The Nebraska Honeymooners

     

He awakens each morn with a smile on his face
When a boy is in love
And the world to him is a beautiful place
When a boy is in love -- Sam Cooke

      OK, gang, time to play “The Nebraska Honeymooners.”

      Here’s how the game works: Nebraska is breaking in a new football coach and a new governor simultaneously for the first time since 1929 when Dana X. Bible and Arthur Weaver assumed office. Of course, Bible is remembered, Weaver not so much, and even the staunchest Nebraska Republican probably hopes, even if secretly, that Mike Riley will be more famous than Pete Ricketts 86 years from now.

      In any case, both coach and governor are enjoying a honeymoon right now, with fans, voters and the media, and this is a good thing, sure to end sooner or later – for Ricketts, maybe if his lieutenant governor turns out to be using a state phone to run a meth operation; for Riley, perhaps with a loss in the Spring Game.

But now all is sweetness and light, which brings us to our competition. Below you’ll find passages from recent apple-polishing pieces by Lincoln Journal-Star reporters/columnists Don Walton and Steve Sipple about, respectively, Ricketts and Riley. Walton and Sipple know their beats well and tend toward a, shall we say, glass-three-quarters-full perspective on their subjects.

So, both seem to be head-over-heels in love right now, and let us all -- even the most cynical among us -- hope their optimism is warranted.

     Anyway, all you need to do is correctly match the quotes to their dreamboat subjects. 

1.      “a focused, inquisitive, engaged decision-maker”

2.      “You get the feeling [name redacted] could find enjoyment in almost anything.”

3.     “seemed relaxed and at ease”

4.     “I have a feeling [name redacted] has some guile to go with that smile.”

5.      “open-door office policy (with) a couch and a candy jar.”

6.      “often laughing heartily”

7.     “accessible and open.”

8.     “His friendly nature tends to overshadow a quiet sense of confidence.”

9.      “engaged, inquisitive, a rapid-fire question machine, a note-taker, a deep-diver.”

10. “"’It's all brand new to me,’" [name redacted] said, with the enthusiasm breaking through.”

11. “unfailingly polite, genuine and honest (with) a very quiet intensity about him."

12. “methodical … not reactionary. There is a plan in place."

13. “has hit the ground running with a destination in mind.”

14. “His eyes will tell you enough.”

15.  “strikes me as the type who isn't easily rattled. Saying he seems comfortable in his skin is an understatement.”

16. “part enthusiastic, part reflective.”

17.  “You hear little-to-no hesitation in his answers.”

18.  “listens, he reaches out, he is open.”

     19. “His humility's endearing.”

20. “sense of maturity. A sense of stability. A sense of perspective. Yes, a certain calm.”

21. “[name redacted] probably appreciates the healthy skepticism. He's wise. Grounded. Seemingly a nice man. Apparently comfortable in his skin, and in the media glare. That's a good start.”