Check out the cats' Christmas cards- (actually you can click the picture and vote for awesome portraits)

Ndamukong Suh vs. Texas - 2009 Big 12 title game - 2000s: Memorable College Football Performances - Photos - SI.com

Texas was supposed to blast Nebraska and waltz into the BCS title game, but Suh refused to let the Longhorns ascend so easily. Facing double teams and getting held on almost every play, Suh singlehandedly dismantled one of the nation's best offenses. He finished with 12 tackles (seven for loss) and 4.5 sacks in what would have been an all-time upset had officials not used video replay to discover that one second remained on the clock after Texas quarterback Colt McCoy's final throw hit a stadium railing. The Longhorns kicked a field goal as time expired and won 13-12.

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Big Red Today - Suh's stock on the rise

"I can't remember evaluating a defensive tackle with the kind of instincts that you see out of Suh — the interceptions, the forced fumbles, the fumble recoveries," McShay said. "(He's) always around the ball. He's flat-out dominant. There's not a lot of players like him."

He goes on to say that Su will be a "top 5 pick", Wow way to go out on a limb there...

Scout.com: Cavalcade of Whimsy - The Holiday Wish List

What does NU want for Christmas?

Nebraska ... One fewer second and three more feet to the left.

Osborne: Big 12 won't fine, penalize Bo, staff

So I guess you can't be fined for second hand, over-heard conversations.-JLew

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Big Red Today - Huskers jump to No. 14

Griffin and Griner named Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Players of the Week

Kelsey Griffin (Nebraska) and Brittney Griner (Baylor) were named Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Players of the Week by a media voting panel for games from Dec. 14-20. Griffin (player) earned her sixth career award while Griner (freshman) was recognized for the third time this season.

More accolades for Griffin. Keep 'em coming! - JJ

Nebraska Starts at 48th! - Collegiate Baseball

Nebraska starts at 48th in the college baseball preseason poll from Collegiate Baseball. Considering the season we had last year, that's not actually half bad. - JJ

Yayyyy baseball season is coming! Expect Wed afternoon open threads people.- JLew

Joe McKnight doesn't travel with USC; three players ruled academically ineligible for Emerald Bowl - ESPN Los Angeles

Starting running back and leading rusher Joe McKnight did not travel with the Trojans to the Bay Area for Saturday's Emerald Bowl against Boston College, while tight end Anthony McCoy, offensive tackle Tyron Smith and defensive tackle Averell Spicer have been ruled academically ineligible, the school announced.

Given that USC is already being investigated for Reggie Bush (better known as the song that never ends), and O.J. Mayo, you can insert the joke here about how USC violated NCAA rules, so the NCAA will have to come down hard on someone like South Dakota State to make up for lacking in their ability to enforce anything meaningful. - JJ

The NCAA was last seen sticking their fingers in their ears and repeating LA LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU - JLew

Arizona State Baseball accused of major NCAA violations

I'm including this because it's of interest to me as a guy who follows college baseball quite heavily. ASU is a huge baseball program, or at least they were until this has come to pass. This could destroy their program, and given the nature of the accusations, and the repeated problems, maybe it should. Hey, at least they're in the same conference as USC. The NCAA could whack them really hard, and it would be like hitting the Trojans (you have to think like a bureaucrat to understand that mentality. If it doesn't make sense, congratulations, you're not a bureaucrat.) - JJ

Simultaneous College Football Playoff And Bowl Seasons? Here's How

A simulated 16-team playoff and a 27-game bowl schedule? Yowsa! -- JJ

Part I: Why the Big 12 Needs to Do Everything It Can to Keep Missouri

The first part of a two-part series examining the potential effects of Big 10 expansion on the Big 12. In this part, we discuss why Missouri would consider the Big 10, whether the Big 10 is interested in Missouri, what a move by Missouri would do to the Big 12, and whether the Big 10 could be interested in other Big 12 schools.

Part II: Why the Big 12 Needs to do Everything It Can to Keep Missouri

Part II exploring the possible effect of Big 10 expansion on the Big 12. Herein, we discuss Notre Dame, how to keep Missouri, whether the Big 10 has ulterior motives, Missouri's ties to the conference, and how it all could affect K-State.

