I have spent much of my time here discussing what makes Nebraska fans and Nebraska football great. I have also pointed out some of the things a limited number of Nebraska fans have done to really tarnish the image of our state and the greater Husker Nation. I think it is important that fans keep their composure as things continue to slide in Nebraska, it is only a short matter of time until things are handled by the University.

I don't have any idea really what Dr. Tom has in mind as far as a new coaching staff goes. I know the man cares a great deal about the state, the university, football, and our players, and he will do what he believes will be the best thing for everyone concerned. It is up to the fans to keep the pressure on, but do so without compromising the core values of society.

Calling the coaches to tell them you think they are doing a lousy job is fine as far as I'm concerned. Frankly, it's the only thing we really have left. BUT, I do NOT think that gives anyone the right to threaten the life or wellbeing of another. Say what you want about the poor coaching we have seen this year, say what you want about how it is effecting the state of Nebraska, or yourself, but do not make threats. 

I have commented several times this year that I am afraid for Callahan and his staff's safety. The recent phone threats highlight that concern. Fan (fanatic fanaticism) support is important to any great team. Fans can help direct the team in many subtle and more direct ways, without threats or resorting to mindless violence. However, when the fan base is battered and bruised as badly as this one has been all year, it is always a real concern that some unstable fan will "pop".

As a fan, I have no love for the coaching staff. The beatings I have taken this year due to the poor coaching is the worst I have had to endure in my lifetime, yet I hope the authorities take this seriously. I do not want to see one nut case ruin the reputation of Nebraska any further than it has been already.  Nebraska football is important, but is it really important enough to lose your freedom over?

I have expressed in many posts just how important Husker football is to the state of Nebraska, and why and how this season has impacted the fan base so dramatically. Perhaps this "nut case" is the first and hopefully last to "pop", but the longer this season of fanatic despair continues, it is not unreasonable to expect more unstable souls to "pop", and I again stress how concerned I am for the safety of the coaching staff.

 I'm not a nut case (at least I hope I'm not), but even I have had to school myself from saying things that could be taken as threatening when I've been fired up at the poor performances I have seen this year. Let's hope that is all this amounts to, but for safeties sake, prepare for the worst.

All we need is one fanatic hooked up with too much beer or ditch weed and things can get real ugly.

This season can't come to an end soon enough for me.

Any Husker fan that has been witness to this years (2007) Callahan travesty has had more questions than answers. Since Dr. Tom Osborne is the guy who will ultimately have to decide the future of the Husker Football team, I found it interesting to listen to his comments on the subject.

Some things that stood out to me, are the results that Dr. Tom takes into his evaluation of a coaching staff. I realize that we have a fairly Husker and Internet savvy crowd here, so I thought, what if I could bring together some of the highlights of the Callahan Huskers. As I got into it, I realized there was such an overwhelming amount of negative information available, that I could spend 100's of hour compiling it all for presentation. 

Thankfully, I found a Husker fan out there who obviously had more time and energy than me to compile a small portion of the Callahan highlights. Below is an interesting short list of special records compiled by Callahan's Huskers. A special thanks to a devoted Husker fan, NebraskaHusker23, for this compilation.

 

 

Since Bill Callahan has spent the majority of this season throwing his players under a bus by stating they have not been doing their job, I found it interesting to hear his comments regarding the win last week. As you could expect, it had nothing to do with the players doing a fantastic job in every aspect of the game, it was he, himself, that should get credit for the fantastic play of the players on senior day. With ego like that, I'm surprised one of these guys (players) hasn't body slammed his self serving rear end into the practice field. Callahan refuses to accept the heat when the games are lost, and refuses to credit positive actions of his players. It really is all about Bill Callahan. 

Well, Bill Callahan can go right ahead and toss the players under a bus, the fans with any kind of brain and the "higher-ups" that decide things, can clearly see who and what bill Callahan is now, and we fans are confident now that there is no way he will be here next year to spew his self-promoting garbage. 

