Great Expectations

You may or may not have noticed as a Husker fan that your program is in good hands. Tom Osborne is at the helm as Athletic Director, and Bo Pelini has returned from the South to save our program and restore Nebraska as a national power again. Just like in the 90's when we won the Big 8 and Big XII on a consistent basis. Dreams of Blackshirts and Sears Trophies dance in the heads of many Husker faithful. Ah, to once again go toe to toe with Oklahoma again. Hopefully every year in the Big XII Championship Game. Right?

Not so fast. I know the buzz across the Cornhusker State is ecstatic, and the positive vibes aren't a bad thing, however these lofty expectations should be tempered a bit. Most realistic fans that I converse with are looking at us going 7-5 or even 8-4 next season at best. Teams like Virginia Tech, Missouri and Oklahoma may be too much for Pelini and company to handle. Sounds reasonable right?

There are a few (and I put that label on them because I would like to think they are the minority) that the Huskers have a shot at numbers like 9-3 and 10-2. While I appreciate people that set high goals for themselves, I'm not a big fan of people placing unrealistic ambitions for things that are out of their control. It's one thing to have faith, it's another to be blinded by it.

Some would be content to rub the two sticks of tradition and history together and hope that it sparks a fire that ignites the Husker program as it was during Devaney and Osborne. There are a few things wrong with this. While it may make for a renewed enthusiasm to tell bedtime stories to your young Husker fans while tucking them into bed, it doesn't automatically restore the balance of power in the Big XII North, let alone the entire conference.

While we were wallowing through the Bill Callahan experiment, teams caught up and passed us by. Annual punching bags Missouri and Kansas each pummeled Nebraska last year by a combined score of 117-45. In case you weren't taking notes because you were too stunned that your worst nightmares have come true, those two games should have shown as an example of a team with no identity and a team that was lost. Despite all the great offensive scheming and recruiting under Callahan, Nebraska had lost it's way. All under the patient guise of the good natured, down-home attitude of the Nebraska people and it's fans. Do you still feel robbed? Or have you moved on?

The presence of Pelini and Osborne alone won't be enough to start anew and rebuild what was lost. To regain what we once had, if it can ever be obtained again, is going to take great effort and perseverance from not only the people within the walls of Memorial Stadium, but the fans that fill it every Saturday. What are you going to do if 2008 yields another 5-7 bowless team? Are you going to leave at halftime? Are you going to boo? Or, are you going to partake in the unthinkable and not buy a ticket? It seems harsh and unrealistic to even speak of the beloved sell-out streak ending, but the present state of affairs warrants the question being posed.

So it all boils down to this I suppose. What do you expect? Where do you realistically see our team? If you still see us presently with the Texas's and USC's of the world, I'm sorry. Of course traditionally with our forth ranked overall record, our nearly four dozen conference championships and five national championships we belong. Right now we are on life support. Right now I'm engaged in a thread on a Nebraska message board that asked the question of "which of Texas's recruits would you most like to have?" I remember when a kid would have been labeled certifiable if he chose Texas over Nebraska. Now we fantasize about which one of their players we covet and wish upon a star we could have.

How far we seem to have fallen. But I have faith that the program, just like the people in the area, have the ability to pick themselves up off the floor and dust themselves off and return to striving for excellence. The only question is how much patience will you have? Are you willing to let Osborne drag his legendary name into the muck that could be created from unmet expectations? How about this, do you even remember when Osborne was under criticism from his own fans because he couldn't beat Oklahoma? Or schools in the South? Just keep in mind over the next few seasons that even legends had their time facing the firing squad. Pelini will be no different.

Nebraska Highlights

Ok, so I took a little heat for my last post regarding the return of Richie Incognito the week prior to the Spring Game. Well, I did attend the game and did happen to get a photo snapped with Heisman Trophy winner and Nebraska legend Johnny Rogers. I'm also including the highlights from the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, just to show you all how much I love you. Things will probably be slow for the next several months. I'll try to post what I can regarding 2009 commits but won't give too much detail considering how I was burned by posting about some 2008 decommits. I'll try to keep things interesting and do what I can to update on the regular now.

Cheers.

