Jan

8

Report: Sam Bradford to go pro after tonight’s game

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Courtesy of our friends over at Sooners Gameday , Sam Bradford is going to enter the NFL Draft after tonight’s game.

This comes as a surprise to no one.

This clears the way for Texas to be the clear favorite in the Big 12 South in 2009 and makes the 2009 Nebraska-Oklahoma game a little less frightening.

Heck, if Ndamukong Suh comes back , we might take’em.

More Big 12 Draft News: WR Jeremy Maclin will announce Friday if he entering the NFL draft.

Take a wild guess what he is going to do:

During the regular season, Maclin said he would remain at unless he were projected as a first-round pick. Todd McShay of Scouts Inc. has Maclin going in the first round in his most recent mock draft, while Mel Kiper Jr. rates him No. 2 among all junior and redshirt sophomore wide receivers.

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Jan

4

HG looks into the Nebraska Cornhuskers Crystal Ball

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And sees:

Patrick Witt becoming the Nebraska Cornhuskers Starting QB.

declaring for the .

the worst being over.

no more blowouts.

Joe Ganz going into coaching.

Mike McNeill and Alex Henery being All-American candidates in 2009.

the Huskers moving to a run-based, two running back system.

Menelik Holt giving the 2009 Huskers a new dimension.

the Secondary being a plus in 2009.

a grim year ahead for Kansas State.

Sam Bradford in a Detroit Lions uniform in 2009.

Bob Stoops in Norman in 2009.

Texas and Nebraska in the 2009 Big 12 Championship.

Texas regretting designating Will Muschamp Head Coach-Designate. 

being a Top 15 Draft Pick.

Texas pounding Ohio State back to the Stone Age.

Nebraska-Kansas as the top game in the Big 12 North in 2009.

another big recruiting commitment.

Statements:

Joe Ganz is a better QB than Chase Daniel. In fact, he has been for about two months.

should of been kicked out of the Rose Bowl after his helmet-to-helmet hit.

should be stripped of it’s automatic BCS berth.

Let’s end - Rose Bowl tie-in. It’s not 

deserves some criticism for sometimes having unimaginative and predictable play-calling, ‘cutesy,’  and too many Red Zone field goals. But overall he did a great job in 2008 and his offensive strategy of ball control was the backbone to the Huskers turnaround.



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Jan

3

Dabo Swinney confirms he can’t pronounce Ndamukong Suh’s name

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I swear, if Ndamukong Suh’s name was John Smith, he would of been an All-American.

Instead, he’s on the coaches Second Team because a majority of coaches can’t pronounce his name:

“That No. 93 is heck of a player, an NFL player,” Swinney said. “They did a great job creating pressure with just their front four and they won the matchups. That’s what this game is about.”

Dabo, you had a month to prepare for Nebraska and obviously Nebraska’s best defensive player is Ndamukong Suh and the best you can do is “That No. 93″?

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Jan

3

Will Ndamukong Suh stay or go?

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As Bo Pelini has publicly stated, Ndamukong Suh has a decision to make regarding the NFL.

While Suh earlier said publicly he is coming back, it seems like he is giving himself some room to change his mind:

“(M)y mind-set right now is that I’m 99 percent coming back to school.”

And Bo Pelini thinks he is leaning towards coming back:

“I’m not going to worry about it. I’d love to have him back and I think he will,” Pelini said. “And I think in the end, probably just in terms of his future and his career, that’s probably the right decision.

“But if he explores it and it turns out it’s not the best thing for him (to stay), he’s a great kid, I love him. I want to do what is best for Suh.”

Scout’s, Inc has Suh projected as the 31st best ‘draft eligible’ player out there but the 3rd best overall DT, which leads me to think that given the scarcity of quality DT’s in the NFL, Suh will be a Top 15 draft pick if he were to go out.

But, there is a case to be made for him to come back. It has nothing to do with draft stock, but has everything to do with having a successful NFL career. While Suh could go to the NFL and cash in, he might not find the same level of attention and coaching expertise as he has at Nebraska. 

Bo and Carl Pelini are a first-class Defensive Line coaching tandem. Suh will be in a much better position of attacking the NFL Quarterbacks after another year of Bo and Carl coaching.

Either way, Suh has to do what is best for him. And that might be staying at Nebraska for his senior year.

One final note, Ndamukong has until Jan. 15th to make his decision on the NFL.

