As I type this post, there is approximately 37 minutes remaining of 2007, and what a year it has been. As I look back on all the events, I must say the one achievement I am most proud of is my healthier living. As a result of choosing to eat right and exercise daily, I have lost right around 110 pounds. I feel better, look better, and fit into clothes I never dreamed I'd put on again.
All of that said, my weight loss has slowed way down over the last few weeks, and I took on an attitude of maintaining, as opposed to losing. I am disappointed in myself, to a degree, as I set a goal before the holidays to continue to lose despite the temptations of holiday goodies and heavier eating. Alas! As the end-of-the-year holiday traditions unfolded, I became a bit too weak. I haven't gained any weight back, but I haven't lost, and I haven't eaten nearly as healthy as I know I should.
Thus, I am making another resolution, just as I did on New Year's Day last year, to eat healthy and continue to shed the weight. I am also going to meet with several folks who are experienced marathon runners so that I might really get into the finer points of training to run that marathon in the Spring of 2009. It seems only fitting, as I celebrate one full year of healthy life-style changes, to recommit, refocus, and get back in the game!
Happy New Year to all of you! May your dreams and wishes come true, and may your days and weeks be full of God's grace and blessings!!
Peace.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
A Tale of Two Christmas Letters, Part II
If you read my last post, you know all about how there came to exist two Christmas letters from the Campbell Family in 2007, and you have most-likely read version number one. My wife and I work hard to maintain our address book, but due to relocations, computer crashes, and other various reasons, we inevitably find ourselves missing a few important addresses. If you are one who did not receive a hard copy of our letter and current pictures to go with, please accept our apologies. Your absence in our address book is certainly not to be taken personally!
As promised, I have included the traditional version of our annual greetings below, as well as our holiday pictures. We wish you a warm and wonderful holiday celebration, and a prosperous New Year! - The Campbell Family
Season’s Greetings One and All!
The tree is up and adorned with its decorations, holiday displays dot the neighborhood, and carols new and old fill the airwaves of local radio stations. Several rounds of Christmas goodies have gone to their various destinations, and holiday gatherings are abundant. Even Mother Nature has joined the scene, adding a few blasts of winter precipitation to create the proper landscape. As the kids watch an old Christmas movie favorite, it seems the perfect moment to compose our annual recap of the year’s events & highlights.
Korynne turned one in May, and is constantly on the go while trying to keep up with her two older siblings. She loves to explore most everything, and even caused Mommy’s first-ever call to poison control this summer. She’s proven to be quite fearless while scaling the tallest cupboards, counters, and tables. Frankly, we’re beginning to believe she thinks of herself as immortal as she has no qualms about tackling Daddy, or throwing herself in the middle of a family wresting match. Her willingness to play rough, though, is countered by her sweet and loving disposition. Korynne’s vocabulary is expanding quickly as she surprises us with a new word almost daily.
It’s been quite a busy year for the princess of the house. Madilyn turned three in August, and began preschool (or “pretty school” as she refers to it) in September. She has made lots of new friends, and rarely comes home without a new story to tell. While Madilyn has proven to be quite the strong-willed little girl, she is very willing to help Mommy and Daddy with various tasks around the house, her favorite being meal preparation. She seems to have fallen in love with the color pink, as she will often mention the need to go shopping for more “pink princess stuff.”
Big-brother Kaedyn is just a few weeks away from his ninth birthday, and is thoroughly enjoying third grade. He’s seen his share of past struggles in school staying focused and knowing when it is appropriate to “goof off.” He has put most of those issues behind him, however, and has taken a giant step forward in his maturity. In his spare time, you can find him buried in an exciting new book, and he is usually at or near the top of his class in terms of total minutes spent reading each month. Kaedyn continues to enjoy (most of the time) and excel in his role as big brother, especially since they are a good audience for his brand of humor - he loves to make others laugh, and is quite good at it!
Being home to raise her kids is an element of her life Mandi truly cherishes, but make no mistake; her calendar is always quite full! She’s in her twelfth year at Advantage Personnel, where she serves part-time doing marketing and office support, and continues to enjoy the social element of selling candles for PartyLite. In November, Mandi completed training to become a Doula, and will begin assisting mommies-to-be in their birthing processes. She’s so excited about her new adventure, and looks forward to continuing her studies in this field. Mandi continues to serve as the Finance Coordinator with her Mothers of Preschoolers group at church, and traveled to Nashville in September for their annual convention. She considers herself blessed to be part of such a tight-knit group of friends. Mandi has also made some big changes in her life, including daily exercise & healthy eating, helping her to lose almost 50 pounds. We also surprised Mandi with a party to celebrate her 30th birthday in July.
September began Kevin’s fifth year as an Emergency Services Dispatcher for Lincoln and Lancaster County. He continues to enjoy his work, and is currently awaiting an interview for a supervisory position. He recently began a new business adventure with MonaVie, and is in the throws of learning the finer points of presenting their product. After losing nearly 110 pounds, Kevin has set a goal to run the Lincoln Marathon in May of ’09. His training is underway, and he continues to research the best ways to continue his healthier living. His favorite pastime, though, is being a Daddy as he just can’t seem to get enough of his kids.
As we add the finishing touches to another year full of God’s grace and blessings, we pray for a warm and peaceful holiday season for each of you. May your New Year be full of the hope which comes through the birth and presence of Jesus Christ! Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!
Love, the Campbell Family –
Kevin, Mandi, Kaedyn, Madilyn, and Korynne
Being home to raise her kids is an element of her life Mandi truly cherishes, but make no mistake; her calendar is always quite full! She’s in her twelfth year at Advantage Personnel, where she serves part-time doing marketing and office support, and continues to enjoy the social element of selling candles for PartyLite. In November, Mandi completed training to become a Doula, and will begin assisting mommies-to-be in their birthing processes. She’s so excited about her new adventure, and looks forward to continuing her studies in this field. Mandi continues to serve as the Finance Coordinator with her Mothers of Preschoolers group at church, and traveled to Nashville in September for their annual convention. She considers herself blessed to be part of such a tight-knit group of friends. Mandi has also made some big changes in her life, including daily exercise & healthy eating, helping her to lose almost 50 pounds. We also surprised Mandi with a party to celebrate her 30th birthday in July.
September began Kevin’s fifth year as an Emergency Services Dispatcher for Lincoln and Lancaster County. He continues to enjoy his work, and is currently awaiting an interview for a supervisory position. He recently began a new business adventure with MonaVie, and is in the throws of learning the finer points of presenting their product. After losing nearly 110 pounds, Kevin has set a goal to run the Lincoln Marathon in May of ’09. His training is underway, and he continues to research the best ways to continue his healthier living. His favorite pastime, though, is being a Daddy as he just can’t seem to get enough of his kids.
As we add the finishing touches to another year full of God’s grace and blessings, we pray for a warm and peaceful holiday season for each of you. May your New Year be full of the hope which comes through the birth and presence of Jesus Christ! Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!
Love, the Campbell Family –
Kevin, Mandi, Kaedyn, Madilyn, and Korynne
Thursday, December 20, 2007
A Tale of Two Christmas Letters, Part I
Mandi and I finally finished writing our annual holiday letter this week, and they have all been folded, enveloped (is that a word?), and stamped. If they haven't already reached their destinations, they are well on their way. Normally, I enjoy composing our letter each year and look forward to recapping all of the events. The process is especially enjoyable when I have a hot cup of flavored coffee, a little Christmas music, and a few lights strung up to set the mood.
This year, though, was a tough one in which to find such joy. I found myself really struggling to wrap my brain around the magnitude of tragedies which affected our local community and beyond. Trying to compose a warm, feel-good Holiday letter in the midst of all the hurt was difficult at best.
Interestingly enough, I wound up with two letters. The first one was more of an effort to somehow cope with the aforementioned tragedies. After reading it, Mandi calmly told me it was well-written, but was definitely more blog-material as opposed to Christmas letter material. She was right, of course, and so I have copied onto this post for your reading pleasure, should you so choose. The second version of our letter was more traditional, and I will post that one separately for those of you who do not normally receive a hard copy and would be interested in reading it.
Here is the first version, which Mandi referred to as "Rev-Kevology." Cute, eh?
This year, though, was a tough one in which to find such joy. I found myself really struggling to wrap my brain around the magnitude of tragedies which affected our local community and beyond. Trying to compose a warm, feel-good Holiday letter in the midst of all the hurt was difficult at best.
Interestingly enough, I wound up with two letters. The first one was more of an effort to somehow cope with the aforementioned tragedies. After reading it, Mandi calmly told me it was well-written, but was definitely more blog-material as opposed to Christmas letter material. She was right, of course, and so I have copied onto this post for your reading pleasure, should you so choose. The second version of our letter was more traditional, and I will post that one separately for those of you who do not normally receive a hard copy and would be interested in reading it.
Here is the first version, which Mandi referred to as "Rev-Kevology." Cute, eh?
Season’s Greetings One and All!
The tree is up and adorned with its decorations, holiday displays dot the neighborhood, and carols new and old fill the airwaves of the local radio stations. Several rounds of Christmas goodies have gone to their various destinations, and holiday gatherings are abundant. Even Mother Nature has joined the scene, adding a few blasts of winter precipitation in order to create the proper landscape.
Such festive celebration, though, seems somewhat faded in the midst of the numerous tragic events over the past several days: a troubled teen walked into an Omaha mall with a high-powered rifle strapped to his shoulder and opened fire, killing eight people before taking his own life; four people died after gunmen opened fire at two Colorado churches; gunfire was exchanged between a couple of high school students in Los Angeles, all over somebody’s girlfriend; a bank in Lincoln was robbed at gunpoint yesterday. A few hours later, a father became upset after his daughter’s order wasn’t corrected at a Lincoln Wendy’s, so he pulled a gun on the young employee and threatened to kill him. Not to mention the ongoing carnage in Iraq, fighting in the Middle East, and on and on and on.
Sigh.
All of these events took place against the backdrop of our church’s Christmas drama. The storyline was centered around “Holly,” who struggled to find the peace and contentment which comes from understanding the meaning of Christmas. Near the end of the drama, Holly learned the meaning of Christmas comes from the knowledge and presence of Christ. It has admittedly been a struggle during this dark stretch of history to find and or feel the presence of Christ, and to know He is with us.
Fast-forward to this morning. We awoke to the first day of clear, blue sky and bright sunshine in quite some time, which immediately worked wonders for our attitudes. After our morning breakfast ritual, we piled into the van and began our trek to school to drop Kaedyn off for another adventurous day of third grade. Our next stop would be Belmont Recreation Center, where Madilyn would join her new friends for preschool, and then back home to hang out with 19-month-old Korynne. On the way home, a discussion began on the radio station we were tuned into about a single mom with three kids who had become homeless after a series of unfortunate and life-changing events. Thanks in-part to donations from that station’s listeners, the family was given a new home and a fresh start. The host of the show repeatedly thanked the listeners for their charity, but also mentioned hope as being a factor in this mom’s life.
Hope. Hearing that word struck a chord of beautiful resonance. We came to realize one of many messages from Christmas, and maybe the most important one for this year. In so many facets of this life, Jesus represents and embodies a sense of hope for each of us. God sent his Son so we could have hope, even during the seemingly darkest of days. If there were ever a central, basic message in all of the teachings of Jesus, it would have to be one of hope. Even in the darkest of days, when we struggle to comprehend life’s events, we have hope. Jesus not only represented hope, but provided us with a model of fortitude to change the world for the greater good, to press on through dark times, and most importantly, always feel God’s presence regardless of life’s circumstances.
From our house to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas, filled with a sense of hope, encouragement, and the presence of Christ. God Bless.
The tree is up and adorned with its decorations, holiday displays dot the neighborhood, and carols new and old fill the airwaves of the local radio stations. Several rounds of Christmas goodies have gone to their various destinations, and holiday gatherings are abundant. Even Mother Nature has joined the scene, adding a few blasts of winter precipitation in order to create the proper landscape.
Such festive celebration, though, seems somewhat faded in the midst of the numerous tragic events over the past several days: a troubled teen walked into an Omaha mall with a high-powered rifle strapped to his shoulder and opened fire, killing eight people before taking his own life; four people died after gunmen opened fire at two Colorado churches; gunfire was exchanged between a couple of high school students in Los Angeles, all over somebody’s girlfriend; a bank in Lincoln was robbed at gunpoint yesterday. A few hours later, a father became upset after his daughter’s order wasn’t corrected at a Lincoln Wendy’s, so he pulled a gun on the young employee and threatened to kill him. Not to mention the ongoing carnage in Iraq, fighting in the Middle East, and on and on and on.
Sigh.
All of these events took place against the backdrop of our church’s Christmas drama. The storyline was centered around “Holly,” who struggled to find the peace and contentment which comes from understanding the meaning of Christmas. Near the end of the drama, Holly learned the meaning of Christmas comes from the knowledge and presence of Christ. It has admittedly been a struggle during this dark stretch of history to find and or feel the presence of Christ, and to know He is with us.
Fast-forward to this morning. We awoke to the first day of clear, blue sky and bright sunshine in quite some time, which immediately worked wonders for our attitudes. After our morning breakfast ritual, we piled into the van and began our trek to school to drop Kaedyn off for another adventurous day of third grade. Our next stop would be Belmont Recreation Center, where Madilyn would join her new friends for preschool, and then back home to hang out with 19-month-old Korynne. On the way home, a discussion began on the radio station we were tuned into about a single mom with three kids who had become homeless after a series of unfortunate and life-changing events. Thanks in-part to donations from that station’s listeners, the family was given a new home and a fresh start. The host of the show repeatedly thanked the listeners for their charity, but also mentioned hope as being a factor in this mom’s life.
Hope. Hearing that word struck a chord of beautiful resonance. We came to realize one of many messages from Christmas, and maybe the most important one for this year. In so many facets of this life, Jesus represents and embodies a sense of hope for each of us. God sent his Son so we could have hope, even during the seemingly darkest of days. If there were ever a central, basic message in all of the teachings of Jesus, it would have to be one of hope. Even in the darkest of days, when we struggle to comprehend life’s events, we have hope. Jesus not only represented hope, but provided us with a model of fortitude to change the world for the greater good, to press on through dark times, and most importantly, always feel God’s presence regardless of life’s circumstances.
From our house to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas, filled with a sense of hope, encouragement, and the presence of Christ. God Bless.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
And So It Goes...
The Lady Huskers saw their volleyball season come to a rather abrupt end the other night while competing in the NCAA tournament. The Huskers were one of eight remaining teams competing for a national title, and were expected to be in the final four. But, alas! The California Golden Bears had plans of their own, and shocked the Huskers by sweeping them three-games-to-none. It was a sad night in Husker Nation. I haven't posted about the volleyball team in quite some time, but you may remember my relenting about the Huskers' loss at Texas about midway through the season. While that match was their only loss of the regular season, the ladies never quite seemed to gain their finesse back. Texas exposed some weaknesses in Nebraska, and found some chinks in their immortal armor.