Mixed Signals

A picture is worth a thousand words, as the old adage goes. The picture to the right is more telling than most pictures I’ve seen coming out of the 15 practices this spring and last Saturday’s Spring Game in Lincoln, Nebraska. A few of the characters you may recognize, but the man in the white shirt and hat may throw you for a loop, since you are looking at the back of his head. That person is none other than formerly disposed and troubled offensive lineman Richie Incognito arm in arm with Bo Pelini. Forget who he was after the tenuous Bill Callahan era? Well, here is a refresher course.

Incognito hails from Englewood, New Jersey and was the first freshman offensive lineman in Nebraska history to start. This was either an indication of greatness, or that the offensive line was starting to crumble under the watch of former head coach Frank Solich. I thought this way then, as I still do now. To make a long story short, Incognito was accused of getting into many an altercation with male and female members of the University along with citizens of Lincoln. The final straw reportedly was in 2004, after Callahan took over the team, Incognito allegedly assaulted a teammate. It was at that point when Callahan placed him on injured reserve and suspended him indefinitely which led to Incognito requesting a transfer to Oregon. He never played a down as a Duck, but was drafted in 2005 by the St. Louis Rams with the 81^st pick overall.

It was yet another troubled Nebraska player, but in Incognito's case, praying on people smaller than him for no reason other than his rampant steroid abuse and resulting “roid rage.” To see him welcomed back to a program who rightly tossed him aside borders on ridiculous, sickening even. After his dismissal his Father even took it upon himself to accost Nebraska fans on internet message boards. Classy.

Now it seems in an effort to get back to the Nebraska way, there has been somewhat of an abandonment of certain integral foundations the current staff is attempting to perpetuate. I attended this past weekends Spring Game, and also attended a luncheon for my booster club that I belong to. The featured speakers included a video from basketball coach Doc Sadler, who was originally schedule to appear but could not attend due to recruiting engagements. Baseball coach Mike Anderson was also a speaker, talking up togetherness and the respectful coach Bo Pelini. Nebraska saint Tom Osborne was introduced by former All-American and Super Bowl champion Grant Wistrom and Pelini himself was introduced by one of his prodigies and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer linebacker Barrett Ruud.

Pelini talked about the value of being a good citizen and representing the University in a positive manner. He spoke about how a solid foundation was being built by the young student athletes. He referred to how he wanted to mold the young men to exude confidence and a good clean lifestyle not only on the field, but off “from the moment they wake up in the morning until they go to bed at night.” I couldn’t help but thing as the members of my booster club in attendance ate this up thinking that Incognito, and his father, had been at practice no more than 24 hours previous to this speech. I wondered how many people were actually aware of this fact, or how many people would even care if they did.

I’m all for redemption. I stuck by Osborne’s decision (and still do) to not kick Lawrence Phillips on the team. I always maintain that kicking him off the team wouldn’t have helped him. However, I saw Osborne’s intentions, as good as they were, fail amid a national spotlight that would help drive him out of the game two years later. However, Phillips has been persona non grata since he was drafted in 1995 by the same Rams team that picked up Incognito. Welcoming Richie back would be easier had he issued some sort of apology for his actions, embarrassing the University or his lack of respect for any order on and off the field while in Lincoln. This has not happened. Not even a simple acknowledgement. Just a return by a player who is mediocre when compared to other great linemen with ten times the heart, integrity and ability to represent the Cornhusker program better than Incognito.

Out of all the Adam Treu’s, Zach Weigert's and Aaron Taylor’s of the world, why bring back Incognito to stump for Pelini’s new regime? Is there something more there? Is our new coach that has Nebraska fans feeling on cloud nine about our program hiding an agenda that includes undoing the rights that were done by Callahan? As much of a pariah as Callahan is, deservedly so to a certain extent, I believe that the rose colored glasses may be so thick that people will be unable to recognize the picture I posted for what it’s worth.

Here is another thing to munch on. Josh Williams (pictured on the left) who was the 2008 signee I wrote about a few weeks ago who’s legal issues are still to be resolved, was in attendance for the Spring Game. Now, this may just be my opinion, but I believe he should be somewhat shunned until the truth of his situation is revealed. He shouldn’t be kicked off the team and have his scholarship pulled either, however I don’t think he should have been able to attend the game.

