BlogPoll Ballot - Week 2

Here is my Top 25 for this week. Once again your feedback is appreciated.

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Ohio State	--
2	Southern Cal	1
3	Auburn	1
4	West Virginia	1
5	Notre Dame	1
6	Louisville	2
7	Florida	--
8	Louisiana State	2
9	Texas	7
10	Georgia	3
11	Tennessee	--
12	Oklahoma	2
13	Florida State	4
14	Miami (Florida)	2
15	Nebraska	2
16	Michigan	2
17	Oregon	2
18	Virginia Tech	2
19	Iowa	7
20	Texas Tech	2
21	Arizona State	2
22	Alabama	2
23	Cal	2
24	Boston College	2
25	Clemson	10

Dropped Out: Penn State (#21).

USC Preview

Location: Los Angeles, California
Enrollment: 33,000
Conference: Pac-10
Stadium: L.A. Coliseum (Capacity: 92,000)
First Year of Football: 1888
All Time Record: 732-298-54

Head Coach: Pete Carroll
6th year as head coach at USC: Career record 54-10.
· Following the Arkansas game, Carroll had this to say about giving up defensive coordinator duties to Nick Holt.

“It reminded me of the NFL. I had a little more freedom to run around and do stuff because you’re not on the call for every play and the next adjustment. I had a lot of fun."

Team Overview

Last Season: USC was touted as the greatest team of all-time, before losing their national title bid in one of the greatest games ever in the Rose Bowl.

This Season: USC will be trying to match the 580 yard, 49 point-per-game output of 2005. In addition, they must replace the likes of Matt Leinart, LenDale White, Winston Justicee, Dominque Byrd, Taitusi Lutui, Darnell Bing, and Reggie Bush. The Trojans struggled early in their opener leading just 16-7 at the half. They came out smoking, however, in the second half on their way to dismantling Arkansas 50-14 in Fayetteville.

On Offense: At quarterback John David Booty has waited three years for his chance to run the Trojans’ offense. His status for 2006 was somewhat questionable after off-season back surgery. But Booty left USC fans feeling optimistic after going 24-35 and 261 yards and making few mistakes in the opener. At running back the Trojans have an inexperienced but talented stable. True freshman C.J. Gable started the opener and finished with 51 yards rushing and a touchdown. Two other freshmen Emmanuel Moody and Allen Bradford also scored against Arkansas. The X-factor at running back for USC might be Chauncey Washington. Washington sat out the past two seasons because of academic issues and was slowed during fall camp by a hamstring injury. Against Arkansas he rushed for 55 yards on 8 carries despite not being 100%. At wide receiver the Trojans look like a match up nightmare as they boast a bevy of future NFL talents. Dwayne Jarrett might be the best receiver in the country and had 1274 yards and 16 TDs a year ago. Jarrett is joined by senior Steve Smith, who is probably the fastest of the USC receivers. Smith had 5 catches for 67 yards against the Hogs. Future stars Patrick Turner, Chris McFoy, Whitney Lewis, and Vidal Hazelton give the Trojans incredible WR depth. Even scarier is the development of TE Fred Davis, who will test the middle of the Husker defense. The USC offensive line is anchored by OT Sam Baker who is an incredible pass protector and also a preseason All-American. The emotional leader of the OL is senior center Ryan Kalil. Kalil bulked up in the off-season and will contend for conference and national honors.

On Defense: The 2006 USC defense looks to be a microcosm of the team as a whole. They are inexperienced, but insanely talented. The linebacking corps is arguably the best in the country and has loads of depth. The starters are Dallas Sartz, Keith Rivers and Oscar Lua. Sartz is a converted safety and is returning from a shoulder injury that kept him out in 2005. Rivers is an amazing talent who uses his speed to wreck havoc on opposing offenses. Lua led the team in tackles in 2005, but is struggling to hold off sophomore Rey Maualuga for the starting job. Keep an eye on Brian Cushing who has been splitting time with Sartz and will also see the field when USC lines up in their 3-4 alignment. The defensive line is led by junior DE Lawrence Jackson who could be another All-American in the making. Joining Jackson along the front four are DE Kyle Moore, DT Chris Barrett and NT Sedrik Ellis. USC lost its only returning starter in the secondary when safety Josh Pinkard tore his ACL against Arkansas. The loss of Pinkard is analogous to Nebraska’s loss of Zackary Bowman in terms of talent and leadership. The Trojans turn to freshman Taylor Mays to fill Pinkard’s void. Mays is a highly touted talent who was heavily recruited by Nebraska. At strong safety sophomore Kevin Ellison is a big hitter who has shown a nose for the ball. Junior Tarrell Thomas holds down one CB spot and is a physical defender who goes 6-1, 195 lbs. Kevin Thomas started the opener at the other CB position against Arkansas. Thomas, however, has been dealing with an ankle injury and sophomore Cary Harris may see increased snaps against Nebraska.

Special Teams: Kicker Mario Danelo was almost automatic in 2005 hitting 11 of 12 field goal attempts. The punter is Greg Woidneck who placed three punts inside the 20 against Arkansas.

Random Notes

Series History: This is the third meeting between Nebraska and USC. Nebraska is 0-1-1 in games versus the Trojans. Previously the Huskers played the Trojans in 1969 and 1970. USC won the 1969 contest 31-21 in Lincoln. In 1970, the 9th ranked Huskers traveled to LA and tied the #3 Trojans 21-21 before going on to win our first National Championship.

I Can’t Believe I Looked It Up Either: The Huskers have not faced a Pac-10 quarterback with three names since Billy Joe Hobert in 1991 and 1992. In his best effort in 1991, Hobert led Washington to 618 yards of total offense and a 36-21 come from behind road win over the Big Red.

