Somewhere in Middle America - An Interview with KXSP's Matt Perrault Pt. 2

The biggest voice in the Omaha sports talk radio scene belongs to a Bostonian and his name is Matt Perrault. Hosting "The Big Show"--Omaha's only four hour sports talk radio show--on Big Sports 590, Matt's made a name for himself with his unique and always opinionated take on sports inside and outside the Cornhusker State. If you live just about anywhere in the Big 12 North country you can catch the show on weekdays between 2:oo-6:00 PM. If you don't, the segments are available via podcast right here. Need even more? Matt maintains a blog as well.

Interested in the fact that he and I undertook inverse migrations between Nebraska and Massachusetts, I sat down (at least I assume we were sitting down via e-mial) with him to get his thoughts on Cornhusker football and the state of the Nebraska sports scene in general.

What follows is the second installment of a two part interview with Matt. Click here for the first.

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Q: To broaden the scope a little bit more, I've told anyone who will listen that the College World Series is the most underrated sporting event in the country. Of course there's the Super Bowl and the World Series and beyond that you have other events like the Indy 500, the Masters or the Kentucky Derby that general sports fans dream of attending, but I never hear Joe Sportsfan say "I really want to get to the CWS." Do you think that's simply due to the lack of coverage during college baseball's regular season and where would you rank the College World Series in terms of sporting events you've attended?

A: The CWS is simply amazing. I honestly believe the lack of exposure it receives is because where it takes place. I love Omaha but it's hard to get to, far from any major media market and it's far, far away from the baseball hotbed of the Northeast. If you put the tournament in MA, PA or Washington DC - you would have every major media outlet on the East Coast covering it and it would be a huge, huge story. Some would argue that Little League World Series is a bigger deal than the CWS - but if it was held in Texas and not Williamsport, I don't think it would be considered that. It's about location and that's why the NCAA is talking about moving the event. The LWS has nowhere near the attendance of the CWS but the exposure is greater due to where it takes place. Yes, that's an East Coast bias but that's our country.

However, there is no question in my mind that 300,000+ crowds would not be seen at the CWS if the NCAA moved the event. It would not be the same outside of Omaha. The people here is what makes this event go. The volunteers are amazing, the business support is unreal, and the passion shown by the fans who wait in LONG lines to get in every night to watch teams not from Omaha is 2nd to none. The NCAA must ask itself is exposure more important than support and attendance numbers?

The CWS is No. 2 in my book for events that I've covered. The NCAA Basketball tourney is still my most favorite thing to cover but the CWS is No. 2. It's not just about baseball as well. People watching, parties, and the events around the game is why the CWS is so much fun.

Q: If March Madness is the best event you've covered, do you think a football playoff could actually come close to replicating that passion in December or January? I'm not so certain a playoff is the cure-all everyone assumes it would be.

A: Here is my idea and I think this would make everyone happy: 8 team playoff - All 6 power conferences must have a championship game. The winner of those games will auto-qualify for 6 spots. 2 at large teams get in. Those 8 teams play for all the marbles. 7 games will be played at the sites of the BCS bowl games. The rest of the bowls will be played as they normally are with the same conference connections.

Boise St. proved it last year by beating Oklahoma - a playoff is a must. Decide it on the field and make the power guys prove they are the best.

Q: Let's get to a couple predictions. Where do you see Nebraska finishing this year, nationally and in the Big 12?

A: This is not an easy year to prediction Nebraska because of all the variables. My prediction is based on the following: Sam Keller is actually as good as advertised. Zac Bowman plays at least half the year and the secondary actually can cover somebody. And the D line can stop the run.

Nebraska will go 10-4 on the year. They will win the Big 12 North and lose the Big 12 Championship this year to Texas and win their bowl game - probably the Holiday Bowl. I think the preseason ranking of #20 is right on. I think they will be ranked for most of the year.

Q: And, my favorite question for anyone who follows or covers Nebraska football, do you think Bill Callahan will win a national title at Nebraska? That will always be the expectation so isn't this the only question worth asking?

I think he could win the National Championship at Nebraska but I don't think he will be around once he wins the Big 12 Championship. Yes, I do think he will do that and go to a BCS bowl game while at Nebraska....but I think he'll be back in the NFL the following year. He's an NFL guy and still has a lot to prove on that level. He loves college but I believe Callahan feels like he is one of the best football minds on the planet. Those guys coach in the NFL.

Q: Finally, do you need me to send you anything from the greater Boston area?

Yes, a 2 lb. lobster, Clam chowder from Legal Seafood, cookies from Mike's in the North End and a World Series Championship.

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Thanks again to Matt for indulging my curiosity. As for the shopping list, lobster and chowder I can do but it'd take 20 more questions (and a slight bump in Nebraska's final ranking) before I'd wait in-line at Mike's. They are that good, but I am a man of finite patience.