Husker News Reports

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]McKeon, Blackshirts eager for challenge[/SIZE]

Corey McKeon isn’t sure (or isn’t revealing) what major role defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove has in store for Nebraska’s middle linebacker.

Will McKeon constantly drop back in pass coverage, or will he blitz the daylights out of Tech quarterback Cody Hodges?

“It depends on the game plan,” McKeon said. “If Coach Coz needs me out guarding someone, I’ll go out and do that, but if he needs me blitzing, I’ll be more than happy to do that, too.”

That’s not a surprise. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound McKeon leads the team in tackles (36), tackles for losses (10) and quarterback hurries (six) and is tied for the team lead in sacks (five). He has also intercepted a pass and forced a fumble.

“They throw so much garbage at you, you’ve just got to go out there and be able to execute and not think about what you’re supposed to be doing,” McKeon said of Tech’s offense, which is top-ranked in the nation. “You’ve just got to react.”

McKeon said Tech’s wide splits along the offensive line aren’t as confusing as some may believe.

“I think they think that it limits the defense, but we’re going to go in and prove they’re going to need to bring those splits down, or they’re going to get some fast linebackers in those gaps,” McKeon said.

“We’re an all-game fighter team. We’re going to fight all game. I don’t care what the score was last year, and to be honest with you, I don’t really care what the score is going to be this year. We’re just going to go out and fight ’em to the last breath and see how it comes out.”

IMPROVED PROTECTION: When asked about the improvements the offensive line made against Iowa State — the Huskers allowed two sacks in 55 passing attempts — offensive line coach Dennis Wagner credited the entire offense, from Cory Ross’ blocking to Zac Taylor’s throwing to the receivers’ ability to get open. As for the line? “We’ve got to get better, and we’ve got a huge challenge this week,” Wagner said. “We think their defensive line is as good as any group we’ve seen, maybe better.”

ETC.: University of Nebraska officials are reminding fans that backpacks and other large bags will not be allowed in Memorial Stadium. Persons wearing coats will be asked to open them. ... Nebraska worked out in sweats Thursday at Memorial Stadium, focusing on red-zone work and the kicking game. Bill Callahan reported no injuries. ... Defensive linemen Adam Carriker and Le Kevin Smith were named to the updated Rotary Lombardi Award watch list on Friday

 

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]Brian Rosenthal: Things point to another NU victory but …[/SIZE]

Tired of hearing about 70-10?

Then let’s look back at other notable or record-setting performances from this week in college football history, courtesy of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame:

Oct. 7, 1916. Georgia Tech beats Cumberland 220-0, a record score.

Oct. 7, 2000. Menlo’s Zamir Amin passes for 723 yards in a game against Cal Lutheran, the second-highest single-game total in NCAA history.

Feel better?

OK, so lots of points and a bazillion passing yards aren’t exactly the kind of records Nebraska fans would care to revisit this weekend. (Unless, of course, it’s Zac Taylor doing the damage).

But c’mon. We all know which team that will play in Lincoln on Saturday really invented the forward pass.

At least, that’s what you’d think after reading and hearing reports of Texas Tech’s high-flyin’, high-scoring, high-everything offense.

Then you talk to Corey McKeon, who believes the Red Raiders, while good, might actually be — gasp! — human.

Georgia Tech, your record is safe for another week.

“They’re just like any other team, except they throw the ball a little bit more,” McKeon, Nebraska’s starting middle linebacker, said of the Red Raiders. “They think they have this great, high-powered offense ... but you’ve just got to be disciplined, and you have to know how to stop it. We’re going to come in and we’re going to try our best to do so.”

Zamir Amin, your record is safe for another week.

Look at Kansas. In its 30-17 season-opening victory last week over the Jayhawks, Texas Tech managed a mere two offensive touchdowns.

“Kansas fought ’em,” McKeon said. “A lot of teams have come out and let Texas Tech do whatever they want. Kansas fought ’em. They went out and they weren’t going to lay back and just try to stop them. They put a little hammer on them and got in their face.”

OK, OK ... technically, the Kansas game wasn’t really the Red Raiders’ season opener. Kansas was just the first opponent Tech has played that’s NCAA Division I-A, 100 percent.

Of Tech’s three nonconference foes, the closest to I-A status was Florida International, a provisional school that isn’t officially among the current 117 I-A teams. Florida International, by the way, gave up more points to Arkansas State (66) than it did to Texas Tech (56).

