Hurricane Dean

- Hammered Jamaica over the weekend, with the Caymans next, followed by Cancun. And then after that, maybe the Mexico coast, maybe South Texas.

Texans prepare for Dean 7:25 AM CT

08:09 AM CDT on Monday, August 20, 2007

HOUSTON - Officials opened emergency operations centers, moved inmates to prisons farther inland and passed out sandbags along portions of the Texas coast as Hurricane Dean barreled toward the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Dean was several days away and its path was still uncertain, but officials weren't taking any chances. Even if the hurricane continues a steady westward course toward Mexico, parts of the already saturated state could be flooded by the storm's outer bands.

One woman died in flooding in Taylor County in West Texas on Saturday and about 1,000 people evacuated heir homes in Abilene on Sunday as Elm Creek spilled from its banks following heavy rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin.

Officials across Texas were concerned that any additional rainfall from Hurricane Dean could have similar effects.

Officials in Cameron County, at the state's southernmost tip, opened emergency operations centers and urged residents to evacuate voluntarily.

"Our mission is very simple. It's to get people out of the kill zone, to get people out of the danger area, which is the coastline of Texas," said Johnny Cavazos, the county's chief emergency director. He added that the county was prepared to order mandatory evacuations if the hurricane veers toward Texas.

The state sent uniformed personnel and aircraft, and hundreds of buses were readied for possible evacuations. City officials distributed sandbags after a state of emergency was declared in the resort town of South Padre Island. The United League canceled the final three regular season minor league baseball games.

"With four of our teams playing in the Rio Grande Valley and the impending threat of Hurricane Dean hitting landfall in the Valley, public safety necessitates this action," League President Craig Brasfield said.

The Texas Youth Commission relocated 269 inmates and staff members from its Evins facility in Edinburg. State prison officials also began evacuating inmates from three Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities in South Texas.

About 3,300 inmates at The Willacy County State Jail in Raymondville as well as in the Lopez State Jail and Segovia Unit, both in Edinburg, were transported by bus to other correctional units.

Michelle Lyons, a department spokeswoman said Sunday night that the move had "gone very smoothly."

"Those offenders will remain in place until the storm is no longer a threat," she said.

As of 8 a.m. EDT Monday, Dean was about 440 miles east of Belize City and was traveling west at about 20 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.

The threat from Dean and its torrential rainfall came as parts of Texas were still cleaning up from the flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin.

Taylor County Judge George Newman said as much as 7 to 10 inches of rain fell Thursday night and Friday. About 35 to 50 homes and businesses were flooded in the town of Merkel on Saturday as Mulberry Creek jumped its banks.

In Abilene on Sunday, Elm Creek topped its bank in several locations and caused widespread street flooding. Mayor Norm Archibald said 10 homes flooded.

Newman said searchers on horseback found the body of 34-year-old Rita Johns on Saturday afternoon, hours after her vehicle was found washed off the road in an area called Coronado's Camp.

Newman said he had asked Gov. Rick Perry for a disaster declaration, the second in as many as three weeks because of flooding.

Ronnie Broadus, emergency services coordinator for the American Red Cross, said rains that began Thursday also caused extensive flooding in Hamlin, about 40 miles northwest of Abilene.

"They got hit really hard," he said. "They've got homes over there that got two to four foot of water."

Dean was expected to intensify to a Category 5 classification with sustained winds of 160 mph before hitting Mexico's Yucatan peninsula on Tuesday.

Dean had already killed eight people on its destructive march across the Caribbean. Jamaica was spared a direct hit Sunday night.

A Home Depot in Brownsville ran out of its supply of plywood Sunday as people rushed to board up windows, and about 60 people waited in line for a new shipment to arrive. Other customers crowded the store scooping up batteries, generators, water and flashlights, assistant store manager Edward Gonzalez said.

"We're hoping it misses us, but it is a huge, huge storm," said Gonzalez. "Everyone says they're not going to take chances. They're going to board up windows and be ready to ride it out."

Texas Gov. Rick Perry mobilized the National Guard and search and rescue teams, shipped 60,000 to 80,000 barrels of gasoline to gas stations in the Rio Grande Valley, and got a pre-emptive federal disaster declaration from President Bush.

The state sent six C-130 aircraft to Cameron County to help if any critically ill patients need to be evacuated from local hospitals. Buses from the city, state, and military were on standby for possible evacuations, including a fleet of 700 sent by the governor's office. Another 600 buses were on standby in San Antonio.

The American Red Cross said it was using Little Rock, Ark., as assembly point for emergency workers in case they're needed to help cope with the aftermath of Dean's landfall.

