Red Dawn
If you're of at least certain age or just happen to like 1980's teen movies, then no doubt you've seen Red Dawn. The movie has had enough staying power to inspire a sequel which should come out in less than a month. For many of us, it seems unlikely that the remake could ever live up to the original. The quick thumbnail is that a group of kids who call themselves Wolverines (after their high school mascot) practice guerilla tactics after their hometown is invaded. Despite their brave efforts, only two of the kids manage to escape with their lives while the rest end up dead. Those of us who grew up during the Cold War would never think of rooting for the Reds, but with Michigan coming to town we now can look at this movie in a whole new way.
The metaphors are plentiful. First, the Big Red army invades leaving the stunned and unprepared locals at a huge disadvantage. The movie is set in Colorado (which might actually make even more sense), but certainly a night game at Memorial Stadium has been a major disadvantage for most every team that's tried to play there. The Soviets gain an advantage with an air raid. The Huskers lead the Big Ten in pass efficiency. The Wolverines are badly outnumbered (have you noticed how few players are allowed to travel in the Big Ten?).
The Wolverines are sneaky. Watch for the quarterback draw out of passing sets. If things start to go badly, they might turn on their own (remember when Daryl was forced to swallow a tracking device?) The Wolverines also cry a lot (to the officials on Saturday one might imagine). Borrowing from Wikipedia: The Wolverines' morale erodes as the war of attrition takes its toll.
As the movie ends, the invading Colonel encounters the mortally wounded Wolverines and lets them wander off into a park to die rather than arrest or execute them on the spot. This may be where Bo Pelini takes a knee rather than punch it in late to run up the score (take note, Urban Meyer). The kids placed the names of those who lost their lives on a rock. Michigan's loss will be written on the scoreboard.
That's the movie I'd like to see. Again and again.
10/24/2012
Wow!
What i take from this first is that nothing relevant coming out of Nebraska’s football camp.
Secondly, ‘we’ve’ apparently moved on from hating Texas to hating Urban Meyer.
I’m still debating whether you really hate U. Meyer or do you hate the fact that the Huskers gave up and were unable to stop Ohio State?
We all saw Nebraska try to push in a very meaningless td at the very end of the game against a weak sister team earlier in the season (fumbling it away at the goal line), and i don’t remember you ever mentioning that.
Football is a 60 minute game. Sometimes you even have to play it like the game is played for 60 minutes and 1 second. No coach should have to worry about hurting another team, or coach’s feelings by scoring ‘too’ many points. after all, isn’t that why we schedule Arkansas State and Chatanooga? So why get all butt hurt when a real team pushes you down?
Ohio State’s players never gave up in that game.
10/24/2012
I have no love for U. Meyer and think his ties to ESPN gets Ohio St. way too much attention and praise than it deserves but I do not think they ran it up on the Huskers. A simple run that bounced to the outside and scored is hardly throwing or a reverse. The Huskers gave up at the end.
I do hope the movie analogy works though…
10/24/2012
Mr. Hanway,
Ohio St. University did NOT run up the score on the Huskers.
Their offense executed the play they were given and the player
bounced to the outside and Nebraska didn’t even look like it was
ready for the play or even set on ‘D.’ That’s on us, not them.
As far as U. Meyer goes, I am glad he has that team ready to play every week. After the OUTLANDISH penalties that were leveled against the University as a result of a few bad apples, it would seem the NCAA feels it is better to be feared than to be respected. They’re kind of like Stalin, but without all the charm.
Tampa Fl
10/24/2012
I have to agree with OU7 on this one! Tired of hearing the whining of OSU running up the score on the Huskers. If you don’t want the score to be that high; then stop them, it’s that simple. Bo is a defensive coach, he knows this already. I am going to miss playing them over the next couple of years; I wish they were on our schedule every year. It will be a team for us to beat every year, as they will stay solid.
Can we get some news on the Huskers prior to one of the most important games that we are going to play?
GBR!
10/24/2012
I have to agree that OSU didnt really run up the score.. They ran the ball , and we didnt tackle them.. Could they have placed more reserves in the game, yes, but thats a call they get to make.. Besides sometimes you want to build up your own kids confidence and get them to play a whole game. I still dislike Urban Meyer, but that isnt one of the reasons.. And the game is in the past , move on, and GO BIG RED..!
10/24/2012
Interesting on all the Urban haters. When Pedey was “searching” for a new coach, Urban was on a lot of people’s wish list.
10/24/2012
But I did forget to mention how awesome that Movie was.. I still find time to watch it a couple of times a year.. Hopefully the new one dosnt ruin it..
10/25/2012
BallField78
I think Urban is one of the top ten coaches in the country.. That dosn’t mean I have to like his style , or way about going at things.. However , hes a winner and thats what matters.. I also wasnt one on the Urban band wagon, but I think an AD Should look at all the top coaches and see how they fit…
I do not believe Urban would be a good fit for NE..
10/25/2012
Hey, Michigan fan here. I just want to say that it is completely fine to hate Urban Cryer, as he is affectionately known up here. He has won every where he’s been, but not with his talent, always with the previous coaches talent, Bowling Green, Utah or Florida he won with the other coaches talent then when his talent became the seniors he left when he couldn’t beat the Bama’s and Auburn or LSU. He is now winning at Ohio St. with questionably recruited Jim Tressel Players.
He will stay 4 or 5 years and when he starts to lose there, he will leave.
Looking forward to the game saturday, it should be a great game to watch and I don,t think that the Michigan faithful who make it out there will have to worry about the back of their jackets being plastered with SPIT,or their cars scratched or literally turned over or having the mom’s football jerseys torn off their bodies and leave without them. For those who don’t know much about Our rivalry with them, the Governor of Ohio almost called out the National Guard for one game to escort Michigan fans to their cars.
10/25/2012
I think more than a few fan bases would think Meyer would fit in but…timing is everything.
I would bet my life savings that if Coach Stoops faltered and Urban Meyer were available, Oklahoma would pounce on him in a heartbeat.
I just don’t think places (geographically speaking) like Oklahoma and Nebraska offer enough to entice an Urban Meyer to come and coach. Yes, he coached at Utah but that was where he made a name and now he fancies himself a coaching god. Besides, he would have to coach for years and years to be mentioned with the Osbornes, Devaneys, Wilkinsons and Switzers.
Besides being an excellent coach and motivator, U.M. is a notorious job hopper. You would love him as your coach and then learn to hate him when he left for a new ‘project’.
10/25/2012
That should have read…More than a few fan bases WOULDN’T fit in…
10/25/2012
@hailvictors1970 it should be a great game and I’m looking forward to being there. As for the Michigan faithful should have a great time at the game almost all
husker fan are pretty civil and many even invite other fans to the tailgates. Nebraska fans will always clap for the other team when they leave the field win or lose.. GBR!!!!!!!
10/25/2012
Kind of hard to beat the original with Powers Booth.
“Major huh? Well, it aught to fit on a Colonel.”—Classic!!!