HUSKER TAKES ISSUE WITH BIG TEN SLAM

Earlier this week we spoke of the dismal showing of the Big Ten and the narrow chances of a Big Ten team being selected for the four team playoff at season's end. In the interest of fair and balanced commentary, we, of course, invited your feedback. And that's when the phones started ringing.

We just polished off our ribeyes

It became pretty obvious we had touched a nerve, especially with one subscriber, "Harry Husker", a native of Fremont, Nebraska...a man of the plains, a man of the Midwest, a man of 26 ounce dry aged bone-in ribeyes. A true Nebraskan!

To best assuage hurt feelings, we offered to share Harry Husker's opinion in this forum. So below we have Harry Husker's take on the Big Ten and Nebraska football.

But first, let's have some Q&A with the man himself, Harry Husker.  

 Time for Q&A with Harry Husker...

Why are you such a big Cornhusker fan?   
Harry Husker:  I was raised in Nebraska, started my career there and studied at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. I am Nebraska. That's why I insisted that my answers appear in Nebraska red.

What’s your take on Nebraska moving to the Big Ten?  
Harry Husker: It was the right move. The Big 12 was floundering. Texas had everybody including the Huskers and Sooners under their thumb, but the bottom line was $$$$.  The money opportunity plus the prestige and recruiting futures looked too good to pass up.

Do you recall your very first Nebraska football game?   
Harry Husker: Yes, Sir!  1965, September 18th  (first game of the season; started late those years).  We beat Texas Christian,  34-14, and went undefeated in regular season that year...just to get our butts kicked by Bear Bryant in the Orange Bowl.

What makes Nebraska football special versus other schools?    

Harry's suite at Memorial Stadium

Harry Husker: I don’t think you can find anybody who has visited the campus for a game - teams, fans - that will not say how absolutely accommodating the people are. Nebraska has great fans, win or lose. And, we have the most collegiate scholar All Americans only surpassed by Notre Dame. And if you ever visit Nebraska in the winter you have got to wonder how we can recruit from outside of the Midwest.

What's tailgating like at a Nebraska game? 
Harry Husker: The school built a parking lot (about 15 acres) with the primary purpose to accommodate the fans and tailgate parties. Let me tell you...when farmers and ranchers party, the food doesn’t stop.  No grass fed, cardboard tasting meat at this party, and the vegans move out of town. It's all good!
 
Wildest Nebraska game ever watched/attended?  
Harry Husker: Of course, the Game of the Century...1971 Sooner game in Norman, Thanksgiving Day (almost lost my Mother's dinner twice). Absolute wild game with the Huskers coming out on top, 35-31. Anybody who loves college football needs to check out Heisman winner Johnny "the Jet" Rodgers' 72 yard TD punt return that set the tone for the game.

Do the Cornhuskers really own the Georgia bull puppies? 
Harry Husker: Loaded and dangerous question, Mark, especially since Princess is a Georgia alum. Although the record stands Nebraska 2-1 (folks forget about the 45-6 score in the 1969 Sun Bowl), both recent games with the Bulldogs have been much closer. Georgia edged the Huskers 45-31 in the 2013 Capital One Bowl, and this past January, Nebraska prevailed 24-19 in the Gator Bowl. Things can get a little tense around Chez Husker so I don't gloat too much.

Huskers ride for charity

Nebraska fans travel pretty well. What's up with that?
Harry Husker: Nebraska always shows up with thousands of fans to road games especially bowl games. In a regular season game with Hawaii, 40,000 Nebraskans showed up.  That's important to note since the old Aloha Stadium (torn down after this game due to termites) held only 25,000.  We love our Husker football.

We hear you're a big biker. How many miles do you typically put in?
Harry Husker: I try to do a minimum of 20 miles, but been doing longer rides lately. I find it very therapeutic. Plus it gets me out of doing chores around the house.

 And now, Harry Husker's take...

His name says it all

I was offered the chance to share my thoughts on the Big Ten and the Bug Eaters (original name for the Huskers) and while I believe this is a great honor, this hesitation set in. I rarely put anything in print that could go viral about the my true feelings for my Team and League, because passion often overrides discretion!

After some serious consternation about the Cornhusker game last Saturday versus McNeese State, and the total embarrassment of the Big Ten, I have chilled and realized that the final demise of both entities is greatly exaggerated and premature. Remember, it's a long season!  Although it will be an arduous task requiring some luck, the Huskers can still have a great season (11-1) and the Big Ten can still be represented in the playoffs. 

The Huskers have been a major concern since Tom Osborne left (1997). That's a long time of suffering. I believe we still have a coaching deficiency. First Solich, then Callahan, now Bo.  The Cornhuskers fans have been patient; no rush to the guillotine. We gave Solich 5 years, Callahan 3 years (took him that long to learn to spell Nebraska), and Pelini is now starting his 7th year, and a record that many schools would be envious of: six 9+ win seasons, 3 bowl victories. 

I keep reminding folks back on the plains it took Osborne 7 years just to beat the Sooners, and 21 years to get his first undisputed National title. Bo understands the psyche of the Husker beast, but this may very well be his last year of receiving Harry Husker's official support.  He has the talent. He finally has the speed. And he has the schedule. Nothing less than a Big Ten championship and a top 10 finish will save his job.   

Now, the BIG TEN is a whole other issue. But I believe that as the season ages (like fine cheese (stinky) or a classic wine (develops character), the league will turn around. Yet, it must be said that changes are needed and, in fact, are happening now.  Urban Meyer (Ohio State) and James Franklin (Penn State) being the agents of change. We'll see.
  
Check back tomorrow for your winning picks.