Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Mocs could be good omen for 2011 NU football
2:22 p.m., Wednesday: Nebraska opens the 2011 football season against Tennessee-Chattanooga. Why not?

Yes, the Mocs are an FCS (Division I-AA) team. But Nebraska needs seven home games. That's just reality.

And who's going to complain about an FCS school with NU's 2011 schedule?

Fresno State. Washington. Wyoming. Wisconsin. Ohio State. Michigan State. Michigan. Penn State. Iowa. Go through that gauntlet, and you better have something to digest the meal.

Besides, it might just be a good omen. The last three seasons, Tennessee-Chattanooga has played Auburn (2010), Alabama (2009) and Oklahoma (2008). Which means they've played against a team that was in the national championship game and had the Heisman Trophy winner that season.

Hey, you never know. »

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Hawkeyes try to calm fans

Filed by Tom Shatel

1:10 p.m. Tuesday: Breathe easy, Hawkeye fans.

There was no big news out of this morning's press conference with coach Kirk Ferentz and Athletic Director Gary Barta. Contrary to the rumors swirling late last night, there are no more suspensions for the Insight Bowl and Ferentz is still your coach.

Ferentz said he was disappointed in Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, who was arrested last week on drug charges. But Ferentz and Barta said there are no other drug problems on the team.

Meanwhile, Adam Robinson's suspension from the Insight Bowl is not drug related, Ferentz said. Other than the transfer of running back Jewel Hampton and Brandon Wegher, the rest of the Hawks are expected to show up in Tempe for the game against Missouri two weeks from tonight.

Furthermore, Iowa has a drug-testing plan in place, and it's more stringent than other peer schools.

This was an effort to calm Iowa fans, which, in this world of instant social media, seems like a pain in the rear but is sometimes necessary. It was also a way to put Iowa's spin on the situation and make it appear they are out in front of the situation, whether they actually are or not.

Nothing to see here, folks. It will be interesting to see what kind of mood the Hawks are in on Dec. 28. »

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Back to blogging
8:30 p.m., Sunday: I'm back in the blogosphere (is that a word?) after a much-needed week off from the blog. Been a relentlessly crazy last three weeks. Things are starting to settle down a bit.

But there will be enough to chew on, no doubt, for the weekly chat tomorrow. Join me, noon central, on Omaha.com.

Be there. Aloha. »

Monday, December 6, 2010

Pelini had program's back in grueling year

By Tom Shatel

3:37 p.m., Monday: You can learn something from each college football season. What did this campaign teach us? »

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Magic of NU-OU was moments, people not games
3:07 p.m., Thursday: What do you remember about the Nebraska-Oklahoma series? You tell me. Email me your favorite memories of this series. And tell me which games or moments you consider to be classic.

I contend the magic in this series belonged to singular moments, not necessarily great games. The games often didn't live up to the three-month-long hype.

I've followed this series since 1977. I remember watching the 1971 thriller in my basement in Kansas City before Thanksgiving dinner. The 1978 game in Lincoln stood out as a compelling brawl with jaw-dropping hits and great plays by great players, Rick Berns scoring in a shower of oranges, Billy Sims' fumble. The emotions of that game flew out of your TV set.

But other than that, what was there?

There was the Elvis Peacock play in 1976. There was Buster Rhymes in 1980. Those were moments. The 1979-81 games weren't that memorable. In 1982, there was the bouncearooski to Irving Fryar and Scott Strasburger's interception late. Not a great game, though. In 1983, Nebraska's best team struggled with one of OU's more average teams and Neil Harris saved the day by batting away a pass in the end zone. Again, no classic.

In 1984, Brian Bosworth (before he was the "Boz") helped OU with a goal line stand in Lincoln. In 1985, I remember Keith Jackson scoring reverse for a TD in Norman. In 1986, Jamelle Holieway and Jackson did some late-game magic to break NU's heart again. In 1987, it was "Game of the Century II,'' No. 1 vs. No. 2, in Lincoln. But it didn't live up to the hype. It was a defensive brawl won by OU, which went on to play Miami in the Orange Bowl in Jimmy Johnson's lone national championship.

In 1988, the final year of Tom Osborne vs. Barry Switzer, Steve Taylor and Broderick Thomas finally got their Big Eight ring in the freezing rain in Norman. Again, no classic there.

After that, Colorado came into the picture. So did Howard Schnellenberger and John Blake. The series was about over. We got Eric Crouch's catch from Mike Stuntz in 2001. That was the last great moment.