Please, I don't have the time to continue populating the list of wonderful things we have seen and heard with ole Bill running the show, including the records he has set in disappointment, so if you would leave comments with your lists of infamous accomplishments, I'd love to arrange them into an end of year "montage". Sort of an end of the Callahan era thing. Why is it that stupid song from The Wizard of Oz is running through my head....

Ding #### the witch is dead, the wicked witch .....

Pile on your comments fans.Lets get it all documented, I know I would leave something important out without your help.

The two things that made the Ohio State v. Michigan, game special for generations of fans.

 

The rivalry remains, but it isn't the same. It never can be.

Mr. Bush, did you or your family receive benefits including lodging and or cash while you attended USC? 

Most likely is the only answer I can come up with at this point.

The thing that stands out to me is, why would an agent, Lake, go so postal as to permanently ruin his own career? I mean Lake is going into court and to the NCAA to admit beyond all doubt that he illegally gave support to Bush and his family. Lloyd Lake along with the permanent destruction of his own career, may destroy the USC Football program, and Bush may have to give up his trophy.

I believe Lake to be a con-man. I propose that he stroked Bush's ego and the Bush family by giving them these thing with the expectation that he could later black mail Bush into giving him the exclusive rights to Bush's future millions as his agent. Of course this also raises the question, why would Bush take the money to begin with?

Well, I'm not very bright, but I would think that being able to get my family out of the projects and into a nice suburb would be a great motivation. I would be delighted at the thought that my siblings and parents would be able to go to decent schools and work at respectable jobs and have the time to support me emotionally and enjoy my success. I can only speculate as to whether Bush knew that it was illegal from the get go as Lloyd Lake did, but I'm sure he figured it out.

When it came time that Mr. Lloyd Lake could legally approach Bush, Bush had contact with countless other legitimate agents that offered him reasonable contracts as apposed to the highly inflated fees Lloyd Lake figured he could extort from Bush. Bush knew then for sure what he was dealing with and that is probably part of the reason Bush dumped him.

 Look at it this way; Have you ever been contacted by a casino to spend a night and try your luck? Imagine the casino offers you a free room and $1500.00 in chips to wager as you see fit in the casino. (I have never gotten $1500.00, but I have gotten $250.00 and a comp room) Now imagine you took the $1500.00 down to the wheel and let it ride and walked away with 300K. Does the casino have the right to sue you for using the comp room and the 300K you won?

Essentially that is what Lake is attempting to do. He took a gamble and got burned and now he wants to sue. Is it Bush's fault? Hardly. In my opinion Lake knew in advance what he was doing was illegal, he was only trying to put Bush in a corner so he could take advantage of him. To Bush's credit, he didn't cave in. Lake must be the slowest, thickest headed thing on earth. He should spend an extended vacation in the big house for his attempted extortion and forfeit all monies etc. he supplied in his attempt to extort Bush. In all probability by the time this is over, he will.

Bush may have to give up his trophy, but I actually respect the guy for seeing this con for what he was, and getting away from him. The sad thing is, unless USC can prove plausible deniability their football program may be crushed for years to come.

Some folks may wonder at my game day blogs, do I really come up with my plan of attack before the game, or do I just write whatever down as the game progresses. I admit, I do a bit of both. I set up what I think is a good game plan then adjust as the game transpires. Too bad our coaching staff can't adjust huh?

Anyways, to give you an idea of how I do things, I am going to come up with my game plan for the beginning of the HUSKERS v. JAYHAWKS game ahead of time so you can see if I am on target or just way off base here.

As I stated in my preview, the Hawks have a very balanced and productive attack. This will allow them to take what they are given and win with it. This type of attack is the most dangerous to defend, and your players need to be in position to make the plays, and they have to do it man to man in many cases. The HUSKER defense will need to cover these receivers, while plugging the gaps and pressuring the quarterback. Assignments will be critical, good tackling and coverage are a must to allow the limited number of rushing men to reach the quarterback. Attack the quarterback as often as you can but cover your assignments first. Make sure your home when you need to be. Turnovers will be hard to get, but will really make a difference in this game. In practice, go over assignments, tackling techniques, and how to create turnovers. It might also be worthwhile to work on stamina.

