HUSKER UP: Missouri

Some loyal Big Red Network readers have come to expect these HUSKER UP posts on Friday afternoon. Sorry, I'm a bit late on this one, folks. If ever there was a need to Husker Up, it is this week. Missouri is in town and looking to beat NU in Lincoln for the first time in a generation. The kick off isn't until after 8:00 PM Central time, so don't get too Huskered Up too soon, okay. Have some staying power.

Fans will be rewarded for their waiting. This edition of Husker Up features Mike Ekeler, a conversation with the Lord, and Missouri Heisman propaganda. Seriously. Read on.

Mike Ekeler is Jacked! You Should Be To...

Nice ups, coach. (Photo: omaha.com)

Husker Linebacker coach Mike Ekeler is already a well liked by fans for his recruiting style (fake tattoos!) and his sideline demeanor. But, his comments at the Big Red Breakfast this week cement him as one of my absolute favorites. Consider this quote if you weren't excited for Missouri already.

"I am jacked about this game plan. I won't say too much because I don't want it out there, but I'm very, very, very excited about this game. Very excited. And I know our kids are chomping at the bit. We were probably ready to play on Tuesday."

Skeptics can say he's blowing sunshine up fans' behinds. They can call him too over-the-top. I think this guy is the real deal. I love hearing the sincerity and enthusiasm from coaches. You have to know that is rubbing off on the players and instilling more confidence.

Fan Prayers
Often, we need confidence from other sources. Husker fans define cautious (and sometimes aggressive) optimism. Missouri fans...well they are much bigger skeptics. So, it's been odd to see how the fan bases are reacting to the role reversal of Missouri as the favorite. I think a lot of people on both sides are finding some religion in their fox holes. I've got a couple guesses on the kind of requests that the Lord might be hearing this week.

Nebraska Fan - "Dear, sweet, 7 pound 5 ounce baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes...please let the Huskers win Saturday, capture the North and pretty much ruin Missouri's season. If not that, at least don't let them embarrass us like last year. You see, there is this one guy I have to work with, and...oh, he's not important - please bring peace and prosperity around the world...and a win, too. Please. Amen."

Missouri Fan - "Dear Lord - please let the Missouri Tigers exercise the demons of Lincoln. Truly Your people in Missouri have suffered enough. Allow our team to vanquish the Huskers once and for all and take its rightful place atop the North. If not that, please don't let it be another soul-sucking, last-second defeat like in 1997. Why must you toy with me like that, Lord? I'm sorry, I mean, I welcome Your will in my life, no matter the outcome. But please let it be a win. And bring peace and prosperity around the world. Amen."

AV Club Presents - Missou's Heisman View?
Working on this site has gotten me on some pretty awesome mailing lists. I get all kinds of sport promotional stuff in the mail now -- like a ID lanyard from the Rose Bowl committee and a Christmas Card promotion from the University of Wisconsin. What can I say? I'm kind of a big deal. I have many leather bound books...

Anyway, last month I got the best piece of promotional junk so far. It arrived in a pretty nice 5 inch by 5 inch box, with a Tiger logo and the slogan Mizzou's Heisman View.

Intrigued, I opened it to find...a viewfinder toy! I'm not even kidding a little bit. Check it out.

I couldn't believe it. The last one of these I had actually looked through was a SuperFriends one when I was a kid. But, hey, the front of this one said the images were in 3D...oooooh.

So, I looked at the slides:
"Whether through the air..." - There was a picture of Chase Daniel throwing.
"Or on the ground" ... - There was a picture of Chase running.
"Missouri's Chase Daniel gets it done..." - Again, Chase throwing.
"He's helping lead the Tigers...." - Picture of Chase pointing while at the line of scrimmage.
"In their chase for Number 1" - Picture of Chase standing in the end zone, signaling #1, in a game against NU!

The next two slides directed me to Daniel's Heisman site (no link for you!) and thanked me for my consideration. At first, I was stunned. I couldn't believe they had sent me a child's toy. Kudos on the 3D images. But, I seriously considered giving this to my two year old daughter to play with, and hopefully destroy.

Then, I reconsidered. Daniel is a leading Heisman candidate. Should he win, this piece of junk might have considerable Ebay value. Or, better, if Nebraska can somehow, someway beat MU and derail his campaign, the sentimental value of this item would go sky high for me. This memento is now my ultimate reason to HUSKER UP.

Fight Song, Please!
Yes, I have rambled on about coaches, religion and promotional campaigns. I know all you really want is to blare the fight song. Here you go, straight from the Pride of All Nebraska.

GO BIG RED! GO! BIG! RED!