The Official 2011-2012 College Football Season Thread

[Firefly]

Big 12 looks safe for now with the Pac-12 saying they won't be adding anymore teams.

[midor]

The big 12 is getting closer to getting back to normal but not there yet.

Oklahoma's President is calling for Commish Beebee's head on a silver plater.

[Southzen]

I don't understand why the Big 12 began imploding to begin with. It is not like it was a weak conference. Three of their teams competed or won the national as much as any other conference except the SEC in the last 10 years, OU has been ranked number 1 more times than any other school, and the traditions are awesome and most of the schools fit that niche (Nebraska really screwed the pooch jumping ship). And they almost always had a BCS bowl contender. It just made no sense. As happy as I am to have another school in the SEC, the talk of moving Auburn to the East gives me a bit of heart burn. I haven't missed an LSU Auburn game at LSU in 10 years. It is an awesome rivalry that always seems to come down to the last minute or later. Honestly, deep down, I wish the SEC would've stayed the way it was. I don't think we needed A&M or any other school.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

I don't understand why the Big 12 began imploding to begin with. It is not like it was a weak conference. Three of their teams competed or won the national as much as any other conference except the SEC in the last 10 years, OU has been ranked number 1 more times than any other school, and the traditions are awesome and most of the schools fit that niche (Nebraska really screwed the pooch jumping ship). And they almost always had a BCS bowl contender. It just made no sense. As happy as I am to have another school in the SEC, the talk of moving Auburn to the East gives me a bit of heart burn. I haven't missed an LSU Auburn game at LSU in 10 years. It is an awesome rivalry that always seems to come down to the last minute or later. Honestly, deep down, I wish the SEC would've stayed the way it was. I don't think we needed A&M or any other school.

Number Nine ranked Nebraska "screwed the pooch"? You mean by being in the same conference as Wisconsin, Michigan, OSU (yeah, yeah, I know they're unranked) and the much watched (although, okay, also unranked) Penn State?

But there's another factor at play. The Big 12 was a powerful conference -- and I have unbound respect for OU, btw -- their coach and the entire program is a class act. But power does not always translate to greatness. Imo, the spirit and essence of the teams play a factor in collegiate sports. There was a lot of toxic anger in other teams in the conference. Much of that anger, over the years, was directed at Nebraska -- as well as at and between other teams -- for no other reason than that NU was a great team. A KU fan once nearly got into a fistfight with me in a bar because I congratulated him on a win, angrily screaming that there was no way I could be a Nebraska fan and do that. He just didn't get sportsmanship. What he did eventually get was him pushing and threatening me so much that I finally had no option left but to shove him against a wall and grab him in such a way that his voice went up two octaves.

NU is competitive, but they are also among the most polite fans around (my experience with that relentless-left-limping KU fan being a rare exception). We love good football and we respect great teams. Nebraskans get the true spirit of collegiate sports. Nebraskans are also nice Midwestern folks and they were out of place in the Big Twelve. They don't understand people being rude or the true hatred expressed toward us by many Colorado fans over the years. We never hated Colorado. Quite the opposite, we felt it was a great rivalry.

Bottom line is that Nebraska belongs in the Big Ten. It's a better philosophical fit. When NU joined the Big Ten, BTN ran a four-hour special -- four hours in prime time -- on Nebraska, including classic games, interviews with Bo, the history of the franchise and a behind-the-scenes look at the heart and soul Nebraska. After so many years of having anger directed at us, I was touched deeply. If the situation was reversed and we joined the Big 12, that never would have happened. And the non-biased officiating in this season speaks volumes.

Nebraska is where it should be...and it doesn't hurt that I'm within driving distance of most games.

Go Big Red.

[Southzen]

People sometimes forget it is supposed to be about fun. A few years ago friends killed another friend over the Bama LSU rivalry.... Ridiculus, but lumping fans together with people like that is unfair. I would never become overly hostile or violent to any other fan of another team. I was just saying that Nebraska started the exodus from the big 12. There is always going to be tension between teams, some just take it too far.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

People sometimes forget it is supposed to be about fun. A few years ago friends killed another friend over the Bama LSU rivalry.... Ridiculus, but lumping fans together with people like that is unfair. I would never become overly hostile or violent to any other fan of another team. I was just saying that Nebraska started the exodus from the big 12. There is always going to be tension between teams, some just take it too far.

Nebraskans never forget college football is supposed to be about fun and sportsmanship. Of course this may be a result of the fact that -- unlike most other states -- Nebraska only has five things it can lay claim to: football, insurance, corn, beef and drop-dead gorgeous Irish girls.