The HAWKS defense has been a dominating beast all season, it is up to the offensive line of the HUSKERS to make their blocks and open the lanes for the rushing game. Without the ability to run, we are forced into a short passing game. We do not need to go for it all in one play, nor do we want to pass for 0 yards. If the play is going no place why take a completed pass for a loss or an interception? The HUSKER offense needs to spread the field, open lanes, get productive ball carrying, then work in the pass. Under normal circumstances I would say go for a deep pass to keep the HAWKS honest, but we pass so much now days, that kind of pass is expected. I say play under the coverage if we must pass, and take what they are giving you. Once they start getting in tighter then drop a bomb on them with a long pass. Patience is a virtue in this game, do not panic or give in to their game plan. Grind the yards and keep the HAWKS offense on he bench. Try not to be one dimensional. If we pass on every down, the coverage will eventually plant our quarterback making him a permanent resident of the HAWKS football field. In practice work on opening running lanes, and the short passing game around the 7 to 11 yard range using as many different looks and routs as possible, backs and receivers carry that ball with you all week, never sit it down, be ready to catch and hold it all day long, work on down field blocking.

Special teams should be ready to make huge hits in coverage, swarm the ball and make good tackles. We have a fine kicker, use him! 3 points is better than none.

Okay, there is my game plan. What do you guys think? Am I off base here? Should I be concentrating on something else? Speak up, who knows maybe ole Dollar Bill read my blogs last week hence the attacking D? I wish huh?

Pre-game HUSKERS V. JAYHAWKS

I am seriously impressed with this Hawk team. They have been doing everything right this season. The coaching has been exemplary, and the players have only begun to hit their stride. The Hawks running game has 2 very productive backs in McAnderson and Sharp. Between them they have 12 rushing touchdowns this season and are averaging 160 yards per game. These boys are the real deal. They have an offensive line that opens the front up for them making their job easier to boot, but the real threat is the balanced passing attack. Receivers Henry, Fields, Fine, Briscoe, and Talib have receptions for 1356 yards and 16 TD's. The man running the show Todd Reesing has a passer efficiency rating of 153.18 tossing 16 TD's and 1652 yards, with an average of 275.3 yards per game. The nice balanced attack brings total offense to 3212 yards, with 1430 yards rushing and 1782 yards passing with 34 Td's in just 8 games The hawk defense has done their job very well also, allowing just 480 yards rushing and 960 yards passing with only 6 TD's through 8 games. Yes The Hawks are that good. The polls don't show it, but the competition has sure felt it as the Hawks have an 8 - 0 season going. Should they continue with this type of dominating performances the polls will have to recognize this team as a real contender for the National Championship

Dominating performances... The Husker defense used to be one of the premier units in all of college football. However with the change in coaching staff, Callahan and Cosgrove, our defense has become second worst in all of college football. The lack of conditioning against this well balanced JAYHAWKS team is going to be glaringly obvious as the Hawks rush at will against the porous Husker defense, and go over the top exploiting the weaker Husker defenders. The injury to Keller makes it unlikely that he will start this game leaving us with Ganz who has not seen any action all season until last week after Keller's Injury. Ganz had a good showing in his single set of downs throwing 1 TD and a 2 point conversion. What Ganz will bring to the Husker offense is an unknown to this point. Considering the poor play calling of Callahan, Ganz is going to have a rough day against the Hawks. This is particularly true if Callahan panics as he typically does and calls all passing plays. In that event Ganz better take out an injury insurance package as he will see the ground more in this game than Keller has all year.

There is an overwhelming match-up advantage to the Hawks in this game and I expect we will see that reflected in the final score. Look for the Hawks to be 9 - 0 after a convincing win against the poorly coached Callahan Husker team.

Husker Nation V. Bill Callahan - Make your case.

