Shatel: Bradford took the risk in returning

Look out, here come the “I told you so's,'' flying directly at Sam Bradford.

I won't blame Bradford for returning to Oklahoma this year. He knew the risks (he also has insurance). He came back because he loved campus life and because he wanted another shot at the Heisman Trophy and national championship.

Well, one out of two isn't bad.

Let this be a lesson to those who say college stars shouldn't take the money and run to the NFL. I just wonder if Bradford knew how poor his offensive line was going to be early. I also wonder if any of those chaps bothered to yell “Look out'' when they missed the block that changed OU's season.

Ÿ I don't know where to start on Colorado. How about this: CU hired the wrong Boise State coach (Chris Peterson was Dan Hawkins' offensive coordinator at BSU).

What a mess. If that's how the Buffs are going to play this season, that changes the Big 12 North race. Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas all travel to Boulder this season; you figured one, if not all three, would go down at Folsom Field. Now it looks like they might all feast on Buffalo meat. It looks like it's going to be a long football season in Colorado. Good thing the Denver Broncos ought to be strong.

Ÿ Leave it to Howard Schnellenberger to put Nebraska's situation into perfect context. Schnellenberger has a sharp eye for talent; for him to say NU has “some very good players'' but not “overly talented'' and “probably the best coached team I've been around'' is huge.

No Big 12 coach would make that comment. If the media said it, no one would buy it. It puts the current state of the program in proper perspective. The talent is better but not there yet. The coaching might be better than we know.

Ÿ If it's over for Danny Woodhead, and I hope it's not, then the Nebraska kid proved a lot of people wrong and had a bigger share of the NFL life than a lot of folks — possibly even Woodhead himself — could have ever dreamed. Unfortunately for Woodhead, heart is not one of the top measurables that gets you on an NFL roster. If it were, he'd be All-Pro.

Ÿ I sure hope Iowa State isn't overconfident going into the Iowa game this week. What's the old saying? Throw out the records — and a putrid offensive showing against a Division I-AA defense — when these two get together.

Ÿ In hindsight, I wonder if Doc Sadler wishes he had asked the NCAA for a couple more scholarships this season.

Ÿ Did Bo Pelini set the bar too high in 2003 with 47 takeaways (32 interceptions, 15 fumble recoveries)? It sure seemed that way last year, when NU finished 107th nationally with a minus-11 turnover ratio (including five fumbles recovered and 12 interceptions by Nebraska). But Pelini thinks a second year in the system and more emphasis by the coaches should change it: “Our turnover margin has to get better. The teams around us (107th) were two-win teams. We won nine. If we just fix that aspect up, it sure gives you a chance.''

Ÿ Most Creightonians I know understand they aren't going to get North Carolina to the Qwest Center. Their biggest beef is having Saturday home games during the day, while UNO hockey takes the night slot on conflict weekends. This coming season, there are three Saturdays with CU hoops and UNO pucks at home — Jan. 23, Feb. 13 and Feb. 27 — and UNO has prime time each time. Maybe one of these years UNO could play Friday night/Saturday afternoon. Hockey players are tough, right?

Ÿ Faithful reader and Chick-fil-A fan Nick Brummer says he contacted Chick-fil-A via its website (chick-fil-a.com; go figure) to ask about a franchise coming to Omaha (other than Mutual of Omaha). He said someone in the Chick-fil-A corporate office responded that “we appreciate our customers' input, but (new locations) are determined internally through our own market research after thoughtful analysis.''

I think we need an email campaign. Who's with me?

Ÿ Finally, I have entered the brave, old world of the blogosphere. You can find my blog on omaha.com. We will discuss all things Omaha, Nebraska and Big 12, occasional concerts, obnoxious soccer parents and the Disney Channel movie of the night. I also will be found on twitter very soon. That should be interesting. I can't sneeze in under 100 words.

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