And so we move on. There is much to be excited about right now in Husker Nation. The football team has a new coach, Bo Pelini, who seems to be much more in touch with the residents of the state, and the direction of the program. This was never more evident than when Pelini was first introduced as the head coach. His first act as head coach was to turn all attention to his wife and kids as he thanked them for their continued support. He acknowledged the difficulty in being a spouse of a football coach, bouncing from job to job and location to location. Pelini immediately began forging an atmosphere of family and tight-knit relationships, which is expected to carry over to the athletic department. Yes, Husker Nation is filled with anticipation once again!
Meanwhile, the men's basketball team is looking better and better under the guidance of second-year head coach Doc Saddler. Husker Hoops has never resembled anything close to a national contender, but things are looking up as they continue to be competitive. Look out, Jayhawks, here come the Huskers! (Okay, that might be a bit of a stretch, but aim high, right??)
GO BIG RED!!
And so we move on. There is much to be excited about right now in Husker Nation. The football team has a new coach, Bo Pelini, who seems to be much more in touch with the residents of the state, and the direction of the program. This was never more evident than when Pelini was first introduced as the head coach. His first act as head coach was to turn all attention to his wife and kids as he thanked them for their continued support. He acknowledged the difficulty in being a spouse of a football coach, bouncing from job to job and location to location. Pelini immediately began forging an atmosphere of family and tight-knit relationships, which is expected to carry over to the athletic department. Yes, Husker Nation is filled with anticipation once again!
Meanwhile, the men's basketball team is looking better and better under the guidance of second-year head coach Doc Saddler. Husker Hoops has never resembled anything close to a national contender, but things are looking up as they continue to be competitive. Look out, Jayhawks, here come the Huskers! (Okay, that might be a bit of a stretch, but aim high, right??)
GO BIG RED!!
Friday, November 30, 2007
The Granddaddy of Them All
I hate shopping. In fact, I despise it. I have absolutely no need to spend countless hours bouncing around shopping malls and department stores browsing through items I most likely don't need and probably couldn't afford anyway. Shopping, at least in the traditional sense, is torture. I'm the kind of person who knows exactly what I need, I go get it, I come home. Done. Nothing to it. You might, on occasion, find me browsing the power tools aisles at Menard's, but that's only when I have a few extra minutes to kill for some reason. I hate shopping.
All of that said, there are two very distinct situations in which I will engage in a traditional, stereotypical shopping trip: 1.) When my three-year-old-princess/daughter has me all to herself and requests to go to the store to look around. Because said princess has me wrapped around her little finger like a good little Daddy, I can't resist her big blue "pretty please" eyes whenever she decides a shopping trip is in order. Sigh. What can I say? 2.) Christmas is just around the corner, and Mandi and I have scheduled our annual shopping trip in which we spend one gigantic, long, huge, massive afternoon wiping our entire list of needed gifts. It's The Granddaddy Shopping Trip of Them All.
Today was the day for The Granddaddy. and Mandi and I were armed and ready. We were especially prepared because we decided at the beginning of this year to budget our savings contributions in order to accommodate Christmas, so there was no big dent in our checkbook, and no use of credit cards. Our mission began shortly before 1100 hours this morning when Grandma arrived to stay with the girls. Mandi and I hit the ground running, and our first stop was Toys R (I can't figure out how to make the 'R' a backwards one, like it's supposed to be) Us. It only took us about 80 minutes there, and everyone of the kids in the family was crossed off the list. Next stop: lunch. When engaged in such a massive operation, the only thing truly nourishing is a trip through the local Chinese buffet. And so it was for us, although after eating so healthy over the course of the last year, it wasn't quite as tasty. Nevertheless, it served us well, and at approximately 1300 hours we were off to Office Depot to find some holiday stationary on which to print our Christmas letter. Mission accomplished.
We have been on the market for a new digital camera to replace the hand-me-down which recently went to its grave. Lo and behold, what should be right across the street from Office Depot but a Best Buy. Oh yeah, baby, we were on a roll! We walked out of Best Buy 37 minutes later as proud owners of a new digital camera, then decided it was high-time to head downtown and patronize the God-send of all ice cream shops, Coldstone. Mmmmmm....ice cream. After filling our bellies with ice cream, we ran to Wal-Mart to finish our shopping. Now this is where our trip really took a form of shopping art. We were up against the clock during this last leg because we had to pick up our son from school. All told, we had approximately 40 minutes to get in, get out, and head to the school. We strategized on the way there, and we each had our assignments. I dropped Mandi off at the front door so she could get a head start, and once I found a place to park, I was off. It was a beautiful plan, executed to perfection, right up until our checker decided to chat with us as she restocked her plastic bags at a painfully slow rate. A little urging from Mandi, though, and she stepped it up and got us out of the Evil Empire that is Wal-Mart. Mission completed at 1540 hours.
All told, it was a great day. Mandi and I spent some quality time together, enjoyed each other, and completed the daunting task of our Christmas shopping. And, I won't have to go shopping for a very, very long time. I think I still have that glazed look. I hate shopping.
All of that said, there are two very distinct situations in which I will engage in a traditional, stereotypical shopping trip: 1.) When my three-year-old-princess/daughter has me all to herself and requests to go to the store to look around. Because said princess has me wrapped around her little finger like a good little Daddy, I can't resist her big blue "pretty please" eyes whenever she decides a shopping trip is in order. Sigh. What can I say? 2.) Christmas is just around the corner, and Mandi and I have scheduled our annual shopping trip in which we spend one gigantic, long, huge, massive afternoon wiping our entire list of needed gifts. It's The Granddaddy Shopping Trip of Them All.
Today was the day for The Granddaddy. and Mandi and I were armed and ready. We were especially prepared because we decided at the beginning of this year to budget our savings contributions in order to accommodate Christmas, so there was no big dent in our checkbook, and no use of credit cards. Our mission began shortly before 1100 hours this morning when Grandma arrived to stay with the girls. Mandi and I hit the ground running, and our first stop was Toys R (I can't figure out how to make the 'R' a backwards one, like it's supposed to be) Us. It only took us about 80 minutes there, and everyone of the kids in the family was crossed off the list. Next stop: lunch. When engaged in such a massive operation, the only thing truly nourishing is a trip through the local Chinese buffet. And so it was for us, although after eating so healthy over the course of the last year, it wasn't quite as tasty. Nevertheless, it served us well, and at approximately 1300 hours we were off to Office Depot to find some holiday stationary on which to print our Christmas letter. Mission accomplished.
We have been on the market for a new digital camera to replace the hand-me-down which recently went to its grave. Lo and behold, what should be right across the street from Office Depot but a Best Buy. Oh yeah, baby, we were on a roll! We walked out of Best Buy 37 minutes later as proud owners of a new digital camera, then decided it was high-time to head downtown and patronize the God-send of all ice cream shops, Coldstone. Mmmmmm....ice cream. After filling our bellies with ice cream, we ran to Wal-Mart to finish our shopping. Now this is where our trip really took a form of shopping art. We were up against the clock during this last leg because we had to pick up our son from school. All told, we had approximately 40 minutes to get in, get out, and head to the school. We strategized on the way there, and we each had our assignments. I dropped Mandi off at the front door so she could get a head start, and once I found a place to park, I was off. It was a beautiful plan, executed to perfection, right up until our checker decided to chat with us as she restocked her plastic bags at a painfully slow rate. A little urging from Mandi, though, and she stepped it up and got us out of the Evil Empire that is Wal-Mart. Mission completed at 1540 hours.
All told, it was a great day. Mandi and I spent some quality time together, enjoyed each other, and completed the daunting task of our Christmas shopping. And, I won't have to go shopping for a very, very long time. I think I still have that glazed look. I hate shopping.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
A Long Time Coming
Nearly seven months ago, Mandi and I made the difficult decision to not allow Kaedyn's biological father (Andy) to continue with his court-ordered visitation schedule because we felt Andy was exposing Kaedyn to an environment which was simply not healthy. We also felt Kaedyn was placed at risk, both mentally and physically, due to the kinds of activities in which Andy chose to engage, even when he was with Kaedyn. The decision to stop visitation was not a difficult one with regards to Kaedyn's well-being, rather it was difficult because we put ourselves at risk in that we knew we would technically be in contempt of court since the visitation schedule was court-ordered. We did not, however, permanently ban Andy from seeing Kaedyn. We simply told him we needed to sit down and discuss our concerns before he would be allowed to see Kaedyn again.
As I said, that was nearly seven months ago, and we have not heard anything from Andy. No phone calls, no letters, no contact. Period. Not even one attempt. In Nebraska, it is possible to begin child-abandonment proceedings if a parent has had no contact with a child for six months. I mention this because in order for me to adopt Kaedyn, which has been a goal since Mandi and I met nearly seven years ago, one of two events must occur: 1. Andy must voluntarily forfeit his parental rights, or 2. Andy must have no contact with Kaedyn for six months, thereby falling under the Nebraska statutes of child abandonment.
The chances of Andy voluntarily giving up his parental rights were zero percent, at best. Our only hope was for Andy to discontinue contact with Kaedyn for a period of six months, and that has now come to pass. It was a long, painful wait, as just one phone call or letter would have reset the clock, so to speak. Mandi and I met with an attorney this morning, who feels our chances of winning this case are very good. We are fortunate in that this particular attorney has dealt with Andy before, so is familiar with his character, or lack thereof. The papers will be filed either yet today or tomorrow, and Andy should be served within a week.
We honestly have no clue how Andy will respond. If he chooses to contest, he will need to hire an attorney and we don't believe he has the resources to do so. As our attorney pointed out this morning, however, people can become quite creative when the need for money exists. We are excited about our chances, but cautiously moving forward as we realize there are a number of things we simply can't control. Who knows what God has in store for us, and all we can do now is pray. As this process carries on, I will continue to provide updates. In the meantime, please keep us, and especially Kaedyn, in your prayers.
As I said, that was nearly seven months ago, and we have not heard anything from Andy. No phone calls, no letters, no contact. Period. Not even one attempt. In Nebraska, it is possible to begin child-abandonment proceedings if a parent has had no contact with a child for six months. I mention this because in order for me to adopt Kaedyn, which has been a goal since Mandi and I met nearly seven years ago, one of two events must occur: 1. Andy must voluntarily forfeit his parental rights, or 2. Andy must have no contact with Kaedyn for six months, thereby falling under the Nebraska statutes of child abandonment.
The chances of Andy voluntarily giving up his parental rights were zero percent, at best. Our only hope was for Andy to discontinue contact with Kaedyn for a period of six months, and that has now come to pass. It was a long, painful wait, as just one phone call or letter would have reset the clock, so to speak. Mandi and I met with an attorney this morning, who feels our chances of winning this case are very good. We are fortunate in that this particular attorney has dealt with Andy before, so is familiar with his character, or lack thereof. The papers will be filed either yet today or tomorrow, and Andy should be served within a week.
We honestly have no clue how Andy will respond. If he chooses to contest, he will need to hire an attorney and we don't believe he has the resources to do so. As our attorney pointed out this morning, however, people can become quite creative when the need for money exists. We are excited about our chances, but cautiously moving forward as we realize there are a number of things we simply can't control. Who knows what God has in store for us, and all we can do now is pray. As this process carries on, I will continue to provide updates. In the meantime, please keep us, and especially Kaedyn, in your prayers.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
'It Is Finished'
This weeks' plethora of activities surrounding Thanksgiving did not allow time for my usual Husker football commentary and prediction before gameday. My thoughts on the game would have been way off anyway, as I felt as though Nebraska had found something to build on after throttling Kansas State a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday's final in Boulder was an excruciating 65-51 in favor of Colorado, leaving the Huskers with a mark of 5-7, unqualified for a bowl game, and a second losing season in just four years under Bill Callahan. It has been an awkward, painful ride under Callahan's guidance over the past four years, and especially this season. It took me quite a long time to figure out that Callahan was never quite the right fit for NU. Funny how winning, or even the anticipation of, will cloud the vision of even the most tenured and knowledgeable fan, but looking back over the past four years, I can now clearly see, even in Callahan's successes, how he was just not quite right for Nebraska.
The 2007 Nebraska Football campaign came to an end as the final second ticked off the clock in Boulder yesterday, and Athletic Director Tom Osborn wasted no time in meeting with the coaching staff this morning, then announcing the end of the Callahan and Company era at NU. The national search for a new coach has begun, and with all of the college football resignations and firings across the nation, I'm not even going to begin to speculate as to who might be our next coach. I have my hopes, and a couple of ideas in mind, but I'm just going to sit back and watch it unfold. I admit my exhaustion and numbness after what has transpired this season, which probably means I put way too much into Nebraska football. What can I say? I love the sport itself, and I love the Huskers even more. It's just who I am. I will anxiously follow the search for a new head coach, and will anxiously await a decision, but I'm not interested in slicing and dicing the possibilities and scenarios. I'm tired, and ready to move on from this torturous and disappointing season.
I will say this in farewell to Callahan: he's a fighter to the bitter end. I think he's handling all of this with as much class as a person in his position can, as it is not an easy task to be a head football coach at Nebraska. Callahan never blamed his players or his staff for the downward spiral of the program, and rarely looked for an excuse. He coached right to the very end, which was evident in yesterday's game. With 30 seconds to go in a game that had been decided several minutes before, Callahan's head was buried in his playsheet in an effort to find one more score. He was successful, as QB Joe Ganz hit senior wide-receiver Maurice Purify for a touchdown. To most of the college football world, that last score meant nothing, and may have even been laughable. But to Callahan and his players, it was a tiny ray of light in what has been an abysmal season at dear ol' Nebraska U. It was a fight to the bitter end. God-speed, Coach Callahan, and I sincerely wish you luck in whatever the future holds for you.
And so begins the off-season, and the opportunity to watch, wait, and anticipate. The program will go in a different direction, no doubt. Which direction and under whose guidance remains to be seen, but I can already feel a sense of fresh air. New coach, new system, same expectations. Hang on folks, the new ride begins here and now.
GO BIG RED!
The 2007 Nebraska Football campaign came to an end as the final second ticked off the clock in Boulder yesterday, and Athletic Director Tom Osborn wasted no time in meeting with the coaching staff this morning, then announcing the end of the Callahan and Company era at NU. The national search for a new coach has begun, and with all of the college football resignations and firings across the nation, I'm not even going to begin to speculate as to who might be our next coach. I have my hopes, and a couple of ideas in mind, but I'm just going to sit back and watch it unfold. I admit my exhaustion and numbness after what has transpired this season, which probably means I put way too much into Nebraska football. What can I say? I love the sport itself, and I love the Huskers even more. It's just who I am. I will anxiously follow the search for a new head coach, and will anxiously await a decision, but I'm not interested in slicing and dicing the possibilities and scenarios. I'm tired, and ready to move on from this torturous and disappointing season.
I will say this in farewell to Callahan: he's a fighter to the bitter end. I think he's handling all of this with as much class as a person in his position can, as it is not an easy task to be a head football coach at Nebraska. Callahan never blamed his players or his staff for the downward spiral of the program, and rarely looked for an excuse. He coached right to the very end, which was evident in yesterday's game. With 30 seconds to go in a game that had been decided several minutes before, Callahan's head was buried in his playsheet in an effort to find one more score. He was successful, as QB Joe Ganz hit senior wide-receiver Maurice Purify for a touchdown. To most of the college football world, that last score meant nothing, and may have even been laughable. But to Callahan and his players, it was a tiny ray of light in what has been an abysmal season at dear ol' Nebraska U. It was a fight to the bitter end. God-speed, Coach Callahan, and I sincerely wish you luck in whatever the future holds for you.
