Nebraska...not feeling Frosty anymore

[entropy]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120104/BIGRED/701049807#mckewon-martinez-needs-to-become-consistent

good article on Nebraska going forward

[entropy]

http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=205356240

Huskers upset OSU

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http://www.omaha.com/article/20120107/BIGRED/701079799/-1#shatel-nu-sky-not-falling-despite-struggles

[entropy]

Steven M. Sipple: If Tide prevails, it should receive all the spoils

Posted: Sunday, January 8, 2012 11:50 pm

Things I know and think I know:

The Associated Press is out of the Bowl Championship Series formula because it wanted no part of the BCS controversy. Meanwhile, the AP is still awarding a national championship and writing stories about its voting process, specifically the possibility of the preposterous occurring Monday night:

That is, LSU losing to Alabama in the BCS title game and still being voted No. 1 in the AP poll.

Yes, that would be preposterous.

I understand the notion that LSU, with one more victory, would be regarded as a team for the ages. The Tigers (13-0) completed one of the most impressive regular seasons in college football history, including a 9-6 overtime win Nov. 5 at Alabama.

But understand this: If Alabama prevails in the rematch, nobody would consider it a colossal upset, even though the game is in New Orleans. In the Nov. 5 contest, the Crimson Tide actually had more first downs (17 to 15) and total yards (295-239).

It also should be noted that Alabama missed four field-goal tries, and the zebras awarded LSU a disputed interception at the goal line.

The teams are comparable statistically. In fact, Alabama has an advantage in three of four major categories — total offense, total defense and scoring defense.

Think about this: I doubt LSU coaches and players would even want an AP national championship trophy if they come up short in the game designated as the title game.

In my opinion, perhaps the only circumstance that could bring about a roiling controversy in the AP poll would be the off chance that Alabama prevails in a very close game because of an extremely questionable call by the zebras.

Otherwise, Alabama, with a victory in N'awlins, would deserve all the spoils, including the AP national championship.

Let's say Alabama does prevail. Could Oklahoma State squeeze into the No. 1 spot? No way that should be the case. At least not if voters happen to notice that the Cowboys finished the regular season 107th nationally in both total defense and pass defense. Yikes. Burned into my brain is the image of Iowa State's offensive line opening gaping holes in the late stages of an overtime triumph against OSU.

*Several folks have asked me about the intensely angry manner in which Nebraska coach Bo Pelini jawed at officials at times during the Capital One Bowl. I understand the concerns, but think criticism of Pelini in this regard is overcooked.

Thing is, Pelini dialed back such behavior this season. In fact, I thought he dialed it too far back — it's not his nature to constantly bite his tongue. Did he go too far with his protestations during the bowl game? Depends on who you ask. Did it negatively affect his coaching? Absolutely not, he says flatly.

Bottom line, we wouldn't even be having this discussion if Nebraska had beaten South Carolina.

But the discussion goes deeper. Football is intense and often visceral. Tempers flare. An example occurred recently when Bill O'Brien, the new Penn State coach, engaged in a fiery shouting match on the sideline with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (O'Brien is the Pats' offensive coordinator).

"I'm an intense guy, and he's an intense guy," O'Brien told reporters Saturday. "We're two competitive guys. That's what happens in football sometimes. It's an emotional sport."

Exactly.

I'm guessing neither O'Brien nor Brady heard from fans that they somehow embarrassed the Patriots' organization.

*As far back as the late 1990s, when he was linebackers coach at Nebraska, Craig Bohl decided he might make a better head coach than assistant. In that regard, he once told me of his misgivings with the way he sometimes approached his job at NU, including his stint as defensive coordinator (2000-02).

"I think I got too doggone embroiled in specific schemes, in X's and O's," he said. "I can still remember walking down a hallway, seeing a player and not even acknowledging him because I always was thinking so much."

Bohl back then saw himself as a big-picture guy, a CEO of sorts. Looks like he was right. His hard times at Nebraska no doubt make North Dakota State's FCS title that much sweeter for the ninth-year Bison head coach. Excellent rebound, coach.

[hack]

I understand the notion that LSU, with one more victory, would be regarded as a team for the ages. The Tigers (13-0) completed one of the most impressive regular seasons in college football history, including a 9-6 overtime win Nov. 5 at Alabama.