Nebraska Head Football Coach Bill Callahan has finally done it. There is no more reason for speculation, he has proven beyond all doubt, in my mind, that he is the worst coach in Husker history, if not the worst coach in sports period.

Saturday, October 27, 2007, Bill Callahan blames his players for a loss that was clearly not the sole fault of his players.

By now everyone knows that Nebraska has been suffering the worst football season since 1961, and that Big Red fans, better known as the Husker Nation, have been screaming at the top of their collective lungs for Bill Callahan's removal from the team.

I firmly believe that politics and money will keep Bill Callahan safe to the end the season. The honorable thing for Callahan to do at that point in the minds of most Huskers fans, based on his obvious lack of performance on the field, and his continued embarrassment of his players and the state, would be to resign. Unfortunately, Bill Callahan somehow managed to push through an unprecedented contract extension at the beginning of this season for a record sum of money, with an athletic director that has already been fired, and he has made it clear he has no intention of walking away from that money gracefully.

Callahan's comments to the press have been glaring examples of self promotion, or as I see it, passing the buck. Callahan has absolutely no intention of walking away from that money, and considering his poor abilities as a head coach at the college level, and his burnt bridges to the professional leagues, this may indeed be his last stand. By holding out for every dime he can get, he will make enough money to support his future. We are, after all, talking about millions of dollars here.

I believe our players, our University, our State, and our fans deserve a reasonable return on our investment in Bill Callahan. I believe that Bill Callahan has not delivered the goods we have been promised. I further believe that Bill Callahan has damaged the reputation of our players, our University, our State, and our fans, with his lack of production and his public comments. I also believe that Bill Callahan would resign if he had even an inkling of class, but I just don't see this happening.

When this season comes to an end, the Husker Nation will need sufficient ammunition to ensure that Bill Callahan is not here next season. This may not be as easy as it would at first seem. There are many facets to being a college football coach. Recruiting, graduation rates, program preparation, game day preparation, and a bevy of other less chronicled duties that go with the job. In other words, wins and losses, a major concern for any teams fans, are only one measurement of a coaches effectiveness.  As such it is important that the Husker Nation bring to the negotiation table specific information that addresses the short comings of Bill Callahan's performance.

This information should relate to his coaching duties and his responsibilities as a representative of the University and the State of Nebraska. What the Husker Nation really needs are documented examples that establish and prove Husker Nation's position that Bill Callahan should not be allowed to retain his position as head coach at the University of Nebraska beyond the end of this season. By collecting this information into a single overwhelming body of evidence, then presenting this evidence to those who are in the position to effect change, the Husker Nation can rest assured that none of the information is overlooked in the decision making process.

Who knows, maybe my views are entirely biased and Callahan deserves to continue his reign as our worst coach in the new millennium thus solidifying his place in history with an exclamation mark, and by association ours (If he hasn't already) as the worst team in modern history. With that I leave it to you, the Husker faithful, to propagate the comments of this blog with the reasons you believe Bill Callahan's option should or should not be renewed next season.

 

 

Parity is the hot buzz word of late.  Greatness is a perceived advantage, not an actuality.  With parity in college football, the once great houses are no longer that, any team can be great. If parity has indeed infiltrated the land, why do we grade our recruiting classes? Isn't the fodder recruited all the same due to parity? How is it we still have preseason polls? If all teams are equal due to parity they should be listed in alphabetical order - Preseason poll finished. Why do wins against one school or another apparently account for more or less in the polls? They all have the same chance to win due to parity; as such ranking anything other than wins and loses is open to personal bias and speculation. There are no great upset wins or loses. There are no David's or Goliath's. Vegas odds for every game are simple (1-1) - right?

 The consistency of potential to achieve is not equal to the reality of accomplishment on the playing field. The intangibles, so often debated by the likes of Madden and other seeming overachievers, have far greater consequence than parity can account for. The hearts of men are not equal. The desire to win, the motivation of individuals, the dynamics of team sport, all carry intangible qualities that can take parity players from perceived equality to greatness or see them drown in shallow water.   Parity ends with the statement all players are human.  It is in the desire to achieve that we recognize our potential greatness. It is from inside we bring forth the spark that propels us to victory. It is in the heart of men that we find our leaders and winners.