And so begins the off-season, and the opportunity to watch, wait, and anticipate. The program will go in a different direction, no doubt. Which direction and under whose guidance remains to be seen, but I can already feel a sense of fresh air. New coach, new system, same expectations. Hang on folks, the new ride begins here and now.
GO BIG RED!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Turkey-Day Eve Grumblings, er, Gobblings
Yesterday morning began sort of rough for me, following a long night in which Madilyn spent nearly two-and-a-half hours awake in the middle of the night. It's a long story as to why, and I won't go into the gory details. Suffice it to say when we finally convinced her to stay in bed and sleep, the lack-of-sleep damage to Mommy and Daddy had already been done. Korynne tried to be kind to us as she slept a bit later than normal, but it wasn't quite enough to overcome our needs. Needless to say, both Mandi and I woke up exhausted and not nearly ready to face the day with its new challenges and/or opportunities.
Mandi had to run several errands yesterday morning, so I thought I would seize the opportunity to spend some quality "Daddy" time with the kids. Well, that didn't work out so well since Madilyn was overly tired and cranky, Korynne is still fighting a bit of a runny nose and wasn't all that cheery, and Daddy didn't have the required amount of patience to deal with the entire situation. Kaedyn was home from school thanks to the impending holiday, but he had chosen to engage himself in a Lego project behind the closed door of his room. Smart kid, that Kaedyn, given the volatile situation outside of his room.
Instead of continuing to press the girls for some quality time, I took to working on several pie crusts I was preparing for the impending Thanksgiving Day feasts with both sides of our family. I figured maybe I could get a early sense of the holiday spirit if I spent some time doing a holiday-type activity. Maybe, just maybe, I my spirits would be lifted. Leaving the girls to fend for themselves, however, only forced them to bicker at each other and thereby created a not-so-joyous atmosphere. I had all but reached my wit's end when Mandi returned home. "Ah," I said to myself, "The reinforcements have arrived." Still, Mandi's arrival did not stop me from snapping when all three kids were standing at the back door watching the season's first snowfall and still bickering at each other. Daddy's fuse reached the end. In no uncertain terms, I told the kids they were driving me nuts and if they didn't leave my immediate area and find something with which to entertain themselves, I could not be held responsible for my actions. (And no, my verbiage was not nearly as eloquent as what I have just typed.)
Well, lunchtime came and went without incident and when we were finished eating, I thought maybe my mind and body would best be served by suiting up and taking the dogs for a run. As I prepared to do just that, Kaedyn asked if he could go along, and I readily agreed since I figured some fresh air would do him good as well. We bundled up to face the cold weather, strapped up the dogs, and the four of us headed out. It was a good run, and I felt 100% better afterwards.
After returning home, Kaedyn decided to hang out in the backyard and play around in the snow. It wasn't too long before I heard a thud on the window next to which I was sitting. Upon my investigation, I found Kaedyn's rosy-red cheeks and big smile as he pointed at the remnants of the snowball he'd just thrown. I realized he was calling me out. He had just declared war. It was on! I threw on a sweatshirt and gloves, stepped outside, and for twenty glorious minutes we pasted each other with snowballs and laughter. It was a great time, and snapped me out of my funk for the day.
After a quick shower before work, I came out into the kitchen to find Kaedyn in the midst of preparing himself a cup of hot cocoa. Folks, there's just nothing like a good snowball fight and an ensuing cup of hot cocoa to put a guy in the mood for the holiday season! Thanks to my eight-year-old and his ability to make me feel like a kid again, I was feeling much better by the time I headed out the door for work. I drove to work in silence, and just enjoyed the waning afternoon snowfall. As I got into downtown, it was fun to watch the city's public works employees putting the strands of holiday lights on the trees.
Despite the rough beginning, the day ended on a wonderful and warm note, and officially launched my spirit into holiday mode. Today is Thanksgiving, and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you celebrate. My prayer is for each of you to take a few, silent moments thinking about all those little things which add to your holiday spirit. Count them as blessings, and may your Thanksgiving be one of joyous celebration.
Mandi had to run several errands yesterday morning, so I thought I would seize the opportunity to spend some quality "Daddy" time with the kids. Well, that didn't work out so well since Madilyn was overly tired and cranky, Korynne is still fighting a bit of a runny nose and wasn't all that cheery, and Daddy didn't have the required amount of patience to deal with the entire situation. Kaedyn was home from school thanks to the impending holiday, but he had chosen to engage himself in a Lego project behind the closed door of his room. Smart kid, that Kaedyn, given the volatile situation outside of his room.
Instead of continuing to press the girls for some quality time, I took to working on several pie crusts I was preparing for the impending Thanksgiving Day feasts with both sides of our family. I figured maybe I could get a early sense of the holiday spirit if I spent some time doing a holiday-type activity. Maybe, just maybe, I my spirits would be lifted. Leaving the girls to fend for themselves, however, only forced them to bicker at each other and thereby created a not-so-joyous atmosphere. I had all but reached my wit's end when Mandi returned home. "Ah," I said to myself, "The reinforcements have arrived." Still, Mandi's arrival did not stop me from snapping when all three kids were standing at the back door watching the season's first snowfall and still bickering at each other. Daddy's fuse reached the end. In no uncertain terms, I told the kids they were driving me nuts and if they didn't leave my immediate area and find something with which to entertain themselves, I could not be held responsible for my actions. (And no, my verbiage was not nearly as eloquent as what I have just typed.)
Well, lunchtime came and went without incident and when we were finished eating, I thought maybe my mind and body would best be served by suiting up and taking the dogs for a run. As I prepared to do just that, Kaedyn asked if he could go along, and I readily agreed since I figured some fresh air would do him good as well. We bundled up to face the cold weather, strapped up the dogs, and the four of us headed out. It was a good run, and I felt 100% better afterwards.
After returning home, Kaedyn decided to hang out in the backyard and play around in the snow. It wasn't too long before I heard a thud on the window next to which I was sitting. Upon my investigation, I found Kaedyn's rosy-red cheeks and big smile as he pointed at the remnants of the snowball he'd just thrown. I realized he was calling me out. He had just declared war. It was on! I threw on a sweatshirt and gloves, stepped outside, and for twenty glorious minutes we pasted each other with snowballs and laughter. It was a great time, and snapped me out of my funk for the day.
After a quick shower before work, I came out into the kitchen to find Kaedyn in the midst of preparing himself a cup of hot cocoa. Folks, there's just nothing like a good snowball fight and an ensuing cup of hot cocoa to put a guy in the mood for the holiday season! Thanks to my eight-year-old and his ability to make me feel like a kid again, I was feeling much better by the time I headed out the door for work. I drove to work in silence, and just enjoyed the waning afternoon snowfall. As I got into downtown, it was fun to watch the city's public works employees putting the strands of holiday lights on the trees.
Despite the rough beginning, the day ended on a wonderful and warm note, and officially launched my spirit into holiday mode. Today is Thanksgiving, and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you celebrate. My prayer is for each of you to take a few, silent moments thinking about all those little things which add to your holiday spirit. Count them as blessings, and may your Thanksgiving be one of joyous celebration.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Huskers 73, Wildcats 31
Speechless. Only this time, I'm speechless in a very good way regarding Husker Football. And it's been a long time since I've felt this good. I feel so good, in fact, that I'm just sort of spilling my thoughts into this post. There is absolutely zero organization to it whatsoever, so if you can, bare with me.
One week after suffering THE most embarrassing loss in Nebraska Football history, the Huskers stepped up to the plate and delivered what has to be the most shocking win of at least this season, and probably the last several. Joe Ganz, the Huskers back-up QB until the last few minutes of the Texas game two weeks ago, was stunning. Over five-hundred yards passing and seven touchdowns? And against a decent Kansas State outfit?? Wow! That, ladies and gentlemen, is Husker Football at its finest. By the final gun, the Huskers racked up over seven-hundred yards of offense, scoring on eleven straight possessions. Although the Husker defense allowed a silly touchdown in the last few minutes (with the backups in, mind you), they even showed some signs of emotion in their play. The team that showed up Saturday was the team I expected to see from the beginning of the season. But never mind that now, for I'm still savoring every last second of last Saturday.
Of course, this entire scenario begs the question of who should have been the starting QB all year long. I don't know that Keller was the wrong choice, but I do think Ganz should have been given a shot at some playing time long before the Texas game. Some of those games when the Huskers were getting blown out, maybe. Again, never mind that now.
There is actually a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air in Husker Nation. Believe it or not, there's gonna be a little showdown in Boulder, Colorado on the day after Thanksgiving. The annual battle between the Huskers and Buffaloes won't have any conference title implications. It won't be a fight to finish in the national rankings. And, it certainly won't mean much to the rest of the college football world. But here in prideful Husker Nation, it means a whole lot. The Huskers are 5-6, as are the Buffaloes. Both outfits need another win to become bowl eligible. The winner most-likely gets an invitation to post-season play, and the loser stays home for the holidays. Can ya feel the excitement? Can ya taste the anticipation? Okay, maybe not. But in a time when the Husker faithful have to scrounge for a little morsel of excitement, this game means everything. Look out, Boulder, here comes the BIG RED!
More on this game next week. And look for an update on the Lady Huskers in the next few days, as well as some posts I've been diligently working on and ones which I promised several weeks ago. In the meantime, and as always....
GO BIG RED!!
One week after suffering THE most embarrassing loss in Nebraska Football history, the Huskers stepped up to the plate and delivered what has to be the most shocking win of at least this season, and probably the last several. Joe Ganz, the Huskers back-up QB until the last few minutes of the Texas game two weeks ago, was stunning. Over five-hundred yards passing and seven touchdowns? And against a decent Kansas State outfit?? Wow! That, ladies and gentlemen, is Husker Football at its finest. By the final gun, the Huskers racked up over seven-hundred yards of offense, scoring on eleven straight possessions. Although the Husker defense allowed a silly touchdown in the last few minutes (with the backups in, mind you), they even showed some signs of emotion in their play. The team that showed up Saturday was the team I expected to see from the beginning of the season. But never mind that now, for I'm still savoring every last second of last Saturday.
Of course, this entire scenario begs the question of who should have been the starting QB all year long. I don't know that Keller was the wrong choice, but I do think Ganz should have been given a shot at some playing time long before the Texas game. Some of those games when the Huskers were getting blown out, maybe. Again, never mind that now.
There is actually a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air in Husker Nation. Believe it or not, there's gonna be a little showdown in Boulder, Colorado on the day after Thanksgiving. The annual battle between the Huskers and Buffaloes won't have any conference title implications. It won't be a fight to finish in the national rankings. And, it certainly won't mean much to the rest of the college football world. But here in prideful Husker Nation, it means a whole lot. The Huskers are 5-6, as are the Buffaloes. Both outfits need another win to become bowl eligible. The winner most-likely gets an invitation to post-season play, and the loser stays home for the holidays. Can ya feel the excitement? Can ya taste the anticipation? Okay, maybe not. But in a time when the Husker faithful have to scrounge for a little morsel of excitement, this game means everything. Look out, Boulder, here comes the BIG RED!
More on this game next week. And look for an update on the Lady Huskers in the next few days, as well as some posts I've been diligently working on and ones which I promised several weeks ago. In the meantime, and as always....
GO BIG RED!!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Jayhawks 76, Huskers 39
Would you look at that? It's already Wednesday, and I haven't said a word about the Huskers since posting a prediction last Thursday. That's because I haven't been able to use my hands in order to write anything. You see, I just finished gathering my jaw off the ground after whatever the hell that was in Lawrence, Kansas last Saturday. To be sure, my fingers are still moving at a snail's pace as I type this, because frankly, I'm quite speechless. I continue to read articles and hear comments about how the mighty Husker ship is sinking, and sinking fast. Dare I declare, after Saturday's debacle, this ship has done sunk. It has hit rock bottom and all of its treasure of quality football is buried somewhere deep within its belly.
At least part of my prediction was true; first-time starter Joe Ganz came out firing on all cylinders, and the offense played their hearts out for him. Ganz was on fire as he threw for over 400 yards, and sliced and diced the coveted Jayhawk defense. The Huskers offense put up 39 points in the game, and 39 points will typically win you a football game. Not on this day, however. Kansas ran through the Husker's defense like they were some Pop-Warner unit in their first big game. It was ugly, and it could have easily been worse. Kansas coach Mark Mangino was merciful near the end, as he could have hung a hundred on a Big Red defense that was powerless to stop him and is offensive unit. (Jeff, if you're reading this, thanks for your retort to my prediction last week. You were right - the Jayhawks came to play despite Ganz's success. I wouldn't have been surprised to see Kansas win, but I'll admit my shock at what actually transpired.)
Rumors of a coaching change in one form or another have been far and wide in Husker Nation over the course of the last few days. So far, nothing has been said other than Bill Callahan's resolve to stay put. Interim Athletic Director Tom Osborne has also stayed firm to his original word of waiting until the end of the season to evaluate the coaching staff. My guess is Callahan won't be around much longer after the final gun sounds in Colorado on the day after Thanksgiving. He just isn't the right fit for this program, though I give him credit for trying. Honestly, I feel sorry for him. Nebraska is not a warm environment for a coach who posts the kinds of records most fans would just as soon forget. Most losses, most points allowed, greatest margin of victory (for the opposition), etc.
As for this Saturday, well, it's the final home game of the season and thus, "Senior Day." As a fan, I still have hope that these Huskers can find a way to win despite the adversity. It appears Callahan has lost this team, so if they won't play for him, I can only hope they will play for themselves and for the 29 seniors who will bid the program farewell. It's been rough for them, and certainly not the memorable experience they probably expected as freshmen. Kansas State will be here on Saturday, and you can bet they'll be licking their chops to be the next team to pound the Huskers. Despite everything, the Huskers still have something to play for, believe it or not. They still need two wins to become bowl-eligible, and they have exactly two more chances to accomplish that task. They might just find enough motivation this week to rise to the occasion. Huskers 38, Wildcats 31.
I gotta believe.
GO BIG RED!!
At least part of my prediction was true; first-time starter Joe Ganz came out firing on all cylinders, and the offense played their hearts out for him. Ganz was on fire as he threw for over 400 yards, and sliced and diced the coveted Jayhawk defense. The Huskers offense put up 39 points in the game, and 39 points will typically win you a football game. Not on this day, however. Kansas ran through the Husker's defense like they were some Pop-Warner unit in their first big game. It was ugly, and it could have easily been worse. Kansas coach Mark Mangino was merciful near the end, as he could have hung a hundred on a Big Red defense that was powerless to stop him and is offensive unit. (Jeff, if you're reading this, thanks for your retort to my prediction last week. You were right - the Jayhawks came to play despite Ganz's success. I wouldn't have been surprised to see Kansas win, but I'll admit my shock at what actually transpired.)
