The 24 HOUR RULE: It’s Time Nebraska Huskers Michigan Wolverines Scott Frost Adrian Martinez Samari Toure Jim Harbaugh

“This is your time. Now go out there and take it.” – Herb Brooks

Admit it, this one feels just a little bit different. The steady decline under Solich, the square peg in the round hole fit of the Callahan years, never quite getting over the hump with Pelini, the unmitigated disaster that was three years of Riley and making gains while shooting ourselves in the foot which defined Frost’s first three years – these all led me to begin approaching Husker football with a little bit of dread.

Maybe three straight weeks of of actually yelling me head off have made me frickin’ giddy, but I’m as excited for this game as I’ve been for one in years. It’s just a gut feeling – and boy, is my record on those about as solid as the life decisions made by a tweaker soaring on meth – but I can’t help it. I’m 100% jacked, locked and loaded, pissed up and ready to go, whatever you want to call it.

Let’s say something along these lines:

There’s really nothing more to say. I’m going to totally cheat and steal what wrote in the weekly picks column because I can’t put it into words any better than that.

This is it. No breakdown, no stats, just a gut feeling which is not tempered by what ifs for the first time in a long time. I could be wrong and if I am, I’ll pick myself up, dust myself off and be ready again next Saturday.

Just like this team.

I read a quote somewhere (and I know I’m screwing it up a little) that the unluckiest people are the ones who never face adversity because they will never be pushed to become the people they can be.

This group of players and coaches has faced enough adversity on the field in the manner of beatdowns and soul-crushing tight losses. They faced it off the field in the manner of savage criticism and horrid online rumor-mongering. They’ve just kept moving forward and they deserve what’s going happen tonight.

I believe in this team but far more importantly, they are starting to believe in themselves and that has been the missing ingredient. Tonight, it comes together.

“You know what you have to do. Do it.” – Duke (Rocky 4)

Nebraska Cornhuskers
Michigan Wolverines