Maybe I'm wrong. Feel free to chime in. But this seemed to be a series whose legacy was built on great coaches, great players and great moments more than games you remember. And the colorful nature of Barry Switzer, his appearance on the Bob Devaney show, etc., the relationships between OU-NU fans and the see-you-next-year nature of the series.

Hopefully we'll get that great game this Saturday in Dallas.

Tom Shatel can be reached at tom.shatel@owh.com. »

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Tom's Thanksgiving leftovers

Filed by Tom Shatel

5:19 p.m., Tuesday: There were no Thanksgiving leftovers in my house (and it wasn't all my fault this year), so here are some leftover thoughts from the final Bo Pelini Tuesday press conference of the season:

1. Bo had the major game face on. Short, abrupt answers. Very businesslike. No players available. Even Shawn Watson was shorter with responses than usual. This team is in serious bunker mode. That's a good sign. I think Nebraska is going to play well.

2. There was no light shed on the quarterback situation, but it's too early to tell how Taylor Martinez will respond this week. My opinion: I would start Cody Green and go with the same game plan as last week — unless Martinez is 100 percent healthy or high 90's. If Martinez can't go full speed, with emphasis on speed, he's got no shot to be effective against Oklahoma's defense, especially wide on OU's quality ends. However, I do think the Sooners aren't as good at defensive tackle and I think the approach from last week will work best. I also like the way Green handled himself and ran the offense. Give him some run plays, use that wildcat, hit some passes and see who can get to 21 points first. I think 21 wins this battle of defenses.

3. My email has been flooded with Husker fans asking what is up with Martinez off by himself on the sidelines and not on the headset, on the sidelines, "into'' the game, etc. Watson was asked about this and said Martinez is watching the game back there and said anyone who says he's disinterested is wrong and being "overcritical.'' Frankly, I hadn't noticed Martinez. I don't watch the bench during the game. I have plenty of readers who do that for me.

4. Alex Henery got jobbed by the all-Big 12 team and the Groza Award voters. He had very good numbers but his FG attempts may have been down a bit because of all the big-play touchdowns early in the season. Henery is the best kicker in the country, in my book, but for some reason has gotten no love from the Big 12. Look for Mitch Sherman's column on this topic in Wednesday's Omaha World-Herald.

5. Texas A&M; accepted a Cotton Bowl bid on Tuesday. That narrows things down a bit for the Nebraska-Oklahoma loser on Saturday night. I'd say it makes it pretty obvious: Insight Bowl. The Alamo Bowl opponent is either going to be Arizona or Washington (with an Arizona loss at home to Arizona State on Thursday night — not likely). Bob Stoops has made it clear that he won't play his brother, UA coach Mike Stoops. And I was told Tuesday by some NU officials that Bo Pelini wasn't crazy about playing good friend Mike Stoops last year in the Holiday Bowl and won't want a rematch. I don't think Husker fans will either. As much as they like San Antonio, I don't see Nebraska fans wanting to go back into Texas for a rematch with Arizona. I think they would much rather go back to Arizona — for the first time since 1999 — and play Michigan or Iowa. Or the Fiesta Bowl against the Big East. My sources at the Fiesta say they don't expect the Orange Bowl to pass over Stanford, as the Cardinal will bring good TV ratings if not fans. So look for West Virginia or UConn in the Fiesta. I'm sure Nebraska will not have any complaints if it gets there. »

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Big 12 bowl picture getting clearer
8:06 p.m., Sunday: By the time I get to Phoenix ... That should be a hint as to how Nebraska's likely bowl scenario shapes up, heading into the Big 12 championship game against Oklahoma next Saturday. The bowls will be released next Sunday night on ESPN. But the Big 12 match-ups are falling into place.

Fiesta: Nebraska or Oklahoma vs. Stanford. If NU wins, Bo Pelini vs. Jim Harbaugh is great match-up. NU hasn't been to a BCS bowl since 2001. Last time the Huskers were in Phoenix, vs. Tennessee in 1999, the Fiesta was in cozy Sun Devil Stadium. Now it's out in the burbs, in the spacious Glendale dome. If OU wins, this is a rematch of last year's Sun Bowl, but neither team will mind.

Cotton: I said last week that the Cotton could be reluctant to take the loser of the Big 12 championship game _ asking fans who just lost in that building to come back four weeks later _ and that appears to be the case. As of Sunday night, the SEC opponent looks like Alabama. And that could be enticing to NU or OU. But, the guess here is, the Cotton will jump on Texas A&M; this week and not even wait for the Big 12 result.

