Friday Flakes: The Nebraska and Big Ten “Marriage”

The usual national media writers (nope not putting them here) wrote their run of the mill criticisms of how Nebraska has the soiled their relationship with the Big Ten. One of the articles that came out yesterday said that they both want a divorce but neither has anywhere to go so they just live with it.

Maybe it’s really not that dramatic. It could just be that Nebraska is that one friend or teammate that continues to push buttons and doesn’t quite fall in line like everybody else wished they would.

It’s really not a big deal in the large scheme of things.

Remember Nebraska has simply done everything it can do to safely play football. It is not currently being sued for racism. It didn’t employ Larry Nassar. It also did not employ Joe Paterno and Jerry Sandusky. Did it knowingly employ a wide receivers coach who was allegedly beating his wife?

The Big Ten appears to prefer that member schools ask for permission. Nebraska instead appears to prefer to ask for forgiveness instead.

Compared to some of the sins over the past decade by Big Ten member schools, I don’t think trying to safely play football is a big deal. The marriage will be just fine.

To be expected, it was reported that the virus is currently making its way through the Illinois football program. After it was learned it was extremely likely that Graham Mertz was positive (even though he tested negative) for COVID-19 during the game with Illinois that it seemed like it was inevitable that Illinois would start seeing positive cases.

It went close to a week and we didn’t learn anything until last night. It was a report though we hope to hear more today.

Add that to the fact that Trevor Lawrence has now tested positive for the virus. Could he miss the game against Notre Dame?

Now Purdue could be joining Nebraska and watching football instead of playing football this weekend.

This could be a blip on the radar or it could be the start of a wave.

SPORTS! SPORTS! SPORTS!

‘No Block, No Rock’ Important, But Huskers Must Bridge Gap | Hail Varsity – Nebraska Football, Recruiting, News
There is more to playing wide receiver in Scott Frost’s offense than making highlight reel catches.

Yes, the offense is built around explosive plays. The Huskers would like to increase the amount of explosive plays from every part of the offense. Part of how those explosive plays come in this offense is from perimeter plays. They can be stretch runs, swing passes or bubble screens. Either way the principle remains the same: blocking is important. Nebraska coach Scott Frost explained that on Monday.

Nebraska, Big Ten continue fighting with scheduling mishap
On a Thursday morning conference call, Big Ten presidents discussed an exemption request from Nebraska to allow the Cornhuskers to replace Saturday’s canceled football game against Wisconsin with a non-league opponent, the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

It got zero traction, league sources told Yahoo Sports. There was no need for even a show of hands, let alone an actual vote. No one was in favor of granting it. The league’s previously agreed-upon rules — conference games only — was reaffirmed.

Nebraska Recruiting: Huskers Searching for Program Momentum in 2020 | Hail Varsity – Nebraska Football, Recruiting, News
Something has to give for Nebraska and soon.

This year has been tough on the country. People from all walks of life are still dealing with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most obvious effect on the Huskers is that the virus cost the team its matchup with Wisconsin this weekend

Fox analyst continues to lobby on behalf of Nebraska defenders
Fox color analyst Joel Klatt has remained consistent with his pleas that college football re-examine its policies for targeting.

Klatt continued his cause during a Big Ten Network appearance this week, where he once again highlighted a pair of Nebraska defensive backs and said Deontai Williams and Cam Taylor-Britt shouldn’t be missing future action.

Kiszla: CU Buffs and Cornhuskers should be playing football, instead of being stuck in conferences where they don’t belong. – The Denver Post
Colorado has never belonged in the Pac-12 Conference.

Nebraska has never really felt at home in the Big Ten.

All the Buffs and Huskers want to do is go out and play football. For bragging rights instead of money. Like CU and Nebraska used to, back in the glory days of Bill McCartney and Tom Osborne.

In my dreams, the Buffaloes and Cornhuskers are on the football field this weekend, blocking and tackling each other with passion. Play the game in Boulder. Or Lincoln. Or between two pick-up trucks in the Julesburg Family Market parking lot, for crying out loud.

Guide to 2021 Husker Commits in the Nebraska State Playoffs | Hail Varsity – Nebraska Football, Recruiting, News
Around the state, the NSAA State Football Playoffs began last week. Both Class D1 and D2, as well as Class A, held first-round contests on Thursday, Oct. 22, and Friday, Oct. 23 of last week. Their second-round matchups will take place Friday night across the state. At the same time, first-round action in Class B, C1, C2, and D6 will begin.

You’ll see five future Huskers kicking off their postseasons this weekend. Here’s a rundown on what to know about each of them and their teams.

Peyton Manning says Tom Brady got lucky with Gronkowski pass | Charlotte Observer
Fox Sports broadcaster Troy Aikman called the pass “unbelievable” and “as good as it gets.”

During the Buccaneers’ 38-10 win over the Green Bay Packers earlier this month, Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady completed a nearly perfect pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski. It’s the throw that Aikman was gushing about.

But former Colts/Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning wasn’t so sure that pass wasn’t an accident.

ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard announces he’s tested positive for coronavirus
ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard announced Thursday that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

“I’m under strict quarantine right now, because yesterday I tested positive for COVID,” Howard said in a video posted to Twitter.

Trevor Lawrence coronavirus diagnosis — Timeline, Clemson’s backup QB and more
Clemson superstar quarterback Trevor Lawrence has tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss Saturday’s game against Boston College. His status for the following week’s showdown at Notre Dame remains in question. Here’s what we know so far about Lawrence’s condition; his backup, D.J. Uiagalelei; and what this could mean for Clemson’s College Football Playoff chances.

“STICK TO SPORTS!” Nah.

There Are 5 Types of Haunted House Visitors. Which One Are You? | HowStuffWorks
This fall, at hundreds of haunted houses across the United States, people are paying good money to have the snot scared out of them. Haunted houses deliver a primal thrill of staring down your worst fears — clowns, zombies, darkness and death — and walking away unscathed.

I’m definitely “The Brave One.”

24 Better Questions to Ask Kids About Their Day | Art of Manliness
It used to be that when my kids would come home from school, I’d ask them the two questions parents have been asking their children since the dawn of mandatory education:

“What did you do in school today?”

And:

“How was your day today?”

Their answers to these queries were as invariable as the rising and setting of the sun: “Nothing” and “Good.”

Ogre-faced spiders have great hearing—without ears
WHOEVER NAMED THE ogre-faced spider was clearly impressed with its gargantuan eyes, monster-like orbs that spot prey in the dark.

As it turns out, this nocturnal arachnid is notable for another sense entirely: Hearing. A new study says the spider can hear a surprising range of sounds from more than six feet away, thanks to sensory organs—on its legs.

The Best Things I Saw On The Internet This Week