I know, enough already with Tech’s soft schedule. What about Nebraska, you say? The Huskers not only haven’t played sterling competition, they couldn’t even dominate the likes of Maine.

True. But nobody has a false sense of security about Nebraska’s overall team, either. That is, nobody in his right mind is ready to proclaim Nebraska as a challenger to Texas for the Big 12 title.

We can’t say the same about Tech. With the Red Raiders, we’re still wondering, “how good are they, really?”

It’s tough to gauge. Scoring 84 points against a team that ranks 113th in total defense in Division I-AA doesn’t mean the Red Raiders are really good. It doesn’t mean they’re not, either. It just means we can’t tell. And that’s too bad, considering it’s the fifth game of the season.

It means Nebraska stands a very good chance of defeating Texas Tech.

Here are a few other things to consider:

** It’s Tech’s first road game. Tech has lost its road opener five of its last six years.

** It’s the first career road game for starting quarterback Cody Hodges.

** Tech is the most penalized team in the nation.

** Combine those three facts with what figures to be the loudest Memorial Stadium crowd in the past four years, and you’ve got an advantage for Nebraska.

Of course, for all the fun we make of Tech’s schedule, you don’t lead the nation in scoring by accident. And a lit-up scoreboard isn’t exactly a new phenomenon in Lubbock. The Raiders have proven over the past five years, under coach Mike Leach, they’re capable of scoring points. Probably enough to beat Nebraska on Saturday, too.

Even though the Huskers showed against Iowa State they can move the ball, the NU offense still hasn’t produced more than 18 points in a game this season (during regulation). Can they score 30 against an underrated Tech defense?

Yes, Nebraska’s defense will probably rough up and rattle Hodges, get a few sacks and maybe an interception or two. But what happens on the passes Hodges completes? Can Nebraska’s young, still unproven secondary limit the big plays and make tackles to prevent even bigger plays? And don’t forget running back Taurean Henderson.

As overrated as Tech’s offense might be, it’s still good enough to outscore Nebraska’s. The Huskers can win Saturday, but I’m picking Tech.

Then again, also note where this sports writer stands in the weekly prediction contest.

Feel better?

 

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]Instant replay could have reversed key plays in Husker history[/SIZE]

On the afternoon of Sept. 25, 1982, Tom Osborne was on the field in State College, Pa., when he was asked if instant-replay reviews should be used in college football.

He said it was probably impractical, but added, “Personally, I’m for it.”

Now, the instant replay review is part of college football.

Through last week, the Big 12 had 32 games that used Big 12 officials. There were 26 reviews and 11 rulings overturned. The average time of a review is 1 minute, 32 seconds.

Just a few reviews could have made a big difference in NU football history.

From national football titles in 1982 and 1993, to a bouncing drop kick in 1907, instant replays could have drastically changed Nebraska football fortunes.

If you could retake that exam or reinvest in the stock market, your life might be different, too.

Of all the replays that do exist, but were not used by officials, those of the last two plays that afternoon in 1982 in Beaver Stadium seem to be the biggest official bungles in NU history

Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill led an 80-yard scoring drive that ended with 1:18 remaining to give NU a 24-21 lead over Penn State.

On the ensuing drive, PSU tight end Mike McCloskey ran down the sideline, stepped out, leaped and caught a 15-yard pass from Todd Blackledge at the Nebraska 2-yard line.

Years later, McCloskey admitted what everybody at the game and a national television audience knew — he was out-of-bounds on the play. NU secondary coach George Darlington said, “Everybody on Earth who could see knew it was out-of-bounds.” Game officials apparently were the exception.

With four seconds left in the game, Blackledge then hit Kirk Bowman in the back of the end zone. Bowman bobbled and appeared to trap the ball. Replays were inconclusive.

“It was trapped,” NU radio commentator Adrian Fiala said at the time.

“I caught it just a couple of inches off the ground,” Bowman said.

Officials ruled the play a touchdown and Penn State notched a 27-24 win and eventually the national title. NU finished 12-1 and ranked No. 3, and plenty of Husker fans wore T-shirts that displayed a version of the Penn State field with a notch in the boundary at the 2-yard line.

