The Lincoln Journal Star is running an article, published today, on recruiting.

Bo Pelini has been Nebraska’s coach for just 22 days now, but he’s already found his first challenge. Last week, over a two-day period, the Huskers were hit with five decommitments. By week’s end, NU was down to 15 oral commitments.

Seeing that Nebraska is in transition, other schools have been quick to raid NU’s cabinet, with Colorado leading the chase. The Buffs could potentially end up with four players who were once committed to the Huskers, which in part explains the recent dose of hysteria gripping some Nebraska fans.

Hysteria? I don’t get it. If players aren’t totally obsessed about playing football for Nebraska, then why would we want them here?

Who knows what kind of weak pitches Loserhan made these kids who stepped off. The kind of kid who wants to play for Pelini is a tough kid. I’m sure some toughs would have come in under Loserhan (it’s the nature of football, after all), but I’m also confident some prima donnas would have come in, and there’s no room for that in Lincoln. In fact, if there are any attitude problems on the roster now, I don’t give them long before they’re found out by the new staff.

Box Score  via huskers.com

Nebraska continued it’s dominating way on defense Saturday, pummeling North Carolina Central University 71-28, before 7100 fans at the Devaney Center.  Records that were broken or tied include:

• 8 points by NCCU in the first half is a Devaney Center record and a Big 12 record. 
• NCCU had only 2 field goals in the first half and 9 for the game, both tying Big 12 records.
• 19.6 percent shooting for the game is a Devaney Center opponent’s record low.

Nebraska players sharing in the success of the game were: Sek Henry 15 points (season high) 6 rebounds (career high),  Alecs Maric 4 steals (ties career high) and walk-ons  Ben Nelson, Nick Krenk, Cole Solomon and Andrew Wicklund getting some playing time. 

The Huskers finished the game shooting 58% and a whopping 53 percent from beyond the arc.  One impressive stat is hitting on 85 percent of their free-throws and  considering they have averaged around 70 percent this year, saying it’s an improvement, is an understatement.

Other than Sek Henry,  Alecs Maric cracked double digits with 10 points in only 14 minutes, but the Huskers received quality minutes from back-ups and walk-ons who all found a way to score and make this a record breaking night.  Here is what Doc Sadler has to say about it:

I told our team going into the game, the schedule (the Eagles) have had and the teams that they have played, I have been so impressed in the films. Even tonight when the score got the way it was, (I was impressed) how hard they continue to play. That is a credit to their coaches and players. They have been dealt a difficult hand, but it looks to me like they are not complaining about it. They are going out and giving their best effort. Saying that, I was happy with our team. The only thing that was disappointing was turnovers. We got lazy with the basketball and tried to make things happen a little bit too quick. I really like our teams focus right now. I have played a lot of lineups. I played a different one tonight. I will probably play a different one the next two games. It won’t be the same to kind of get everybody used to playing with different people. I have got a pretty good idea when we start in league play what it is going to be, but these next two games you will see some changes still. I have been pleased with what we have seen. I really wanted to work on some zone tonight, but did not. Offensively, I thought it put us in a situation that we could not do that. I did not want to run the score up any worse than it was. I was pretty pleased.”

Doc Sadler is such a classy guy and I hope Nebraska can find a way to keep him here a long, long time.  Nothing will compliment this school’s  football tradition better than a successful basketball program and I feel we have the right guy in Doc to get that done.        GREAT GAME HUSKERS!!!!!

Mitch Sherman of the Omaha World Herald went to Youngstown, Ohio to learn more about Bo Pelini. His story starts off with the expected steel town history, but centers on Pelini’s high school, Cardinal Mooney. Mooney–also the alma mater of the Stoops brothers–helped shape the character of these big time coaches, and is therefore a natural place to focus.

Don Bucci, Moooney’s 74-year-old retired coach, said he understands Nebraskans’ connection with Bo Pelini.

“I think the people in Nebraska are so used to Tom Osborne,” Bucci said, “not only his success but his way of doing it. I think they equate that type of coaching with Bo. And they’re right.”

There’s a lot more to the story, including speculation that the last spot on the NU coaching staff could be reserved for Kansas assistant Tim Beck, another Mooney graduate.

Assistant coaches do real well for themselves. Real well…

Think about how many people you know who make this kind of loot.

You know what they say, with extraordinary privilege comes heightened responsibility.

[via Omaha World Herald]

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman removed the word “interim” from Tom Osborne’s title. TO has agreed to serve as Nebraska’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics until June 30, 2010.

“I appreciated Tom’s willingness to step in as interim athletic director during a very difficult time for the athletic department,” Perlman said. “It is now beneficial to provide the department with stability in leadership, so it can take full advantage of the progress that already has been made,” Perlman said.

Perlman and Osborne agreed that a search for Osborne’s successor will begin in early 2010 with the intention that Osborne will both assist in the search and help with the transition of a new athletic director.

Osborne, 70, accepted Perlman’s offer to direct the department on an ongoing basis and will continue to work as athletic director under the same terms of his original contract, signed on Oct. 24. Perlman and Osborne finalized the new agreement Tuesday.