But understand this: If Alabama prevails in the rematch, nobody would consider it a colossal upset, even though the game is in New Orleans. In the Nov. 5 contest, the Crimson Tide actually had more first downs (17 to 15) and total yards (295-239).

It also should be noted that Alabama missed four field-goal tries, and the zebras awarded LSU a disputed interception at the goal line.

The teams are comparable statistically. In fact, Alabama has an advantage in three of four major categories — total offense, total defense and scoring defense.

Oh my what an exhaustive analysis!

[whodean]

Totally true. Alabama has been more consistently dominant, LSU is freakishly opportunistic.

[hack]

I wasn't being serious, as evidenced by that rather amusingly incomplete analysis. For me personally, I thought Alabama was clearly better in that game, but you don't get points for missing FGs and that's how the game works.

[entropy]

By Randy York

Last November, Jack Hoffman and a school friend held up a sign at the Nebraska-Northwestern football game in Lincoln. It said “BTN” in huge block letters and spelled out what each letter means to their family. Unlike the BTN acronym we all know as Big Ten Network, the Hoffman family of Atkinson, Neb., had another take on it: Burkhead’s Tough as Nails.

Every Nebraska player, coach and fan knows how true that three-word statement is. In fact, every opposing player, coach and fan knows how true it is. But here’s the irony of two little kids holding up a sign designed to focus attention on Rex Burkhead, the family’s favorite athlete who has become a personal friend. Whatever hero status an All-Big Ten running back commands in the Hoffman household, Burkhead would return the favor quicker than the snap of his fingers. He would tell everyone what he’s known about Jack since meeting him last fall: Little Jack is tough as nails, too … and every bit as tough as he is.

For those unfamiliar with this story, Jack is a shy, quiet and humble 6-year-old boy from Atkinson, Neb., who has brain cancer. This week is a big week for him and his family, and Jack will have to be at his toughest when he flies back to Boston on Tuesday for an MRI and four important appointments on Wednesday. His eighth MRI in the last eight months will determine the success of Jack’s second surgery at Boston’s Children’s Hospital last Oct. 10.

“We’re getting nervous going back, but trusting the Lord,” said Jack’s dad, Andy Hoffman. “We just want to thank everyone out there who continues to pray for Jack. We appreciate the support we’ve received locally, nationally and even in other countries. I can’t tell you how uplifting it’s been for Jack and our family. It has been absolutely awesome to receive prayers and cards from people we don’t even know.”

Hoffman says the support spread virally because of one tough as nails football player who chose to accept a recommendation from Nebraska Associate Athletic Director Keith Zimmer that he meet Jack and his family the week before the Washington game. From that day forward, a strong relationship was born between Big Rex and Little Jack. It has, by all accounts, blossomed into a full-fledged friendship between two families – the Hoffmans, including Jack’s mom and dad, Bri and Andy, and his sisters Ava, 4, and Reese, 13 months; and the Burkheads, including Rex’s mom and dad, Robyn and Rick, his brother, Ryan, and Rex’s four grandparents on both sides of the family.

The convergence of these two families provides a human highlight reel because once Nebraska’s fan base was clued in on the red “Team Jack-Pray” bracelets that Rex and his teammates wore and continue to wear, it became a poignant backdrop to the Huskers’ first season in the Big Ten. When ABC announcers discussed Team Jack towards the end of the Ohio State game in the greatest comeback in Nebraska football history, the story spread even wider, and there are now 3,000 Team Jack facebook members and 45,000 visits to the Jack Hoffman Caring Bridge website that chronicles his weekly progress.

“The support is deep, meaningful and powerful,” Jack’s dad said. “Every time we put a photo of Jack up, we receive uplifting comments and shows of support. Husker fans are simply the best, and we cannot overstate how awesome their love, prayers and support have been for our family. We have the greatest fans in college football, not just because they pack Memorial Stadium every game for 50 years, but because they pack their local churches and have stormed the heavens, praying for our son. That, to me, is the true power of what Rex did.”

[entropy]

When Husker football coaches first called John O'Mera to inquire about cornerback Mohammed Seisay, he had an easy way to get their attention.

He brought up a couple other corners he's sent Nebraska's way — Armando Murillo and Zack Bowman, now a Chicago Bear.

Then O'Mera told Nebraska's staff this: Seisay is better than both of them were coming out of junior college.

"A lock-down corner," the Eastern Arizona Junior College head coach said of Seisay. "He did a great job for us. All-conference. All-everything."

