The First Saturday of October always bring the true feeling of College football in my opinion; it is usually the weekend of cooler weather and conference openers and if we are lucky we get a dream match-up. That happened this past weekend with the current number 1 North Texas State playing the previous number 1 Florida International. Unfortunately, the game turned into a route and we now have 2 brand new members of the bottom 5.

Number 5 (NR) - Kent State Golden Showers - At 1-5 they make their debut by virtue of a 30-27 loss to the Akron Zips, whose name alone should be bottom 5. Next loss to Ohio who is an equally impressive 1-5, so the loser will most certainly maintain a MAC presence in Bug's bottom 5 as 7 of the 13 teams in this conference have 2 wins or less, including 4 with only a single win.

Number 4 (NR) - SMU ponies - SMU makes it first appearance since week 1, and maybe I was a bit premature in removing them from the bottom 5 the second week of the season with a single win against D-2 Texas State. Since that improbable victory they have reeled off 4 straight losses by an average score of 39-14, including Saturday's 31-17 loss to Central Florida. Next defeat will be at the hands of Tulsa.

Number 3 (3) - Washington Muskies - Went to 0-5 Saturday against Arizona 48-14. Have an off week (oxy-moron?) this week until facing conference foe Oregon State the following week.

Number 2 (3) - Idaho Scandals Impressed us once again this week with a 49-10 loss to Nevada, which helped improve their stake in the bottom 5. Next loss this Saturday to Fresno State.

Number 1 (2) - North Texas State gang green - I am quite sure that Todd Dodge wishes he had stayed in High School at Southlake Carroll. North Texas is now 0-5 after being SPANKED by former number 1 Florida International 42-10. Florida International entered this game ranked dead last in total offense, but exploded for 347 yards. NTS has now allowed 261 points (52 per game) and have yet to lead in any of their 5 games this season. Next humiliation Saturday against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Dropping out this week was last week's #5 Army and of course Florida Internationals.

When you look at the final score (35-30) it appears to have been a close game that maybe could have went either way, right? Well no, not exactly Virginia Tech came into Lincoln on Saturday night and did just about whatever they wanted to do the entire night.

Needed a special teams play to help your team out, well how about a blocked punt on the opening series of downs against the Huskers for a quick 2-0 hole to climb out of. Then throwing an interception on your next position? How about being out-rushed 206 to 55 yards. How about trailing 28-10 through the end of the 3rd quarter, until a touchdown with 4 seconds to go in the quarter gave the faithful a bit of hope?

Does it all sound as abysmal as I write it? Probably worse, and in reality it really wasn't that bad, especially when you consider some of the positives that was learned of the 2006 Nebraska Cornhusker football team. For one, we learned that they will battle and fight you for an entire 60 minutes of football, this team, unlike last years will not quit. It is a team that will make mistakes, but then forget about the mistake and move forward. It was also obvious that this team just can't line up with a 7 man front and jam the ball down an opponent's throat; they just don't have the horses up front yet to do that. They also don't have enough depth on the defensive line to truly shut down an opponent's running game, but it is not from a lack of effort. It could not force a turnover when it was needed, not against a quality team at least.

We did show flashes, at least on our special teams again, with Nate Swift (great name for a return man huh?) going 88 yards for a touchdown on a punt return against arguably one of the best special teams in the county. However we also have a coach, who has passion that actually may have cost us this game; in all probability I doubt it. It occurred late in the 4th quarter with Virginia Tech clinging to a 5 point lead 28-23, and facing a 3rd and 4 from the Huskers 37 yard line. The defense forced Hokie quarterback Tyrod Taylor out of bounds on the 35 yard line. Husker defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, in hot pursuit, was already airborne as Taylor went out of bounds, and he hit Taylor with his hand as they landed. It was incidental contact, but the ACC official threw a flag, and Pelini erupted on the sideline. I can tell you that I have seen 3-4 replays of this play and Suh was actually sliding on the ground when the contact was made.

Instead of facing the prospect of a 52-yard field goal attempt, the Hokies were set-up with a first and 10 from the 11 yard line after the 15 yard late hit penalty and an additional 15 yard unsportsman like penalty on Pelini were marked off. Three plays later, Taylor scored and put the game on ice, despite a late touchdown with 1:32 remaining pushed the score to the final outcome.