A few notes and stories during the last few days. Bowl season kicked off last night, though I was too busy being pissed that I'm out of my Fantasy Football playoffs, and Steve Smith and Steward go off for huge points.

Bam! 4* RB Braylon Heard Commits To Nebraska (DXP)

This is a very good thing.

Pelini: Recruiting is a 'two-way street'

Someone asked Husker coach Bo Pelini after Saturday’s practice his thoughts on that term: soft commit. "There’s not a lot of soft in my world," Pelini said, laughing. "It’s like, ‘OK, I’m going to go on a date the night before I walk down the aisle.’ It doesn’t make a lot of sense. I don’t play that game at all."

Pelini confident about direction offense is taking

Alabama’s offense has surfaced as one for Nebraska to perhaps model. It’s multiple and certainly physical. A good model to follow

Husker Mike's Blasphemy: Should Nebraska Revert Back to the Spread in the Holiday Bowl?

Our own Husker Mike looks at the Nebraska offense.

Sadler not happy with Huskers' performance

What did Doc Sadler think of Nebraska’s 57-41 victory against winless Jackson State on Saturday night? Well, the Husker men’s basketball coach called for a 5:30 a.m. practice today.

Penn State wins record third straight volleyball title - ESPN

Penn State became the first team to win three straight volleyball titles Saturday night, overcoming a two-set deficit to beat Texas and extend its record winning streak to 102 straight games.

Texas lost. Yes I'm happy about that.

I don't want to go to the Big 10. I like playing schools that are close to Nebraska. You can easily get to games at ISU, KU, KSU, and CU and MU are not that far away. Moving to the B10 would mean that Iowa would be the closest away game. I say boooo to the Big 10, go get the Irish and be done with it.

Husker offense going back to basics

Really? I thought our offense was pretty basic to begin with. I guess you have to start somewhere...

NE StatePaper.com - Don't Get Comfy

McKewon thinks that the depth chart won't be set coming into next year.

Well, yeah. Bo Pelini darn near wrote the book for the last half of NU's season. It's not like Watson would draw the shell of a hermit crab on greaseboard and proclaim to his quarterbacks "Boys – the new attack!" Pelini gambled, placed all of his chips on the equivalent of the pass line at the craps table, and watched opposing offenses try – and miserably fail - to break the house defense.

Tim Tebow, USC Trojans dominate college football decade - 2000s: The Decade in Sports - SI.com

WORST COACHING HIRE: Bill Callahan, Nebraska In 2003, then-AD Steve Pedersen fired sixth-year coach Frank Solich (despite his .750 winning percentage) and replaced him with the ex-Oakland Raiders coach. The school's first outside hire in 42 years, Callahan scrapped Nebraska's long-synonymous option offense in favor of an NFL-style passing attack, alienated fans and former players, oversaw the program's first losing season since 1961 and won one division title in four seasons. His last team (in 2007) went 5-7 and allowed a school-record 455 points.

Now this is sure to have everyone grabbing their axes (to grind), but here we go. Look BC was a bad coach. But NU had already started to slide after TO retired, BC was able to put together some good offenses, and lastly it wasn't as bad as it could have been. NU was not put on probation, nor was NU bilked for millions of dollars (see Ron Prince). BC's in the conversation, but I don't think it's a slam dunk answer. Go ahead and freak out in the comments section.

Minor earthquake rattles SE Nebraska

f the Big Ten goes to 14 or even 16...is Nebraska a candidate? If the Big Ten just adds one team, they'll go for a media market like Rutgers or Syracuse. But if they add three or five schools, they can't go for smaller programs for fear of further diluting their product. While Nebraska doesn't help the Big Ten with media penetration, the national following and strong overall program improves the perception of the Big Ten nationally. -HM

State College, PA - There Is No 'A' In BCS

Jay Paterno has an idea to fix the BCS..

The new BCS ratings would include a third component to rank the teams. While computer polls and human polls make up the current rankings, my new BCS poll would utilize those rankings as 2/3 of the equation while adding the graduation rates of the top 25 BCS schools into the formula to come up with a complete ranking.