Teams tried to test Seisay at first. It didn't work out too hot.

"They quickly found out he was the real deal," O'Mera said.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Seisay had six interceptions when teams dared to throw his way.

It may have seemed a lapse of judgment to challenge Seisay, but teams had to throw the ball somewhere.

The corner on the other side of the field was Travell Dixon, an Alabama recruit.

That Seisay picked Nebraska over another SEC school — Arkansas — may have been the biggest thrill of this recruiting season so far for Husker recruitniks.

The cornerback broke the news on Twitter on Dec. 20. And there's no worry about a decommitment here.

Seisay is already signed and taking classes at Nebraska, making him eligible to take part in spring practice.

With Alfonzo Dennard departing, a strong case could be made that Seisay is the most critical piece in Nebraska's 2012 recruiting class.

NU has had its share of success with junior college players in recent years, with Lavonte David, DeJon Gomes and Larry Asante (another Eastern Arizona JC product) serving as prime examples on the defensive side.

Can Seisay be the next to make an immediate impact?

There are no guarantees in this game, but O'Mera said Seisay's hard-working attitude can work in his favor.

"No. 1, he's a good person," O'Mera said. "Sometimes in juco, you don't always get the greatest character guys. But that's going to be the biggest difference with Mo. He's going to understand what he has to do to succeed. He knows it's not going to be handed to him.

"A lot of guys might think 'cause Nebraska signed him, that means you're automatically going to start. Not with him. He knows he has to earn it. And if he doesn't start right away, he's not going to be one of those guys who pouts. He'll just work harder."

Seisay has seemed to embrace all that is Nebraska since announcing his commitment. A photo of him with his family all dressed in Husker shirts serves as his Twitter avatar.

He had plenty of offers, including ones from name programs such as Oklahoma and Florida State.

But O'Mera wasn't surprised the Huskers appealed to Seisay. He said the Nebraska name still counts for plenty in the world of recruiting.

"It's a big-time program," O'Mera said. "The only show in town. There's not many kids that grow up not knowing at least a little bit about Nebraska."

Busy weekends: Buckle in. The next few weeks should be nothing if not entertaining when it comes to Husker recruiting.

Among those expected to visit Lincoln this weekend are defensive backs Sebastian Smith (Pickerington, Ohio) and four-star cornerback Devian Shelton (Inglewood, Calif.).

Shelton is committed to Oregon State but is giving the NU campus a look before signing day. He told Rivals.com he likes the way the Huskers trust their defensive backs.

"Really, they put their cornerbacks on an island," Shelton told the recruiting website. "That's another big thing for me. I like being independent where I can get my hands on the receiver, and be on him all game."

In addition, the Huskers could have as many as four visitors Jan. 20. Athlete LeRoy Alexander (Toledo, Ohio), 220-pound running back Imani Cross (Gainesville, Ga.), defensive tackle Aaron Curry (Keller, Texas) and four-star cornerback Amos Leggett (Miami) are all planning to visit that weekend, according to Rivals.

Iowa is among the other schools Curry is interested in. The defensive tackle told Scout.com he already knows NU's new defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski. "(He) was recruiting me at Iowa."

Too close to call: Brent Wilkerson has been committed to Penn State for 10 months, but Nebraska is now in the mix for the tight end recruit, who is weighing an offer from the Huskers after PSU's turbulent fall.

The 6-4, 245-pound product of DeMatha (Md.) High School visited Nebraska last weekend. Now he's going to meet new Penn State coach Bill O'Brien this weekend.

"I thought I was pretty much set," Wilkerson told the Washington Post of his commitment to PSU. "But everything happens for a reason and I'm re-evaluating my situation. Penn State is still a great school. It's still Penn State. The situation happened. It is what it is."

[entropy]

Osborne prefers 'traditional' uniforms

Posted by: Steve Sipple on January 13, 2012 at 1:43PM CST

During the course of discussing a variety of issues Friday with Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne, I brought up a hot-button question among Nebraska football fans:

Do you think you'll ever make drastic uniform changes, as so many other programs have done on a semi-regular basis?

"I think many of these clothing companies would appreciate it if you would do something unusual or bizarre or change up because it calls attention -- I guess -- to their brand," Osborne said. "Personally, I don't see where it adds a lot of value if people think the uniforms are really outlandish. Apparently there is a value to the companies. But we've always been fairly traditional here."