Yes Bo's temper might have cost us in this game, but it is this same fire that has turned the defense's attitude around compared to last season. This year's team will not give up or quit during the game. I believe that this will help us more in November, than it will hurt us. From all accounts the team has already moved past this game and are concentrating on Saturday's conference opener, Missouri, who brings the 2nd ranked scoring and total offensive team into Lincoln, where the last time the Tigers have won was back in November 1978 when the Huskers were ranked 2nd in the county.

This will be an interesting chess match with the Tigers in their shotgun spread offense with Heisman front-runner Chase Daniels in the shotgun against Bo and Carl Pelini's defense. I have to be honest here; I just don't believe that the Huskers have enough depth on the defensive side of the ball to pull off this upset. I definitely don't see a 40 point game, but probably more along the lines of 38-24 in favor of Missouri. Upsets do happen though, and don't forget that Missouri is thinking about that 20 year streak. GBR!

As we get later into each season is it always harder to pick these bottom dwellers and the week 4 and 5 area is usually where they will pick up a "W" by playing a D-2 school. It is either that or they are in their first week of conference and luck out and play another sorry assed school like themselves. Well, that is pretty much what happened this week including the bottom 5 upset of the year so far.

Number 5 (NR) - Army black as nights - This marks the first time in 2 years that I have put a military academy into my bottom 5. My main reason is that they just don't operate on the same level as the rest of the school and aren't offering their players the same incentive. Still after losing to Temple, New Hampshire and Akron where else can I put them? Saturday they went into College Station and lost to a poor school by score of 21-17. Next loss Tulane.

Number 4 (1) - Florida International "yellow cats" - To borrow a line from one of my favorite 70's movies, "Just what in the wide, wide world of sports is a goin on here?" The cats, looking weak as ever and being strong for maintaining their number 1 rating all season long, rise and beat down Toledo by score of 35-16. Here's hoping this was just a fluke. However they face a monumental batter to keep from having a 2 GAME WINNING streak as they face North Texas State in Dallas. Wonder if this is being "regionally telivised"?

Number 3 (4) - Washington Muskies - Improved to 0-4 Saturday by losing to Stanford 35-28 and in the process lost their quarterback for the season with a broken thumb. Next loss against Arizona on Saturday.

Number 2 (3) - Idaho Scandals went down to sunny San Diego Saturday and allowed the beautiful city and women to distract them to the tune of 45-17, which is, by the way, very close to their average score so far this season (21-47). Next loss this Saturday to Nevada.

Number 1 (2) - North Texas State gang green - Now, if you are going to rise to the number 1 spot in Bugeater's bottom 5, you have to do it with style. Well losing to Rice on the road by 50 plus point 77-20 will do that. They will have a battle on their hands this Saturday with former number 1 Florida International who will be pissed by their win Saturday in Dallas, WOW!!

Dropping out this week was last week's #5 San Diego State by beating Idaho by double digits.

Well, even though we are currently 3-0 and not on anybody's radar screen speaks volume as to where the Nebraska football program, 4th in the nation in wins in the history of college football is at this point. Make no mistake about it, Saturday night in Lincoln Nebraska we will find out a lot just how much of an impact Bo Pelini has had on the crushed psyche of this football team.

Virginia Tech comes into this game in Lincoln 3-1 including 2-0 on the ACC and with Frank Beamer leading them for the 22nd season. Make no mistake about it, this will be a tough physical game, which is just what the Huskers have been wanting all season long. So far this season the Huskers have faced teams that are more finesse than strength, more run and gun than smash-mouth. Not this Saturday night, the Huskers will face a team that is strong defensively and on special teams, but has struggled on the offensive side of the ball.