Alamo: Stanford going to the BCS was huge for Nebraska's chances here. The likely Pac-10 team here is Arizona and I'm told by NU officials that they wouldn't rematch last year's Holiday Bowl. Missouri was here two years ago and things apparently didn't go well. Pencil in Oklahoma State-Arizona. Good game with lots of offense.

Insight: The Fiesta Bowl's kid brother moved up the food chain this year, ahead of the Holiday. This is where the NU-OU loser is likely headed. The game is played in Sun Devil Stadium, an old Husker haunt, and likely either against Michigan or Iowa. That Big Ten preview would be a heck of a Plan B for NU and Fiesta officials (who run Insight) would salivate over all the fans from NU and Michigan/Iowa. Oklahoma-Iowa would be Stoops vs. his old school. Interesting twist: Insight is Dec. 28 and Fiesta is Jan. 1. Michigan and Harbaugh would be in the same city for a few days.

Holiday: Missouri vs. Washington. The Pac-10 doesn't have many bowl teams and 6-6 U-Dub sneaks in. The Holiday has tradition of quarterbacks and big scores. Jake Locker vs. Blaine Gabbert would fit the bill.

That's it. This could still be fluid. I suppose the Cotton could still wait for NU or OU but Texas A&M; was co-South champ and its fans will travel to Jerry World in droves to play Bama. Plus, it's the 75th anniversary of the Cotton Bowl and A&M; is old-school Texas. Oh, the Southwest Conference of it all. »

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Buffs no obsession for NU

By Tom Shatel

1:55 p.m., Wednesday: It's OK to admit it now.

You enjoyed beating Colorado. In fact, you loved it. The losses hurt, but the victories were sweet.

But the Buffs were never an obsession. That's the difference. The Nebraska-Colorado series comes to an end on Friday, and that's exactly what this was: a series. A very intense series at times the last 20 years. But a series, nonetheless.

A rivalry? No. Not in the traditional sense.

It takes two interested parties to make a rivalry. Nebraska never paid attention to the Buffs, not until Bill McCartney circled the game in red and fired up a fan base and then, more important, beat Nebraska. When the Buffs started to threaten the Huskers' place in the Big Eight, that's when they got NU's attention. But it was like a kid picking on a classmate to get under his skin, get a reaction. That's what this always was to Nebraska.

A rival is someone you think about most of the year. Nebraskans haven't thought about Colorado until this week. And it's been that way most of the time.

A rivalry is what Nebraskans will be heavily into a year from this week, when the Iowa Hawkeyes come to town. That's going to be a natural rivalry, one that's been simmering under the surface and should explode when the Huskers go the Big Ten next year. Huskers-Hawkeyes won't be forced. Colorado-Nebraska was forced. It was one sided. But it was very real on that side. For Buffs fans, Nebraska was a rival.

I could see it on the face of a colleague, a writer from Colorado, last summer at Big 12 media days. He asked me, "So, will Nebraska miss Colorado?'' It took me one second to say, "No.'' And he had this sad look on his face and said, "Really?''

This week, I was talking to another colleague, a sports talk show host in Denver, who asked me if I thought Nebraska would have a hard time replacing Colorado as a rival in the Big Ten. Again, I wasn't trying to be mean, but I said, "No, in fact, they'll have a rivalry for the first time, with Iowa.'' And my friend from Denver said, "Really?''

That doesn't mean what McCartney did back in the mid 80's wasn't smart. It was ingenius. By putting a target on the Huskers. Mac gave his team something to shoot for, real incentive, and pulled them up to that level. Colorado was so obsessed with Big Red that they weren't going to stop until they beat them _ and passed them.

Tom Osborne wouldn't acknowledge CU as a rival and that drove some Buffs batty. Made them more intense. Nebraskans loved to to play along, like they didn't care.

But they started to care right in 1989.

Colorado had upset the Huskers in Boulder in 1986, but that looked like a one-time thing. The victory over NU in Boulder in 1989 was more significant. It gave the Buffs the Big Eight crown and sent them to the Orange Bowl, real estate previously owned by Nebraska and Oklahoma. The Buffs did it again in 1990, with a breathless fourth-quarter rally. This thing was on.

It takes more than two wins to make a rivalry. But suffice it to say CU had the Huskers' attention.