I like it.

Vote Suh For The AT&T ESPN All-America Player Of The Year -(DXP)

More info at the link-

Fans can vote by texting VOTE to 345345, regardless of their wireless carrier. They will then automatically receive a text message with the nominees as well as be entered to win a trip to the 2011 National Championship Game. (Standard text messaging and data rates apply and you are able to vote 1 msg/week.)

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Big Red Today - A persistent route pays off for Kinnie

Kinnie is going to be great next year.

Husker linebacker Williams given scholarship release

NU linebackers coach Mike Ekeler said Williams still wasn’t ready to return from a knee injury suffered in high school.

Sucks to see him go. We wish him the best.

Smith waiting in the wings at safety for NU

If you believe P.J. Smith will be a starting safety for Nebraska next season, don’t tell him. He already hears enough such talk from his friends back home in River Ridge, La. Although flattering, that’s hard for Smith, who says he’s trying to focus on finishing this season first.

More photos » by Nati Harnik - AP

He looks great in black.(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Browse more photos »

Despite being contacted by the B10 to do link articles for them, Corn Flakes has no interest in leaving, though they did promise to start calling us the Corn Flakes if we went.

Practice reports are starting again as NU prepares for Arizona. I'm getting the feeling that Arizona is very happy to be playing NU, but I can't get a feeling about Nebraska. Is the team upset about the loss to Texas? I hope we don't see a let down in the Bowl game. And how is NU not favored in this game? Oh yeah right the offense...

Anyway I hope your Christmas shopping is going well. Corn Flakes is asking Santa for some Nebraska offense, a RB recruit, and some HTML code. The cats would like some string.

On to the links-


Peter King pointing out Suh's disruptive plays

Stat of the Week Ndamukong Suh, at 6-foot-4 and 302 pounds, is an amazing specimen, a player with the quickness to interior-rush and the strength to play the nose. His ability to make disruptive plays is precedent-setting. I call "disruptive plays'' the combination of sacks, other tackles for loss, quarterback hits, forced fumbles, interceptions, passes broken up and blocked kicks.

MU's Deaton confirms willingness to listen to Big Ten - KansasCity.com

"The University of Missouri has not been contacted by the Big Ten. Should there be an official inquiry or invitation, we would evaluate it based upon what would be in the best interest of MU athletically and academically."

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Big Red Today Blog - Lee Barfknecht - Academic fit a key issue

Academic "fit’’ is a major part of any school changing leagues. Questions about how an institution "fits’’ in by measures of degrees offered, research grants, library strength, graduate programs and others are crucial. When the athletic discussion comes up, two big keys are population and the size of television market a school can bring. Often, having successful programs and a small market size hurts an expansion candidate. That’s why the Big Ten likely would have little to no interest in Nebraska.

Look ND will end up in the B10 where it belongs and all this will pass.

Practice report: Kunalic reflects on title game kickoff

"I just tried to do way too much," Kunalic said after Tuesday’s practice. "I was just going to crush the ball and that’s all that was in my head, when I should have just played it safe and gotten the ball to the goal line at least and let the cover team do their job. Because they’ve been probably the best cover team I’ve been around. And they would have guaranteed got that guy inside the 20 somewhere."

Still painful to think about, but I still love you Adi.

NE StatePaper.com - Back to the Grindstone

Nebraska will practice through Saturday, and then break for the holiday, reconvening on Christmas. Pelini said the Huskers have a lot to pack into that time, which doesn't leave much room for experimenting or testing out younger players.

YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME! .......Sorry I don't know how Herm got in here.

Rivals.com College Football - Q and A with Arizona coach Mike Stoops

Know your opponent, or at least their head coach

Corvin Lamb to Visit NU (DXP)

NU is hot and heavy for a RB. Fresh off the heels of hosting Braylon Heard and Kenny Bell in Lincoln, NU has scheduled an official visit with Corvin Lamb

Nebraska Cornhuskers 2010 College Football Preview

Nebraska will enter their regular season rematch with Texas at home in mid-October, likely with a 5-0 record and a Top 10 ranking.

