Is there a more exciting time than fall camp? Yes, obviously game day has it beat for pure excitement, but what I'm referring to is the uncertainty, the unknown variables that we have yet to see play out on fall Saturdays that make the difference between an 8 wins or 11. From a player's perspective, few things in life can compare to two-a-days. You get to hang out with your best friends from 7 AM to 10 PM, and all you have to do is play, talk, and sleep football. No class, no stupid inconveniences, just football. All around the country, teams gather at their respective campuses and open a new chapter in the history of their school. Whether it be at a tradition-laden program such as Nebraska or Oklahoma, a new power like Louisville, or a team on the verge of a potential breakthrough (USF), everybody is undefeated and the season holds nothing but possibilities. A national championship? It could happen. Nothing is out of the question right now, which is why fall camp is so intoxicating. Complaints have yet to surface, and everybody is counting down the days until kickoff.
That especially applies to the Huskers, who face perhaps the most important season in the history of their program. While that may seem a like a over-dramatic proclamation, I think it rings true. Bill Callahan, entering his 4th year at Nebraska, faces a salivating and impatient fan base that expects, at worst, a Big XII championship and a BCS bowl. With the talent that he and his staff have brought in, that is not an unrealistic goal. Unfortunately for the Huskers, they face a daunting schedule on top of having to replace their entire defensive line and the Big XII Offensive Player of the Year.
But it matters not. Now is not the time for worrying. Now is the time for hope. For unbound optimism, for dreams of Keller-to-Purify touchdown calls, and for national title aspirations. It's time to Restore the Order.
I'll be posting throughout camp, and a Big Red Roundtable is in the works, so look for that in the next week or so.
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