The organization said in a news release Sunday that 100 emergency vehicles from 23 states -- and two Red Cross workers accompanying each vehicle -- were expected to arrive at Little Rock by late Monday.





- Kind of a random column, but I guess the Stars will be back in action in mid-September, so maybe it's not that far out of place.

Morrow trying to fight the Vancouver bench on his way off the ice with a hurt leg was awesome to watch.

Morrow a natural as Stars captain


12:00 AM CDT on Monday, August 20, 2007

HIGHLAND PARK – A few weeks ago, Brenden Morrow walked into the Stars' training complex and asked to speak to the players participating in the club's developmental camp.

First, though, he requested the coaching staff leave.

He proceeded to spend a few minutes telling the group what it meant to play for the Dallas Stars organization, the passion it takes to succeed at hockey's highest level and the expectations teammates should have for one another.

"For the young guys, there were some things I wanted them to know," Morrow said the other day at a coffee house near his home. "I didn't preach to them, but I told them what it was going to take to get here and stay here.

"I told them things I had learned piece by piece since I've been in the league. Things I wished someone had told me when I was a young player."

This is what you want from your captain. You want your captain to willingly lead the organization. And you want it to come naturally.

For Morrow, it does. For Mike Modano, it wasn't quite as natural.

This is why Doug Armstrong and Dave Tippett made a good decision when they chose the 28-year-old Morrow to be the team's captain heading into last season, even though it was handled clumsily. There had to be some tense moments when the Stars named Morrow captain, because, as you might expect, Modano didn't like the decision.

There was never any problem between Morrow and Modano, who took a couple of golf trips together this off-season. Modano was mad at the organization.

Now, though, we can say it was time for a change.

The Stars had proven veterans in the locker room last season, including a handful of former captains.

But what they needed was a player who would willingly do all of the little things, night after night, that it takes to win hockey games. They needed a guy who wouldn't mind making his teammates uncomfortable by holding them accountable, publicly and privately, for their performance on the ice.

The Stars begin training camp next month, and Morrow can't wait. He's determined to end the Stars' streak of three consecutive first-round playoff losses.

To do so, he must impose his personality on the team.

This isn't a knock on Modano, who remains the Stars' best player even at 36. He's still among the most electrifying players in the league when his legs feel good and his attitude is right.

Morrow, however, gives the Stars grit.

He's 5-11, 205 pounds with average speed. Morrow rarely makes spectacular plays, but he brings substance and determination. He understands that he must sacrifice his body to get close enough to the net to score because he doesn't have the skills to make an end-to-end rush.

He hangs around the net, hoping to deflect a shot or bang in a rebound, and he pays a price physically for it.

Maybe the Stars would've fared better in the playoffs if he hadn't missed more than half of the season with a wrist injury. Perhaps more of his personality would've rubbed off on his teammates.

There's no doubt, entering this season, that this is his team.

Tippett, who received a one-year extension after the season, and Armstrong should be pleased. Another first-round playoff exit and one of them will be unemployed, possibly both.

The Stars have been champions before, so the standard is high. Morrow can help them get back to winning in the postseason.

Morrow proved he could handle his role in the team's first-round playoff series against Vancouver.

Trailing 3-1 in the series, Morrow publicly challenged his teammates, saying too many of them refused to sacrifice their bodies and go to the tough areas of the ice to get the puck or score a goal.

Then he scored a power play goal in overtime on a deflected shot to beat Vancouver, 1-0, and extend the series.

The Stars lost the series in seven games, but Morrow proved he wasn't afraid to embrace the moment and handle the pressure that accompanies the playoffs.

That's what you want from your captain.





- Rangers bend over and take it from Johan Santana. 17 K's, 19 overall as a team. Wow is all you can say after watching that, they never had a chance against him. And they waste another strong outing from Kevin Millwood.

Rangers strike out 19 times in loss


06:09 AM CDT on Monday, August 20, 2007
By RICHARD DURRETT / The Dallas Morning News
rdurrett@dallasnews.com

MINNEAPOLIS – The only thing more prolific than Johan Santana's 17 strikeouts on Sunday were the number of adjectives the Rangers used in describing his performance.

Players threw out accolades about as often as they whiffed Santana pitches a 1-0 loss at the Metrodome.

Sammy Sosa called it awesome. Ian Kinsler said it was dominant. Michael Young couldn't remember ever seeing Santana's changeup better. And Brad Wilkerson said it was a more impressive outing than Mark Buehrle's no-hitter against the Rangers in April.

The coaching staff was wowed too.

"I've seen some great pitching performances, but that ranks up there," said pitching coach Mark Connor, who coached Randy Johnson during his Cy Young seasons in 1999 and 2000. "He was great. No question about that."

