More Cowbell

From here on out, instead of calling these postings with assorted ramblings and thoughts by a different name every time, they will simply be titled "More Cowbell", in homage to the infamous Saturday Night Live skit starring Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken in which Walken has a fever and the only prescription is, of course, more cowbell. I'd put a video up, but for whatever reason (copyright stuff?), there isn't a copy of the original skit on Youtube, just a bunch of terrible remakes by college kids with too little to do.

So, here we go with the newly-named, inaugural More Cowbell.

Way to go, Bo!

I can't remember the last time I cheered on a team other than the Huskers with the same intensity that I did watching LSU dismantle Ohio State on Monday night. It was satisfying for me for several reasons, the most obvious one being that our head coach was on the sidelines for LSU. I derived nearly as much pleasure, however, from seeing the Big 10 champ get their teeth kicked in for the second year in a row. I'll get back to the Big 10 later in this post, but Bo's night in the spotlight is what I want to talk about first. I can't remember a time when the defensive coordinator of any team was shown on TV more than Bo was on Monday night. Throughout the game (particularly in the 2nd and 3rd quarters when OSU looked as overmatched as a virgin on a date with Jenna Jameson), the analysts repeatedly complimented Bo on his calls. In addition to that, they discussed his new position as NU's coach several times, particularly after his Gatorade bath at the end of the game. While I can't remember what was said verbatim, I do recall it was something along these lines: "What a job by Bo Pelini tonight.....If you're a player at Nebraska, you should be excited to play for this guy the next couple of years, he's going to do a great job up there..."

It continued in the post-game coverage on ESPN, where Lee Corso (who had been critical of coaches pulling double duty) said to Les Miles, "I was wrong (about Pelini) trying to do both jobs, he did an incredible job calling the game tonight." Now, obviously I'm not spot-on with these quotes, but you get the idea. The game could not have gone better for Pelini and NU, as they were the most-mentioned program behind the two teams playing. Aside from the 65-yard run by Wells for the opening score and the 44-yard pass that set up the field goal that gave them a 10-0 lead, the Buckeyes were completely manhandled by the Tiger defense.

What stood out most to me (and this is stuff everybody already knows, but it's different when you actually sit down and watch a game in it's entirety) is that the Tigers NEVER took their foot off the gas, they were always going for the throat. The safety blitz that forced Boeckman to throw his first interception was a thing of beauty, and watching it unfold, I allowed myself to daydream about Thenarse doing it next year on a regular basis. In addition to the great calls, Bo's personnel groupings was something I was encouraged by. With Cosgrove, we'd throw the same guys out there for every situation, no matter what the down and distance or the tendencies of the other team. Last year, come hell or high water, the same unit was going to be out there, no matter how bad they were playing (which most times was......well, let's just say it rhymes with "schmucking berrible"). We won't be seeing that next year. Pelini understands the importance of matching personnel with certain situations and the opposing team's tendencies, whereas Cosgrove apparently was content to bend over and grab his ankles every time his "defense" took the field.

The Big 10 Blows Goats....I have proof..

For those of you who don't know, the above header is a reference to Wayne's World. Obviously, the Big 10 conference doesn't really blow goats.....they just really suck at playing football, that's all. After the dust had settled, the conference posted a 3-5 record in the bowl season, with one of the wins being an unimpressive 51-48 victory by Purdue over Central Michigan. I'll give Michigan credit, they beat a defending national champion with a Heisman winner at QB. The other win was a Penn State defeat of the Aggies, which can hardly be called an accomplishment in light of the fact that A&M had a coaching turnover at the end of the season and was in a state of disarray. The thing that brings me delight is that finally, after a little bit of it last year, the distaste for the conference on a national level has finally reached a fever pitch. Nobody trusts the validity of any of the "good" teams from the conference. Illinois was unmasked as a product of a weak schedule, and Ohio State probably won't get invited back to a national title game for another 10 years after their second embarrassing NC loss in as many years.

And things don't appear to look any rosier for the conference next year either. Michigan lost it's two stud recievers early to the draft, and their quarterback, Ryan Mallett, is transferring after both his OC and position coach both left after the Rodriguez hiring. This is in addition to Henne, Hart, and Long graduating. Of course, that probably won't stop the Wolverines from running roughshod over Northwestern, Minnesota, and the other 1-AA teams they play.....although, after Appalachian State, they probly won't repeat that mistake again...Illinios might be viewed as an up-and-comer, but I still doubt Juice Williams' ability to be a consistent QB.......and the Buckeyes? It depends on how many defenders turn pro, but they have the talent to do well next year, even though everybody will be burned out on them getting their ass kicked in bowl games.

Big 12....Some stumbles, but some strides too.....

Obviously, the Oklahoma loss was disappointing on many levels. In a game they were heavily favored to beat, they were embarrassed in the Fiesta Bowl for the 2nd year in a row. Unlike last year, where the loss was overlooked because of Boise State's Cinderella theatrics, this year's defeat was just a head-scratching embarrassment. I thought that OU's defense could handle White and Slaton, but maybe Reggie Smith being out was more of a factor than anyone could foresee. OU's stumble aside, it was a pretty good bowl season for the conference. Texas Tech came back in dramatic fashion to beat a solid Virginia team, the Longhorns dismantled a 10-2 Arizona State squad, and Okie State beat an overmatched Indiana team.

While those wins were good, even better were the performances by Missouri and Kansas. The Tigers demolished the Darren McFadden-led Arkansas Razorbacks, beating them by 31 points in the Cotton Bowl, while KU completed a 1-loss season in style, beating the ACC champion Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Obviously, this was a banner year for the Big 12 north (despite NU's faceplant), and it should continue next year, as both KU and Mizzou return a the bulk of their starters, including nearly all of their offensive skill players. While that obviously doesn't bode well for Nebraska, at least we will have a coach who might be able to slow them down.

Despite name, Trojans can't protect themselves from everything.....

The condom squad, while enjoying their complimentary media BJ's (They would have won if they were healthy! They're the hottest team in the country!), have got to be worried about the news that Pete Carroll is interested in the Atlanta Falcons head coaching position. It has long been speculated that the USC coach, who possesses the highest winning percentage of any active coach, could be lured back to the League by being offered full control of personnel decisions. Apparently the reeling Falcons are willing to offer him that. The question is, can Carroll leave behind a dream job where the best talent in the country breaks down his door on an annual basis? The Trojans don't even have to recruit, the job gets done for them. To leave it behind for the grind of the NFL (particularly the Falcons) is something I think that Carroll would be hard-pressed to do. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out and if the Trojan "Dynasty" could continue it's run....

Speaking of the "Dynasty", the clock is winding down on the Reggie Bush investigation countdown. A new book, "Tarnished Heisman", is coming out on January 15th, and it reportedly details the illegal benefits that Bush received during his career at USC, benefits that would force USC to possibly forfeit all games that he played in, meaning their 2004 title (the one that Auburn should have at least shared) would be lost, as well as Reggie's Heisman. I for one am waiting for the findings with great anticipation. Who knew that all those USC bandwagon jumpers were actually witnessing a three year losing streak?


Back next week for a look at the recruiting scene and other Husker tidbits....