These Are The True Awards Of Manly Sport

Evil seems to be gaining strength in America, but not in Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday.

For those of us who treat the color and pageantry of college football as a religion, there are three seasons; National Signing Day, spring practice culminating with annual spring games and the excitement of the regular season.

Although the south is rampant with this enthusiasm, many across the fruited plain are as well.  Nowhere is the support for the home team any stronger than in Lincoln, Nebraska, home of the five time national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers, who hold the record for the longest home sellout streak in the nation, continuing at over 300 even with a dismal economy.

After wicked weather postponed last seasons spring game, a day of sunshine was expected at Memorial Stadium on Saturday for the Red-White game.  For those who could be among the 60,000 who were able to attend, the game was broadcast live on The Big Ten Network.

Many fans, eager to get a glimpse of the progress of some of the young Huskers who are expected to contribute to a young team next fall, it was a youngster who stole our, and the nations, heart on this day.

Jack and Rex Burkhead

Rex Burkhead, a standout running back from Plano, Texas who exhausted his Nebraska career last year in an injury riddled senior season, had befriended a pediatric cancer patient in young Jack Hoffman.  Throughout last season, Hoffman and Burkhead forged a friendship Burkhead visiting Hoffman after treatments and with Hoffman having an opportunity to visit many practices of the Big Red.  Hoffman meant a lot to the entire team, and led the 'Huskers on to the field in a home game versus Wisconsin last fall.

But on Saturday, as the spring game was nearing conclusion, a magical event took place as Jack Hoffman got the opportunity of a lifetime.  Please see the following video:


All Big Ten quarterback Taylor Martinez re-entered the game along with Jack to run the pitch sweep to the right, and Jack Hoffman got loose.  Hoffman gave glimpse of former 'Husker greats Mike Rozier or Ahman Green breaking into the next level. 

There truly is no place like Nebraska, as BTN analyst and former 'Husker running back Damon Benning said on the broadcast, as Hoffman hit pay dirt.

I had tears in my eyes watching this live from my living room.  At the Orange Bowl in 1971, someone asked me what the "N" on my hat meant.  An Alabama fan sitting next to me replied, "Nice People."  That was very well put.

There have been many moments over the years, but I cannot recall being more proud to be a Cornhusker than I was on Saturday.

As the story has appropriately gone viral over social media and the cable news networks, many have described this touching event in outstanding fashion.  BTN, the Omaha World Herald, the Lincoln Journal Star, ESPN, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post and FOX News.

Jeffrey Koterba, cartoonist for the Omaha World Herald, gave us an overview of those in the Scarlet and Cream.

 

For those instrumental for putting this action together, inclusive of Burkhead, and via ESPN, former Husker Jeff Jamrog and current fullback CJ Zimmer, may I extend the heartfelt thanks from 'Huskers everywhere. “Obviously, Jack is a young man who has touched the hearts of a lot of people,” Husker coach Bo Pelini said. “People have got behind him and he’s become a big part of the team. … I thought it was a pretty special thing” reported the LJS.

 

The academic excellence of the football team is second to none, and while Nebraska is not quite the team they used to be under legendary coach Dr. Tom Osborne, the program is on solid footing both on, and off the field under Bo Pelini.  I saw that on Saturday.

 

But like most of America, particularly those of us fortunate enough to be fathers, the spirit of the action touched our hearts. As Lincoln Journal Star columnist Steve Sipple quipped, "The day belonged to Jack!"

 

The team coming together for Jack Hoffman on Saturday was a testament to the words engraved on the northwest corner of Memorial Stadium, Courage; Generosity; Fairness; Honor; In these are the true awards of manly sport.  

 

Engraved at the southwest corner reads "Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory."

 

Jack, and all those fighting these terrible diseases, exhibit courage we all can be proud of.  We all pray for their victory. The action on the field Saturday when Hoffman took the field on Saturday was a most moving gesture indeed, capturing the hearts of the nation.