Santana's strikeout total was a club record as he allowed two hits in eight shutout innings.

Sosa had both of the Rangers' hits – a single and a double – and was the only player to even reach base against Santana. The Twins' ace had precision control and kept hitters off balance with great off-speed stuff to go along with a lively fastball. He worked quickly and effectively. A moral victory for Texas was simply getting through the sixth inning without striking out. It was the only inning that the Rangers didn't have at least two strike outs.

Michael Young, Marlon Byrd and Gerald Laird struck out in all three plate appearances against Santana, as every starter struck out at least once against him. Ranger batters struck out 19 times in the game, becoming the first time since 1950 to strike out 19 or more times, three times in a season.

Maybe Ramon Vazquez was the luckiest Rangers starter of all on Sunday. He batted ninth, so he only faced Santana twice.

"He's the best pitcher in the game for a reason," said Young, who struck out four times in a game for just the second time in his career (first time since 2003). "In the past, I've had good at-bats against him, but once he gets a full head of steam, it's hard to break up his rhythm. We started talking about different game plans in the dugout, but we couldn't get consistent with any of them."

Rangers starter Kevin Millwood did the best he could to keep pace. He made one costly mistake – leaving a pitch up to Michael Cuddyer that was sent over the wall in left-center field in the second. But Millwood kept the Rangers in it. He walked consecutive batters with one out in both the fourth and fifth innings, but got out of the jams. He finished with five walks in seven innings, but allowed only the one run in the loss. Millwood was also the starter opposite Buehrle's no-hitter.

Millwood's performance continued a string of solid starts for Texas. Rangers starters have a 1.18 ERA in their last six games, including four quality starts. Now, they need to offense to get going.

Rangers pitchers held the Twins to 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position during the series, yet lost two games. Much of that is because the Rangers' hitters didn't deliver in the clutch. They were 2-for-18 with runners in scoring position in the series.

But some of that blame belongs to Santana. On Sunday, he was the meaning of clutch – or whichever adjective you choose.





- Nebraska News/Notes



- Zack Bowman returns to the field. At least a month or 2 ahead of schedule. The only awards-worthy CB they have. Now stay healthy.

Bowman practices in full pads
BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 07:51:38 pm CDT
Nebraska senior cornerback Zackary Bowman left the Hawks Championship Center on Sunday wearing a wide smile.

And with good reason.

Bowman, beset by two knee injuries in the past year, practiced in full pads for the first time since March. He participated mainly in seven-on-seven drills and didn’t absorb hits while focusing mostly on re-establishing his timing and rhythm.

The next question, of course, is when Bowman will be ready for game action. Nebraska coach Bill Callahan has said Bowman could return as early as late September.

Has that outlook changed?

“I don’t know,” Callahan said, noting coaches want to first see how Bowman feels Monday. “I don’t think we can jump ahead and say anything premature at this point. We’re going to have to let things play out and see what he can transition to and how many reps he can handle and take it from there.

“It’s a process. That’s all it is. We’re not going to make any statements about reps or games. We’re just going to work day by day.”

Bowman wasn’t available for interviews, but fellow senior cornerback Cortney Grixby said Bowman “didn’t miss a beat” in his first day back.

“He came out, he played really well, moved around real good,” Grixby said. “He’s just got to get back in rhythm.”

Grixby said Bowman, who wasn’t wearing a knee brace, didn’t appear bothered by any soreness.

“He’s not favoring the knee or anything,” Grixby said.

Bowman hasn’t played since the 2005 Alamo Bowl, when he intercepted his second pass of the season and set a Husker bowl-game record with five pass breakups in Nebraska’s 32-28 victory over Michigan. Bowman also assisted on the wacky touchdown-saving tackle that ended the game.

But Bowman missed last season after he tore his left ACL in the first week of fall camp last August. He then ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee in the second week of spring practice in March. The prognosis was he could miss 4½ to six months.

How Bowman responds after two knee surgeries remains to be seen. In any case, he figures to at least give a boost depthwise to a position that sorely lacked depth a year ago.

That’s when Andre Jones, in his first season after transferring from junior college, was quickly thrown into a starting role. He returns, along with senior Grixby.

Callahan said he’s “really pleased” with the progress of Jones and Armando Murillo, a junior college transfer who was in Lincoln for spring practice.

“Of course, Cortney Grixby is battling every day,” Callahan said. “He comes out here and competes and plays big.”

There’s also been a buzz over the progression of true freshmen Prince Amukamara and Anthony Blue. Callahan also mentioned Anthony West when discussing Nebraska’s improved depth at cornerback.