Looks like it's going to be another great game day. Someone in the top ten's goin' down and I also smell upsets in the air.

Go Big Red!

[Firefly]

I'm glad the Huskers beat Wyoming, but I still wish they could put in 4 good quarters in a row.

[Southzen]

Looks like it's going to be another great game day. Someone in the top ten's goin' down and I also smell upsets in the air.

Go Big Red!

Wasn't LSU :P


I Hope Nebraska takes out Wisconsin next week. Congrats to ASU for both not messing up their new unis like Maryland did and beating USC out of the top 25.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Quite a day of college football -- a couple of nail biters and my guys continuing to looks strong.

No doubt about it -- after Saturday my Huskers are moving up at least one notch in the top ten. I don't know how I'm going to make it through this week. Wisconsin's clearly going to be the game of the season for us. If we win -- and that's a huge 'if' -- then I think we're top five and anything can happen from there.

Obviously Wisconsin's looked brilliant so far, but -- just like with Nebraska -- the schedule hasn't been much to brag about. Saturday's going to tell the tale. Very tough to beat Wisconsin at home. Every player on Nebraska has to bring their best game and play the best they've played in their career. A lot's on the line. I pick up my Nebraska shirt from the dry cleaner on Wednesday. Bottom line: either way, it's going to be a great game.

Go Big Red!

[midor]

looks like it's offical.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...ap-sec-texasam

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Big 12 looks safe for now with the Pac-12 saying they won't be adding anymore teams.

Fyi further to midor's post: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...l?sct=cf_t2_a3

[ksensor]

I don't understand why the Big 12 began imploding to begin with. It is not like it was a weak conference.

It had nothing to do with the quality of football. The Big 12 distributed television revenue based on the success of the teams. That meant that Oklahoma and Texas took the vast majority of the money and schools like Colorado saw almost nothing.

That might've sounded ok when the conference was forming, but it's gotten old over the years. Especially with other conferences sharing equally (Big 10, among others) and getting big tv deals (or their own networks, like the Big 10). Texas' refusal to share any revenue from their Longhorn network finally pushed Texas A&M over the edge and out of the conference. Ironically, that same refusal to split that revenue kept Texas out of the Pac-12, which had fought UCLA and USC for equally sharing for years.

[Southzen]

Yeah, I read about the TV deals; that isn't cool. The SEC has a network and almost if not all SEC conference games are televised in the markets with the exception of the national coverage games and games against teams from smaller conferences and FCS teams, and even then, sometimes those games get regional television.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Well the countdown is on to the top college football game of Saturday -- the storied #8 Huskers in their first Big Ten Conference game against #8 powerhouse #7 Wisconsin. And just guess where ESPN Game Day is going to be broadcasting from?

The Huskers win this and they just might vault into the top five; then anything can happen -- well, almost anything, since we have to take into account (imo) vastly overrated Stanford's pathetic schedule is pretty much equivalent to playing against cheerleaders. Is there no shame in the universe?

Imo, this game is going to be a classic slugfest. For sure Wisconsin's going to give up more than the eight points on offense they've been used to while playing against high school-caliber teams so far this year, and -- in fairness -- the same can be said for the Husker's vaunted Blackshirts offense that so far has also played second tier teams. But the bottom line is Wisconsin ain't seen nuthin' like Martinez and the triple threat Huskers' offense.

I'm calling a high scoring game. Huskers are ten-point underdogs. Gawd, I wish I was a gambling man, 'cause if ever there was a time to lay down song serious money on an underdog this is it. Instead I'll be at Buffalo Wild Wings with my Irish angel and University of Nebraska alum, hoisting Guinnesses with Stoli chasers and scarfing down Spicy garlic wings with fat free ranch and Caribbean jerk sauce on the side, accompanied by plenty of onion rings throughout. We're also breakin' out some of our stash of Cuban cigars for this one. Hey, "there is a time for every thing under heaven."

If Nebraska wins it, I'll check back in late on Saturday night, enjoying two very different kinds of afterglow. If they lose I'll settle for that one kind of afterglow -- if ya get my drift -- then take off a few days to crawl away with my tail between my legs, mourn and finally slink back here for a pity party. Either way, it's gonna be college football at it's best. It doesn't get much better than this. If you're a true college football fan, then be there or be square.

GO BIG RED!!!

[markatisu]

Wow did the Huskers get outplayed, I thought it would be close but wowzers was that a crap performance. I will be the first to say while I root for other teams I hate to see blowouts where its not even competitive.

