Hi-Plains Drifter

Buy, Buy, Buy!

2008-07-24T10:40:00.002-04:00

You Say Coincidence, I Say Fate

2008-07-08T20:51:00.003-04:00

I'm not afraid to admit it: I frequently like to start my summer days by listening to this song:

A good friend of mine named Steve Goodman wrote that song. He also wrote this one:

Why I didn't make that connection sooner, I'll never know, but now that I have Steve Goodman is officially one of my favorite people on earth.

Let me, let me, let me!

Drifting

2008-06-30T20:59:00.003-04:00

First Will Leitch leaves Deadspin and now this (indulge me with a brief bout of self-importance):

As of this post, I'm officially joining the crew at the Big Red Network.

OK, so maybe it's not that momentous, I didn't feel the Internet shake, but it does mean a couple of different things:

1) All of my Nebraska football content will now appear over there.

2) I will still be here at HiPlainsDrifter.com but in a more general sports/personal blog format.

I have a couple of reasons for doing that, which I will now letter to avoid confusion:

a) Writing this blog (for free) makes me feel like I'm utilizing my graduate degree (not free).

b) I have to fight the urge to not write about the worst thing to ever happen to me--the Chicago Cubs--daily. Now I'll have the freedom to do that and it's something I used to do a lot of. The timing for this really couldn't be better as the injury-riddled Northsiders are starting to come back to the pack which is good for me. I don't possess a vocabulary deep enough to write about the Cubs when they're good but over the years I have developed a sharply-honed arsenal of ways to say essentially the same thing: the Cubs suck. Hopefully I'll get to work on my weakness here but, if not, I'm ready to write them off about 300 times in the next three months.

c) I'm still going to kick the crap out of Trace Adkins this season. Despite the fact that I can't pick games worth a damn, I like doing it. Perhaps naively, the point-spread represents just about the most objective college football data out there to me and I'm going to keep looking at the game from that angle.

d) Shameless self-promotion. If anyone decides to pay me to write something, I assure you, I'll link it here.

Honestly, I don't know what this blog will be going forward outside of those few general ideas but I do know this: In financially dire, environmentally distressing times such as these what the world needs now is another navel-gazing, general sports blog so that's what I'm going to aim to provide.

But more than that, the reason for the move was driven by the opportunity to contribute to a site I read and respect. I won't be writing about the Huskers any less or any differently than I have been, it will just be at a different location.

I know most of the people who happen across this site day to day come here for the Husker talk and if it doesn't interest you outside of that then, sincerely, thanks for coming by and you know where to find me.

And if, by chance, you do find yourself back here, well, thanks for that too.

Meet the Broncos

2008-06-24T22:45:00.002-04:00

Maybe it's a bit early to be thinking about Western Michigan but that extra time will be useful because the New York Times preview of the Broncos is just about as thorough as you can get without reverting to Phil Steele-like abbreviations.

The gist of the analysis is this: W.M.U. is a live longshot come August 30. Very live.

If you like that NYT style, here's the preseason look for the rest of Nebraska's opponents who have been revealed so far: San Jose State, New Mexico State, Baylor, Iowa State, and Kansas State.

Nebraska has yet to show up on this bottom-to-top list, meaning that, in the estimation of the NYT bloggers, the Cornhuskers are better than these six teams. And, as superior teams never lose to inferior teams, that means we're going bowling.

Great!

How Lucky Are We?

2008-06-24T07:01:00.003-04:00

As you probably noticed Monday on HuskerExtra, Marlon Lucky is one of the ten players most likely to win the Heisman Trophy according to HeismanPundit.com.

Now, this is just one person's opinion but it is the opinion of the one person who probably spends more time researching and writing about the Heisman race than anyone in college football, mainstream media included. But more interesting than Lucky's inclusion on the list is that you're unlikely to find a Nebraska fan who would've placed their own starting running back on it.

Why is that? Lucky's undeniably Nebraska's best returning offensive player. His stats from 2007 stack up with just about anyone in the country: 1000+ yards rushing, 4.9 yards per carry, 700+ yards receiving. He's on everyone's preseason All-Big 12 team and the leading returning rusher in the conference. Pro scouts love him. Every pass he's ever completed has gone for a touchdown.

Yet, despite all of these things, heading into 2008 it feels like a lot of Nebraska fans are more excited about Roy Helu than they are Marlon Lucky. Again, the question is why?