There was a tie in 1991, with snow on the field in Boulder and snowballs at Byron Bennett's feet for the winning field goal, which missed. But then McCartney's rivaly unraveled. Colorado didn't beat NU again until the 2001 blowout. By then Nebraskans had moved on from Colorado and were into all things Texas. They still enjoyed beating CU because of how they were treated in Boulder, how the Buffs kept poking at them.

Nebraskans realized how much they cared in 2001. There are some who still haven't gotten over the pain from that long afternoon.

But as the Huskers entered a decade of transition and struggles, it was hard to get up for Colorado. The Buffs won a few Big 12 North titles but backed into a couple of them when Iowa State dropped the ball. Then Dan Hawkins showed up. It was even harder to take CU seriously.

There are parts of this series I'll miss. Some of the games were classics, hard-hitting, intense, won by a kick at the end _ or a kick sailing wide right. I'll miss Folsom Field. It's absolutely stunning, with the backdrop of the Flatirons and those yellow pom poms shaking furiously in the student section. I grew to enjoy Thanksgiving Night in Denver every other year. But, memo to Woody Paige: there may not be anything to do in Omaha on Thanksgiving Night, but there's nothing open in Denver, either. Except for the Sports Column across from Coors Field. Thank goodness for the Sports Column.

I won't miss the sophomoric shots at Nebraskans and cheerleaders and so forth. Eventually those went away. Even the Denver media realized that was a tired lounge act.

It will be over on Friday. Nebraska and Colorado will close their own personal chapters as Big Eight Conference partners. They'll do it with a throwback touch. CU interim coach Brian Cabral played for Bill Mallory and coached for McCartney. He's instilling the old "hate Nebraska'' feeling, the one Hawkins downplayed the last four years. This will be an old-fashioned, hard-hitting, helmet-knocking Big Eight game.

Afterward, the Huskers will turn east and the Buffs will turn west. And what was as intense a series as you could find will dry up and blow across the plains like a tumbleweed.

Maybe one day they'll meet again. In the Rose Bowl. »

Monday, November 22, 2010

NU could be Phoenix-bound for bowl season

Filed by Tom Shatel

Monday, 8:26 p.m.: Little busy the last two days, so my apologies for the tardiness of the Never-Too-Early-To-Talk-Bowls primer:

After huddling in the Texas A&M; press box with two bowl officials who shall remain anonymous and various Texas sports writers who you wouldn't know anyway, here's my early, early assessment for Nebraska.

Phoenix. Or Phoenix.

The first scenario's easy. Nebraska gets to the Big 12 championship game and wins. The Huskers are in the Fiesta Bowl (the JV Fiesta this year, with the BCS title game a week later at same site) Jan. 1 at Glendale, Ariz., to be exact.

The rest is a bit trickier. Play along, please. I'll try and go slow.

If NU goes to the Big 12 title game and loses, a lot of folks will assume Cotton Bowl on Jan. 7 vs. SEC. Not a bad thought. With the Huskers heading for the Big Ten after this season and new bowl possibilities, this is the last call for Big Red for Cotton and Alamo Bowls. And NU fans are always welcome in Texas.

Here's why I don't think that's automatic and, in fact, unlikely.

The Cotton is weary of taking the Big 12 title game loser because it would have to drag itself back to the same stadium four weeks later. The Jerry Dome is cool and all, and you can't beat Cotton hospitality. But two games in the same stadium in a month's time can be a hard sell for fans. The Cotton knows that. That's why Oklahoma State was their No. 1 choice all along last year with Texas-NU in the title game.

Thursday night could be big for the Cotton. If Texas A&M; beats Texas, the Cotton could jump on the 9-3 Aggies, with their six-game win streak. Hot story. Excited fans. Good, ol' former Southwest Conference team for that 75th anniversary Cotton Bowl. Makes a lot of sense. I would bet on this happening, if A&M; wins.

The only rub is that if Arkansas is the SEC team, A&M; already played Arkansas this year — in Cowboys Stadium, in fact.

We'll know more about that later this weekend, after Arkansas-LSU play. The loser of that SEC West tilt could be headed to the Cotton. And LSU could end up in a BCS bowl (Orange or Sugar) depending on Auburn.

If Texas beats the Aggies, I would expect Oklahoma to get a long, hard look by the Cotton. Or, if the Cotton has to take Arkansas. Again, if NU goes to the Big 12 title game, that will be the Huskers' third trip to that stadium in 13 months. Would Nebraska fans go back again so soon? Big gamble, it says here. Especially if the opponent is Arkansas.

