Oklahoma State is next, still time for Huskers to turn it around
October 11, 2007
By Jim D. Berryman

No "do or die" or "fire Callahan and Cosgrove" or "R.I.P. Nebraska football" words here, as Nebraska gets ready to host Oklahoma State this Saturday.

If you want a story like that, or a message board full of NU complainers and doomsday predictions, please check out a bevy of Husker so-called "fan" sites on the Internet, available through the "Links" page right here on MissingNebraska.com.

This is also not a spin piece, like you see on Huskers.com, in which positive Husker accomplishments on the field are trumpeted and the negative aspects ignored.

Nebraska (4-2, 1-1) hosts Oklahoma State (3-3, 1-1) this Saturday. Kickoff is at 11:30 a.m. central from Memorial Stadium. The game will be available through Fox Sports Net on Pay Per View for $29.95. Check your local cable or satellite provider to see if the game is available in your area.

Both the Cowboys are Huskers are in dire need of a win, and Oklahoma State will be ready to play, I'm sure. OSU led Texas A&M with 8 minutes left in the game last Saturday in College Station,  before bowing to the Aggies in the end.

It seems like a broken record, but Nebraska is once again in need of a breakthrough game. Yes, even if it's as an unranked team against .500, unranked Oklahoma State.

Are there legitimate concerns with this year's Husker team...the defense, the offense, the coaches...the fans? You bet.

Are there concerns the Huskers are playing without confidence and emotion?
You bet.

Are there concerns the Huskers are playing without total support from some of those who sport crimson red every autumn Saturday afternoon? Sorry to say, but, you bet.

The boo birds who came out of hibernation during the Nebraska-Ball State game at Memorial Stadium, home of the so-called greatest college football fans on earth, proved that.

Is it possible Nebraska will turn things around, win the majority of its remaining games, go on to win the Big 12 Championship next season, and all this drama and strife will be forgotten? You bet.

Remember back to the first week of this season, when lowly Appalachian State beat Michigan in Ann Arbor?

Remember Notre Dame, the darling college football team of the national media, starting the season at 0-5, now just 1-5 after its first victory of the season last weekend?

In past years, Florida State has fizzled, but are improving, and have jumped back into the Top 25 today. The Seminoles are still behind that other Florida team in the rankings...yes, the Gators...but they're even further behind South Florida.

Speaking of Florida teams, the once unstoppable Miami Hurricanes are quite stoppable indeed.

Paterno's Penn State went through lean years. So did Oklahoma, and the mighty Longhorns of Texas have lost 4 straight Big 12 games, while the once doormat Jayhawks of Kansas just whipped Kansas State in Manhattan, and are undefeated,  ranked No. 20 in the nation.

Yes, college football, it is a-changin'.

Will Nebraska return to the glory of the Devaney and Osborne years? The jury is out.

Wait, was that a "you bet"?

It must have come from the fine folks at Huskers.com.

Consistent 9-plus win seasons may be next to impossible with the parity in college football today.

Was I disappointed and full of anti-Callahan venom after getting blasted by Missouri last weekend? You bet.

But the disappointment is long gone. My "throw in the towel" comment made after the Mizzou game was from a fan who was reeling from another embarrassing Husker TV showing. I was more disappointed in seeing Mizzou fake a field goal leading 34-6 in the 4th quarter to score a touchdown instead. Was Missouri piling it on? You bet.

So it's time for the turnaround all Husker fans have been dreaming of. Let's hope the Huskers stop daydreaming, NU fans tone down the complaining, and let's give the Cowpokes a taste of reality from Big Red years gone by.

Go Big Red! You bet!