 

With any luck, the extended awareness this act of kindness brought to the country on Saturday will help expedite the finding of cures for those who fight these diseases on a daily basis .  #TEAMJACK

 

There truly is no place like Nebraska.  Well done Big Red! Very well done. N #GBR

Runzaway Victory

The Nebraska Cornhuskers, reeling from getting nothing short of embarrassed in the Big Ten Championship game by Wisconsin, were selected to make a return trip to beautiful downtown Orlando to face the highly ranked Georgia Bulldogs in the Capital One Bowl.

Would Nebraska limp down and absorb another beating at the hands of Georgia, who was four yards away from facing Notre Dame in the BCS Championship?

In watching the practices, the Big Red seemed to embrace the challenge.  Kenny Bell and Taylor Martinez, although enjoying the trip, were very focused come practice time.

All the fanfare associated with the game was well attended by the fans, including a pep rally.



After a shaky start, which included a blocked punt for a safety and a touchdown pass leading Nebraska to fall behind 9-0, the Big Red seemed to be ready to win the game.  The 'Huskers led 24-23 at the half as Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead kept the Junkyard Dawgs off balance.



Taylor Martinez on the scramble

Nebraska stormed out of the half to build upon the lead 31-23 and were poised for more when Ameer Abdullah fumbled the ball away after securing a short yardage first down at the Georgia 39.  From the vantage point of the stands and the Husker sideline, it appeared Abdullah was down, and if he was not, Nebraska recovered the ball. The play was not reviewed, and Georgia got the ball.

From that point on, Georgia and quarterback Aaron Murray, from nearby Tampa Plant, made plays when it counted coming from behind to beat Nebraska 45-31.

There was some kind of officiating going on out there by the crew from the Big XII (really?), absent consistency and collectively perhaps the worst I have seen.  From seeing highlights of other games on the day, the Capital One Bowl was not alone in poor officiating.

 

Unlike last year, with Nebraska ahead as quarter four began, the Big Red could have won the game.  Georgia is every bit as good as advertised, and in the end, took control with their superior talent stepping up and making plays.

 

Nebraska, as usual, had plenty of offense to win the game.  The Big Red is hard to defend with a strong running attack, a fleet footed quarterback who is much better than most everyone give him credit for and a group of receivers who are quite good.  Even the much maligned offensive line performed well.

 

It is on the stop side where the problems for Nebraska begin and end.  This is the strong suit of NU Head Coach Bo Pelini; therefore, the lack of execution by this unit cannot be further tolerated.  In the 2012 losses, the highly touted Blackshirts gave up zip codes of yardage and pinball machine points.  In fact, in each of the losses, Nebraska put up over 30 points, and when you do that, you fully expect to win.

 

I happen to like the defensive staff, and maybe it is a lack of talent that is the main issue.  The secondary has been strong most of the year, but they looked awful against Aaron Murray, no RGII to be sure.  With players playing out of position, the defensive line played better than I anticipated.

 

As the Omaha World Herald points out, there is some sunshine peeking out of the clouds, and 4 loss seasons getting punked in bowl games against I don't care who are dark clouds.  The 2013 offense could be special behind Martinez and the schedule is very forgiving.  If Pelini can get a handle on the defense, and his history says he can, Nebraska may have a Rosey season.

 

If not, with Tom Osborne having retired, some real hard questions will demand answers, not time.  I am hopeful those questions will not need to be asked.

Top 25

College Football

Top 25

1. Oklahoma, 5-0, 1

2. Alabama, 6-0, 2

3. Louisiana State, 6-0, 3

4. Stanford, 5-0, 4

5. Oklahoma State, 6-0, 5

6. Wisconsin, 5-0, 5

7. Boise State, 4-0,6

8. Clemson, 6-0, 7

9. Oregon, 4-1, 8

10. Arkansas, 5-1, 10

11. Michigan, 6-0, 11

12. South Carolina, 5-1, 15

13. Georgia Tech, 6-0, 17

14. Nebraska, 5-1, 18

15. Texas A&M, 3-2, 14

16. Auburn, 4-2, 13

17. West Virginia, 5-1, 19

18. Georgia, 4-2, 21

19. Illinois, 6-0, 23

20. Virginia, Tech, 5-1, 20

21. Arizona State, 5-1, 24

22. Michigan State, 4-1, 25

23. Kansas State, 5-0, NR

24. Baylor, 4-1, NR

25. Houston, 6-0, NR

OUT: Florida State (12), Texas (16), Florida (22)