“That’s why we recruited those kids,” Callahan said. “They’ve done a fine job, and they’ve got a lot of flexibility and versatility to play inside, outside, play into the sub-packages. I think that’s the big thing. We can finally get into some sub-packages that we haven’t been able to get into.”





- The State Paper outlines 5 keys to a Big 12 Championship

Five More Keys to San Antonio (And Just Maybe New Orleans)

Part Two of Two: Offensive cohesion, freshmen and the Missouri game will determine just how far Nebraska goes in 2007
By SAMUEL McKEWON

August 15, 2007

In round two of this keys focus, we continue to examine just what will determine Nebraska's success in the 2007 season.

Getting up to speed- Optimism always blooms in fall camp, and Nebraska's offense is so loaded at the skill positions - particularly receiver - that it would seem easy to plug in a signal-caller and let the Huskers hum. Well, hold on.

When it comes to mastering his role in Nebraska's West Coast Offense, Nate Swift's been around the block, said hi to the neighbors and smacked all the big trees.

The junior receiver enters his fourth year at NU. He's been the redshirt kid learning the ropes in 2004. The breakout performer in 2005. The third option in 2006. Now he's one of the seasoned veterans in Head Coach Bill Callahan's intricate, varied offense.

He can look at the freshmen receivers - including Omaha North product Niles Paul - and sympathize as they work out jitters and learn from mistakes. Because he's spent almost a quarter of his life inside Callahan's system, he can look at the newcomers in fall camp and see who's "gets it," and who doesn't.

Although there's big talk for the 2007 offense, Swift, who's seen just about every play Nebraska could run over the last four years, knows there isn't necessarily a lot of continuity. Two-year starter Zac Taylor graduated, and with him left not only a grasp of the offense, but the experience to apply that knowledge just before the snap on the field.

Quarterbacks Sam Keller and Joe Ganz have learned quickly, Swift said, but neither of them have orchestrated this offense against an opponent in a hostile atmosphere.

"That second year with Zac, he knew the offense in and out," Swift said. "He knew everything. We could put in tons of plays, tons of shifts every - he'd get everybody right. If somebody didn't know on the field, he'd get them there.

"And now it's a little different. You kinda have to go back to the basics a little and teach Keller. And Ganz is getting experience now, so now he has to see how it is in the game, how quick it is."

The Kiddos- Youth is now. College football teams can't afford, as it's said, to live in the "was." They've got to live in the "is." Like the Southern California football program that has exploded over the last five years, NU seems to making a pretty concerted effort to inject the three-deep roster with as many freshman pups who can stay on the porch.

Some, including running back Quentin Castille, quarterback Patrick Witt, defensive backs Shawn Sullivan and Prince Amukamara, receivers Niles Paul and Curenski Gilleylen, may not be vie for starting jobs, but could push for playing time.

"A lot of the younger guys are either finding their way and they're falling off," Swift said. "The two receivers we've got (Paul and Curenski Gilleylen) are still hanging around in there. They're still getting a lot of reps and doing good things."

The two best things freshmen can offer are energy and a chance at the spectacular play.

Can most of them play every down? No. Herschel Walker and Tommie Frazier come along once in a generation.

But they can be a spark. Their spirit can be infectious. They can, have and always will drive coaches a little nuts, but their exuberance can make a veteran huddle crack up at the right moment. Freshmen are the little brothers on a team. They're young men, yes, but there's always a little more sentiment attached to the rookie performances.

Every so often, a little brother making a play is worth more than a fifth-year senior.

Special teams- No fancy titles here. No time for it. Nebraska's performance was wildly inconsistent last season. Some impressive peaks - two fake field goals for touchdowns against Kansas State and Colorado, an excellent effort on kickoff coverage - were offset by an average kicking performance by now-departed Jordan Congdon, and the continued, bewildering lack of success on kickoff return.

There wasn't one kickoff return longer than 32 yards. Folks, considering that 15 of those yards are more or free, that's not just poor, it's unlucky. NU not only couldn't break one, it was not the beneficiary of busted kickoff coverage.

It's been five years since Nebraska had a premier kickoff returner in Josh Davis. Time to find another. Is it one of the incumbents, Tierre Green and Marlon Lucky? Is it a freshman?

It would be too much to expect any of the place-kickers, including Adi Kunalic and Jake Wesch, to win any games for Nebraska, or even make a bunch outside of 40 yards. It should be another season of Nebraska going for it on 4th down from the opponent's 30. Far from ideal, but that result will be fine if NU can change the field position more often in the return game.