Rumors of a coaching change in one form or another have been far and wide in Husker Nation over the course of the last few days. So far, nothing has been said other than Bill Callahan's resolve to stay put. Interim Athletic Director Tom Osborne has also stayed firm to his original word of waiting until the end of the season to evaluate the coaching staff. My guess is Callahan won't be around much longer after the final gun sounds in Colorado on the day after Thanksgiving. He just isn't the right fit for this program, though I give him credit for trying. Honestly, I feel sorry for him. Nebraska is not a warm environment for a coach who posts the kinds of records most fans would just as soon forget. Most losses, most points allowed, greatest margin of victory (for the opposition), etc.
As for this Saturday, well, it's the final home game of the season and thus, "Senior Day." As a fan, I still have hope that these Huskers can find a way to win despite the adversity. It appears Callahan has lost this team, so if they won't play for him, I can only hope they will play for themselves and for the 29 seniors who will bid the program farewell. It's been rough for them, and certainly not the memorable experience they probably expected as freshmen. Kansas State will be here on Saturday, and you can bet they'll be licking their chops to be the next team to pound the Huskers. Despite everything, the Huskers still have something to play for, believe it or not. They still need two wins to become bowl-eligible, and they have exactly two more chances to accomplish that task. They might just find enough motivation this week to rise to the occasion. Huskers 38, Wildcats 31.
I gotta believe.
GO BIG RED!!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Longhorns 28, Huskers 25
This last week in Husker Nation has been yet another adventurous one, and it all began in Austin, Texas last Saturday. With a sure-fire pasting in order, Nebraska gave its faithful fans a glimmer of hope that all is not completely gone in this season of utter disappointment. For three glorious and wonderful quarters, the Huskers played inspired, sound, and winning football. The running game was working, the passing game was working, and Nebraska took a two-touchdown lead into what turned out to be a heart-breaking fourth quarter. Then it all went down the drain in a heart-breaking loss. Starting quarterback Sam Keller was knocked out for the season. Texas running back Jamaal Charles smoked the Blackshirts for 216 yards and three touchdowns (yes, in just the final fifteen minutes). The Longhorns prevailed in a 28-25 win over the Huskers. But that's a far cry from the three-touchdown win that most of the college football world expected out of Texas.
And so we move on to this Saturday, and a date with the Jayhawks of Kansas. There was a time not so long ago when the Huskers' annual meeting with the boys from Lawrence was a gimme. A sure "w" on the schedule, and a game that for all intents and purposes, the Huskers could look past. My, how times have changed. The 2007 Kansas Jayhawks are flying high at 8-0 and ranked about ninth in the country, and have no intentions of letting the struggling Huskers come into Lawrence and ruin their perfect season. Their defense has been stellar, and their offense not so bad, either. They are having the season of their lives.
Well, good for them. I'm really happy for them, and excited for their success. Head coach Mark Mangino has turned that program around, and has a good thing going. But it's time for a Big Red spoiler. Husker backup QB Joey Ganz is set to take the helm on Saturday, and I am one fan who thinks Ganz is better then Keller ever was. Ganz has the ability to pass, but he also has the ever-important ability to scramble, which is something Keller could not boast. I am excited for this Saturday, more excited for the Big Red to take the field than I have been in several weeks. I think the combination of confidence coming off of a pretty good performance in Texas, and a new quarterback whose team has rallied around him, will provide just the spark to get these Huskers going for the last few weeks. I smell an upset in the making, folks. Maybe I'm just starving for a win, but I think the Huskers get it done this week. Huskers 34, Jayhawks 25.
GO BIG RED!!!
And so we move on to this Saturday, and a date with the Jayhawks of Kansas. There was a time not so long ago when the Huskers' annual meeting with the boys from Lawrence was a gimme. A sure "w" on the schedule, and a game that for all intents and purposes, the Huskers could look past. My, how times have changed. The 2007 Kansas Jayhawks are flying high at 8-0 and ranked about ninth in the country, and have no intentions of letting the struggling Huskers come into Lawrence and ruin their perfect season. Their defense has been stellar, and their offense not so bad, either. They are having the season of their lives.
Well, good for them. I'm really happy for them, and excited for their success. Head coach Mark Mangino has turned that program around, and has a good thing going. But it's time for a Big Red spoiler. Husker backup QB Joey Ganz is set to take the helm on Saturday, and I am one fan who thinks Ganz is better then Keller ever was. Ganz has the ability to pass, but he also has the ever-important ability to scramble, which is something Keller could not boast. I am excited for this Saturday, more excited for the Big Red to take the field than I have been in several weeks. I think the combination of confidence coming off of a pretty good performance in Texas, and a new quarterback whose team has rallied around him, will provide just the spark to get these Huskers going for the last few weeks. I smell an upset in the making, folks. Maybe I'm just starving for a win, but I think the Huskers get it done this week. Huskers 34, Jayhawks 25.
GO BIG RED!!!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Aggies 36, Huskers 14
Did y'all think I forgot about the Huskers, or wrote them off as so many others have already done? I will admit, my faith in a positive close to what's left of the football season is all but gone, but that's certainly not why there was no prediction post last week, or post-game comments at the beginning of this week. I'll get to all of that in a minute.
First, just a couple of comments on the Lady Huskers. Since I last talked about the volleyball team after a sweep of Iowa State, the Huskers have faced Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, and Hawaii, all of whom they swept three games to none. The Huskers had an amazing two-month run in which not a single game was lost. Fast forward to last night, and the highly-anticipated matchup with the fifth-ranked Longhorns of Texas University. This game had all the hype as #1 Nebraska took their show on the road to a sold-out arena, and a very hostile environment in Austin.
I will admit that I don't know a whole bunch about the technical game of volleyball, so the few times I've been afforded the opportunity to watch the Huskers this season, I've merely watched them score more points than their opponent. I really have no idea how high the level of play has been, because I don't understand the intricacies of the game itself. That said, even I could sense how tight the Huskers played last night. They were punched, and they didn't quite seem to know how to punch back. The Longhorns came to play last night, and right away put the Huskers in a position they have not been in a long time. In fact, I would go so far as to say the Huskers were not ever really that close. Texas dominated, the crowd was very much a factor, and Nebraska left Austin with a strong dose of their own medicine having been swept three games to none. They come home to face Missouri on Saturday, and we can only hope they will come out firing on all cylinders. Given Coach Cook's track record in similar situations, my guess is he'll have his squad ready to play. In fact, I almost feel sorry for Missouri, as they may be the target of the Huskers' frustrations.
On to football, "and the hits just keep on comin'...."
As I mentioned, I did not have a chance to post my usual Friday night prediction last week prior to the Huskers' game against Texas A&M. Had I the opportunity, however, I wold have guessed that Nebraska would pull out a win. I would have told you that of the five teams remaining on the Huskers' schedule, A&M would be the weakest, and the Huskers could statistically go toe-to-toe with them. I would have told you that all of the goings-on in the NU athletic department last week would be turned into motivation for the Huskers to come out on Saturday and play for pride in representing their tradition-rich program.
I would have been wrong. I was wrong. At least to an extent.
Saturday's Big Red performance solidified for me a glaring issue with the current Husker football program. Coach Callahan is bad. Really bad. I have supported him and his attempts to get this thing turned around, but the last few weeks have made it increasingly difficult to understand his coaching decisions. His squad is loaded with big-time talent, yet the play-calling is confusing, at best, as Callahan seems less and less interested in exploiting the strengths of this team. I try not to be overly-critical, and I probably fail, but it is frustrating when the guys who are not getting it done on the field are consistently given the starting nod. Yet when the backups come in, they continue to show flashes of brilliance far and above those who are starting. Or when a defensive scheme is working wonders against an opponent, said scheme is suddenly and inexplicably abandoned for one that doesn't work. I have to think this is more a coaching fault than player fault.
Anyway, looking ahead, Nebraska has four games to go; at Texas, at Kansas, vs. Kansas State, and at Colorado. Three of the four games are on the road, and all of them against top-25 ranked opponents. I've seen no reason over the course of the last month to believe that Nebraska stands a chance to win a single game from here on out. That said, I can only hope the Huskers can put behind them what has transpired thus far, and just play football. There's no reason to play tight, or cautiously, as there is nothing left for which to play except pride. And pride can be a dangerous weapon. Might as well let it all hang out, Big Red, and hope for an upset or two. Maybe in the process, they can win back some of those big-time recruits who have wavered from their oral commitments over the last couple of weeks.
As far as this Saturday, I'm going to give you my prediction a bit early. The Longhorns have a bunch yet to play for after dropping a game to Kansas State a few weeks ago. They are slowly climbing back into the BCS picture, and stubbing another toe against Nebraska would be embarrassing. The Big Red will collide with the Burnt Orange in Austin on Saturday, but it won't be much of a collision. Texas rolls; Longhorns 45, Huskers 10.
Times are tough in Husker Nation right now. But these are the times in which we grow. These are the times in which we learn. These are the times that help make winning that much sweeter. And these are the times that help the Big Red Faithful appreciate the values on which our beloved program was built. It might be awhile, but the Huskers will be back. Mark my words, the Huskers will be back.
GO BIG RED!!!
First, just a couple of comments on the Lady Huskers. Since I last talked about the volleyball team after a sweep of Iowa State, the Huskers have faced Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, and Hawaii, all of whom they swept three games to none. The Huskers had an amazing two-month run in which not a single game was lost. Fast forward to last night, and the highly-anticipated matchup with the fifth-ranked Longhorns of Texas University. This game had all the hype as #1 Nebraska took their show on the road to a sold-out arena, and a very hostile environment in Austin.
I will admit that I don't know a whole bunch about the technical game of volleyball, so the few times I've been afforded the opportunity to watch the Huskers this season, I've merely watched them score more points than their opponent. I really have no idea how high the level of play has been, because I don't understand the intricacies of the game itself. That said, even I could sense how tight the Huskers played last night. They were punched, and they didn't quite seem to know how to punch back. The Longhorns came to play last night, and right away put the Huskers in a position they have not been in a long time. In fact, I would go so far as to say the Huskers were not ever really that close. Texas dominated, the crowd was very much a factor, and Nebraska left Austin with a strong dose of their own medicine having been swept three games to none. They come home to face Missouri on Saturday, and we can only hope they will come out firing on all cylinders. Given Coach Cook's track record in similar situations, my guess is he'll have his squad ready to play. In fact, I almost feel sorry for Missouri, as they may be the target of the Huskers' frustrations.
On to football, "and the hits just keep on comin'...."
As I mentioned, I did not have a chance to post my usual Friday night prediction last week prior to the Huskers' game against Texas A&M. Had I the opportunity, however, I wold have guessed that Nebraska would pull out a win. I would have told you that of the five teams remaining on the Huskers' schedule, A&M would be the weakest, and the Huskers could statistically go toe-to-toe with them. I would have told you that all of the goings-on in the NU athletic department last week would be turned into motivation for the Huskers to come out on Saturday and play for pride in representing their tradition-rich program.
I would have been wrong. I was wrong. At least to an extent.
Saturday's Big Red performance solidified for me a glaring issue with the current Husker football program. Coach Callahan is bad. Really bad. I have supported him and his attempts to get this thing turned around, but the last few weeks have made it increasingly difficult to understand his coaching decisions. His squad is loaded with big-time talent, yet the play-calling is confusing, at best, as Callahan seems less and less interested in exploiting the strengths of this team. I try not to be overly-critical, and I probably fail, but it is frustrating when the guys who are not getting it done on the field are consistently given the starting nod. Yet when the backups come in, they continue to show flashes of brilliance far and above those who are starting. Or when a defensive scheme is working wonders against an opponent, said scheme is suddenly and inexplicably abandoned for one that doesn't work. I have to think this is more a coaching fault than player fault.
Anyway, looking ahead, Nebraska has four games to go; at Texas, at Kansas, vs. Kansas State, and at Colorado. Three of the four games are on the road, and all of them against top-25 ranked opponents. I've seen no reason over the course of the last month to believe that Nebraska stands a chance to win a single game from here on out. That said, I can only hope the Huskers can put behind them what has transpired thus far, and just play football. There's no reason to play tight, or cautiously, as there is nothing left for which to play except pride. And pride can be a dangerous weapon. Might as well let it all hang out, Big Red, and hope for an upset or two. Maybe in the process, they can win back some of those big-time recruits who have wavered from their oral commitments over the last couple of weeks.
As far as this Saturday, I'm going to give you my prediction a bit early. The Longhorns have a bunch yet to play for after dropping a game to Kansas State a few weeks ago. They are slowly climbing back into the BCS picture, and stubbing another toe against Nebraska would be embarrassing. The Big Red will collide with the Burnt Orange in Austin on Saturday, but it won't be much of a collision. Texas rolls; Longhorns 45, Huskers 10.
Times are tough in Husker Nation right now. But these are the times in which we grow. These are the times in which we learn. These are the times that help make winning that much sweeter. And these are the times that help the Big Red Faithful appreciate the values on which our beloved program was built. It might be awhile, but the Huskers will be back. Mark my words, the Huskers will be back.
GO BIG RED!!!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Have I Lost My Mind?
It's been quite some time since I posted anything about my continuing efforts in the healthy living arena. I haven't really lost a bunch more since I finally hit the 100-pound mark, though the weight continues to trickle off a little at a time. I'm not so much obsessed with the scale as I once was, opting for just a weekly weight check as opposed to the daily infatuations to which I had become accustomed. I'm not as concerned about losing the weight as long as I continue to eat properly and exercise daily. I'm confident it will continue to come drop off.
You may remember my discussion a few weeks ago about Cesar Millan and his book, Cesar's Way, and my goal of whipping our female pooch, Xena, into shape. That process has gone very well, as we continue to walk/run each night after I get home from work. Xena, as of today, has lost half a pound. That may not seem like much, but to a 12-pound ankle-biter, that's a bunch! She's looking great and obviously feeling much better, as she has a little bit more pep in her step.
So how is all of this related? Well, I have found myself pushing harder and harder each night when the dogs and I go out for our exercise, and am getting closer to being able to run the entire distance, which is about three miles. I'm not setting any land-speed records, but being able to run a long distance is something I never dreamed would happen. I'm just not much of a runner, and never have been really interested in it. Until now. I have found that I thoroughly enjoy running, for the most part, and have decided it would be quite a thrill to be able to someday run a marathon. Yes, I said it - RUN A MARATHON!
Now, I realize I have a very long way to go before I'm in any shape to accomplish such a feat, but I've decided to make a run at it, no pun intended. I checked out the Lincoln Marathon's website this morning, and I think it possible to shoot for running the May, 2009 race. I'm going to consult with a few friends who are experienced runners, and begin seriously training with that date in mind! As I said, I have a long way to go, but what an accomplishment when I get there. Wish me luck, and for those of you who are reading this and have run marathons in the past, or are regular runners and can offer tips and advice, I welcome any suggestions with open arms.
And who knows? Maybe Xena will join me in 2009. Do they allow dogs to enter marathons?
You may remember my discussion a few weeks ago about Cesar Millan and his book, Cesar's Way, and my goal of whipping our female pooch, Xena, into shape. That process has gone very well, as we continue to walk/run each night after I get home from work. Xena, as of today, has lost half a pound. That may not seem like much, but to a 12-pound ankle-biter, that's a bunch! She's looking great and obviously feeling much better, as she has a little bit more pep in her step.
