Live from BugahaWest: Do you believe in miracles? Yes. Two weeks in a row, heck yeah.

Dear Fellow Husker fans,

I have a confession to make.  The past two weeks I have not watched the games.  I have been a good boy and been listening to them on internet radio.  It’s quite fun to hear Matt Davison go crazy (watch Matt turn red on youtube.  Video is from the BigTenNetwork and they talk to MD and JW). 

Let’s start with the NW game.  I had a rough work week so I went to bed right away and really didn’t wake up until the 4th quarter.  To make things fun my laptop was acting up so I actually listened to the game on my cellphone and, wait for it, listened to the NW Wildcats radio call.  Yes, I heard their call of the last play before I heard the Matty D, what do we call it, going homer song of cheer.  I went nuts after the play, waited out the review (is it just me or did that review take a long time) then spent a week driving my wife crazy watching every possible replay I could find of the Hail Mary.  More to come from this game in a minute.

Then there is the Michigan game.  I had thoughts of getting up for the start of this one but then there is the overnight work thing.  I actually was thinking of sleeping through the game.  I had the alarm set for the work time and woke up at halftime.  I checked the score and said crap, have to listen to the rest of this one.  I did watch the first 2 drives on tv and left that thing after the bad start for the Big Red.  So it was back to the phone and this time I was using the Westwood One radio feed.  I stayed with the phone while the wife watched the game on tv.  The next time I left the phone was for the end of game celebration.

So why do I say do you believe in miracles twice.  Easy.  First look at what the NW offense did to our “D”.  326 yards total with 245 on the ground.  Again the Blackshirts weren’t earning the moniker.  Then the last drive starts with a bit over a minute to go.  A huge 4th and 15 conversion by AA where he willed his way to 16 yards.  Look at the play a few times, he had to make up about 5 yards on that play and pile drove his way the final 2-3 yards for the first down.  Then there is the Hail Mary play.  First RK3 was giving the receivers time to get down field and get set.  Then there was diamond with J. Westerkamp settling behind for the tip drill.  Then the catch and the review because he fell out of the end zone.  Everything worked well and all is well, except Michigan was next in the Big House.

Be honest with yourself.  What do you think about when you hear the words Michigan at the Big House.  One of the best traditions in college football, epic games vs Ohio St, the split title in 97, and 100,000 plus people in one place.  The Blackshirts weren’t doing anything to earn the moniker and the offense needed a prayer to win a game by mucking it up.  Yeah, there was the glimmer of hope because Michigan had struggled running the ball, but this is the same NU defense that was sliced and diced by more than a few players this year.  Things weren’t looking good.  Then it was game on.  Up quick 10-0 but then nothing on offense.  Sure, the D held Michigan to -10 yards on the ground, but there was the sense the game was slipping away.  1 Jordan W fumbled punt and it went from bad to worse.  However, the D earned the Blackshirts moniker wby holding UM to a field goal.  Then the drive at the end started.  75 yards away, another big 4th down conversion (this one to Kenny Bell) and after 13 plays the offense was 5 yards from the end zone.  What happened next was a wicked pass TD from Armstrong to AA.  Oh yeah, most of the Big House went silent and Husker nation went wild.  There was still 2 minutes left and the Blackshirts stayed aggressive, good move by Coach Pelini and Coach Pap. 

Game balls

Northwestern game:  AA for his hard running and the big 4th down play.  Jordan Westerkamp and RK3. 

Michigan game:  AA was Mr. Everything again.  Randy Gregory is growing up before our eyes.

Time for a bit of fun.  Where do you rank the Hail Mary in terms in all-time great Nebraska plays?  Is it in your top 10, perhaps top 15?  Just a quick list has to include, Johnny Rodgers punt return in the Game of the Century, Tommie Frazier’s run against Florida, Matt Davison’s flea kicker, the Kick and the Pick vs Colorado, Joe Ruud’s hit against Phillips in the ’78 OU game, Rozier’s run vs UCLA, Corey Schlesinger’s TDs vs Miami in the 95 Orange Bowl, Mike Rucker’s block on Mike Fullman’s punt return vs K-state in 94 or 95, and the Mo Purify catch vs A&M to clinch the Big 12 north title.  As for my list..

1.  Tommie Frazier’s run

2.  The Jet’s punt return

3.  Ruud’s hit against Philips

4.  Schlesinger’s runs

5.  The Kick and the Pick

6. Davison’s flea kicker

7.  Rozier’s run

8.  RK3 to Jordan Westerkamp

9.  Rucker’s block (only because I heard it)

10.  Purify’s catch

Now the legacy of the Hail Mary very well may depend on what happens the rest of the year.  I think this team is going to have to muck it up and win by grinding it out the rest of the way.  If the catch pushed NU over the top the rest of the year I can see it moving up the list.  It all depends on how things go the rest of the year.  What does your all time great Husker plays list looks like.

On to Michigan St.  God Bless and Go Big Red.

-Chris