Driving I-29 on a grey November morning, through the outposts of northwest Missouri, southwestern Iowa and the barren plains of Nebraska, you begin to wonder just how the glory was ever born. Bob Devaney and Tom Osbourne built one of the nation’s legendary programs here? I mean, here? Nebraska convinced kids raised in the sunshine of Florida, California and Texas to come play Saturdays on this brown, desolate moonscape?
Forget strip malls or even gas station super-marts on the three-hour drive from Kansas City. Once you get north of St. Joseph’s, MO, a Love’s truck stop rises from the horizon like the lost city of Atlantis. You’re telling me Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier, Trev Alberts and Irving Fryer all signed on the dotted line for this? Husker nation claims five national titles here?
Then, of course, you drive through the mobbed streets of downtown Lincoln, watch as the pep band marches around the stadium and stare slack-jawed as 77,000 red-clad fans pile into historic Memorial Stadium for one of the worst Nebarska teams in thirty years. THEN it hits you. Damn, this place is pretty cool.
I have friends that are Mizzou, KU and K-State fans. I’ve talked to alumnus and donors to all three local schools. Those three fan bases can’t agree on anything.
“Boy, isn’t that blue sky just beautiful today?”
“What? That’s not blue! It’s like a periwinkle, you dope!”
Yet, everyone agrees on their hatred of the Huskers. Why not? MU, KU and KSU have been the sorry wallflowers in school, beaten up and teased by the bully Huskers for generations. Then again, in unison everyone has told me, “But you HAVE to go up there for a game.”
Of course, they were right. Somehow Memorial Stadium makes 77,000 people feel intimate. The four sides of stands are built straight up. You envision some sprawling stadium, with nosebleed seats on the outerbanks of Omaha. Not even close. I think it was built with a corn silo in mind. Standing on the sideline during the fourth quarter, I felt like I was on the ground floor of the prison cell in “Oz.” The fans just hang on top of the field. There’s only three yards between the first row of fans and the backs of the end zones. Intimidating? More like frightening.
The acoustics obviously make for one of the loudest stadiums in the country. Yet, there sat Husker fans Saturday afternoon, watching the putrid Wildcats on the verge of stealing one and putting a near-fatal dagger into NU’s bowl plans. Leading 24-12 in the third quarter, amidst swirling winds and against a struggling run defense, coach Bill Callahan decided to keep throwing. The Huskers didn’t need curiosity to kill the cats, only smart-play calling. But winning ugly be damned, Callahan was gonna make sure he did it his way. So QB Zack Taylor dropped back to pass, was stripped of the football and K-State recovered. The Cats punched it in and now trailed 24-18 (kick failed).
Time to run? Nah. Up 24-20 after a safety gobbled up Huker RB Marlon Lucky on an interior run play, NU found itself with a 2nd and 12 from their own one-yard line again. This time, swing pass left side was complete five yards deep in the end zone to Lucky, who was promptly tackled for another safety. Nebraska led 24-22.
So, leading by a duece, with true freshman QB Harrison Beck seeing his first snaps of the year while filling in for the injured Taylor, what would you do? Call a game focusing around steady senior running back Corey Ross, probably. Come on! Live a little! How about throwing some more? With 10:00 to play and 25 mph gusts of wind bending the goal posts like the St. Louis arch, Callahan inexplicably called THREE straight pass plays for Beck from around midfield. Three straight incompletions followed. A total of fifteen seconds elapsed off the clock.
Still leading 24-22 with about 6:00 left and Beck still without a completion or having found his feet in his first ever college game, Callahan called a roll out left. Beck rolled and fired near sideline... and it was promplty picked off by the Wildcats and returned to the Huskers nine yard-line.
Now, I’m sorry. You wanna argue Callahan’s recruiting classes prove this program is headed in the right direction? Fine. Still believe NU suffered from a woefully antiquated offense in a modern day game of offensive spreads, shotguns and fireworks? I can buy that. But, this play-calling has to be the first slide in a “How to Lose Games” Powerpoint presentation.
