Josh Dooley
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Things you need to know about the Nebraska Cornhuskers — and a few you don’t need to know, but are fun anyway
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
I honestly tried to come up with something interesting for this section but couldn’t stop nervously looking at the lead art/image of Herbie Husker... Nightmare fuel.
The Ohio State Buckeyes host the Nebraska Cornhuskers this weekend, in a matchup of two teams both looking for a bounceback win. OSU is coming off its second bye and hoping to rediscover the team’s early-season swagger, while Nebraska is licking wounds suffered during/as a result of the 56-7 beating put on them by suddenly resurgent (or, uh, surgent for the first time?) Indiana.
Fortunately for the Cornhuskers, they’ve got a pro’s pro of a coach in Matt Ruhle, who has proven time and time again that he is more than capable of engineering a quick turnaround. And after matching Nebraska’s 2023 win total on Oct. 5, it certainly appears that he has done so again, this time in Lincoln.
But the Huskers’ recent success should be attributed to far more than just Ruhle. His assistant coaches have pushed most of the right buttons, and the players on the field are executing at a high, high level. So it seems as though Ohio State, as well as the rest of the Big Ten, can and should start taking Nebraska seriously again. For the Buckeyes, that begins in earnest this Saturday.
Here are a few more things you should know about the Nebraska Cornhuskers:
The University of Nebraska’s motto, literis dedicata et omnibus artibus, translates to “dedicated to letters and all the arts”. And frankly, I’m not that impressed. Dedicated to letters? That sounds like Brick Tamland saying “I love lamp.”
Warren Buffett is a homegrown Cornhusker and University of Nebraska grad. Buffett was born in Omaha and graduated from the university prior to becoming filthy, filthy rich. And to this day, he still lives in central Omaha, in a house he bought in 1958... Given today’s interest rates, I can’t say I blame him.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25691314/143895530.jpg "Views From The Berkshire Hathaway Annual General Meeting")
Nebraska has been part of the Big Eight, the Big Ten, and the Big 12. Just missing a stint or stints in the Big Six and the Big 14.
The Nebraska football program claims five national championships. Three of which were won by Tom Osborne, one of CFB’s all-time great coaches. In 25 years under Osborne, the Cornhuskers not only captured three natties, but they also finished in the top-15 of the final AP poll 24 times and never won fewer than nine games.
And for all the Ryan Day haters out there, it should be noted that Osborne did not win a national title until his 22nd season as the HC of the Huskers... Now, the latter was also the assistant AD at the University of Nebraska from 1979-1998, which probably granted him fantastic job security, but still.
Current Nebraska head coach Matt Ruhle has a strong track record of turning lesser and/or underperforming programs around quickly. Well, college ones at least. Ruhle didn’t havegreat success in the NFL, however, he did work wonders at both Temple and Baylor. And he is kinda/sorta/maybe doing the same in Lincoln right now.
Nebraska’s starting QB, Dylan Raiola, was a longtime Ohio State commit. And then a Georgia commit, before ultimately deciding to attend and play for his dad’s alma mater. The true freshman is already well-traveled, but that “globetrotting” has apparently not hindered or stunted Raiola’s development at all. Through seven games this season, The Cornhuskers’ signal caller has thrown for nearly 1,600 yards and nine touchdowns. Which means that...
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Adam Cairns-Imagn Images
Despite a recent rough patch, Raiola is one of the best freshmen in CFB, regardless of position. His Pat Mahomes shtick might be weird as hell – and bordering on Single White Female behavior – but the kid can chuck it. Prior to the Indiana game, which was a terrible one for Raiola, the talented newcomer boasted a 3:1 TD-to-INT ratio.
That being said, defensive coordinator Tony White might be or have a bigger influence on the Cornhuskers’ success. White is a two-time Broyles Aware nominee in his second season as Nebraska’s DC. Last year, he guided the team’s defense to its best statistical season (overall) since joining the Big Ten. And thus far in 2024, his unit has been even better.
After surrendering 18.2 PPG and finishing 13th nationally in in scoring defense last season, the Huskers’ D is limiting opponents to 17.7 in 2024, good for 19th. And while White’s group did just give up a million to Indiana, they also held Colorado’s potent offense to a measly 10 earlier in the year.
So the Blackshirts may or may not be back, back. “Blackshirts” is and has been the nickname associated with Nebraska’s defense for decades, even more so when they are and have been good... Which, uh, just sorta hasn’t the case since the early Pelini years.