The Mizzou Question: Every Husker fan with a connection to the outside world knows by now that Missouri has become a darling of the media and the coaches in the Big 12. The Tigers, whose most significant win last year occurred when they jumped out to a giant lead against Texas Tech on the road, then held on by their claws. The Tigers, who have pretty honest intentions of winning 10 or 11 games this seasons.

Is this Missouri team the one that drags that entire state out several decades of pigskin mediocrity? Have the Tigers developed an offensive magic at Faurot Field that bewitches and confuses the Blackshirts the minute the game starts?

This game is delicious for fans and players alike because it's early, it actually matters, and it's probably going to be on national television. Already the message boards are on fire. MU quarterback Chase Daniel is the first real team leader since Brock Olivo and Corby Jones left a decade ago. Tony Temple might be the best MU running back in, oh, 30 years. Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman form the best tight end duo in America.

And yet...and yet...Nebraska should absolutely win this game.

Crowds in Columbia are loud enough, but Colorado and Kansas State both have better home field advantages in the Big 12 North, much less Nebraska.

And the recent history? Well, along with the 2001 loss to Colorado, the 2005 game – a 41-24 loss - was as complete and stunning a collapse in recent Husker history. NU rushed for -2 yards. Gave up 523 total yards. Made Brad Smith look like Vince Young and Matt Leinart combined.

And still NU was a costly Terrence Nunn fumble away from taking the lead in the second half. Consider that.

If Missouri's fans are expecting that kind of meltdown again, they're expecting the wrong team. Missouri only beats Nebraska if it runs the ball (possible), controls the clock (not that likely), and wins the line of scrimmage (seeing will be believing). It took Daniel, a smart, assured quarterback, almost three quarters to figure out NU last year. He can't wait that long again.

Nebraska has to avoid falling into the hype. Is Missouri likely to be undefeated on Oct. 6? Yes. Is it likely to be the biggest football game for Missouri's students, teachers, administrators, grandmothers, dogs, landfill operators and snow globe salespeople since the 1970s? Probably – especially if Nebraska upsets No. 1 Southern California? Could you imagine that? It might even reach the level of excitement for a Tiger exhibition basketball game.

Little of it matters. NU has better interior players, equally good skill players and a playing style conducive to big games in the Big 12. Missouri will try, as it has in its last two victories over Nebraska, to run around the Huskers. To capture this year's Big 12 North title, the Tigers will have to run right through NU. Can they? The North title depends on who can take a better punch to the facemask.

Frankly, it's nice to have the rivalry back, isn't it?

X: As in factor. What surprises lie inside this Husker team in 2007? In other words, who or what is this year's Brandon Jackson? Is it a player? Does Zack Bowman do a Ty Law impression? Do Courtney Grixby and Andre Jones turn into shutdown corners? Does Marlon Lucky fail to produce, only to be replaced by Major Culbert, who excels? Does some freshman completely blow up in the return game?

X, of course, can go the other way. Is there an injury that would cripple this team? Has Sam Keller, the likely starter at quarterback, got the right stuff? What if Mo Purify never gets quite together? What if there's still no pass rush? What if Nebraska's 3-3 after Oct. 6, staring at Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas on the schedule? It could happen

Nebraska could also be 8-0 walking into Austin just before Halloween, too.

What makes NU interesting – and for now, fun – are the sheer range of possibilities. The safe line says nine or 10 wins. But it could be seven. Could be 12. It could be New Orleans – and don't think it's not possible. Or it could be a bowl game before Christmas.

Just about anybody would settle for a trip to San Antonio, and another shot at Oklahoma, which – count on it – will be waiting, schnooer ready.




- 5 more keys to the season

Sam or Joe - Nebraska coach Bill Callahan calls it an open race. Fine. Whoever does become the starting quarterback needs to own the role in the difficult first month of the season.

If it’s Sam Keller, owner of a big-league arm and a linebacker’s body (6-foot-4, 240 pounds) he has to trust his wide receivers, settle for the short pass and not turn into former Iowa firebrand Drew Tate, whose team was too often hurt by his roller-coaster emotions.

To Keller’s credit, he acknowledged some loose performances at Arizona State at the opening fall press conference:

“I would feel like I had the entire team on my shoulders and I had to make some ridiculous throws to keep us in it” he said. “Some cases that may have been true, but in some cases I might have shot myself in the foot. I don’t think I do that anymore.”

Callahan deserves credit, too. By not declaring Keller the starter in spring, he kept some of the media pressure off him in the summer, but kept the competitive pilot on. You could have heard debate about whether Keller could throw for 4,000 yards, but you didn't. You could have heard Keller was big-timing his receivers in 7-on-7 drills; instead, in an act of kindness that should not be underestimated, he played catch on his own with a suspended Maurice Purify.