I'm tired of this year, let's just move on. Ohhhh look next year should really be fun.

Huskers learn to budget their time

The football team balances practice, finals, and family as the prepare for their Bowl game.

FSU to Hire Mark Stoops as Defensive Coordinator

Arizona may be losing defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, just before they get to face Nebraska in a bowl game. If true, that's two years in a row the Huskers will face a team with a new coach on defense. Last season, Clemson's Vic Koenning left before the Gator Bowl. - JJ

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Big Red Today Blog - Sports Writers - Back to football this week

Defensive end Jerry Hughes of TCU won the Lott Trophy last night in California, something of an upset after Ndamukong Suh claimed every other defensive award for which he was nominated.

Scout.com: Instant Analysis - Ingram's Heisman Win

2) No one knew what to do with Ndamukong Suh (my No. 1 pick on the ballot), 3) 203 voters who chose Colt McCoy first had something better to do than watch the Oklahoma or Nebraska games, the two biggest of the year for the Longhorns,

Fire Turner Gill

Are you f-ing kidding me? Way to go KU fans, (or fan this could be the work of a lone wack-o, though you see a lot of whining about Gill). Tim Griffin chimes in-

Anti-Gill Web site pops up - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

And for all of the talk about Houston Nutt and Jim Harbaugh, Gill likely will end up being the best choice. He's built a program from the depths at Buffalo. He has a background in the Big 12 from his playing and coaching career at Nebraska. And he knows his way around the recruiting circles in Texas, which will likely make or break his program.

Source: Harbaugh Turns Down KU Job

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jim Harbaugh has turned down an offer to become the head football coach of the Kansas Jayhawks and will stay at Stanford, a source close to the situation told KMBC 9 Sports. Saturday, December 12, 2009.

Oh and there is this, so STFU firegill guy.

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Big Red Today - Huskers get hooked, once again

I hate Texas.

ProFootballWeekly.com - McCoy, Suh top strong DL class

They have Suh as #2 on their list of DL! though he states-

Suh grades out more highly than any other senior in this year's draft class, showing outstanding upper-body strength to dominate against lesser competition and overpower interior offensive linemen. He might never be a great pass rusher and needs to learn how to work the edges better, but that is not to say he is not better than most college defensive linemen rushing from the inside. He brings value as a three-down player to the pro game and has shown he can be dominant defending the run on first and second downs with great strength at the point of attack. With the ability to play anywhere along an odd front and having desirable length to play outside, his greatest value could come for a 3-4 defense.

Why I voted McCoy for the Heisman - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

So many ways to tear this apart, but you have remember that Tim Griffin is a Texas homer at times. Suh gets downgraded for having some down games, (which all of them had), being surround by talent (take Shipley away from Colt and lets see how he does) and because Nebraska is 9-4. So Griffin thinks, like many others, that the Heisman should go to the best player on a team playing for the national championship. Ugh. - JLew

My problem with Griffin's reasoning is this - he bags on Suh for low output in sacks and tackles against Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Yet, in those games Suh had - four quarterback hurries against Tech, a game which hurt Tech's season after QB Sheffield's foot was broken - Had three quarterback hurries against Oklahoma, a tipped ball that lead to an interception, and a blocked field goal. - Had two quarterback hurries against Kansas, the only team that effectively neutralized our defensive line all season. If those games are "clunkers" as Griffin defines them, then what does he expect from a defensive tackle? Consistent scoring? Holy Crap, man! - JJ

Dan Hawkins Talks About Getting A New Email Account Because of the Overflow of Emails to His... - The Ralphie Report

Dan Hawkins wants no more email from "Santie Claus". BTW, does he look like he's aged or what? (Dan Hawkins, not Santie Claus). -- JJ

Tommie Frazier joining Persian Gulf game

Nebraska football great Tommie Frazier will join several other famed college players in saluting U.S. troops serving in the Persian

Chinese college students flocking to U.S. campuses

There are other adjustments, too. If Husker football was a pleasant surprise for Sun, he says, he also finds it odd that 18-year-olds in Nebraska "can buy a gun but you can't buy alcohol."