But as mentioned earlier, the Blackshirts have balled out more often than not since White’s arrival in Lincoln.
Nebraska has never won in Columbus. This is neither prediction nor jinx. Just a statement of fact.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
I honestly tried to come up with something interesting for this section but couldn’t stop nervously looking at the lead art/image of Herbie Husker... Nightmare fuel.
The Ohio State Buckeyes host the Nebraska Cornhuskers this weekend, in a matchup of two teams both looking for a bounceback win. OSU is coming off its second bye and hoping to rediscover the team’s early-season swagger, while Nebraska is licking wounds suffered during/as a result of the 56-7 beating put on them by suddenly resurgent (or, uh, surgent for the first time?) Indiana.
Fortunately for the Cornhuskers, they’ve got a pro’s pro of a coach in Matt Ruhle, who has proven time and time again that he is more than capable of engineering a quick turnaround. And after matching Nebraska’s 2023 win total on Oct. 5, it certainly appears that he has done so again, this time in Lincoln.
But the Huskers’ recent success should be attributed to far more than just Ruhle. His assistant coaches have pushed most of the right buttons, and the players on the field are executing at a high, high level. So it seems as though Ohio State, as well as the rest of the Big Ten, can and should start taking Nebraska seriously again. For the Buckeyes, that begins in earnest this Saturday.
Here are a few more things you should know about the Nebraska Cornhuskers:
The University of Nebraska’s motto, literis dedicata et omnibus artibus, translates to “dedicated to letters and all the arts”. And frankly, I’m not that impressed. Dedicated to letters? That sounds like Brick Tamland saying “I love lamp.”
Warren Buffett is a homegrown Cornhusker and University of Nebraska grad. Buffett was born in Omaha and graduated from the university prior to becoming filthy, filthy rich. And to this day, he still lives in central Omaha, in a house he bought in 1958... Given today’s interest rates, I can’t say I blame him.
Nebraska has been part of the Big Eight, the Big Ten, and the Big 12. Just missing a stint or stints in the Big Six and the Big 14.
The Nebraska football program claims five national championships. Three of which were won by Tom Osborne, one of CFB’s all-time great coaches. In 25 years under Osborne, the Cornhuskers not only captured three natties, but they also finished in the top-15 of the final AP poll 24 times and never won fewer than nine games.
And for all the Ryan Day haters out there, it should be noted that Osborne did not win a national title until his 22nd season as the HC of the Huskers... Now, the latter was also the assistant AD at the University of Nebraska from 1979-1998, which probably granted him fantastic job security, but still.
Current Nebraska head coach Matt Ruhle has a strong track record of turning lesser and/or underperforming programs around quickly. Well, college ones at least. Ruhle didn’t have
Nebraska’s starting QB, Dylan Raiola, was a longtime Ohio State commit. And then a Georgia commit, before ultimately deciding to attend and play for his dad’s alma mater. The true freshman is already well-traveled, but that “globetrotting” has apparently not hindered or stunted Raiola’s development at all. Through seven games this season, The Cornhuskers’ signal caller has thrown for nearly 1,600 yards and nine touchdowns. Which means that...
Despite a recent rough patch, Raiola is one of the best freshmen in CFB, regardless of position. His Pat Mahomes shtick might be weird as hell – and bordering on Single White Female behavior – but the kid can chuck it. Prior to the Indiana game, which was a terrible one for Raiola, the talented newcomer boasted a 3:1 TD-to-INT ratio.
That being said, defensive coordinator Tony White might be or have a bigger influence on the Cornhuskers’ success. White is a two-time Broyles Aware nominee in his second season as Nebraska’s DC. Last year, he guided the team’s defense to its best statistical season (overall) since joining the Big Ten. And thus far in 2024, his unit has been even better.
After surrendering 18.2 PPG and finishing 13th nationally in in scoring defense last season, the Huskers’ D is limiting opponents to 17.7 in 2024, good for 19th. And while White’s group did just give up a million to Indiana, they also held Colorado’s potent offense to a measly 10 earlier in the year.
So the Blackshirts may or may not be back, back. “Blackshirts” is and has been the nickname associated with Nebraska’s defense for decades, even more so when they are and have been good... Which, uh, just sorta hasn’t the case since the early Pelini years.
But as mentioned earlier, the Blackshirts have balled out more often than not since White’s arrival in Lincoln.
Nebraska has never won in Columbus. This is neither prediction nor jinx. Just a statement of fact.
Continue reading...