Virginia Tech has 2 players who have seen action this season at quarterback. Sophomore Tyrod Taylor, who is 6' 1" and 205 pounds is the more athletic of the 2 rushing for 74 yards per game, but has no touchdown passes and 2 interceptions. Senior Sean Glennon, who is 6'4" and 224 pounds, will also probably see action. Glennon is more experienced and steady, but does not have the big play potential that Taylor does. The Hokies are only averaging 99 yards passing per game V-Tech has 2 good running backs and are averaging 170 yards rushing per game, and their plan will probably be to try to wear the Huskers down by running the ball with freshman Darren Evans (264 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns) and controlling the clock as they average 6-4 and 310 pounds per man from tackle to tackle. The offensive line must control the line of scrimmage if they are to be a factor in this game. However, as mentioned above with a sophomore quarterback and freshman running back they are young and inexperienced.

On the defensive side of the ball V-tech gives up about 320 yards per game, including 143 rushing and plays a straight 4-3 defense. They like to play man on man coverage and this will be the Huskers best bet to exploit with Joe Ganz and company passing the ball. click link to read end of story.....

Okay we all knew that there was going to be some sort of shake-up in my bottom 5 given the fact that last week's BIG game pitted my number 4 team Utah State hosting number 5 Idaho.

Number 5 (NR) - San Diego State - Things were looking good for them after a close 8 point loss to the Golden Domers, but then showed their true colors in being spanked by fellow So Cal neighbor San Jose State by score of 35-10 are off this week until they open up conference play against number 3 powerless Idaho.

Number 4 (NR) - Washington Muskies - Mmm, mmm good? No not really at 0-3 they make their debut into the bottom 5 on the heels of a bye-week after being drubbed the week prior by Oklahoma by the score of 55-14. Face their conference opener against Stanford next Saturday.

I want to apologize for not having a recap of the Huskers Impressive win over New Mexico State 38-7 with the Big Red rolling up an impressive 330 yard rushing; thanks in part to the return of senior right tackle Lydon Murtha. So what we have at this point is a team that is 3-0, off the radar on most national media's screens and looking at a very daunting 3 game stretch upcoming after this bye week.

It was almost at this same point last season (Sept 15th) when faced with a season defining game against USC, which exposed those Huskers as to what they were and began a 7-game stretch, through the end of October where we went 2-5 and brought the end of the Pederson/Callahan era, brought back Dr. Tom and in turn fan favorite Bo Pelini as the head coach. Is the team better now with the Osborne/Pelini tandem than it was last year? That is a very good question.

First off it was obvious that Osborne was not, at any time worried about losing his job as athletic director by who he decided to hire as his head coach. If Osborne had been, he probably would have went more for someone like Paul Johnson, who ran the wishbone at Navy or Jim Grobe at Wake Forrest, who has a very established reputation as a very good college head coach. But in my opinion, Pelini was the best choice for the program at the time and will do a great job over the next few years in restoring the pride and reputation of Husker football.

Pelini's first great decision was in retaining offensive coach Shawn Watson and letting him have a lot of control over the offense. It is also quite clear that Bo and Carl Pelini can flat out coach defense. While it can be argued the defense was a place where any improvement at all would be easy to do when you look at the train wreck that was last season. No it is more than just the improvement in the defensive numbers; it is also about the player's attitude, their mental outlook that is different. The Pelini's have taken this shell of a defense and given it a purpose, an identity of its own; they are now a physical team on this side of the ball.

Look at some of the numbers after just 3 games. So far the defense has produced a combined total of 15 sacks/turnovers, last season's 12 game total was 24, they are also holding teams to just 80 yards per game rushing, and while that total will probably increase as we move into Big 12 play, it will not approach the 232 yards per game given up last year. I have some more telling numbers regarding the improvement over last season. Last year the defense had only 5 stops out of 61 red-zone chances (92%). So far this season they have held opponents to 57% (8 out of 14) on trips inside the 20 yard line.

This improvement was never more evident than in Saturday's New Mexico State game where there was a sequence in the 3rd-4th quarters where New Mexico State had 10 plays from the 13 yard line and failed to score despite 2 pass interference calls and the ball at the 2-yard line. Instead we forced the quarterback into a bad decision and intercepted the ball.

Once again this week Pelini was asked about the awarding of the "Blackshirts" to the defense and as has been the case all season Pelini response was the same; "Maybe sometime," the coach said. "I'm not sure when. To be honest with you, that's the furthest thing from my mind right now. Time will tell."