I think the answer lies below. Here's a highlight reel of Lucky's 2007 season (odds are always good that online football highlights will contain some objectionable lyrical content...this one is no different):

Now, by way of comparison, here's an unfortunately titled compilation of Noel Devine's 2007 highlights:

What's the difference? Devine can make a 7-yard gain off a toss look spectacular (and last seven seconds, going sideline to sideline). Lucky doesn't make anything look spectacular. He doesn't run over, around or away from people. There is no quintessential Marlon Lucky highlight. If you had to name the most memorable play of his Nebraska career what would it be? The touchdown pass against Texas? Granted it's hard to compile much of a highlight reel running stretch plays and catching screen passes for three years straight but the simple fact is Lucky just isn't very flashy. He gets the job done, quite well I might add, but quietly.

There used to be a time in Nebraska football history where quietly getting the job done as a running back was just about the best thing you could do. But Marlon came along at a difficult time. He was the first big recruit the new regime reeled in, everything that Frank Solich had failed to do wrapped in one very highly touted package.

And now, four years later, Lucky is still trying to live up to that lofty Rivals ranking. When you get the #3 ranked running back in the country you almost instantly expect your jaw to start dropping. You expect to be floored early on and then more often after that.

But Marlon's not that kind of back. It doesn't seem like any Nebraska fans think to themselves, when facing an Oklahoma or a Missouri, "But we have Marlon Lucky." He's not that kind of back either.

He is, however, a Heisman contender according to the one guy who makes it his business to evaluate such subjective matters and, in the end, isn't that just about what you would expect out of a blue chip running back four years later?

A Quickie Heisman Watch [Heisman Pundit]

Screw Chimney Rock, It Shoulda Been Osborne!

2008-06-18T11:48:00.003-04:00

According to the staff of ESPN.com, Tom Osborne is the face of the Nebraska program and probably should've gotten the coveted Nebraska state quarter real estate as well. (Okay, that's my opinion, but somehow I feel like putting Dr. Tom on our quarter really would've pissed off Alabama fans. "If anybody's gettin' a ball coach on their quarter, it's fixin' to be us!")

But just because ESPN has had their say doesn't mean it's all said and done. The fan vote is ongoing and your nominees, contrary to some of the vote tallies I had last week, are:

Bob Devaney
Tommie Frazier (all frazie)
Tom Osborne
Sea of Red
Walk-ons (helmets from hamlets)

And in case you're interested, ESPN has yet to release the final third of the list but the faces o' the Big 12 thus far are:

Baylor - Worm Eatin' Grant Teaff
Colorado - Ralphie
Iowa State - Jack Trice (the man, not the stadium)
Kansas - Mark Mangino (please people, vote for Gale Sayers)
Kansas State - Bill Snyder (the man, not the stadium)
Missouri - Don Faurot (the man, not the stadium)
Oklahoma - Bootlegger's Boy Barry Switzer
Oklahoma State - Barry Sanders

Secretariat Sold for $12.05

2008-06-17T06:52:00.002-04:00

I was THIS close to owning a piece of Doug DuBose.

I saw his autograph on ebay and immediately bid. This was no ordinary autograph on a helmet, jersey or compact mirror. No, it was on a 3x5 card. This was from the patron saint of my own corner of the web and it was thorough, very thorough:

Buoyant double-d's leading the way, Doug offered this autograph hound both his Huskers number and his 49ers number, just to be safe and not alienate any potential buyer of course. But he wasn't through yet.

As tickled as the fan must have been to have a DuBose signature in his hot little hand, I like to think that as he walked away DuBose called out, "Hey, kid!" (Whether or not the autograph seeker was actually a kid or not is irrelevant. You always call people who want autographs kids.) "Come back here, I got another one for ya."

Confused, autograph seeker slowly walked back to DuBose's corner of the universe and handed over the card. DuBose grabbed it and then made the autograph seeker turn around so he could use his shoulder blade as a desk. He could feel DuBose writing something more than just his name, which made sense because, well, he already had his name on the other side of the 3x5 card.

This perturbed autograph seeker. What is he writing? My back is starting to hurt. Why is Doug DuBose offering to sign MORE autographs than I requested? It's not a sharp pain, more an annoying pain.

Finally, Doug Dubose finished, turned the autograph seeker around and handed him this:

Again, the buoyant double-d's led the way but this time there was a new message: "#22 in your Program, #1 in your Heart." That old chestnut.

The autograph seeker read it and looked at Doug.

Doug shrugged.

Autograph seeker shook his finger at Doug jokingly and then both laughed hearty, chest-heaving, Japanese animation from the 80's, laughs.

The moral of the story is that I almost bought that experience last night, but I forgot that I had bid.

If Mt. Rushmore was in Nebraska...

2008-06-11T19:54:00.004-04:00

This being the off-season, ESPN.com is doing off-season things like asking college football fans (and trolls) to select the "Face of the Program" for every team in the Bowl Championship Subdivision.

