From Huskers.com:

Lincoln – The Big 12 Conference has named Nebraska Head Coach Mark Manning the 2008 Big 12 Coach of the Year, the league office announced today.

Manning, in his eighth year at NU, has led the Huskers to new heights, particularly during the 2007-08 season. Manning has accrued a 109-42-2 record in duals, including 14-3 and 3-1 in the Big 12 last season. Under Manning, the Huskers nearly went undefeated in the conference for the first time in their 98-year history. The year’s highlights include a second-place finish at the National Duals in January before defeating Oklahoma State for just the third time in school history on Jan. 20. Manning also collected his 100th career dual win at Nebraska against Northern Colorado.

Manning balanced that regular season success with an impressive run in the postseason. The Huskers finished second at the 2008 Big 12 Championships, matching their best finish as a team and earning 62.5 points in the process, their most ever. The team capped its season with a fourth-place showing at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, its highest showing since 1993. The Huskers crowned five All-Americans, the most in a single year at NU for Manning, and the most for Nebraska since 1995. Manning has coached 22 Huskers to All-America status and led NU to four top-10 team finishes.

The award is decided by a vote of the conference coaches. This is the first conference honor for Manning.

Very cool! Congrats Coach.

Well-deserved and not surprising. Had anybody BUT Manning been named COTY, it would have been a crime.

Great job, Coach!

The Cyclones handled the Huskers pretty well in their dual, and then beat them convincingly at the conference tournament, sending all ten to the NCAAs. Manning is deserving, but it wouldn't have been a 'crime' to have awarded it to Cael. I'm very glad Manning got the hardware and it was deserved, but Sanderson has a right to be disappointed about not receiving the honor, imho. I know the clones tanked a little at NCAAs and we wrestled well in the wrestle backs, but head to head in the latter part of the season. The clones had the advantage. It will be interesting to see Varner wrestle Brester next year, IF it is true that he bumps to 197. Go Huskers!

I know I am impressed with what the Huskers did this year. Yeah we were in 2nd and lost it, and maybe could have kept it. But, the difference in all those guys 1-8 is so small you could have a different outcome everytime they wrestle. We were in position. That's what we have to look for I believe.

I think we just about reached our potential! That's pretty good.

If we send all ten, like the cyclones, and make weight all three days, we are second by about a dozen points. Rowe and Oliver would have won a match or more, and we all know about the candy and nuts with Jordan.

Can we beat the Hokeyes next year? I think so. They lose 25 points that will not all be replaced. We have the ability to gain more than 25 points. Rumors of bumping three weight classes are probably true. 133, 141 and 149 all moving up? Making room for who? Vacanti? Burroughs at 157 is doable I think. I'm optimistic about winning it all next year. Go Huskers!

A couple of words from the coach of the year in the daily nebraskan:

http://media.www.dailynebraskan.com/media/storage/paper....Top.5-3283981.shtml

I think the choice of manning over sanderson had a lot to do with the fact the Huskers were ranked 17th going into the season, while the Clones were top 5.Also I think Coach Manning did more with less, if you look at the credentials coming out of highschool of both teams.The Clones have had several highly ranked recruiting classes, while the Huskers have developed lesser thought of kids.

I wonder why Clonesrule hasn't weighed in on this topic yet?

Could it be because he knows they made the right choice???

Nahhhh.....

if varner does bump up to 197 next year and wrestlers brester then we will get to see yet another match where varner does absolutely nothing!!! brester would make it happen and take that match every time. varner and the schlatter boys of Minnesota need to learn to start shooting again. and congrats coach manning you deserved it.

quote:

Originally posted by panther:
I think the choice of manning over sanderson had a lot to do with the fact the Huskers were ranked 17th going into the season, while the Clones were top 5.Also I think Coach Manning did more with less, if you look at the credentials coming out of highschool of both teams.The Clones have had several highly ranked recruiting classes, while the Huskers have developed lesser thought of kids.

I wonder why Clonesrule hasn't weighed in on this topic yet?

Clonesrule will tell you he is not an ISU fan, but a Jim Rome fan. He will also tell you he loves the Huskers and has friends in the program, wears Husker gear all of the time, but won't donate money to the U b/c of Manning. He swears he wants NU to win it all.

I don't believe any of it.

While I'm not sure that Brester would, 'take the match every time'. In fact I'd be surprised if Brester was able to win 3 out of 10. Varner, for all his faults on offense, is very, very tough defensively. Varner probably bumps to 97 next year, Herbert from NW will be on a mission next year. And yes, I know Varner beat Herbert at Midlands previously, a repeat event is not likely.

I haven't weighed in because I have been out of the country for awhile. Alex, thanks for the kind words. You can believe whatever you want, but I will always root for my Alma Mater under any circumstances. And I will still give money to the Business College, so there. I actually had people in Italy say "Go Big Red" when they saw my hat one day. If Panther wants me to respond so bad, I guess I need to.

Look at the Big 5 and tell me who else was going to win this award. Cael probably could have won it if they didn't tank at the end of the season. Congrats to Manning and the Huskers on a great season and better luck next year (I thought that sounded good). It shows that when The University puts an associate AD in place to watch over every step the program takes, that things finally get accomplished. I pray that the trend continues, and off the mat incidents come to a stop. They really, honestly have quite a bright future, and I give Manning and the kids kudos for that. And Panther, I missed you too!

Remember-CLONESRULE!!!