The QBs, Or Green Jerseys Are The Sexy

We seem sort of QB-laden, no?

Interesting Uni-Watch type note - The "new guys" Jim Ebke and Kody Spano don't have the red stripe on their helmets yet. How strange do the numerals on the back of the helmet look without the stripe?

The photo comes from a great flickr stream. Unfortunately I can no longer remember when, where or how I came across the stream, so if they are your photos or if you know who they belong to let me know so I can attach credit.

Update - The photos seem to be from the Scout's Big Red Report.

Your Final Four

I made a small run for a day in the DXP Tourney Challenge, but Texas' loss killed me. So much for a home court advantage. So that's how quiet 30,000 Longhorn fans can be. Huh. Might as well just had a bunch of burnt orange cardboard cutouts. Nice show Texas fan, especially those of you with money sitting courtside.

First Day Notes

So spring football has officially kicked off in Lincoln and a few details slipped out of Stadium Drive.

From the LJS:

· The first-unit linebackers early in the practice appeared to be Blake Lawrence (BUCK), Phillip Dillard (middle) and Latravis Washington (weakside).

· Pelini spent the lion's share or the time with the defense although he did pay a momentary visit to the offensive side of things.

· Major Culbert was working with the safeties.

Certainly nothing earth-shattering, but it beats nothing.

From the LJS and other internet sources (read premium information I can’t share verbatim) comes word that the defense is already flying to the ball. This is good news indeed and seems so simple. Were they honestly coached to avoid flying to the ball previously?

Said Dillard: "Out there on defense today, every play he's yelling, 'Run to the ball.' Everybody, d-line and everything. 'I want you running 10 yards to the ball, no matter what, fumbles, draw play, anything. I want everyone sprinting to the ball every single play.' If you're not, you're going to hear from him.'"

Husker sophomore Niles Paul said he noticed an added intensity in the defense.

"The defense was flying to the ball, picking up fumbles, dropped passes, they were picking them up and taking them to the house," Paul said.

Husker Illustrated's premium site also had a photo gallery from the first day. The general consensus seems to be that the players have slimmed down during the off-season. The most noticeable changes appeared to be with Phillip Dillard and Quentin Castille.

Slimmer and quicker is almost always better in my estimation. I assume these guys retained, if not built strength and simply shed unneccessary body fat or "bad" weight.

In other unverified internet news, your fastest Husker is apparently this guy:


That would be transfer walk-on from Ohio Matt Donahue. Donahue reportedly ran a 4.35 electronic 40 during pre-spring testing.

Something You Don't See Everyday

An official scholarship letter from Nebraska. This particular one belongs to Tate Forcier, a QB prospect from San Diego. Tate has documented all of his offers on his website.

Just thought it was pretty cool. Not nearly as cool, however, as the letters of interest I received from numerous small colleges in the midwest as a one-time high school tennis prospect.

Kind of a Letdown

Was I the only one unimpressed by the information disseminated in the pre-spring press conference? I don't know what I expected, but after such a long wait, I was hoping for more than we got.

Hi Plains Drifter, by the way, has the best summary I've seen so far.

I've got a short take on Pelini banning the players from bars coming up on FanHouse Wednesday morning.

Other than that you're stuck with mindless YouTube filler.

Troy Aikman Idolized Former Husker Vince Ferragamo

Pretty interesting YouTube find on an otherwise uninteresting day.

Pick Your Seven

Brian Christopherson of the LJS offered his 7 Huskers to watch this spring on Sunday. It's hard to argue much with his list, but I would get my blogging pass revoked if I didn't at least try to hammer out my own.

1. Anthony West – This guy looks like a playmaker in waiting. The only question is where will he line up. With Anthony Blue’s injury he could get a shot at locking down the other corner spot opposite Murillo. In addition, should Larry Asante move from safety to linebacker, West could win the spot at FS allowing Rickey Thenarse to take over at SS.

2. Keith Williams – I have a hunch that this guy is our most talented interior lineman. This spring will be his chance to breakout. The Andy Christiansen fiasco only hastens the need for a guy like Williams to step up. If I’m Barney Cotton I line Williams up on the same side of the field as Jaivario Burkes and watch us dominate the LOS for the first time in years.

3. Prince Amukamara – Like West, he could get a shot at one of the corner spots. More importantly, however, is the talent the Prince could bring to our special teams. Amukamara’s high school films showed his uncanny ability to change directions and make guys miss. That sort of skill needs to be on the field.