Lacking something better to do--or a life in general--here are some highlights from the 232 posts to date on Nebraska's board, some commentary and the results.

eric_couch (1 month ago)
Tom Osborne the face of Nebraska football. Heck, he's the face of the state.

The voters of Nebraska, respectfully, disagree. Respectfully.

brickonite (4 weeks ago)
the face of the cornhuskers is the option eric courch and ahomin green and and all frazie and all the famous rb and Qb and the Blackshirt D and the tricks plays. (All, sadly, Sic)

I think the best thing to come from this comment is the term "all frazie." I think I'll use it anytime Ganz breaks a big run. For example: Facing 3rd and 19 in the shadows of the south end zone, patient Joey Ganz dropped back against the gold rush of the Missouri Tigers. The pocket collapsed, he pulled it down and 87-yards later Husker fans were left shaking their heads. There was only one way to describe what they had just seen. Joe Ganz had just gotten all frazie on preseason favorite Mizzou.

mcarthur323232 (1 month ago)
Dorothy Lynch.

It's orange. It's gloop. It can flavor ANYTHING.

fbplayer_78 ( 2 weeks ago)
Johnny Rodgers...at a gas station.

You have to respect trolls who know their history.

lclbb1188 (1 week ago)
Tom Osborne was close to being elected governor because he was a good football coach...Definitely him.

Tom Osborne was close to being elected guv'nah because he could coach ball but I'm not sure how that bolsters his argument.

nlthed (4 days ago)
"Lawrence Phillips...presented by (Classless) Tom Osborne. He sold the whole University out."

Tom Osborne? Classless? He's not the classless coach, that'd be Devaney. The man never saw a young blonde he didn't like.

Now that sounds like a politician. I vote Devaney!

chris larsen in cabo (1 day ago)
1. Herbie Husker premakeover. Hard core, blue collar farm boy type. A lot like a walk-on.
2. The red N in block on the white helmet. When our boys are playing you don't see a face.

Obviously my favorite. An undying love for old Herbie and he's writing from Mexico. Chris, call me, we'll wax poetic about overalls, fish for some marlin and drink pulque until we go blind. It'll be great.

When determining the final tally, I certainly took some artistic license. A number of people just couldn't nominate one person so I typically took the first listed or the most original/intriguing nominations. I didn't throw out any vote. The results shouldn't surprise you:

Tom Osborne - 85
Bob Devaney - 14
Lawrence Phillips - 9
Tommie Frazier - 8
Sea of Red - 6
Johnny Rodgers - 5
Herbie Husker - 3
The Helmet - 3
Eric Crouch - 3
Brook Berringer - 3
The Blackshirts - 3
Bill Callahan - 3
The Option/Kicking Ass - 2
Dave Rimington - 2
The '95 Huskers - 2
The Tunnel Walk - 2
Tom Novak, The Pipeline, Dorothy Lynch, Trev Alberts, I.M. Hipp, Scott Frost, Steve Pederson, Jamaal Lord, Curt Dukes, Joe Dailey, Larry the Cable Guy, Pat Ricketts, Thunder Collins, Christian Peter (but they meant Jason), Bo Pelini, Turner Gill, Will Shields, & Walk-ons - all 1

Personally, I'd just go with Bob Devaney, in a Blackshirts t-shirt, watching Dr. Tom, wearing bib overalls, diagram the option on a chalkboard in front of 80,000 people.

As Fonner Gently Weeps

2008-06-11T10:57:00.004-04:00

Sad news for the Fonner Park faithful such as myself back in the college days: the ageless Newil Wall has passed on to the great winner's circle in the sky.

Wall spoiled many an exotic for me during those halcyon spring days spent at Central Nebraska's finest gambling and cheap hot wing emporium. Of course, we never really minded because it was Newil. There was always the fact that a jockey in his mid-50s (but looking much worse for the wear) could still saddle up on a random Thursday afternoon and ride in front of 30 or so degenerates. Old punters, stupid college kids, tattooed members of MS-13, they all loved Newil.

I could never really curse the guy for the damage he dealt to my bank account because I would always think of his knees. They had to be shot. Just bone on bone. You don't ride a horse 300 days a year for 30-plus years and come out unscathed. You just don't.

So, like Teddy KGB, I just resigned myself to getting Newiled from time to time. "He beat me. Pay that man his money."

And in an equally sad note, Fonner Park might be just off Newil's pace according to this AP article that--absurdedly--appeared in the Boston Globe in late April.

We'll save the gambling debate for another venue but, as a horse racing fan, the outlook is certainly dire for the sport in Nebraska (the first state in the US to legalize parimutuel wagering):

Horse wagering in Nebraska, from its peak in 1985, has dropped 76.8
percent, according to the Nebraska State Racing Commission.

In 1985, there were 233 racing days in Nebraska, $214.6 million
dollars--that's $418 million in today's dollars--was wagered.

