I don't know about you--but for me, the way the Gator Bowl ended in the Huskers' 26-21 win over Clemson was an ideal way to finish off the season. The game ended with the DEFENSE holding off the late Clemson drive. Disguised blitzes on 1st and 2nd down, resulting in a pass knockdown and a huge QB sack both courtesy of Eric Hagg. On 3rd down--a throw into the end zone featuring a pass breakup by safety Matt O'Hanlon. And on 4th down, the Clemson QB rattled by the ferocious Husker D-line rush that he threw a bad ball off his back foot.
WOW!! What a way to finish this off!!
But of course, the whole game went that way. As anyone who watched the game knows, the Husker D basically shut out Clemson. Holding these guys to 4--FOUR--net yards rushing???!!! That's beyond ridiculous--that's the type of defensive dominance this Old Husker Fan grew up with during the Bobfather days.
This is all a testimony to just how far Bo Pelini, Carl Pelini, Mike Ekeler, John Papuchis and Marvin Sanders brought this defensive unit this year. I remember how positively disorganized the D was in the 1st game against Western Michigan, when WM tried a gadget play--and had a receiver running 20 yards wide open (the only reason the play didn't do anything was b/c the QB had a bad grip on the ball and Zach Potter did bring a late rush). Even in the Colorado game--the 1st 2 series that CU had brought in easy TDs. But not this time! This was a defensive performance that all Husker fans can be proud of--and it came against an outfit that had some definite speed.
By the way---just how big was that field goal block by Suh in the 1st half? Otherwise, Clemson just has to get a field goal at the end of the game to win it instead of having to try to score a TD.
A couple more things here:
1) Enough with the negative crap being thrown at Joe Ganz for the turnovers in the 1st half. The guy came back like a champ in the 2nd half and got the job done with his head, his arm, and his guts. Joe Ganz reminds me a lot of another #12 from years ago--Tom Sorley, who was QB in the late 70s and who was at the controls when T.O. got his 1st win against Oklahoma in that '78 thriller. Joe Ganz is a MAN, people!! And I'll go you one more---I think that Joe Ganz's chances of making an NFL roster are better than either Chase Daniel or Josh Freeman because of the leadership and maturity this guy brings to the table.
2) The walk-on program has new life--and some new faces of success this year. The aforementioned Mr. O'Hanlon, along with fellow d-back Lance Thorell, and of course kicker Alex Henery, are all examples of the fact that the Husker program is back to a program that looks at players and not at stars. These guys all contributed to the re-charging of the team this year, and that is only positive for the future in rebuilding depth and fire in the program.
9 and 4. No, it's not perfect and there is a LOT of ground to cover yet (look at the talent and speed in the Rose Bowl for starters)--but there was a TON of progress made this season. Get the red out, folks, b/c the Bo bandwagon is heating up!!
GO BIG RED!!
The Old Husker Fan
Saturday, January 3, 2009
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