Jay Walker, with ESPN-Radio affiliate KPEL 1420 travelled to Lincoln with Louisiana Lafayette this past weekend and realized he landed in College Football Nirvana. Stories of well-treated opponents and fans are nothing new to Husker fans as it is the way we operate.

This is my 18th season covering Cajuns football. And, for eight years before that, I had the opportunity to broadcast selected games on TV as well.

I’ve been to nine SEC stadiums. (I’ll go to a tenth next season at Georgia.) I’ve seen the grove at Ole Miss, experienced the Gator Chomp, the Mississippi State cowbells, been a part of Alabama football in both Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. I’ve been called “Tigerbait” in Baton Rouge and experienced some pretty good hospitality in South Carolina.

I’ve said hello to the folks at Illinois and Minnesota. Felt September heat in Tempe, AZ.

Been to Manhattan, Lubbock, Austin, Stillwater and College Station. College Station was probably the best. Folks say “Howdy” when they see you. And they say “welcome.”

Haven’t been to the Horseshoe, the Big House or Happy Valley. Nor have I seen Touchdown Jesus.

But I’ve been to College Football Nirvana.

It’s located in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Everywhere they went, from the hotel, to dinner at Misty’s, nothing but “Welcomes” and “Thanks for coming” comments from our Husker fans. We see the same stories repeated in articles year-after-year from first time visitors and it great to see nothing changes. Jay Walker describes it better than most, and you deserve to go read the full story.

Nebraska improved two spots in the AP poll, moving up to #23. In the USA Today Coaches Poll, Nebraska remained steady at #24.

Elsewhere in the Big 12…

• Texas is #2 in both polls.
• Oklahoma sits at #8 in both.
• Oklahoma State is #14 in the AP, #12 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
• Kansas sits at #18 in AP, #16 in coaches.
• Missouri also makes an appearance at #23 in the coaches poll, but remains unranked in the AP – although vote totals would put them at #26.

If the rankings remain steady, the Huskers will face three ranked opponents in their Big 12 play.

Brian Christopherson of Lincoln Journal Star perfectly captured Saturday’s blowout of Louisiana-Lafayete.

Consecutive sellout No. 300 turned out like so many others in the streak. The Huskers played the hammer, the foe the nail.

While there was plenty of action on the field, and lots to be grateful for in this 55-0 win, Nebraska fans shared the limelight. The team wore throwback uniforms, but so did many of the fans, a fact which helped bring a special feeling to this landmark occasion, 47-years in the making.

As for Nebraska football in 2009, Coach Pelini said, “Now the season starts. Right now. That’s the way we look at it. That’s the way I look at it. It’s time to put the foot on the gas pedal and go because we have a long season ahead of us and a lot of challenges coming up.”

And he’s right. We have a bye week next Saturday. Then Big 12 plays begins on Thursday night, Oct. 8 at Missouri, a place the Huskers haven’t won in eight years. That needs to change and I believe the Huskers are finally ready to make that change, before the nation’s eyes on ESPN.

For the 300th consecutive home sellout, Nebraska rolls out 433 yards of offense in a 55-0 shutout.

-more to come-

Today’s game resulted in a painful ending for Husker fans and the team, who sadly, know a thing or two about painful endings.

When Virginia Tech’s Danny Coale converted on an 81-yard pass play with just seconds remaining on the clock, it knocked the wind out of Husker Nation. Big time. After all, we were on the verge of our first big win in way too long–the last time we beat a top 20 opponent on the road was 1997. That was three head coaches ago.

Our coach now couldn’t believe his eyes. After the big play he removed his headset and chucked it in frustration. After the game, when the press corps asked Bo Pelini about that big play that cost us so dearly, he curtly said, “I don’t know. Did you watch it? You saw what happened. Let’s go to the next question,” Pelini said.

I love the fire in Pelini’s belly as much as the next guy, but the coach needs a primer in how to handle himself and the press. Smart ass comments are not going to get it done, anymore than blown coverage on a crucial drive on the road is going to get it done.

Husker wide receiver Niles Paul had the right answer. “It was like a stab in the chest,” he said.

It was a stab in the chest. This game was stolen from us thanks to two highly improbable last minute plays. And being ripped off hurts, there’s no way around it. Especially, when it could have been prevented, and there’s little doubt this crime could have been prevented.

80-some yards in 40 seconds. That is what it came down to as the Hokies produced 1/3 of their total offense on the touchdown drive that gave Virginia Tech the lead with 21 seconds to play.

More to follow.

Ndamukong Suh is planning to make big plays on Saturday and the Huskers are planning to win—on the road against a top-20 team.

According to Samuel McKewon of Nebraska State Paper:

We’ve spent enough time around the Nebraska defensive tackle to know this: Suh returned for his senior season, in part, to get his degree. Education matters to him. And that’s good.

But he also returned for weeks like this. For games like Virginia Tech. For road trips to Nastytown, known this week as Blacksburg, where 66,000-plus mean-muggers await in Lane Stadium to harass Suh and his teammates.

Suh came back to make big plays in big games. Sacks. Picks. Bulldozer tackles behind the line of scrimmage. On the road. Against one of the best offensive lines on the East Coast.

“I wouldn’t have come back if I didn’t feel like this team has the pieces to go out and win these type of games,” Suh said. “I didn’t come back to be 9-4 again. I came back to be 14-0. That’s the plan.”

That’s right. It matters not what sportswriters say about Nebraska’s chances this year. Suh sees us going 14-0 and so does Bo Pelini. I, for one, wouldn’t have it any other way.