Taylor Martinez isn’t coming to the Nebraska football press conference Tuesday. Too bad.
The Nebraska redshirt freshman quarterback has a class conflict. But last week, he turned down a chance to do post-practice interviews, waiting instead for postgame on Saturday. Again, that’s too bad.
Does it say something about a player’s mettle — heading into his first tough road environment — when he shies away from attention? Not necessarily. Some kids would just rather play than talk. Nothing wrong with that.
What I find regrettable is not getting the chance to know Mr. Martinez better. He has a raw innocence about him. There’s a freshness to him. Like when he was asked last Saturday about facing his first big game at Washington this week, Martinez said with a shrug that it was no big deal, because he’s played big games in high school. And, “I don’t listen to the crowd.’’
When asked how he’ll hold up after getting hit harder by the better defenses, Martinez said, “It doesn’t really hurt when you get hit.’’
I love this kid’s attitude. I want to know more.
• Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott attended the Colorado-Cal game on Saturday and told reporters that the chances of CU joining the Pac-10 in 2011 are “worse than 50-50’’ and the hang-up is “purely financial.’’ Colorado has a mid-October deadline — when the Pac-10 will finalize an 11-team schedule — to come up with enough exit cash to leave the Big 12.
Does the Big 12 really want CU back next year? Big 12 schools get less money (hardly $20 million each) and still have no championship game revenue. Then again, insert your own joke after Cal’s 52-7 thrashing as to when the Buffs should head west.
• Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson suddenly has changed the dynamic of Nebraska’s first Big Ten schedule. It’s also changed how this year’s Iowa schedule looks. The Hawkeyes’ trip to Michigan on Oct. 16 just got interesting. Hey, anything else going on that day?
• So I turned on the Lions-Bears game Sunday to watch Ndamukong Suh and found myself rooting for Detroit. That’s a frustrating experience. Everything seems to go wrong for the Lions. Maybe that’s the karma that comes with all those Matt Millen drafts. Anyway, that was a touchdown at the end. Calvin Johnson had possession of the ball with two feet down, one knee down, one elbow down, etc. If the call was correct according to the rule, change the rule. That’s a touchdown.
• People may get tired of Bo Pelini’s postgame tirades after wins, but the coach was dead right on Saturday. His club doesn’t have the urgency of a championship or top 10 team. This week would be the perfect time to show it.
• Oklahoma Athletic Director Joe Castiglione told Kirk Bohls of the Austin American Statesman that OU would like to schedule Nebraska in the future. “We’ll play ’em,’’ Joe C. said. “Not right away and not every year, but maybe down the road.’’ Sometime after this talented class of OU freshmen are long gone would be OK.
• Way too soon to make any declarations about Boise State. But the Broncos won’t get a lot of sympathy for going undefeated and getting shut out of The Game if Virginia Tech keeps losing. At some point, too, the focus of underdog-watchers will shift toward TCU.
• If the HBO hit “Hard Knocks’’ was anything more than wildly entertaining, it showed that North Platte’s Danny Woodhead should have been a Husker. Listening to Rex Ryan rave about Woodhead underscored the fact that Woodhead embodies the quintessential Husker football player. Well, at least the definition used other than the four-year period from 2004 to ’07. If Nathan Enderle can find an NFL roster next season, the good folks of North Platte will have to put up a sign that reads, “North Platte, Neb., Hotbed for NFL talent.’’
• Blue Bombers, Cattlemen, Diamond Dogs, Hailstorm, Locomotives, Meadowlarks, Prairie Thunder, River Rats, Storm Chasers, Thunderbolts, Windwalkers and Omahogs are actually among 24 finalist names being considered by the Omaha Royals for a name change.
Here’s an idea: How about Omaha Royals? It’s got a certain ring to it, it’s got tradition and it’s better than anything on that list. I understand the thought of marketing a new name with the move to Sarpy County and the new ball park, etc. What about getting “Royals’’ fans a reason to follow their team west? I’ll admit that Blue Bombers and Storm Chasers have a certain potential, but please, no Omahogs.
Maybe the name should be “The Future Yankees.’’
Contact the writer:
444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com
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