Dear Texas, Welcome to the Big 8

Now that Nebraska's football season is almost over (hoping for a date in Shreveport), I've taken a look around the league to see who is having a 'good year' and my eyes land on our orange clad neighbors to the south, UT. The University of Texas (at Austin) stands a good chance of going undefeated this year after hanging half a hundred on Texas Tech (of beautiful Lubbock). My advise to UT fans, don't start buying those plane tickets to Pasadena just yet.

Texas is looking overcome what Nebraska had to face in the 80s and early 90s, being undefeated in a down conference. Even though UT played a gutsy (at the time) game at Ohio State, their schedule is looking pretty pathetic compared to the likes of Virginia Tech. Texas is out of the 'meaty' part of their schedule and looking to the carb laden portion of the year with cupcakes like Baylor and Oklahoma State (who nearly lost to Div 1AA Montana State). Virginia Tech on the other hand is moving into the hefty part of their schedule with the likes of Miami, Boston College and FSU. If they don't lose a game then their stock will surely rise. Texas may find itself on the outside looking in come Rose Bowl time due to strength of schedule considerations.

To make matters worse for Texas they've handily destroyed the only 'good' teams in the Big XII (CU and TT), thus dumping them deep in rankings. Your schedule always looks worse when you destroy your opponents by 30 points or more (sound familiar?).

If U$C, Va Tech and Texa$ all remain undeafted at the end of the year I look for a U$C/Va Tech Rose bowl and a lot of bellyaching from Austin.

Welcome to the Big 8 Texas. You get what you pay for.

--

After posting this I saw the new BCS rankings. Texa$ is number 1. I still stand by my analysis, but now I think if all the unbeatens finish unbeaten it'll be a 'Bama vs. Va Tech Rose bowl.

Texas might play USC in the Fiesta.

Speechless

Today a group of robe clad students walked into my 8:30 am lecture and read the following:

"Mortar Board is a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for distinguished ability and achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. Founded in 1905, the Black Masque Chapter of Mortar Board is a national honor society at the University of Nebraska honoring college seniors. The mortarboard is a symbol of ancient honor and distinction that carries with it grave responsibilities. Each year, Mortar Board hosts the "People Who Inspire" Celebration to honor individuals who encourage and motivate those around them. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Carl Lundstedt has been nominated as a "Person Who Inspires" and will be honored at our upcoming celebration."

...

I thought they were coming in to accept a senior into Mortar Board as they sometimes do. The look on my face must have been priceless.

Snatched...

The Nebraska Cornhuskers faced the highest scoring offense in the land in the Texas Tech Raiders this past week. They took a direct hit in the chin in the first quarter spotting the Raiders 21 points. Then the unimaginable happened. The Nebraska Cornhuskers reached deep down and fought back. They even took a 31 - 27 lead late in the contest, then their luck ran out. A lapse of judgement by a defensive lineman, a half step by a dynamic passing quarterback and Nebraska is in the loss column for the first time this year.

Am I upset? Am I angry? Am I calling for Callahan's head? Nope. I'm really pleased with how the Husker's played Saturday. It showed real character to come back being down 21 points and be a play away from winning. I am disappointed in the loss. I'm not, like my sister, crowing about how Nebraska is 'BACK'. I'm just pleased that the team doesn't fold up and quit. I'm happy that Nebraska is improving.

The game Saturday was a hell of a lot of fun and I'm happy to be a Nebraska fan. I'm hoping that Nebraska can continue to improve and maybe (maybe) run the conference table (there are some real challenges ahead for the team) and maybe get a rematch with Tech in the conference title game. (Yeah, I hope Tech takes out the U. of Texa$.)

Ah...give us a hug now...

Link Enclosed

Now that's just beautiful.

Its a Small World in Nebraska

One time I and my college roommate were at DFW airport and I made the comment that I thought it was weird to see so many people and to not know any of them. My big city roommate thought that was hilarious. Well, here's a story that shows where I get that stuff.

Today at the game I was talking with the guy who has the seats next to me. He's a really nice guy who's fun to watch the games with. I mentioned that I was worried about Nebraska playing Baylor down in 'Wacko'. He says, "Have you ever gone to the Texas Marshall Museum in Waco? Its really cool. I went one time when I was visiting my daughter at this small school she attended, the University of Dallas in Irving." Once I picked my jaw up out of the row in front of us I said, 'You're kidding right? I got my degree from UD." Turns out her freshman year was the year after I had left. Anyway, that was pretty funny we both thought. So after our moving rendition of the Star Spangled Banner I told him about meeting the people in Paris, France who knew where North Loup Nebraska is but had no idea where Beaumont Texas is. He then asks, "Did you go to North Loup/Scotia? Did you know Medburries?" "Sure", I replied, "Wilber was my math teacher." "Oh, my nephew's ex-wife was his youngest daugther Amanda." He then filled me in on what the Medburries are doing.

A couple of weeks earlier at the game I noticed a woman behind me who looked terribly familiar. I finally figured it out. She is the sister of one of my best friends from high school.

77,000 people go to games at memorial stadium. Each week I see lots of people I know, or know people I know. I've heard it said that no matter where you go you can always make a Nebraska connection. Now I believe it.

As for the game? SUPER fun to watch. Although the horrible refs tried their best to cost Nebraska a win, Callahan's team looks a lot better than they have in the past couple of weeks.

I was a fan of overtime until I had to sit and watch my team go into overtime with a real shaky offense.