ABC, Easy As 5-7

Well, after finishing the season 5-7, the Huskers will miss the post-season for the second time in 4 years, thanks to Bill Callahan. Before he got here, Nebraska went to bowl games for 35 years straight, and since he got here they stayed home for the holidays twice. And there are actually people out there that think he should have been given one more year, one more chance, to turn this thing around. I don't know about you, but when Tom Osborne, the King of Giving People Second Chances says no, well, I'm going to have to agree with him.

In many ways, the Cornhuskers' final game this season, in which they lost to the Colorado Buffaloes 65-51, was a microcosm of the whole season. At times things were clicking, as evidenced by the 11-point lead at halftime and the 610 yards of total offense and 51 points put up by the Huskers. But just when you started to feel good about things, they started playing like crap, got into a funk, and couldn't figure out a way get it back together. And the defense? Well, they managed to give up the most points that Colorado has ever scored against Nebraska. Not that I should put that all on the defense, because if Nebraska had actually tried to run the ball in the second half, Colorado wouldn't have got a couple of interceptions that ultimately cost Nebraska the game.

By the way, can Nebraska fans please stop wondering whether or not the Colorado game is a rivalry game? Look, I know that Oklahoma is supposed to be Nebraska's rival, but they don't even play each other every year any more. The Colorado game is the last game of the season and as such can often make or break a possible run for a championship by either team. Hell, this year it decided which team got to go to bowl game and which team would have a regular season losing record. And for everyone who claims that Nebraska has pretty much owned the series in recent years, you should reconsider what you to mean by own. If you look back 20 years and start at the 1988 season, sure Nebraska has won more games splitting the series 13-7. But, Colorado did win 2 years in a row from 1989-1990, and tied (remember those?) in 1991 and then won two years in a row again from 2001-2002. Don't forget either that CU pounded Nebraska 62-36 in 2001, which at the time was the most points ever allowed by Nebraska. And of those 13 wins Nebraska has had over Colorado since '88, seven of them were by 7 points or less, and the 1999 game went into overtime. So, don't tell me it's not a rivalry. It is. Deal with it.

Back to last week's game, all I can say is at least it's over. The game, the miserable season, Bill Callahan's career as Nebraska football's head coach. Yes, Bill Callahan is gone. Finally. And as I predicted, his fate had nothing to do with the outcome of the Colorado game. Tom Osborne had pretty much decided Callahan was gone after the Huskers lost their 5th game this year. So, now, maybe instead of chastising Bill Callahan for coaching the Huskers to just their second losing season since 1961, we should actually thank him.

After all, not only did he get himself fired, but thanks to him, we got rid of Steve Pederson, got Tom Osborne back, got fans to appreciate 9 win seasons, and will hopefully get a new head coach who understands what Nebraska football is all about. Scratch that. With Tom Osborne doing the hiring, we will get a new head coach that understands what Nebraska football is all about.

So, as much as I hate to see the Cornhuskers lose, Nebraska may have just won by losing. Unfortunately, we'll probably have to wait until next September 20, when Nebraska plays Virginia Tech to find out. That's 297 days and counting. And believe me, I am.

Are you ready for some football?