“Those plays are reviewable,” said Willie Weisbrook, an NCAA Division I official for 21 years and still a high school football official. “If the angle of the camera can give you the sideline or the goal line or the back of the end zone, you can use the view to review the play.”

But the current instant-replay rule would not have given Oklahoma a reprieve on Johnny Rodgers’ punt return in the Game of the Century.

The questions about clips by NU’s Doug Dumler near midfield and Joe Blahak near the NU sideline are not reviewable. And as Blahak has often said, “Did they throw a flag? Then it wasn’t a clip.”

The same would go for the 39-yard touchdown run on a reverse by Colorado’s Jeff Campbell in 1986, which TV showed had multiple clips by Buff blockers. Nobody could have reviewed Campbell’s punt returns of 49 and 55 yards to set up Colorado touchdowns in the 1989 CU win against Nebraska in Boulder.

Weisbrook said rules about clipping have changed and almost any contact to the side of the defender is not considered blocking in the back.

The officials also could not review the phantom face mask penalty on NU’s Brian Davis with Oklahoma facing fourth down in its territory as time was running out in 1986.

But if college football had used instant replay all along, there might have been dozens of different outcomes for the Huskers.

Here is a partial list:

** Nebraska would have had three consecutive national championships starting in 1993. Florida State was trailing 7-6 when William Floyd was credited with a 1-yard touchdown run. NBC showed he clearly lost the ball before crossing the goal line and Mike Anderson recovered for NU in the end zone. Corey Dixon’s 71-yard punt return was called back because of an illegal block, but replays never found evidence of such a foul. Florida State 18, NU 16 in a wild, referee-messed finish.

** John Ruud’s famous cataclysmic hit on Oklahoma’s Kelly Phelps in 1978 would have been ruled a fumble if the referee had not been so shocked by the hit he blew his whistle before the play (or Phelps) was dead.

** Washington scored two touchdowns late in the first half in 1992 and went on to beat Nebraska 29-14. TV replays showed both touchdown passes from Billy Joe Hobert were caught beyond the back line of the end zone.

** Mickey Joseph’s 45-yard run for a touchdown would have stood and Nebraska would have had a 19-0 lead over Colorado in 1990. Joseph was ruled out at the CU 9-yard line. The Huskers then gave up 27 fourth-quarter points in a 27-12 loss.

** Iowa State might have actually won the 1907 game in Lincoln. NU said the game was over when ISU tried a drop kick that bounced over the goal post at the end of the game. To this day, ISU says the kick should have counted and the Cyclones should have won 12-10.

** The Denver Athletic Club would have had a 4-4 tie with the NU Antelopes in 1893, but the referee ruled that Denver left the field early and NU won. The Lincoln Evening Journal described the Denver players as being on the receiving end of “ensanguined nasal organs and discolored optics.” The Evening Journal story also explained that NU “brunette” George Flippen (NU’s first black player) was beaten so bad that he was taken to a hospital after the game.

And if Aunt Tilly had a mustache, she’d be Uncle Earl.

 

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]Life in the Red, 10/7[/SIZE]

Lots of talk this week about towels. Apparently a movement is afoot to get thousands of black towels inside Memorial Stadium to salute the Blackshirts.

The concept emerged after linebacker Corey McKeon called for a “Black Out” against Iowa State. In case you missed it, he urged fans to eschew scarlet and cream in lieu of more D-specific tones. From my spot in the north stands, I’d guess three-fourths of the student section obliged, turning the southeast corner of Memorial Stadium into the Oakland Coliseum. It was great.

But McKeon’s call caused a dilemma among other segments of the fan base — particularly, the Sea of Red gang. You know, the “you-ain’t-a-real-dadgummed-fan-unless-you-wear-red-and-ONLY-red-to-the-game” types. The kid might as well have asked these guys to give up their firstborn sons.

But any reasonable Husker fan understands this year the defense is definitely worthy of a shout-out. Hence, the cake-and-eat-it-too solution: Wear red, wave a black towel.

Judging from the chatter in the week since the win, more than a few fans took this tack vs. ISU. Though I do admit, I don’t recall seeing any black towels waving last Saturday. That’s partly because I was too transfixed on the game to notice, but also because to get the desired effect, darn-near everyone has to wave one. A few well-intentioned towel-flappers here and there won’t cut the mustard.

