Jun

28

The Maisel Retort: Ivan Maisel just embarrasses himself about his knowledge of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and college football

Filed Under 1994 Cornhuskers, 1995 Huskers, 1997 Cornhuskers, Corn Feed, ESPN Sucks, Ivan Maisel, Media on Huskers, Videos | 2 Comments

Steve Sipple has a great blog today calling out Ivan Maisel, part of .com’s Big Ten/USC/Notre Dame/ beat writers, I mean, ‘college football writers ,’ for his argument in his new book “The Maisel Report” (doesn’t that sound like a book on Israel’s military capability?) that the ‘97 Huskers are among the most ‘overrated’ championship teams.

(HG Note: HG has read the lastest Book on college football. ’s “Meat Market,” coming soon to a discount bookstore near you, will bore even the die-hard college football fan. It makes ’s great book,”The Blind Side,” look like a Shakespeare. In fact, 3 of the 5 praising reviews on the back of the book are from contributors. Oh, calls it a ‘page-turner.’ I’m jacked! So ’s creditably is already in question when it comes to college football.)

Here’s Sipple going after Maisel:

Of course, Maisel also refers to Matt Davison’s diving grab against Missouri that season. Maisel’s credibility suffers somewhat when he writes of Davison, “He could have converted to quarterback and won three Heisman Trophies . . . ” Huh? Davison a Heisman-caliber QB? Am I missing something here?

In my opinion, he’s confusing Davidson with . That’s no big deal. I use to do that all the time.

Another point: what difference does ’s production as a player have to do with the Huskers being ‘overrated.’ Look at the team. MD is a footnote in Husker History, not a prominent player. He was a receiver on a passing team. What’s up Ivan?

Can we also talk about the substance of claim?

Yes, we can.

First off, they weren’t even the most overrated champions that year. was. Nebraska deserved the National TItle outright. Second of all, they thrashed a loaded team led by , while struggled with led Washington State.

If anything, Nebraska’s argument has been strengthening over the years. Every time Peyton gets close to hanging half-a-hundred on an NFL team and takes another shot of Jack, Nebraska’s stock goes up just a little.

Ivan Maisel: Just Another Clueless Bristolite

Another point: Nebraska fans don’t even think that the are all that. They would easily put 1995 and maybe 1994 over 1997. So who’s rating them so high, Ivan, that you have to call them out?????

Ivan, please let us know who exactly is going around praising them. Is it Scott Frost? Is it ? Is it ? We’d really like to know.

And there is more info from Mr. Steve Sipple:

Maisel ranks Johnny Rodgers’ punt return in 1971 No. 2 among the most overrated moments..

“The legend that has surrounded Rodgers’ punt return has made it the winning play in a close-fought game between undefeated archrivals,” Maisel writes. “However, Rodgers didn’t score the winning touchdown. He scored the first one.”

Also, Maisel ranks Osborne fifth among the most underrated retired coaches (behind Frank Leahy, Shug Jordan, Pappy Waldorf and Bo Schembechler). “Just as his friend (Bobby) Bowden rode his charm and outgoing personality to national acclaim,” the author writes, “Osborne’s natural reticence contributed to a lack of appreciation for what he accomplished.”

…he cites tight end (1990-91) for being overrated.

As for underrated, Maisel lumps together centers under Osborne, noting that in 11 of Osborne’s 25 years, the Huskers’ starting center made at least one All-American team. The honor roll: Rik Bonness (1974-75), Tom Davis (1977), Dave Rimington (1981-82), Mark Traynowicz (1984), Bill Lewis (1985), Jake Young (1988-89), Aaron Graham (1995), and Aaron Taylor (1996)

Anyone else find it odd that Ivan Maisel, who openly admits TO is underrated (which is a shock to me), just listed Tommie Fraizer as a ‘player that transcended the game’ yet didn’t include Osborne on the list of coaches?

Huh?

Osborne is an icon coach. One of the greats who shaped college football.

The big question, and this speaks a lot about the sheltered culture of North East college football writers , is who is Ivan Maisel hanging around with that he thinks are ‘overrated’ and Osborne is ‘underrated?’

HG Guess: :

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