I actually enjoyed watching the Baylor/KSU game the most this weekend, it went back and forth which I did not really expect. Thank god I watched that because later in the night I got to see Iowa State just get molested by Texas

But the bottom line is Wisconsin ain't seen nuthin' like Martinez and the triple threat Huskers' offense.

Your right about that, they are used to seeing offense not whatever it was Nebraska was doing

You will be OK Jack, I think you guys will rebound fine against Ohio State next week!

[midor]

Welcome to the Big Ten Nebraska.

Hope you enjoyed your monkey stomping. I know I did. And I did was look at the score. MAN! That hatorade tastes good.

[stjarna]

Does anyone bet on NCAA-FB? I had a less than stellar week, but Stanford and Wisconsin did cover their spreads (Stanford, barely; Wisconsin, by a lol, lol).

[TJRules]

If they lose I'll settle for that one kind of afterglow -- if ya get my drift -- then take off a few days to crawl away with my tail between my legs, mourn and finally slink back here for a pity party. Either way, it's gonna be college football at it's best. It doesn't get much better than this. If you're a true college football fan, then be there or be square.

GO BIG RED!!!

The Huskers didn't even show up dude. They've got a TON of problems. I guess they lost more than their best players to the NFL. A new offense and offensive coordinator doesn't help. Sorry to say, but National Championship hopes are gonna be a ways away.

On a more positive note, NU still has a chance for a Big Ten title. Unfortunately, they'll probably be playing Wisconsin for that one. Hehe. Oh well. GBR!

[Firefly]

The Huskers vs. Badgers game was pretty competitive until Taylor Martinez threw those two interceptions towards the end of the first half. After that, it was all down hill. I didn't even bother watching the second half since I knew where it was going. I knew the Huskers had no chance of winning the Big 10 this year, so I'm not really down in the dumps. The Huskers are too young and inexperienced of a team and Taylor still makes bad decisions.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Welcome to the Big Ten Nebraska.

Hope you enjoyed your monkey stomping. I know I did. And I did was look at the score. MAN! That hatorade tastes good.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hate can be a delicious nectar I guess. I wouldn't know.

Anyway, it was complete and total destruction. I don't even know if I've a right to post in this thred after last night.

[markatisu]

Anyway, it was complete and total destruction. I don't even know if I've a right to post in this thred after last night.

Hey you did not know your QB would completely and totally tank your team.

Its just unfortunate that it seems everything in your one post went the other way, Nebraska got throttled and Stanford dominated UCLA.

But all is not over, the loss was not in their division so if they can force Martinez to not doom them with his poor choices they might still be able to compete for the Big 10 Title (their hardest games come in November against Michigan and Iowa imho).

I didn't even bother watching the second half since I knew where it was going.

Yup, if I remember right his 1st play in the 2nd half was another interception. By then I think they just gave up.

It will be interesting to see in the coming years, the Big 12 was not really a defensive league. That is what made Nebraska stand out a bit more, the Big 10 is very much at times a defensive league.

[TJRules]

Hey you did not know your QB would completely and totally tank your team.

The defense deserves most of the blame for this one, imo. Poor tackling.

[markatisu]

The defense deserves most of the blame for this one, imo. Poor tackling.

Poor tackling cannot be blamed for almost 4 straight interceptions, that is bad QB decisions. After the 1st one Nebraska would have been smart to run the ball more and space out the pass. Acting like it was just a minor mishap is how they ended up giving away the game before halftime.

I am not excusing anybody but like Tony Romo for the Dallas Cowboys, Martinez is the captain and the decision maker. It was his plays that led to the onslaught of free Wisconsin points.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Poor tackling cannot be blamed for almost 4 straight interceptions, that is bad QB decisions. After the 1st one Nebraska would have been smart to run the ball more and space out the pass. Acting like it was just a minor mishap is how they ended up giving away the game before halftime.

I am not excusing anybody but like Tony Romo for the Dallas Cowboys, Martinez is the captain and the decision maker. It was his plays that led to the onslaught of free Wisconsin points.

It also doesn't help when you're pitted against an average 330-pound offensive line that's bigger than the Green Bay Packers.

I agree about Martinez -- he's got inexperienced receivers going up against one of the best (and for my money you can toss out "one of") defenses in the country. But I put most of the blame on Bo because he is the ultimate decision maker. It was a huge mistake not to stay with the classic Tom Osborne running game. Did Nebraska learn nothing from the Callahan years?

Congrats to Wisconsin. They're awesome and truly deserving of their status.

[markatisu]

It also doesn't help when you're pitted against an average 330-pound offensive line that's bigger than the Green Bay Packers.

Well just be thankful your team did not move to the SEC or you would be using that excuse on a weekly basis