I confess: I've only seen Keller at Arizona State twice: The incredible performance against Louisiana State that resembled a pickup game, and a wild performance against USC where it looked like the big stage and big lead go to him in the second half. His delivery seems low, but he's got everything, including the size to take blindside hit or two.

Joe Ganz knows the offense - “probably as good as anybody except Coach Callahan,” he said Monday - and he can scramble. But he has a weaker arm than Keller, throwing longer passes with a lot of arc. Ganz is a good changeup pitcher, and may eventually be the starter. But Keller is the more complete talent.

Lucky. Good. - The messy offseason is over. Marlon Lucky, a smooth, effortless runner, says he’s matured from it, which is good: He’s got a target on the back of his new No. 5 jersey from opponents, competitors and, to some extent, fans, who will root for the top recruit of Callahan’s era to be an every-down back.

His 155 total yards against Auburn - every last one of them earned - seem to suggest he’s ready for that role.

But consider: Lucky gained one-third of his 728 rushing yards last season on just eight plays. On the other 133 carries, he averaged 3.7 yards. Translation: When Lucky got a nice hole, he made the most it. When he didn’t, he struggled.

Lucky’s style isn’t necessarily conducive to the zone blocking scheme of the West Coast Offense. Maybe he craves daylight too much, but improved speed should help on those toss plays previously designed for now-injured Kenny Wilson.

At any rate, he needs to get off to a good start; if he can’t separate himself from Cody Glenn, Major Culbert and three freshmen within the first month, look for Callahan, like last year, to go on a constant hunt for the hot hand.

Don’t get smoked in Winston-Salem - Southern California might be the non-conference game of this early century for the Huskers, but Wake Forest is a classic trap game.

The Deacons don’t have Nebraska’s athletes. But Coach Jim Grobe’s offense runs a lot of tricky misdirection plays, while the Wake defense tries to lure opponents into turnovers with a bend-but-don’t-bust defense. The Deacons may have officially arrived with an Orange Bowl appearance last year, but here’s the game where they prove it’s not a fluke. They’ll be just as tough, if not tougher, than Missouri. Unlike Missouri, with an offense that could take a 14-point lead and fritter it away in seven minutes, Wake likes to take small lead and sit on it. If the Deacons hit a counter play or a tunnel screen for a touchdown in the first quarter, they'll know how to stay in it. If NU were panic-prone, you'll know by mid-afternoon on Sept. 8.

The early betting line? The Huskers, only by a field goal.

Worried a little?

Suhperman - All the focus on the quarterback race somewhat drowned out the player who easily received the most early praise: Sophomore defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Said defensive end Barry Turner: “Suh is probably one of the strongest men in the world.”

And linebacker Corey McKeon: “He’ll just snap you in two if he has to.”

Suh speaks softly, but at 6-4, 305 pounds, he carries a stick worthy of the best interior defensive linemen in NU history. Rich Glover. Neil Smith. Danny Noonan. John Parrella. Jason and Christian Peter. Suh had only 19 tackles last year, but a number of them were flashy solo collisions for loss. He’s possibly the top NFL prospect for the Blackshirts because he can take two blockers and hold his ground, and he can push one blocker back into those read option plays so many Big 12 teams like to run.

Men on an island- It’s tough question regarding cornerbacks Cortney Grixby and Andre Jones, but fair: If you could have replaced one of them last year with a healthy Zack Bowman or, say, All-American candidate Aqib Talib at Kansas, how many more games would Nebraska have won?

Do USC receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith combine for 17 catches and 190 yards?

Does Oklahoma receiver Malcolm Kelly catch that 66-yard bomb in the Big 12 Championship game?

Does Limas Sweed catch his 55-yard touchdown for Texas?

Does Auburn, using a pass interference penalty and two completions over 18 yards, grind out that second-half field goal.? Do the Tigers later escape being pinned at their own one-yard line with four completions - two on third down?

Big plays happen. Leaks are inevitable. And nobody argues that Jones and Grixby gave maximum effort. But they only had two interceptions between them. In losses to USC, OU, Auburn, Texas - all good running teams - Nebraska allowed just 380 total yards on the ground. And 853 passing yards. Picked off just one pass, but gave up eight passing touchdowns. That, in a nutshell, was the difference between 9-5 and 11-3.

Bowman is bigger and he had better instincts. If he’s healthy, and returns before the conference season, it’s a big boost. But one knee injury, much less two, can alter the best athlete's cover skills.

So it’s Grixby and Jones again, probably, at least for the first few games. Nebraska’s front seven can take some pressure off them by getting to the quarterback; Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove has some designs on doing just that.