There are now just 103 racing days in Nebraska...

I haven't been to Omaha since Aksarben was demolished, but driving by the old track when I did live there always made me wistful for the Cornhusker Handicap, a race that now takes place in Iowa. (Iowa! Dammit!) Sinatra played there and so did Nirvana and now it's nothing.

Let's hope that in four years Fonner is still kicking around and the Gus Fonner Handicap isn't being run in Kansas. (Kansas! Dammit!)

Thanks Trev. No Really!

2008-06-08T22:46:00.004-04:00

For better and worse, Trev Alberts isn't afraid to speak his mind and you can never really fault that. While I've taken exception with some of his statements over the years the following quote about the Sandhills for this excellent Rany York piece is pretty damn excellent:

The Sandhills have a way of chaning your perspective. You feel so small out there. The Dismal golf course we played goes on forever. You can't see civilization. You can't see the hole. You can't see people. You can't see houses. You can't see anything but beautiful, rolling hills and a sky that doesn't quit. You feel a little vulnerable. It would humble almost anybody. You realize how dependent those people are who live out there with the weather and the conditions. At night, it's the quietest place I've ever been, and the darkest place I've ever seen. I'd describe that golf course as pure, unspoiled serenity.

"You can't see people."

"At night, it's the quietest place I've ever been and the darkest place I've ever seen."

Yep, that pretty much describes it.

Well done, sir. Well done.

Steele Speaks: Nebraska 2nd in Big 12 North

2008-06-06T16:31:00.006-04:00

Just got my copy of that bible o' footbaw Phil Steele's College Football Preview 2008. Immediately I flipped to the Nebraska portion and, in a mild surprise, saw that he had the Cornhuskers slated for second in the Big 12 North, one spot behind Missouri and one ahead of Kansas.

Here's a snippet--in that abbreviation heavy, waste no words, maybe chop up a few sentences into fragments voice we've come to love--from Steele's final analysis for the 2008 Huskers:

"...Pelini steps into a good situation. Despite having just 11 returning starters and 28 letterman lost. Switching the offense to more of a run-based attack means the D should be on the field less and therefore be much improved. The Huskers play 5 teams that were in Jan bowls last year but they make my Most Improved List which means they should go from a losing season to a bowl."

As for that Most Improved list, Nebraska checks in at #12. (For the record: Notre Dame is Steele's #1 Most Improved team.)

Big 12 Unit Rankings? They are as follows: QB 8, RB 1, REC 7, OL 4, DL 3, LB 11, DB 8, ST 6, CH 11.

Overall, Nebraska checks in at #43 on the preseason rankings list, behind Missouri (#7) and Kansas (#30).

Now that my weekend is shot, I'll probably be back with more from the great bible o' footbaw once I have a chance to actually digest some of the information.

Good for Khiry. Bad for Nebraska.

2008-06-06T11:18:00.002-04:00

Three-star, whippet-quick wide receiver/centerfielder Khiry Cooper was drafted yesterday by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 5th round, meaning his chances of becoming a Husker just got a whole lot slimmer. (Cue the Carl Crawford remorse here.)

For the superficial and easily impressed (i.e. myself), Cooper offered a lot to like when it comes to young men who have yet to play Big 12 football. He was fast, already clocking a 4.5 in the 40. More than any other Pelini recruit, he passed the "pissing match" test when he chose Nebraska over fellow big swingers like Arkansas and Michigan. KOLN called him "Nebraska's Deion Sanders," which I perceived as a race-based slight for Darin Erstad, but it's a favorable comparison nonetheless.

And now, in all likelihood, he'll spend the next four years kicking around places like Rancho Cucamonga and Cedar Rapids rather than catching passes in Lincoln. Of course there's no guarantee that any prospect will ever make the show but if Cooper is as talented as has been predicted, the allure of a pro baseball career is infinitely more alluring than that of a professional gridder.

Your average career is probably double the length, you can make more money sooner and, as evidenced by the Wells, Kruks and Becks of the world, you don't really have to be athletic or in shape to succeed at baseball. Of course, Cooper was drafted because he is athletic and in shape but your chance of staying that way through your late 30s is a lot more likely on the diamond (see: Kenny Lofton).

Unless the Angels seriously lowball the kid--and he possesses a heart of pure gold--I don't see him in scarlet in cream come August.

Required Reading

2008-06-04T12:08:00.001-04:00

Adventures in Time with Lil' Red

I Am Corn. Hear Me Roar.

2008-06-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

It's very easy to stereotype football fans of any particular school (See: Clay Travis v. the University of Florida). Nebraska fans know this as well as anybody thanks to the antics of one T.J. Simers over the past two years. We're hicks who travel well due to a lack of other compelling options on the vast, corny plains.