There is no such thing as parity in sport, as all men are not equal.

 Big Red football takes center stage again this weekend in Nebraska as the Huskers take on Texas A&M in Lincoln Nebraska's Memorial Stadium. The many Nebraska football fans a.k.a. The Husker Nation, have been following the drama leading up to this game as closely as the would their own family business. The Husker football fans are without question some of the most devoted fans on the planet, and they have not been happy with many aspects of the Husker football program this year. 

 

The last few days have seen the firing of S. Pederson, a man that many of the Husker Nation felt had put himself above the traditions of Nebraska. A man that hired external management to shelter him from his traditional duties of being an open door family oriented program, while attempting to install incentive programs designed to create tension with-in the program rather than unity We read stories of Former stars who have been unable to get tickets to games. Even stars as bright as former champion and All Century Team member J. Peter who requested 2 tickets, not for free mind you, to the USC game. We have heard of our storied alums not being allowed to honor the team as they have traditionally, by making sideline appearances from such greats as Rozier, winner of the 1983 Heisman trophy and  2006 election to the Div-1A Hall of fame, and others. One of Pederson's more controversial decisions as AD was letting Frank Zolich go after going 9-3. What everyone agreed was classless letting him go BEFORE that years bowl game. Frankly, Pederson's ego finally over-road his obligation to the Husker Athletic programs, and he found himself standing at the curb holding a soggy, day old newspaper over his head in a down pour. Eagerly awaiting his appearance, where 1 million Husker fans driving busses. I doubt anyone offered him a ride.

On a side note: Unconfirmed reports suggest a local tanning company has sued Pederson for damage to property and unpaid tanning and waxing sessions. More on the uni-brow tanner story as the situation develops.

 

We have seen the election and acceptance of DR. Tom Osborne as the new interim AD at Nebraska, and the Husker Nation has listened to Dr. Tom as he says there are no quick fixes to this situation. That said, we have read reports that some things the Husker Nation felt should have never have been abandoned, are already returning to normal. The images of our Nebraska football hero's locked in a closet during Pederson's reign, have been returned to their rightful and traditional places. Dr. Osborne has reached out personally, and in the press, to all former players letting them know they are welcome to visit ANY time as tradition dictated. Nebraska is about tradition or even more simply stated family, and Dr. Tom in his first moments in office reestablished what we fans have always held as the foundation of our program. Family first.

As many outside the Husker Nation are just beginning to understand, it will take something monumental to force Dr. Tom to exercise his option to dismiss Dollar Bill Callahan before the end of the season. Dr. Tom unlike his predecessor has the class to know you don't screw the kids over that way unless it's a very last resort. Husker faithful can agree that we would rather lose these last few games with the two faced hound of Satan than lose our faith, tradition, and honor. As such, Dr. Tom has the luxury of allowing Dollar Bill Callahan all the rope necessary to tie his own noose. In other words, how tight and how effectively Dollar Bill hangs himself will determine if he makes it to the end of the season.

Many will tell you, a win is a win (Just ask Dollar Bill Callahan), but ask any Husker Nation member what a win is and they will say any game we felt our player gave every last bit of themselves on the field is a win. The Husker Nation is accustomed to seeing Nebraska football players smashing into the trenches like valiant warriors. We expect dominating performances from our defense and offensive line. We expect to see inspired running plays by backs that refuse to go down unless the whistle has blown or the Touch down scored. We expect defenses and special teams that hit hard, make turnovers, and score points. We expect to see our gladiators giving their all, from start to finish, on every play, on every down, in every game situation, to bring home a victory. In doing so, they are winners no matter what the final score.

