Nebraska QB Gets New Nickname

No. 2 Michigan comes to town

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Saturday, the Huskers dusted off another pesky Group of 5 opponent, La Tech, winning 28-14. The week before, NU beat Northern Illinois, 35-11. In last week's game, Husker QB Heinrich Haarberg ran for a career-high 157 yards.

Haarberg has been dubbed by some as The Kearney Kid. Because of his recent performance, Heinrich has just earned himself a new nickname.

BTW, Husker players are no strangers to nicknames.

Nash Hutmacher is called The Polar Bear, DE George Andrews was The Smilin' Assassin, Johnny Rodgers is still called the The Jet.

So it is altogether fitting and proper Heinrich Haarberg be given a new nickname: Tank Commander.

Yup. Tank Commander.

So, Danny Boy, how did you come up with that moniker? I mean, Haarberg ain't in the army, right?

Let me 'splain. The definition of the title is "... someone who is the commander of an armored vehicle called a tank."

Pretty simple, no?

Haarberg is in kind of an army. He's the QB for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He's someone who has emerged as an unknown entity to being a starter for new head coach Matt Rhule.

The way Haarberg runs the ball, enjoys taking on opposing linebackers and safeties and the way he leads his team makes him the perfect Tank Commander.

As for the nickname's origin, a longtime friend of mine (Bud) who also is a rabid Husker football fan, started referring to Haarberg as Tank Commander ever since the young QB came to Lincoln from Kearney Catholic High in Kearney,  Nebraska. Haarberg's numbers affirm his new title.

In his first two starts against No. Illinois and La Tech, Haarberg has rushed for a total of 255 yards, thrown for 2 TDs and run for two TDs (one a 72-yarder Saturday vs La Tech). He has more than earned the name and rank of Tank Commander.

Michigan comes to town

Some like to call Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh "Capt. Khaki Pants." But not ol' Danny Boy. I would never stoop that low...

So how does NU stack up against the Maize and Blue?

Ummm. It's going to be a very tall task for the Huskers to hang with the (4-0) Wolverines.

Defensive rankings:

• Total Defense: MU (#3), NU (#24)
• Rush Defense: MU (#13), NU (#2)
• Pass Defense: MU (#7), NU (#103)
• Scoring Defense: MU (#54), NU (#33)

Offensive rankings:

• Total Offense: MU (#61), NU (#90)
• Rush Offense: MU (#60), NU (#6)
• Pass Offense: MU (#70), NU (#127)
• Scoring Offense: MU (#54), NU (#103)

Through four games, Michigan QB JJ McCarthy has completed almost 80% of his passes and Michigan RB Blake Corum has rushed for 351 yards.

Nebraska comes into the game as a 19-point dog. Michigan will try to take away the Husker running game and force Nebraska to throw the football. Considering the Huskers' passing game so far this year, that doesn't bode well for Nebraska. If the Huskers can't run the ball, Saturday's game will look like a boa constrictor crushing its prey.

Calling Capt. Obvious: NU will have to play much better than it has so far this season to even hang with the Wolverines.

How ’Bout Them Huskers

Will and I review the La. Tech game and give our predictions on this Saturday's game with Michigan. We also talk about the Husker volleyball team as it begins Big Ten play.