VOTES: Penn State, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Florida, Texas, Florida State, North Carolina, Rutgers, Southern Methodist, Southern Miss, Miami and Texas Tech.

Oklahoma destroyed Texas in the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl at the Texas State Fair in Dallas....Florida is hurting at quarterback and has Auburn and improving Georgia Bulldogs upcoming.....Okie State had 56 at the half against Kansas, and they are a title contender for sure....Arkansas got throttled by BAMA but is whipping everyone else....Pitt got hammered by Rutgers, which is not good....K State dumped Mizzou, and is undefeated....Baylor and RGIII rebounded by thrashing Iowa State...Stanford hammered Colorado, where the wheels have come off...Georgia controlled Tennessee...Michigan outlasted Northwestern in Evanston....UCF flooded Marshall, as we had 6 inches of rain in greater Orlando yesterday....Virginia Tech outlasted Miami in Blacksburg in a great game, with my Cane friends Danny and Pat in attendance....Penn State beat Iowa, usually a problem game for the Lions...Illinois is the surprise of the Big Ten, out to a 6-0 record, the best for them in 60 years...Texas A&M, off to the SEC, won at Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday in a hard fought 45-40 game, but when they got back to the team buses, things took a turn for the worse as Red Raider sportsmanship, or lack thereof, lost containment.

While excuses could be made for the first two losses of the season for Florida State, the loss yesterday at Wake forest was quite simply inexcusable. This one is on the coaching staff. Yes, the offensive line, pedestrian at best without injury, is injury ravaged and a major liability. It is upon the coaches to game plan around it. Certainly, Clint Trickett performed well at Clemson, but with a week off he should have been better prepared for Wake if he was gong to start. Early on, he made several mistakes and looked lost, expected for a young player. If Manual could play, he should have been playing. Either way, this is a coaching issue. The defense, expected to be a strength, is unable to get off the field, either by mental lapses or penalties. Again, coaching. As my friend RP5 correctly noted, Florida State is woefully lackadaisical in getting plays off, even when you should have a sense of urgency. This is regrettably typical for FSU, and again lies on the coaches. I fear we could see the individuals on this team emerge, and the season could be lost. The coaches may not recognize the sense of urgency on the field, but they had better see it in the locker room. Fisher and his staff had better get a grip on this situation fast, for a season of promise, and one to set the stepping stone to what could be a great year in 2012, could be lost.

With Ohio State mauling Nebraska much of the night, ABC analyst Matt Millen was strong. When you think of what analyst you would want calling the game for your team, Matt Millen may not be the first name you think of, but he does have decent points most days. Millen, no doubt with a heavy heart after learning of the passing of the passing of the king of the Raider family, Al Davis, Millen was spot on in calling Ohio State at Nebraska. Millen correctly pointed out the OSU was whipping the Big Red at the line of scrimmage, using a cut back rushing plan to counter the Blackshirt speed and the confidence freshman Buckeye QB Braxton Miller was playing with. For Nebraska, who broke a school record coming from down 21 points to win, Millen nailed several key points. Jared Crick is not himself, and his play shows it. Don't know what the deal is. Lavonte David is phenomenal, and should win the Butkus Award. Taylor Martinez played very well, even while the 'Huskers were getting killed. The Husker offensive line, who played well late, were terrible for three quarters and this is a major issue. Rex Burkhead is a wonderful player, one who can be counted on to produce. Big win for Pelini and the Cornhuskers, for the season was in danger of collapse. In honor of Al Davis, just win, baby!

PHOTO: RIVALS.COM