Babies cry when they see me coming...

...and birds crap where I walk. What a horrible day to be a Saturday, the Huskers lost a heartbreaker, I think I've won one pick so far and the Red Sox aren't playing because they were swept out of the playoffs. I'll get to those last two items later, right now I'm still reeling from the Huskers close call against Texas Tech.

This was one of those losses, which just could have easily could have been one of those wins, where you find yourself cursing and shaking your head every 18 minutes. I forget that the Cornhuskers lost about 17 minutes at a time, but every time ESPN's bottom line resets, it all comes back. We lost.

Now, three days from now I know that I will feel pretty good about this loss. Right now...it still smarts. Nebraska had that game. After Tech went up 21-0, I was ready to call it over. But this ain't the Huskers I grew up with, they scored two TDs before half time to make it a game.

At 6pm EST, I wrote a note to self saying, "The first big turnover will decide this game." I went on to say, Nebraska gets the ball to start the half and it will decide a lot. Well, the Rattlesnake Boys fumbled inside the 20, followed by an interception in their own red zone the next drive, but the Blackshirts held the Red Raiders to a field goal both times. Despite what I said, the Huskers still had a chance and they capitalized. They fought back, scoring 17 straight points, which could have been 21 if it weren't some arguable play calling on Billy C's part, leaving Nebraska up four with about 3 minutes left.

We all knew that was too much time for Tech. They drove down inside the 20 with ease, then a batted ball fell into the arms of a DT, but he couldn't even fall down before fumbling it, basically giving Tech a fresh set of downs. On 4th and whatever, Hodges scrambled before finding a reciever in the end zone with 12 seconds left...heartbreak. When Nebraska fumbled down by six, then immediately got it back and returned it to the 9-yard line, I said, we're going to win this game.

It wasn't to be. I know at some point I'll be happy with the fact that Nebraska rallied from not only a 21 point defecit, but also a 13 point deficit after two momentum swinging turnovers to start the half. (An unthinkable prospect with the Nebraska teams of yore.) I know at some point I'll take solace in the improved offense, which looked light years ahead of where it was to start the season. I'll take solace in the fact that Cody Glenn looks like the real deal, and it looks like Zac Taylor has poise in the pocket.

Should Nebraska get it together under Bill Calahan, this will be the game where they turned the corner. So much went right, they showed a lot of heart, but it would have been nice to turn that corner right now. At the end of the year, or maybe a year from now, I know I'll look at this game as the turning point. But tonight is not that time. For now, it is muy triste.