There’s No Crying in Football: USC freshman running back Stafon Johnson leads the Pac-10 in uncontrollable sobbing after breaking down on the sideline near the end of the Arkansas game. Johnson was reportedly upset about his lack of playing time, stating: “Everyone wants to compete and get out there and show what they can do”. Johnson’s blubbering led to a demotion to the scout team.

You Wouldn’t Like Him When He’s Angry: Lou Ferrigno Jr. is a backup linebacker for USC. As you probably know his father played the Incredible Hulk on the 1970s television series. Incidentally, did you ever notice how durable the Hulk’s pants must have been? I mean during each metamorphosis his shirt was torn completely off, but his pants just turned into shorts. Just something to think about.

Six Degrees of Beano Cook: With USC’s lone 2005 loss coming to undefeated Texas, Beano is unable to work his victory chain magic. On a side note, I have Beano in the celebrity death pool this year, so I’ve got that going for me.

Gameday - You're On Notice v2.0

Once again here are the players or issues that I'm putting on notice for this week's game. The on notice theme will continue until I get sick of this graphic or style of analysis.

Brett Byford: Zac Taylor’s hands will encroach upon an unfamiliar crotch on Saturday. With Kurt Mann unavailable Byford a junior will make his first career start at center. Byford was a highly regarded recruit who has languished on the sidelines for three years before getting the call. He saw a number of snaps last week and should be a capable fill-in. On another note was anyone else a little creeped out when they kept mentioning that Mann was going to be out due to a “virus”. Why not just say he was ill or under the weather? They made it sound as though he had picked up Ebola or something and that Lincoln was now a “hot zone”.

The Option: In case you haven’t heard Nicholls State runs the option. It will be nice to see the option run again on Tom Osborne field. I doubt, however, that anyone will mistake the Colonels for the TO version Huskers or even a current service academy. I wonder what impact the smaller crown on the field will have.

Cortney Grixby: Last week I highlighted the wrong cornerback. Grixby was expected to be the leader in the secondary this season. Instead his play was reminiscent of his freshman season as he found himself picked on and out of position. This week he will be playing in a more flexible cast so we’ll see if that helps. He will also see less action as Nicholls State is unlikely to throw more than a handful of times.

The Safeties: Like Grixby, the safety position will also not be tested through the air. However, this week provides a perfect opportunity for the safeties to step up in run support. They seemed invisible in both run and pass coverage a week ago. As speedy as Green and Shanle are their performance should be more evident.

Quadzilla?: This was apparently the winning name in a contest to label our talented running backs with an unnecessary moniker. I’m praying to God that this doesn’t stick. I’m afraid, however, that it is lame enough to do just that. Look out L.A., Quadzilla is coming to town! No wonder other teams hate us.

Lydon Murtha: Murtha was supposed to join the likes of Steinkuhler, Rimington, and Shields in carrying on our tradition of outstanding offensive linemen. Instead he seems to be more comfortable in the company of Ben Gessford and Dan Vili Waldrop. He obviously has oodles of potential; unfortunately his greatest display of talent thus far has been his spot-on impersonation of Bill Callahan.

Greatest Fans: With a better than 50% chance of rain and a Division IAA opponent, Husker fans have a chance to demonstrate that they are truly deserving of this title. The lack of TV coverage should help put butts in the seats, but this is certainly a notch or two below UT-OSU. If you don’t have tickets they will be probably be giving them away right before kickoff so take advantage of this rare opportunity.

Comp Exams: If you felt this week represented less than my best efforts on the site, this is my excuse. I took six hours of doctoral qualifying exams yesterday and three more this morning. I am ready to get sloppy drunk, so next week’s excuse will be my roaring hangover.

Random Stuff

•The first Carnival of College Football is out for 2006 and is being hosted by Badger Sports Fan. If you look in the deep thoughts section you will see a previously unreleased post by yours truly (unless of course you’ve been following me for a while and saw it in a previous incarnation). Anyway check it out as there is a lot of good stuff in it.

•Here is the most comprehensive Ohio State – Texas preview you are going to find. It has screenshots of formations and just about anything else you can think of. It was actually a bit too much for me. It was kind of like seeing the man behind the curtain and I like a few surprises.

Take the Double Extra Points

“Money won is twice as sweet as money earned”

Last week: 5-3-1 ATS, 9-0 SU

A big welcome back to all of our college football superfans and an even bigger welcome back to our fan club that has so kindly posted their pictures for you to show their unbridled enthusiasm and unconditional support for us at Double Extra Point. If you bought into our in-depth analyses and insightful angles, we hope you were able to splurge on a round of drinks for your buddies. And, once again, if you did take a date out for a nice seafood dinner on us, we hope you never called her again. We aim to continue to provide you with the choicest selections ATS each and every Friday throughout the season. Remember, choose your games wisely and responsibly and know that we are all as proficient as the professionals, despite what they claim. As always, we enjoy and are interested in your feedback and be sure to let us know how you are faring each and every week. REMEMBER - ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS WEB SITE IS FOR NEWSMATTER AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO VIOLATE ANY LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL LAWS. It is braggadocio we endorse - not gambling.


Dr. D

Fresno (+5.5) over Oregon: The Oregon Ducks are coming off an impressive 48-10 victory over Stanford, and last year at home, they dominated an upset minded Fresno squad on national television. However, with Oklahoma on deck, they have the daunting task of traveling to Fresno who is an unbelievable 20-3 ATS vs. BCS schools. Fresno running back Dwayne Wright, who is coming off an injury plagued 2005, had 158 yards rushing with 3 TD’s last week. The Fresno players and faithful have had this game circled since last season, and with a rare Pac 10 visit to the Valley, the game will lead to a another trophy killing for the home (Bull)dogs.