If you can force turnovers and ball up against the run, you can compete with anyone and that alone makes this a better team than last season's, which over the last 2 months did not compete with anyone. However just competing will not get you wins over teams like Virginia Tech, Missouri, and Texas Tech in three straight games. A 2-1 record against those 3 might just get you back into the top 25 though as it would bring a 5-1 record with 2 wins against top 25 programs.

I really do believe that 2 wins are possible, given the current mental state of this team. I believe that they will beat Virginia Tech, next Saturday and the team will definitely be fired up for Missouri the following week as the Big 12 opener; especially after what happened last season against them (41-6 blowout). But I would then look for a let-down against Texas Tech, but I am getting ahead of myself at this point with this team. Predictions are still hard to do with this team, other than that they will play hard and not give up. GBR folks!

I am a little out of sorts this week as I had to go through a beating of sorts myself with Hurricane Ike. We all made it though just fine, but am now in day 5 with no power, similar to my five teams listed below, so I am ranking myself as number 6 this week. This week's BIG game pits my number 4 team Utah State hosting number 5 Idaho.

Number 5 (5) - Idaho scandals, After picking up their first win in 2 seasons against in state D-2 Idaho State, Idaho got back to earth with a 51-28 loss to Western Michigan. Now armed with an 18 game losing streak against D-1 schools, they go on the road again Utah State in both schools WAC conference opener. Wonder where I can watch this game?

Number 4 (4) - Utah State Maggies - An impressive 58-10 loss to Utah, including a yardage difference of 445-116 is a performance that normally should have resulted in moving up, but when none of the bottom 5 depressed, they remain at number 4. Next loss to Idaho?

Number 3 (3) - UAB suits retained their status with a rather dull loss to Tennessee in Knoxville by the score of 35-3. They maintained their #117 total defense ranking by allowing Tennessee 548 yard. Next loss, against D-2 Alabama State at home.

Number 2 (2) - North Texas State gang green - WOW went to Baton Rouge for a nice crawfish boil to the tune of 41-3. So far NTS impresses us with a 12-47 average score. Next loss in 2 weeks against Rice.

Number 1 (1) - Florida International "yellow cats" - Not much to say other than you have to win to lose the top-spot and a "bye-week" doesn't count. Next humiliation will be at home against South Florida.

Well that's about it for this week, special mention should be given to the two BIG-10 giants ohio state and Michigan who both showed us potential abilities with a combined loss of 70-20 to Notre Dame and USC. See y'all next week.

This was supposed to be the coming out game, the one that established the Pelini Husker as a better than average team. The game that would make Husker nation forgets about the last four years. But all the game did was to make everyone queasier than before. The final score, 35-12 was much closer than the number indicated; in fact it was only---12 Huskers with a little more than 12 minutes remaining.

That was when Niles Paul, a sophomore from Omaha North fielded a kick on his own 15 yard line. Approximately 20 seconds later Paul was in the end zone, the Huskers had some breathing room and jolted the crowd out of its funk on a grey and overcast day in Lincoln. Up to that point the NU offense mustered just one scoring drive in the first 45 minutes, bumbling and fumbling against a team that came in nearly a four-touchdown underdog. There was one particularly embarrassing sequence when Nebraska had three false-start penalties in a row.

In addition to that, one play that was typical of the entire afternoon happened at the end of the 3rd quarter. With a---9 lead and the ball at mid-field, Joe Ganz audibled to an option play out of the shot-gun. It was the perfect call against the defense. Ganz pitched to Quentin Castille, with big yardage in sight, possibly a touchdown. Castille fumbled. San Jose State recovered. Typical happening for the day, case in point; the Huskers had more penalty yards (103) than rushing 99, and if not for a defensive interception by lineman Ndamukong Suh we would have trailed at half-time. Topping all this off senior defensive end Barry Turner was lost for the season with a broken leg making an already thin defensive line even worse. A glimmer spot though was Pierre Allen, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound sophomore who replaced Turner in the starting lineup for the game. Allen had a strong game Saturday, recording 10 tackles, three of them for losses.

