Austin, TX

- What a city. I've said it before, and it always proves true when I go back, you can't overrate Austin. For everything - Food, drinks, bars, nightlife, women, entertainment, etc. Austin recruits itself. It would be the hardest place to say no to.

- Pretty decent tailgating scene outside the stadium. It's definitely a big-time street/city scene. Since the campus and stadium are just north of downtown, everything happens on the streets and in the bars, not as much RV'ing and big open grass field tailgating. But this doesn't slow down or hurt the scene at all.

- People were surprisingly polite and welcoming. Didn't have one bad experience with a Texas fan, and we were Huskered out.

- Open container laws go out the window on Gameday. Just hung out among the masses on the streets drinking and socializing.

- The stadium is huge, wide open, and is maybe even laid out too much. Too wide open. Hinders the noise level, which isn't a good thing considering the docile nature of the Texas fan. I've definitely been in louder stadiums. But they are adding 2 upper decks in either end zone, so this should help.

- Pre game very cool. Huge Texas flag in end zone, lots of traditional/historic band songs from the Texas Band. You can dislike Texas the University, but you have to love the respect they give to the state in their pre-game presentation.

- That place was dead quiet for 3 quarters. Nebraska was blitzing, putting McCoy on his ass the whole time, and was up 14 points.

- But Colt got hurt, Chiles came in, they started running the Vince Young zone read, and it was church.

- The NFL conservative play calling was in full force with the score 17-3. Note to Callahan, 17 points will not win a game on the road against a top 15 opponent. Keep attacking idiot.

- The seams/middle of the field have been wide open all year. Keller hit it twice for TD's in the 1st half. And then Callahan went into a shell and didn't attack it the rest of the game. He thought he could win 17-3.

- The most emotion I've seen from the Nebraska team all year. Lots of yelling and jumping around celebrating after good plays. Inspired play on defense, tough, never give up running from Marlon Lucky, and perhaps the best game all year from Sam Keller.

- Nebraska gets an interception in the 4th quarter with 8 minutes to go, and leading 17-15 with the ball at midfield. Instead of going for the kill, they run 2 un-imaginative run plays and throw deep on 3rd and long. 3 and out and the game was over. Typical BS from Callahan. There is absolutely no killer instinct in that man.

- They finally adjusted their defense and showed Texas some different looks, and what do you know? They had success and held them to 3 points through 3 quarters. But Texas adjusted in the 2nd half. I guess a counter-adjustment is just too much to ask from this coaching staff. Hell, the 1 time adjustment to blitzing the crap out of McCoy was a miracle enough.

- Many thanks go out to Keller for putting up with this crap this year. He's now hurt and gone for the rest of the year. I don't believe he was able to fully use his talents. Callahan's NASA offense had him thinking too much, throwing too many swing and screen passes, and just not fully utilizing his talent by attacking downfield and improvising passing plays. A talent like Keller needs less restrictions. He definitely has the support from every Nebraska person, there's no one out there with a bad thing to say about Sam Keller.

- All in all, a great trip. Great seats, great food, great tailgating, great atmosphere, great game, and great nightlife. Austin should be on everyone's schedule of road trips in college football.


- The banner we "found" at a Nebraska gathering at Scholtz's Beer Garden.


- No doubt the creepiest dude we saw in a city of weirdos. Full length long john's with a gold grill in his mouth.


- Pre-game presentation.


- Scholtz's Beer Garden, pre-game.


- 6th Street Saturday night. Halloween night on 6th Street. Tons of weirdos.





- Biggest scoreboard I've ever seen.











- Tailgating in the street.


- The whole group.




- Big 12 Rankings

1) Oklahoma
2) Missouri - Struggled against Iowa State, but this is a good team.
3) Kansas - Refuse to put them any higher, they'll have a few more losses before year is done.
4) Oklahoma State - Quietly putting together a nice run, 3-1 in conference with a huge game Saturday at home vs. Texas. Take the points.
5) Texas - There were major rumblings from the Texas fans around us about Mack Brown and Colt McCoy. The offense with the zone read and Chiles at QB was 10 times more effective.
6) Colorado - A tough, tough team.
7) Kansas State - Another tough team that can play with anyone.
8) Texas A&M - That offense and coaching staff needs a major overhaul.
9) Texas Tech - Tech will always be Tech.
10) Nebraska - Finally showed some fight, some toughness. One of their better games all year, but as has been the case all year, coaching let them down and threw the reins on the offense.
11) Iowa State - Playing some teams tough lately.
12) Baylor - Give it up.


National Rankings

1) LSU - I don't care what anyone says, this is the best team in the country. Very big game at Alabama this Saturday.
2) Ohio State - Showed me a little more by beating/dominating Penn State.
3) Arizona State - Great win at home. Tougher games await, including Oregon this weekend.
4) Boston College - Lucky as hell Thursday night.
5) Oklahoma - Rematch with Missouri looming.
6) Oregon - I think this is the #2 team in the nation, and if they beat Arizona State, they should jump.
7) West Virginia - Keeps winning, but no shot to make it to title game.
8) Missouri - Struggled vs. Iowa State, but has a chance to make up some major ground with wins over Kansas and Oklahoma.
9) Kansas - Here barely.
10) Georgia - Wins ugly, but wins.

On Cusp
- Michigan - Ripping through the Big 10.
- UConn - Surprise team of year.
- Va. Tech - Overrated.
- Auburn - Has lost some tough games.
- Hawaii