- An inside look at what's going on from a source close to the team

Amukamara is a stud

Asante will probably get 1st team ss but thenarse is close to him and better in pass coverage

Octavien has excelled as a pass rusher in the 30 front but still gets caught out of position too much at WLB in normal sets

Suh is a beast (duh)

Potter has improved but not enough to feel good about BRE

Pierre Allen hasnt done much to challenge him

Ganz has been sharp in the short game but cannot match Sam K's intermediate and longer play abilities.

Witt has been good but that's been against 2nd/3rd teamers. He's taken about 10 snaps with the first team.

RB is becoming worrisome the longer Glenn is out and Lucky's inability to stay healthy.

Helu is the most complete of our frosh backs but doesnt know enough of the offense to play very much.

Nicks and Williams are bad asses.

Hickman cant get the exchanges down at C, might be a guy who has to just rotoate at G and T even though physically he'd be better off at C.

Makovicka has looked consistent at FB but Lawson is the most gifted, but less consistent.

Murtha has actually stepped up his game, to my surprise. Head appears to be in it.

The 3 frosh LBs are very good athletes and will likely all play even if only on special teams.

Sullivan has been banged up and Blue/Amukamara are well ahead of him at this stage.

Even though NU has 9 wr's besides the two frosh, they will probably both play even though neither has done a lot at wr thus far.

TE is still a weak spot in the passing game.

Overall the D is a bit better than expected so far and the offense not quite as good as expected so far.


- National News/Notes



- AP Top 25 released. Unanimous #1 comes to Lincoln September 15.

AP Top 25
1. USC (62) 0-0 1,622
2. LSU (2) 0-0 1,511
3. West Virginia (1) 0-0 1,396
4. Texas 0-0 1,375
5. Michigan 0-0 1,371
6. Florida 0-0 1,276
7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,192
8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,166
9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,148
10. Louisville 0-0 1,031
11. Ohio State 0-0 876
12. California 0-0 790
13. Georgia 0-0 782
14. UCLA 0-0 605
15. Tennessee 0-0 571
16. Rutgers 0-0 560
17. Penn State 0-0 542
18. Auburn 0-0 519
19. Florida State 0-0 392
20. Nebraska 0-0 377
21. Arkansas 0-0 376
22. TCU 0-0 283
23. Hawaii 0-0 256
24. Boise State 0-0 187
25. Texas A&M 0-0 162
Others Recieving Votes
Missouri 128, Georgia Tech 94, Boston College 75, Oregon 73, South Carolina 69, Miami (FL) 68, Alabama 66, Oregon State 42, Wake Forest 40, South Florida 28, Arizona State 17, Brigham Young 14, Southern Miss 12, Notre Dame 11, Virginia 7, Clemson 6, Oklahoma State 3, Texas Tech 2, Purdue 1, Houston 1, Kentucky 1, North Carolina State 1.


- The NoTex Rant Top 25

#25 - Missouri
#24 - Hawaii
#23 - Oklahoma St.
#22 - Alabama
#21 - Texas Tech
#20 - South Carolina
#19 - Boston College
#18 - Boise State
#17 - Rutgers
#16 - Cal

- #15 - Ohio State


After the brutally awful 59 minutes of football that followed Ted Ginn's kickoff return for a score in the BCS Championship Game, Ohio State has to quickly pick up the pieces of its shattered reputation and get right back in the national title race. Despite massive personnel losses on offense, this team can do that.
Don't believe the myth that the Buckeyes aren't fast, just because Florida played faster. Don't believe the myth that Jim Tressel and his staff now can't coach in the big game compared to the new breed of stars like Urban Meyer. Don't believe the myth that OSU can't play with SEC teams (although the record against the league would suggest otherwise). And don't believe the myth that OSU is a dead-team-walking after losing Ginn, Antonio Pittman, Anthony Gonzalez, Heisman winner Troy Smith and six starters on the defense.

This is Ohio State. Like last year on defense, superstars will take over for superstars.

The Buckeyes should be able to show up and start 8-0 without breaking much of a sweat, so barring a disaster, they'll be able to fill in all the gaps and tweak all the problems for two months before the real season starts. But even if they rock and blow everyone out, will America forgive and forget how it felt so hoodwinked last year? How much time will it take before Tressel's boys get the blind faith and goodwill it built up when everyone picked them to walk over the Gators? Maybe the loss to Florida was a major embarrassment that could turn out to be a positive going into this year.

Motivation won't be an issue. The tired "nobody believes in us" cliché will be fired out more than once when everyone picks Michigan and Wisconsin to be the main conference favorites. Yes, the Ohio State University could actually be the sleeper in the Big Ten race.

