Del Norte

Two questions: 1)How happy were you last year when Nebraska won the Big 12 North, and 2) How much credit are you willing to give Bill Callahan for winning that last year when it comes to the great end o'the year "evaluation?"

Personally, I feel the two answers are fairly proportional. It was nice to win the North last year, it represented progress, the first (only?) feather in Bill's cap. Just ask him.

At the same time, however, every media outlet in the country was telling us last year how awful the North was, how glaring the disparity between the two Big 12 divisions. The fightin' side of me said internally, "We get excited about national titles not division titles at Nebraska." This side of me frequently needs punched in the face, I've known that for a while, but what I'm just now beginning to realize is that the North might be the key to a Nebraska resurgence.

Back in September I met the guys from Big Red Network before the Wake Forest game and Darren was talking about the value of a North title. Basically, if Nebraska can get to a point where they dominate the North then year in and year out, no matter the national ranking, they're playing for a BCS bowl game. Good point and one I hadn't considered before that due to my national power pride.

Now Lee Barfknecht is saying much the same thing when weighing the appeal of Nebraska's head coaching job. (HT: Husker Mike) Quoth Lee:

"The division is in flux. Three of the six coaches have changed in the past two years, and a fourth change is expected. Overall, the Big 12 is strong enough to earn points in the BCS standings, yet it isn't near the week-to-week meat grinder that Pelini's current league - the Southeastern Conference - is. With Nebraska as the financial kingpin of a fluid Big 12 North, good times can return quickly."

Couldn't agree more. In fact, I take a bit of issue with the patience preachers when considering a potential coaching change. Why can't Nebraska be good next year under a new staff? It's safe to give yourself a few years before ratcheting up expectations, but everyone thought Nebraska had as much talent as any team in the North coming in to the year and, even with this year's players gone, that shouldn't really change in 2008. A coaching change is never seamless, but I'll take my chances with a few sloppy seams rather than the gaping holes and deep gashes that have characterized the 2007 Cornhuskers.

Now, Nebraska's fellow northerners have gotten better. Two teams from the North reside in this week's Top 10 to one from the South. The conference is leveling out for now but Nebraska has a key advantage beyond the financial clout Barfknecht mentioned above: tradition.

Maybe I'm naive to think that high school kids who were 6 or 7 years old when Tom took home his final national title still look at Nebraska as a blue chip program, but with tradition comes facilities and fans and that's an advantage Nebraska will always hold over the rest of their division. Nebraska can claim five national championships to one for the rest of their division combined. Look at bowl appearances and it's not even close. I have to believe that carries some clout.

I'll admit that I'm constantly looking for any sign of hope when it comes to the football program, but I think this one is legit. There may not be a better division to belong to if you want to be a perennial power.

The fightin' side of me wants to leap in here and say Nebraska doesn't need the path of least resistance. The logical side of me realizes that may have been what they had all along in the old Big 8 and isn't that what we want to get back to? The days of the Big 8 plus a couple wins over some Texas schools?

Sounds pretty good to me.