Iowa (-19) over Syracuse: When Greg Robinson took over the Syracuse head coaching job a year ago, he could not have known how much carnage there was to clean. Last week against Wake Forest, Syracuse totaled 138 yards of offense. That offense is considered in the bottom 5 in college football, and their defense boasts 4 returning starters, who allowed 254 yards rushing to Wake. Iowa is 17-2 ATS as a double digit favorite, and with players such as QB Tate and RB Young considered two of the better players in the Big 10, they will have no problem in this one. It will be raining dead presidents in Syracuse on Saturday, but since they play in a dome, the weather should not affect the outcome.

Indiana (-3.5) over Ball State: After coming off a win against Eastern Michigan a week ago, Ball State and their 18 returning starters should feel confident. However, they are also 0-10 vs. the Big 10 in their history and have one of the worst defenses in Division I. Indiana features a great offense with WR Hardy and QB Powers, who both put up great numbers last week in a win over W. Michigan. Second year coach Hoeppner for Indiana will have his team focused again this week, and David Letterman not withstanding, there isn’t a Hoosier alive who doesn’t see this one coming.



Jeffie Husker

Boston College (+3.5) over Clemson: Last year, Clemson was dominated at home by a Boston College team that was without its starting QB. Clemson is 7-2 ATS in their previous 9 road game openers, but 0-3 ATS versus B.C. Clemson had to replace star QB Charlie Whitehurst in the offseason. And to make matters worse, they will be without leading tackler Anthony Waters, who was injured a week ago. Last week, B.C. QB Matt Ryan threw for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns, and with an always dominant OL and DL and two extra days to prepare, the Eagles should fly high here as a home dog.

Virginia Tech (-11.5) over N. Carolina: North Carolina, led by former Nebraska QB Joe Dailey, had a tough home loss last week to a much improved Rutgers squad. However, that was Rutgers and this is Virginia Tech. Tech brings in a top 20 defense that likes to throw every defensive scheme and blitz at opposing quarterbacks. First year VT starting QB Sean Glennon completed 83% of his passes last week and starting RB Branden Ore had 135 yards and 2 TD’s. Virginia Tech will not be overlooking this ACC road opener as N. Carolina almost upset them in Blacksburg last year. Oh yeah, remember, Joe Dailey is North Carolina’s starting quarterback.



Sammy Vegas

Northern Illinois (-14.5) over Ohio: Frank Solich and his formidable option-oriented Ohio Bobcats have a tough road test here taking on the N. Illinois Huskies, who are the MAC favorites. How formidable are Solich’s Bobcats you ask? Last week against Division I-AA Tennessee Martin, they managed to roll up 144 yards of total offense, as compared to Tennessee Martin's 123 yards. Even more impressive was the two teams’ 500+ combined punting yards. Still not impressed? Ohio is 0-7 straight up in their last 7 road openers and 7-18 ATS in September. N. Illinois RB Wolfe had 171 rush yards and over 100 yards receiving against Ohio State last week. Unless Solich can manage to drop some GHB in the Huskies’ Gatorade, this will be a home opener the Huskies will favorably remember.

California (-8) over Minnesota: After last week’s massacre at the hands of Tennessee, California will be looking to rebound at home this week against a Minnesota team that is not accustomed to playing tough non-conference opponents. Minnesota is only 5-13 ATS as an away dog in their last 18 games and showcased a very porous defense last week against Kent State. Heisman trophy candidate RB Marshawn Lynch, with the help of a very talented defense, will have something to prove this week at the expense of the Golden Gophers. As if we needed them anyway, Cal’s humiliating defeat last week gives us free points here.

Oklahoma (-17.5) over Washington: Last week, Oklahoma committed 4 turnovers and trailed UAB by 3 late in the 3rd quarter. Likewise, Washington lead San Jose St., who has maybe the worst defense in Division I, by 6 points with 5 minutes to play until a 68 yard touchdown run gave them much needed breathing room. With the coaches infuriated over a poor effort from the nation’s top defense, expect OU to churn out an inspired performance here. One interesting note is that Washington beat Mike Stoops’ Arizona team last year, and it would be safe to assume that Bob Stoops’ Oklahoma team will be exceptionally well prepared here. With a trip looming next week to Oregon, Oklahoma needs to get back on track, and unfortunately for Washington, it will be at their expense.

Rule 3-2-5-e, I wish I could quit you!

The early analysis is in and it is clear that rule 3-2-5-e is having an effect on college football games. In case you are still unclear, the official wording of rule 3-2-5-e is:

Rule 3-2-5-e, When Clock Starts
Change: When Team B is awarded a first down, the clock will be stopped and will start on the ready for play signal.

Rationale: By starting the clock, the committee estimates it will shorten the game by about five minutes, according to studies by several Division I-A conferences.

After examining the available data, the amazing folks at cfbstats.com provided an update at the Wizard of Odds which looks like this:

.....................#Plays.......#Games.......#Plays/Game
2005 Total........121044......718............168.58
2005 Week 1........8664........52............166.61
2006 Week 1.......10368.......69.............150.26

In other words, roughly 18 plays per game are being lost to the new rule. Oklahoma was one team that experienced a noticeable difference in their season opener. OU and UAB combined for just 110 offensive plays, the fewest in 50 years for an OU game. The previous low during that span was 112 for the 1960 OU-Colorado and the 1962 OU-Missouri games. The Sooners ran just 53 plays against the Blazers.