I don't have a problem with that but some do. If you're one of the latter bunch you probably shouldn't purchase this shirt:

Nothing against the great Husker Hounds, but please don't buy this. If you do I can't help you. I frequently check on the state of Cornhusker merchandising in hopes of finding pieces that are appealing and/or wearable. I've let some egregious offenses slide from time to time, but this? "This ain't no sweet corn?" All derision, finger pointing and snickering will be entirely justified.

Don't get me wrong, I love corn. I love the way it tastes, I love the alcohol it makes and I love that it is the de facto symbol for all things Nebraska. In fact, it's tough to do corn wrong unless you make it look like a snarling, football-toting octopus.

In hopes of preventing any future offenses to good taste, allow me to provide a brief primer on acceptable graphical usage of this great plant:

Corn as dirigible = GOOD

Snarling, flexing corn = BAD

Corn as babe-toting rocket/phallic symbol = GOOD

Corn as foam chapeau that always tears right about the temple area = BAD

The real lesson here is that anthropomorphizing corn is always a bad idea. Corn isn't ill-tempered. It isn't strong. It doesn't have muscles or carry footballs. It isn't big enough to fit on your head.

Corn does, however, fit perfectly in the back pocket of your overalls. It is delicious. It did help the pilgrims populate our country. It is Nebraskan.

Isn't that enough?

Nebraska TE Arrested Again

2008-06-03T20:03:00.003-04:00

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Hunter Teafatiller fights the law. The law wins.

The senior tight end was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving over the weekend, blowing a 0.2 which we are required to note is twice the legal limit. This marks Teafatiller's third arrest for such charges making it safe to say that Pelini will strike here with great vengeance and furious anger.

I'll be awfully surprised if Hunter is a Husker much longer.

And to think, Nebraska had nearly fallen off the board in the Fulmer Cup. I hope the kid gets himself straightened out.

Finally, Trace Adkins Will Pay for Honky Tonk Badonkadonk

2008-06-02T10:12:00.002-04:00

I’m going to beat the hell out of Trace Adkins this fall. Thanks to Athlon Sports, I may finally get retribution for “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and I’d be lying if I were to say it hasn’t totally brightened my outlook for the fall.

I picked up a copy of Athlon’s 2008 preview the other day--not because it’s any good but because it was there and Phil Steele’s wasn’t—and there was Trace Adkins pointing at me with a football in his hand. He seemed to be saying: “Hey, you, I played football at Louisiana Tech and am responsible for some of the worst music videos ever released. Despite all that, I bet I can pick college football games better than ya’ll.”

I refuse to believe this. Now, I had my ups and downs in terms of overall record last year in my various pick’em leagues but if I can’t beat a man who is responsible for this then, to borrow the title from the best Waylon Jennings song nobody likes, I think I’m gonna kill myself.

I’m passionate about a number of things but my two areas of particular fervor are college football and real country music. When Big & Rich open College Gameday each Saturday I take it as a personal offense, my brain says rage. In less than two minutes, week in and week out, they’re able to desecrate not one but two of my sacred cows and I’m powerless to stop it.

Previously, Trace Adkins had just offended my country sensibilities but now he’s walking on the fightin’ side of me. As we learned in Hoosiers, there's two kinds of dumb: a guy who gets naked and runs around in the snow and barks at the moon, and the guy who does the same thing in your living room. First one don't matter. The second one you're kinda forced to deal with.

I now have to deal with Trace Adkins. The good news is that we all have a chance to knock him off. We can humiliate him they way Kansas will his alma mater in week two.

I don’t know yet if we’re picking against the spread (hopefully) or straight-up (lame), but I do know that I will beat Trace Adkins this season. I have to beat Trace Adkins. Everything I believe on depends on it.

For those of you actually interested in the Nebraska content of the Athlon preview I picked up, they have the Cornhuskers ranked as the 41st best team in the country, picked to finish 4th in the Big 12 North behind Mizzou, KU and CU. In terms of schedule, they predict wins against WMU, SJU, New Mexico St., ISU and Baylor; losses against Va. Tech, Mizzou, Tech, OU and KU. That puts Nebraska at 5-5 heading into the final two games of the season which are “swing games” against KSU and CU.

Here’s what they had to say about the hiring of Bo Pelini:

“While there are plenty of examples of big-name schools hiring coaches without
experience (Mark Richt at Georgia, Bob Stoops at Oklahoma), it’s a bit of a
gamble for a school like Nebraska to hire someone who has never run his own
program. Pelini might end up being a great hire, but Jim Grobe, who has enjoyed
tremendous success at Wake Forest, or former Husker star Turner Gill, who is
doing a fine job at Buffalo, seemed to make a bit more sense.”