Should be a clear sign that an 18-year old with a gun is safer than an 18-year old with alcohol. And a gun. - JJ

Tom Shatel - New direction for NU?

The off-season approaches.... which always brings new challenges for people covering Husker sports like we do. What are we going to write about? What might fans find interesting? Tom Shatel's latest blog gives a hint as to what the regular media might do, and that is speculate and generate hand-wringing. What might happen? Oh, oh! oh!!! We've lost a couple recruits! The ship is sinking! The barn is on fire! Same ol' same ol'. - JJ

McKewon Joins Lunatic Fringe?

DXP makes a point about the latest recruiting losses which goes along the Shatel link. I won't steal their thunder, just check it out. - JJ

Anatomy of Stagnation: Second and Short Failures - Burnt Orange Nation

 Anatomy of Stagnation breaks down three second and short plays that ended in negative plays, as well as discussing the culprit for each.

The guys at BON have done an excellent job all season of analyzing their offense. Here they take a look at what the Blackshirts did to the Longhorn offense in crucial situations. -- JJ

Nebraska's Weekend Recruiting Visits-DXP

My recruiting wish list included a RB or 2, and look at what Santa Pelini is working on- Bo Bo Bo...

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Big Red Today - Suh adds two more awards to his haul

OWH follows Suh to Florida for the awards show.

Big 12 gets ready to shine in postseason (Volleyball)

Coaches are upset about the Omaha regional.

The fact that just one of these teams — three of them ranked among the nation’s top seven — can play in Tampa has led to some emotional reactions. Texas coach Jerritt Elliott said the committee was irresponsible in putting the top three teams from one league into the same region. "This would never have happened to the Pac-10," Cook said.

Huskers bounce back, get ugly win

Nebraska rebounded from its men’s basketball loss at Creighton with a 74-39 domination of Chicago State on Thursday night at the Devaney Sports Center.

More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

I'll hide behind this poinsettia and jump out when Mike Stoops least expects it! (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Browse more photos »

Some good reading today in Corn Flakes. Along with a very odd picture of Bo. What is he doing? You'd think he'd get a better place to sit than that. Maybe he's been playing the new Call of Duty game too much and he thinks he's a sniper? Boom head shot! Take that Stoops!

Other than that Corn Flakes will probably start slowing down as football season does. We'll have to get into basketball, and then maybe some baseball. (I'm going to miss football season) If any of you are true Nebraska basketball fans talk to Jon, or make up some posts to help the site.

Keep warm out there especially if you are in the Midwest, if you are some where warm already; nobody likes you.

Suh's great, but not Heisman great | Bob Lutz | Wichita Eagle

Translation: Suh didn't have a dominant performance against Kansas...so he's not a Heisman candidate in Lutz's eye. Hard to argue with his evaluation against Kansas. But since he never watched the Nebraska-Oklahoma game, and merely looked at the stat sheet, it's hard to take Lutz's opinion seriously. Except, of course, to note that other's may share his opinion. Also, Lutz doesn't give Turner Gill much of a shot at Kansas. I guess taking Buffalo to the MAC Championship in three years doesn't prove a darn thing to Lutz. - HM

It's the most wonderful time of the year for Big 12 bowl participants - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

Check out the sweet stuff Nebraska gets-

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl (Nebraska): Flo TV personal television (includes one year of service), Best Buy gift card, Tourneau watch, Sports Tek hooded sweatshirt, cap.

The Wiz of Odds: The Hottest-Selling T-Shirt in Alabama

Oh I laughed.

Scout.com: Cavalcade, Part 2 - USC's Lousy Finish

The C.O.W. airing of the grievances has ten things Pete Fiutak is grouchy about this week 5, and Nebraska makes 2 appearances.

"Ndamukong Suh is the best player in the country, but …" Listen to the talking heads and read the comments on the Heisman and you’ll hear the same thing over and over again. "Ndamukong Suh was the best player in the country this year, but I voted for (insert lesser player here)." I get that this isn’t supposed to be about who the No. 1 pick in the draft will be and it isn’t about talent, but Suh was the best combination of being the most talented, the most outstanding, the most valuable, and the most amazing player in America. Mark Ingram is deserving, and he’s going to win it, but he’s a great running back. That’s it. Suh is having an all-timer of a season for a defensive tackle and, arguably, he had the greatest game anyone has ever played at the position when the stakes were the highest. If you think Suh was the top player, then why didn’t you vote for him?