 

The Husker Nation has been sadly disappointed with this years showing as we have already stated. I think it is safe to say that most of the angst is against our next man of the hour, Dollar Bill Callahan. Looking at Dollar Bill's record we find a man that has enjoyed... Hmm 14-14 in the big 12 mediocre, 17-18 NFL record, mediocre/loser. Against ranked teams at the collegiate level, 0-7, loser. Motivating his players to perform seems to be his Achilles heal. Every team he has been the head coach of has collapsed with the number one complaint being that he has a failing grade when it comes to unifying and motivating his players. I think the entire Husker Nation past present and near future turned over when we saw the extreme lack of motivation our boys exhibited last week against OK State.

The next knock would be his version of the west coast offense. With a 3 inch thick play book, the amount of time required to learn this offense by skilled players is extensive. Many college ball players do not have the time to study a play book that is thicker than their Microbiology text. Furthermore, expecting college players to have professional abilities is a huge stretch. The overwhelming majority of these players will never see a snap in pro ball, as such it is insanity to place such expectations on them.  Many believe that the team needs to figure out something they can do, do it well, and move on. The team appears to be out of position and ill prepared thus making the players ineffective against opponents they should not have troubles controlling.

One of the biggest reasons Dollar Bill has lost the support of the Husker Nation is the fact that he has scaled back to the point of extinction, the Husker walk on program. I can understand that this is a complex system, and he needs players with experience. What I don't understand is why he would exclude, seemingly out of hand, the abilities and commitment of the young men that are willing to die to play. Any Nebraska coach had better embrace the walk-on program, after all, Nebraska is about family!

~

That brings us to this weeks Game against Texas A&M. I hear the radio warming up.. I have a big old tube radio that has broadcast radio coverage of Husker games since before Pederson, Callahan, or myself was born. It's tradition, it was handed down in the Family, It's time for Nebraska FOOTBALL!

My pre-stated prediction 28 - 34 A&M wins

Nebraska Black shirts better be on the ball today. Intensity and converging on the ball are mandatory against the A&M run game. It's time to smack some heads with aggressive play. For the O, they need to control the line of scrimmage, receivers need to catch the ball, please, and our runners need to knock defenders headless as they blow by the A&M defense.

A&M wins the toss, and defers to Nebraska.

The sound of the crowd suggests that I am not alone in the high hopes for our boys today.

First play is a hand off for 9 yards! There we go smash-mouth football. Then we got cutsie passie, drive ended.

Ruud is down after first defensive play. Knee - May return.

Lawrence down during A&M first drive- Ankle - Will return

A&M opening drive ends in TD. The extra point is blocked. Hopefully a spark to the lack luster D.

0-6

2nd drive sounds impressive as we score. Seems like a pretty good mix of run and pass. Extra point is good 

7-6

Listening to the A&M drive, I don't hear that Nebraska is busting the middle. We are not bringing a rush - forcing side to side running.

Ended the drive by actually putting on a pass rush causing an incomplete pass.

Field goal A&M - In general I consider this much better play from the D than last week. They appear to be going after the ball better.

7-9 

Turnovers lose games! Ball security boys. You had a good drive going. I give the fudged play of the line-man missing his block with half that turnover.

1st quarter ends

Nice way to make a stand, a pass rush that ends the drive for A&M.

Turnovers Turnovers You can't blame the D for this one! (-7)

TD A&M

7 - 16

BALL CONTROL Passing every down is Not going to make a winning drive. 4th and 3 incomplete? Anyone heard of the running game?

Zach Bowman almost a hero. Dropped interception. Keep at it.

Nice blitz for a sack.

3 and out... Nice D

Now mix up the play calls a bit no passing every down!

That was a nice drive. Used the run, set up the pass and got the TD

14-16

1 minute left starting from our 20, we have red uniforms and a mission...

I wonder, will they pass?

There's your half.

First impression, 

Defense is going after the ball much better this week. We are even running a few rushes and getting some pressure and sacks. I like to hear they are hitting people with conviction. I like to hear they are working their way to the ball as plays progress. Still giving up too many yards. They need to continue the pressure up front and stretch the field. Bring the rush, and take away the comfort zone of the A&M offense. 

