This summer, Nebraska football was definitely at a crossroads; worthy of a Hollywood drama. As I wrote in my B1G preseason predictions and preview for RedEye:
The Huskers have the talent to win the division, but they need to watch Al Pacino’s “Any Given Sunday” speech: “Either we heal, as a team, or we’re going to crumble, inch by inch, play by play, ’til we’re finished.”
In the early going of the 2016 season, it appears that the Cornhuskers have come together. They have indeed strengthened their resolve, and look about as impressive as anyone in the B1G West right now.
Let’s preview the NU bowl; as I did on my guest segment for 1620 the Zone Omaha. Have a listen:
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/778325086986203136
https://soundcloud.com/liquid-shane-o/sep-20-seg-7-paul-banks-northwestern-expert-owner-of-sportsbanknet
TV: BTN, Eric Collins, Play-by-Play
Glen Mason, Analyst
Michelle McMahon, Sidelines
By the way, this is wonderful right here by Northwestern; this is an example of all that’s right with college football right here.
The #B1GCats will wear a helmet sticker this Saturday honoring the memory of @HuskerFBNation P Sam Foltz. pic.twitter.com/QC2HlfHlBB
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) September 19, 2016
Nebraska football preview:
Now that the pre-conference portion of the schedule is complete, you’d have to put the Huskers or the Wisconsin Badgers as the very early favorite to win the B1G West division. They’re 3-0, which is exactly what Mike Riley needs after last season’s disaster.
Quarterback Tommy Armstrong moved to the top of the Nebraska career passing list, increasing his career total to 7,376 yards. He broke the previous record of 7,258 yards held by Taylor Martinez. I’ve always felt that Armstrong, like T-Magic before him, is/was very underrated as a QB. They don’t always get the acclaim that they deserve.
I’ve also always felt that T-Magic is quite possibly one of the worst nicknames in B1G history.
Montini product Jordan Westerkamp will be back near his hometown looking to make plays in his homecoming game. He had a pair of touchdown receptions for the second straight week, the first two multiple TD games of his career.
Westerkamp also moved up two spots to fourth on the Huskers’ career receptions list.
The pitch and catch duo have a challenge in front of them as this Northwestern defense is the truth. It’s about as fierce a unit as this Nebraska football team will face inside the division this year. The Huskers were big beneficiaries last week of an Oregon team that made extra point decisions with the coherence and logic of a Tracy Claeys led team.
The Ducks went for two five times (all in situations that were questionable) and failed four times. Nebraska won by just three; so if Oregon had any interest/faith in their kicker, the Ducks likely would have won.
Moving from special teams to the other side of the ball. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald on the Nebraska defense:
“They’re physical, physical, physical up front…really impressed with Ross. Their linebackers are really athletic. They’ll play a 4-2-5 structure or a 4-3 based on personnel. Secondary jumps off the tape…It’s a veteran group.”
Northwestern Wildcats preview:
Austin Carr is a lot more than just Northwestern’s top wide receiver; with a famous athlete name. Carr is also the B1G’s leader in receptions and receiving yards. He’s a singer, pianist, actor, philosopher and student at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management; one of the nation’s best MBA programs.
Carr is not to be confused with “Mr. Cavalier” Austin Carr, 1971’s #1 overall NBA Draft pick out of Notre Dame, who had his #34 retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers following a prolific NBA career.
“I’ve got the leading receiver in the Big Ten. I’ve got confidence,” said Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald on Carr’s development this season. “That’s a great quote right there.”
Our exclusive interview with Carr was conducted on meet the team night, and the audio file is linked here. Austin Carr is a very interesting guy, and there’s so much more to him, his interests and his hobbies than we can possibly write up here… without this becoming a 2,500 article.
Likewise with the interview. Transcribing all of the interesting things that he had to say during our conversation would take up my entire weekend. Thus I invite you to have a listen at this link.
If Anthony Walker is The Franchise and Justin Jackson The Bread and Butter, then Austin Carr is The Renaissance Man.
So NU quarterback Clayton Thorson has one star receiver; maybe Solomon Vault can become a bonafide number two, and perhaps you can actually get a true air attack to complement Justin Jackson the ball carrier; maybe.
Thorson shattered his career record for single game passing yards last week against Duke, but he was still under 50% passing. Although he topped 300 yards, and the receivers are getting better, the offensive line is still quite poor. They allowed the very mobile Thorson to get sacked five times last Saturday; and the Duke defensive front isn’t exactly world-beating.
Duke is a pretty bad team, as they lost at home and find themselves 21 1/2 point underdogs at Notre Dame this week. They also lost at home to Wake Forest. Still Northwestern needed a win; and they had to do so in convincing fashion.
Congrats to the Wildcats on accomplishing that but they aren’t going anywhere this season, or Saturday night for that matter, unless the OL gets a lot better in a hurry.
Fitz on his offensive line and blocking issues:
“Right now I don’t think we have enough guys who trust themselves…couple guys who are wayyyy too sensitive. You miss a block, who cares? Learn from it and block him on the next play. If you miss a tackle, who cares?”
“Keep playing and good things are gonna happen. If I had a little more depth I’d make some more changes, just to get guys, if anything else, to step back for a second, exhale, relax and then go back in…Some guys right now just gotta settle down and play.”
“We are a work in progress, no doubt about it. I don’t know, write about it, analyze it…”
Prediction: Nebraska football 23, Northwestern 20 (OT)
I can boldly say that a team named NU will win. This is a weird series where a lot of crazy things can happen, so I’m not sold on the Cats being such heavy underdogs. Of course, I don’t feel confident enough to pick them to win; just to cover.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.