So, here’s hoping that the black-towel brigade catches on. Or, on second thought, maybe not; the Huskers don’t have a very good track record in “towel” games. In ’84, NU fielded a freaky-good defense and fans swung thousands of “Black Wave” towels at the stadium. Remember those? I still can picture Dave Burke waving one above his head on Senior Day ... before Nebraska lost to Oklahoma 17-7. Three years later, when the “Homer Hanky” was taking the Metrodome by storm, some local entrepreneurs whipped up white-and-red “Husker Hankies” for the final home game. Then Nebraska lost to OU ...17-7.

But, hey, I’m not superstitious. At least, I’m not expecting the Cornhuskers to lose 17-7 Saturday. It’s worth noting, however, that this week’s opponent happens to wear red and black. And with any luck at all, they’ll be the ones in need of a hanky at the end of the game.

 

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]No name, but plenty of game[/SIZE]

LINCOLN - The hardest part after the assault is describing the assailants

Let's see. There were 11 of them. Wearing black and red. They were all over the place."

What were they doing?

"Umm, we're not sure. It's hard to put into words. It all happened so fast."

Did you get a name?

"No."

There is no fancy moniker for Texas Tech's football offense. It seems like it needs one, but that would be the least of head coach Mike Leach's concerns.

"He doesn't really care, to be honest with you," said Chris Cook, the Red Raiders' director of media relations. "If somebody gave it one he liked, he'd probably be OK with it."

Leach brings his attack to Lincoln on Saturday for a 3:05 p.m. game with Nebraska. The sum of its parts will make it unlike anything else the Huskers see this season.

"Watching some film, you can see how guys get kind of overwhelmed," NU cornerback Tierre Green said. "They're running (receivers) three- , four- and five-wide all the time, and guys are running back and forth across the field. Things can get mixed up."

There are West Coast offenses, pro-style offenses and spread offenses around college football. Some have called Texas Tech's a "PlayStation offense," after the video game console, because there are so many things you can do with it.

The Red Raiders' definition of balance is using every inch of the field and attacking every aspect of a defense. Their five leading receivers through four games play five different positions.

"They spread the ball out," NU defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. "You look at the catches by the receivers and they're all over the place."

Nos. 13 and 15 Texas Tech (4-0) has scored 50-plus points three times this season, although all against teams that are NCAA Division I-AA or just making the jump to I-A. The Red Raiders' 30 points last week against Kansas were considered a disappointment.

In Leach's 68-game tenure as head coach, Texas Tech has eclipsed 50 points 15 times. Oklahoma has been the only Big 12 team to handle the Red Raiders consistently - allowing an average of 15.8 the past five seasons - which is significant because Leach was OU head coach Bob Stoops' offensive coordinator in 1999.

Understandably, Leach doesn't offer much when asked what defensive maneuvers or strategies cause problems. Usually it's just teams that are good in their base packages, not gimmicks, which is what he's seen from NU so far in 2005.

"They don't really try to deceive you very much," Leach said.

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan also stopped short of discussing strategy for this Saturday. In "layman's terms," he said, the priorities are generating a pass rush, playing the ball well in flight and not forgetting that Tech can run the football.

"They give you a full agenda to defend," Callahan said.

Nebraska did little of that last season, when Texas Tech torched it for 523 total yards and 70 points. Two things Cosgrove said he better understands now are the Red Raiders' speed and how to deal with the large splits between their offensive linemen.

If Texas Tech tries to pick on one particular element of the Nebraska defense - such as backs on linebackers or receivers on cornerbacks - junior linebacker Stewart Bradley said the Huskers will be prepared to help each other out.

"The coaches will have a balanced game plan," said Bradley, who stressed that NU defenders then must be disciplined in their assignments. "You never want to put too much on one position."

And, really, all Texas Tech is trying to do is find mismatches. Leach's passing offense isn't much more than about 20 plays, but all with multiple reads for quarterback Cody Hodges.

"I think it's simpler than people think, but they run it so well," NU sophomore linebacker Bo Ruud said. "They know their system, it's very unique, and they run it as good as anybody runs a system across the country."

They called it the "Air Raid" when Leach first showed up in Lubbock, before he made it known he didn't want to steal the name from his years with Hal Mumme at Kentucky.

Just call it dangerous.

"We definitely have our work cut out for us," Cosgrove said. "I don't care who they play, they move the ball."