So how is all of this related? Well, I have found myself pushing harder and harder each night when the dogs and I go out for our exercise, and am getting closer to being able to run the entire distance, which is about three miles. I'm not setting any land-speed records, but being able to run a long distance is something I never dreamed would happen. I'm just not much of a runner, and never have been really interested in it. Until now. I have found that I thoroughly enjoy running, for the most part, and have decided it would be quite a thrill to be able to someday run a marathon. Yes, I said it - RUN A MARATHON!
Now, I realize I have a very long way to go before I'm in any shape to accomplish such a feat, but I've decided to make a run at it, no pun intended. I checked out the Lincoln Marathon's website this morning, and I think it possible to shoot for running the May, 2009 race. I'm going to consult with a few friends who are experienced runners, and begin seriously training with that date in mind! As I said, I have a long way to go, but what an accomplishment when I get there. Wish me luck, and for those of you who are reading this and have run marathons in the past, or are regular runners and can offer tips and advice, I welcome any suggestions with open arms.
And who knows? Maybe Xena will join me in 2009. Do they allow dogs to enter marathons?
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Restore the Order
The last couple of days have been quite the whirlwind in Husker Nation. If you don't follow Husker athletics (which is beyond my capacity for rational thought, people), then you may not be aware that Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson was fired on Monday, and Tom Osborne was hired yesterday as the new AD. This latest turn of events has been all the talk in every small-town barber shop, market, and Mom and Pop cafe across the plains of Nebraska. Dare I say, this is exactly what needed to happen for the University.
When he was originally hired, Pederson seemed like the perfect choice to lead the athletic department at Nebraska. He is from North Platte, graduated from the University, was on the athletic department staff, and had deep roots and knowledge of Nebraska tradition and philosophy. All of that came crashing down when he opted to fire head football coach Frank Solich after a 9-3 season. How he handled the firing, and the subsequent hiring of Bill Callahan, did not settle well with the Husker faithful. His management style, slyness, and refusal to keep fans and athletic department staff apprised of the goings-on from his office, ultimately led to his dismissal. He has done a few things right, but far more wrong.
Enter Tom Osborne. A huge sense of relief is settling over Husker Nation now, as T.O. will bring with him the knowledge and understanding of what makes Nebraska unique. Hard work, dedication, honesty and integrity. All the things which the University of Nebraska was built on, and all of the traits which seem to have been lost in the name of big-time coaches, flashy resumes, and eight-pound playbooks.
Meanwhile, there's still nearly a half-season of football to be played. It will be interesting to see how the players and coaches respond after all the distractions this week. Especially since Callahan and Company have to figure they will be out of a job by the end of the season. Some would argue if Callahan can win out, he'll keep his job. That's a tall order given the level of play he's gotten from his club the last few weeks, and given the brutal schedule he'll face the rest of the way. It all remains to be seen, and the drama which will unfold over the next six weeks will for sure keep Husker Nation captivated.
Welcome back, Dr. Tom.
Restore the Order.
GO BIG RED!!
When he was originally hired, Pederson seemed like the perfect choice to lead the athletic department at Nebraska. He is from North Platte, graduated from the University, was on the athletic department staff, and had deep roots and knowledge of Nebraska tradition and philosophy. All of that came crashing down when he opted to fire head football coach Frank Solich after a 9-3 season. How he handled the firing, and the subsequent hiring of Bill Callahan, did not settle well with the Husker faithful. His management style, slyness, and refusal to keep fans and athletic department staff apprised of the goings-on from his office, ultimately led to his dismissal. He has done a few things right, but far more wrong.
Enter Tom Osborne. A huge sense of relief is settling over Husker Nation now, as T.O. will bring with him the knowledge and understanding of what makes Nebraska unique. Hard work, dedication, honesty and integrity. All the things which the University of Nebraska was built on, and all of the traits which seem to have been lost in the name of big-time coaches, flashy resumes, and eight-pound playbooks.
Meanwhile, there's still nearly a half-season of football to be played. It will be interesting to see how the players and coaches respond after all the distractions this week. Especially since Callahan and Company have to figure they will be out of a job by the end of the season. Some would argue if Callahan can win out, he'll keep his job. That's a tall order given the level of play he's gotten from his club the last few weeks, and given the brutal schedule he'll face the rest of the way. It all remains to be seen, and the drama which will unfold over the next six weeks will for sure keep Husker Nation captivated.
Welcome back, Dr. Tom.
Restore the Order.
GO BIG RED!!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Cowboys 45, Huskers 14
The past day-and-a-half have been pretty miserable as I've tried to compose myself enough to figure out what to say this morning after the ugliness that was Husker football on Saturday. If you don't already know, Oklahoma State came into Memorial Stadium and made Nebraska look silly as they sliced and diced their way to a 38-0 half-time lead, and went on to blow the Huskers out of their own house. To say it was ugly, actually, is to make it better than it really was. It was beyond anything that I've ever witnessed in all my years has a Husker fan. It was indescribable. What the loss did was force me to ask some tough questions about the state of Nebraska football. Could it be that life amongst the nation's college football elite is a thing of the past for the Huskers? The term parity has been thrown around quite a bit lately in these parts. Parity: functional equality. Any given team can beat any given team on any given day in any given situation on any given grounds. Parity. There is certainly a good argument for parity in college football, and particularly Nebraska football. As my good friend and Kansas native Jeff Clinger pointed out the other day, who would have thought the Kansas Jayhawks would be 6-0 at this point in the season, and the mighty Huskers a struggling 4-3?
But I digress, and you know what? I'm going to step away from all of those questions and thoughts and grumblings and frustrations for a moment. There are so many things wrong with the Husker football program right now, and I'm tired of trying to pick it all apart and figure it all out. Instead, I'm going to travel a different direction with this topic. I was on my way home from dropping my son off at school this rainy morning, and as usual, had the radio tuned to ESPN Radio. Colin Cowherd had just begun his morning show, and was discussing the New England Patriots' win over the Dallas Cowboys yesterday. He marveled at how fantastic Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and the New England offense is, and how we will be praising this team as one of football's greatest in years to come. He also addressed the critics who say New England is overrated, and who blame the media for over-hyping the Patriots.
During his spin on the critics, Cowherd went into our culture's tendency and desire to try and find something negative in everything good. We pick apart anything and everything, and fail to appreciate the greatness in something or someone. Cowherd cited television as one of the areas we are so critical of, instead of realizing all of the fantastic programming available. 'If you can't find something worth watching out of over six-hundred channels, that's a "you" problem, not a t.v. problem,' he said. Cowherd really got my attention when he started in on religion as one of the areas we pick apart. Instead of worrying about what's right and what's not right, can't we just appreciate the smiles on people's faces and how good a preacher makes someone feel during and after a worship service? He suggested we appreciate things for what they are, rather than for what they are not.
Back to football - Cowherd suggested instead of finding things wrong with the Patriots, that we simply marvel at the offensive masterpiece they have created. Of course, there is no masterpiece right now at Nebraska, and not much at which to marvel. Still, there are some things we can appreciate. Freshman running-back sensation Quentin Castille is making some pretty big plays, and was a blast to watch on Saturday. Quarterback Sam Keller, though he's stumbled a few times lately, is still fun to watch when he zings a pass. The big offensive line is beginning to gel and holds a pretty bright future once they perfect their technique.
Don't get me wrong. I would love to see the Huskers winning, and see the program going in a different direction. As I mentioned, there are many, many things wrong with life in Husker Nation right now. With just five games left, though, I think it's time I start looking at what is bright and promising. Texas A&M comes to Lincoln next week, which is another chance to perfect our running game and work on the defensive techniques. Maybe, just maybe, the Huskers can get a win.
GO BIG RED!!
But I digress, and you know what? I'm going to step away from all of those questions and thoughts and grumblings and frustrations for a moment. There are so many things wrong with the Husker football program right now, and I'm tired of trying to pick it all apart and figure it all out. Instead, I'm going to travel a different direction with this topic. I was on my way home from dropping my son off at school this rainy morning, and as usual, had the radio tuned to ESPN Radio. Colin Cowherd had just begun his morning show, and was discussing the New England Patriots' win over the Dallas Cowboys yesterday. He marveled at how fantastic Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and the New England offense is, and how we will be praising this team as one of football's greatest in years to come. He also addressed the critics who say New England is overrated, and who blame the media for over-hyping the Patriots.
During his spin on the critics, Cowherd went into our culture's tendency and desire to try and find something negative in everything good. We pick apart anything and everything, and fail to appreciate the greatness in something or someone. Cowherd cited television as one of the areas we are so critical of, instead of realizing all of the fantastic programming available. 'If you can't find something worth watching out of over six-hundred channels, that's a "you" problem, not a t.v. problem,' he said. Cowherd really got my attention when he started in on religion as one of the areas we pick apart. Instead of worrying about what's right and what's not right, can't we just appreciate the smiles on people's faces and how good a preacher makes someone feel during and after a worship service? He suggested we appreciate things for what they are, rather than for what they are not.
Back to football - Cowherd suggested instead of finding things wrong with the Patriots, that we simply marvel at the offensive masterpiece they have created. Of course, there is no masterpiece right now at Nebraska, and not much at which to marvel. Still, there are some things we can appreciate. Freshman running-back sensation Quentin Castille is making some pretty big plays, and was a blast to watch on Saturday. Quarterback Sam Keller, though he's stumbled a few times lately, is still fun to watch when he zings a pass. The big offensive line is beginning to gel and holds a pretty bright future once they perfect their technique.
Don't get me wrong. I would love to see the Huskers winning, and see the program going in a different direction. As I mentioned, there are many, many things wrong with life in Husker Nation right now. With just five games left, though, I think it's time I start looking at what is bright and promising. Texas A&M comes to Lincoln next week, which is another chance to perfect our running game and work on the defensive techniques. Maybe, just maybe, the Huskers can get a win.
GO BIG RED!!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Game #7
Well, another Friday night has arrived and thus, another "Husker Eve." We are halfway through the season, and life in Husker Nation is not has rosy as most fans, including myself, had hoped. The thought of 6-0 at this point in the season would have been more than anyone really expected. 5-1 and in control of the Big XII North would have been at least somewhat more reasonable. But, alas! Here we sit at a fragile 4-2, and the rest of the season in jeopardy. As I mentioned last week, the Huskers are going to have to fight for their lives every week from here on out, and I'll be surprised if they are able to improve on last year's North division-winning achievement. A trip back to the conference title game seems unlikely, at this point.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys come into Lincoln tomorrow as Nebraska celebrates its 2007 homecoming. OSU is playing very well these days, and will look to beat the Huskers in Lincoln for the first time in about a gazillion years. I don't remember exactly what the figure is, but I know I wasn't alive the last time the Cowboys beat the 'Skers in Lincoln. Unfortunately, I don't think the Cowboys really care about that figure. They have every reason to believe they can and will beat us tomorrow, and on paper, they will.
Nebraska's coaches made some changes this week, however, and I think it was the right thing to do. A few starters were relegated to back-up roles, while others were moved to different positions. The general feeling, based on player comments this past week, was one of confusion. It seems many of the players, on defense especially, have been somewhat confused and/or hesitant as to their assignments once the ball is snapped. I get the feeling that the coaches have made some moves this week in an effort to send a message. If you expect to wear a Blackshirt and play defense at the University of Nebraska, you had better know what you are doing, you had better display confidence, and you had better pound the hell of anyone who gets in your way. This seems to be the message, and I'm hoping it will work.
'Tis sad we are halfway through the season, though, and such changes are still taking place. It's not a good sign, and does not provide much confidence that Callahan and company will right this ship. The first game of the rest of the season is tomorrow, and Nebraska had better take it very seriously. It may not be pretty. In fact, it may just be downright ugly, but I think Nebraska will get it done tomorrow. The certainly won't throttle the Cowboys by any stretch, and I don't think they will throttle anyone the rest of the way. But for now, a win is a win. Huskers 34, Cowboys 31.
The Lady Huskers continue to roll, as they traveled to Boulder, Colorado last Saturday and beat the Buffaloes three games to none. Then on Wednesday, the Cyclones of Iowa State came into the Coliseum, but left without winning a game. Undefeated, and unmatched!
GO BIG RED!!!
The Oklahoma State Cowboys come into Lincoln tomorrow as Nebraska celebrates its 2007 homecoming. OSU is playing very well these days, and will look to beat the Huskers in Lincoln for the first time in about a gazillion years. I don't remember exactly what the figure is, but I know I wasn't alive the last time the Cowboys beat the 'Skers in Lincoln. Unfortunately, I don't think the Cowboys really care about that figure. They have every reason to believe they can and will beat us tomorrow, and on paper, they will.
Nebraska's coaches made some changes this week, however, and I think it was the right thing to do. A few starters were relegated to back-up roles, while others were moved to different positions. The general feeling, based on player comments this past week, was one of confusion. It seems many of the players, on defense especially, have been somewhat confused and/or hesitant as to their assignments once the ball is snapped. I get the feeling that the coaches have made some moves this week in an effort to send a message. If you expect to wear a Blackshirt and play defense at the University of Nebraska, you had better know what you are doing, you had better display confidence, and you had better pound the hell of anyone who gets in your way. This seems to be the message, and I'm hoping it will work.
'Tis sad we are halfway through the season, though, and such changes are still taking place. It's not a good sign, and does not provide much confidence that Callahan and company will right this ship. The first game of the rest of the season is tomorrow, and Nebraska had better take it very seriously. It may not be pretty. In fact, it may just be downright ugly, but I think Nebraska will get it done tomorrow. The certainly won't throttle the Cowboys by any stretch, and I don't think they will throttle anyone the rest of the way. But for now, a win is a win. Huskers 34, Cowboys 31.
The Lady Huskers continue to roll, as they traveled to Boulder, Colorado last Saturday and beat the Buffaloes three games to none. Then on Wednesday, the Cyclones of Iowa State came into the Coliseum, but left without winning a game. Undefeated, and unmatched!
GO BIG RED!!!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Tigers 41, Huskers 6
Agonizing is the only word I can find to describe Saturday's Husker debacle in Columbia, Missouri. I've been following Nebraska football for many years now, and have witnessed my share of heartbreaking losses and unexpected upsets. But I have never experienced the kind of emotion I felt after Saturday's game. It wasn't just a stinging loss, or a heartbreaking one. Even terming it an ugly loss doesn't quite do it. This one cut right to the very soul of Husker Nation. It hurt, and it hurt bad. The mediocrity, which athletic director Steve Pederson promised to avoid in hiring Bill Callahan and company to coach the football program, has emerged. And it does not feel good in the least. Yes, Nebraska Football has officially become mediocre, and even that would be a kind term.
I have been told to quit living in the past, as the Huskers aren't what they were in the '90's and they never again will be that good. The term parody gets thrown around quite a bit these days in Husker Nation. I know losing is part of sports, part of the game, part of what makes the world go 'round. I can accept this, and I have done so. What I can't accept, especially when it comes to the Huskers, are the kinds of losses experienced on Saturday night. It was a complete and thorough breakdown, from the coaches and the gameplan to the players and the execution. At no time was Nebraska even in the game, much less making it competitive. I can handle getting beat by a better team - and Missouri was definitely the better team - but to be embarrassed? That's a tough pill to swallow. To slip into mediocrity and beyond? Ouch.
