SB Nation User Blog: taflorom

Merry Christmas

taflorom — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:41:47 -0000

Just a quick note to all the members of Cornnation and the other SBN blogs to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Hope this finds everyone healthy wealthy and wise. Good Luck to you and your teams this bowl season (well except Clemson I hope they play their worst game of the year.) Sorry guys cant hope you beat us. I do hope you and your families are well just hope you team has a bad game.

One mans thoughts on playoffs.

taflorom — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:30:20 -0000

So once again it is November and the BCS looks to be in disarray. Imagine that. It has been a joke almost since its conception. The polls are nothing but popularity contest done by a bunch of guys who vote their favorite team to the top. And the coaches....well they are usually to busy coaching to watch very many games. So here goes one fans playoff thoughts.

First, I would cut the number of 1-A teams. For the purpose of this blog I am narrowing it down to 94 teams. 7 conferences with 12 teams. All having a conference championship game. They would be the Big XII, The SEC, the ACC, The Big Ten (adding Notre Dame), The Pac Ten (adding Hawaii), The Big East (adding Marshall, East Carolina, Army and Navy), The Mountain West (adding Boise St, Tulsa, Houston, and Fresno St.). The rest would be moved down a division. I know we could add more and probably should but this is for the sake of this.

Second I would make the rankings based on a point system similar to Nebraskas high school system. Its not perfect but it works. Something like this.

Teams with 0-4 wins-- a victory over one of these teams is worth 2 points, a loss cost you 10 points. Teams with 5-8 wins---victory is worth 5 points, a loss cost you 3. Teams with 9-12 wins---victory is worth 10 points while a loss only cost you 1 point. This would make teams schedule better teams and make for better games.

Either that or you let the NCAA do the scheduling. Keep the 12 game schedule, try to get it so that each team has 4 games against teams from each teir. I know it would be hard due to who is in each conference but they could try to get it as close as possible. All games would be played on a home and home basis so that each team gets a chance to play on each others field.

You take the top 16 teams based on the point system no conference tie ins. The higher ranking team gets a home game until the final which would be played at a neutral site. Gate and TV money gets split down the middle between the two schools but the home team gets to keep the concession money etc.

What about the other 78 teams?? Well let them continue to go to the bowl games. The only ones that would get hurt are the BCS bowls, most of the others are meaningless anyway so why would that change anything. And yes I know that most people want to keep the bowls involved in some way but you would never make them happy anyway and most teams dont have enough fans to travel to Florida or California or whereever for 3 more games. And I also know that if one of the lower ranked teams were to win it all they would have to travel for 4 games, but hey, you dont like it? Get better.

So there you go. Flaws and all that is my rough outline for the playoffs. Bash away boys. Lots of things could be better explained but I think you get the idea.

Turner Gill

taflorom — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 04:31:44 -0000

As much as everyone seems to want Bo Pelini as the next head coach (a thing I would not be totally against) I would much rather see Turner Gill. A former Husker player and coach Gill is the one to lead the turn around at NU.

Gill is a proven winner as a player. He went 28-2 as a starting qb. He finished 4th in the Heisman voting his senior year.

Gill has also served as an assistant coach for NUs past 3 head coaches(Osborne, Solich, and Callahan). He studied football as both a player and coach under Tom Osborne, the greatest coach in NU history. He coached 2 qbs who lead NU to national titles (3 if you count Brook)and one Hiesman winner. This shows he knows how to develop talent, something the current staff must have no idea how to do. He also has a reputation as an excellent recruiter.

As a head coach at Buffalo he has taken probably the worst team in the NCAA and turned them into a winner in two years. They have won more games under Gill then they had in the previous 5 years combined. He currently has them in first place in the MAC East division.

While Gill, 44, is not as firey as Bo Pelini on the sidelines he carries himself with a confident demeanor (much the same as TO himself) and is very well respected by players and coaches alike. He may very well be the only head coach that Bo would return to NU and be the DC for. And that is a capacity I would rather see Pelini in.

