I hate this time of year. Since 2016, the Iowa game has been Nebraska’s last game of the season. I remember in July when I was talking with a friend, we both said we would go to a bowl game, no matter where it was.
I said, “even Detroit?”
He said, “even Detroit!”
That’s how desperate this fan base is for a winner. Playing Iowa is the fans bowl game yet again this season. When the season starts, I always know that we get a dozen Husker football games. For me, even with the losing, I always hate the end of the season.
If the Huskers hire a new coach this weekend (by the way, I think they will) that coach has a long rebuild ahead of them. It’s not just players and recruits, it’s the fan base that is slowly starting to turn away from Nebraska football. High school kids just aren’t that interested in the Huskers right now. Having a couple in my house, even those that really do like Nebraska, simply just accept that the program sucks at this point.
For those of us that lived and breathed Tom Osborne from the time we were born, to those that even watched Bob Devaney, that’s a heartbreaking proposition. Nebraska has had some success in the last 15 years, but it has been six since Nebraska has had any relevance in the Big Ten conference. That doesn’t mean that next year will be a lot better. The entire offensive and defensive lines must make a large leap forward for any of that to matter.
So, what is next? I’ll stick with my prediction from a couple weeks ago that Matt Rhule will accept the Husker football head coaching position. There is still some smoke about Kansas State’s head coach Chris Klieman, and this week Luke Fickell from Cincinnati has been mentioned by the media in Ohio.
In my opinion, any of those three would be very solid hires. Athletic Director Trev Alberts said when he started this search that he wasn’t necessarily going to win the press conference with the next coach. I think that any of those three would still give Husker fans considerable hope. At this point, that is all that Nebraska fans can ask for.
ON WITH THE REWIND…
Last game prediction was Wisconsin 24, Nebraska 21. The actual score was Wisconsin 15, Nebraska 14. It couldn’t be anymore of a kick in the gut than what happened last weekend. Nebraska was poised to take down a huge thorn in their side for the first time in 10 years and they couldn’t hold on. Nebraska led the game until the last minute. Their inability to run the football cost them what should have been a relatively easy victory. It remains a stunning fact, but Nebraska continues to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the most excruciating ways.
Quick Notes:
Malcom Hartzog…What find for Nebraska. Hartzog was a late addition to last years recruiting class. All he has done in lead the Big Red in interceptions. Hartzog didn’t even start until after the first quarter of the season. He does give up some big plays when he has bigger receivers to cover, but even experienced players do that from time to time. There is tremendous upside for a kid that most fans didn’t even know existed in August.
Trey Palmer…Whatever happens with Palmer, if he returns, or if he decides to go to the NFL, he has left an impact in Lincoln. You could argue he has been the most exciting wideout since Jordan Westerkamp, and certainly the most productive since Stanley Morgan. Palmer has not had the impact that he had before the cold weather and Casey Thompson’s arm injury. That doesn’t deny the fact that as soon as Thompson came back, Palmer scored two touchdowns against Wisconsin. He has been a great weapon for Nebraska and fans will remember him for a long time.
Caleb Tannor…Tannor has been about as candid with the media as anyone this week. His career has mirrored the Husker seasons since he arrived. Tannor was a big-time recruit but was forced into action way too early in his career. As he put on muscle and grew into his role, he has had some memorable games for the Big Red but has been inconsistent. I often think about a player like Tannor and how he was on this roster at the wrong time. Had he played for Bo Pelini or Tom Osborne, Tannor would be another in a long line of players that we all remember fondly. I will remember him fondly, even if he never had the type of career that he wanted.
Anthony Grant…Grant had such a promising start to the season. Unfortunately, as the competition ramped up, the offensive line has not been much help to him. Grant needs 91 yards to break a thousand for the year. After six games, it seemed like he would be a lock to get that, but not anymore. If Nebraska has any chance to beat Iowa, Grant must break 100 yards rushing. I hope that he gets the holes to do that. Nothing would be finer this year.
Score Prediction: Nebraska 21, Iowa 20
I know the game is in Iowa City, I know that the Iowa defense has been as good as any in the Big Ten. I also know that Nebraska has been knocking on the door, over and over again, the last 5 weeks. Iowa isn’t some great juggernaut. They are well coached, play hard and rarely make mistakes. Even so, Nebraska has been within one score with Iowa almost every game since the losing streak began. If Casey Thompson is healthy and the weather holds out, I look for Nebraska to score through the air. Iowa will try to pound Nebraska with the running game, but the Blackshirts will rise up and we will see a stunner! Enjoy Mickey Joseph’s last game as head coach and have a Happy Holiday weekend and GBR!!
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