The Tiger defense was circling the drain coming into Saturday night's game, as they ranked near the bottom most categories. Yet Nebraska never made it into the end zone in making Missouri's defense look like a pretty good unit. Did I mention embarrassing? And to think I had a good feeling coming into this highly-anticipated season. As I peruse the rest of the schedule, it would not surprise me if Nebraska is unable to win again, assuming we continue to play as we did Saturday. I mentioned in my prediction post last week that Saturday's game would give me a clue as to how the rest of the season might play out, and I certainly hoped for some reason to be excited. Instead, I'm scared to death. Never-the-less......
GO BIG RED!!!
I have been told to quit living in the past, as the Huskers aren't what they were in the '90's and they never again will be that good. The term parody gets thrown around quite a bit these days in Husker Nation. I know losing is part of sports, part of the game, part of what makes the world go 'round. I can accept this, and I have done so. What I can't accept, especially when it comes to the Huskers, are the kinds of losses experienced on Saturday night. It was a complete and thorough breakdown, from the coaches and the gameplan to the players and the execution. At no time was Nebraska even in the game, much less making it competitive. I can handle getting beat by a better team - and Missouri was definitely the better team - but to be embarrassed? That's a tough pill to swallow. To slip into mediocrity and beyond? Ouch.
The Tiger defense was circling the drain coming into Saturday night's game, as they ranked near the bottom most categories. Yet Nebraska never made it into the end zone in making Missouri's defense look like a pretty good unit. Did I mention embarrassing? And to think I had a good feeling coming into this highly-anticipated season. As I peruse the rest of the schedule, it would not surprise me if Nebraska is unable to win again, assuming we continue to play as we did Saturday. I mentioned in my prediction post last week that Saturday's game would give me a clue as to how the rest of the season might play out, and I certainly hoped for some reason to be excited. Instead, I'm scared to death. Never-the-less......
GO BIG RED!!!
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Game #6
It's gameday again, and the Huskers take their show on the road this week to Columbia, Missouri, to battle the Tigers of the University of Missouri. This highly-anticipated matchup has all the makings of a huge game, with much at stake, including the driver's seat to the Big XII North division title. The Tigers were pre-season picked to win the Big XII North, but the Huskers have different ideas as they look to post their biggest victory yet this season.
It is my belief that this game will speak volumes as to just how far the Huskers have come under the tutelage of Bill Callahan, and will give an idea as to what we can expect for the rest of the season. It's going to be an extremely difficult game, as the high-flying Missouri offense will try to score early and often in taking advantage of an unproven Blackshirt defense. The environment is sure to be hostile-at-best, as the Tiger faithful will be loud and obnoxious come the 8:15 p.m. kickoff. The Huskers have the talent, I believe, to be successful against these odds, but it's going to take a perfect game-plan and great execution on both sides of the ball. Nebraska will need to put it all together this week and play their best game of the season. On the road at a rowdy Faurot Field with all the odds against them will make the task of winning a tough one.
But it can be done. The Huskers will come to play football today. Nasty, dirty, smash-mouth football. Missouri expects to win this game today based on the comments from some of their players and even their head coach. Pride is on the line, and Nebraska still has lots of it. They will show today that playing football at the University of Nebraska is no joke. Nebraska travels to Missouri today, and hands the Tigers an upset in their own house. Huskers 38, Tigers 32.
GO BIG RED!!!
It is my belief that this game will speak volumes as to just how far the Huskers have come under the tutelage of Bill Callahan, and will give an idea as to what we can expect for the rest of the season. It's going to be an extremely difficult game, as the high-flying Missouri offense will try to score early and often in taking advantage of an unproven Blackshirt defense. The environment is sure to be hostile-at-best, as the Tiger faithful will be loud and obnoxious come the 8:15 p.m. kickoff. The Huskers have the talent, I believe, to be successful against these odds, but it's going to take a perfect game-plan and great execution on both sides of the ball. Nebraska will need to put it all together this week and play their best game of the season. On the road at a rowdy Faurot Field with all the odds against them will make the task of winning a tough one.
But it can be done. The Huskers will come to play football today. Nasty, dirty, smash-mouth football. Missouri expects to win this game today based on the comments from some of their players and even their head coach. Pride is on the line, and Nebraska still has lots of it. They will show today that playing football at the University of Nebraska is no joke. Nebraska travels to Missouri today, and hands the Tigers an upset in their own house. Huskers 38, Tigers 32.
GO BIG RED!!!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Hang in there....
Greetings dear readers. For those of you who are not into sports and could care less about the Huskers, the last few weeks have probably made you wonder if I will ever post anything worth reading before the end of the football and/or volleyball season. I very much recognize that I have not talked about much since my beloved Huskers began playing ball this year, and I do have a reason.
A few weeks ago, a letter to the editor was printed in the Lincoln paper which was authored by the head pastor at St. Paul United Methodist Church, and endorsed by some 21 other area pastors. The topic of the letter was homosexuality, and how Christians should or should not respond. As to be expected, the letter sparked a plethora of reponses, and the discussion has been ongoing ever since. I have begun working on a series of posts in regards to this letter and its subsequent responses, but I have chosen not to publish the posts until they are completed. I am close to being done, and will begin my discussion and perspective within the next several days. As always, I appreciate your patience and understanding!
That said, I had the pleasure of watching the Lady Huskers last night for the first time this season, as the local University channel broadcasted their match. Top-ranked Nebraska hosted #17 Kansas State at the Coliseum, and it was yet another sweep for the Huskers. The first two games were not close, but the Wildcats hung in there during the third game and played rather well. Still, Nebraska won and remains unbeaten and unchallenged.
GO BIG RED!!!!
A few weeks ago, a letter to the editor was printed in the Lincoln paper which was authored by the head pastor at St. Paul United Methodist Church, and endorsed by some 21 other area pastors. The topic of the letter was homosexuality, and how Christians should or should not respond. As to be expected, the letter sparked a plethora of reponses, and the discussion has been ongoing ever since. I have begun working on a series of posts in regards to this letter and its subsequent responses, but I have chosen not to publish the posts until they are completed. I am close to being done, and will begin my discussion and perspective within the next several days. As always, I appreciate your patience and understanding!
That said, I had the pleasure of watching the Lady Huskers last night for the first time this season, as the local University channel broadcasted their match. Top-ranked Nebraska hosted #17 Kansas State at the Coliseum, and it was yet another sweep for the Huskers. The first two games were not close, but the Wildcats hung in there during the third game and played rather well. Still, Nebraska won and remains unbeaten and unchallenged.
GO BIG RED!!!!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Huskers 35, Cyclones 17
Aaaaahhhhh....order hath been restored to Husker Nation, at least temporarily. Yesterday's battle against the Cyclones was one big, collective sigh of relief amongst the Sea of Red. The Blackshirts came to play yesterday and showed a tremendous amount of prowess on the field as they executed good fundamental football. It was a breakthrough performance, and a much-needed one. QB Sam Keller and the offense took awhile to get going, but shined as usual enroute to a 35-point showing. Even down by 10 points in the early goings, Keller remained poised, cool, and sharp in leading the 'Skers.
It was huge momentum-builder as the Huskers now prepare to face Missouri in Columbia next Saturday. The Tigers, you may remember from my earlier postings, were preseason picked to win the Big XII North division. They have shown why in the last few weeks, as their offense has exploded. It's going to be a tough game in an even tougher environment, as the Tiger faithful are sure to make their presence felt while Keller and company are on the field. I picked the Huskers to beat the Tigers before the season began, but during the last couple of weeks I have questioned that pick. Yesterday's performance at Memorial Stadium helped to ease my fears to a point, though I'm still not as confident as I was before the season began. We shall see, and I'll give you my usual prediction on Friday.
As I mentioned yesterday, the Lady Huskers hosted the Baylor Bears at the Coliseum last night, and once again showed why they are the best team in volleyball. No competition for Nebraska as they swept Baylor three games to none. Their next victim is Kansas State on Wednesday, again at the Coliseum.
GO BIG RED!!!
It was huge momentum-builder as the Huskers now prepare to face Missouri in Columbia next Saturday. The Tigers, you may remember from my earlier postings, were preseason picked to win the Big XII North division. They have shown why in the last few weeks, as their offense has exploded. It's going to be a tough game in an even tougher environment, as the Tiger faithful are sure to make their presence felt while Keller and company are on the field. I picked the Huskers to beat the Tigers before the season began, but during the last couple of weeks I have questioned that pick. Yesterday's performance at Memorial Stadium helped to ease my fears to a point, though I'm still not as confident as I was before the season began. We shall see, and I'll give you my usual prediction on Friday.
As I mentioned yesterday, the Lady Huskers hosted the Baylor Bears at the Coliseum last night, and once again showed why they are the best team in volleyball. No competition for Nebraska as they swept Baylor three games to none. Their next victim is Kansas State on Wednesday, again at the Coliseum.
GO BIG RED!!!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Game #5
Well, it's been a long week here in Husker Nation as every fan from every corner of the state has tried to understand just what is taking place within the confines of the NU practice facilities. Defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove has been roasted time and again, and is on the hot seat as he tries to lead his coveted Blackshirt Defense into conference play today. Will they forge and identity and take their game up a notch? Have they figured out just what has gone so terribly wrong over the past few weeks? Can they get back to the level of play which is so highly expected of them from those who treasure Nebraska football? Can they overcome the millions of boos heard from the Sea of Red after last week's performance? These questions, and a whole bunch more, seek answers as the Cyclones of Iowa State come calling today.
What has struck me over the past week in reading all of the reports, articles, blogs, and comments from both players and fans is the lack of an emerging leader on defense. Make no mistake, the Huskers have plenty of talent on defense. Pure, raw, big-time talent. But all the talent in the world makes no difference if no one can take the reigns and lead said talent. It seems to me the defense of the Huskers has no one to really step up and get in the players faces to motivate them. A mistake here or a miscue there is simply shrugged off as and "oh well, we'll get it next time." Someone has to emerge and put an end to "oh well." Linebacker Cory Mckeon, who was a star on last year's defense, made comments this week that the defense gets hit in the mouth and takes a step back. Wow. That's not Nebraska Blackshirt defense, folks. The Blackshirts get hit in the mouth, get up, and hit back harder. Assuming, of course, there is a leader on the field.
So, my hope for this week is that someone on the defensive side of the ball steps up today. Someone emerges as the leader. Someone gets hit in the mouth, gets up, and hits back so hard that all of Husker Nation smiles. Today, I believe, will be a turning point in the season as Nebraska begins conference play. There is no reason why Iowa State should even be in the game come half time today. If that's the case, then Nebraska has taken to heart what has happened the past few weeks and they have learned from it. If, however, they continue to be lethargic and desolate, then it becomes clear that this team has issues they are unable to overcome.
I predict we see a better team than in the last few weeks, though still not up to their potential. The defense allows a couple of touchdowns and a couple of field goals as the Cyclones score 20. Sam Keller and the offense continue to shine enroute to a 35-point effort. Huskers 35, Cyclones 20.
The Lady Huskers continued their steamrolling on Wednesday night, blasting Kansas 3-0. They prepare to host the Baylor Bears tonight at the Coliseum.
GO BIG RED!!!!
What has struck me over the past week in reading all of the reports, articles, blogs, and comments from both players and fans is the lack of an emerging leader on defense. Make no mistake, the Huskers have plenty of talent on defense. Pure, raw, big-time talent. But all the talent in the world makes no difference if no one can take the reigns and lead said talent. It seems to me the defense of the Huskers has no one to really step up and get in the players faces to motivate them. A mistake here or a miscue there is simply shrugged off as and "oh well, we'll get it next time." Someone has to emerge and put an end to "oh well." Linebacker Cory Mckeon, who was a star on last year's defense, made comments this week that the defense gets hit in the mouth and takes a step back. Wow. That's not Nebraska Blackshirt defense, folks. The Blackshirts get hit in the mouth, get up, and hit back harder. Assuming, of course, there is a leader on the field.
So, my hope for this week is that someone on the defensive side of the ball steps up today. Someone emerges as the leader. Someone gets hit in the mouth, gets up, and hits back so hard that all of Husker Nation smiles. Today, I believe, will be a turning point in the season as Nebraska begins conference play. There is no reason why Iowa State should even be in the game come half time today. If that's the case, then Nebraska has taken to heart what has happened the past few weeks and they have learned from it. If, however, they continue to be lethargic and desolate, then it becomes clear that this team has issues they are unable to overcome.
I predict we see a better team than in the last few weeks, though still not up to their potential. The defense allows a couple of touchdowns and a couple of field goals as the Cyclones score 20. Sam Keller and the offense continue to shine enroute to a 35-point effort. Huskers 35, Cyclones 20.
The Lady Huskers continued their steamrolling on Wednesday night, blasting Kansas 3-0. They prepare to host the Baylor Bears tonight at the Coliseum.
GO BIG RED!!!!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Huskers 41, Cardinals 40
Before I get into my discussion about today's football game, allow me to apologize to those of you who have been used to checking in on my normal Friday-night prediction. Mandi is out-of-town until Sunday, and I've had my hands full managing the kids' schedules and keeping the house in order. By the time we got home from a trip to Grammy's last night, and everyone tucked into bed, Daddy was ready to collapse! Had I the energy to post a prediction, I would have figured the Blackshirt defense to rebound from last week's issues and help the Huskers to a thrashing of Ball State. Huskers 52, Cardinals 13. Which brings us to today.
Kaedyn and I were blessed to have the opportunity to attend todays' game thanks to my sister-in-law and her soon-to-be-hubby, who scored a few tickets through his place of work. It was Kaedyn's second time inside the walls of the old stadium for a game, and he had the time of his life! I was a proud Dad to have my son with me, and have the opportunity to share with him some of the fundamentals of football, as well as some of the traditions and rituals of Nebraska football. It was a great time, and I'm looking forward to the next opportunity, whenever that might come.
If you would have told me before game time this morning that the Ball State Cardinals would come into Husker Nation and hang over 600 yards of offense on the Blackshirt defense, I would have laughed in your face. If you would have told me that the Cardinals would put 40 points against the Huskers, I would have laughed even harder. If you would have told me that the Cardinals would still be in the game at halftime, I would have laughed yet again. If you would have told me that it would take a last-second missed field goal at the end of the game to secure a Husker victory, I would have personally signed your official document permanently banning you from ever stepping foot inside Husker nation again for blasphemy.
Let me tell you, there was nothing funny about what happened today. I had every feeling in the world that today's game would resemble a fired-up defensive unit after getting stomped last week. Surely, this group had something to prove, and who better to take their frustrations out on than a mediocre-at-best Ball State football team? Hmph. It was all Nebraska could do to avoid the upset, and truth be told, it should have been an upset. Three separate dropped balls for would-be touchdowns by Cardinal receivers helped Nebraska to a win. And that's exactly what today's game was; a win. Not a good win, not a hard-fought win, but just a win. What it needed to be was a blowout win. A win to prove that last week's defensive effort was just nerves and/or a poor game plan, and that Husker Nation has reason to believe Nebraska will do well as it begins conference play next Saturday. A win to prove the Huskers have taken a step forward from last year, and will seriously contend for the Big XII title.