So if you are looking for a man who knows how to motivate players, develop talent, carry himself with class and dignity, is well respected, and is a proven winner both as a player and a coach the Turner Gill is your man.

week 3 pick'em games

taflorom — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 02:00:20 -0000

I wish you would have left the diaries alone Jon as it is harder then hell to post one now. I made a pick'em deal last week and thought I had it posted but to my surprise I found out I was wrong. Well lets hope this week is better and here are the games.
Since I am doing this on Sept. 11th I am also honoring our service men by picking their games this week.

TCU vs. Air Force-- I dont think AF has enough fire power to play with TCU but TCU may have an off week after playing a tough game against Texas. MY PICK= TCU

Army vs. Wake Forest--Will Wake finally win a game this year? Will they have enough left after two tough games. MY PICK--Wake

Ball St. vs. Navy--Will Ball ST. be thinking ahead to next week? MY PICK= Navy

4.Ohio vs. Virginia Tech--Can Frank pick up his biggest win? I dont think VT is as good as everyone thinks and after last week is ripe for the pickens'. MY PICK= OHIO ( Upset special of the week)

Notre Dame vs. Michigan--We had to pick this game didn't we. Does anyone care who wins? MY PICK= Notre Dame and Lloyd Carr gets fired.

Tennessee vs. Florida--Florida finally gets challenged. MY PICK=Florida

Boston College vs. Georgia Tech--I always put in games between ranked teams. ACC championship game early? MY PICK= Geo. Tech

Louisville vs. Kentucky--I also try to put in rivalry games. Oh yeah this isn't basketball. MY PICK= Louisville on a last second "3".

Okie St. vs. Wisconsin-- Still dont think the OSU offense can be enough to beat a good team. MY PICK= Wisconsin

Iowa vs. Iowa ST.--Not so sure that ISU didn't blow its only chance at a win last week. MY PICK= Iowa

W. Michigan vs. Missouri---another tough one for Mizzu. MY PICK= Mizzu

Texas Tech vs. Rice--Does Rice want to be in the Big XII? If you cant beat Baylor you wont beat Tech. MY PICK= Tech

Texas vs. Cent.Florida-- And the brutal Texas schedule continues. MY PICK= Texas

Utah St. vs Oklahoma--I feel sorry for UTAH ST. MY PICK= OU

Texas St. vs Baylor--Two in a row!? Maybe. MY PICK= Baylor.

La. Monroe vs. aTm-- MY PICK= aTm

Toledo vs. Kansas-- Mangino is bringing them along real well this season. Looks like a 3-0 start. MY PICK=KU

Missouri St. vs. Kansas St.-- I didn't even know there was a Mizzu ST. Did they just make this one up? MY PICK= KSU MY WISH= Mizzu ST.(now that would be funny)

Florida St. vs. Colorado-- Well someone has to win this one. But who? MY PICK= CU (because its in Boulder)

The biggest game of the year!!!!!!!

USC vs. NEBRASKA--- Well I dont think USC is as good as the rest of the nation seems to think they are but not so sure that NU is as good as most Nebraskans think they are. Last week scares me and USC had a week off to rest and prepare. I dont like our chances and I dont think I have ever before picked an NU loss, I have always found a reason to believe that they would win. I am having a hard time doing that this week. I dont like our coaching staff and I just dont think they can coach their way to a victory this week. I think (and I thought last year) that we have good enough talent to win it and I wouldn't have a massive heart attack if we did, but I just dont have any faith in BC or his staff. We got rid of the last decent coach we had when Blake left. Even he wouldn't be enough this week. MY PICK=USC 35-10. (That hurts to type). GOD I hope I'm wrong.

Week One pickem games

taflorom — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 05:58:32 -0000

Here are this weeks pickem games. I will try to get it out on Tuesday of every week from now on. I had forgot that I told MR. Corn that I would do this so have fun and see how you do. I hope to have all the big games to pick this year and kind of keep a running score for the year.

Ohio U. vs. Ball ST.--Had to put in this one as we have the old Husker coach against a future opponent. My pick= Ohio, Ball St. wont beat any Husker this year.

Kent St. vs Iowa St.--- Chizek doen't have the talent he had at Texas but should have enough to win this one. My Pick=ISU

Colorado vs. Colorado St.---If you cant beat Montana St. how can you beat your instate rival? MY PICK= CSU in a blow out.

