The 2008 season kicked off Saturday night with great expectations and the Bo Pelini lead Huskers did not disappoint with a fairly easy 47-24 victory over the Broncos of Western Michigan. Pelini is now 2-0 with both wins coming against teams from Michigan. They Huskers also extended 2 streaks that the previous regime did not destroy in their 4 years here. First off the 290^th consecutive sell-out streak is still intact and the nation's longest season opener winning streak of 23 straight games. Notre Dame has the second longest sellout streak at 198 and Florida has the second longest opening streak at 19. But enough with the streaks you want to know about the game.

First off Joe Ganz and the offense pick up right where they left off last season throwing for 345 yard and 4 touchdowns. Ganz now has 4 games of 300 yards or more, most in school history, his ability to roll-out and throw has added a new element to the Huskers attack and his 32 yard run in the game was the longest for a Husker quarterback since Jamal Lord had a 66 yard run in, surprise, Bo Pelini's last game as the Huskers head coach in the Alamo bowl in 2003. I do believe that it is safe to say that Ganz is a big time college quarterback and actually makes you wonder why he only got to see the field when Sam Keller was injured last November. It isn't just the stats Ganz puts up either. It appears that Ganz has a lot of the same qualities that his head coach possesses. They are both extremely confident, bordering on cocky, but guys like to play for them and will step in front of a bus for them if asked. When asked about this Ganz replied "If I come into the huddle and people are bickering at each other, I snap them out of it, it is my huddle, and nobody talks but me".

On the other side of the ball was where all the curiosity was Saturday night. After finishing last season ranked in the 100's in defense this side of the ball had a lot to prove. Let's start with converted 3-year letterman converted I-back to linebacker Cody Glenn. Western Michigan decided to test Glenn from the outset and Glenn did not disappoint. He started the game with a 2-yard tackle for loss and then broke up a pass. By game end, Glenn had 12 tackles, 9 unassisted 2.5 for loss 3 pass breakups and a forced fumble, playing all 72 plays for the game. I think that it is safe to say that Glenn belongs on the defensive side of the ball. When asked about how he did, Glenn said that he would give himself a "D". Let me just say, that if his play was a "D" grade, then I want an entire team playing like that the whole season. The defense forced 2 turnovers in the game, which was double the amount produced during the final 7 games of last season. The defense also only allowed 8 yards rushing. When asked both Monday and Tuesday, when the "Blackshirts" were going to be awarded, Pelini only responded "Blackshirts? Someday," Pelini understands the tradition and they will be handed out, only when he feels that they have been earned and not before, and you can bet that once they are awarded, they can be taken back if the play is not up to the standards required.

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