Advice: Look for more running plays to set up short passes from A&M. Control the front and spread the field. Keep people in the A&M backfield it will keep them off balance. Take it to them. 

Offense

The line MUST control the point of attack. Play calling is much better this week, however an over reliance on the passing game makes you predictable and easier to defend. Set up your passes with the run. 

Advice: Run a good mix of plays and spread the ball around. Do not play one dimensional. Control the clock reduce the amount of time A&M has to make plays.

Ruud has not been back. he went out in the first defensive play with a knee injury. I like this guy, I hope he will be ok.

Important Plays TURNOVERS    Blocked extra point was a positive, even if it messed up my prediction. The punt was awful. 

My half time prediction was 14 - 17 the actual score is 14 - 16. 

Lets see what the boys do in the second half. This is where things could get away from us. The adjustments needed and the stamina needed could be lacking. If they properly adjust and continue to play as they have I think my game score prediction is pretty safe.

Opening drive for A&M is looking good they made good adjustments on offense, put our D off guard 

TD A&M

14 -23

A&M is doing exactly what I figured. They are running the ball and using the short pass. The D MUST adjust... anytime now Beuller? Beuller?

TD A&M

14 - 30. 

The game is opening up now and our D is not responding. This was my fear in making such a close prediction. The D has to control the front and spread the field, it's not happening.

4th quarter

Why are we passing on 3rd and 2? That was dumb! Very poor play choice there with Castillo sitting on the bench. No deception at all.

D holds for a 3 and out ok, maybe we got something going.

The O is playing 1 dimensional. I know it eats time, but set up your passes with the run. your getting like 5 yards a rush!. You pass every down your going to get stuffed.

Guess I was wrong about the D they just got lucky one series.

TD A&M

14 - 36

O line breaks down Turnover

Game is all but over at this point. As I feared, the defense did not adjust to the running game short pass attack. They ran out of gas probably because they have yet to actually play out a game. with the kind of intensity that is required. The O line has continued to be suspect, but then the play calling makes them look that way. Calling nearly all pass plays in the second half, it was not difficult to figure out what was coming. 

A&M gets the win with 36 points up. 2 more than I expected. while the 1 dimensional offense shot itself in the foot scoring only 14 points, 14 less than I predicted.

OK, that game is over, What do we think of the future of Dollar Bill Callahan? I think the motivation of players was better this week. The play calling in the second half reeked again. Adjustments seem to be a foreign word to this coaching staff. With further conditioning the players do seem to have talents. I think we can credit Dr Tom, coaching or not, for the improved desire, but the players just don't have the gas to play to the end. It is now up to the staff to put them in the best positions to make plays and win games. My vote is this is a coaching loss, closely followed by a player loss, that quite frankly is the responsibility of the coaching staff to have conditioned and ready to play.

My Grade is a D-

Consider looking into realtors at this point.

 

A response to 16-year-old dies after collapsing

I offer my sincere condolences to the Litteken family, Adam’s friends and the Cottleville community. I can only hope that they can come together and heal from this senseless tragedy.

At times like these I find myself with a lack of words to properly describe the feelings of empathy and sadness that fill me, the depth of those feelings, as painful as they are for me, must be overwhelming to Adam’s parents and close friends, and make my words seem shallow and diminutive to my own ears.

With this said, I hope that the Litteken family will excuse the remainder of this blog, and know that all persons of good spirit support them now in their time of tragedy.

I am appalled and ashamed by the reprehensible comments posted by members of our very own FoxSports community.

baboy13, “Was he in the NHL? Who cares?”

 

DetroitRed, “a message to all the racists who cant wait to delve off topic when its a black guy...sorry he wasn't black”

 

racefanwfo, “hockey s.u.c.k.s. who cares if the little #### died”

 

I found these examples on the first 7 pages, along with other posts by our community calling for the death of these posters, while the rest offered support for the Litteken family.

