NU under pressure?

[Husker_Power]

By Eric Olson

AP Sports Writer

 

LINK

 

LINCOLN Bill Callahan won't say it, but his players will: The time has come for Nebraska to reclaim its traditional place among the elite in college football.

 

Though the Cornhuskers won the watered-down Big 12 North last year, they've done little to distinguish themselves in Callahan's first three years in Lincoln. The haven't been ranked in the top 10 since 2003 Frank Solich's last year and have lost no fewer than four games a season under Callahan.

 

"This needs to be the year Nebraska makes a statement," offensive lineman Matt Slauson said. "We've been improving every year since we got the new system. Nebraska needs to be in the national spotlight. That's how the seniors are looking at it. And as a junior, I don't want to wait any longer."

 

In four decades under Bob Devaney, Tom Osborne and Solich, stability was the hallmark of Nebraska football. Callahan has changed almost everything in the program, from recruiting and offensive philosophies all the way down to support personnel.

 

Athletic director Steve Pederson, a native Nebraskan who once worked in the football office under Osborne, has said repeatedly that Callahan is on the right track. But judging from chatter on Internet bulletin boards and radio call-in shows, some fans are showing signs of restlessness.

 

When Callahan was hired, people around the program pointed to 2007 as the season when the West Coast offense and upgraded across-the-board talent would take off.

 

Linebacker Corey McKeon said he and his teammates still believe that.

 

"We talk about it," McKeon said. "We say this is the year, this is the year. We've been knocking on the door, banging around with the big guys, the big dogs. Now this is the year we start beating them."

 

Four of Nebraska's five losses last season were against top 10 teams 28-10 on the road to No. 4 Southern California, 22-20 at home to No. 5 Texas in a game Nebraska led in the final minute, 21-7 to No. 8 Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game and 17-14 to No. 10 Auburn in the Cotton Bowl.

 

The only embarrassment was a 41-29 road loss to Oklahoma State, which tied for last in the Big 12 South.

 

The Huskers return their top two receivers in Terrence Nunn and Maurice Purify, their second-leading rusher in Marlon Lucky and four offensive linemen with starting experience.

 

The defense features McKeon, who has started 25 games, an All-Big 12 linebacker in Bo Ruud and four players who have started in the secondary.

 

The Huskers will be breaking in a new quarterback after the departure of Big 12 offensive player of the year Zac Taylor. Sam Keller, who transferred from Arizona State, has been named the opening-game starter after a spirited competition with junior Joe Ganz.

 

Keller brought with him a devil-may-care attitude from Arizona State, where he was on pace for a record-setting season before getting injured in the seventh game in 2005. He transferred to Nebraska last August after then-ASU coach Dirk Koetter demoted him.

 

Keller served on Nebraska's scout team while sitting out his transfer year, and he said he became a better quarterback. He said Callahan's offense is a good fit because the system rewards consistency and level-headedness. Keller said he often tried to force big plays, resulting in bad decisions and too many interceptions, at ASU.

 

"It's important as the quarterback to be the guy who manages the team well, not just making plays and making things happen," Keller said. "That's one thing I've gotten better at."

 

The defensive line lost all four starters, including first-round draft pick Adam Carriker. But the coaching staff is high on tackles Ndamukong Suh and Ty Steinkuhler and ends Barry Turner, Clayton Sievers and Zach Potter.

 

Asked if this is his best Nebraska team on paper Callahan wouldn't go there.

 

He also shut down talk about the importance of showing marked improvement in his fourth year.

 

"I don't personally talk to the staff about year four and pound the table and scream and yell," he said. "It's about consistency, and it's about elevating your performance. Our goals internally, they're very high for our team and our staff. We want to get better every year."

 

This year's schedule features a Sept. 8 visit to defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Wake Forest, a Sept. 15 home game against No. 1-ranked USC and conference road games against North favorite Missouri on Oct. 6 and South favorite Texas on Oct. 27.

 

"It's a great schedule," Callahan said. "It affords us an incredible opportunity to do some great things."

 

Nebraska Cornhuskers

 

* LOCATION: Lincoln

 

* STADIUM: Memorial/Tom Osborne Field (81,067, FieldTurf)

 

* LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 1999

 

* LAST BOWL: 2006 Cotton

 

* COACH: Bill Callahan (22-15, 3 years at Nebraska)

 

* 2006 RECORD: 9-5 (6-2 Big 12)

 

* RETURNING STARTERS: Offense (7) WR Terrence Nunn, Sr.; WR Maurice Purify, Sr.; TE J.B. Phillips, Sr.; C Brett Byford, Sr.; OG Mike Huff, Jr.; OG Andy Christensen, Jr.; OG Matt Slauson, Jr. Defense (5) LB Bo Ruud, Sr.; LB Corey McKeon, Sr.; CB Cortney Grixby, Sr.; CB Andre Jones, Sr.; S Tierre Green, Sr.

 

& RETURNING LEADERS: Rushing Marlon Lucky (728 yards, 6 TDs). Passing Joe Ganz (7 of 13, 122 yards, 3 TDs). Receiving Terrence Nunn (42 receptions, 597 yards, 3 TDs). Defense Andre Jones (74 tackles).

[OmahaPoohBear]

Good read. This one will get ripped to shreds.

[LAHusker]

I say this year we'll get that win against a top 10 team.

[MCAT800]

Good read. This one will get ripped to shreds.

 

Yea I am suprised you didn't

Just joking with ya

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Good read. This one will get ripped to shreds.

[Hunter94]

this is old news, we have all heard this before, but i have no illusions.

we are still missing some important pieces and the lack of depth at all positions, with a few exceptions, will hurt us.

 

i expect we will lose 3 or 4 games. anything less shows a lot of progress. i don't care what anyone sez, cally does not have the horses yet, but they are stampeding to NU as we speak!

 

2-3 more years guys, yes i will probably complain about his play calling again this year, but leave the guy along, the players he needs are sitting on the door step or knocking on the door right now!