With the dramatic win by Nebraska over Colorado on Friday, I felt compelled to actually update this little blog.

My only thoughts on that game:  Alex Henery won't have to look for a date for months.  Women will be beating his door down.

Now, onto more serious thoughts.

I've watched as many games as I could this year and several opinions, notice the word opinions, have formed in my head.

First, Woody Paige is still a hack of a journalist.  He wrote an article last week thanking Nebraska for returning to something resembling prominence.  He made a few Nebraska jokes and seemed very pleased with himself for his humorous take on Nebraska's decent season.

Now, Woody, before we go thanking Nebraska for coming back to prominence, I must only ask one question:  When was Colorado ever prominent or relevant?  Remove that small stretch of time from 1990 to 1994 when Colorado actually won a national title and seemed like they may be a consistent national player, the Buffaloes have been remarkably mediocre since.

Because, you know Woody, Nebraska kind of won three national titles after that.  I'm just saying.

Woody made several references to the Huskers struggles over the last few years.  This made me think and I did a little research.  I have since misplaced the research and really don't want to go find it but over the last five years, Colorado's record is something like 29-35.  Nebraska's over that same time is around 35-27. 

Nebraska's worst record during that time?  Five wins and seven losses.  Colorado's?  Two wins and ten losses.

Let me do my math for a moment.  That would seem to indicate that Nebraska has a better record than Colorado over the last five years. 

Hmmm, maybe we Nebraska fans should write an article for Woody the moment Colorado actually becomes or stays useful to the national picture for more than five seasons.

I realize that 35-27 is not what we Huskers are accustomed to but the days of prolonged dominance, unless you are USC and you can provide favors for your players and the NCAA won't do anything about it, are probably over for most teams. 

Second point of the day:  I still find myself struggling with the question of 'are we reallly better than we were a year ago?'

Yes, the Huskers did go 8-4 this year, a marked improvement over last year's 5-7 complete and utter meltdown.  But there is still this nagging doubt in the back of my head.  

It is true that the Huskers could very well be 10-2, had the Virginia Tech and Texas Tech games gone a little different.  But they could also just as easily be 6-6 or 5-7 had some things gone differently against Colorado, Kansas and Baylor.

Perhaps the fact that they found a way to win those last three games I mentioned is the mark of an improved team.  And perhaps any critiques I could throw out there about the defense are less a product of the defense's improvement and more a product of the crazy-ass offensive production this conference spews out. 

I will give this team a huge bit of kudos for making things interesting.  Throw out the Missouri and Oklahoma debacles and this team was in every game they played. 

And I must once again look back to the Oklahoma game as a moment that may have turned around Bo Pelini's coaching career.  After he was lambasted for days over his sideline tirades he seemed to become a more calm and passified Coach Bo.  And when the coach is under control, the team plays the same way.  He never panicked against Kansas or Colorado when things got interesting.  He may have had his moments when the defense gave up the big play or his own decisions came back to bite him.  But he kept his cool.  And so did the team.

The sole fact that Coach Bo owned up to some bad calls and didn't blame anybody else for those mistakes is something that should be commended and will probably shine brightly in the eyes of potential recruits.  Any coach that will take the brunt of the blame and not say that a faulty play by an athlete or poor execution is someone that every kid should want to play for. 

Third, I sincerely hope that the Huskers get the opportunity to play in the Gator Bowl and have the chance for a New Year's Day showcase.  Anytime that you can be on television the day most of the country will be sitting around the tube and nursing a hangover is a day you want to play.  National exposure and the chance to possibly prove that the Huskers are back.  Or at least returning to something resembling back.

We have really only begun to see what kind of transformation of the program that Coach Bo will lead.  This season has seen Michigan, West Virginia, Auburn and Clemson all tank epically.  Some of those programs with coaches that have been around the team for awhile, some of them with new coaches. 

With the extra weeks of practice now ahead for the Huskers, the chance to begin to develop the younger players begins substantially earlier than it did a year ago.  And the chance for so many of the underclassmen that will return to improve their skills and prepare for a bigger campaign next year is invaluable.

But I offer this caveat:  Next year's schedule will not be pleasant.  At Virginia Tech, Missouri, Kansas and Baylor.  Home games with Oklahoma and Texas Tech.  There are the probable wins out there, like the three other non-conference teams Nebraska plays, as well as Iowa State, Kansas State and Colorado.  But you have to admit, you can see those other six games going either way, some of them most likely the wrong way. 

In the end, this season has been fun and with a game to go, it could be even more fun.  It has been nice to see a coach that has brought back the walk-on program, embraced the culture of football in this state, used the legendary Athletic Director as a person he will go to for advice, and a team that has found the way to bounce back from adversity a couple of times.

Are the Huskers back?  I don't know.  I witholding judgment until a further date.  But are they fun again?  Yes-sir-re-bob. 

This is Pete,

Over and out.