Don't expect that to change when it comes to Husker football uniforms, as long as Osborne is running the shop.

"Maybe that has to do with longstanding traditions. But it also maybe has to do with my age," he said.

The 74-year-old Osborne chuckled.

"I'm just to the point where I don't think that you should all of a sudden make yourself into a walking billboard. So, we'll probably be pretty traditional around here."

Osborne said Adidas -- Nebraska's apparel supplier -- approached NU about making what Osborne described as "significant" changes to the football uniforms as far back as the 1990s, when Osborne was the head coach. He said NU would have been compensated for the proposed changes.

"I think that's probably the deal with a lot of these uniforms that you're now seeing that are really kind of odd," he said. "We've always pretty much turned those kinds of opportunities down ... (But) I haven't seen anything come across my desk lately."

[UMStan White]

I knew there was a reason why I liked Osborne (other than having the guts to go for the win against Miami as opposed to playing for the ND Ara Parsegian "Tie one for the Gipper" trophy.

[entropy]

Sipple

It's happening. Bank on it.

The "plus-one" train is ready to leave the station.

Commissioners from the 11 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences met Tuesday in New Orleans. From the discourse emerged the prevailing sentiment that a plus-one model — two national semifinals with a championship game a week later — merits serious discussion.

Tom Osborne, an old lion in the sport, has serious reservations about the model, or any playoff model. Osborne harkens to the 1977 Liberty Bowl, of all places, when he led Nebraska to a 21-17 triumph against North Carolina.

The game was played Dec. 19. The Nebraska faculty was up in arms, and not because dear ol' NU ended the regular season with another loss to Oklahoma. The Dec. 19 game meant Husker players had to leave for Memphis, Tenn. — the game's site — during a final-exam period.

"We were told by the faculty we were never to do that again," said Osborne, now the Husker athletic director.

Asked about the current wave of momentum toward a playoff, Osborne turned the discussion toward student-athletes and exams because he is extremely concerned how a playoff would impact student-athletes' overall welfare.

What a novel concept — concern about those who actually play the games.

"A lot of us who deal with intercollegiate athletics, and know what athletes go through, are concerned about length of season," said Osborne, echoing a popular sentiment among university presidents, who will have final say on the playoff matter.

Cue the snickers. Many folks will say Osborne is a stodgy 74-year-old resistant to significant change. Before you place such a label on him, consider that his tone became forceful as he discussed the need to reduce the number of bowl games. More on that in a minute.

Say what you want about Osborne. I appreciate that he seems always to have the student-athlete foremost in his thoughts when major issues are discussed. For instance, he long has maintained the value of a scholarship should go beyond the current room, board, books, tuition and fees.

Meanwhile, many people in the playoff discussion proceed with a video-game mentality. They regard the human beings involved as indestructible images on a screen. Flip a switch and, boom, their aches and pains, personal issues and schoolwork take care of themselves.

Osborne comes from the old school. Again, cue the snickers. That's too bad. As massive change in the college game is considered, several voices need to be heard.

Osborne thinks back to the 1960s, when the regular season was 10 games. Now, it's 12. He abhors the thought of teams playing 15 games, which would become a possibility in a plus-one format. That would be too much wear and tear on the athletes, Osborne said.

Nonsense! say playoff proponents, pointing to the length of the NFL season.

Osborne pointed out that college players now have sophisticated offseason training programs that begin in mid-January and run through much of April. Summer conditioning essentially has become mandatory.

Oh, yeah, and one other minor issue to note: Players must go to class and maintain good grades.

"These kids live very disciplined, very regimented lives," Osborne said. "We think we've been able to maintain pretty good academic performance and academic integrity. But there isn't a lot of time left for these people to be normal students.

"The thing that always concerns me, if you're going to add on to the season any appreciable number of games, now you really have turned it into a professional season."

He shares a common fear among those wary of a plus-one playoff: It eventually would grow into something much bigger — an eight-team playoff, then a 16-teamer, etc.

Granted, we hear the same playoff arguments ad nauseam. The volume will increase in coming months because a new BCS format would have to be in place before the fall, when television negotiations with ESPN begin.

We also will continue to hear folks clamor for fewer bowl games. There were 35 this season — too many, in Osborne's opinion.

"I don't see any point in a six-win team going to a bowl," he said.

