Questions From the Email Bag

Nebraska football fans want answers

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From time to time, I post responses to some of the email I get from readers. The names have been changed to protect the innocent...

Dear Husker Dan:

What do you think about what Shedeur Sanders said about being offended by Matt Rhule's prayer circle held at mid-field prior to Saturday's Husker game at Boulder?

Stan Dupp, Orlando, FL

Stan: We live in an age in which some people seem to go out of their way to be offended. Rhule handled "Prayer-gate" with class and dignity. End of story.

Dear Husker Dan:

Sims has got to go, right? I mean, he's a walking turnover machine. He's responsible for 6 of the 8 turnovers so far through two games. Why not start one of the backups?

Turner Downe, Bakersfield, CA

Turner: Good question. Yes QB Jeff Sims has been at times a liability to his team. Sadly, a solution probably isn't going to happen anytime soon. The Husker QB room is very thin on experience. Heinrich Haarberg has zero career starts and Chubba Purdy has three (one at Florida State and two last season at Nebraska). Coach Rhule said Sims is his QB. If Sims can't play Saturday, that would open the door for the backups. But expecting either of them to perform at a high level may be a lot to ask.

The coaches will say that all the mistakes Sims and the Husker team have made in the first two games are fixable. I agree. Having said that, I doubt if Coach Osborne would keep somebody in the game who performed the way Sims has.-especially at quarterback.

I recall when running back Roger Craig played at Nebraska in the 80s. He had a knack of fumbling. How good a player was Craig? He went on to win three Super Bowls with the '49'ers, was the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year (1988) and First Team All Pro (1988). Craig was the first NFL player to run for 1,000 yards and have 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.

Despite that talent, he found himself on the bench for parts of his career at Nebraska. Of course it didn't help Craig's cause that Osborne had eventual Heisman winner Mike Rozier on the roster.

Dear Dan:

Do you think Nebraska can still win enough games to become bowl eligible? I mean, besides Northern Illinois, La. Tech and maybe Northwestern, where are the other wins going to come from?

Sarah Botchie, St. Louis, MO

Sarah: Another great question. Through the first two weeks, there have been a couple of Big Ten teams that might be underachieving: Wisconsin lost at Washington State, Illinois barely beat Toledo in their opener and then lost at Kansas last week. Iowa struggled with a mediocre Iowa State team in Ames over the weekend. It's too early to say what these losses and narrow victories mean at this point.

Calling Capt. Obvious: If the Huskers lose at home to either No. Illinois or La Tech, the Huskers' dream of going to a bowl game this year will be just that. A dream.

How ’Bout Them Huskers

Will and I do a post-mortem on the loss at Colorado and give our thoughts on Saturday's game at home with Northern Illinois. We also talk about how the Big Ten fared over the weekend. Oh yes, and Will has been accepted to the University of Nebraska. Greet news for his grandpa!