Are these first few months pointing towards what could be swirling around Lincoln in the next few years? I certainly hope not. Could it just be some amazing coincidences? Could be. All I know is that dunking your head in the Kool-Aid tank for an extended period of time may help you to take your eye off the ball if something is coming.

Kansas City Update

Alright, so I’ll be the first to admit yesterday that I may have jumped the gun with the Josh Williams thing. Let’s just say that we’ll have to wait and let things unfold before I (we) jump to any conclusions. Right now, it appears that a third party intervened in an argument between Williams and the alleged victim and was the one who threw the punch. Was Williams in the wrong or just guilty by association? Those possibilities are yet to be played out, so I’ll do my best to keep things updated on here this weekend with me moving.

One thing I’d like to take a few moments out of the Nebraska news to do is report on other area colleges and some of the news falling out of the local programs. Since I live in the near immediate area of about three Big XII North teams, I think it is more that pertinent to report on schools like Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State. So here we go, a little something new.

There was no bigger news this week in the conference than the Kansas Jayhawks (below). KU won their third national championship in men’s basketball and their first in 20 years since ‘Danny and the Miracles' that were led by Danny Manning and coach Larry Brown. Current coach Bill Self and company had endure a tough matchup from the Davidson Wildcats in the Elite Eight, and former KU headmaster Roy Williams and his current team, the North Carolina Tar Heels, in the Final Four. The Jayhawks went on to defeat the Memphis Tigers in overtime Monday night, as most of you know.

The big news regarding this story (as if there could be something bigger than winning a national title) was that of coach Self himself. The week before the Final Four, Oklahoma State forced coach Sean Sutton out the door. For those that don’t know, Oklahoma State is the alma mater of Self, and where he spent 11 years of his playing and coaching career. Despite Athletic Director Mike Holder’s sincerest efforts, it will appear that Self will be staying at Kansas.

Details of the new contract are yet to be ironed out, but it isn’t a big secret that Self (left) will become one of the (if not the) highest paid coaches in college basketball. The term should be lengthy as well, at least five years in my opinion, as Self has stated that he wants long term security. Also, Kansas AD Lew Perkins persuaded Self to stay by the possibility of a new team practice facility and student athlete housing.

This is great news for Kansas, as well as the Big XII. Since the conference has been formed, we as a conference were yet to win a national title in men's basketball. Kansas reached the title game in 2003 but fell to Syracuse, and teams like Oklahoma State and Texas reached the Final Four, but no one brought home the hardware. Until this year. Self not only brought Kansas and the Big XII a national title and some well deserved respect, he exercised some demons for Rock Chalk Nation by beating Roy Williams in the national semifinal last Saturday. The last week has stamped Bill Self’s reign in Lawrence, Kansas and has undoubtedly gave him carte blanche for at least the next several years. This of course will depend on if Oklahoma State and super-booster T. Boone Pickens (above right) come calling in the not so distant future. The type of money rumored to be offered to Self might be too sweet to pass up twice. Kansas fans should rest easy for now though.

Lincoln Forecast: Officially Pouring

Real quick, if you have not yet familiarized yourself with the signing class from 2008 and didn't see Josh Williams, look now because it might be the last time you see him.

Arguably one of our best defensive recruits from this class, Williams was arrested for assaulting and robbing a Denton, Texas man of $900. Williams reportedly approached the man last Friday while he was in his truck counting his payroll check. The two talked briefly before Williams reached into the truck, stole the money, and then punched the man in the face making off with the money.

Williams flop flopped his commitment from Nebraska to Colorado in December of 2007, then switched back to Nebraska after an unofficial visit in January. Williams was regarded as one of the Top 100 Texas Football Players by the Dallas Morning News while recording 75 tackles, 25 of them for a loss, and 12 sacks his senior season.

Sadly, this looks like another player/recruit that will be removed from the team or heavily reprimanded by the coaching staff. Either way, this is yet another bruise on a program that is just taking off in another direction.

Way to give up a free education worth around $45,000, playing for one of the greatest college football programs in history and a shot at the NFL. Then again, we'll have to wait and see what happens as this story fully develops.