to be thankful for this weekend Nebraska. Give us a win over the Buffaloes going into the Big 12 Championship game.

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