Return of the Blackshirts as Huskers party in Manhattan to the tune of 56 to 28

Yes a few things have changed in Lincoln since my last article, I do apologize for not getting an update in last week, but time just didn't allow it. To address the first part of my headline, yes Bo did finally bring back the Blackshirts to the defense. On Tuesday, after team meeting were dismissed and practice was to begin 11 players opened their lockers to a SURPRISE, a practice Blackshirt jersey was hanging there and on Saturday it appeared to make a little difference in their play. First off, senior starting linebacker Cody Glenn was suspended that same day for unspecified violations of team rules, and Pelini was not forthcoming in regards to what the actual violation was and ended the conversation at that point, stating that no further mention of it would be coming. So here we were on Saturday without two starting linebackers (Phillip Dillard missed his second consecutive game with a severely sprained ankle) and on the road again. However just as he did last season, Joe Ganz showed that he really likes playing against K-State as he racked up 345 yards of total offense, including a career best 95 yards rushing and two touchdowns, both in the 4th quarter on read option plays. Because of his play, Ganz was named the Big 12 offensive player of the week. Ganz also broke the team record for total offense and passes completed and has a chance to break the season total yards passing record against Colorado in two weeks. The defense will more than likely keep those Blackshirts at least one more week as they held K-State to 59 yards rushing and 247 yards of total offense and 14 points (2 returns, one interception and one kick-off return accounted for the other 14 points), although I wouldn't be jumping up and down at this point as K-State appears to have gone the way of Iowa State since Bill Snyder left the program and has a long way to go to get back to any level of respectability. That being said, the defensive line was once again impressive with 4 sacks and a constant pressure on Freeman and company the entire game. Another big highlight of this game was the running game. In addition to Ganz's 95 yards, the running back by committee produced 340 yards on 53 carries (reminds me of Tom's teams in the 90's) an impressive 6.4 yard per carry, but we still have not played a complete 4 quarters of football. After going off to the tune of 35 points in the first half, the Huskers sputtered in the 3rd quarter, before putting the game away in the fourth. Sophomore Roy Helu Jr. appears to be the real deal at running back gaining 72 yards on only 13 carries including a 24 yard touchdown that reminded folks of a running back named Rozier. As this season goes on, we are starting to see more and more of Bo's stamp being placed on this team, his attitude, and his zeal is really showing up on this team. A bigger factor that I haven't seen in 4 years, is that there a comradely where the players on both sides of the ball are truly pulling and routing for each other. Players are high-fiving each out on the sidelines and on the field after plays are made, that zeal is back and Bo is the one who is responsible for it. I would like to go on the record right now that I believe that Pelini is very deserving of the Big 12 coach of the year award for this season. When you look at the team that he took over last season, and the time that he took it over, to have made a team that is looking at an 8-4 first season with a good bowl bid looming after the mess of last year's 5-7 team was in, it is hard to argue against. Sure it is easy to throw out coaches like Mac Brown and Bob Stoops, not to mention Mike Leach at Texas Tech, but all in all, I believe that they all had much more talent than Pelini had this season, without the benefit of his recruiting class, instead having to rely on the previous coach's talent to win games. But my guess is that Leach will win that reward, but without a doubt Pelini deserves consideration for it. So know we have a bye week coming up, which will allow a few of the "dinged up" players an extra week of recuperating before welcoming in 5-6 (2-5 conference) Colorado on Black Friday. I believe that a win close to this past Saturday's against the Buffalos will earn the Huskers a January 1st date in Jacksonville beating out a very mediocre Notre Dame, which looks to be 7-5 (currently 6-4 with Syracuse and USC left). Well enough speculation at this point, talk to you soon GBR!!