[Husker] deja-vu

[dryter at inebraska.com]

I was taken by how much the run-up to the USC game reminded me of the  
Alamo Bowl.  No one really gave the Huskers a chance; I don't remember  
the spread, but it seems like they were at least a TD underdog.  And  
there was so much talk about how Michigan was so much more talented.

With that in mind, the USC game ended up with two things that set it  
far apart from the Alamo Bowl, and one thing that was very similar.

The differences that come to mind are first, that USC is a helluvalot  
better than Michigan was and probably is.  Second, the coaches put  
together a much different game plan, perhaps because of the level of  
competition, perhaps because the Alamo was a do-or-die event pitting a  
bunch of banged up fighters against the odds.  One interception for a  
TD and it could be over at USC.  Lucky secures the handoff and they  
put a drive together after that great defensive stand to start the  
third quarter, and it's 14-10. The Blackshirts really deserve some  
credit.

This year it's early and there are other goals such as winning the  
North--not to mention wanting to keep it vanilla so as not to show  
their playbook to Troy.  Just kidding.

The similarity with the Alamo was the team not being intimidated by  
the national stage and their fight to the end mentality.

A thought on Glenn.  I was also wondering why the only play that I saw  
him in the game was the naked bootleg that resulted in the lone Husker  
TD--and he was a great decoy for that play.  I speculated that the  
coaches wanted to use the fastest backs with the best evasive moves,  
not wanting to try and overpower the USC tacklers, which is Glenn's  
strength.

I was also disappointed that the Huskers dropped in the polls after  
losing to USC but OU stayed at 17 losing to UO and FSU looked terrible  
in both of their significant games.  The conservative gameplan may  
have contributed to this.

Finally, Callahan showed some serious onions calling the fake punt  
early in the game from the NU end of the field.

Derek