So what has been the impact of rule 3-2-5-e on the Huskers? Thus far it appears to have had little effect. In the opener against Louisiana Tech, Nebraska ran 84 plays and enjoyed 13 offensive drives. By comparison the Huskers averaged just 72 plays per game in 2005. One possible explanation for the increase is the attention paid to improving the team’s tempo and pace during the Fall camp. These efforts were mentioned several times in media reports and may represent the staff’s attempts at addressing this rule change. Interestingly Louisiana Tech also had 13 offensive drives, but managed just 53 plays during the opener. This means that NU and Tech combined for 137 plays which is 30 fewer than the average number of plays per game in 2005 and also lower than the aggregate average for week one of 2006.

Although Nebraska seemingly escaped the negative impact of rule 3-2-5-e in game one, Nicholls State may present a unique twist to these challenges. The Colonels triple-option attack is predicated on controlling the ball and dominating the time of possession. In his Tuesday press conference Coach Callahan addressed these issues.

“This is a team that is totally committed to running the football. They are committed to their attack and their style. They rushed the football for over 364 yards per game last year, averaging over five yards per rush. If you look at them, they validate it on film. What they try to do is secure 1st-and-10, and they go about that in a very simplistic manner. If they get that, they are on schedule as far as down-and-distance is concerned.

“Our concern is that they’ll try to limit our possessions, try to chew up clock and they’ll also try to go for it on fourth down. If you look at their attempts a year ago on fourth down, they went for it quite a bit of the time. They average about three fourth-down attempts a game. So this is a team where they try to limit you to eight possessions a game, and that’s two per quarter for the offense, and so we’re going to have to do a great job to stay disciplined, play assignment football on the defensive side of the ball and take advantage of every opportunity we can when we do get our offensive possession.”

In 2005 Nicholls State averaged 69.4 plays per game while limiting their opponents to fewer than 65 plays per game. This means that the average Nicholls State game in 2005 resulted in just 135 plays, or 33 fewer than the 2005 average. In their 2006 opener Nicholls State gained 261 yards on just 51 plays. 229 of those yards came on the ground and the Colonels finished with a time of possession of 32:32.

Southern Arkansas managed just 11 possessions in the game. This averages out to 2.75 posessions per quarter or just above the Colonels goal of limiting teams to two per period. Although Southern Arkansas ran 67 plays (16 more than Nicholls State), they had no drive lasting longer than 7 plays until 5 minutes into the second half. In addition, 28 of SAU’s plays came during two drives during the third quarter when the outcome of the game was already decided.

All of this could mean that Husker fans will begin to notice the consequences of rule 3-2-5-e on Saturday. Physically Nicholls State is no match for Nebraska. In addition, I trust our coaches’ ability to prepare the defense for the option and to make the necessary adjustments during the game. However, I feel we could see a sluggish type of game reminiscent of OU-UAB. If the Colonels can string together a few first downs, their deliberate style of play will impact the number of drives the Huskers enjoy. The end result is that NU must make the most of each of their offensive possessions in order to ensure an acceptable margin of victory over this Division IAA foe.

Sammy Vegas - NFL "N"sider #3

With the NFL season set to kick off tomorrow, a number of former Huskers saw their NFL careers kicked to the curb. Last Saturday, teams faced the daunting task of reducing their rosters to 53. Some roster cuts came as a surprise to former players, while others were expected. One of the biggest surprises has to have been Eric Warfield, who signed with the New England Patriots in the offseason. Warfield was expected to fill in immediately to help a depleted Patriots secondary. Although he would not return my repeated phone calls, he will undoubtedly be devoting more time to his website. On the other hand, I experienced mixed emotions when Toniu Fonoti was released from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After naming him to the NFL Bust Team perhaps prematurely, exuberance overcame me. However, this soon faded when I realized that he’d become a mainstay in my NFL ‘N’sider column the past few weeks, and I will now be forced to search for new material. But anyway, the following is a list of former Huskers who were recently released:

Titus Adams (DT) – New York Jets
Mike Erickson (OG) – Tennessee Titans
Toniu Fonoti (OG) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jay Foreman (LB) – New Orleans Saints
Aaron Golliday (TE) – Kansas City Chiefs
Dejuan Groce (CB) – St. Louis Rams*
TJ Hollowell (LB) – Denver Broncos
Jammal Lord (S) – Indianapolis Colts
Jerrell Pippens (S) – San Diego Chargers
Bernard Thomas (DE) – Baltimore Ravens
Eric Warfield (CB) – New England Patriots

*Dejuan Groce recently signed a free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints

In more positive news congratulations to Cory Ross and Sam Koch, who both made the Baltimore Ravens squad.

This is also a time to remember that these athletes that we follow with unfettered devotion are wavering between youth and adulthood. Here is a fantastic article on a Clemson player who has had to grow up in a hurry .

BlogPoll Roundtable #2

One of the niftier components of the BlogPoll are the occasional roundtable discussions. These roundtables focus on issues concerning college football and the polling process. This week's roundtable is being hosted by The Ciskie Blog. Here are my answers about Week 1 surprises.

1. What team best met your overall expectations of them in their opener

USC best fits here for me. I expected the Trojans to demonstrate that the NFL took only a small bite from their burrito of talent. John David Booty sparkled and picked a part the Arkansas defense. Overall, USC displayed the kinds of weapons that put fear into this Husker fan. I was holding out a small glimmer of hope that Booty would struggle early and lack confidence going into the game with Nebraska…so much for that. Defensively USC made the Arkansas offense look as though it was being directed by a high school coach. It also led to the first quarterback controversy of the season and turned the temperature under a Houston Nutt’s chair up a notch or two. Given that USC’s toughest games are at home I don’t see them finishing outside of the Top 5 this year.

2. What team jumped off the map and surprised you the most? (Bonus points to anyone who can make an argument for someone besides Tennessee.)