Comments welcome:
jimdberryman@missingnebraska.com
 

   
Oklahoma State at Nebraska
STORIES - LINKS - VIDEO

> STORIES
10-13-07: NU-OSU: Three points to ponder -Omaha World-Herald
10-13-07: Some fans losing their passion for NU football -Lincoln Journal-Star
10-13-07: NU Fan Reaction: Is there fading interest? -Omaha World-Herald
10-13-07: Dillard remains upbeat despite Blackshirts' woes -Grand Island Independent
10-13-07: At least nudge the rock -Lincoln Journal-Star
10-13-07: Win would be big for OSU, Big 12 -The Oklahoman
10-13-07: Nebraska latest opportunity for OSU to break cycle -The Oklahoman
10-13-07: Cornhuskers keen on living up to high expectations  -Daily Nebraskan/Yahoo
10-13-07: Huskers looking to rebound, NU surprised by struggles -Grand Island Independent
10-12-07: Big Red Breakfast: Less will be more -Omaha World-Herald
10-12-07: Brandenburgh moves into starting spot at WILL linebacker -Lincoln Journal-Star
10-12-07: OSU anticipates success against Cornhuskers -Daily Nebraskan
10-12-07: Impressive athletes dot the OSU roster -Grand Island Independent
10-12-07: Cowboys not letting Gundy's comments distract team -Lincoln Journal-Star
10-12-07: Film crew to shoot Husker footage for Jim Carrey movie -Lincoln Journal-Star
10-12-07: Mo and Jeray are OSU's weak links no more -The Oklahoman
10-12-07: Looking to Potter -Grand Island Independent
10-12-07: First one to 40? -Stillwater News Press
10-11-07:Insider: Oklahoma State -Lincoln Journal-Star
10-11-07: Pounding the rock goes by the wayside -Lincoln Journal-Star
10-11-07: Opponents saving best for Huskers -Omaha World-Herald
10-11-07: OSU, NU in desperate need of ‘W’ - Stillwater News Press
10-11-07:Callahan talks about 'issues' -Omaha World-Herald
10-11-07: Football practice notes 10/11 -Daily Nebraskan
10-11-07: Callahan defends program's passion -The Oklahoman


> VIDEO
10-13-07: Homecoming Parade Fan Reaction -KOLN-KGIN TV 10/11
10-12-07: Cowboy Rush To Test Blackshirts -WOWT 6 Omaha
10-12-07: I'm going to Nebraska this weekend for the best reason to go to Nebraska - football -Video Commentary from The Oklahoman
10-12-07: Struggling Defense Looks to Zach Potter to Motivate Improvement -KOLN-KGIN TV 10/11
10-12-07: UNL Homecoming Yard Displays -KOLN-KGIN TV 10/11
Ongoing Updates: KETV-7 Big Red Zone: Oklahoma St. at Nebraska 
10-11-07: NU Moves On, Focus Now On Oklahoma State -WOWT 6 Omaha
10-11-07: Eye on Okie State -KOLN-KGIN TV 10/11 Lincoln
10-11-07: Cowboys loaded with power -KMTV 3 Omaha

>ON A PERSONAL NOTE
I live in Connecticut. I've lived here for 12 years. I grew up in central Nebraska,  graduated from high school in Lincoln, and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Despite living in Connecticut, I can't tell you whether or not the University of Connecticut won its football game last Saturday. It's now the following Thursday. I could check right now to see the final score, but quite frankly, I could care less.

I care about the Huskers, and always will. I care about the situation at hand.

It is much more difficult for what I believe is a fairly talented NU team to get fired up for a game when all they hear is complaining from Scottsbluff to Omaha, Beatrice to Chadron.

I hold out hope the Huskers will turn things around. For goodness sakes, the Huskers are 4-2. Close wins, lucky wins, shoulda, coulda blowout losses, sure, but NU is 4-2, and 1-1 in Big 12 play with a whole of of playin' still to be done.

Despite current concerns about coaching and lack of motivation, I will always be a Husker fan.

I am not even close to sticking a fork in this year's Husker season.

It ain't "done" yet.

Oct. 12: I got an email from Frank in Connecticut, who tells me Connecticut did not play last weekend. Thank you Frank. He also tells me that Connecticut is the only team in the nation with an undefeated record that is not in the Top 25.
The UConn Huskies play at Virginia Saturday and if they win that game, they will most likely vault into the Top 25. I wish UConn well. I will never be a fan, but I wish them well.

> HAVE YOUR SAY
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