A total of 14 six-win teams participated this season. Perhaps it's as simple as cutting seven or so bowls from the menu. I could live with that.

I also could live with a plus-one format, as long as it remained just that.

"People don't realize the price student-athletes pay to compete at this level," said Osborne, an old lion growling a bit over the increasing possibility of some sort of playoff.

[entropy]

Sipple:

*After taking the temperature of Nebraska men's basketball fans last week, my guess is the Huskers' 50-45 loss Sunday at Wisconsin will do little to create palpable positive energy, even considering NU's competitiveness against the Badgers.

Husker hoops fan apathy is thick right now, as is discontent.

Nebraska, 9-8 overall and 1-5 in the Big Ten, shot 35.2 percent from the field Sunday. What did you expect? NU entered the game ranked last in the Big Ten in scoring offense, while Wisconsin (14-5, 3-3) was first in scoring defense.

What I expect from Doc Sadler's team is more toughness. Nebraska came up short in that area twice in the final few minutes. The first act of softness occurred when NU allowed Wisconsin to grab four straight offensive rebounds in one crucial sequence.

Then, with 17 seconds remaining, Badgers guard Jordan Taylor rebounded his missed free throw, ripping the ball from a Husker's hands. Taylor was fouled and sank two free throws for a 50-45 lead. Ballgame.

*Favorite snarky tweet from Sunday (from Omaha sportscaster Matt Schick): "Halftime: Wisc24 Neb21. Kohl Center PA announcer: 'For your halftime entertainment, an usher will come by and punch you in the face.'"

I've been punched plenty (former boxer). It doesn't hurt that bad.

*Nebraska women's basketball coach Connie Yori has done an excellent job to coax her squad to 15-2 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten.

"We're not going to win every game — we're not that darned good," she said after Sunday's 93-73 loss to Penn State, the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten. "We're young, we make mistakes. We're real lucky to be 15-2, frankly."

Nebraska plays six freshmen and a sophomore in the regular rotation. How well will the Huskers' young players hold up in the homestretch? That's something to watch.

It will be fun to watch Yori's team grow in the next few years. The skill level is high, and sophomore Jordan Hooper of Alliance already has a big-time presence. She's complemented inside by freshman Emily Cady of Seward, a good all-around player.

Two starters from Nebraska? Doc's gotta be jealous.

[entropy]

Sipple:

*After taking the temperature of Nebraska men's basketball fans last week, my guess is the Huskers' 50-45 loss Sunday at Wisconsin will do little to create palpable positive energy, even considering NU's competitiveness against the Badgers.

Husker hoops fan apathy is thick right now, as is discontent.

Nebraska, 9-8 overall and 1-5 in the Big Ten, shot 35.2 percent from the field Sunday. What did you expect? NU entered the game ranked last in the Big Ten in scoring offense, while Wisconsin (14-5, 3-3) was first in scoring defense.

What I expect from Doc Sadler's team is more toughness. Nebraska came up short in that area twice in the final few minutes. The first act of softness occurred when NU allowed Wisconsin to grab four straight offensive rebounds in one crucial sequence.

Then, with 17 seconds remaining, Badgers guard Jordan Taylor rebounded his missed free throw, ripping the ball from a Husker's hands. Taylor was fouled and sank two free throws for a 50-45 lead. Ballgame.

*Favorite snarky tweet from Sunday (from Omaha sportscaster Matt Schick): "Halftime: Wisc24 Neb21. Kohl Center PA announcer: 'For your halftime entertainment, an usher will come by and punch you in the face.'"

I've been punched plenty (former boxer). It doesn't hurt that bad.

*Nebraska women's basketball coach Connie Yori has done an excellent job to coax her squad to 15-2 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten.

"We're not going to win every game ? we're not that darned good," she said after Sunday's 93-73 loss to Penn State, the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten. "We're young, we make mistakes. We're real lucky to be 15-2, frankly."

Nebraska plays six freshmen and a sophomore in the regular rotation. How well will the Huskers' young players hold up in the homestretch? That's something to watch.

It will be fun to watch Yori's team grow in the next few years. The skill level is high, and sophomore Jordan Hooper of Alliance already has a big-time presence. She's complemented inside by freshman Emily Cady of Seward, a good all-around player.

Two starters from Nebraska? Doc's gotta be jealous.

[hack]

There is no reason for any UM fan to like Osborne. Even if he gets some things right. Shame on you, Stan.