Friday, April 24, 2009

NU's Suh earns high praise from TSN

In its look ahead to the 2010 NFL Draft, The Sporting News included Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh among five "rising seniors who could be top picks next year."

As for why Suh will be a first-round pick, TSN wrote: "After an amazing junior season, Suh could have challenged B.J. Raji as the top tackle in this year's draft. He has the power to jolt linemen off their feet and the agility and burst to beat them with quick moves."

In regard to the question of how high Suh could go in the 2010 draft, TSN wrote: "If Suh produces at the level he did in 2008, he will go in the top 10. Improved technique and finishing ability could elevate him tot he top overall pick."

A pretty lofty prediction, no doubt.

Posted by Terry Douglass @ Friday, April 24, 2009 || 0 comments

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Thursday, April 02, 2009

NU's Pelini deserves salary bump

The results of an online poll taken on The Independent’s Web site and published in Thursday’s edition of the newspaper were predictable.

Of the 467 respondents, 54 percent voted that they did not agree with the 68-percent pay raise given to Nebraska head football coach Bo Pelini on Monday, bumping his annual salary to $1.851 million. The tag-on statement to the poll question option was “These salary figures are really out of control.”

Sure, it’s understandable how some -- especially in this current economic climate where people are losing jobs and others are taking paycuts and/or losing benefits -- could disagree with giving a $700,000 salary increase to someone already making more than $1 million a year. But when you explore the situation a little deeper, it’s obvious the opinion that Pelini is somehow overpaid shows a complete lack of understanding of the job and the pressure and responsibility that comes with it.

In Nebraska, the head football coach is arguably the state’s most important and most-scrutinized person as well as the biggest celebrity - - all wrapped up in one.

If you count Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy’s new proposed $2.2 million deal, Pelini’s annual salary still has him ranked in the bottom half of the Big 12 at No. 7. Bob Stoops of Oklahoma ($3.8 million per year), Mack Brown of Texas ($2.91 million), Mike Leach of Texas Tech ($2.54 million), Gary Pinkel of Missouri ($2.3 million), Mark Mangino of Kansas ($2.3 million) and Gundy all make or are scheduled to make more.

Forget the impressive dollar figures for a second and consider this: Does anyone who lives in this state really think that Cornhusker fans will be satisfied with having the seventh-best football program in the Big 12? Didn’t think so. Yet that’s the level Nebraska’s football coach is being paid at.

Posted by Terry Douglass @ Thursday, April 02, 2009 || 0 comments

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