[Husker] Game Observations

[Steve Stone]

1) 35-30 was much closer than my wildest expectations, but it didn't 
reflect the actual disparity between the two teams. Like every other 
Husker fan, I was wishing for a victory but realized it would require 
Divine Intervention. VT dominated to a greater degree than the final 
score indicates.

2) A poor center pass figured prominently in the blocked punt and 
resulting safety. A number of other center passes in the shotgun 
formation were off the mark, though none catastrophic. Until now, 
this hasn't been a problem.

3) VT's primary advantage lay in the fact that the Hokies' defense 
was not in the throes of learning to execute a new system, hence 
fewer mental errors.

4) For most of the game, the NU D-line used the same four players. 
While VT ran the ball successfully in the middle of the field, Potter 
and company held well in the red zone. (A fantastic improvement over 
last season.) Although Chris Spielman claimed they were tiring late 
in the second quarter, they actually proved themselves in the fourth 
quarter. Note: Pierre Allen isn't yet the DE that Potter is, but he 
will become so later in the season and/or next year.

5) Sometimes the Husker O-line performed well, at other times seemed 
overwhelmed. Wish I knew why.

6) I thought the call against Suh was lamentable but correct.

7) Husker fans need to remember that Bo's a first-year head coach and 
is bound to make mistakes as his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty 
definitely was. It may or may not have cost a Husker victory, 
depending on your outlook, but you can bet that nobody regrets it 
more than Bo does, so that it's not likely to occur again anytime 
soon. In fact, better now than in a Big XII game.

8) Victory is the sire of ignorance while defeat is the father of 
wisdom. The Huskers made mental errors galore during the first three 
games but won anyway. So big deal! Yesterday it cost them dearly and 
taught them a tough lesson. I don't envy them the anguish of this 
coming week, but it will make them a better team in November.

9) Did anyone think recovery was going to be quick and painless? The 
hardest part for us fans will be to have the requisite patience.

Steve Stone