The Huskers are in real trouble. The offense has done its part and looks good, but the defense is a wreck right now. We can't just outscore everybody, so if the Blackshirts can't get things turned around, we are in for a very long season. Maybe the Huskers haven't made the progress I had thought during the off-season. What baffles me the most out of all of this is that the defense has the talent. Granted, the line is fairly new and inexperienced, but the linebackers are all big-time talent, as well as the safeties. At any rate, Iowa State comes to Lincoln next week, and all I will say for now is this: it's gonna be interesting.
On a lighter note - the Lady Huskers continued their dominance by sweeping the Aggies of Texas A&M this evening at the coliseum. At least some of the Huskers have their stuff together!
GO BIG RED!!
Kaedyn and I were blessed to have the opportunity to attend todays' game thanks to my sister-in-law and her soon-to-be-hubby, who scored a few tickets through his place of work. It was Kaedyn's second time inside the walls of the old stadium for a game, and he had the time of his life! I was a proud Dad to have my son with me, and have the opportunity to share with him some of the fundamentals of football, as well as some of the traditions and rituals of Nebraska football. It was a great time, and I'm looking forward to the next opportunity, whenever that might come.
If you would have told me before game time this morning that the Ball State Cardinals would come into Husker Nation and hang over 600 yards of offense on the Blackshirt defense, I would have laughed in your face. If you would have told me that the Cardinals would put 40 points against the Huskers, I would have laughed even harder. If you would have told me that the Cardinals would still be in the game at halftime, I would have laughed yet again. If you would have told me that it would take a last-second missed field goal at the end of the game to secure a Husker victory, I would have personally signed your official document permanently banning you from ever stepping foot inside Husker nation again for blasphemy.
Let me tell you, there was nothing funny about what happened today. I had every feeling in the world that today's game would resemble a fired-up defensive unit after getting stomped last week. Surely, this group had something to prove, and who better to take their frustrations out on than a mediocre-at-best Ball State football team? Hmph. It was all Nebraska could do to avoid the upset, and truth be told, it should have been an upset. Three separate dropped balls for would-be touchdowns by Cardinal receivers helped Nebraska to a win. And that's exactly what today's game was; a win. Not a good win, not a hard-fought win, but just a win. What it needed to be was a blowout win. A win to prove that last week's defensive effort was just nerves and/or a poor game plan, and that Husker Nation has reason to believe Nebraska will do well as it begins conference play next Saturday. A win to prove the Huskers have taken a step forward from last year, and will seriously contend for the Big XII title.
The Huskers are in real trouble. The offense has done its part and looks good, but the defense is a wreck right now. We can't just outscore everybody, so if the Blackshirts can't get things turned around, we are in for a very long season. Maybe the Huskers haven't made the progress I had thought during the off-season. What baffles me the most out of all of this is that the defense has the talent. Granted, the line is fairly new and inexperienced, but the linebackers are all big-time talent, as well as the safeties. At any rate, Iowa State comes to Lincoln next week, and all I will say for now is this: it's gonna be interesting.
On a lighter note - the Lady Huskers continued their dominance by sweeping the Aggies of Texas A&M this evening at the coliseum. At least some of the Huskers have their stuff together!
GO BIG RED!!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
All Hail Cesar!
All the rage in the doggy world these days seems to be that of Cesar Millan, aka, the Dog Whisperer. My Mother-In-Law began raving about him several months ago, and convinced my wife to tune into his show, which of course peaked my curiosity. Unfortunately, Cesar's show normally airs when I'm at work, so I don't have much of a chance to really watch it. However, a co-worker offered to let me borrow her copy of Cesar's book, and while it took me awhile to finally set to reading it, I am very glad I have taken the time to do so.
Cesar's compelling argument through the entire book revolves around our culture's tendency to humanize our dogs. We cast our emotions and feelings into our dogs, he argues, and we are completely oblivious to their natural instincts and needs as a dog, and as a pack animal. Our biggest failure in meeting our dogs' needs lies in the lack of exercise we offer them. Cesar argues over and over that in order to have a happy dog, he/she has to have the chance to exercise. Letting the dog out into the back yard for a few minutes to do his/her business doesn't count. Dogs need, at the absolute least, a total of an hour of walking everyday. And Cesar would say more, if the owner is able.
Cesar begins his book, Cesar's Way, by discussing his Spanish roots and how he came to live in the United States. It was a very humbling experience for him, which he believes has led to his success. I don't want to give too much of his bibliography away, so I'll move on to why I'm bringing all of this to you.
Cesar's compelling argument through the entire book revolves around our culture's tendency to humanize our dogs. We cast our emotions and feelings into our dogs, he argues, and we are completely oblivious to their natural instincts and needs as a dog, and as a pack animal. Our biggest failure in meeting our dogs' needs lies in the lack of exercise we offer them. Cesar argues over and over that in order to have a happy dog, he/she has to have the chance to exercise. Letting the dog out into the back yard for a few minutes to do his/her business doesn't count. Dogs need, at the absolute least, a total of an hour of walking everyday. And Cesar would say more, if the owner is able.
As I began to reach the end of Cesar's book last night, I made a conscious decision to work very hard at providing my dogs with the opportunity to exist as nature intended. I have grown increasingly frustrated and irritated with our dogs' behavioral issues, which I have now learned are probably due to the lack of regular exercise. Armed with the knowledge to solve these issues, I put their leashes on and took the dogs for a thirty to forty minute walk today. It was, to say the least, an enlightening experience.
Our male chihuahua, Zorro, had the time of his life as he soaked in the sunshine and fresh air, and thoroughly enjoyed the walk. Zorro is a very active dog, and loves to chase the kids around the house or backyard. He's not one to sit for long periods of time, so while the walk was enough to tire him out, he wasn't overly spent. Our female chihuahua, Xena, was absolutely smoked by the end of the trek. We were just about seven or eight blocks from home, and she was literally allowing me to drag her on her belly because she could go no more. I thought she had stopped to sniff or do a little doggy business, but she was actually laying down. She did this act about a half-a-dozen times as we neared the end, and was even lying down on her side. As long as I gave her a minute or so to rest, she could make it another block. I was actually afraid she was going to have a heart attack. I had never seen such a thing, but it really drove home the realization of how out-of-shape she is, and how important it is to get her (and Zorro) out of the house and on good long walks.
Our vet has been telling us for quite some time that Xena was overweight, and we have been very careful not to allow her table scraps, and to give her smaller portions of food. Those efforts have helped some, but not nearly enough. Xena was a wreck when we got home, and literally plopped on her belly with her hind legs sticking straight out behind her, and her front legs cradling her water dish. As she caught her breath, she would take a few drinks of water, then go back to panting like she was going to pass out. As I said, the entire experience was a real eye-opener.
So, I urge all dog-owners to seriously consider reading Cesar's book. It's a quick, easy read, and I promise your dog will thank you for it. Doh! There I go, humanizing dogs again. Okay, so you're dog won't actually care so much because he/she probably doesn't know any better, but he/she will most definitely be a happier, much more fulfilled doggy if you apply the principles in Cesar's book.
Here's a picture of Xena hoarding the water dish after our walk this morning. Again, I had nothing to do with positioning her - this is exactly what she did when she walked, er, stumbled in the door this morning.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Trojans 49, Huskers 31
The billboard along I-180 into downtown Lincoln shows off the mighty biceps of a Husker football player, his arms crossed in an imposing position that would scare off even the fiercest of would-be competitors. Next to this daunting figure is the word 'strength.' As I watched the billboard go by on my way into work today, I found myself scoffing and thinking to myself, "What strength?" To say I am sorely disappointed after Saturday's game would be an understatement. Heartbroken might be a better descriptor. Or maybe devastated. How about all of thee above?
I'm not even sure where to begin to break down the Huskers issues, but I'm going to start with their rushing attack, or lack there of. I have gone from being not sold on running back Marlon Lucky, to flat done with him. Honestly, I don't think this guy is very good, and I fail to understand what the coaches see in him. (Maybe that's why I'm, at best, a "Monday Morning Quarterback.") Lucky runs with no heart, no finesse, no strength. I've watched him trip up on his own feet way too many times, and it doesn't take much to put the guy on the ground. I know he didn't have much to work with Saturday in terms of holes to run through, but the guy seems to have zero vision, and I just get the feeling he's not real interested in finding or creating opportunities for himself. That, or he's just plain not that good.
Now, I can't decide what was more embarrassing - our lethargic rushing attack, or our absolute inability to stop USC's rushing attack. They made us look absolutely pathetic, and the worst part about it is their backs aren't anything special. They didn't have to spin, juke, or break many tackles because the holes they had to run through were gaping abysses. All they did was take the handoff and run, gaining an average of 12 yards per carry. The defensive line got beat all game long, and where were the linebackers? Oh, that's right, they were continually caught biting on play fakes and misdirections, such that they were never a factor. And what about adjustments? It's one thing to perform that way in the first quarter or so, but to do it all game long? Defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove had no answer, apparently. The coveted Blackshirt defense certainly had no strength on this fateful night.
The lone beacon of light in this game was quarterback Sam Keller. I felt he played very well, especially executing the two-minute offense in the fourth quarter. Callahan had a very well designed game plan, and Keller was poised and gave his team a chance offensively. He zipped short passes and slant routes here and there, and USC seemed unable to stop him. He did throw a couple of picks, but one was thanks to a batted ball and I have a hard time blaming that on him. Keller stepped it up a notch from the first couple of games, and proved why he was so highly touted in the preseason. To hang 31 points on the best defense in the nation is something to talk about. Keller is the strength of this team, he's a great leader, and I'm confident he'll get the job done on most occasions.
There's a big part of me that would like to make the argument that the Husker's fate shifted after they kicked a field goal to take a 10-7 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, a jolting hit on the USC return man jarred the ball loose, seemingly giving the Huskers even more of the momentum. As strange luck would have it, though, another USC player scooped up the fumble and scrambled 30 or so yards, turning what seemed to be a sure Husker advantage into a huge USC return. What's more, the original return man laid on the field for nearly 10 minutes with a throat injury. Not knowing specifically what the injury was, the attending medics took every precaution by immobilizing him and taking him off on a stretcher. The long wait zapped every bit of momentum the Huskers had going, and allowed USC to take a breather and talk about things for a good long while. But folks, strong teams rebound from such events. Strong teams harness the original momentum and keep it going. Strong teams laugh at such a travesty, get back in the game, and keep plugging away. The Huskers, on this night, were not strong.
The Huskers had the opportunity to show off their progress in returning the program to elite status. Instead, they were embarrassed on a national stage. It's kind of ironic that USC did the exact same thing the Huskers used to do when they were winning championships in the mid-90's. They lined up and pounded the football down the throats of the opposing defense, and imposed their will, and strength, all night long. There was no stopping the power running of USC on Saturday, and I could almost sense Trojan head coach Pete Carroll winking on his way out of Memorial Stadium as if to say, "how does it feel?"
And so, we move on. Up next, Ball State. Incidentally, Ball State rushed for nearly 300 yards in their game last week. Think they're licking their chops after watching the Huskers performance? Better believe it, and Nebraska better be ready this time. If they take anything away from Saturday night, I hope it's a renewed sense of inner-strength. It's time to show some guts, Big Red.
On a happier note, the Lady Huskers are continuing to roll. Last Wednesday, they hosted seventh-ranked Texas at the Coliseum, and blasted them three games to none. Then they packed it up and headed to Lubbock, Texas, for a match against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech who provided zero competition on Saturday night. Another three games to none win, and the Huskers continue to solidify their top ranking. They play host to Texas A&M next Saturday.
GO BIG RED!!!
I'm not even sure where to begin to break down the Huskers issues, but I'm going to start with their rushing attack, or lack there of. I have gone from being not sold on running back Marlon Lucky, to flat done with him. Honestly, I don't think this guy is very good, and I fail to understand what the coaches see in him. (Maybe that's why I'm, at best, a "Monday Morning Quarterback.") Lucky runs with no heart, no finesse, no strength. I've watched him trip up on his own feet way too many times, and it doesn't take much to put the guy on the ground. I know he didn't have much to work with Saturday in terms of holes to run through, but the guy seems to have zero vision, and I just get the feeling he's not real interested in finding or creating opportunities for himself. That, or he's just plain not that good.
Now, I can't decide what was more embarrassing - our lethargic rushing attack, or our absolute inability to stop USC's rushing attack. They made us look absolutely pathetic, and the worst part about it is their backs aren't anything special. They didn't have to spin, juke, or break many tackles because the holes they had to run through were gaping abysses. All they did was take the handoff and run, gaining an average of 12 yards per carry. The defensive line got beat all game long, and where were the linebackers? Oh, that's right, they were continually caught biting on play fakes and misdirections, such that they were never a factor. And what about adjustments? It's one thing to perform that way in the first quarter or so, but to do it all game long? Defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove had no answer, apparently. The coveted Blackshirt defense certainly had no strength on this fateful night.
The lone beacon of light in this game was quarterback Sam Keller. I felt he played very well, especially executing the two-minute offense in the fourth quarter. Callahan had a very well designed game plan, and Keller was poised and gave his team a chance offensively. He zipped short passes and slant routes here and there, and USC seemed unable to stop him. He did throw a couple of picks, but one was thanks to a batted ball and I have a hard time blaming that on him. Keller stepped it up a notch from the first couple of games, and proved why he was so highly touted in the preseason. To hang 31 points on the best defense in the nation is something to talk about. Keller is the strength of this team, he's a great leader, and I'm confident he'll get the job done on most occasions.
There's a big part of me that would like to make the argument that the Husker's fate shifted after they kicked a field goal to take a 10-7 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, a jolting hit on the USC return man jarred the ball loose, seemingly giving the Huskers even more of the momentum. As strange luck would have it, though, another USC player scooped up the fumble and scrambled 30 or so yards, turning what seemed to be a sure Husker advantage into a huge USC return. What's more, the original return man laid on the field for nearly 10 minutes with a throat injury. Not knowing specifically what the injury was, the attending medics took every precaution by immobilizing him and taking him off on a stretcher. The long wait zapped every bit of momentum the Huskers had going, and allowed USC to take a breather and talk about things for a good long while. But folks, strong teams rebound from such events. Strong teams harness the original momentum and keep it going. Strong teams laugh at such a travesty, get back in the game, and keep plugging away. The Huskers, on this night, were not strong.
The Huskers had the opportunity to show off their progress in returning the program to elite status. Instead, they were embarrassed on a national stage. It's kind of ironic that USC did the exact same thing the Huskers used to do when they were winning championships in the mid-90's. They lined up and pounded the football down the throats of the opposing defense, and imposed their will, and strength, all night long. There was no stopping the power running of USC on Saturday, and I could almost sense Trojan head coach Pete Carroll winking on his way out of Memorial Stadium as if to say, "how does it feel?"
And so, we move on. Up next, Ball State. Incidentally, Ball State rushed for nearly 300 yards in their game last week. Think they're licking their chops after watching the Huskers performance? Better believe it, and Nebraska better be ready this time. If they take anything away from Saturday night, I hope it's a renewed sense of inner-strength. It's time to show some guts, Big Red.
