Marco Ortiz, Peacock critiques and … Fort Omaha Balloon School?

The premise is straightforward. You ask me some questions — or vent your frustrations — about Nebraska Athletics. Any sport. I attempt to answer them.

If you want your question included in the next edition of the mailbag, find me on Twitter/X at @Amie_Just, Threads/Instagram at @_amiejust or email me at ajust@journalstar.com.

Yup. But I’ve made this claim before the long snapping issues arose last year. Marco Ortiz wasn’t just a good long-snapper. He was great. We never ever talked about him because his snaps were clean, consistent and on the mark. The only time we wrote about him was when he transferred in and when he was a finalist for the nation’s best long-snapper award.

It sounds like both Aidan Flege and Camden Witucki have been snapping fine in practice, but the games are where things have gone awry. 

But those are the two options Nebraska has. There is no third-string long snapper.

It feels like a lot, doesn’t it?

Without going back and scanning all of Nebraska’s drives, it feels like there have been several penalties on late downs that have forced a change to the plan or nullified big gains and/or touchdowns.

It feels like freshman receiver Jacory Barney Jr. should have at least 50 more yards than he does, due to several of his plays being called back during the season due to penalties.

But let’s just look at the Purdue game, since it’s the most fresh.

1. A great punt from Brian Buschini turned into a touchback because the gunner wasn’t in the right spot.

2. There’s that false start on Bryce Benhart on 4th-and-1 when Nebraska was going to go for it. 3. Instead, Nebraska was forced to attempt a field goal, which went wide left.

3. The touchdown pass from Dylan Raiola to Rahmir Johnson that was nullified by a penalty… but, of course, that was a phantom pass interference on Thomas Fidone, so while it technically counts, it wasn’t a “stupid mistake” on Fidone’s part, but rather the official who threw that flag.

4. Bad snap on John Hohl’s second field goal attempt from Aidan Flege prompts a field goal block for Purdue.

5. False start on someone (the person was never identified) for Nebraska on 3rd-and-1. 

6. Bad snap on Hohl’s third field goal attempt from Camden Witucki prompts another field goal block for Purdue.

And that’s just the first half.

Nebraska is allowed to give a little input, but at the end of the day, that decision rests with the broadcasting partners.

When I say “a little input,” that’s more so making sure the broadcast partners are aware of other things happening around the university, like Nebraska football not playing at the exact same time as Nebraska volleyball, for instance. Or Nebraska football keeping Black Friday on Black Friday. Or knowing when homecoming is.

At least most schools have had to deal with it. 

Even Ohio State has had to play on Peacock.

It could be worse, though. Remember the Pay-Per-View days? Or the days when only two or three Nebraska games were on TV? I try to stay grounded by thinking about that.

The context here is that some social media account compiled all the Big Ten’s “obscure” football opponents, and Nebraska’s was “Omaha Balloon School” in 1918. 

The 1918 season for Nebraska was a mess due to Influenza cancellations and war-time travel restrictions.

Games against Washington State and Denver were canceled before the season began due to travel budgets. The game against Camp Funston was moved to a later date. Then the games against West Virginia and Syracuse were canceled due to the war-time travel restrictions. The Notre Dame game was rescheduled. The Camp Funston game was canceled. The Notre Dame game was canceled. The game against Missouri was canceled. Nebraska schedules Fort Omaha Balloon and plays. The Northwestern game was canceled. 

So that’s how Nebraska played Fort Omaha Balloon School in 1918.

Some of Nebraska’s other obscure opponents from the early days of the program: Omaha YMCA, Lincoln High School (exhibitions). Omaha University Club, Kansas City Medics, Alumni (exhibition), Kirksville Osteopaths, Lincoln Medics (exhibition) and Camp Dodge.

Now, recently? Not really. The best example: Nebraska played Iowa Pre-Flight in 1942 during World War II and lost 46-0.