Steve Sipple on Nebraska Football: Part One

HG spoke with Steve Sipple today about the past, present, and future of Husker Football.

Couple of quick takes on current Husker news with an eye towards the future:

Shawn Watson: Sipple said "the future is now" for Shawn Watson. Obviously, being 49, he wants that shot to coach a college football team. He’s intelligent, respected, and is actively pursing jobs.

Ted Gilmore: Ted was openly campaigning for the Wyoming job. Looking for a top spot.

Mark Ekeler: Sip threw some cold water on rumblings of Ekeler leaving for K-State. Steve thought Mark was a guy who was going to stick around out of loyalty to Bo Pelini and would be "shocked" if he left.

Bo Pelini-Tom Osborne Relationship: Their personalities make for an interesting mix, but it works because Bo respects Tom and what Tom did. Bo is also a transparent personality and understands Nebraska football

Tom Osborne in the AD Chair: Tom Osborne has brought leadership to the Athletic Department. He’s not a micro-manager and has been a unifying, calm presence in the program.

2009 Huskers: The Huskers should be strong contenders in the Big 12 North next year. Right now, Kansas should be a slight favorite, with Nebraska and Missouri right behind them. With a good amount of lineman returning and Roy Helu most likely the second best returning back in the Big 12 next year, they have a strong foundation. Also, Steve said the 15 extra practices the Huskers get this year are invaluable to their development.

Next Big Husker Win: Steve is pointing toward next year's game at Virginia Tech as a great opportunity for the Huskers. VT should be a Top 15 or 20 team going into next year. They are a young team with only 7 senior starters. The Huskers hung with VT this year but could not close the deal because of their poor play. Steve is optimistic that the Huskers can pull out this quality win next year.

Recruiting Strategy: Steve loves the focus on Texas. He says Texas football players play all year and adapt easier to college football.

Look for Part Two tomorrow...