Missouri vs. Illinois--Even Gary Pinkle cant blow this one can he? If Mizzu cant beat the Illini then NU wont have to worry about winning the north. MY PICK=Mizzu

Georgia Tech vs. Notre Dame--Had to put this in since it is the game from the movie Rudy and this is when he gets to play. I love that movie. MY PICK=GT, let them chant for Rudy this time.

Baylor vs. TCU--TCU beat OU a couple of years ago in a big upset. Maybe Baylor can get revenge for the Big XII? I dont think so. MY PICK=TCU

Oklahoma St vs. Georgia---OSU might have a great offense but even so the defense wont stop any of the 14 qbs UG decides to play this year. MY PICK=Georgia

Montana St vs. aTm--I think MSU would like to have a rematch with CU instead. MY PICK=aTm

North Texas vs. Oklahoma--I dont think anyone will confuse this as the Red River Shoot Out. MY PICK=OU

Central Michigan vs. Kansas--The start of a possible bowl season for KU? Should be the first of their 6 wins. MY PICK=KU

Arkansas St. vs. Texas---What can you say here except for blow out. MY PICK=Texas

Kansas St vs. Auburn---You can tell that Snyder isn't setting the schedule anymore. My Pick=Auburn, Prince doesn't have the players around Freeman to win this one.

Tennesse vs. California--The only game involving 2 ranked teams. Should be a good one. MY PICK=California

Florida ST. vs. Clemson--Isn't this still one of the "Bowden Bowls"? or did the son get canned. Cant remember for sure. Oh hell I dont really care either. MY PICK=Clemson

Texas Tech vs. SMU---Tech should run up the score here. Can the D stop even the lowly SMU offense though? MY PICK=Tech

NU vs. Nevada---Well the start of the season is here and it should be a good one. I will leave my comments on the coaches out for now and see where this season goes. I dont expect a blow out but we should win by a couple of tds. MY PICK=NU

Happy New Year

taflorom — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 06:56:14 -0000

Let me be the first on the blog to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy 2007. May your bellys be full and your wallets fuller. Heres to hoping we dont see a single loss for the Huskers in 2007.

My 2007 wish list (top 6 Husker related)

Huskers win Cotton Bowl. Dont care by how much just that they win.
Tom Osborne becomes the new NU AD.
The Huskers win the 2007 (or would it be 2008?) MNC.
Bill Callahan goes back to coaching in the NFL.
Turner Gill returns to be head coach at NU. Puts in an offense that is part Option and part West Coast. Calls it the West Coast Option (Heck even Switzer and Holtz said you could still win using just the option). Recruits a qb that can run like Tommie Frazier and pass like Zac Taylor.
Doc Sadler has continued success as the BBall coach.

Cotton Bowl Contest

taflorom — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 22:11:06 -0000

NU first downs: 18
Net Rush yds: 175
net Pass yds: 300
total net yds: 475
sacks by: 3

Auburn net rush yds: 104
net pass yds: 175
net total yds: 279

NU pts: 24
Auburn pts: 13

Total pts 37

Jon, for some reason I wasn't able to post any comments so I had to put my entry through a new diary. Did something get screwed up when you cleaned up the other stuff? Oh well I guess I am in.

This weeks pick'em games

taflorom — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:29:56 -0000

Championship games and the last of the rivalries.

Champ. games first
Thurs: Mac
Cent. Mich. vs. Ohio--A coach who bypassed the Big XII against a coach who came from the Big XII. Ohio has been a celler dweller for years and Solich now has them playing in the big game in year two. MY PICK= Ohio

Fri: Con. USA
So.Miss. vs Houston--I dont really know much about either team. NU should have played Houston this year would have looked better then Nichols St. MY PICK=Houston

Sat: ACC
Wake Forest vs. Geo. Tech--Wow who would have predicted this at the start of the year? I have to root for the cinderella Wake. If for no other reason then NU plays them next year and it will make the schedule look better playing the ACC champ. MY PICK=Wake

SEC
Arkansas vs. Florida--I dont know who to pick in this one. The only common opponent that went different is LSU. Fla beat them but Ark. lost. Neither really stands out against the other. MY PICK= Arkansas in the upset.

