Be sure to avoid I-35W Northbound, after 10PM on Friday evening:

"A nearly 3-mile stretch of major interstate in Burnsville is closing this weekend as part of the expansion of the metro area's automated carpool lane network, state transportation officials said Tuesday.

The closing, from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, will occur on northbound Interstate 35W in Burnsville from where I-35 splits into I-35W and I-35E up to Hwy. 13.

Detours will be posted directing motorists to use northbound Hwy. 77 (Cedar Avenue) to the east."

http://www.startribune.com/local/south/132047188.html

Does anyone know when the announcement for the 2011 game times/TV times will be announced (is there always a set date for this announcement?)?  In what is one of the biggest years in Nebraska football scheduling, I also have an insane amount of weddings to try to plan on/around (none of which being mine, of course!).  I would really appreciate a post (or several) if anyone hears anything about game times in the coming days/weeks/months. I appreciate it.

GBR.

Has anyone heard anything resembling an announcement about the new Big Ten Division names, as well as the new Big Ten logo? According to Delany's words during the original Divisional Announcements on September 1st, further announcements pertaining to official Division names and new logo would be unveiled "within a 90 day time frame." Has anything been said about this since then?

If my OPS math is correct, today would be day 101...

Please. Something. Other. Than. Rumor. Talk.

There has been a lot of talk about whether or not this season should be considered a success and, depending on who you talk to, either side is very capable of producing a compelling argument.  I am not so much concerned with how this season, or the past few seasons under Pelini should be assessed, but more so with what their outcomes have done to the state of the program and the mindset of the fan base.

The past few days have been a rollercoaster of emotions, comparable to the entirety of what we endured during some of the losing seasons under He-who-shall-not-be-named; or the feeling of the heart-breaking losses in national championship games.  In just a few days I have found myself in a heightened state of frustration and confusion about where the program is and the direction it either does or does not seem to be going in. Most of all, I just find myself to be angry.

I’m angry that because of the developments of this season I am actually looking forward to the end of a college football season, something I never thought would EVER happen for me as a Nebraska fan; I’m angry at Beebe and the Big 12; I’m angry that Nebraska’s offense is so dreadful (still) and seems to show no sign of promise outside of good recruits; I’m angry that Nebraska, a team I consider to be the best in the Big 12, lost a close championship game for a second straight year; I’m mad angry Nebraska lost another big game to an OU team, another Big 12 South they were better than;  I’m angry that they lost to Texas earlier in the year; I’m angry that Missouri is ranked higher than Nebraska and will play an Iowa team that NU and their fans wanted to play instead; I’m angry that a 10-3 Nebraska team is being disgraced by having to play a 6-6 UW team that they already throttled once this year and will likely throttle again next season (although, I fear we may lose the bowl game to them—putting a final sh*t stain on this season); I’m angry that there even are rumors that Taylor Martinez and Bo Pelini may be leaving the program; I’m angry at Husker fans for being so desperate to win that they openly fear seemingly ridiculous rumors and speculation; I’m mad that “The Greatest Fans” are entirely overly critical of a FRESHMAN quarterback;  I’m angry that Husker players and fans are left with no choice but to harbor bad feelings and ill will as they enter into a new conference and a promising new beginning.

In all my years of being a Nebraska football fan I have dealt with heartbreak and frustration over good teams and bad ones—emotions very common to most highly devoted fan bases, but I have never felt a sense of anger and bitterness like I do at the end of this season.

Sure, there are so many questions about how the team will prepare itself for what will surely be one hell of a first season in a highly competitive Big Ten conference: How will the offense find a way to fix its very obvious flaws? Will firing Watson and hiring someone new really fix our problems?  Will the defense be able to adjust to fill key holes and adjust to the power-run game which is so prominent in the Big Ten? These thoughts are all important to consider going into next season, but what about questions concerning how the coaches, players, and fans will recover from what has been an almost devastating ride over the past two years?  How will Husker Nation recover from the scars of the past two seasons?  How will that translate when adjusting to a new conference with a different attitude?  Will the move to a the Big Ten wash away the bad taste of the Big 12 and the final years there, or will that not be enough?

I’m not really looking to answer any of these questions, but more-so throwing them out there in order to hear what others have to say because, for me, this is all too unfamiliar—which is kind of scary. I guess you can call it “Husker Therapy…”

I’m sure we could all use some.

I will be making the trek down to Dallas for the game and I am hoping to find where the majority of Husker fans will be partying on Friday and Saturday (hopefully) nights.  When in Seattle earlier this season Husker Nation basically took over Downtown Seattle, and I would anticipate something similar happening this weekend in Dallas.  For those of you who went to the game last year, where did Husker fans gather to party? Are there any Husker bars in the Dallas/Arlington area?  What's the tailgating situation like for Saturday?

Obviously we expect a great turnout, so where will you be Husker Nation?

GBR