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Jan

2

Bo Pelini’s next big recruiting job: Ndamukong Suh

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Ndamukong Suh will have a decision to make.

While he’s previously stated his firm commitment to being a Husker in 2009, recently he’s backed off of those statements.

Bo Pelini will definitely lobby for Suh to come back and finish his development but this is a decision only made by Suh. Bo knows that Suh is NFL  material and Bo also knows how much easier it will be to win the Big 12 North with Suh.

With Suh putting pressure on Colt McCoy in the Big 12 title game, anything can happen in 2009.

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Jan

1

Gator Bowl Postgame Notes

Filed Under 2008 Opponents, Bo Pelini, Clemson, Gator Bowl, Joe Ganz, bowl games | Leave a Comment

Courtesy NU Media Relations :

* Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini picked up his ninth win in today’s game, tying for the most wins by a Nebraska first-year head coach . He joined Bob Devaney (9 in 1962), Tom Osborne (9 in 1973) and Frank Solich (9 in 1998) with nine wins in their first season leading the Cornhuskers.

* Bo Pelini’s ninth win also tied him for the most victories by any of the 18 first-year head coaches in the Division I ranks this season.

* Nebraska senior quarterback Joe Ganz completed 19-of-36 passes for 237 yards. With his 237 passing yards, Ganz increased his season passing total to 3,569 yards, building on his Nebraska season passing record . Ganz finished his Husker career with 5,126 passing yards, good for second on the NU charts. In today’s game he passed Dave Humm (5,035) to move into second place, trailing only ’ s 5,860 career passing yards.

* Ganz accounted for 239 yards of total offense, increasing his final career total to 5,468. He moved up two spots to fourth on NU’s career total offense list. In today’s game Ganz passed Jerry Tagge (5,283) and Jammal Lord (5,421) while falling just short of Tommie Frazier (5,476) on the list.

* Nebraska senior receiver caught three passes for 32 yards and one touchdown. With his 32 receiving yards, Swift finished second in the Nebraska record book for season and career receiving yardage. Swift finished his senior season with 941 receiving yards, just short of Johnny Rodgers ’ 943 yards in 1972. Swift ran his career receiving yardage total to 2,476 yards, also just shy of Rodgers’ 2,479 receiving yards from 1970 to 1972.

* Nebraska nose tackle Ndamukong Suh blocked a second-quarter Tiger FG attempt, his second blocked kick of the season. Nebraska’s Rickey Thenarse added blocked punt as the Huskers finished with six blocked kicks on the year (3 by Zach Potter). The six blocked kicks are the most by Nebraska since the Huskers blocked seven kicks in the 2005 season.

* Suh finished the game with a team-best eight tackles, including sacks of 12 yards in the second quarter and seven yards in the third quarter. Suh finished the 2008 season with 76 tackles and became the first defensive lineman to lead Nebraska in tackles since 1973. Suh totaled 7.5 sacks sacks and 19 tackles for loss this season.

* Sophomore I-back rushed 18 times for a career-high 125 yards, including a career-long 58-yard rush in the third quarter. His previous long rush was a 37-yard touchdown run at Kansas State earlier this season. The 58-yard run also tied the season long rush for Nebraska ( 58 yards vs. New Mexico State).

* The 11-point deficit Nebraska overcame ties for the largest comeback by Nebraska in a bowl game , matching the 11-point comeback against Michigan in the 2005 Alamo Bowl when NU trailed 28-17 in the fourth quarter.

* Senior defensive end Zach Potter finished the game with four tackles, including two tackles for loss of four yards. He also had one pass breakups and one quarterback hurry. Potter finished his senior season with 16 tackles for loss and 28 TFLs in his career.

* Sophomore tight end Mike McNeill had three receptions for 27 yards in today’s game. McNeill finished the season with 32 catches, breaking ’s Nebraska position record of 31 catches in 1991.

* Sophomore place-kicker Alex Henery connected on field goals of 48, 28, 28 and 22 yards, tying the Nebraska bowl record with four made kicks in a game. Nebraska’s first points of the game came on Henery’s seventh field goal of 40 yards or more this season (he is 7-of-9 from that distance). Henery improved to (18-of-21) on field goals this season and (26-of-29) in his Husker career.

* The Nebraska defense registered five sacks for 44 yards, pushing its season total to 35 sacks, more than double the Huskers’ 2007 total of 13 sacks. The Huskers produced 19 sacks for 169 yards in the final four games of the season .