What to watch for on offense: Welcome back to Tressel-ball. Without Smith and his weapons, the offense's prime initiative will be to not screw up, and to let the defense and special teams take care of business. The offensive line should be good enough to pound out an effective running game, so expect RB Chris Wells to quickly become a household name and a favorite for the 2008 Heisman.

What to watch for on defense: James Laurinaitis making tackle after tackle. Vernon Gholston is the only returning starter on the line, so it might take a little while before the front four is up to championship snuff. Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman will be a lights-out 1-2 linebacking combination against the run in an aggressive, fast defense that should produce plenty of turnovers.

The team will be far better if … it remembers that it really is a national title-caliber program, and that the Florida loss might simply have been an aberration. The team was fat, lazy and unprepared for the jacked-up Gators. Make no mistake about it, Florida earned that win, but the Buckeyes didn't seem focused. Using that game for motivation is a necessity.

The Schedule: It should be just about perfect, giving all the young offensive talent time to figure out what to do. Warm-ups against Youngstown State and Akron will set the tone for a road trip to Washington. The next five games are nice and easy for a team like OSU, playing Northwestern, at Minnesota, at Purdue, Kent and Michigan State before the nasty finishing kick: playing at Penn State, home against Wisconsin and Illinois, and finishing at Michigan.

Best Offensive Player: Sophomore RB Chris Wells. Get ready for information overload regarding Wells, who's set to become the next great Buckeye back and the focal point of the offense, now that Troy Smith and his star-studded support cast are in the NFL. In the Adrian Peterson mold, he's the prototype at the position with great size, ample speed and a solid true freshman season to build upon.

Best Defensive Player: Junior LB James Laurinaitis. What does Laurinaitis possibly do for an encore after leading the Buckeyes in tackles and interceptions a year ago, en route to becoming the first true sophomore to win the Nagurski Award? A physical beast in run defense, he's also stellar in underneath pass coverage, making him a natural at creating takeaways.

Key player to a successful season: Junior QB Todd Boeckman. Assuming he actually wins the job by opening day, don't be shocked if he's better than many expect, considering he has to replace a legend. While he's not the passer Troy Smith was, he has the arm, size and talent to make defenses worry about the passing game. Sophomore Rob Schoenhoft and speedy redshirt freshman Antonio Henton should see a little bit of time to get their feet wet.

The season will be a success if ... the Buckeyes are playing Michigan with a shot at the Rose Bowl. Even with all the issues on offense, this is still The Ohio State University; it'll come up with a few guys who can play. The defense alone will be enough to win seven games without much of a concern. Even if there's a toe-stubbing against someone like Purdue or Penn State, OSU should be able to get to Michigan with a shot at the Rose Bowl.

Key game: Oct. 6 at Purdue. Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's no bigger game than the one against that team in Maize and Blue up the road about 200 miles, and battles against Penn State and Wisconsin are vital, but the road trip to Purdue will show what kind of team this is. The Boilermaker attack likely will finish the season first in the Big Ten in total offense, and will give the Buckeye defense a test. The OSU offense has to show it can keep up the pace. A win would likely mean an 8-0 start before the trip to Happy Valley.

2006 Fun Stats

First quarter scoring: Ohio State 118; Opponents 34

Points allowed vs. Michigan and Florida: 80; Points allowed vs. the other 11 opponents: 86

Red zone touchdowns: Ohio State 42 of 54 (78%); Opponents 17 of 31 (55%)

Ohio State Buckeyes
Team Information
Head coach: Jim Tressel
7th year: 62-14
Returning Lettermen
22nd year overall: 197-71-2
Lettermen Lost: 21

Ten Best Players
1. LB James Laurinaitis, Jr.
2. CB Malcolm Jenkins, Jr.
3. OT Alex Boone, Jr.
4. OT Kirk Barton, Sr.
5. DE Vernon Gholston, Jr.
6. LB Marcus Freeman, Jr.
7. RB Chris Wells, Soph.
8. OG Steve Rehring, Jr.
9. LB Larry Grant, Sr.
10. P A.J. Trapasso, Soph.

2007 Schedule
Sept. 1 Youngstown State
Sept. 8 Akron
Sept. 15 at Washington
Sept. 22 Northwestern
Sept. 29 at Minnesota
Oct. 6 at Purdue
Oct. 13 Kent State
Oct. 20 Michigan State
Oct. 27 at Penn State
Nov. 3 Wisconsin
Nov. 10 Illinois
Nov. 17 at Michigan




- Picks O'the day

Weekend record - 4-3
YTD - 119-98