Live from BugahaWest: Spring Ball is just around the corner

Dear Fellow Husker fans,

It has been a interesting couple of weeks since I last posted on here. You have the Robert Mavre situation (which I will talk about later), saying adios to Patrick Witt (more later as well), Barry Turner, Kent Pavelka sighting on our site (thank you Kent for your response, it gave the entire family a cheer), and other schools starting spring ball. However, before I get into the football talk, I need to start with basketball and baseball.

First off, in baseball, spring training has started and since the past week or so I have been on a much needed and much deserved vacation, I have been able to pay attention to my second love when it comes to sports, baseball. I am enjoying spring training, the World Baseball Classic, and the sport at the college level. It almost feels right, feels clean, feels like it is a good sport again. I am not naive enough to say everybody is clean, but I am confident enough to say that as a whole, the sport is in much better shape than it was in the days proceeding the Mitchell report.

Secondly, the phenom known as March Madness in basketball. Yes, I am on vacation but I spent the better part of each day with the family in order to get one thing today and tomorrow, an excuse to kick back and listen to the first round of the Big Dance via the internet. It is so crazy, keeping an eye on my bracket and enjoying great basketball at the same time. Gotta love this time of year.

Ok, you've been waiting patiently for it. Some of you out there are like, quit the preamble get to the main course talk about the biggie of biggies, football. Ah, do I stall for a bit and talk about my vacation more? Naw, I enjoyed my time in Vegas, did not enter a casino until we hit the Circus Circus amusement park 3 days ago, and honestly, had a blast of family fun. Ok, I heard you, down in front. It time, take your seats, and hold on for the fastest football blog on the net.

Topic: Robert Mavre.

I honestly don't know on this one guys. There is a part of me that says he sounds alot like the kid that says since I can't play by my rules, I am going to take my ball and go home. I'm not even thinking about the suspensions/discipline problem. There is something more about this kid that I don't like. There is the fact he went to Miami and to be honest, you might be able to get the kid out of Miami, but can you get the Miami out of the kid? He is talented, but what is truly behind this falling out with Coach Shannon. The funny thing is you have this talk and then there is the Jay Cutler/Denver Broncos situation in the NFL. In that situation, you know, the Coach is in the wrong as much as the player. What do expect a guy to do if you dangle him out there as trade bait and when it fails you try to play nice. Yeah, Cutler does have a beef but guess what, you are playing football at the highest level, learn from your peers, it's a business. So, suck it up, put on the helmet and go out there and prove to the coach you can run his system (and no, I am not a Denver fan). Back to Mavre, he has all the physical tools, but you wonder about character. There have been thoughts thrown out there he would improve the QB position. News flash, by the time he will be able to step foot on Memorial Stadium's turf as quarterback for Nebraska, the position will be fine. He cannot help this year, so throw that argument out the window. I know I am preaching to the choir, but you know what, it's time to get back to the basics this year on offense, grind it out, ball control, Chicago Bear/Nebraska football at its best. Let the QB learn as the year goes along. Ok, Cody Green is out for the spring, fine let Taylor Martinez take a few snaps at QB. There was a blip in cyberspace a few weeks back by an off the wall writer stating that Martinez might have a better arm and might be a better fit at QB than Green. Let him prove his worth while Green heals. You never know right.

Topic: Patrick Witt

Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you. Get out and don't look back. This is why we don;t need Mavre either, not a fair trade at all. Wouldn't it be funny if Witt ended up at Miami? On a side note, Harrison Beck packed his bags and left NC State. If you can't make it there, might as well go to Prairie View A&M.

Topic Barry Turner

It is looking like he will be getting that all important replay of his senior year. I am liking our defense more and more as spring ball gets closer. The rundown of young men that should be starting on d looks great. You have Suh, Turner, Dillard, Lawrence, and Blue. Granted two, Blue and Turner are coming off of injury and need time to regain the mojo and Blake Lawrence is still a project, he still saw playing time last year. Most people are thinking this is the year the offense is going to have to win some ballgames and carry the defense. I am the exact opposite of that. I believe the defense is not only going to have to improve, but they will win a game or two for us, especially early in the year. Watson would be smart to use those first couple of games as a way to improve the running game and let that young talented offensive line gain confidence in run blocking. While that is going on, the QBs, all of them will gradually be fed bigger helpings of the play book while Watson learns not only what this team can do, but also which quarterback would be the better option to run the show. Yeah, I know this is all talk before spring ball, but seriously, right now where we sit we absolutely know nothing when it comes to the QB spot. This team will live and die by the Blackshirt.

Topic: Kent Pavelka

I am still in shock. I even called my mom and dad to have them check it out. That was way cool to have his personal response. Nothing against the 1000+ others that frequent this lovely site, but that would be like writing about the commentary on the NCAA basketball tourney and getting a public reply from Billy Packer.

Topic: Other teams' springs

The Big 12 will be a tough road again. Don't even look at who loses what, this league is turning into what the Dukes, UNCs, and Oklahomas of the colllege basketball world are right now. They do not rebuild, they just reload. Example: Chase Daniels is out at Mizzou, plug in Blaine Gabbert who has had a year to sit and wait. Colt McCoy is gone after this year so what do they do, get a commit from his baby brother. It's crazy guys and this league is not yet a league of haves and have nots, but there is a very real difference in talent across the board and from where I sit, Nebraska is on the second tier of a 4 tier system. The top is Texas and OU. Making up the second with Nebraska is Mizzou, Texas Tech, Kansas and A&M. The third tier is Colorado, Oklahoma St, and maybe Baylor. The last tier is ISU and K-State. The margin is not wide between the tiers, but from top to bottom you can tell there is a talent difference level not unlike that in the 1980s when the Big 8 was often referred to as the Big 2 and the little 6. I am not saying we change the way we recruit, I like the way Bo is doing it, but we need to get the right recruits to come and things will be ok.

Well, I can't think of much else and the Big Dance is moving along, back to the basketball and watching my bracket get toasted before the first weekend. Thank you for your time and your comments. God bless and Go Big Red.

Chris
"We are Nebraska"