Nebraska football Tailgate Talk: Pound the Northern Iowa Panthers

The Nebraska football team plays another home night game Saturday against the University of Northern Iowa Panthers at 6:30, televised on BTN. I doubt it will draw the 6.3 million viewers like last week (that's a record for B1G viewership on Saturday nights).

Normally, there is an emotional hangover from a big win, but I doubt Coach Rhule will let the team fall into that trap. In fact, Nash Hutmacher in his UNI press conference said, "We know we can affect the run and am looking forward to it." That sounds like focus to me.

But first, it was a GREAT Husker victory on Saturday. Best thing for me is no injuries for the good guys. Other good news, sometimes the ball falls your way. No one knows this better than running back Rahmir Johnson with the double tap to get the football from the Buff defender and score. Last year that didn't go our way. More good stuff: the Blackshirts had 4 sacks in the first 19 minutes of play and only rushed 3-4 guys in manhandling Colorado leaving them only 7 yards of rushing on 4 carries in the first half. Six different Cornhuskers recorded sacks on Sanders Saturday night: Nash Hutmacher, Jimari Butler, MJ Sherman, Princewill Umanmielen and Willis McGahee IV. Winning is FUN!

They say the biggest improvement happens from week 1 to week 2. I still look for more improvement from the Huskers in week 3. The Huskers Defense has limited their opponents to only 72 rushing yards after 2 games. That might not be the case this week I suspect. Huskers will face a different kind of team this week as the Panthers are a big "run the ball" team.

As for Big Red, I'm still worried about special teams even though it appears even Raiola has a pooch kick game. Buschini had that fantastic 61-yard punt into the corner, but there was also a 61-yard return by the Buff's Jimmie Horn in leaky Cornhusker coverage. Tristan Alvano also missed that 32-yard field goal and it felt like last year all over again, minus the 17 turnovers and 5 games lost by close scores. (btw...has anyone checked in on the Amigos guy who gave Sims that meal deal?) Special teams has to be better. Sounds like some of the issues may be with the snapper. Time for Coach Foley to earn his keep.

As for the update on my Husker "boyfriend" (see that article here) QB Raiola, well he's looking VERY good so far. I was more impressed with his poise this week in his pressers actually than the game. I'm not forgetting how he took care of the football, or how he took some hits and got right back up. He said he's comfortable with the speed of the game and is excited for this week.

I think it's interesting my QB1 is roommates with Jacory Barney, Jr. That's some good chemistry building right there! Coach Rhule challenged the wide receivers this week to "get up to his (Raiola's) level." He basically called them out for not knowing the playbook as well as the QB. I'm here for it. And my QB said he was going to take ownership of getting them there. That's a LEADER, folks.

I can confirm that this UNI team is a solid, disciplined, and well-coached team. This from a former Panther linebacker friend of mine who still goes back to visit his host family. The purple people have two very good tailbacks in Tye Edwards who is 6'4" and 229 lbs, and Amauri Pesek-Hickson who is 6' 0" and 240 lbs., which is why they are so good in the red zone (6 for 8). There is a good O line as well, anchored by Blake Anderson who was named MVFC Offensive Lineman already once this season. Their run game averages 298 yards per game. It's not just the O-line that is good. They sport a solid run defense as well. They are physical and use play action effectively off their run game.

I still believe the Huskers will be up to the task of the ground game based on comments from Hutmacher. (Paraphrasing here) He said they won't get complacent. No matter how good 2-0 feels, it doesn't mean anything unless we perform on Saturday. I want the starters (and coaches) to perform well enough to earn the right to ride the bench in the second half. I want the equipment managers to have lots of laundry after the game. I want special teams to be better. I want zero injuries. I mean if you're going to make a list, make a list!

Nebraska football Week 3 tailgating

It's Week 3 for tailgating, and it's a gauntlet for those people that put it together. If the team can keep doing it, so can the Husker faithful. In honor of the purple and gold team rolling into town, I thought I would revive my PB&J jello shot. I'm still in a feel-good mood being 2-0 so why not mix it with a "comfort" flavor. Mix one cup of boiling water with grape jello. Once it's dissolved, pour in 3/4 cup Skrewball peanut butter whiskey. Pour into shot cups and chill! Almost as tasty as winning football games on Saturdays. Give your tailgate hosts a hand and a thank you.

Funny stories from Saturday:

In the elevator on the way to the press box someone was overheard apologizing to Colt McCoy about the beat down he got from Ndamukong Suh. Colt looked the guy in the eye and said, "I thought I was going to die." Well, so did all of Husker Nation. McCoy took that chat in stride almost as well as he did when Prince Amukamara razzed him on the field earlier saying, "You KNOW there was no time on the clock, admit it!" Good stuff right there. Never change Nebraska football fans. GO BIG RED!