So, if A&M; goes to the Cotton, the Alamo (Dec. 29) is next up. San Antonio loves the Huskers, right? And it's reciprocal. NU is 5-0 in the Alamodome and won its two Big 12 titles there. Red on the Riverwalk. You know the drill.

The thing is, the Alamo has never had Oklahoma. Ever. Good fit. But the hang-up would be the opponent. It's Pac-10 now. The Pac-10 is a little light on eligible teams. It's likely either Stanford or Arizona for San Antonio, depending on BCS stuff and whether Stanford or Boise State is in the Rose Bowl. That's a whole other blog explaining that deal.

Either way, OU would be squeamish about playing Stanford again (they met in the Sun Bowl last year) and Bob Stoops has been adamant about not facing brother Mike (Arizona coach), though OU has told bowl people that it would do so if necessary, it just didn't want it to be a contrived, set-up game.

Again, judging from early talks with bowl folks, if OU loses to Okie State in Bedlam this Saturday, I think the Alamo would take the Sooners over the Huskers. The Stoops-Stoops match-up is too attractive as a big TV draw and sure sell-out. And don't forget, NU and Arizona met last year in the Holiday.

If OU wins this weekend, Oklahoma State could go to the Alamo. But a lot would depend on if it's Arizona on the other end and whether NU would want to play Arizona again. And vice versa. If it's Stanford, then Nebraska-Stanford would be good for the Alamo folks. But so would Stanford-OSU. That will be an interesting decision, if it comes to that. My money now is on OU in the Alamo.

Who's next? Insight Bowl (Holiday Bowl dropped behind Insight in pecking order), in Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz., on Dec. 28. You can stop right here. The Insight is run by the Fiesta Bowl. John Junker and the Diablos would do anything to have Nebraska back, in either bowl. The Huskers haven't been to the desert since Charlie McBride's swan song against Tennessee in 1999.

Who waits for NU there? A Big Ten opponent. Probably Michigan, maybe Iowa, but likely maize and blue. Taylor Martinez vs. Denard Robinson. Early Big Ten preview. Great, great stuff. In Nebraska's old playpen, Sun Devil Stadium.

That's my best guess right now. Let's see what happens with A&M-Texas; and OSU-OU this weekend. And, of course, Nebraska-Colorado. Though, a Husker loss on Friday would likely cement NU in the Insight.

Stay tuned. I'll post another update next Sunday, when we have more puzzle pieces to work with. »

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Merfeld has history with ISU, too

Filed by Tom Shatel

5:55 p.m., Saturday: They're waiting in Des Moines. The Cyclones are waiting for Creighton. Waiting for the Jays' coach.

Creighton plays Iowa State on Sunday at the Wells Fargo Arena and a game set up a year ago by Greg McDermott and Dana Altman has an intriguing twist. Altman left and McDermott came to CU. And now Mac plays his old team in a Sunday game that has had his stomach in knots for weeks.

But what about the other Creighton coach?

Steve Merfeld will be in the house on Sunday, too. Remember him, Cyclones? Take a jog back to one of the darkest spots in your memory, the 2001 NCAA tourney loss to Hampton. Iowa State was a No. 2 seed and looking like a Final Four contender. Until that first-round loss to 15th-seed Hampton.

Remember that Hampton coach who got carried off the court by his players?

Uh-huh. Merfeld, an assistant on McDermott's staff, is back. Maybe with some karma for Creighton.

"I hadn't really thought about that connection,'' Merfeld said earlier this week. "Our paths haven't crossed since 2001.''

But the memory has come up more than once. Like, every year.

"Every March, as soon as the brackets are announced, the phone rings,'' Merfeld said. "I get calls from the coaches and media of the 15 seeds and the two seeds. The coaches want to know what we did in that game. The media just wants to talk about the game.

"We played great in that game. It was one of those things that happens. That's why the tournament is great. In some ways it seems like yesterday. In other ways, it seems like 25 years ago.''

Merfeld says he doesn't expect Cyclone fans to make the connection — or want to, for that matter.

"There's a lot of Iowa State grads in Omaha, I've noticed,'' Merfeld said. "I've done some speaking engagements the last few months and if they are in the crowd, they recognize me. They don't say much, other than you ruined my bracket.''

Merfeld ruined a lot of brackets that year.

"Hey, if I had done a bracket, I"m sure it would have ruined mine, too,'' he laughed. »