Huh? Everything else pertaining to Nebraska you've already read a thousand times over.

Which is the Best Bar in Lincoln?

2008-05-28T20:14:00.002-04:00

Ten or so days ago The Wizard of Odds kicked off the great sort of theme post that can only occur in the off season: Thirst & 10. It's more than a search for the best college bars in America, it's a search for the best bars to fully experience a football Saturday at said school.

To put it another way: If you were to go to, say, Clemson what bar would you absolutely have to hit? That's what they're looking for.

The criteria:

Has to be within walking distance of the stadium.
Drinks should be so cheap that when you're local politico makes a move to ban promotions providing such cheap hooch you're sad but know that it's probably a good idea.
The staff should be attractive.
No chains.

In addition to the Tigers the only other schools to be represented thus far are LSU and Arizona, so it's still early but I'd be devastated if Nebraska didn't have a horse in this race.

Problem is, I feel woefully unqualified to offer an opinion on the Lincoln night/game day life. I never spent that much time on O Street in general and prefer to do my pregaming on Saturdays from plastic cups in the parking lot.

So which is the most Cornhuskerian watering hole? If you've got a strong opinion, I urge you to submit it to The WOO lest we lose our reputation as a drinking town with a football problem.

God Bless Alabama - The Best 3 Minutes in Sports Talk Radio

2008-05-24T23:31:00.007-04:00

When I saw that Orson from EDSBS.com was going to be on Paul Finebaum's radio show to talk about blogging and Buzz Bissinger yelling, I made a point to go and download the podcast of that interview. While I was interested in the discussion at hand I was probably more interested to hear Finebaum, the noted Alabama provocateur in Warren St. John's Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, actually rile some people up. (Supposedly, that's what he does.)

I was not disappointed, but it wasn't Orswon Swindle who was on the end of the prod, it was a man by the name of Charles, or rather Chawles, and it just might be the best call to a radio show I've ever heard.

Here are some out of context quotes from my new favorite football fan in the US to entice you to listen:

"Hey, Paul...you know what you need?"

"Forget that point, I got another point now."

"I got more class in my redneck than you got in your whole body."

"Awww, man, you couldn't handle it."

"Oh, you'll remember it. You WILL remember it."

"Ya'll done got me stirred up now."

"I ain't got no wife, Paul."

Here's the clip:

There aren't a lot of places that take their football more seriously than Nebraska. Alabama is one of those places.

Nebraska's Blue Book Value

2008-05-22T22:44:00.003-04:00

This is a question for the displaced Nebraskans: What is the societal value of Nebraska football?

I ask because of this post on thebiglead.com detailing "The Fall of College Football's 1990 Dynasties." Here's an excerpt:

Does anyone remember the last time Notre Dame, Nebraska, Miami and Florida State all had back-to-back poor seasons? Yeah, neither do I. The age of a true dynasty is long gone as there has not been a legit back-to-back BCS title winner since it was created 10 years ago (before you start, spare me USC fans).

The post was good but I found the comments much more interesting. They centered largely around the fact that Notre Dame--winning their last title in 1988--wasn't really a 90's dynasty. (Fair enough.) There was some grousing about USC's AP/BCS back-to-back feat and the comments pertaining to the Cornhuskers were were about three things: 1) the option, 2) the '96 Fiesta Bowl beatdown of Florida or 3) how Penn St./Michigan should've won the title in '94/'97.

This was interesting to me because as someone who has lived outside the state for nearly six years now, those first two responses used to be about the only two I received upon revealing my birthplace.

Now, Boston might not be the best measuring stick for this as nobody here cares about college football. Boston College has its little cadre of supporters on its little campus on the hill but by and large this is a pro sports town.

Because of this, when I'd say "I'm from Nebraska" half the people would respond with "I've never met anyone from there," the other half "a Cornhusker!" People in the first group likely didn't care about sports and people in the latter did. This second group of people would almost always say something about how they were Husker fans because they loved watching the option or say something about the '95 team being the best they'd ever seen.

In the minds of these people, who I loved meeting for obvious reason, the entire state of Nebraska was associated with a dominant football team running an old-fashioned (but still lethal) offense and, at least where I live, I'm not sure that perception has changed much in the WCO era. But, again, this is Boston where people don't watch college football. If anything, it was always me who, after being greeted with a glowing appraisal of the option, started offering up explanations for losing seasons and coaching changes.

So, transplants, what have you found the cultural currency of Nebraska football to be? Is Nebraska still a fond memory of that crushing ground attack of the 90s or is it one of the fallen kings mentioned on The Big Lead?

Bowling on the Bayou?