The defense from all accounts, seems to be rounding into "Pelini" type play. They only gave up 132 yards in the second half, with 55 of those yards coming on a single pass play in the 4th quarter. When asked about the defense Pelini responded "We needed to play better. We were very sloppy in the first half. I mean, when you talk about penalties, we had a multitude of errors in the first half," Pelini said. "Tackling was sloppy in the first half. We were our own worst enemy in that first half. We have to play better and we have to coach better to start the football game."

Next up is New Mexico State, who because of weather problems will be playing their opening game of the season Saturday. Don't really expect a cake-walk though, because with new defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn the Lobos play a 3-3-5 scheme that relies on small quick players that specialize in stopping the run, the one thing that has been very poor for the Huskers this season. Dunn's defense emphasizes, well, the kitchen sink: Blitzes, stunts, line shifts, max zone coverages, dummy looks, and just general chaos. Joe Ganz called New Mexico State's defense "something I would play against in Madden." After all of this, I have to admit, that while I have been correct in both games so far in regards to who would win, my score prediction has not been in the stadium. I am of course seeing a 3rd win prior to our "off-week", but with a score more along the lines of 28-10. GBR!

Well of course 2 of my bottom 5 cornerstones, Baylor and SMU both mucked it up and won this past Saturday, not to mention Idaho, so I kind of feel like the loser this week. However, just to please JEH45 I have a radar sighting out of South Bend Indiana, where Notre Dame just barely avoided the bottom 5 by squeaking out a "W" against San Diego State 21-13. They host fellow Giant Michigan this Saturday. Now on with the count-down!

Number 5 (1) - Idaho scandals, last week's number 1 team falls 4 spots, but not out of the bottom 5 due to a 42-27 in state win against D-2 Idaho State. Idaho still has a 17 game losing streak against D-1 schools. Have a home date with Western Michigan next.

Number 4 (NR) - Utah State maggies - Gains entrance into the bottom 5 by virtue of a 66-24 loss to Oregon. Next humiliation is against it's instate master Utah.

Number 3 (5) - UAB suits have started their climb to the top spot by being bitch-slapped by fellow wussy Florida Atlantic 49-34. Up next at Tennessee, should be very, very pretty huh?

Number 2 (4) - North Texas State gang green - What can I say as they step up and lose their home opener to Tulsa by 30 56-26. Maybe Coach Todd Dodge should have stayed at Southlake Carroll. Dodge should have his head examined for his schedule. Next loss at LSU, you think?

Number 1 (2) - Florida International "yellow cats" - Back where they belong, without a doubt especially after the way Idaho impressed this week. F.I came out strong to stake their claim as number 1 with a great humiliating loss to Iowa 42-0. Don't think they deserve to be number 1? Well how about in 2 games this season, they are now looking at an 82-10 point differential. Next humiliation will be at home against South Florida in 2 weeks.

Dropping out this week are Baylor and SMU, but just barely. Oh how the weak have risen. See you next week.

If this were a road game my title would have been something along the lines of "Do you know the way to San Jose" in honor of Dion Warwick's 60's hit. But Saturday's game should be a good chance for Pelini and company to work out the kinks in the team leading up to Virginia Tech and the big 12 opener against Missouri the first week in October. After all the Spartans had to go to the final minutes of their first game to beat D-2 UC-Davis 13-10 this past Saturday, while the Huskers man-handled Western Michigan by 23 points and are favored by 27.

In this matchup, the Spartans will rely on a passing game, possibly rotating 3 different quarterbacks in the game as they did in their opener, although they might stick with Junior Kyle Reed, who came off the bench to go---18 and throw 2 touchdowns as well as rushing for 28 yards, which was more than half of the teams total of 42 yards. They gained a total of 273 yards in their first game, while giving up 254, which is a good number, until you really consider the opponent. Bottom line though is that this game should not be much of a challenge at all, but more of a tune-up and practice for the team against a spread offense.

