Nebraska...not feeling Frosty anymore

[lineygoblue]

Mich v KSU

[entropy]

When you initially clicked on the bowl home tab on huskers.com it takes you to the BWW homepage.


Wow... Looks like UNL left thinking it was done

[WM Wolverine]

M wanted the BWW and they got what they wanted, more so they didn't want to play in Florida.

[lineygoblue]

Michigan got a better matchup playing KSU (7-5) rather than an 8-4 SEC team. I actually like that better.

[Mike]

Me too. I like the idea of going somewhere other than Florida for a change. The 10:15 start sucks but, whatever. Tis the season!

[entropy]

UNL fans are generally disappointed and the finger is pointed at our AD

[Wild Hoss]

Well, I guess its hard to be disappointed at being "left" with a New Year's Day bowl...we certainly deserve to be playing during Thrifty Car Rental Bowl Week, that's for certain.

[Mike]

Thrifty Car Rental Bowl Week

Oh, good heavens! Is that what Michigan is a part of?

[iam416]

Another brilliant job by Coach Bo.

[Wild Hoss]

Oh, good heavens! Is that what Michigan is a part of?

I think so. Texas Bowl, Alamo Bowl, Holiday Bowl, etc.

[Mike]

I suppose it's better than the Regular Season presented by Jack Daniels and Pepto-Bismol we just experienced.

[Wild Hoss]

I suppose it's better than the Regular Season presented by Jack Daniels and Pepto-Bismol we just experienced.

Truth.

[entropy]

8 hours ago • By STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star


Things I know and think I know:

Bo Pelini was asked Sunday for his thoughts on Michigan State defeating Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game.

The Nebraska football coach promptly turned the discussion into a summary of why he's optimistic about the 2014 season.

I liked his response, particularly in the context of the incessant drumbeat of Husker fan negativity from what appears to be a vocal (and venomous) minority. Maybe you've noticed I tend to fixate on this subject, especially as it applies to various forms of social media.

The subject of negativity and outright cruelty in social media even outside the sporting realm fascinates me. Why so much hate? Why do folks feel compelled to express it? Should we just ignore it? Is the cruelty becoming far too casual?

Make no mistake, fan/media negativity concerns Pelini and his staff, especially from a recruiting standpoint, but also because of the way it impacts current players.

Of course, Pelini can play a lead role in setting a positive tone for his program, which he did Sunday during the Gator Bowl teleconference. And which he needs to do more consistently.

"I've said all along, I like our prospects for next year," Pelini said. "I like the way our football team can compete with anybody out there. I think Michigan State was a heck of a team. I think it just shows that we're not far off. We're right there.

"And I think with what we have coming back (personnel-wise), if we stay the course and we're able to finish off our recruiting class and do what we need to do, I think there are some really good things on the horizon in our program."

Nebraska trailed Michigan State by six points after the third quarter Nov. 16 despite being minus five in turnovers, before falling 41-28. I thought the Huskers were more talented overall. They clearly had two of the top three players on the field in Ameer Abdullah and Randy Gregory (Spartan cornerback Darqueze Dennard tops the list, while Shilique Calhoun is overrated).

Based on what I'm hearing, both Abdullah and Gregory will be back at NU next season, as opposed to leaving early for the NFL.

Based on what I witnessed this season, Nebraska's defense should be a top-15 unit in 2014 (the Huskers currently are 36th in total defense). The bowl practices are crucial for the young defenders. Same goes for spring practice, when all the fresh faces on this season's defense will hit the ground running in terms of knowledge of the system. That's a far cry from last spring and summer, when too many key defenders started at Ground Zero.

"We have a chance to be really good," Pelini said. "I've thought that all along. I knew the process was going to take some time. I knew it doesn't happen overnight. I think we're seeing the evolution.

"The front seven has a chance to be really special. You add those safeties coming back and the talent we have at the cornerback spot, I like where it is."

Pelini, both Sunday and Monday, seemed more upbeat than he had in several weeks. The Husker season has been a memorable grind, for obvious reasons. But the head coach sounds refreshed, for what it's worth. And I believe it's worth plenty. In today's society, relentless positive energy from leaders seems almost a necessity for success.

* Nebraska's recruiting is heating up. Keep an especially close watch on three prospects:

1. Brandon Powell, a 5-foot-9, 167-pound running back from Deerfield Beach, Fla., who verbally committed to Miami. He's now strongly considering NU. He's a tough runner in the mold of Abdullah. I really like the Huskers' chances to nab Powell.

2. Joe Keels, a 6-4, 280-pound strongside defensive end from Highland (Kan.) Community College, who verbally committed to Wisconsin, but has been wavering of late. He would add to what's quickly becoming an impressive NU front four.

3. Josh Keys, a 6-2, 180-pound defensive back from Gulf Coast (Miss.) Community College is considered one of the top 10 juco DBs in the nation.

* Pelini said based on his discussions with Husker head athletic trainer Mark Mayer, it appears redshirt freshman quarterback Tommy Armstrong "is doing a lot better, feeling a lot better. Hopefully by the first (of January), he'll be pretty close to 100 percent, if not 100 percent."

Armstrong rolled an ankle Nov. 23 against Penn State and didn't play against Iowa.

So, Armstrong or senior Ron Kellogg III as bowl starter?

You go with Armstrong. Give the kid another chance to build confidence for next season and shake off his rough performances. I still like his upside. Tough-minded player.

* Hard to criticize Pelini for ranking his team No. 25 in the USA Today coaches' poll -- the only coach to vote Nebraska in the Top 25. Bo's rationale, in large part: His team persevered through injuries and other adversity to get to 8-4.