[via Huskers.com]

This our report card according to espn.com:

The process: The Cornhuskers won’t be rebuilt overnight, after they suffered through one of the worst seasons in school history under former coach Bill Callahan. The Cornhuskers went 27-22 in Callahan’s four seasons, two of which ended in losing records, which previously hadn’t occurred at Nebraska since 1962. With the Cornhuskers’ struggling like never before, athletic director Steve Pederson — who hired Callahan and gave him a contract extension before the 2007 season — was fired in midseason. Former football coach Tom Osborne, who built the Cornhuskers into one of the sport’s greatest powers, was hired as interim athletic director. Osborne’s task was to evaluate the football program and decide Callahan’s future. Callahan was fired the day after Nebraska lost to Colorado 65-51 to finish the season at 5-7. Osborne interviewed LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini in Baton Rouge, La., the following day. Buffalo coach Turner Gill, a former Cornhuskers quarterback and assistant coach, also was interviewed. Osborne also spoke with Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe about the vacancy. The search was quickly narrowed to Pelini and Gill.
Grade: B

The hire: Pelini has the characteristics Osborne wanted in Nebraska’s next coach: he has a background in defense and understands the culture and expectations at Nebraska. Pelini worked one season as the Cornhuskers’ defensive coordinator under Frank Solich and was the team’s interim coach in the 2003 Alamo Bowl. He worked the last four years as LSU’s defensive coordinator and helped lead the Tigers to the Jan. 7 BCS National Championship Game.
Grade: C

Final analysis: Osborne might have worried too much about hiring a coach with Nebraska ties. A program like Nebraska should have been able to lure a proven head coach.
Overall grade: C+

I don’t necessarily disagree with the report card. I just hope espn and I are wrong.

According to rivals.com, two more commits from Nebraska’s 2008 recruiting class have fallen off the Husker Radar.  One of those is three  star  weakside defensive end Josh Williams from Denton, TX and he has narrowed his teams to three- Colorado , Kansas, and Missouri.  We already have 2 ends committed in Cameron Meredith and Eric Harper  so I feel it is really no big loss and could free up a scholarship for some areas where we need it more, such as DB or DT.  Also, OT Bryce Givens  decided to go with two,  Texas and Colorado.  Once again, we are stacked at OT already with the addition of Baker Steinkuhler and Brandon Thompson not to mention Slausen, Burkes, Williams, D.J. Jones, and Marcel Jones.  We could use that somewhere better.  The area of concern, however, is Simi Kuli.  According to rivals, Kuli took a visit to Oregon St. and was very very impressed.   I am lost on this one.  I thought for sure Simi committed to Nebraska knowing full well Bo Pelini would be his coach and that he was a rock solid commit.  In this day and age where is doesn’t mean jack until you sign, I guess we will just have to wait and see.  Is it Signing Day yet?

You can count “Mr. Rock Solid yeah I am 100% committed to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln”  Doug Rippy in this equation too.  I’m not being mean to him.  He was on 1620 the Zone professing his love for Nebraska just last week. 

I am not so caught up on recruiting either.  Outside of Givens, Jonas Gray, and Blaine Gabbert, these are all blue collar 2-3 star kind of guys.  The film doesn’t lie about how athletic some of these players we are losing are.  I am sure we will get people to take their place but it is disturbing that Nebraska cannot hold onto these commits.  This is NEBRASKA!  Not KU or Colorado, or Missouri.  In this day of age when coaches sign contracts are proclaim their love for the university and then 5 months later bolt, it is starting to become too commonplace for a coach or recruit to “de-commit” themselves.  Here is a breakthrough idea that you footballers might want to try.  Don’t commit.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Stop blowing smoke up people’s behinds and take a stand on something.

Simi Kuli is off Nebraska’s list and so is Will (born and raised in..) Compton.  This is starting to be annoying, however, I hold out hope for a mid-late January push.  After BO! doesn’t let the OSU score any points and his name is mentioned every 5 seconds, I believe  recruits will be easier to get.

NEBRASKA WINS 88-79!!!!!

On Saturday, Nebraska did what many thought was unthinkable.  Play defense and Run and Gun.  I never thought this game would be won by Nebraska the way Oregon kept hitting 3’s at will, but with Tenacious D (My Pick was Destiny!) and an all out effort from the entire squad, they prevailed.   HOLY COW!!  I simply cannot remember a more exciting basketball game in my life!  The ups and downs of this one were a cardiologist’s nightmare with 10 lead changes and 5 ties.  This is not to mention the huskers hot start to lead 9-0 only to have it vanish away in 3 minutes and trail 14-13.  Everytime Nebraska would go on a run, Oregon would answer with hot 3 point shooting.  Guard Malik  Hairston was a perfect 5-5 from downtown and Tajuan Porter was 7-15.  It seemed whenever they needed a three, they got it.  None was more bigger than the one Porter sank with 9 seconds left on the clock.  Down 74-71, Porter lofted one up from right of the key.  He pulled a Reggie Miller and stuck  his foot out to catch Strowbridge jumping past him.    A foul was called and instantly in my mind I said ” well he has to make all 3″ and then the rainbow 3 went down.  I can’t say what I said then.  Porter, a 70% FT shooter went to the line and missed the shot.  Nebraska put the ball in play and raced down the court much to my dismay.  I thought a time out and a regroup would’ve been perfect in this situation.  Let’s get a play in and hopefully an open look at the basket.  But, just like in the Western Kentucky game, we made a bad decision and Harley took an off balanced shot at the key and put up brick off the backboard.

