The Cyclones should be available. They needed their 1-AA win to qualify for the Independence Bowl this year and will need a tougher schedule in '05.
Posted on 12/18/2004 8:07:17 AM PST by Diddle E. Squat
HOUSTON -- Angry Houston athletic director Dave Maggard, calling Nebraska "gutless," accused the Cornhuskers Friday of backing out of a verbal agreement to play next fall and scheduling Division I-AA Maine instead.
"This is absolutely unprofessional in every way," Maggard said in online editions of the Houston Chronicle. "It's gutless. Spineless. They're going to have to live with it. I've lost a tremendous amount of respect for that program. I think that for college athletics, it's shameful."
Maggard said he arranged a nationally televised game between the Cougars and Nebraska.
Then, he said he learned two days ago on a phone call from Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson that the game won't be played. Now Houston and ESPN are scrambling to find another opponent for Sept. 1 at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
"Essentially Nebraska bailed on the game," Maggard told KRIV-TV in Houston.
"Our policy has always been … we have never made comment about any potential or future opponent until such time that a contract is signed, and there was no signed contract in this case," Nebraska athletic department spokeswoman Chris Anderson said.
Anderson said Pederson would not address Maggard's comments.
Mike Soltys, vice president in charge of communications at ESPN, said the game was scheduled for the network's Thursday night opener before Nebraska decided to go in a different direction.
"We're going to figure out a solution, but they (the Huskers) are developing a reputation for hanging people out to dry. I think it's a sad commentary on the people running that athletic program," Maggard said.
Perhaps they can name the Maine game the 'L. Phillips Classic'? Why fight with someone your size when you can simple beat up your tiny girlfriend?
"Profiles In College Football Bravery" FYI
Meanwhile USC did home and home with Auburn, Tennessee played Notre Dame, Colorado went to Washington State, and Michigan year in and year out rotates a variety of powerhouse teams. Somehow they aren't afraid to EARN respect...
Early season Husker football parties just aren't the same without those 70-14 routs. Nebraska opened last season with just a 56-17 win over Western Illinois. Not good enough.
Last time I checked, the Statute of Frauds did not apply to football games.
Sounds like there was an oral contract, and detrimental reliance on that contract by Houston.
It's always laughable when someone says that our "policy" is such-and-such, as if that justifies bad conduct and contract breaches.
The Cyclones should be available. They needed their 1-AA win to qualify for the Independence Bowl this year and will need a tougher schedule in '05.
Ah Yah, Go Maine!
The game with Maine contains no threat of pain.
If Nebraska is afraid of the University of Houston, they are truly a bunch of gay lesbian homosexuals.
The fact that Nebraska schedules ANY I-AA games at all is further proof that their current program is a joke and a disgrace to their traditions. Maine?!?!? Are you kidding me? It's not like the Cougars are the Sooners.
The good old days of OU/NEB football was a season highlight.
Can you believe that the winnier of the Big 12 North had 4 losses prior to the Championship Game?
Can you believe the Big 12 North champ only got 3 first downs in the Championship Game?
Can you believe the Big 12 North champ only had 46 yards offense 50 passing and -4 rushing in the Championship Game?
We now have the Big 6 and the Wimp 6.
I will say, however, that the once proud Houston Cougars are now a sports disaster and playing Maine is not too much worse than playing Houston.
GO VOLS!
...
Or to put it another way ND scheduled TENN.
What was Missouri thinking playing at Troy?
LOL, I love Beano Cook! Even though he picks Notre Dame as the national champ every other year....
ESPN needs more Beano and less of another blowhard Cornfraud, Trev 'I'll take the wrong side 90% of the time' Albert.
Good point, Notre Dame usually plays one of the toughest schedules. I love to hate the Irish, but certainly respect them for that.
Join the ACC or the Big Can't Count Conference and all will be forgiven...
They owned USC from about 1985 to 2000. Right now, they wish they'd never heard of them.
I think the University of Houston should sue Nebraska. That was about their only chance to sell out a game for the whole year.
Go easy,now Okie. As a Buff alum I am disheartened by the lackluster state of our football program but these things are cyclical. It wasn't long ago when between Switzer and Stoops that Oklahoma was a football wasteland, which my team beat with regularity.
Instead of running down Colorado, can't we just join together and pile on Nebraska?
You guys are winning too much now, so I'm gonna have to start rooting against ya'll soon. But please plaster those smarmy barefoot blowhard Sooners and their Purina chuckwagon.
(And don't point out that my Longhorns are just a couple of steps behind Nebraska and closing fast in watering down their schedule and relying on whiny poll pleas and overrated reputations.)
Thank goodness college football is such a good venue for the Hatfields to snipe at the McCoys without anyone getting shot.
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