I’m going with Oregon on this one. I have to admit that I didn’t have much faith in their ability to cover against Stanford. Instead the Ducks pounded the Cardinal with a prolific offensive attack. Running back Jonathan Stewart had a breakout game and now looks like the biggest star in the Pac 10 outside of L.A. In addition, quarterback Dennis Dixon exceeded expectations by going 21-30 for 236 yards and a TD. While the offensive output is expected in the Pac 10, I was also impressed with Oregon’s defense. It looks like a unit that is capable of shutting opponents down meaning the offense might not have to rely on late scores to put teams away. We should know even more about the Ducks after their trip to Fresno.

Honorable mention here has to go Colorado. The overall ineptitude of this squad caught me completely by surprise. After falling to Montana State and now facing a brutal schedule the rest of the way Dan Hawkins has to be missing the smurf turf of Boise State.

3. What team best moved themselves into a position to surprisingly contend for a national title?

Tennessee is the easy answer and rightfully so. The Vols offense looked unbelievable and Meachem gives them a huge weapon. I don’t, however, see them as legitimate national title contenders given their schedule. Despite their obvious improvement I imagine that either Georgia or Florida takes care of the Vols’ championship hopes.

The other team I would put here is Louisville. I know they lost Bush, but they also showed they can put other talent on the field. Brian Brohm looks healthy and might have been the best QB in the nation this first week. They have a favorable schedule and barring further injuries or unexpected twists should be in the hunt later in the season. Whether you would consider their contention a surprise or not, however, is up to you.

BlogPoll Ballot

Here is the ballot we intend to submit for our first BlogPoll vote. Ballots are not due until tomorrow so we have time to change things up based on your feedback. Please give us some input and let us know what you think. We are the only Nebraska blog with a vote and this is the only opportunity for the voice of our fans to make a difference in the polls.

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Ohio State	25
2	Texas	24
3	Southern Cal	23
4	Auburn	22
5	West Virginia	21
6	Notre Dame	20
7	Florida	19
8	Louisville	18
9	Florida State	17
10	Louisiana State	16
11	Tennessee	15
12	Iowa	14
13	Georgia	13
14	Oklahoma	12
15	Clemson	11
16	Miami (Florida)	10
17	Nebraska	9
18	Michigan	8
19	Oregon	7
20	Virginia Tech	6
21	Penn State	5
22	Texas Tech	4
23	Arizona State	3
24	Alabama	2
25	Cal	1

Dropped Out:

*The deltas are screwed up as we received our vote after the preseason polls had closed.

Games I watched in their entirety:

Nebraska – Louisiana Tech
Michigan – Vanderbilt
Texas – North Texas
USC – Arkansas
Notre Dame – Georgia Tech
Houston – Rice
Louisville - Kentucky
Ole Miss – Memphis

Games I saw parts of:

Tennessee – California
Ohio State – Northern Illinois
Florida State – Miami
Oklahoma – UAB
Florida – Southern Miss
UNC – Rutgers
Oregon – Stanford

Nicholls State Preview

Location: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Enrollment: 7,482
Conference: Southland Conference
Stadium: John L. Guidry Stadium (Capacity: 12,800)
First Year of Football: 1972
All Time Record: 161-209-4

Head Coach: Jay Thomas
3rd year as head coach at Nicholls State: Career record 11-9
•Thomas begins his 11th season overall on the Colonel staff. Thomas came to Nicholls State from Southeast Missouri State, where he was defensive line coach from 1993-98.
•In 1988-89, Thomas worked as a graduate assistant at Louisiana State. At LSU, he was an assistant coach of linebackers and defensive line. He also handled all scouting of opponents and video exchange and was part of the Tigers’ 1988 coaching staff that won the SEC Championship.

Team Overview

Last Season:6-4 (losses to Indiana, North Dakota State, Stephen F. Austin, and Furman). The Colonels snapped off a five-game winning streak to end the 2005 regular season and snatched a share of the Southland Conference championship for the first time since joining the league in 1991. That late charge also catapulted Nicholls to its first NCAA playoff appearance since 1996.

This Season: Nicholls State will rely on a mix of veterans and newcomers in their efforts toward a second straight playoff berth. The Colonels were picked to finish third by league coaches and second by the conference sports information directors at the 2006 Southland Conference Football Media Days.

On Offense: Offensive coordinator H.T. Kinney and Nicholls State employ a triple-option attack. The Colonels ran the ball 626 times while finishing second in the nation with an average of 368.8 rushing ypg a year ago. This season Kinney has his work cut out for him as the Colonels must replace seven starters on offense. One of the biggest challenges will be replacinh quarterback and Southland Offensive Player of the Year, Yale Vannoy (693 rushing yards, 510 passing yards last season). Vincent Montgomery will look to step into Vannoy’s shoes. In the Colonels’ opener Montgomery finished with 21 yards on 15 carries. At running back the Colonels must replace Joseph Tobias who led the team with 718 rushing yards in 2005. The 2005 SLC Newcomer of the Year is sitting out this season because of academic problems. Sophomore Zach Morgan will slide into Tobias’ spot after running for 435 yards and four TDs a year ago. Nicholls State has a good one at fullback in Broderick Cole. Cole was second on the team in 2005 with 717 rushing yards and led the Southland Conference with 13 touchdowns. Much like Nebraska’s receivers in our option days, the Colonial wideouts are primarily blockers. In 2005, Nicholls State threw the ball just 68 times. The Colonels boast an experienced offensive line led by tackle Jacob Bender who was an all-conference performer as a junior.

