Nebraska Football Game
I admire that Pelini fights for his team. He’s a strong-willed competitor and a passionate person in general. It’s what helps make him an excellent coach and leader. But there’s a difference between “working” the officials and directing tirades against them. I’m uncomfortable with the latter because:
1. It sends a message to players that it’s not necessarily their fault they’re making mistakes — the officials are to blame. As mediocre as the officials were Saturday, they had little to no impact on the outcome. Bottom line, Pelini would be better served directing his energy toward helping fix his team’s issues, starting with its embarrassing number of penalties (24 for 203 yards in the last two games combined).
2. Common sense dictates that a team probably won’t get the benefit of the doubt on too many calls if its head coach is barking profanities at officials. There’s something to be said for diplomacy.
It also might help to sprinkle in a little humor — a la Tubbs.
* Pelini has been mum on the extent of No. 2 running back Rex Burkhead’s foot injury, but a source close to Burkhead told me Sunday the freshman anticipates being sidelined six to eight weeks. In other words, the rest of the regular season.
Meanwhile, starting running back Roy Helu’s aching shoulder is an ongoing concern. Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson describes the injury as a “chronic issue.”
Note to self: Any future criticism of Watson — particularly his apparent reluctance to use power running plays — should be made with the understanding that sending Helu between the tackles might not be the best idea given the junior’s shoulder issue.
Adding to Watson’s current dilemma is a struggling offensive line.
Bottom line, Nebraska is in need of a playmaker on offense, especially one who can create big plays with his legs, with emphasis on “create.” The Helu and Burkhead injuries only reaffirm my belief that 6-foot-4, 220-pound Cody Green should get a crack at the starting quarterback job, understanding the risks it poses in the passing game.
* I’ll never get used to “fans” booing college kids.
* Turns out, Frank Solich has a keen eye for future head coaches. Before hiring Pelini as Nebraska defensive coordinator in December of 2002, the former Husker head coach interviewed Paul Rhoads for the same position. Rhoads was Pitt’s defensive coordinator at the time and now is doing an excellent job as Iowa State’s head coach.
“I don’t know if, in seven games in a season, I’ve been around a team that continues to prepare like ours does,” Rhoads told reporters after Saturday’s 24-10 home victory over Baylor. “To do that, and suffer the defeats we did the last two weeks (close shaves against Kansas State and Kansas) and continue to show up is truly hats off to the men we have in that locker room.”
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
Two high-powered offenses get together on Saturday at 3:30pm EST in an ABC regionally televised game as the 15th ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers hosts Texas Tech in Big 12 play. The Cornhuskers are averaging 404.6 yards and 36.8 points per game but that is behind Texas Tech who is second in the country at 43 points per game. Texas Tech is second in the country in passing yards at 443.5 yards per game. The difference in this college football betting contest could be defenses as the Cornhuskers are tops in the Big 12 and they are second in the nation allowing just 8 points per game. Nebraska is a 10.5-point favorite in college football picks with a total of 61 at online sportsbooks.
Texas Tech is allowing 349.7 yards and 21.3 points per game so college football predictions say that Nebraska should have no trouble scoring points. Last season the Cornhuskers lost 37-31 in overtime at Texas Tech even though they held the ball for more than 20 minutes more than the Red Raiders. "I don't know if you'll ever be in a game where you have that kind of time of possession," said Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini, "The bottom line is we have to score points. You're not going to shut out this team. We need to match them."
The Cornhuskers know they need to score points because college football predictions show that Texas Tech puts up a lot of them no matter who is at quarterback. Taylor Potts started the season but got hurt. Last week it was backup Steven Sheffield throwing for seven TDs in a win over Kansas State. Head coach Mike Leach has not said who will start on Saturday. "You'll have to stay tuned, I suppose," Leach said. "That's what makes sports exciting is it always changes." Texas Tech has lost their last four games against ranked teams. This is the 11th between the schools with Nebraska holding a 7-3 edge but Texas Tech has won the last three.
