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The level of wanting to know in this state is so high. Nebraskan’s want to know their quarterback. It’s our kid. To be three days away from kickoff and still not have quarterback named has caused a fit.

All of that wonder will become reality on Saturday afternoon. The “circus environment” that head coach Bo Pelini doesn’t want to create will certainly create a fallout. How can you be a preseason favorite, yet be unsettled at the key position? Or appear to be?

It’s Taylor Martinez. That’s what I think. Would naming Zac Lee cause a stir? No, because he’s the conservative guy, who started 12 games last year. Sean Callahan, Huskers beat reporter, has said it’s Martinez since day one. He’s said to “believe the buzz.” I’ve been right there from what I hear. Play the guy with the most ability: fast, strong, big, young. He’s the playmaker. From an athletic standpoint, he can make what Lee can’t.

Last Friday, I talked with a players Dad who just got off the phone with son. At that time, the job was still “even” according to him. I never agreed with starting Cody Green in the middle of last year. There’s a learning curve that wasn’t established. If Martinez is put in now, he gets experience against the likes of Western Kentucky and South Dakota State. Right now, the question mark is still our offense. It could be all year.

So go trot him out there Bo. Because even though you won’t say he’s the starter, the feel is that he is.

Nebraska joining the Big Ten might be the biggest news to college football in years. It’s a big move for the school, like I mentioned in a previous blog post. But for college football its bigger where it might create a domino effect, with teams left and right moving conferences. It was bound to happen sometime.

The Big Red isn’t Darth Vader in this circumstance. We aren’t the bad guy. Any other school with an offer on their table would have entertained the thought. The perception of Nebraska nationwide seems to be that we are breaking college football up piece by piece, realigning it. But not so fast. We are just the first to figure out the future. More money. More sharing between teams. Not a one-sided conference.

While Nebraska may have accelerated this process by joining the Big Ten, there’s a saying of “don’t chew what you can’t swallow.” Nebraska is leaving a lot behind, tradition, rivalries and such. This is bold.

This will have an amazing ripple effect within the coming weeks or months. The Big East will have a new landscape, as with the Mountain West.

Nothing bothers me about Nebraska jumping ship from the Big 12 for the Big Ten. Potentially, this is a great move.

You can’t really dispute why this doesn’t work. Competition wise, it’s a great fit. Nebraska is geographically centered in the Midwest, that’s a bonus. And best of all, there’s top of the line athletics. Football is enough in itself to sell the Big Red.

Nebraska fans are concerned of losing tradition and losing rivalries. But what rivalry is there? The Oklahoma series went down the drain years ago. Kansas is pud. Maybe that leaves Colorado, if that. And that’s only because it’s the same day every year the game is played, the Friday following Thanksgiving. If you ask me, playing Iowa every year would mean much more than what Nebraska already has on their belt. It would be the battle for the corn.

The only question I have is how does having “mega conferences” work for bowl season? Is there even a bowl season? Or does this setup for a playoff formation?

Simply put, the Big Ten is head and shoulders above the Big 12. They just have better schools, athletically and academically. It’s a spotlight league. Not a shadow league. This is pretty straight forward.

I don’t like to be premature. You know, the type of guy who arrives at the party first. But tonight I am in this post. Football is a ways away, but in the state of Nebraska, it’s always on our minds. It’s all we have.

For the Big Red, we’re 89 days away from kicking off against Western Kentucky on September 4. Athlon Sports recently released their preseason Top 25 rankings, and to much surprise, Nebraska tabbed as high as No. 7. If you ask me, that’s eye-popping. In a lot of ways, it’s not good. It means high expectations and a big load to carry, in everyones eyes, fans in Nebraska and nationwide. You are expected to live up to the hype.

Not that Nebraska doesn’t deserve it, because they certainly do after almost shaking up college football last year, but I almost want to say I’d rather be a middle of the pack team. It’s too early to be “back.”

So, if the ship is set to sail this year, it rests on Rex Burkhead. It’s rumored he added 15 pounds to his frame in this offseason. He’s a true downhill runner, who always falls forward on tackles, getting that extra yard. While Roy Helu Jr. is by far the lead starting running back, don’t sleep on Burkhead to get as much carries or more a game, probably around 15. He’s the forefront in the “wild-corn” formation, a highlight in the Bowl Game win. He’s just that tough, gritty player.

You can talk Cody Green, Prince Amukamara, Jared Crick and others who will certainly be key, but Burkhead is where it rests if this team wants to live up to that preseason ranking. The running game is our best friend. Football season is coming up, and Nebraska fans are wishing, waiting, and wanting it already.

Ten episodes have past since “The Weekly Catch” was started. This week, Adam and Steven take a look at the story of Royals pitcher Zack Greinke and his start to the season. We added in talks after news broke today on a possible return to the NFL with Brett Favre. We ended the show on an interesting question, “What’s the greatest sporting event you’ve been in attendance for?” Let us know your sports story!

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