While the three posts I copied from above are bad enough, we have others calling for their death, and discussing racism, and spouting words of hate and disrespect for humanity. As the Litteken family was actually there reading these horrid comments, along with Adam’s classmates, and friends, I decided not to post my comments about our FoxSports community members on the actual story above.

I would expect that an overwhelming majority of our posters, had a true wish to offer words of encouragement and support to those affected by this tragedy, however many of them tainted their posts with comments of hate for posters such as the three I quoted above.

I am not suggesting for one moment that the comments of these three, or any others who may follow their rancid footsteps are to be accepted. I too am angry with them, and pity them for their soulless callow existences, but I do not think that our community members need sully Adams memory with the posts.

I don’t know what if anything can be done to undo the damage that has already been meted upon Adam’s family and friends, they have after all already seen the posts, and for that I am truly ashamed of our community, and offer whatever apologies one could make for the disrespect our community has shown.

I am asking our community, and FoxSports, what if anything can we do to prevent this from happening in the future? 

I would suggest as a beginning that these posters, the three I noted above, and any others like them, have their accounts terminated at the earliest opportunity, and that such actions as necessary and reasonable be taken to block their ability to return.

I would further suggest that community members that wish to post comments of support not make mention or reference to the posts of these social malcontents while doing so.  At least this way, our community moderators can edit and remove the filth deposited by them without having to remove your good intentions.

There is a time and a place for bawdy fanaticism, and strenuous debate laced with colorful language, and testosterone fueled banter, this is not one of them.

I am open to the ideas and suggestions from our community members and FoxSports, on what we as a community can do about these situations, and I hope this blog may inspire the debate necessary to facilitate positive change for our entire community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He makes no pretense at being a civil servant. He’s a correspondent writing for profit. What better way to draw an audience then to stir the kettle a bit. I loved the Kentucky story. He gave people a view of things we, in this century, only thought existed 100 years ago.  My god I rolled on the carpet when he told of the shiner, and the bar cutting him off at 10:30. I have had incidents like it myself in other places. (Texas for instance) 

 

 

After living in San Antonio and central Nebraska for several years, I can relate to the big city thought process, as well as the small town point of view.  I have driven through Kentucky and Tennessee countless times, and every time I do I make a point of stopping in the one-horse villages just to get an experience.

 

 

The locals aren’t Yahoos in the true sense, as they really do have interests and cares about the others around them. You get someone to start talking about the people who live there, and I swear to you, it can be dam near impossible to keep a straight face at times.  As I posted on his stories message board, I really hope he can appreciate these experiences. Ninety percent of the fun really is in the interaction with the local yokels.

 

 

For what it may be worth, I thought his article had a purpose, tell us a bit about the antics in the Bengal camp, and gave us something extra, a bit of something that those of us who have traveled can chuckle about in his experiences with the locals. I’m sure I will be reading more of his stories in the future. His sense of humor is sure to appeal to those who have had the pleasure to go before him. As for those who have yet to follow his path, enjoy the road, the locations, and most importantly the people you’re going to meet along the way.

I admit, my youth is behind me, but I'm not ready to be old just yet. I'm safely stuck in my "middle years". The story of our teams old strength coach, Mike Flynt, going back to finish his football glory days now that he is a sexagenarian, makes me feel much much younger, and older.

I have kids that have graduated as he does, and I have a 3 year old. (Remind me to discuss my comments to the doctors that pronounced us unable to have any more.) I too have the feeling that some things I did and didn't do back in the day haunt me, but I have decided it would be best if I did NOT put my spleen to the test.

If I decide to have a midlife crisis, I will do it with a remote, and 1080p thanks. I have no problem shouting from the chair, "You hit like my grandma" just so long as I don't have to be the next target!

As I said in a comment on the site, the kids now days are 50 to 100 lbs larger than when I went to school. They are faster, better trained, and as we have seen from many of our pros, posses a striking lack of concern for the wellbeing of others, or even themselves in some cases.