Week 13 Open

Week 13 is now open.  I will advance the week on Friday (5/9).

We still have some big fish to land, to add some needed depth to our roster but I'm extremely satisfied with our recruiting haul so far.

Nebraska rolls the Minnesota Goofers into a giant snowman and celebrate with snow angels. The game was over after the opening kickoff as freshman phenom WR Lance Landry returned the kick 99 yards for 6. Minnesota could only muster 3 points, and the Huskers could draw up plays to try and impress the recruits in attendance.  Minnesota did have a ridiculously strong run defense as Newby barely broke 70 yards at one point.

Minnesota 3
Nebraska a lot 52

**'Crootin Update**
While Nebraska's recruiting hasn't been much of a numbers game, they've found quality over quantity in 8 recruits so far. Nebraska is the only school in the top 10 ranked classes with single digit commits (Navy in the top 10?!), and one of only 2 schools in the top 20 with single digit commits. BUT WAIT THERE's MORE, the Huskers have yet to field a 5:star: recruit this season as well, likely losing out on the MO WR that Mustard has coveted thanks to a strong visit last week. There are currently four 5:star: recruits on Nebraska's board, and two of them are Husker leans at the moment.

By ratings, the Huskers recruiting class so goes 81, 79, 79, 79, 78, 77, 76, 74, 69 overall and there are still 81, 79, 79, 78, 76, 75 overall rated players with the Huskers in their top 2. 

Thanks to a grave paperwork blunder in not red-shirting any players this season, all but 3 recruits may face a red shirt season to balance the classes out again.

Week 13 Schedule

Michigan at #10 Iowa
Minnesota at #4 Nebraska
#23 Missouri at #12 Florida

Game Of The Week



#1 Alabama at #24 UCLA

The Crimson Tide have been on a mission to return to the BCS Championship Game ever since losing in the title game last season to the Nebraska Cornhuskers.  Alabama has simply steamrolled over teams averaging a national best 54 points per game en route to a 10-0 record and #1 ranking.  Alabama takes a breaks this week from SEC play as they travel cross country to face the UCLA Bruins.  AD Ken has been very patient staying with HC Jon Gruden after some very disappointing early seasons.  That patience has paid off as the Bruins are back to being a threat in the in PAC12.  UCLA, once ranked in the top 5, however has lost their last two games after starting the season 7-1.  They'll have their hands full with that Crimson Tide rushing attack that is currently averaging over 330 yards per game (#1 in the country).  The Bruins will have to play a perfect game and that includes limiting turnovers, which may be an issue considering they have a turnover ratio of -12 (#123 in the country) which is one of the worst in the nation.  They will also have to rely on a raucous home crowd and hope the Crimson Tide are pre-occupied looking ahead to their annual rivalry game vs Auburn in the Iron Bowl.

Herbstreit Pick: Alabama

Iowa Survives Wolverines and Mother Nature



As a snowstorm made its way through the Midwest, the Iowa Hawkeyes hosted the Michigan Wolverines in an old school Big Ten battle.  Michigan, having a down year, came into the game at 5-5 and was looking to upset the #10 ranked Hawkeyes in an effort to become bowl eligible.  The Hawkeyes, however, had other ideas.  For the second straight week the Hawkeyes dominated the first half as they jumped out to a 24-14 halftime lead and 31-14 midway through the third quarter.  However, for the second straight week they took their foot off the pedal too early, got sloppy and had to hold off a feisty comeback in order to preserve the victory.  Michigan would score 14 unanswered to cut the lead to 31-28 before the Hawkeyes could run out of the clock.  With the win, Iowa moves to 9-2 on the season and will now prepare to face rival Nebraska to close out the regular season.

Final Score

Michigan Wolverines 28

Iowa Hawkeyes 31

The Crimson Tide travel west and completed their sweep of out of conference foes. This was a battle back and forth during the first half, with Chris Phillips struggling to make reads against the UCLA secondary. He threw two INTS, one of which was a pick 6. The Alabama defense didn't help matters by dropping at least 4 first half INTs. Down 17-14, and 58 yards from the end zone with 20 seconds left in the half, our kicker nailed a 58 yard FG that looked like he could have made it from 68! This was huge as it tied the game up with Bama getting the second half KO. 

Alabama took the second half kickoff and scored on a 58 yard TD run by Tyren Jones. On UCLA's first possession of the second half their QB threw his 3rd INT of the game and Bama capitalized on that TO to take a 2 score lead. 

Ken got DCed around that point, so he told me to finish up against the CPU. Good game up until that point. 
Next up: @ Auburn
Players of the Game:
Offense: Chris Phillips, QB, 16-22, 200 Yds, 14 Car, 105 Yds, 5 Total TD
Defense: Glenn Watkins, LE, 2 Tkls, Tfl, Sk, Int