Tilting at Windmills

When Bo Pelini inherited the Nebraska program, he walked into a pretty good situation. He led the team its 10th win of the year in its bowl game, which seemed to have set the stage for continuing the proud Nebraska tradition.

No, we’re not talking about 2008. This was in 2003 when the NU athletic department inexplicably fired Frank Solich for having the audacity to not be Tom Osborne. Sure, Solich was essentially the Nebraska version of Gary Gibbs: nice guy, mild-mannered and came from “within the family.” He also won about 9 games a year which was unacceptable to Nebraska fans who thought they were entitled to something after seeing their felonious great athletes in the 90s deliver a couple of titles. His real crime? Not sure. He won 58 games in six years, which was more than his predecessors Bob Devaney (53) and Tom Osborne (55) did in their first half dozen seasons.

Pelini took over the reigns of the program as Interim Coach at the end of the regular season (after Solich had already posted 9 wins that year), “righted” the ship and led the team to an Alamo Bowl win, complete with a couple of kickass meltdowns in which he had to be physically restrained from the officials (there’s something besides flouride in the Youngstown water, apparently).

This thing smells bullshit!

He was never able to move past the title of “interim coach,” though, and new AD Steve Pedersen was determined to put his own stamp on the program. Coaches around the country saw how Pedersen treated one of NU’s own and shunned the Huskers like hygiene at a Phish concert. It took Pedersen 40 days to come up with Bill Callahan to lead the program, after being told “go fuck yourself” by the likes of Dave Wannstedt, Houston Nutt, Mike Zimmer and (allegedly) Steve Spurrier. Calladouche Blake’d the Nebraska football program, notching the program’s first two losing seasons in 45 years and letting Kansas Hot Karl every black shirt in the stadium.

We're not amused, Bill.

Osborne, who told Pedersen to pack his shit and leave, dumped Callafran in 2007 and called Baton Rouge to see if Pelini, then the DC at LSU, would come back. He did and Nebraska fans have to be ecstatic. In his first season, the Stoops family’s anger management-challenged cousin grabbed nine wins and a bowl win. Aside from being curbed by his buddy Bob in Norman, the Huskers were more inspired in 2008 and fans can finally have something to look forward to in 2009.

Callafran wasn't out of work for long.

Many, including us, are picking Nebraska to win the Big 12 North (although there’s dissension even amongst us TaWers). The fact the Huskers are even in that discussion, though, is primarily Pelini’s work. He’ll have a tough chore trying to put together an offense that lost the prolific Joe Ganz and its top two receiving threats. However, Pelini’s defense, which is his strong suit, could be very good this year. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is a preseason All-American and the Husker secondary is one of the best in the Big 12.

Are the Huskers “back?” No, and they won’t be even if Pelini gets them another 10 wins. They’re on much better footing these days, though, and they’d be well-served to make sure Bo stays in Lincoln for awhile.

We start our in-depth look at the Big 12 landscape this year in the North where graduations affect some, not so much others and, when it comes down to it, scheduling could play the most important part.

The look from here says Nebraska’s combination of scheduling and defense should be enough to get them to the Big 12 championship game at Jerryworld in December. It won’t be easy, though, as Kansas may have something to say about it, as will question marks in the offense.

1. Nebraska

Bill Callahan nearly ran a once-proud program into the ground. At times, he seemed more concerned with throat-slashes, fans “throwing fruit,” and being a general all-around asshat than he did coaching the Big Red machine. Former Husker assistant Bo Pelini took over the helm last season, turning around a team that had gone 5-7 in 2007 (just their second losing season in 40 years – both of them under Callahan) and guided them to 10 wins and a Gator Bowl win.

Pelini will be replacing quarterback Joe Ganz, who threw for 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2008. Sophomore Zac Lee looks to be the one getting the nod, although he’s only thrown two career passes. He’ll have running back Roy Helu behind him, who despite starting just two games in 2008, led the team in rushing yards (803) and rushing touchdowns (7).