The Cats settled for a FG and allowed NU to drive the field for a dramatic last second 40-yard FG. The Huskers held on the final series and Callahan could breathe a sigh of relief. He had avoided missing a bowl game for the second straight season. But, Callahan had put the win up on eBay and dared K-State to bid on it.
In the end, though, I suppose my first trip to Lincoln was the classic Husker experience. Sitting in a sea of red, shivering from swirling winds, my ears ringing from 77,000 screaming die-hards... watching Bill Callahan almost blow it.
...
The Chiefs not only lost on Sunday in Buffalo, they lost their composure as well. It always says a lot more about a team in how they handle themselves in defeat, instead of victory. The Chiefs expected to go there and get a win, and when they found themselves down in the third quarter, there was a detectable "oh crap" look on their faces. By the end of the game, the Chiefs had been physically beaten and their egos severly bruised. So, how to handle a crippling loss to a mediocre team? By acting like prima donna children. Lionel "Duece" Daulton laid on top of Willis McGahee and shoved him into the ground five times. Daulton and Eric Hicks were then ejected, after their roles in an end-of-game fracas.
Then following the worst offensive line performance in recent memory, three linemen decided not to speak to reporters. This burns me to no end. When it comes to promoting their charities or public engagements, these guys are always looking for a mic. When Brian Waters wants to mug in front of the MNF cameras or chat it up after wins, he is one of the best quotes on the team. When the O-Line allows their quarterback to get sacked six times and knocked down 15 others, you have to step up and answer questions. Even if it's "I don't know. We stunk." And they did.
BEST OF: The Panthers Dancers stop by and don't stop talking for twenty minutes. Wait, you're home schooled? BEST OF: Heat legend Glen Rice in studio on dropping 56 on the Magic, Final Fours and MMA. BEST OF: "The Obama Guy" now has D.A.'s old job! He asked the Prez a question, then he joined the show. BEST OF: Phil and Chris Simms drop by the broadcast to rap about dad's career and son's future. BEST OF: Why so few minority college coaches? DA answers with one word: Boosters. BEST OF: When a Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer talks, you listen. The immortal Lynn Swann. BEST OF: TNA Wrestling's Traci Brooks on being blessed with, ahem, great dimensions. DA LOVES THE KIDS: After Marlins summer-camp day, the next gen of Fish Fans might be in trouble. DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 1 Heat charity camp shows us D-Wright's defense needs a little work.
DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 2 Not everyone is thrilled with the hiring of Eric Spoelstra. INSTANT CLASSIC: Free-agent Joe Horn blasts his old coaches and asks for Dolphins forgiveness, all live on the show! INSTANT CLASSIC: The man who took down Kimbo Slice: overnight celebrity Seth Petruzelli talks about the fight that stunned the fight world. BEST OF: Author Jeff Pearlman on the controversial Cowboys dynasty. Uh, ew. BEST OF: Heat rookie Mario Chalmers needs help hot-boxing. Cough, cough.. BEST OF: DA is named a Godfather. Can he handle the responsibility or will he sleep with the fishes? BEST OF: DA witnesses the greatest kids game ever. Rock, paper, scissors, space! STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 1 DA goes where no sportstalk host has gone before: Star Wars premier night.
STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 2 Will DA make it out alive or turn into an extra from the Cantina Bar? INSTANT CLASSIC: Legend of the MMA Dan "Hendo" Henderson on the circus attraction to Kimbo and the rise of UFC. BEST OF: New UFC Champ Forrest Griffin on the belt and bouncing out of fighting while the gettin's good. INSTANT CLASSIC: Zo's youth clinic brings us immediate joy: Heat Kids Say the Darndest Things BEST OF: Miami boxer Joey "Twinkle Fingers" Hernandez found himself on the streets. How he got his mojo back. BEST OF: CBS4 Weather Wizard and Miss Florida Lissette Gonzalez on the jet-stream and the wave. BEST OF: Marino delivers a commencement speech and DA's own graduation horrors. INSTANT CLASSIC: Cats winger Nathan Horton is married to a Playmate? Oops. INSTANT CLASSIC: What does JoePa really mean at pressers? Ask Penn State 101. INSTANT CLASSIC: St. Patty's Day means celebrating Irish sports legends: DA Show style. INSTANT CLASSIC: Canes Big Man Dwayne Collins has his Aladdin DVD stolen. The Horror! INSTANT CLASSIC: Dontrelle says peace to South Florida with DA. Here's his Top-3 movies of all-time. SUPER BOWL XLII: NYG's Lawrence Tynes stops by after the ticker tape parade. INSTANT CLASSIC: Is Shaq becoming M.C. Hammer Jr? Say it ain't so. INSTANT CLASSIC: DA melts down as his alma mater brings brings back the dimwitted Greg Robinson for more SU pain. INSTANT CLASSIC: This placed DA squarely on the Chiefs blacklist forever. DA and King Carl in THE Battle Royale. BEST OF: Where it all started: Herm
and Carl agree... Damon is a nice name. SUPER BOWL XL: D.A. does his best investigative work ever. It's the field turf press conference from Detroit. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Mark Mangino Montage tastes better than ever! INSTANT CLASSIC: The 2007 Herm-Gasm. 'Nuff said. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Chiefs Dept. of Misinformation is at it once again. Are the Chiefs wearing white or not? Don't ask them. INSTANT CLASSIC: Chicago's legendary Mike North joins DA to preview Chiefs- Bears. Da Bears! INSTANT CLASSIC : The annual DA Show NBA Mock Draft is here... with a return from Stormbot. FEATURED AUDIO: Royals legend Denny Matthews has bought his first cell phone. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as 6-4-3. FEATURED AUDIO: A fond DA Show farewell to Buddy Bell. He really was "Our Buddy." FEATURED AUDIO
: Lauren Nichole has made quite an impression with her traffic reports. Great or gross? You decide. The
one, the only, Zach Greinke from Royals Spring Training. The
2007 One NIT NIT Moment.
The 2006 Caller Hall of Fame Track One: Christopher Walken's legendary roast
of the new class
First the staff. Then listeners. Now LJ has the Herm-gasm? Crazy
Ray sings the Growing Pains theme song. The
Royals 70's jingle that puts a smile on your face during another horrid season
in KC. The
local TV anchors slip up on the broadcast and luckily the D.A. Show was rolling
tape. 6-6-06:
The Crypt Keeper's Holiday Crazy
Ray displays his talent for singing. Could he make a run at the next American
Idol? Oklahoma
takes it on the chin with this famous call from R.B. Missed
any of the NIT NIT action? Check out the recaps of the games and a special
edition of The One NIT NIT Moment. We
couldn't leave Alex the Intern out of the mix, check out the drunk dial message
Alex left for D.A. The
D.A. Show tribute to Alan Thicke.
Is
Crazy Ray really crazy? Take a listen to find out.
A
D.A. Show Investigation reveals color commentators handing out the pink slip
to local college coaches.
Quinner's
feeling a bit down. We ask, what's wrong with Quinn Snyder? Herm Edwards gave us quotable material right from jump street. He gets a montage based on his introduction presser. A
staple of any good office party. It's the Dick Vermeil montage XP: final edition.
Duh, ok.
DA's Hometown Hottie contest created controversy throughout KC. Radio superstar Johnny Dare stuck his nose in the middle of it. The
callers finally had their own chance to put their stamp on the Vermeil montage Why
do the sista's hate the show? It all started here: Yvette's call of the day The original D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off (circa '04). The '05 D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off, complete with a certain national columnist. The '06 smack-smack, which brought all the D.A. Show legends together for one fab event. You asked for it. We delivered. DA Show icon Alan Thicke's first appearance.
Driving I-29 on a grey November morning, through the outposts of northwest Missouri, southwestern Iowa and the barren plains of Nebraska, you begin to wonder just how the glory was ever born. Bob Devaney and Tom Osbourne built one of the nation’s legendary programs here? I mean, here? Nebraska convinced kids raised in the sunshine of Florida, California and Texas to come play Saturdays on this brown, desolate moonscape?