Big XII
NU vs OU-- Finally the real rivalry. Its about time this game was for the Championship. Pederson not playing for OU gives NU an advantage. I like NUs chances against OU because they dont have a great passing game and NU plays better against the run. If we turn OU into a passing team and we can pass the ball at all we win. MY PICK=NU of course.

Other games:

Rutgers@West Virginia--If Rutgers wins they win the Big East. If not and Louisville wins they win it. Rooting for cinderella2. MY PICK=Rutgers

USC@UCLA--Another rivalry that is usually close and I think UCLA is better this year then in the past few years. But I think USC wins this anyway.MY PICK=USC

Stanford@Cal--I had this game listed last week but it is played this week. MY PICK=Still going with Cal.

Army@Navy--Navy is way to much for Army this year and the wishbone will not break. Could have 3 guys over 100yds rushing. MY PICK=Navy

Jon do you want me to do the bowl games? If so do you want them all or just the big ones? Would be happy to do it if you want.

This weeks pick'em games

taflorom — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 04:50:56 -0000

A few more rival games this weekend and some important match ups also. Lots of games to pick this week.

Big XII
CU@NU--Please god no collapse this weekend. Please,please,please. NU has only lost once when I have attended, KSU 2003. I will be there. MY PICK=NU

KU@MIZZU--KU is coming off win in last rivalry game and MU is down. KU may still be playing to get into a bowl. MY PICK=KU

aTm@UT--The Burnt Orange is just too much for the Aggies. MY PICK=UT

OU@OSU--I always thought this was the "Civil War". It is always a good game and OSU might need to win to get to a bowl. MY PICK=OU

Others (and lots of them)

Boston Coll.@Miami--No Doug Flutie but will he be needed? MY PICK=BC
Wake Forest@Maryland--Wake wins the ACC Atlantic with a win. MY PICK=Wake
Geo. Tech@Geo.--The real "Peach Bowl"? MY PICK=Tech
Virginia@Vir.Tech--Tech should have no problem this year. MY PICK=Tech
Notre Dame@USC--The winner keeps their MNC hopes alive. MY PICK=USC
Stanford@Cal--The "Battle of the Band" or "The Big Game" you decide. MY PICK=Cal
LSU@Ark--Will Mich ST. look harder at Bo if LSU wins? MY PICK=LSU in the upset.
Florida@Fla.ST--Florida still in MNC hunt. Fla ST just trying to play spoiler. MY PICK=Florida
Miss ST@OLE MISS.--Isn't this the "Egg Bowl" or something. Does anyone care? MY PICK=Ole Miss.
Oregon@Oregon ST.--Bragging rights the only thing on the line in this game. MY PICK=OSU
Arizona ST.@ Arizona--No Sam Keller No win. Oh wait that is Bell and Baylor. MY PICK=ASU
Kentucky@Tennessee--The "Hillbilly Bowl". Not really but wouldn't that be great. Bill probably wouldn't go though. MY PICK=Tennessee.

Big XII bowls

taflorom — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 17:23:57 -0000

The Big XII has ties to 8 bowl games and now has 9 teams eligible. Will all 9 get in or will someone stay home? There are still some games yet to be played and the outcome should decide some of that but there is some what if to consider.
KU is 6-5 and has to play Mizzu. OSU is 6-5 and has to play OU. If one or both lose they will be 6-6, with OSU beating KU earlier in the year I would think OSU would have the edge. But what happens if both win? That would leave KSU, MU, KU, TT, and OSU with 7-5 records. Do all get into bowl games then? If not who is out? KU would have victories over KSU and MU and a loss to OSU. KSU would have loses to KU, and MU but a win over OSU. They also have the win over Texas. Both have lost to Baylor. MU would have wins over TT and KSU but a loss to KU. Tech would have a loss to MU and a win over OSU. OSU would have a win over KU and loses to KSU and TT, they would have wins over NU and OU. A KU victory over MU would give them second place in the North (using head to head tie breaker) and that should give them a bowl birth I would think. But then again everyone says the North is the weakest division in major college football so would that be enough?
Man am I glad I dont have to decide all of this. Someone will probably be a little upset this year.