Recapping the Big 12 Championship
Being in the stands for the Big 12 Championship was a cold affair, but with 22-month old and a newborn at home, this was the only game I’ve been able to make it to in person this season. I saw a lot of things on the field that I’ve thought have been happening but was obscured from the zoom view of the TV cameras.
1. Cosgrove is still a tool, but in-play actions by the secondary overshadow most of the good things he has going with the defensive line. Despite what others have said about the athletic ability/size of our corners and safteys, the problem lies in positioning and decision making. I think we may have the only Corners in college football who can give a 12 yard cushion at the snap and still be beat on a standard route. The defensive line played above average ball, but our catch-up corners (that would be the opposite of shut-down corners) let the game get away from the defense.
2. The ill-fated reverse on the opening kick-off didn’t bother me so much. Folks forget that Dr. Tom ran this often in the 90’s when the kick-off reverse was in vogue. Sure it failed in its objective but we only lost a couple yards based on where the defense was positioned at the time of the reverse. We were probably looking at First at 10 from the 11 or 12 instead of the 9 if he’d held on to it.
3. Callahan took the blame for the loss which marks the first time in my recollection that he has done so. Where was this many games ago? Zac Taylor had his worst game as a Husker and the rest of the offense lacked execution. If Callahan can take any heat for loss, I’ll give it to him on the play calling. Abandoning the run when it was having some success was not the wisest coaching move but it the heat of the moment, it could have had the opposite affect and thrown the Sooners for a loop.
4. Despite the score, take away two plays and Nebraska was in this game to the end. The fact that the Huskers didn’t quit when they were down was a refreshing change to where the Huskers have been in previous losses under Callahan.
5. We receive a bunch of traffic to this site from people searching for “Fire Bill Callahan” likely based on previous rants we’ve published. I’m still not sold on Callahan, but I’m not ready to throw in the towel either. I don’t think Nebraska should have sunk as far as they have in the last 3-5 years, but I’m encouraged that they seem to be back on the climb. Callahan realizing that he has to make some “changes” in the off season might be the best thing that has ever happened to him or Nebraska. Talent-wise, I’ve said before that talent isn’t the issue for this team, it is coaching - perhaps Callahan has realized this as well.
The funniest thing I heard at the game, immediately following the first play from scrimmage fumble, “If we leave now we can home by midnight;” by a group of eight or so (from Omaha) sitting in front me who ended up staying the entire game - or at least until I did the walk of shame with 3 minutes to go in the game (it was damn cold, no apologies what may have appeared to be a “fair weather fan” 
)
The best sign I saw:
Any
Body
Cold
The worst things I saw. 1) a fight between two punks in the bathroom before kickoff (one in Husker gear, the other in Sooner gear). 2) The visibly drunk guy puking beside a stadium support column at the end of the game holding the hand of his shivering kid who couldn’t have been more than 5/6 years old.
December 8th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Thanks for your comments and analysis. I believe you to be a sincere husker even if you did leave 3 minutes early… I just wanted to add a couple things to your points, specifically 2 and 4.
On number 2 , ya gotta believe after OU watched the tape of the CU game, where Bill used every trick play in the book to beat a 2-9 CU team, they knew this was coming. They wasted no time in letting us know they wouldn’t put up with any tricks. It is what folks have been saying for some time, Great Teams may use trick plays, but , they do not depend on them as Bill has this year.
On number 4 , you could look at the 2 plays going the other way or, you could take OU’s view, if NU hadn’t gotten an interception to set up their only score, and, they hadn’t gotten a offensive penalty at just the right time to nullify a fumbe ran back for a touchdown, the score could have been 28-0…
Ou’s defense was good and applied pressure all night when they had to. By contrast the NU defensive backfield leaked terribly all night. The offensive yardage was somewhat close with NU having a little more, OU just had the ability to make the play when it counted.
December 8th, 2006 at 2:13 pm
Fair enough on #4, no matter how you look at it, hindsight is always 20/20.
A sincere Husker: we bought 48 tickets and put together our own bus trip. Clearly I’m a Husker fan
December 11th, 2006 at 7:53 am
Neither of you has admitted that OU was on that day, and is plainly a BETTER TEAM than the Huskers, hands down. The Sooners are a top 10 team, and deservedly so. OU also plays in a highly competitive Big 12 South with a number of quality teams that render NU’s “Big 12 Runner-Up” title a matter of geographics and semantics only. The Texas Longhorns are a far better club, as the final AP and BCS rankings clearly demonstrate.
Nebraska played a number of non-conference patsies and several Big 12 North patsies, and they still may finish with 5 losses, which is laughable. NU is by far the lowest ranked (and losingest) BCS Bowl participant, and their past NCAA Football Program status (which has been made a mockery of by its current coaching staff) is the only reason the Cotton Bowl came calling. WAR EAGLE!
February 8th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
When i was down there, i think i saw a better sign than “Any Body Cold?” Heres the great sign that i saw…..
“Cant spell c_ck s_ckers without OU!”
good sign?