San Jose will be fast and diverse. They will try to confuse the Huskers with miss-direction, running some no-huddle offense and try to create some big plays on both sides of the ball. It would be wrong to call SJSU a "junk ball" team necessarily, but they would prefer to drag Nebraska into a game that fits their pace, which is, to say make it be a WAC type game. The Huskers will need to be watchful of this and not fall into this trap. Instead, Watson should again take what the defense will give them, rotate players and wear San Jose down. If the Spartans load the box with 7 players as Western Michigan did last week, then Watson and Ganz will be more than happy to play pitch-and catch and go for the jugular. I would like to see the Huskers attempt to pound the rock into the middle of the defense, but if the line is stacked then go for the pass and pile up the points.

I believe that the Huskers defense (still no Blackshirts) will be able to overpower the Spartans smaller offense that allowed 4 sacks and threw 2 interceptions last week. With no seniors on their offensive line and no real depth, look for the Pelini brothers to come hard and strong early and often in this one, it could get ugly real quick. I see an easy win, with backups getting some good exposure in a 56-14 victory. GBR!

Well after watching the opening weeks action, I have revised my pre-season bottom 5 rankings somewhat, which were based more on history rather than last season's performances. So I now present to you the first weeks ranking with a new feature, their previous week's ranking in parenthesis. So I now open the trash can for this week's honorees.

Number 5 - Tie Baylor Bares (5) and UAB Suits (3) - The Bares proved that even with robbing the University of Houston for Art Briles it did not help matters as they welcomed Wake Forrest into Waco and promptly laid on their back to the tune of 41-13, Impressive Art. Next up for the Bares is powerful D-2 Northwestern State in Waco. UAB also started strongly and dropped 2 places due to playing Tulsa way to close in a 45-22 home loss. Next loss for the Blazers will be on the road to powerhouse Florida Atlantic.

Number 4 - North Texas Slime Green - Finished up last season as my number four team and I bring them back at the same spot due to impressive loss on the road to Kansas State 45-6. North Texas was impressive in this game going down 28 zip at half time and then 35 to 0, 1 minute into the 3rd quarter. In fact the Wildcats (5-7 for 2007) scored on 6 of their first 7 possessions. Next loss for the "green' is their home opener to Tulsa.

Number 3 - SMU Donkeys - I don't know how I missed my final number 2 team in my pre-season poll, but they certainly let me know it on Saturday in my own backyard of Houston with an impressive 56-27 loss to perennial powerhouse Rice Owlet's, who are a frequent bottom 5 feeder and in fact this was Rice's first opening conference game win since 2001. SMU's next loss against Texas State.

Number 2 - Florida International - Last season's number 3 team began the 2008 campaign with a resounding 40-10 loss on the road to the Kansas Jayhawks. The Golden Kitties only touchdown came in the second quarter on a 74 yard punt return. They game could have been much worse but Kansas called off the dogs in the 3rd quarter after going up by 30. Next loss for FI is on the road to Iowa.

Number 1 - With a bullet we have the Idaho scandals the team that finished last season as my number 1 team. I should have never dropped them until they showed something, so I consider that a lesson learned. The scandals seem hell bent on keeping this ranking as they un-responded to the challenge of my "slight" by losing to the Arizona Wildcats out in the Tucson desert by the score of 70 to NOTHING! This was the highest-scoring game for the Wildcats since a record 74-0 victory in 1921 over the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy, the school that eventually became UTEP. Next up for Idaho is a scalding to Toledo.

Just on the outside of my bottom 5 looking in we have Utah State and Louisiana Lafayette. Dropping out of the rankings were my pre-season number 1 Duke, who beat D-2 James Madison 31-7 and number 4 Minnesota who pounded Northern Illinois 31-27 who has potential qualifications for the bottom 5. Bug out!

The 2008 season kicked off Saturday night with great expectations and the Bo Pelini lead Huskers did not disappoint with a fairly easy 47-24 victory over the Broncos of Western Michigan. Pelini is now 2-0 with both wins coming against teams from Michigan. They Huskers also extended 2 streaks that the previous regime did not destroy in their 4 years here. First off the 290th consecutive sell-out streak is still intact and the nation's longest season opener winning streak of 23 straight games. Notre Dame has the second longest sellout streak at 198 and Florida has the second longest opening streak at 19. But enough with the streaks you want to know about the game.

