So, you may be asking yourself, "Self, I wonder what there is to do in Omaha?" Stop doing that. Everyone thinks it's annoying.

Anyway, apparently the answer to your question is "very little," as the following shows. (Stolen from Mavpuck.)

Note: mgoblog is not responsible for any seizures caused by the above post.

Note B: For any hyperesensitive Nebraskans who stumble across this post in between harvests or milkings or badger rodeos or whatever: I'm joking. Your fine state undoubtedly has much to do within its vast, flat emptiness. Also, Charles Woodson would have kicked your ass.

"US" on Winged Helmet posted a set of useful links for potential 2006 recruits.

• Derek Brighton is probably the state's top corner, but his brother goes to State. Probably won't end up here.
• PA linebacker Jeremiah Hunter, a likely top-100 player, freely admits that Michigan is his clear leader.
• Michigan is recruiting WA WR/DB Taylor Mays. Wouldn't look for Michigan to recruit many WRs next year, and Mays is probably a WR in college at 6'3", 210.
• You can see KY DE Micah Johnson squatting 505 in this thread, if that's your thing.

Also, I don't bet on sports but... Illinois -15? Um. Is that the first half?

Bam!

Ok, ok. I'll stop with the alliteration. "The Lamest Dynasty In Sports" declares Robert Weintraub... and also the only one going right now. Unless you want to count USC, but I think we're a year or two off from that. I love it that when a team based around a prima-donna star like Kobe is winning, everyone complains about how blah blah blah individualism is blah blah blah ruining everything. And then when a team concept like the Pats or Pistons takes off everyone is blah blah blah boring.

When you get paid to write, you gotta write something, I guess. But why this instead of an actual Heartwarming Trend: teams built around, you know, being a team winning? The Pistons took out the Lakers. The Pats are a dynasty, lame though they may be. Maybe you could make a case for the Red Sox finally ending the Yankee's daddiosity. Hockey, well... if it existed, Calgary vs. Tampa Bay? Mmmm, that's some good small market. Why isn't anyone screaming "Ding, dong, the witches are dead?"

Maybe it's because most of the people who write these things live in those big markets. So when they suck they claim things are "boring." Boring is 42-10 blowouts. I've seen boring in the Super Bowl, and the last few years? Not boring. So screw you, Weintraub!

So, right. Frigging hockey. A critical series against MSU and Michigan blows a 2-0 lead by giving up goals with 2:30 and ONE SECOND left to tie 2-2 Friday, and then lets in a goal with 3:18 left to tie 1-1 at the Joe on Saturday.

What to take from these games? Well... I think it's just bad luck. Total shots on the weekend: Michigan 85, MSU 49. Michigan dominated both games from start to finish. Vicari played out of his mind, and State got very lucky with a lot of pucks. One horrible turnover led to Brandon Graham's goal on Friday. The other two were just pucks that got away. I'm disappointed that Michigan couldn't turn their dominance into four points, but I will take this weekend in a second over their on-again, off-again performances against NMU and OSU. Michigan came to play this weekend and if they keep up a similar effort the rest of the way, they will win the CCHA crown.

Will they do that? Couldn't tell you. Michigan is still suffering from the Ortmeyer hangover. There's no one who can pick up the team when it needs picking up. Effort comes and goes. It's just the way of things. The good news is that, when motivated, Michigan can play like they did this weekend. And they will be motivated for the playoffs. The bad news is, well, sometimes hockey's funny and throws up results like we got against State. Or the BC game last year that we had no business being in.

As to individual players: Dest is playing much, much better. I haven't screamed at him in several games and have even found myself offering grudging respect. The next step is wanting him on the ice, and then a disturbing amount of knowledge about the young man. Tambellini has started performing like he can. I couldn't even follow his goal on Friday. It left his stick and my head was only halfway to the net when the light went on. He's driving people wide again and getting an absolute ton of shots.

Montoya played better. I can't fault him for either tying goal and the Graham shot that beat him was an excellent shot that was unexpected, coming right off of Woodford's stick. Speaking of Woodford, how many glaring errors does he have to have before Red removes his trust in him? There are two and half minutes left in a game you lead 2-0. Just dump it up the boards! Don Cherry is livid! You threw it up your own middle, you... curse you, mgoblog policy against swearing! Foiled again!

Michigan must come out and play the way they did this weekend against a much-improved UNO team. They must sweep. Three split weekends in a row has narrowed the CCHA lead from five points to one. It's time to get serious, now. Or I will... not swear at you.

Argh.