3. Nebraska’s offense 102nd in the nation in total offense, 101st in passing offense, 141 rushing yards per game … the Nebraska offense didn’t work. Had the Huskers been merely below average offensively, they’d be 12-1 and off to the Fiesta Bowl, and they would’ve made the Texas Tech game far different. The answer is so simple and so ridiculously obvious that Bo Pelini needs to use the next month before the Holiday Bowl to do it: run the option. No offense in sports was as consistently great for a longer period of time than the Nebraska running game, and there’s no reason to not go back to what worked. It’s not like the changes in the Husker offense have made the place a factory for NFL passing talent, and it’s unfortunate that such a great defensive season went to waste. Nebraska, go stop Georgia Tech A-Back coach Jeff Monken from taking the Georgia Southern job and make him the offensive coordinator. Go get Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper and get the offense working again with the ground game. The fans would love it, Nebraska would have its identity back, and the transformation back to glory would be completed.

So should NU go back to the "option"? Which one would that be: the classic triple option? The new zone read? A Flordia or West Virginia spread option? Do you care as long as NU scores a touchdown?

Joe Posnanski " Blog Archive " Favre Being Favre

Another excellent post from Joe. If you are not reading him you should. Anyway this is about pro-football, but I think it translated to college ball as well. I think of this when I hear people talking about NU's offense.

Pro football is not framed like that. No, football players and coaches make it clear all the time that they don’t think like us. They think on a higher plane. They have watched all the films. They have studied all the scenarios. They have deep secrets and coded plans and fascinating bits of information that they cannot share with YOU because YOU would not understand or YOU do not need to know or YOU would only tell the opponent or YOU are not in the inner circle.

Man just 1 more Nebraska game this year. Then we "get" to watch the basketball team try and get something going again, followed by the return of Nebraska baseball, or Anderson's Last Stand. At least volleyball should be fun for a while.

Sorry, Nebraska: There's no shame in Texas' game

Can the Crimson Tide's defense be any better than the Cornhuskers? "It very well could," McCoy said. "I'm sure. But I really felt (the Cornhuskers) played out of their minds last night."

Texas still can't figure out that they played the best defense in the nation. - JJ

Sports Blog Heisman Trophy: Rock M Nation's ballot - Rock M Nation

The ingrates at Rock M voted for Toby Gerhart, now that their Wranglers finally dried out after two months ago.

If You're Looking for a Sympathetic Victim, You Could Do Better Than Nebraska - Bring On The Cats

TB's thoughts on Nebraska being a "victim" We don't want your sympathy. -JL

Nebraska's offense is keeping them from becoming elite program - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

Needs to be fixed...

Woe Is The Nebraska Offense

Sammy Vegas at DXP looks at the Nebraska Offense, but he has ideas on how to fix it.

Louisiana wideout decommits from NU

"I told Coach Gilmore that I was having doubts about where I fit into their offense. It was just not clicking with me because I’m a slot receiver and they’re really not using a slot receiver anymore," Carter told Rivals.

Need an identity, Sammy Vegas has an idea in the DXP link. I don't care what it is I just want to be able to score in more than multiples of 3.-JL

Report links Nutt with vacant Kansas position

I'd much rather see Houston Nutt than Turner Gill at Kansas. Nutt is a decent coach (decent enough for Kansas), and he's well... he's rather whacky. It'd be loads of fun having him in the conference. Would AD Lew Perkins take that into account? I hope so. - JJ
If they hire Nutt go ahead and start watching the police reports in Lawrence.-JL

Report: KU's Perkins met with Gill on Sunday

Turner Gill interviewing at Kansas. Gill is one of the most beloved Huskers ever. The thought of him coaching for a Big 12 North opponent is.... not desirable. Maybe his name isn't big enough for Kansas? - JJ