On Defense: Nicholls State will utilize a 4-3 alignment defensively in Lincoln. 2006, however, looks to be a rebuilding year as the Colonels lost eight seniors from the defensive line and most of their secondary. Nicholls State will rely on their linebackers, who might be the best in the Southland Conference. They will start three seniors at LB in Cory Vavala, Levon Bailey and Dustin Gisclair. Vavala is the heart and soul of the defense and in 2005 he contributed to 85 stops (45 solo, 40 assists), one sack, four interceptions and three pass breakups. While the linebacking corps will be a strength, the defensive line and secondary must be rebuilt. The defensive line will be assembled around senior defensive tackle Greg Casnave. Casnave, who transferred from Southern Miss in 2005, played in all 10 games last season, and had 43 tackles and a sack. He is the defensive line’s lone returning starter. In the defensive backfield the only returning starter is senior strong safety Toney Edison. In 2005 Edison collected 40 tackles, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries. At cornerback Jermaine Boggans and Marques Lewis will take on starting roles after seeing spot duty last season. The free safety spot will be filled Darnus Hall a JUCO transfer.

Special Teams: Junior Alex Romero who was successful on 8 of 12 field goal attempts as a sophomore will handle the kicking duties for the Colonels. He will be pushed, however, by Ross Schnexnayder who has been slowed by injuries this fall. The punting job will be held by junior Sean Comeaux who averaged 34.9 yards per punt in 2005. Both the Colonels’ punting average and net punting average (31.2 yards per punt) were last in the league a year ago.

Random Notes

Series History: This is the first ever meeting between the two schools.

I Always Wondered What It Cost to Have a School Named After You: Nicholls State is named in honor of Francis T. Nicholls. During his career Nicholls served both as Louisiana’s governor and its Supreme Court chief justice. He got into law and politics after serving as a brigadier general during the Civil War. Unfortunately Nicholls was wounded during his war service and lost…wait for it…an arm and a leg.

The Scouts Will Find You Anywhere: Nicholls State has produced several NFL players. Two of the school’s most notable alums are Darryl Pounds and Mark Carrier (the Bucs’ WR not the Bears’ DB).

I Can’t Believe I Looked It Up Either: The 2006 games against Louisiana Tech and Nicholls State mark the first time since 1993 that the Huskers have opened the season with back-to-back games against teams from the same state. In 1993, Nebraska opened with games against North Texas and Texas Tech.

Six Degrees of Beano Cook: So you're telling me there's a chance? In 2005 Nicholls State beat Sam Houston State. Sam Houston State beat Stephen F. Austin. Stephen F. Austin beat UC-Davis. UC-Davis beat Stanford. Stanford beat Arizona. Arizona beat UCLA. UCLA beat Oklahoma. Oklahoma beat…Nebraska.

Whoa Nellie - The Tunnel Walk

Here is a video shot from the stands of the new and improved Tunnel Walk for the 2006 season. Once again this is for those unfortunate souls like myself, that can't make it to the hallowed grounds of Memorial Stadium to see it first hand. It looks great and I love the "I play for Nebraska" bit. Is Keith Jackson going to introduce it every week or will there be a new beginning each game? Also it is unfortunate that the HuskerVision video crew couldn't focus more on the players' heads rather than their shoulder pads as they came out of the locker room. Oh well. Enjoy it.

Louisiana Tech Analysis

So the first game is in the books and was in many ways just about what I expected. I anticipated a heavy emphasis on the run and with 48 rushing attempts we saw that. I also expected us to wear down a Louisiana Tech team that lacked depth and this was also accomplished. To continue this analysis I will breakdown the components more closely.

Offense

Running Game: There was no doubt that Callahan planned on establishing the run early. The crowd’s main interest was which player would get the bulk of the carries. The coaches stuck by their committee approach and the four I-Backs finished with 258 yards on 44 carries. These stats are impressive, but it was equally important for each of the backs to find their role and to get their chances. Marlon Lucky was exciting early and looks much improved. Cody Glenn ran hard and showed he has the ability to get to the outside as well as pound the middle. Kenny Wilson showed a great burst on his TD run that was called back, but also had problems holding onto the ball. When given his chance Brandon Jackson scored on one of the most impressive runs I’ve seen in a very long time.

Passing Game: The passing game got off to a slow start. Part of this was by design as the running game was stressed early. However, it was also inhibited by Zac Taylor’s 0-5 start. Taylor found his rhythm later in the first half and finished a very efficient 22 of 33 for 287 yards. Overall the receivers played well despite drops by Hardy and Nunn. Nate Swift continues to find open space and we saw a glimpse of what Maurice Purify might be capable of in his 28-yard reception in the first quarter. The biggest surprise in the passing game was the tight ends. After being invisible in 2005, the TEs got off to an amazing start. Matt Herian reminded fans of what we’d been missing in his return from injury. He finished with 3 catches for 61 yards and a TD. Three other tight ends also caught scoring tosses in this coming out party. Having capable TEs to open up space in the middle of the field will be a welcome addition to our offensive attack. Another positive was that Joe Ganz looked the part of a capable backup in his limited action.

Offensive Line: The performance of the OL seemed to improve as the game went on. This might be a testament to the depth that we are starting to develop. I still think the O-line needs to improve. Zac Taylor was still pressured and took a number of shots from La Tech defenders after letting go of the ball. While they found their stride in opening holes for the running game later on, I questioned the push of the OL early in the first quarter. On of the more exciting developments was the play of Carl Nicks. Nicks got a bunch of snaps at guard in the second half and showed why he was so highly regarded in the JUCO ranks. I give this group a lot of credit for the success of the running game Saturday, but this game should only be a foundation for their continued progress over the course of the season.