2008-05-20T22:06:00.002-04:00

College Football News released their "Way Too Early Bowl Predictions 2009" last week and at this point they have Nebraska slated to face Arkansas in the Independence Bowl in gorgeous Shreveport, Louisiana. (Yes, yes. Premature and ludicrous but it's something to talk about.)

According to the conference tie-ins, this would mean Nebraska got in as the seventh selection from the Big 12. This got me to thinking about which six teams from the conference were going to "better bowls."

The top of the charts was easy:

1. Oklahoma
1a. Missouri
2. Texas
3. Texas Tech

After that, however, it gets pretty jumbled. Kansas is a pretty solid next best after Tech but then what? Colorado? Kansas State? Oklahoma State? A&M?

Here's where CFN had the Big 12 teams going:

Oklahoma - Cotton
Oklahoma State - Insight
Kansas State - Sun
Texas - Holiday
Kansas - Alamo
Colorado - Texas
A&M - Nowhere

Where are Missouri and Tech? In the BCS bowls, of course.

Wait...of course? A Tigers-Raiders Big 12 title game? Since I don't consider Nebraska a contender for the division title at this point, I'm all for it. I desperately want Texas Tech to win the south and take the next step. I'm also extremely skeptical that it can happen, but I'll be hoping. They have a ton of returning talent but I still wouldn't put them ahead of Texas right now, much less Oklahoma.

As for Nebraska and Shreveport, ummm, I'm looking longingly at K-State's slot in the Sun Bowl. I want that game. I want to spend New Year's Eve watching football on the side of a mountain in El Paso and then spend the early hours of 2009 drinking tequila in Juarez.

You can't tell me that it's not the best little bowl available.

BOrnography?

2008-05-15T22:51:00.004-04:00

Is anyone else starting to get nervous about the depth of glory restoring that's dominated this off season? It was nice early on. Bo fulfilled all of the immediate needs for most Nebraska fans right away with his simple man approach. The spring game was a giant success if not terribly interesting. The unity council is back and Frank Solich shouldn't have been fired.

While I appreciated the honesty out of Bo in regards to the short ball coach, his comments did elicit an eye roll out of me. Everything is starting to seem a little too easy at this point, too neat and tidy. You can't just come back, do everything the old way and succeed, right?

That's the question I've been wrestling with lately.

Today I may have found an answer: BOrnography. Ladies and gentlemen, "A Return to Tradition":

"A DVD compilation of the historical events marking the move back to Nebraska Football Tradition in 2008. See the full footage of the 1997 Championship reunion banquet featuring Charlie McBride, Jason Peter and Coach Osborne. It was the middle of the '07 season when the banquet took place, and things were looking tough for the '07 Huskers. hear the amazing insights and heart warming reflections offered by the former coaches and players, including some hilarious comments from the always entertaining Jason Peter. See the imploring request from coach Osborne for the '07 players to show their support and encouragement to the embattled 2007 Huskers. Also see the entire Bo Pelini introduction press conference and hear Bo set forth in his own words his vision for bringing tradition back to NU. And finally see highlights from the 2008 Spring Game, complete with the post game comments from coach Pelini and select players. 2007 was a tough year, but the future looks bright! DVD video, Husker Vision footage, 140 minutes."

See a banquet! Hear Tom tell the '97 team that, hell, high water, or embarrassing home beatdown, they're gonna get down there on the sidelines and CHEER, dadgumit! Watch Bo Pelini do that thing where you crane your neck and pull against the collar of your shirt with your index finger because you hate wearing ties!

OK, now there's no question about my level of concern. There is no Bill Callahan era video and that's fine, but Bo getting one before a game has even been played? It's much worse than I thought.

But then again, if the devil exploded and all evil in the world vanished, what sort of video would you want?

Catching Up

2008-05-15T00:04:00.003-04:00

Been on the road the past two weekends which, when combined with the dearth of Husker news and some general business at work, has resulted in the dark period here at HiPlainsDrifter.com.

My apologies. Hope to be back in the swing of things soon.

In the meantime, here's a story about Texas barbecue that I just posted over on the Everywhere website.

Peter's Memoir Looks Heroiny

2008-05-07T21:28:00.004-04:00

Was poking around online today and noticed that we now have a cover shot for Jason Peter's upcoming memoir detailing his ultimately fruitless chase of the dragon.

Look interesting or just menacing?

Here's what PW had to say:

"Peter, a star at the University of Nebraska’s storied football program in the late 1990s and a first-round NFL draft pick, details his short, frenzied life as a drug user and veteran of the treatment center circuit. It started with painkillers in college, which turned into a full-blown addiction as he battled an array of injuries that ended his career by his late 20s. With plenty of money and time available, Peter’s partying escapades eventually led him to freebasing cocaine and turning his upscale New York City apartment into arguably the world’s most expensive heroin retreat, complete with a live-in junkie stripper girlfriend. Avoiding self-help urgings and self-congratulations, Peter (who is now clean) and O’Neill have crafted an unflinching look at the dark side of a life devoted to pleasure. Peter’s recollection of his college glory days is a little overbearing, but the book’s power lies in his honesty in detailing the depths of his despair from seeking the next high."

