Thank You Seniors

It wasn't supposed to end like this. This group of kids was supposed to come in and alter the landscape of Husker football. To take them the program out of the dark ages of the option football and usher in a new era for one of the most powerful schools in the country. Instead, this crop of hard-working kids now faces their senior day mired in what has become the worst season in Husker football history. There might be more losses in previous years if you go back far enough, but for pure ineptitude, none can match the current Husker squad. But this weekend, let's not think about that. Let's not worry about the lame-duck coaching staff and their inability to earn their paychecks. Instead, let's send this group of seniors out with a farewell befitting a group of guys who have sacrificed years of their life to a program in it's most tumultuous time.

Years from now when we look back, we'll remember the Callahan era as a trainwreck of historic proportions, a four-year hiccup in a four-decade run of relative dominance. But it is important that we remember the contributions of these seniors and the good memories that they have provided us over the years, even if they didn't always result in the wins we have wanted.

I'll always remember the infinite potential of Mo Purify and the inability of this staff to properly utilize his talents. The great game against Kansas last week shows what he is capable of if given some downfield chances, and it's a shame that they didn't make it an integral part of our offensive strategy to showcase his abilities. And if nothing else, we'll always have his 63 yard catch-and-run against Texas and his game-winner against A&M last year. Through all his tough times and personal tragedy, Mo has been a warrior for this Nebraska squad, and I'm going to sincerely miss him.

I'll always remember Sam Keller, the kid that was supposed to take us to the next level but instead gutted out a season with no defensive support and an anemic running game. A guy that was perceived to be a hired gun, the sight of him crying after the his injury at the Texas game showed just how much this season has taken it's toll on him and just how important it was to him to represent this school. He became our unofficial captain and the spokesman for the rest of the team when it was playing horribly, and I'll always appreciate his contribution to the Big Red.

I'll always remember Octo's game against UT in the snow, and always wonder what he would have done if he'd have been healthy his whole career. It's a shame he had all the injuries, and it's a shame that Cosgrove couldn't find a way to use him better.

I'll always remember Zach Bowman's hardships and how he fought back to get on the field senior year. A great football player, and an even better person.

I'll always remember Corey McKeon's stellar sophomore year and his amazing fall from grace this season. But despite his disappearance, I still am thankful that for that one year he tore it up and brought some pride to the Blackshirts.

Every senior has given a something to this program. Whether it was a remarkably consistent, solid, but unspectacular contribution over four years (Terrence Nunn) or a single season of attempting to carry a team on his back (Keller), we owe these kids our thanks. Our coaches efforts may have fallen short of what we expect, but the same cannot be said for these kids. This Saturday, don't think about the five game losing streak, don't think about the coaching staff on it's way out or which one is on it's way in. Instead, let's show the seniors that their contributions to this program, no matter what the result has been, mean a lot to us, and no matter how cheesy it sounds, that they'll always be Huskers to us. Thanks guys.