Defense

Defensive Line: The front four had its moments, but should not be satisfied with its overall efforts on Saturday. They were able to get pressure on Zac Champion and finished with 2 sacks and numerous hurries especially from the defensive ends. We also saw that Jay Moore should benefit from the attention given to Adam Carriker and Moore looks capable making big plays. The defensive tackles didn’t seem to have much of a presence. I’d have to look at the game again to see how well they took on blockers, but I know the Tech running game had huge lanes up the gut at times.

Linebackers: The linebacker play was also solid, but not spectacular, given the accolades thrust upon this group. Many will argue that Nebraska played vanilla on defense and this hindered the linebackers’ abilities to make big plays. Without knowing the gameplan I don’t feel comfortable assuming this was obviously the case. It was great to see Bo Ruud pick up the interception in his first start, but he also had difficulties shedding blockers and missed one obvious tackle in open space. Steve Octavian had a huge hit on special teams, but didn’t seem to get as many snaps as most fans would have liked. While this is the position that enjoys the most depth on the defensive side of the ball, the injury to Dillard is still unfortunate. We’ll have to wait a few days to see what the diagnosis is, but it didn’t look good on the sidelines.

Secondary: My worst Husker nightmare almost came true in the first half. I’ve been paranoid about our depth in the secondary since the Spring, and seeing Grixby with his shoulder pads off on the sidelines, followed quickly by an injury to Fluellen had me reaching for the Xanax. Courtney Grixby was being counted on to lockdown his side of the field. Unfortunately he did not look like our most seasoned DB and was turned, muscled and flat-out beaten by the Tech receivers. On the other side, Andre Jones was not tested a great deal and it is unclear whether this was by design or by chance. The safety position also still worries me. I think we can get by with mediocre safety play if and only if the front seven are dominant and the corners can keep guys in front of them. That being said, I still expect us to give up points on a weekly basis due to breakdowns in the secondary.

Special Teams: Not a lot to say about this aspect. Dan Titchener looked really good in his first start at punter. He finished with a 42.3 yard average on 3 punts. We did not look particularly strong in the return game. We have to field punts cleanly and avoid giving up long returns that shift the battle for field position.

While this analysis may seem harsh in places considering the margin of victory, overall I was very impressed. I feel confident in this team’s ability to put points on the board. We avoided costly penalties and mistakes and picked up where we left of last season. The team should enjoy this win and next week should offer another opportunity to develop all-important depth. The real measuring stick awaits us in L.A. in two weeks.

Gameday - You're on Notice

Here’s a Colbert Report-style examination of what is on the line and who needs to step up in today’s game. Keep in mind that I had a tough time limiting the list to just eight.

Offensive Line: Part of me feels they can’t help but improve on last year’s performance. However, the development of this group and their ability to play as a cohesive unit will ultimately determine the success of Nebraska’s season. Technique, footwork and the ability to play numerous positions are important, but at some point it simply comes down to “want to”. You’ve gotta want to embarrass the guy across from you. You’ve gotta want to set the tone from the first snap and you’ve gotta want to keep Zac Taylor’s uniform clean.

Hype of Andre Jones: Jones has been thrust into a starting role sooner than expected after the injury to Zackary Bowman. Indications are that Jones is ahead of where Bowman was at this point last season. Unfortunately we need his game to be where Bowman’s was last November and December if we want to run the table in the Big 12 North. Husker fans will have to be patient with Jones’ development because like it or not, there is nobody behind him ready to step up.

The Running Game: Callahan repeatedly emphasized the running game during the off-season. The Tech game is likely to reflect this emphasis and should provide a measure of our improvement. We have to do better than our 2.74 yards/carry average of a year ago if we expect to push into the Top 10. The talent seems to be there, but we will have to wait and see how it is utilized.

Stadium Expansion: Steve Pederson has championed the need for facility upgrades since returning to Lincoln. Saturday represents the first look that Husker Nation will have at the results of these efforts. The increase in stadium capacity put a small dent in the ticket waiting list and the new suites provide another source of large cap revenue. The locker room renovations mean that the Huskers will enter from the North and the visitors will enter/exit from the south. The south stadium is now responsible for continuing the tradition of applauding the visitors as they leave the field, whether the Huskers win or lose.

Runzas and Valentino’s Pizza: This is a shout-out for us out-of-state fans. I’ll wake up each Saturday in the Fall craving these tastes of Lincoln. There is no better way to warm your hands on a crisp afternoon than a hot and doughy Runza or a slice of Val’s. Most fans probably take these for granted, but just try to imagine a college football season without them.

Bo Ruud: No one has had a more trying year than Bo Ruud. A broken arm during bowl preparations pales in comparison to the pain of losing one’s mother. A surprise #1 on the depth chart according to some, Ruud now has the opportunity to step out of his brother’s shadow on Saturday. A heady player who is always in the right spot, Ruud needs to prove that he can force the issue and make big plays. He’ll also be playing for the first time without one of his biggest fans. I expect the rest of the stadium to pick up the slack.

Expectations of Husker Nation: A strong finish to 2005 and a lengthy off-season have allowed these to rise to uncomfortable heights. Most will only be satisfied with winning the Big 12 North and creeping into the top 10-15 teams in the country. We can probably accomplish that while losing 3 games. Will that record satiate the hunger of Husker Nation?

Jim Rose: Again if you have season tickets you may not understand Rose’s presence on this list. But living out of state occasionally forces one to rely on radio coverage. Rose is a great guy, knowledgeable, and every bit the homer I would expect from a man in his position. Unfortunately his play-by-play is muddled and difficult to follow. From the superfluous crescendos in describing 2-yard gains to the inane and growing list of Rose-isms. At times listeners would be better off having their girlfriends describe the action. We deserve better than that.