4. Shukree Barfield – Our defensive line remains thin and unproven. Suh and Dixon are the more known entities, but Barfield’s development could be key for the unit as a whole. If he comes on especially strong at NT, Suh might be able to play more at the 3 technique where I feel he’ll be more comfortable under Pelini. Barfield will get his chance to eat a bunch of reps with Suh sitting out the spring.

5. Ryan Hill/Dreu Young/Mike McNeill – Somebody has to step up at tight end, and I feel comfortable saying it will be one of these three (hey, thin limbs are scary). Watson’s CU offenses relied heavily on the tight end, especially in the flats with a mobile QB rolling in that direction. I’d be ecstatic to see Nebraska run that several times a game, and I’m even more ecstatic that it won’t be J.B. Phillips on the receiving end this season.

6. Kevin Thomsen – Another relative unknown who could wind up as our starting fullback this fall. Word on campus a year ago was the Thomsen’s blocking ability will remind Husker fans of our fullbacks of the past. With another off-season spent stressing the importance of the running game, Thomsen could become a key cog.

7. Austin Stafford – Well, the list has to include a linebacker so I’ll take a chance with Stafford. We know we need help and out of the guys on the roster Stafford fits the bill in terms of quickness and aggressiveness. Another bonus in my mind is Stafford redshirted a year ago, which shielded him some from the “coaching” of the previous staff. I can’t be the only one that feels that truly works in his favor.

Honorable Mention: Curenski Gilleylen, LaTravis Washington, Jared Crick, Jacob Hickman

Ok, so there's my list and again I apologize for my recent absence. What I'd like to see in the comments are your thoughts and your seven Huskers to watch this spring.

DXP Tourney Mania Update

M. Krambeck is out to a quick lead after hitting 15 of 16 games. A close second is 'NewYorkBound' from E. Drey with 14 of 16. Well done. For your efforts, Allison Stokke gives you some serious props. In fact, she was so excited about your first day efforts, she pole vaulted to a high school record height just for you two...



Then she went back to her boyfriend later last night...



I guess he must have hit 16 out of 16 on the first day.

Regardless. We all have a chance.

DXP Tourney Mania - For Real This Time

Because I can't trust Sammy Vegas to do anything right in my absence. I went ahead and actually created a Double Extra Point Tourney Challenge Group. A little late to the dance, but hopefully you'll find time to enter one more bracket or to add your bracket to our group.

Here is the group page and you should be able to add your previous entries to this group. If you create a new entry simply search for the group titled "Double Extra Point" (original, huh!).

Anyway, get those entries in and good luck.

I'm back online and marginally settled in the new place. Once I get my bracket filled out and enjoy the first weekend of games, I'll get back to posting.

DXP Tourney Mania

Sign up here if you think you know more basketball than the likes of Timmy Rose, Dr. D, and Jeffie Husker. You probably do. Obviously, I am probably going to win, but don't get discouraged. I promise weekly updates loaded with college girls. Just go to the link above or go to ESPN.com and search for the 'Tourney Challenge.' The group name is DXP. Wagers are accepted.

I can't show you 65 college girls right now. I can, however, show you possibly the hottest female athlete on the planet. Allison Stokke. She's 18 years old, a pole vaulter headed to UC-Berkeley next year on scholarship, and her Wikipedia page had to be turned off because of people like you and me. She is so hot that she made the front page of the Washington Post .

Pure hotness...


There is plenty more out there of her - search it. What there is not more of is her boyfriend who clearly is outkicking his coverage...


Seriously, you might have a better chance with her than beating me in the Tourney Challenge.

Please Stand By

We decided to make a quick and somewhat unexpected move into some larger and nicer digs here in Houston. As a result, my internet access is pretty much non-existent. This should hopefully be cleared up later in the week. My apologies. In the meantime, please check out the rest of the Husker blogs listed in the sidebar for your fix.

You Have A Chance. Trust Me.

A (not so) quick break from Husker reality. Although the Sacramento Kings cheerleaders had their cameras confiscated, DXP still found strength to move on this Friday.

What you are about to witness might make you jealous. If you like ugly sports reporters with athletes, go elsewhere. If you like hot sports reporters that make themselves available to me and you, stay.

This is Bonnie Bernstein and the coolest guy ever....


Erin Andrews with a nice young man...


She's playing hard to get here...


I hope she took money from him...


She appears to be hotter at a (Omaha?) bar...


Hold on for more of this dude...


He is clearly abusing his intern privileges...


Finally, I bring you Bruce Pearl. I'm not bringing you basketball rhetoric, but I am bringing you the coolest coach ever. Ever. Even cooler than Larry Eustachy you ask? I'll let you be the judge of that.

Not fair...


Not fair...


It's just not fair.

