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Huskers seek leftovers and more on day
after Thanksgiving at CU
November 20, 2007
By Jim D. Berryman
Nebraska and Colorado are playing for Big 12 leftovers in
Boulder this Friday.
For Husker football fans, leftovers will have to do this
holiday season. And said leftovers are by no means a given
just yet. There's still a good chance NU will go hungry.
But it sure is better than not even having a seat at the
kiddie table, which is the way things appeared after 5
straight NU losses earlier in the season, capped by a 76-39
drubbing at Kansas.
That is until a Joe Ganz-fueled 73-31 slashing of Kansas
State came about in Lincoln the very next week.
Suddenly Nebraska had a chance to serve up what Kansas and
Missouri left behind.
Suddenly Nebraska had an offense that reminded Big Red fans
of the kind of scoring seen in holiday seasons gone by.
Suddenly, the Huskers had a legitimate shot at winning
against the Colorado Buffaloes, perhaps even utter the
phrase "C-U later" a few times.
Ironic that "C-U later" is exactly what Husker fans may be
saying to Coach Bill Callahan after Tom Osborne's assessment
of the NU coaching staff following this Friday's game.
Nebraska, 5-6 (2-5), faces Colorado, 5-6 (3-4) at Folsom
Field in Boulder, with kickoff scheduled for just after
11:00 a.m. CST. The game will be televised nationally by
ABC.
If the Huskers win, they'll finish in a tie for 3rd place in
the Big 12 North with the Buffs and Kansas State. A win
would give NU 6 wins on the season, qualifying them for a
bowl game.
A win would give Nebraska positive vibes heading into next
season, under sure-to-be starting QB, gutsy Joe Ganz.
If the Buffs win, they'll be bowl bound, probably attracting
a CU fan or two or three for the road trip, provided the
stadium serves alcohol in the stands.
Lose to the Buffs, and Nebraska will stay home from a bowl
game and finish in 5th place in the North, just one
game up on last-place Iowa State.
A loss to Colorado will also give the Huskers a losing
record, and Bill Callahan will be long long gone from
Lincoln.
There's so much speculation, no matter what the outcome of
the NU-CU game, on what will happen to the Nebraska coaching
staff after the game.
The way everybody is talking, seems it's already a done deal
that Callahan, Cosgrove and company will be fired.
But just when you thought you had
"run-it-up-the-middle" Tom Osborne all figured out, he would
call a long pass, a gutsy option, or a brilliant trick play
like the fumble-rooskie.
Tom Osborne went for the win, a 2-point conversion attempt in a national championship game
before college football had overtime.
Kicking the extra point for a tie against Miami on its home
field in an Orange Bowl game we'll all never forget, would more than likely
have given Nebraska the national championship.
The Callahan-era at Nebraska ain't over until Dr. Tom says
it is.
Stay tuned.
But for now, a message for Husker fans across the
prairie and from sea to shining sea: Happy Thanksgiving, Go
Big Red and Stuff the Buffs!
In addition, hats off to the Jayhawks and Tigers for
excellent seasons. You've represented the Big 12 North
nicely this season.
And since Husker fans aren't too keen on leftovers, a
message for Kansas and Mizzou: Enjoy every minute of your night in the national spotlight
Saturday night.
One team will go home disappointed, the other will have a
shot at the Big 12 title and a national championship.
Just keep in mind that over 80,000 red-clad fans up north
from you, with the bitter taste of this season's leftovers
still lingering, sporting a new swagger, new coaches, new
zest...and somebody named Joe Ganz...will see you in Lincoln
next year.
Comments welcome:
jimdberryman@missingnebraska.com
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