Can't Hardly Wait

I thought with the 2006 season officially beginning tomorrow we should reflect back on the crazy way that the 2005 season ended.



In addition, here are some highlights of that memorable 2005 season.

Take the Double Extra Points

“Money won is twice as sweet as money earned”

Each week at the Double Extra Point, we aim to cover the Huskers from all angles. While our insights offer a blending of fact and opinion, our primary goal is bringing you the truth. On Fridays we will reach out to the degenerate gamblers in our midst. Throughout the season we will combine our unique perspectives with statistical analyses(like with calculators and stuff), to hopefully provide you with consistent winners. We expect to enable you to impress your friends by picking up a bar tab, by buying a round of Jager bombs, or by taking a date out for a nice seafood dinner…only to never call her again. As the season progresses, we will keep an ongoing record against the spread (ATS) so that you at home can choose your games wisely. Enjoy and be certain to let us know what you think and how you’re doing. REMEMBER - ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS WEB SITE IS FOR NEWSMATTER AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO VIOLATE ANY LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL LAWS. It is braggadocio we endorse - not gambling.

Sammy Vegas

OKLAHOMA (-22) over UAB: Too much attention has been brought on a Bob Stoops led Oklahoma team for losing their starting QB in the offseason. What has been ignored is an Oklahoma defense that starts 11 future NFL prospects and has been considered by many to be the best in the country. UAB brings in a group of young players, which includes a new QB, to Norman to face that Oklahoma defense. The Sooners still have plenty of talent on offense, including future first-round pick Adrian Peterson. Look for Oklahoma to play with a big chip on their shoulders and to prove to their doubters that they are still a legitimate title contender.

INDIANA (-6.5) over Western Michigan: Last year Indiana finished 4-7, but with QB Blake Powers and WR James Hardy returning, they should have the offensive fire power to be even more competitive in the Big Ten in ’06. Indiana has always played well at home and with the potential to start 4-0 this season, they should not be overlooking their MAC foe. W. Michigan returns a wealth of starters including QB Ryan Cubit (the coach’s son). However, Indiana is 5-1-2 ATS against the MAC and coach Hoeppner should be familiar with W. Michigan from his coaching days in the MAC. This should have more than enough to cover a touchdown spread.

OREGON (-12) over Stanford: Surprisingly, Oregon arrives in the 2006 season, with a very talented defense that should allow them to compete for a Pac 10 title. Offensively, the Ducks are even more gifted and have one of the premiere backs in the country in Jonathan Stewart. Stanford does have ten starters back on offense, but that unit averaged only 316 yards per game in 2005. Oregon is 15-4 ATS in their Pac 10 opener and has without question on of the best home field advantages in the country. Oregon won last year’s meeting 44-20 and look for this year’s game to be equally as lopsided.

NEBRASKA 37 Louisiana Tech 17

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Jeffie Husker

Houston (-14) over RICE: I’ve got to go ahead and represent my current school with this pick. Loaded with experienced receivers, Houston also boasts a future NFL talent in veteran QB Kevin Kolb. Rice brings in a new defensive coordinator who must stop a Houston offense that scored at least 20 points in all 11 of their regular season games a year ago. Moreover, for the first time in decades, Rice is switching to a passing offensive scheme even though they still possess a wealth of players best suited for the option (sound familiar Husker fans?). In the end UH runs away with this battle for H-Town supremacy.

OLE MISS (-3) over Memphis: Memphis will be without standout running back DeAngelo Williams for the first time in years, and like Rice, they will convert a traditional running offense to a passing offense. Ole Miss brings in QB Brent Schaeffer (transfer from Tennessee) who provides a dual threat presence in the pocket with his superb athleticism. Memphis is only 5-22 straight up vs. the SEC, and with a superb defense, Ole Miss will get the win at home.

TEXAS TECH (-27.5) over SMU: Tech learned today that potential All-American wideout Jarrett Hicks could be declared academically ineligible this season. Expect this line to drop perhaps. However, SMU possesses one of the worst pass defenses in football and returns just one starter in the secondary. This is the same team that lost 66-8 last season to Texas A&M. Coach Leach has a wealth of talent even without Hicks in the lineup including possibly the best quarterback he has had in his tenure. Texas Tech is 11-1-1 ATS in their home openers. The spread should be covered by halftime.

NEBRASKA 45 Louisiana Tech 13

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Dr. D

TENNESSEE (+1.5) over Cal: Cal returns 15 starters from a year ago on a team that is looking to dethrone USC in the Pac 10. However, Tennessee is playing at home in one of the most intimidating venues in college football. Although they were 5-6 a year ago, Tennessee returns a wealth of talent including QB Erik Ainge. Cal will be tackling a new offensive scheme, the suffocating climate, and a road trip across the country. As a home dog, look for Rocky Top to topple the Bears in a mini-upset special.

WASHINGTON (-19) over San Jose St.: With Oklahoma on deck, the Washington faithful will view this game as a must-win. Facing one of the worst defenses in the country, Washington QB Isaiah Stanback should showcase his talent as both a runner and passer. With coach Tyrone Willingham sitting on the hot seat, look for him to get the most out of his players as the Huskies hope to use this game to build momentum.

AUBURN (-14.5) over Washington St.: Many experts consider Auburn a legitimate national championship contender. With two and three deep at every position, Auburn is much too athletic for the Pac 10 Cougars, who like Cal must travel down to the heat and humidity of the south. RB Kenny Irons from Auburn possibly could be the first back taken in next year’s NFL draft. Although Washington St. will be much improved on their 4-7 record from a year ago, they will be hard pressed to travel all the way to Alabama and not get taken behind the woodshed.

NEBRASKA 42 Louisiana Tech 14