Fans hope Pelini, a defensive coach by trade, can bring back the Blackshirts. They’ll rally around 6’4″, 300-pound, senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who led the Husker defense in tackles (85), sacks (7.5), interceptions (2 … really, he led the team in picks??), QB hurries (7) and seconds on extra gravy boats at the Omaha Cracker Barrel.

Scheduling is where the Huskers get the biggest break. Yes, they have to play Oklahoma, but it’s in Lincoln. Yes, they have to go to Columbia and Lawrence, but the Tigers and Jayhawks have scheduling problems of their own. In the usual battle of attrition in the Big 12 North, Nebraska should be the team coming out on top and playing for the Big 12 Championship in December.

2. Kansas

The force is strong in Lawrence with pequeña signal-caller Todd Reesing returning for his senior season, and All-American candidate wideout Dezmon Briscoe (he’s still wide open down the sidelines, Venables … cover his ass) set to become the school’s all-time receptions leader before conference play even starts. In my mind, Mark Mangino is one of the best coaches in the country and will have the Rock Chalkers in contention for the North title. In fact, they’ll probably be favored to beat Nebraska in Lawrence on November 14. However, they do have to play Oklahoma (in Lawrence, thankfully) and make trips to Lubbock and Austin. That’s potentially three losses right there and dropping that many games in the North this year will have you sitting at home watching the Big 12 CCG.

3. Missouri

Although they’re the two-time reigning Big 12 North representative in the championship game, head coach Gary Pinkel will be retooling the offense after losing their biggest tool, Chase Daniel. All-world wideout and return specialist Jeremy Maclin will be drawing a paycheck from the Phildalphia Eagles in 2009, so Pinkel will have his cutesy, why-the-hell-are-you-calling-a-trick-play-NOW work cut out for him. Can 6’5″ quarterback Blaine Gabbert and 1,000-yard rusher Derrick Washington be enough on offense? In the Big 12 North, maybe. However, they open conference play with Nebraska, then go to Stillwater seven days later and come back home the next week to host Texas. Mizzou needs to win at least one of those three to have any shot at the Big 12 north title.

4. Colorado

Now we’re just drawing straws for the lower half of the North division. Colorado probably has enough talent to eek out the Kansas and Iowa ag schools, but unless they have a winning record and go bowling (doubtful and seriously doubt it), Dan Hawkins might be coaching intramurals this time next year. The Hawk may be platooning quarterbacks and running backs, and the defense loses six starters. The Buffs’ saving grace is that they get Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri all in Boulder. CU fans shudder at the thought of roadtrips to Austin and Stillwater, though.

5. Kansas State

Goodnight, sweet Prince. Hello again, Bill Snyder. The Wildcat fanbase doesn’t even acknowledge having a B.S. (before-Snyder) football program and, well, maybe they’re right. Snyder did accomplish one of the major turnarounds in college football history, taking the worst program in the history of the sport and making them conference title contenders. However, that was the Big 8. Snyder’s biggest win? A Big 12 conference title game shellacking over OU. The Wildcats must go to Norman on Halloween this year and unless he can raise the ghost of Darren Sproles, that one could get ugly. Other road trips to Lincoln and Lubbock mean … well, you get the picture.

6. Iowa State

A new year, a new Auburn DC running the ship in Ames. Surely Paul Rhoads can’t do worse than Gene Chizik’s two years there. I’ll put on my Harry Carey voice (just go with it) and ask: how does a guy who went 5-19 get the head coach position at Auburn? Austen Arnaud is a talented quarterback, but he might have to carry the load by himself. Unless you’re Vince Young (and he’s not), a one-man show is not going to win in Lawrence, Columbia and Lincoln. ISU also draws OSU and Baylor (in Ames) out of the South. The Bears’ Robert Griffin already went apeshit on the Cyclones once – he may just do it again.