* Nebraska held Clemson to 208 yards of total offense in today’s game. The Nebraska bowl record for yards allowed is 174 vs. Michigan State in 2003, Bo Pelini’s game as interim head coach. In two bowl games with Pelini as head coach, Nebraska has allowed an average of 191 total yards.


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Dec

26

Husker Links: Gator Bowl Edition

Filed Under Bo Pelini, Clemson, Gator Bowl, Huskers in the NFL, Ndamukong Suh, Recruiting, Shawn Watson, Steve Sipple | Leave a Comment

Links:

Huskers get down to business in Jacksonville.

Suh said the mood gets even more serious now with the game less than a week away.

“We’re definitely down here for our business,” he said. “The main thing here is to come down and beat . Do that and then you can celebrate and have all the fun you want after the game.”

HuskerLocker on why it is good to recruit in Texas.

Steve Sipple says Shawn Watson will be back in 2009.

Cornhuskers arrive in Jacksonville with heavy hearts.L

Good profile from the Chicago Sun-Times on former Husker Mike Brown:

”He’s the best football player I have ever played with,” Urlacher said. ”He’s the smartest guy I have ever been around on and off the field, a great teammate, a leader. He’s who I consider our team leader.”

Le Kevin Smith is finding his role with the Patriots.

Tim Griffin and Omaha World-Herald take a look at how little the Huskers D has been on the field during Big 12 play:

Nebraska’s average time of possession of 33 minutes, 59 seconds ranks as its best figure since records were first maintained on the statistic in 1980.

NU, on break until Friday from preparations for the Jan. 1 Gator Bowl, ranks second nationally to TCU in time of possession and better than the national leaders from each of the past three seasons.

So what does it mean?

“It’s the greatest thing in the world,” Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said.

The Huskers’ clock advantage helped offset their poor turnover margin, 105th nationally, and provided relief for a defense short on depth. The style of play was born, like much of Nebraska’s progress in this 8-4 season, after a 52-17 loss to Missouri on Oct 4.

Tim Griffin’s 30 most significant moments in Big 12 in 2008.

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Dec

15

Joe Ganz is the 2008 Nebraska Team MVP

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The Huskers held their annual awards banquet last night and here is a rundown of the winners:

Season Captains: Joe Ganz, , Zach Potter,

Team MVP: Joe Ganz, QB

Offensive MVP: , WR

Defensive MVP: Ndamukong Suh, NT

Scout Team MVP: , PK

Walk-on MVP: , PK

Scout Team Offensive MVPs: Derek Meyer, OL; Tim Marlowe, WR

Scout Team Defensive MVPs: Alonzo Whaley, LB; , DB

Novak Trophy: Joe Ganz, QB

Chamberlin Trophy: , WR

Cletus Fischer Native Son Award: Todd Peterson, WR

Bobby Reynolds Award: Joe Ganz, QB

Lifters of the Year: Matt Slauson, OG; Ndamukong Suh, NT

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Dec

5

The AP Corrects the Coaches: Ndamukong Suh named All-Big 12

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After the head-scratching decision by coaches placing Ndamukong Suh on the All- Second Team, the AP writers have corrected the coaches and placed Suh on the first team.

Also, Alex Henery made All- Second Team, along with Matt Slauson.

Honorable Mention: Larry Asante, Nate Swift, Lydon Murtha and

Other Links:

will meet with 4-star recruit Jarvis Giles on Sunday. For Jarvis, it’s down to Tennessee, Nebraska, and South Carolina. Jarvis is expected to make his decision on Tuesday.

reflects on his decision not to take the Alabama job during the off-season.

Sam McKewon takes a look at the 2008 Nebraska Defense.

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Dec

4

Ndamukong Suh will return in 2009

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Not even a question:

Ndamukong Suh: Future All-American?


“I’m coming back for another year. I got another year of football and I’ve definitely got to finish school.”

“I will take a look at it and see where they’d select me at or whatever they’d project me at,” Suh said. “But (aside) from that, that’s just giving me something to work for.”

Is there any draft projection that could change his

mind?

No, he doesn’t think so.

“I’m just focused on getting school done and coming back for another year. I love playing college football,” Suh said. “My main thing is to come out here, get this program where it’s supposed to be and have fun doing it.”
Suh is coming off a season in which he racked up 68 tackles —  leading the way in that category among all Big 12 defensive linemen — and 5½ sacks. He also scored three touchdowns, two on interception returns and another while playing fullback.

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