I am sorry that I have been away, first of all. Hope I can be more of a regular.
Again, a disclaimer: I am a University of Nebraska graduate and a lifelong Husker fan. I was born into it and will take it to my grave.
However, what I saw a few weeks ago in the Capitol One Bowl between Nebraska and South Carolina was, needless to say, disturbing.
It's not just the losses either. I'm OK with losing as long as the team plays the right way. Nebraska football has always been about heart, grit, physical play and toughness combined with the talent necessary to win football games which is different from just about any program in the country.
It's the fact that the team went 9-4 and plays like a bunch of thugs. Until now, I'm proud that Nebraska has never been like Miami, where their motto is, if you don't like to see us celebrate then don't let us get in the end zone. I don't mind the motto but I wouldn't want it applied to my school.
What bothers me the most is the team under Bo Pelini has always been undisciplined, commits way too many personal foul penalties and every time they are faced with adversity, they fold faster than a cheap tent.
And here's another thing: That entire coaching staff they hired during the offseason last year...not good enough in my view. Pelini should be hiring the top assistants in the country, but instead, from afar, it looks like he's hiring guys that only he likes. Tim Beck has absolutely no business being a college football offensive coordinator, and Barney Cotton has absolutely no business being an offensive line coach in college football.
Other random thoughts:
Full congrats to Chef Zakarian for winning the Next Iron Chef competition. I am a Chiarello guy, my folks went to his restaurant in Napa Valley some time ago, but if he couldn't win it then Zakarian is a fine, fine champion himself.
I guess that thing about LSU's defense didn't turn out so great huh? While I'm not necessarily a fan of Alabama being in the game, they still did a hell of a job containing what offense LSU had...and it wasn't much. I have no idea why LSU didn't go with Lee at some point.
Even though they only made it past the second round, I am still so proud of my Houston Texans. They made it further than anyone thought they might and proved a lot of the doubters who said they couldn't beat the Ravens wrong. That game was a tossup right to the end.
Speaking of the Ravens, I sure hope Billy Cundiff's career doesn't take a dive after that missed field goal.
My condolences also go out to the Paterno family, no matter what people say about the scandal at Penn State. It's never good to see anyone die.
Last thing...as for a Super Bowl prediction? Patriots 28, Giants 24.
