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Jeff Hill, M.D. |
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Rob Zatechka, M.D. |
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Chad Kelsey and Lisa Runco |
We have asked some members of the UNMC community who have special ties to the Nebraska football team to play a little “pigskin pick ’em,” Cornhusker style.
Each Friday before a Nebraska football game, our scarlet and cream panel will weigh in on that week’s match up, offering up a winner, a score and short thought on how the game will play out.
Our first panelist is Jeff Hill, M.D., associate dean for admissions and student affairs. Dr. Hill was a split end for the Cornhuskers in the early 1970 who played on the 1970 and 1971 national championship teams. Some have said the 1971 team was one of the best in college football history.
The second panel member is Rob Zatechka, M.D., an instructor in the department of anesthesiology. Dr. Zatechka played on the offensive line for the Huskers in the 1990s and in 1994 was part of the “The Pipeline,” a fabled offensive front that powered the Cornhuskers to the national title — the first for then coach Tom Osborne. In 1995, Dr. Zatechka was drafted by the New York Giants and played four and a half seasons in the NFL before he started med school at UNMC.
And finally, filling out our panel is Cornhusker superfan, Lisa Runco, an administrator for internal medicine chairman Lynell Klassen, M.D. Runco is a hardcore Nebraska football fan who religiously attends the weekly Big Red Breakfasts in Omaha, during which members of the coaching staff address the public about the status of the team and the Huskers’ upcoming opponents.
How dedicated is Runco? Each week she comes back from the breakfast with detailed notes about the coaches’ comments, which she then circulates to other avid fans.
Runco’s not flying solo during this little pick’em game, either. She’s recruited some help in the form of Chad Kelsay, who played defensive end for the Huskers from 1995 to 1998, including the 1995 and 1997 national title teams.
Alright, enough with the intros, here are the picks for Saturday’s season opener against the Western Michigan Broncos:
Dr. Hill says: “Nebraska should have a fairly easy time with Western Michigan. The opening game with a new coach — they will want to make a statement. However, Western Michigan brings back a number of starters with an excellent defense. (Husker quarterback Joe) Ganz should have a big game. P.S. Smash mouth football is back.” NU 38, Western Michigan 17
Dr. Zatechka says: “Western Michigan comes into Lincoln with a recent track record of knocking off the ‘big boys’ on their home turf. Over the last two years, they’ve defeated both Iowa and Virginia while playing on the road. They’re well coached with a core group of starters returning for 2008 and, given Nebraska’s apparent lack a true home field advantage over the last few years, they won’t come into Lincoln feeling intimidated.
“On the flip side, Nebraska has the potential to place a world-class offense on the field and the defense should be drastically improved over the product we’ve witnessed the last couple of seasons. Given a relative lack of depth (talent does exist in Lincoln, just not in the numbers we expected under Coach Osborne), expect (NU head coach Bo) Pelini to play fairly conservative early on and to substitute younger, less experienced players often. I think he’ll try to get basics established (please read this as ‘running the football aggressively.’) and will show a more aggressive pass rush as well. Look for a very solid win, but not a blowout.” NU 28, Western Michigan 10
Runco and Kelsay say: “One would think we could bully around this team from the Mid America Conference. Back in the good ‘ole days this would have taken place. These are new times at NU, though, so it’s hard to predict what the new NU will look like, especially on defense. … We need to see if the “I and I” (intensity and intimidation) factors are back!
“We believe our offense will click right away, or at least after a quarter. Ganz will be great this year, the o-line should be alright and we have some great running backs. We want to see smash mouth football!
“The defense is a huge unknown. It will take some time to instill the culture and physicality that embodies what the Blackshirts are all about. Western Michigan returns 20 starters, including cornerback Londen Fryar, son of NU legend Irving Fryar, and eight on offense. That being said, we believe the excitement of the ‘new era’ will be too much for Western Michigan and our guys will play inspired ball.” NU 44, Western Michigan 24
We’ll check back with our panel next week to get their predictions on NU’s Sept. 6 game with San Jose State.