Sunday Post-Mortem

More college football nonsense...

Well, at least it was a nice evening for a game.  By closing time, it was past the bedtime of many a fan and, given the score, heading for home seemed like a wise move for those wanting to go to church on time, and non-groggily, today. 

The game in short.  Nebraska's defense out of position and unable to make a tackle all evening.  Linebackers nowhere in sight.  USC runs rampant through holes large enough that I could have made 100 yards on the evening.

Too bad Callahan didn't keep Solich's former defensive coordinator, Bo Pelini.  Heck, had Pelini been picked over Callahan in the first place things might be a lot more different.  He continues to do good work in his post-Nebraska career, now at highly ranked LSU, and is a rising young star in coaching.

Bill Callahan once again dodgy in his play calling and still having the tendency to lay down when they need to be standing up.  Only a kick in the butt by Carroll got Callahan to actual play out the second quarter.  The "boo birds" in the crowd let Callahan know it too although Carroll had more of an influence on him.  You'd think this was a practice game instead of a chance to bump off the nation's top rated team. 

Only good thing, it didn't suck as badly in that regard as last year's pitiful excuse for a game.   Final score, 49-31, with a lot of those Nebraska points after the USC backups took the field.  Spot on analysis by LA Times columnist gadfly, T.J. Simers below.

Simers, USC Fans Mingle With Sea Of Red Before Big Game - NE StatePaper.com - 15 Sep 07

"'While I expected them all to say 'Huskers, Huskers, Huskers,' Simers said, 'they want you to know where they live is a great place, but they're not really crazy yet about what they're doing with the football program.'  And why's that?  One name, Simers said.  'Across the land, I've found no one likes [Athletic Director] Steve Pederson,' he said. 'I've never met him, don't know anything about him. They think he's arrogant. They want him to have that smirk wiped off his face. Someone suggested plastic surgery.'

And the prairie jury, he said, is still out on Coach Bill Callahan, whose coaching in Nu's 28-10 loss to USC last year so bothered Simers that the columnist did something unusual: He covered the visitor's post-game interview, instead of USC.

It was Simers who challenged Callahan that night for what he now calls a 'gutless' offensive gameplan. And he hasn't forgotten about it. Just last week, he roasted former Husker/current UCLA Offensive Coordinator Jay Norvell for the same thing after the Bruins' 27-17 win over Brigham Young.  'Those coaches rolled over and died (last year),' Simers said. 'That was unbelievable - the mighty Nebraska program playing for a moral victory. A moral defeat is what it was.'"

Sunday Post-Mortem

More college football nonsense...

Well, at least it was a nice evening for a game.  By closing time, it was past the bedtime of many a fan and, given the score, heading for home seemed like a wise move for those wanting to go to church on time, and non-groggily, today. 

The game in short.  Nebraska's defense out of position and unable to make a tackle all evening.  Linebackers nowhere in sight.  USC runs rampant through holes large enough that I could have made 100 yards on the evening.

Too bad Callahan didn't keep Solich's former defensive coordinator, Bo Pelini.  Heck, had Pelini been picked over Callahan in the first place things might be a lot more different.  He continues to do good work in his post-Nebraska career, now at highly ranked LSU, and is a rising young star in coaching.

Bill Callahan once again dodgy in his play calling and still having the tendency to lay down when they need to be standing up.  Only a kick in the butt by Carroll got Callahan to actual play out the second quarter.  The "boo birds" in the crowd let Callahan know it too although Carroll had more of an influence on him.  You'd think this was a practice game instead of a chance to bump off the nation's top rated team. 

Only good thing, it didn't suck as badly in that regard as last year's pitiful excuse for a game.   Final score, 49-31, with a lot of those Nebraska points after the USC backups took the field.  Spot on analysis by LA Times columnist gadfly, T.J. Simers below.

Simers, USC Fans Mingle With Sea Of Red Before Big Game - NE StatePaper.com - 15 Sep 07

"'While I expected them all to say 'Huskers, Huskers, Huskers,' Simers said, 'they want you to know where they live is a great place, but they're not really crazy yet about what they're doing with the football program.'  And why's that?  One name, Simers said.  'Across the land, I've found no one likes [Athletic Director] Steve Pederson,' he said. 'I've never met him, don't know anything about him. They think he's arrogant. They want him to have that smirk wiped off his face. Someone suggested plastic surgery.'

And the prairie jury, he said, is still out on Coach Bill Callahan, whose coaching in Nu's 28-10 loss to USC last year so bothered Simers that the columnist did something unusual: He covered the visitor's post-game interview, instead of USC.

It was Simers who challenged Callahan that night for what he now calls a 'gutless' offensive gameplan. And he hasn't forgotten about it. Just last week, he roasted former Husker/current UCLA Offensive Coordinator Jay Norvell for the same thing after the Bruins' 27-17 win over Brigham Young.  'Those coaches rolled over and died (last year),' Simers said. 'That was unbelievable - the mighty Nebraska program playing for a moral victory. A moral defeat is what it was.'"