A live-in stripper? I can believe that. World's most expensive heroin retreat? Even with the "arguably" qualifier, I'm almost certain that the world's most expensive heroin retreat was always, and remains to this day, Nikki Sixx's shaving kit, but either way I'm intrigued.

The book is out July 8, but I'm going to see if I can corral an advance copy to get us through these long off-season months.

And in case you're interested, Peter's co-author on this book, Tony O'Neill, is a recovered crack and heroin addict as well. His website includes the following blurb for the book from author Jerry Stahl:

"HERO OF THE UNDERGROUND gives us a portrait of red-blooded jock as monster dope fiend. It's a savage, unsparing, eye popping ride through the dark soul of big money, endless drugs, American manhood, and our national past time--self destruction. Ex-Cornhusker Jason Peter writes like a soulful badass, and we're lucky he lived to tell the tale. Had Hunter Thompson been a football player, instead of a fan, this is the book he'd have written. Flat out, mash-your-face-in-the-dirt-amazing."

You can pre-order the book right here and purchase the domain name soulfulbadass.com right here.

Casey At the Bat

2008-05-06T20:42:00.003-04:00

As a brief sidenote to Sammy Vegas' recent post regarding some racy pics of Casey Connelly (aka Sam Keller's girlfriend) originally found on barstoolsports.com, the whole thing turned into quite the brouhaha when Connelly emailed the guys at Barstool Sports and pleaded for their removal then offered a vague threat of ugliness if they were not.

I'd excerpt one of the emails here but I sort of feel bad for the girl...then I remember she had nearly naked pictures of herself on the Internet.

C'est la vie. Click over if you want to.

God bless the offseason.

BBQ, Breaking Down and Bandera

2008-05-05T21:21:00.003-04:00

Indulge me for a moment as I try to get back in the Nebraska football swing of things. Got back from Texas on Sunday, here's a recap/assorted thoughts.

BBQ - I've eaten barbecue in the Carolinas, Kansas City and, now, all over Texas. I've smoked about every meat you can think of and there's nothing better for me than making my own sauces and sausages on a random Saturday afternoon. While I should probably withhold judgment until I've hit Memphis, I'm ready to call the Lone Star state's barbecue the best. The sausage sandwich at the Taylor Cafe was otherworldly. I'd have more to say but I'm hoping to get some paid writing out of this aspect of the trip so I'll save it for now.

Breaking Down (i.e. Eight Belles) - I didn't win big betting the Derby. It was sort of an atypical week in terms of my normal preparation but, after a brief mid-week bout of uncertainty, I did go with Big Brown against the protests of most of my handicapping friends. I was confident enough to key him on top of every exotic I played. That, along with tossing out Colonel John and Pyro, was the good handicapping I did.

Also tossing out Eight Belles and placing a shoot the moon win bet on Cool Coal Man was the bad.

Needless to say, seeing a horse break down is no way to end the first Saturday in May. Not to downplay the situation but Big Brown's race was more impressive than Barbaro's Derby and that's barely been a story. For good reason.

This is a tough time for horse racing. A number of columnists who are not necessarily horse racing fans are ripping the sport. The fans and industry insiders are giving it the usual tragic shrug. I'm not sure where I fall. On the plane back Saturday I read William C. Rhoden's column in the New York Times and felt it was poorly executed. (No bull has ever survived a bull fight, for the record.) Jane Smiley's was better.

It's a particularly tough issue and all I really know at this point is that horse racing is probably at it's lowest point in recent history in terms of general public favor. If there was ever a year for a Triple Crown winner--and Big Brown certainly looks like one--this would be it.

Bandera, TX - After the Derby at Retama Park my brother and I headed to Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon. This was cowboy country. Sawdust on the floor, real hitching posts out front. I needed to hear Arkey Blue sing "Fraulein" to lighten my spirits. If you are ever in the San Antonio area, I can't recommend a side trip to Bandera highly enough. Just remember to tuck your jeans into your boots. That's how it's done.

Aside from the photo in this post which was taken at Gruene Hall during a break in the four-hour Dale Watson set, I'm still editing a bunch more that might eventually find their way on-line. As you may have noticed in the sidebar, there's a JPG Magazine link to one of the photos from Arkey's. It looks a lot better when it's bigger. Please click away.

After I catch up on the week that was we'll try to get back to some normal Nebraska talk.