Welcome to the Husker Monday Marinade. Each week we will take a unique look at the week that was, the week that will be and the opinions that will drive the debate about Nebraska Cornhusker Football. Please feel free to add to the conversation below, share on Facebook and Tweet it!
The irony of the title, Off Week, should not be lost on Nebraska Cornhusker football fans. This week, a collection of short thoughts.
Roby called his shot
Ohio State Cornerback Bradley Roby snatched two interceptions from Husker QB Taylor Martinez last Saturday in the Buckeyes 63-38 win, but the story is that he said it was going to happen. In an article for ESPN’s Buckeye Nation, Roby said he saw an opportunity on game film that would get him his first interception of the year.
“I’ve got to get a pick this game. I already have a couple routes that I’m looking forward to intercept that they run a lot. Hopefully they throw them, and hopefully I’m in the right position. I’ve got to get one this game.” -Bradley Roby prior to the Nebraska game.
Bradley Roby picks Hukers pockets. Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com
Roby even stated after the game that both he and his father had dreams about the game. Roby said “I dreamed about that. I saw it. My dad texted me and was like, ’I had a dream you had a pick six today.’ I was like, ‘Damn, I’m going to get it. I had the same dream.’ When stuff like that happens, it’s crazy. I just wanted to make plays for my team.”
Crazy how that stuff works, indeed. However it makes you wonder if there is a position that exists, in any university, where an intern for the sports information office is trolling the other teams’ media and social media sites for nuggets like this. If the Huskers knew Roby had them pegged, could they or would they have game planned to counter the route jumping? Maybe a rhetorical question. Maybe not.
Bo-lieve or Bo-leave?
My old friend and mentor Chris Burbach wrote an article for the Omaha World-Herald on October 1 stating that Bo Pelini’s approval rating was 78%. That was before the Ohio State game, and I can’t help but be curious if that has changed.
As you all know, I’m behind the staff. Maybe because I try to consider myself a Renaissance Man in a microwave society. I believe in delayed gratification. I believe rookies ought to be given the benefit of the doubt until proven incompetent. I don’t think Bo is incompetent. I believe that he is young, his staff is young and that they will only get better. God forbid we fire him and he later goes on to win a National Championship at say, LSU after Les Miles leaves.
This is not like Billy C, where he was a “proven” coach at the highest level but didn’t relate to N. Ask Kansas how the NFL coach experiment is going so far. But that’s what happens when you go from water (Turner Gill) to oil (Charlie Weis).
The landscape of college football has changed, and the Big Ten itself is in transition. Back when Nebraska ran the option, everyone knew what was coming, and they still couldn’t stop it. The shoe is on the other foot right now with the spread, and Nebraska isn’t the only team having trouble stopping it.
Give Bo time to see if he can bring in the proper talent and develop that talent. Callahan was a salesman, Bo is a coach. We need a staff that can be the happy median. And the players have to execute.
We hold Nebraska’s lore near and dear, but kids coming into college now were in diapers the last time Nebraska was a national power. What they know is the SEC is really really good and Florida, LSU and Bama are hoisting crystal. I’m actually hoping Urban Meyer and folks like Pelini can bring some sexy back to the Big Ten. (There is so much wrong about that sentence, I know.)
The Huskers now must plow through a road that starts at Northwestern Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Lincoln Journal Star.
Forethought
The Big Ten is so strange right now. We assumed at the beginning of the season that Wisconsin would have the inside track on the Leaders Division, given Penn State and Ohio State’s ineligibility. But after Wisconsin’s rocky start to the season, Purdue was looking like the sexy sleeper. But here we are, halfway through the year and that division is status quo. Ohio State, Penn State on top and unavailable, next is Wisconsin, 2-1 and looking like they are turning their season around.
Also not surprising is that Michigan leads the Leaders. But they have company on top with Iowa, fresh off an upset (kinda) against Sparty, followed by Northwestern and Nebraska. The road map is murky, like I-29 last summer. With Northwestern, Michigan and Iowa still on the schedule, not to mention Penn State doesn’t look like an easy W anymore, challenges abound. If Nebraska loses to Northwestern, best case scenario Michigan State beats them. If the Huskers lose to Michigan, we become Ohio State fans and sweat out the season finale rivalry game. If Nebraska loses to Penn State, then we will have let both NQ schools beat us. If Nebraska loses to Iowa … well, lets not think about that.
The easy answer, win out. However, easy is not what we do here in Nebraska and everyone loves a good sweat, right. We’re at half time. Let’s finish strong.