First off Joe Ganz and the offense pick up right where they left off last season throwing for 345 yard and 4 touchdowns. Ganz now has 4 games of 300 yards or more, most in school history, his ability to roll-out and throw has added a new element to the Huskers attack and his 32 yard run in the game was the longest for a Husker quarterback since Jamal Lord had a 66 yard run in, surprise, Bo Pelini's last game as the Huskers head coach in the Alamo bowl in 2003. I do believe that it is safe to say that Ganz is a big time college quarterback and actually makes you wonder why he only got to see the field when Sam Keller was injured last November. It isn't just the stats Ganz puts up either. It appears that Ganz has a lot of the same qualities that his head coach possesses. They are both extremely confident, bordering on cocky, but guys like to play for them and will step in front of a bus for them if asked. When asked about this Ganz replied "If I come into the huddle and people are bickering at each other, I snap them out of it, it is my huddle, and nobody talks but me".

On the other side of the ball was where all the curiosity was Saturday night. After finishing last season ranked in the 100's in defense this side of the ball had a lot to prove. Let's start with converted 3-year letterman converted I-back to linebacker Cody Glenn. Western Michigan decided to test Glenn from the outset and Glenn did not disappoint. He started the game with a 2-yard tackle for loss and then broke up a pass. By game end, Glenn had 12 tackles, 9 unassisted 2.5 for loss 3 pass breakups and a forced fumble, playing all 72 plays for the game. I think that it is safe to say that Glenn belongs on the defensive side of the ball. When asked about how he did, Glenn said that he would give himself a "D". Let me just say, that if his play was a "D" grade, then I want an entire team playing like that the whole season. The defense forced 2 turnovers in the game, which was double the amount produced during the final 7 games of last season. The defense also only allowed 8 yards rushing. When asked both Monday and Tuesday, when the "Blackshirts" were going to be awarded, Pelini only responded "Blackshirts? Someday," Pelini understands the tradition and they will be handed out, only when he feels that they have been earned and not before, and you can bet that once they are awarded, they can be taken back if the play is not up to the standards required.

Next up is San Jose State, who squeaked by D-2 UC Davis, preview of that game will be later in the week, GBR!

I'mmmmmm Baaaccckk, and so is my Bottom 5 Ranking of the Rankest of the NCAA D-1 College Programs. I had a lot of fun last season doing this particular article so I am certain that the funfest will continue this season as well. So without further delay, I give you my pre season picks for the bottom dwellers for the 2008 season.

Number 5 - Baylor Bares - Finished up last season by going winless in the Big 12 firing their head coach and riding a 9 game slide. Schedule includes revitilized Nebraska and Missouri from the B-12 North along with their southern buddies of Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech and A & M won't lend it self to more than 3 wins again this season.

Number 4 - Minnesota rodents - Went an impressive 1-11 (0-8 Big 10) last season and have pre Big 10 schedule set up nicely with powerhouses such as Northern Illinois (2-10), Bowling Green, and Montana State lined up. a 2-2 record in their first 4 games is needed to prevent an 0 for season.

Number 3 - UAB Suits - Finished at 2-10 with a 6 game streak to bring to this table. Still a very young team with-- true freshmen returning. I don't look for much again 3 wins top, but probably 1-2 wins will be it.

Number 2 - Florida International 1-11. Y'all think this is easy don't you, but yet I don't see anyone else trying it. No this team had the number 1 spot locked up last season with a 23 game losing streak, but then messed it up by beating North Texas to end the season on a HIGH note. Look for another 1-11 season, maybe 2-10.

Number 1 - Notre Dame, no just kiding not in the pre-season poll anyway. Duke Bedevils is the pick here. Finished at 1-11 last season, starting this season with new coach and new offense, to me that spells nothing but gloom and doom. So until there is a major change, I look for another zero or 1 win season.

Teams on the "outside" looking in. UNLV, SMU and Idaho. Well lets get this party started!!!

