[NU Sports] First half thoughts ...

[Jonathan Hodges]

Indiana has had field turf since at least 2003, and I believe MSU has field
turf as well.  By my count that makes only PSU, Iowa, and NU with grass left
in the Big Ten.  My how times change.

Also the end of that game was unbelievable.

Jonathan

On 9/8/07, SjT (Stephen J. Truog) <sjtruog at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Not a good half for the Cats ... and that was before
> Tyrell's injury. Thankfully he returned, but then the
> secondary falls asleep on the final play?!?!?!?!
>
> WAKE UP GUYS!!!
>
> Loved the opening drive, but what happened to Bacher
> afterwards? He wasn't the same crisp, accurate passer
> and he juuuuust missed a couple big plays. Ross wide
> open for a TD being the latest one.
>
> And while I can understand sticking with CJ while he's
> hot, when he started losing it, we really needed to
> pound the ball a bit with a pre-injury Sutton. We have
> yet to establish the running game in the first half of
> games this year, and that concerns me with the
> offensive line. Actually, it infuriates me - with
> three seniors and Rees back, that's inexcusible after
> a game and a half!
>
> On defense, we need to get off the bloody field on 3rd
> downs - we had them in 3rd and long that first drive
> but let them convert and they went on to score. And we
> missed chances on two fourth downs later.
>
> Our D (especially the secondary) doesn't seem as
> aggressive - part of that may be good coaching by
> Nevada in keeping our defense guessing and then double
> guessing with their mixed play calling. But still,
> someone needs to step up and make a PLAY!
>
> Strange to say it, but our saving grace has been
> special teams - nice punts, kickoffs and strong
> returns by McManus that have been shoestrings away
> from two touchdowns. The field goal at the end was
> nice - too bad the D let any momentum slip away.
>
> Until that last half of the 2nd quarter, it appeared
> that the officials were letting Nevada get away with a
> lot (hey, I don't blame 'em - push until they flag ya)
> ... but they finally started flagging blatant holds
> and interferences. Still, it appears Nevada is
> grabbing a lot of purple wide receiver jersey and
> getting away with it so far.
>
> Not the most competent crew so far though - the replay
> that was overturned looked like a pretty obvious call
> and they had officials on both sides looking right at
> the play ... then they badly botch the call on the
> holding, facemask, second hold call vs. Nevada and
> call it on NU at first. They're looking like they flew
> into town on the red eye and they never had time to
> read the section on pass interference in the playbook.
>
> Oh well, I love seeing Fitz' pre-game pep talks but
> he's gonna need to tear these guys a new one at
> halftime. Especially the linemen and especially
> offense. No running game, no pass blocking - get a
> helmet on someone! And our tackling on D needs to
> improve in a hurry.
>
> GO CATS!!!
> WAKE UP AND POUND THE GOSH DARN BALL!!!
> -SjT
>
> PS - Some side thoughts ...
>
> * I see from the highlights Purdooooo has switched
> back to turf as well (too many moo moo's eating the
> grass?:) ) ... so does this mean it's now basketball
> on turf? And by my count, the grass stadiums - NU,
> Iowa, MSU, PSU and Indiana (I think they still have
> grass at IU) - are now in the minority in the league.
>
> * Hopefully this will be "lay off the Big Ten week"
> with ACC powers Miami and VaTech looking to get blown
> out down south and Big East powers Louisville and West
> Virginia surviving sloppy scares. And between Texas'
> struggle last week and Nebraska's first half at Wake,
> the Big XII ain't looking too fancy either ...
>
> ... but then the Buckeyes decide to play baseball with
> Akron? C'mon guys! As long as PSU obliterates the
> Domers tonight in what should be a very loud Happy
> Valley!
>
> * Oh yeah, because it can't be said enough, the Big
> Ten Network is abso-frickin-lutely awesome and is
> making Saturdays so much fun for football fans! It's
> like having two Sunday Ticket days!
>
> * * * * * * * * *
> STEPHEN J. TRUOG
> sjtruog at yahoo.com
> GO CATS!!!
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
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