Wall Street Husker
Texas A&M 2007

Hey, at least they didn't score 40 points on us.

It seems like we are the guy you go to Vegas with who just seems to always come out losing. You know the guy; he drops a grand on black, the roll comes out black and doubles his G. Then, proceeds to slowly lose that 2 grand over the next 4 hours as cocktail after cocktail deteriorate his decision making. Finally, you are carrying him up to his room, while he proceeds to puke for the next two hours and ends up passing out on the bathroom floor until the morning. No money in hand.

How quickly things change for this team. We finally have some strong defensive stops and then we drop a fair catch, and then two plays later, 7 points. How many times are things just going to go wrong? How many more series are things just always going to not turn up in our favor? Even with the two first half fumbles we were still in the game.

THE GAME

The analysis of this game revolves around one central issue - BC and crew have never, I repeat, never, beaten a team when going into halftime losing. Never. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

If this does not clear up the, "we'll sit down at the end of the year and make a decision," - I don't know what else will. Another ho-hum performance by this group has pretty much sealed the fate of the entire coaching staff. But, if you were a coach on this team, would you even want to come back after this season? Honestly. What positive adjustments have we brought to the table at halftimes? At what point do we look at each other and say, "this is not working." The "scheme" that we have prepped for this game is not working, and we must change it...now. Better yet, prep your 'scheme' during the week, and then change it before Saturday and save yourself the time during game day. I am trying to remain positive here Husker Nation, but what are we doing in a 4-3 all game long?

16 to 14 at halftime tells me that the team came out stronger than it has for any other game during the last month. Given the week's events, that's great to see. Our team coming out of halftime with no adjustments made, means this coaching staff sucked the life out of our team, again. Our players knew running out onto the field that they were going to lose - because it was the same halftime mumbo jumbo they have received week after week.

16 to 14 at halftime is the good Lord swooping into Memorial Stadium and saying, "I hereby give you a chance, my children of the corn! Now win one for Devaney damnit!" Opening up the second half with A&M running straight down the field through holes the size of Lake Ogallala settled that divine intervention. This tells us that our halftime adjustments still cease to exist. Cos just continues to get beat all over the place. Callahan said at halftime that the reason Watson was on the sideline was so that he could spend some more time with the defense. The opening drive of the second half pretty much tells us everything we need to know. No matter where BC spends his time, we still can't stop anyone. Literally, we seriously can not stop any team that is out there. Option offense, running offense, passing offense, spread offense, slant passes, screen passes, misdirection plays, and on and on and on.

16 to 14 at halftime was somewhat exuberating - we're in it! The second half was somewhat abysmal. One team came out of the locker room motivated, and the other did not. Again, we go for it on 4th down and seem to never make it. At some point, you wish we would just take the points, regardless of the situation. Stop trying to win the game, and just be competitive. Get some positive momentum. Keller continues to struggle. At some point, give Ganz the football and see what the kid can do. This is three consecutive weeks were Smokin Sammy has smoked nobody.

Again, it comes down to making a tough decision and saying, "I was wrong." I was wrong for building my team and program around JUCO/NCAA transfers at key positions. I was wrong for eliminating the walk-on program. I was wrong for firing Bo Pelini for my friend. I was wrong for building hype around a team that clearly is not competitive and giving everyone false hopes. I was wrong and, I am sorry. Nebraskan's are resilient and want victories, but they also know how to forgive when a sincere apology is offered.

THE 'TOMFATHER'

I'll always remember where I was when the 'Tomfather' was announced as the new interim Athletic Director of NU. For me, I was at work when one of my employees came running in to tell me. See, I make it public knowledge that I am a Husker fan, even in enemy territory. Every week I have entered the office on Monday morning and have had to issue my standard, "I don't want to hear a thing about Nebraska football."

So the 'Tomfather' is back! As everyone knows, Perlman made the Tomfather an offer he couldn't refuse this week. Here to straighten out the 5 families and bring the Corleone (I mean Husker) family back to the 'mattresses.' Leave the gun, take the cannoli.

The unfortunate part of this game was that we, again, looked like an Italian pastry during the second half.

(If you are anything like my wife, and have no clue as to the reference between Tom Osborne and Mario Puzo's 'Godfather' saga, it's a movie trilogy classic. I suggest you watch it straight through for maximum effect.)

The only thing we can hope for is that the Tomfather personally visits every single verbal commitment for next year's recruiting class. That he sits with their parents and issues his proclamation for the return of Nebraska football, ensuring that these recruits still have a home and they are going to be better off because of this proclamation. That is the only thing that can save our next few seasons of transition. Keep an eye out for this.

The changes are coming. It is inevitable at this point. From coast to coast, many are excited for the change to come. But, then again, many were also excited for BC's arrival too. Many were excited for Pederson's brainchild to come to fruition. Many were excited to run Franky out of Lincoln because of a deterioration of talent. Many were excited to see Kevin Cosgrove and his wicked Big Ten style defense in Lincoln. Many were excited to get this amazing WCO in Lincoln. Many were excited...and, many were wrong too.

Up next is Texas and we can win this one. Seriously, I'm not joking here. Baylor was driving to pull within one score a few minutes left in Austin when UT ran an interception back for a touchdown. Texas has also been exposed this year as well. Even with the current state of our union, I will never stop being optimistic about our chances and will always support our team through thick and thin. We can win this ballgame. Positive mental thinking at this point is the only way to get through the rest of the season. Let's just hope we go into halftime with a lead.

From the Big Apple – to the Big Red Country…

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