On a happier note, the Lady Huskers are continuing to roll. Last Wednesday, they hosted seventh-ranked Texas at the Coliseum, and blasted them three games to none. Then they packed it up and headed to Lubbock, Texas, for a match against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech who provided zero competition on Saturday night. Another three games to none win, and the Huskers continue to solidify their top ranking. They play host to Texas A&M next Saturday.
GO BIG RED!!!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Game #3
The day hath arrived. The Trojans of the University of Southern California ride their big white horse into Husker Nation today, and bring with them all of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Word on the streets of Lincoln has it that the likes of Will Ferrell, Keanu Reeves, and even Snoop Dogg will be inside Memorial Stadium to witness the big event today. Yes, Tinseltown is here as the number one team in college football stops in to battle the Huskers.
I have toiled, processed, examined, analyzed, and racked my brain for an entire week as to just how this thing is going to go today. Each and every time I think about it, I find myself continuing to come back to one question: how in the world are the Nebraska Cornhuskers going to compete against such a superior USC football team? On paper, we don't stand a fighting chance. On paper, we are going to get creamed. On paper, this has the potential of being very ugly. On paper, we don't even belong on the same field as USC. The Trojans have put themselves in the same position as the Huskers during their mid-90's dynasty: there is #1, and then there is everybody else. USC has seperated themselves as such an elite team, that to call them #1 in the nation almost takes away from their superior talent level.
But all of that is on paper, and the Huskers have a prime opportunity to accomplish what nobody in the nation expects. All of the pieces are in place: the electric and loud home crowd, the national spotlight, and the talent. Yes, I said talent. Make no mistake - Nebraska has the talent to upset USC, but they will need much more than strictly talent tonight. Tonight's game is about heart. It's about fortitude. It's about who wants it more. It's about that killer instinct that has been missing for many years from Nebraska Football. The 2007 Huskers have the chance to take the program to the next level in its quest to return to the nation's elite, but they have got to find that killer instinct. Now.
It's time for these Huskers to take some big-time chances, open up Callahan's West Coast offense, and prove to the Trojans, and the nation, they are not afraid. Call me crazy. Call me a stupid Husker fanatic. Call me a blind Big Red fan. Call me whatever you want, but I think the Huskers get it done tonight. Why? Because I gotta believe. I gotta believe that this USC football team is really just human. Talented humans, fast humans, smart humans, but humans. They put their pants on in the morning just like I do, and they can be smacked around a bit on the gridiron. The Huskers, and the 80,000+ at the old stadium will prove it.
The chess match between the offensive-minded Callahan and the defensive-minded Carroll will be a fun one to witness, and I think Callahan gets the upper hand in this one. The Huskers shut down USC's offensive attack, and find just enough chinks in the mighty armor of the Trojan defense to win it, thanks to strong performances by running back Marlon Lucky and wide receiver Maurice Purify. Final score: Huskers 20, Trojans 17.
I gotta believe.
GO BIG RED!!!!
I have toiled, processed, examined, analyzed, and racked my brain for an entire week as to just how this thing is going to go today. Each and every time I think about it, I find myself continuing to come back to one question: how in the world are the Nebraska Cornhuskers going to compete against such a superior USC football team? On paper, we don't stand a fighting chance. On paper, we are going to get creamed. On paper, this has the potential of being very ugly. On paper, we don't even belong on the same field as USC. The Trojans have put themselves in the same position as the Huskers during their mid-90's dynasty: there is #1, and then there is everybody else. USC has seperated themselves as such an elite team, that to call them #1 in the nation almost takes away from their superior talent level.
But all of that is on paper, and the Huskers have a prime opportunity to accomplish what nobody in the nation expects. All of the pieces are in place: the electric and loud home crowd, the national spotlight, and the talent. Yes, I said talent. Make no mistake - Nebraska has the talent to upset USC, but they will need much more than strictly talent tonight. Tonight's game is about heart. It's about fortitude. It's about who wants it more. It's about that killer instinct that has been missing for many years from Nebraska Football. The 2007 Huskers have the chance to take the program to the next level in its quest to return to the nation's elite, but they have got to find that killer instinct. Now.
It's time for these Huskers to take some big-time chances, open up Callahan's West Coast offense, and prove to the Trojans, and the nation, they are not afraid. Call me crazy. Call me a stupid Husker fanatic. Call me a blind Big Red fan. Call me whatever you want, but I think the Huskers get it done tonight. Why? Because I gotta believe. I gotta believe that this USC football team is really just human. Talented humans, fast humans, smart humans, but humans. They put their pants on in the morning just like I do, and they can be smacked around a bit on the gridiron. The Huskers, and the 80,000+ at the old stadium will prove it.
The chess match between the offensive-minded Callahan and the defensive-minded Carroll will be a fun one to witness, and I think Callahan gets the upper hand in this one. The Huskers shut down USC's offensive attack, and find just enough chinks in the mighty armor of the Trojan defense to win it, thanks to strong performances by running back Marlon Lucky and wide receiver Maurice Purify. Final score: Huskers 20, Trojans 17.
I gotta believe.
GO BIG RED!!!!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
A Fat Man's Dialogue
The Lincoln paper recently ran an editorial article discussing America's alarming obesity rate. At the center of the article was a report from the Trust for America's Health, which showed not a single state reporting a drop in its obesity rate in 2006. To the contrary, 31 states showed an increase. The Trust largely blames the federal government for not doing enough to combat what it refers to as an epidemic, and has suggested a so-called National Strategy to Combat Obesity.
As a person who has battled obesity nearly my entire life, I feel more than qualified to say this: Enough already! The government has saturated our culture with literature, education, and tools for becoming a healthier society, almost to the point of overkill. It doesn't take a lot of searching to find all kinds of suggestions, opinions, and helpful advice from government agencies eager to change America to a healthier country. I think the government has done about all it can in the way of providing the education, and the rest is up to us. As the article states, "...possibilities for government intervention could be more intrusive. Some communities already have banned trans-fats. What's next? A ban on funnel cake at the Nebraska State Fair? Ration cards for peach cobbler?"
Government can, or at least should, only intervene so much, and the rest is up to each affected individual. We, the obese, know that proper diet and exercise are vitally important to healthy living. We've been told over and over and over and over. We've been obliterated with statistics, facts, case studies, and countless dieting options. Now it's up to us to as to how to process all of this good information.
If anything, it's time the government tone down the education efforts, and take a harsher stance on forcing food manufacturers to come cleaner with the kinds of effects their products have on the human body. For instance, a bag of potato chips that purports to be a healthier choice ought to clarify that it's really only a healthier choice amongst all chips, but not necessarily a healthy choice overall. I don't know what the government can do in the way of regulating prices, but I do know it's not financially easy to eat healthy. The healthier the food, the more consumers pay for it. Unfortunately, this makes it hard to stretch a dollar when buying food for a family, which may partially explain why there is an obesity epidemic. I wouldn't mind seeing some obesity percentages of folks who are financially well-off. I'm betting the numbers are quite different than what the Trust has cited.
The battle of the bulge no longer rests squarely on the shoulders of the government, if it ever did. It's time Americans stood up and took charge of their individual health, use the resources given to us by our government, and avoid the Big Macs, Whoppers, french fries, and cheesy puffs.
As a person who has battled obesity nearly my entire life, I feel more than qualified to say this: Enough already! The government has saturated our culture with literature, education, and tools for becoming a healthier society, almost to the point of overkill. It doesn't take a lot of searching to find all kinds of suggestions, opinions, and helpful advice from government agencies eager to change America to a healthier country. I think the government has done about all it can in the way of providing the education, and the rest is up to us. As the article states, "...possibilities for government intervention could be more intrusive. Some communities already have banned trans-fats. What's next? A ban on funnel cake at the Nebraska State Fair? Ration cards for peach cobbler?"
Government can, or at least should, only intervene so much, and the rest is up to each affected individual. We, the obese, know that proper diet and exercise are vitally important to healthy living. We've been told over and over and over and over. We've been obliterated with statistics, facts, case studies, and countless dieting options. Now it's up to us to as to how to process all of this good information.
If anything, it's time the government tone down the education efforts, and take a harsher stance on forcing food manufacturers to come cleaner with the kinds of effects their products have on the human body. For instance, a bag of potato chips that purports to be a healthier choice ought to clarify that it's really only a healthier choice amongst all chips, but not necessarily a healthy choice overall. I don't know what the government can do in the way of regulating prices, but I do know it's not financially easy to eat healthy. The healthier the food, the more consumers pay for it. Unfortunately, this makes it hard to stretch a dollar when buying food for a family, which may partially explain why there is an obesity epidemic. I wouldn't mind seeing some obesity percentages of folks who are financially well-off. I'm betting the numbers are quite different than what the Trust has cited.
The battle of the bulge no longer rests squarely on the shoulders of the government, if it ever did. It's time Americans stood up and took charge of their individual health, use the resources given to us by our government, and avoid the Big Macs, Whoppers, french fries, and cheesy puffs.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Huskers 20, Demon Deacons 17
Gulp.
That little word about sums things up as to how I'm feeling after today's Big Red performance. The Huskers just never got going offensively, and once again relied on the defense to bail them out. It was a game right down to the end, and it never should have been that way. A number of things went wrong today, and we have a ton of work to do if we are going to hang around with USC next Saturday. Quarterback Sam Keller has not impressed me yet, although he does show flashes of brilliance now and again. Unfortunately, now-and-again won't get it done against the big dogs. Keller just hasn't looked comfortable yet, especially when he's under pressure. He made some decent throws today, but made just as many poor decisions.
Our rushing game was nowhere near where it was last week when we rushed for over 400 yards. Marlon Lucky, who I'm still not sold on, finished with about 90 yards and a touchdown. Not bad, but not fantastic. Overall, we were somewhere in the neighborhood of 120 yards total on the ground. Again, a far cry from where we need to be if we are to compete against the top programs in the nation this season.
To say I am not satisfied with things would be an understatement this week. I'm flat scared to death of what could happen with the Huskers in the future. I have a couple of thoughts lingering in the back of my mind as to why things didn't go well today; 1. Still shaking off early-season rust. 2. First game on the road. 3. Didn't want to show too much before USC comes to town. 4. Played conservative so as to prevent serious injuries. But those all seem like excuses, especially since we didn't really do enough to win - it was game right down to the last minute, and a decision that could have gone either way.
In the end, though, it's a 'W'. We are 2-0, and can now officially call it USC week. Let's hope the players and coaches come home and get right to work, and we can finally see a Husker football team who can land a few punches against an elite program. I predicted an upset of USC before the season began, but I am admittedly concerned about such a bold prediction now. We'll see how things play out this week, and I'll offer my final thoughts on Huskers vs. USC sometime before kickoff. Gulp.
That little word about sums things up as to how I'm feeling after today's Big Red performance. The Huskers just never got going offensively, and once again relied on the defense to bail them out. It was a game right down to the end, and it never should have been that way. A number of things went wrong today, and we have a ton of work to do if we are going to hang around with USC next Saturday. Quarterback Sam Keller has not impressed me yet, although he does show flashes of brilliance now and again. Unfortunately, now-and-again won't get it done against the big dogs. Keller just hasn't looked comfortable yet, especially when he's under pressure. He made some decent throws today, but made just as many poor decisions.
Our rushing game was nowhere near where it was last week when we rushed for over 400 yards. Marlon Lucky, who I'm still not sold on, finished with about 90 yards and a touchdown. Not bad, but not fantastic. Overall, we were somewhere in the neighborhood of 120 yards total on the ground. Again, a far cry from where we need to be if we are to compete against the top programs in the nation this season.
To say I am not satisfied with things would be an understatement this week. I'm flat scared to death of what could happen with the Huskers in the future. I have a couple of thoughts lingering in the back of my mind as to why things didn't go well today; 1. Still shaking off early-season rust. 2. First game on the road. 3. Didn't want to show too much before USC comes to town. 4. Played conservative so as to prevent serious injuries. But those all seem like excuses, especially since we didn't really do enough to win - it was game right down to the last minute, and a decision that could have gone either way.
In the end, though, it's a 'W'. We are 2-0, and can now officially call it USC week. Let's hope the players and coaches come home and get right to work, and we can finally see a Husker football team who can land a few punches against an elite program. I predicted an upset of USC before the season began, but I am admittedly concerned about such a bold prediction now. We'll see how things play out this week, and I'll offer my final thoughts on Huskers vs. USC sometime before kickoff. Gulp.
Game #2
The Big Red travels to North Carolina today to battle the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest University. I had hoped this game would be a bigger test than last week as the Huskers warm up for the big showdown against USC next week. The loss of Wake Forest's starting quarterback, however, has helped this matchup lose what little luster it had. That said, there do exist some intriguing elements today. The Huskers take to the road for the first time this season, and into a potentially hostile environment as the Wake Forest crowd certainly knows how to make some noise. There's no doubt the Huskers will have to remain focused and on task from start to finish if they are to put these guys away.
My hopes for this week center around one thing in particular; the Huskers have got to come out swinging, if you will. It has been a trademark of Callahan-coached teams (at least Husker teams) to start slow and as a result, play catch-up for much of the game. I would like to see the Huskers get off to a fast start, and score early and often because if they so much as blink next week against the mighty Trojans, game over. Advantage, USC. Today's contest provides a perfect opportunity to tune-up that quick-start element, put the Demon Deacons away early, and get out of town.
Since this is the first road game of the season, however, I don't see the Huskers being able to achieve such a start. They'll come out and stub their toes a couple of times, but eventually get going thanks to the suffocating play of the Blackshirts. I see the score being fairly close at half-time, but the 'Skers will pull away in the third quarter and the back-ups will get some reps towards the end of the game. Final score: Huskers 38, Demon Deacons 13.
The Lady Huskers faced 11th-ranked Duke last night at the NU Coliseum, and once again, it was no real contest for them. The Huskers swept Duke three games to none, and sent the Blue Devils packin'. Unbeaten and unchallenged, their next victim is New Mexico State tonight at the Coliseum.
GO BIG RED!!
My hopes for this week center around one thing in particular; the Huskers have got to come out swinging, if you will. It has been a trademark of Callahan-coached teams (at least Husker teams) to start slow and as a result, play catch-up for much of the game. I would like to see the Huskers get off to a fast start, and score early and often because if they so much as blink next week against the mighty Trojans, game over. Advantage, USC. Today's contest provides a perfect opportunity to tune-up that quick-start element, put the Demon Deacons away early, and get out of town.
Since this is the first road game of the season, however, I don't see the Huskers being able to achieve such a start. They'll come out and stub their toes a couple of times, but eventually get going thanks to the suffocating play of the Blackshirts. I see the score being fairly close at half-time, but the 'Skers will pull away in the third quarter and the back-ups will get some reps towards the end of the game. Final score: Huskers 38, Demon Deacons 13.
The Lady Huskers faced 11th-ranked Duke last night at the NU Coliseum, and once again, it was no real contest for them. The Huskers swept Duke three games to none, and sent the Blue Devils packin'. Unbeaten and unchallenged, their next victim is New Mexico State tonight at the Coliseum.
GO BIG RED!!
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