Oh well, back to Nebraska cheer.., i mean football.

Husker Fans Humbled by WWL

ESPN released their 2008 Spring Practice Preview which ranks the Big 12 teams as they head into next season. The "four-letters" are not as impressed with the Big Red as many in Husker Nation seem to be as they place Nebraska 7th in the conference.

What we know: New coach Bo Pelini's biggest recruiting catch was convincing I-back Marlon Lucky to return for his senior season.
What we don't know: If the Cornhuskers will ever get their swagger back on defense. Hiring Pelini is a big start.
How the Cornhuskers can get to Kansas City: If Pelini's presence pumps some new life in the Blackshirts and QB Joe Ganz continues playing like he did in November.

All-in-all this seems like a fair, albeit simple, analysis at this point.

ESPN's full rankings for the Big 12 look like this:

1. MU
2. OU
3. Texas
4. Texas Tech
5. KU
6. A&M
7. Nebraska
8. CU
9. OSU
10. KSU
11. ISU
12. Baylor

Early reaction from "Mr. 5-Time National Champions Leather Jacket Wearing Guy on Husker Message Boards" ranges from disbelief and fuming anger to "let them underestimate us."

It could be a long season folks.

Black and Blue

The big news Tuesday was that cornerback Anthony Blue injured his knee during winter conditioning and will miss the spring.

No word obviously on the severity of the injury, but at least one rumor says it’s a tear of both the ACL and MCL. This is a tough break for Blue and for the defense as a whole. I had Blue penciled in as a starter alongside Armando Murillo. I was impressed with him during his time on the field as a true freshman but he still should have a bright future. In the meantime somebody needs to step up in his absence. Prince Amukamara please pick up the white courtesy phone.

The off-season is generally filled with bad news, but on the bright side Nebraska remains scoreless in the 2008 Fulmer Cup.

Adam Carriker is a Poor Tipper

Oh, the wonderful world of Nebraska message boards and the long, cruel off-season. How I love thee.

From Big Husker Fan we get the following the gem:

i'm a supervisor at a restaurant out in western Omaha. Carriker was in to eat tonight with a girl who i assume is his S.O. and another couple. the bill was sixty bucks and they left a two dollar tip.

apparently, 1st-round draft pick money isn't good enough to be able to tip your waitress decently. the service, by the way, was fine. i made sure of it.

as a husker fan, it was kind've disappointing.

Let's give Drago a break here, I mean only $9.5 million of Carriker's contract is guaranteed. He can't be making it rain on every waitress in town.

The best part is that the thread continues into a four page discussion of tipping etiquette. And the even better part is that I chose to give the topic more life here on DXP. I can't help it, I'm bored.

Carriker joins a laundry list of alleged poor athlete tippers including:

Tony Dorsett
Allen Iverson
Derrick Coleman
Mark McGwire &
Scottie Pippen

In other message board news, a poster on Rivals ($) encountered Rickey Thenarse at a UNL computer lab and allegedly obtained the following information from Rickey:

Just got done talking to Rickey T here in the computer Lab on campus- Here is what he said....
1.- he was going to transfer to ASU if the new staff had stayed
2.-loves the new strength coach and coaching staff--hes up to 201 lbs
3.-said last year coaches would make excuses after losses and had everyone playing the wrong positions
4.-said Bo's expectations are through the roof- wants a NC
5.-Said he couldn't explain the feeling right now of the players, but he said the team will be special next year
6.-also mentioned that when the coaches were making excuses about injuries and such, said "This is Nebraska Football, that stuff happens, instead of bitching we should have gotten right back it"

Just a real chill guy to talk to, he will be a good one for us next year

Take this for what it's worth, obviously, but I've heard the transfer rumors about Thenarse and several other players months ago.

Cheerleaders Can Party

Timmy Rose baited me and I bit. These are the Sacramento Kings Cheerleaders partying like it's 1999. No word yet if any of these scandalous pictures got any of these sophisticated women fired, but ladies, you are always welcome to coach our Nebraska cheerleaders. Please? Can you? Call T.O. and tell him you are interested in the spirit squad opening.

Here is the yearbook photo...


You and me were meant to be...


I have no idea where the end of that candy cane is but I'll pay to find it...


You stay classy Sacramento...


Where do the dollar bills go?


Who her? She's ugly. How can anyone like a girl like that...


I think she pointed to her boobies...


Aren't those a little too conservative?


What's with the clothes?


Invitations are in the mail...


Amazingly, the Sacramento Kings cheerleaders leaked these gems out. On behalf of us men, THANK YOU.

Now, back to Nebraska football...