OVERTIME

I’m not gonna lie, Nebraska played with great heart all day long, but when everything was going Oregon’s way and overtime was forced I thought our chances of victory in a 5 minute shoot out were slim especially since Ade Dagunduro fouled out with 2 minutes left in regulation.  However, unlike the WKU overtime, our boys jumped on them offensively and pressured Oregon into some difficult shots.  Ryan Anderson played lights out in overtime.  Hitting clutch free-throws and coming up big with a couple of steals.  Nebraska held Oregon scoreless for 4 minutes of overtime and the Huskers iced it with free-throws down the stretch.  Just thinking about it now I am still getting excited!

The Huskers led Oregon in almost every category with the only exception being rebounds.  They finished the game with ONLY 7 turnovers compared with 20 assists for a 2.5-1 ratio (REDTILDEAD).  To see the final box score, click here at huskers.com

I thought Ryan Anderson was the HUSKERZONE Player of the Game.  His defense all game long was great with 4 steals.  He finished with a season high 21 points, shot 60% from 3pt land and was a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe.  It just seemed whenever Nebraska needed a big 3, he hit it.  Aleks Maric had the HUSKERZONE Play of the Game when with 30 seconds left HE HIT…. 2 clutch free throws to bring Nebraska’s lead to 74-71 forcing the Ducks to hit a 3 to tie in regulation.   The rest is history and MAN what a GAME!!!

“First of all, I can’t say enough about this team as far as competing. They had a couple of chances when things didn’t go the way we’d like. This team hasn’t had very many opportunities, but at the same time, it hasn’t had a lot of great things happen for it. I thought for them just to continue to compete when maybe we missed some easy shots, maybe we missed some free throws when the game was tight, I think that shows a lot for the character of these guys not having a lot to draw from……..  With 20 seconds to go, I thought we did an excellent job of switching out on (sophomore guard Tajuan) Porter, but about the fifth time he went off the ball screen, we didn’t make the switch, and being the great player he is, he hit a 3. We were fortunate that he didn’t make the free throw and we got it into overtime. Saying that, I never thought, going into the game, that if it got this high-scoring, then I didn’t know if we could win it, because that’s what they like to do. But that shows you what I know.”

Doc Sadler

Oh, and one last thing.  Since I am 2 for 2 on predictions, I would like to make a few more.  National Championship for football within 3 years.  I will hit the Powerball soon, and just for Ed and Count, peace in the Middle East.

First and foremost, I must give all praise and thanks to Forever rED.  Without him, this wouldn’t be possible. 

According to chicagosports.com, Corey McKeon is going to miss us here in Nebraska.  :-(    Well, all I can say is, I will miss Freshman and Sophomore Corey too!  and maybe half… ok 2/3’s of Junior Corey.

“It’s unfortunate but I gave it my all and so did all of my teammates,” said McKeon, who started at linebacker for the Cornhuskers in each of his last three seasons. “As much as I’d like to be playing, I’m fortunate to have a chance to play at the next level.”

“Like that time during the Okie State game when I could’ve tackled that guy out of bounds and instead I tapped him and said “Your It” right before he scored.”

McKeon on The Hula Bowl:

“It will be a lot of fun to play with some of the guys you’ve played against during your career,” McKeon said. “It’s like a vacation with a little work mixed in. I’m fortunate to be playing there because it gets some scouts watching me — it’s a good way to continue on.”

Does that sound sooooo like last year’s defense to anyone else?  I’d also like to take this time to forewarn all females of drinking age that CM is coming to a bar near Honolulu soon.  Does the Dog still bounty hunt?

And finally, like we haven’t heard it before:

“It was a great experience being here for these five years,” McKeon said. “The tradition here is so special and the expectations are really high. The fans love you one minute and hate you the next.”

Yeah, you’re right Corey.  We do.

Just for Forever Red.  This from rivals.com

“Yes sir, Nebraska contacted me Sunday,” Renfree confirmed to HuskersIllustrated.com. “Coach (Shawn) Watson called me and was just talking about their offense, and about how my year went and stuff like that. He also (verbally) offered me, that was about it.”

Renfree, is Rivals 3 star QB recruit Sean Renfree of Scottsdale, AZ Notre Dame Prep. I’m not a recruiting guru and really don’t look at the stars, however, Renfree has offers from Arizona State, Oregon State, and Boise State among others. In addition, Tennessee has also shown interest.

The Huskers have also offered a scholarship to quarterback Tyler Wilson of Greenwood, Ark. Wilson is committed to Tulsa and has offers from Missouri, Kansas, Arizona, Hawaii and Alabama.

It’s good to see the new staff has hit the ground running.  It’s also interesting that Watson is the Coach recruiting these two QBs.