Do you really expect a coach to not show at least some bias toward the team he pours his energy into? It's one reason why the coaches' poll is particularly wacky. What's more, I'm betting many coaches pay scant attention to teams outside their realm. I can't blame them.

At any rate, Pelini showed some big-picture savvy. He included 11-1 Fresno State on his ballot (No. 23), but not 12-1 Northern Illinois.

Nebraska travels to Fresno State on Sept. 13.

* The Huskers are in a wonderful position. Just wonderful. Win the bowl, and many fans and media will say NU merely beat a banged-up Georgia team. Lose the bowl, and sound the crisis alarms. Happy holidays.

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 402-473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.

[entropy]

2 hours ago • By RICHARD PIERSOL / Lincoln Journal Star

Gator Bowl ticket information

Tickets for the Jan. 1 Gator Bowl went on sale Monday, and can be purchased online at Huskers.com, or through the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office by calling 1-800-8-BIG RED.

Gator Bowl tickets are priced at $60, $80 and $125. Nebraska will receive an allotment of 12,750 tickets.

Fans also can purchase tickets at GatorBowl.com.

Some travelers are checking in and buying tickets, but no great numbers are rushing to book travel to the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., on New Year's Day.

The Huskers will play the University of Georgia Bulldogs in the bowl game, a rematch of last season's CapitalOne Bowl.

"There have been a handful of calls but not very strong yet," Steve Glenn at Executive Travel in Lincoln said by email Monday, the day after the bowl announcement was made. "I was hoping that the cold blast of weather would make people want to get out of Dodge and down to sunny Florida.

"I think some Husker fans had their hearts set on Phoenix. The rematch with Georgia also took a little luster off. We have one charter plane from Omaha. It will be interesting to see if we can fill it up. Otherwise, I will have to invite all my relatives to the bowl game."

If you're unfamiliar, Taxslayer.com is the "title sponsor." It's an income tax preparation site based in Georgia. Dale Earnhardt Jr. endorses it and drives the Nationwide Series No. 88 Taxslayer.com Chevrolet.

"I’m told the phones in the ticket office have been steady," Keith Mann, director of media relations for Husker athletics said by email Monday afternoon. "Too early to give an exact number on tickets sold at this point."

The University of Nebraska Alumni Association is offering a Gator Bowl Travel Package for Dec. 31-Jan. 2, but travelers are expected to get to Jacksonville on their own.

"We posted our travel package shortly after the announcement was made, and took our first reservation within 30 minutes," said Derek Engelbart, director of alumni relations at the association. "I could say it's still early; I'd say interest is maybe lower than years past."

But one day won't make it or break it, said Engelbart, who is directing the association's travel program for the first time this year.

"Overall, I'd say the first indication is it's maybe a little bit lower. But 2009, the last time we played in the Gator Bowl, was one of our lower-interest bowl games, Coach Pelini's first season. We beat Clemson in a close one."

The Southeast doesn't have a big concentration of NU alumni, Engelbart said, but it does have loyal chapters, including the Tampa Bay Huskers, South Florida Huskers and Georgians for Nebraska. And they're within driving distance of Jacksonville.

"They're always excited to see the Huskers in person," he said. "We did an alumni trip for the Charleston Classic basketball tournament a week before Thanksgiving, and some local Carolina Huskers were already speculating for a return bowl in that area. There's definitely some interest."

The association's deal includes two nights at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, a game ticket in the official Nebraska block, admission to pregame events, and round-trip transportation from and to the hotel on game day.

AAA Travel, which is offering packages, charter air and motorcoach tours through travel partner Allied Tour & Travel, is getting calls from interested fans, said Rose White.

Husker fans interested in airline tickets only can buy seats on a AAA non-stop charter flight out of Omaha to Jacksonville, White said. The rate for the charter flight is $900 per person, but AAA members get a $25 discount. The flight leaves Dec. 30 and returns to Omaha after the game on New Year's Day.

AAA's Gator Bowl Game air package — a two nights charter air and land package — is $1,695 per person based on double occupancy.

"With numerous travel options available, we expect that many Husker fans will attend the Gator Bowl game," White said in an email. "Jacksonville is a very attractive area and a trip to Florida in late December makes a great winter getaway."

Attractions at Jacksonville, other than the football game, are Atlantic Ocean beaches, nearby historic St. Augustine, temperatures between 41 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit — it was 83 degrees Monday afternoon — the largest urban park system in the country, the famous St. John's River and, for shopping, dining and watching, the Jacksonville Landing and the Jacksonville Riverwalks.

The northeast coast of Florida tends to sell itself as a regional destination, including popular Amelia Island.

[Wild Hoss]

"I've said all along, I like our prospects for next year," Pelini said. "I like the way our football team can compete with anybody out there. I think Michigan State was a heck of a team. I think it just shows that we're not far off. We're right there.

"And I think with what we have coming back (personnel-wise), if we stay the course and we're able to finish off our recruiting class and do what we need to do, I think there are some really good things on the horizon in our program."

...and that right there is the problem; Bo Pelini doesn?t see that there?s anything wrong. More to the point, he thinks things are going well.

Losing three home games by 17+ points...its fine.

Needing a Hail Mary to avoid losing a fourth to a spiraling Northwestern team...its fine.

Being physically dominated by Minnesota...its fine.

Struggling to win sloppy games against mediocre opponents like Wyoming, Michigan and Penn State...its fine.

Its all fine. Why? Because a team we lost to beat a different team that we didn?t play

Excellent.