Well the honeymoon between us fans and Bo Pelini will officially end at 6 PM Saturday, August 30, 2008 in Memorial stadium with the kick-off of the game against the Western Michigan Broncos. Bo has been riding extremely high for the past 7 months with nothing but dreams of his swarming defense bringing back the glory days that disappeared under the previous regime.

Yes for the past half year Bo has done no wrong in the eyes of Husker Nation, because we haven't played a game. Once the game begins, mistakes will happen, wrong plays will be called, wrong substitutions made, mental breakdowns will occur. Bo knows this, he has been around the block before, maybe never as a head coach (sans that 2003 Bowl game), but he has coached in the NFL and as a coordinator in college to understand the situation. I have actually read on some websites where fans are predicting/expecting a shutout Saturday, just on Pelini's reputation alone. Maybe that happens if the defense forces 6-7 turnovers, but I certainly would not put my house on it. This defense will be much faster than last seasons and a lot of people will play. As many as 12 different players will probably see time in the back 7 on the defense. As of Friday morning, still no word if Pelini will award the "Blackshirts" to the defense. I would not be surprised if he waits until after the first game, maybe longer until he sees if they are making the sacrifice necessary to earn that honor.

To me the key to this game and the following 3 games is simple. RUN THE BALL. Play old-school Husker football and pound it 30-40 plays per game. Chew the clock; keep your inexperienced, young defense off the field as much as possible. We have the horses to do so, three returning good running backs in Marlon Lucky, Roy Helu and Quentin Castille plus an offensive line that is a solid 2-deep at each position; remember from last season it wasn't our offense that was a problem. The Huskers will have problems I believe if they get into a basketball up and down the field type game. They may be good enough to win their first 3 games against mid-major type programs, but once they hit Virginia Tech and the Big-12 schedule (leading with Missouri) that will not work.

Bo knows (I keep using that term), that he needs to get his defense some confidence in these early games and the way to do that is to pound the rock, chew the clock wear down the thinner Bronco team so that the first unit is sucking gas and has to put in the backups, where your offense will have a better chance to bust loose on scoring plays, get a lead and make Western Michigan throw the ball, this is where Pelini can cut loose his defense with his blitz packages and create turnovers. The Huskers will not win consistently unless they are running the ball for 200 plus yard per game, I promise you that.

One thing to watch for on Saturday will be clock management. This is the first time a 40-second clock will be used, just like the NFL, where the play clock will start as soon as the previous play ends. Shawn Watson the offensive coordinator will be in the press box calling the plays this season instead of on the sidelines. Watson feels more comfortable in the box, as he can see the field better and make calls based on what he sees. But unlike the NFL, college doesn't have a radio directly to the quarterback's helmet, so Watson will be radioing the plays to the sidelines to the receiver's coach, who will give the play to the backup quarterback who will signal in the play. The coaching staff hopes to accomplish this with 10-12 seconds left on the clock so that Ganz has time to survey the defense and make any adjustments at the line. There could be a few false starts or out of rhythm plays until they get accustom to the different time allowance.

As for the game, I look for the defense to be up, way up for this game, wanting to make amen's for last season. I do believe that the offense will be more efficient and will run for close to 300 yards, while Ganz should pass for about 200. Final outcome; Huskers 33, Broncos 21. GBR!

Well time for all the talking is about over, as fall practice has come to a conclusion and we are now into the first game week of the 2008 Nebraska season with first year head coach and Husker Nation savior Bo Pelini leading the way back to the promise land and our "birth-right" of playing in national championship games. Well maybe not that last part, but Pelini definitely has the masses "Fired up" for this season that is certain. One thing that many of you may not understand, but Pelini was hired to do more than win football games, he was brought here to restore "Husker football". Yes winning in Lincoln is important, but more important is to win the right way, the "Husker" way. It is the shaking of hands at the coffee shop in Columbus Nebraska, or talking Husker football around the water cooler in Cook Nebraska. It is using words such as effort, attitude, or determination. It is about getting the players to buy into the belief that football is more than a game here in Nebraska, it is a way of life, and it is about a stadium that becomes the third largest city in the state on game day. It's also about reenergizing a walk-on program so that those players feel that they are just as important to Husker football as the scholarship payers, by treating them that way. Read the rest of this article at the link as shown.