John Mabry: McKeon, Meyer share some friendly chatter
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State quarterback Bret Meyer was held in check, for the most part, by the Husker defense. He got to spend plenty of quality time with NU linebacker Corey McKeon. The two are getting to be old pals.
Meyer said they visit often during the game.
“We did the same thing last year. It was a lot of friendly chatter,” he said. “I guess I’d rather not have him in the backfield. He’s a great player, and he’s fun to play against.”
McKeon said it’s fun going up against Meyer.
“He’s a real nice guy, a good competitor. He likes the game just as much as I do.”
Meyer had high praise for NU’s front line on defense.
“This front line was as good as Texas,” he said.
Freeman week: Let the Josh Freeman hype begin.
Freeman, a former NU recruit, led Kansas State to a comeback and now prepares to play Nebraska. It’s not T.O.’s return to Philadelphia, but the stories won’t be hard to find this week.
I was impressed by the fact Freeman did not commit any turnovers in his first start, and he was under heavy pressure (four sacks’ worth).
ISU safety Brandon Hunley was a teammate of Freeman’s at Grandview (Mo.) High.
“He’s a heck of a quarterback,” Hunley said. “Nebraska has a pretty good defense, too, so I know it will be a great matchup.”
Tough TD to swallow: The 27-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Purify was a back-breaker, in the eyes of Iowa State coach Dan McCarney.
Nebraska appeared to be on its way to a field goal before halftime, but instead, NU cashed in for seven on the pass from Zac Taylor to Purify with 3 seconds left in the quarter.
“It really hurts,” McCarney said.
End zone: McCarney had no beef with the Austin Flynn touchdown that wasn’t. “They said he didn’t have control of the ball when he got his feet down.”
* The Big 12 season has a long way to go, but I’d say Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska have established themselves as the league’s top four teams. Or how about Baylor and Nebraska for all the marbles in K.C.?
* The Husker defense helped the offense by holding Iowa State out of the end zone at the end of the first quarter. ISU scored on the second play of the second quarter, but they had to kick off into the wind. NU started the ensuing drive at their 32-yard line instead of the 20, where they probably would have been if the Cyclones had been able to kick off with the wind.
* Good for Cortney Grixby, who got a huge bear hug from Ola Dagunduro after getting the first interception of his career.
* Jay Norvell said it’s up to the head coach to make a challenge, as Bill Callahan did on Taylor’s fumble in the third quarter. “He has to make the decision,” Norvell said.
* Sorry to see that the Nebraska Wesleyan women’s soccer team, with only 18 goals against Mt. Marty, came up just short in its quest to outscore the football team Saturday.
Reach John Mabry at 473-7320 or jmabry@journalstar.com.
Meyer said they visit often during the game.
“We did the same thing last year. It was a lot of friendly chatter,” he said. “I guess I’d rather not have him in the backfield. He’s a great player, and he’s fun to play against.”
McKeon said it’s fun going up against Meyer.
“He’s a real nice guy, a good competitor. He likes the game just as much as I do.”
Meyer had high praise for NU’s front line on defense.
“This front line was as good as Texas,” he said.
Freeman week: Let the Josh Freeman hype begin.
Freeman, a former NU recruit, led Kansas State to a comeback and now prepares to play Nebraska. It’s not T.O.’s return to Philadelphia, but the stories won’t be hard to find this week.
I was impressed by the fact Freeman did not commit any turnovers in his first start, and he was under heavy pressure (four sacks’ worth).
ISU safety Brandon Hunley was a teammate of Freeman’s at Grandview (Mo.) High.
“He’s a heck of a quarterback,” Hunley said. “Nebraska has a pretty good defense, too, so I know it will be a great matchup.”
Tough TD to swallow: The 27-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Purify was a back-breaker, in the eyes of Iowa State coach Dan McCarney.
Nebraska appeared to be on its way to a field goal before halftime, but instead, NU cashed in for seven on the pass from Zac Taylor to Purify with 3 seconds left in the quarter.
“It really hurts,” McCarney said.
End zone: McCarney had no beef with the Austin Flynn touchdown that wasn’t. “They said he didn’t have control of the ball when he got his feet down.”
* The Big 12 season has a long way to go, but I’d say Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska have established themselves as the league’s top four teams. Or how about Baylor and Nebraska for all the marbles in K.C.?
* The Husker defense helped the offense by holding Iowa State out of the end zone at the end of the first quarter. ISU scored on the second play of the second quarter, but they had to kick off into the wind. NU started the ensuing drive at their 32-yard line instead of the 20, where they probably would have been if the Cyclones had been able to kick off with the wind.
* Good for Cortney Grixby, who got a huge bear hug from Ola Dagunduro after getting the first interception of his career.
* Jay Norvell said it’s up to the head coach to make a challenge, as Bill Callahan did on Taylor’s fumble in the third quarter. “He has to make the decision,” Norvell said.
* Sorry to see that the Nebraska Wesleyan women’s soccer team, with only 18 goals against Mt. Marty, came up just short in its quest to outscore the football team Saturday.
Reach John Mabry at 473-7320 or jmabry@journalstar.com.
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