 

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]Huskers thrilled to see Taylor break out[/SIZE]

Record passing effort has boosted Nebraska's offensive confidence

By Terry Douglass

terry.douglass@theindependent.com

Last week's record-smashing passing performance couldn't have come at a more opportune time for Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor.

With lofty expectations placed on his shoulders in the preseason, Taylor and the Cornhuskers' offense had struggled mightily in their first three games. And, although points were still difficult to come by for the first four quarters against Iowa State, the junior from Norman, Okla., said his team got a definite boost from its 27-20 double-overtime win against the Cyclones.

"I do feel better after this game than I did after the first three," said Taylor, who was 36 of 55 passing for 431 yards. "I think that's only natural after the offense has a big game, you're going to feel a lot more confidence.

"It gives us a lot of momentum going into the Texas Tech game and I think we feel a lot better now."

Nebraska (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) can now go into Saturday's 3 p.m. (TBS) home game against No. 15-ranked Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0) with at least a little offensive momentum. For his performance, Taylor -- a 43-percent passer in his first three contests -- was tabbed the Big 12 Conference's offensive player of the week.

"I think it means a lot to the whole team. It's not really me, it's everybody who was out there making plays," Taylor said. "Obviously the offensive line gave me a lot of time, and helped me do that and (I-back) Cory (Ross) and the receivers really made some great plays."

Nebraska continued to struggle to reach the end zone. The Huskers, who are 5 of 17 scoring touchdowns in the red zone this season, managed just one TD in regulation, equaling their pace of the first three games.

However, Taylor said Nebraska's ability to come through with a pair of overtime TDs gave the unit a major confidence boost.

"We were confident before, but it really helps when you can go out there and do all the things you've been able to do in practice in an actual game and in a tough situation," Taylor said. "That kind of got the ball rolling and hopefully we can keep that going."

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said he was extremely pleased with Taylor.

"Zac is an outstanding individual and I think that's where it all begins," Callahan said. "He's a quality person, high character (and) extremely focused. (He) really is the consummate team leader from the quarterback position.

"He played courageous on Saturday. He took some massive hits and stood in there strong and tall and continued to be a dynamic force at moving the offense and generating the type of yards that we needed in the passing game."

Nebraska receiver Nate Swift said Taylor's Big 12 honor was well-deserved.

"Zac works really hard ... and he does the same thing he did in that game every week in practice," Swift said. "He passes great, every pass is right on the money. It just really showed in that game."

Nebraska offensive coordinator Jay Norvell was confident that Taylor would eventually play up to his capability.

"Zac is always the same. He is very confident, but he is very quiet and very focused," Norvell said. "He understands it's all about the preparation. When he studies hard, watches tape, practices hard and is with his teammates, he knows he has an opportunity to play well.

"He earned that on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday -- it doesn't just happen on game day. He had a great week of preparation last week and he's going to have to do the same thing this week."

For the season, Taylor has completed 52.1 percent of his pass attempts (75 of 144) for 830 yards with three TDs and three interceptions. Against Iowa State, Taylor completed passes to 10 different receivers.

"When you have 10 different guys catching balls, it makes it difficult for the defense to prepare," Taylor said. "I think it's better for us when we just have a lot of different guys who can make plays. All of these guys have the potential to be 'the man' and make 12 catches a game, but as long as we can distribute the ball and keep the defense off guard, that's really good."

 

[NamelessHusker]

Nebraska Football Notebook

Impressive system

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said he doesn't know Texas Tech coach Mike Leach very well on a personal level. However, Callahan is very familiar with the Red Raiders' high-scoring offense, which leads the country with an average of 57.3 points per game.

Callahan said the offensive system Leach uses isn't new to the game of football, but that few programs execute it as well as Texas Tech.

"It's a lot of draws and screens and layer passes and a lot of things that they do with mesh routes and crossing routes; trying to isolate the back one on one," Callahan said. "They're well-versed and they distribute the ball well to their people. They do a good job. I don't think they've revolutionized the game of football, but I think that they do an excellent job at what they do."

Bowman's better

After being limited in Nebraska's previous two games with a leg injury, Nebraska backup cornerback Zack Bowman saw his most action of the season last week against Iowa State. Callahan said the highly touted junior college recruit held up well.

"He'll only get better. We've got that kind of confidence in his play," Callahan said. "He's going to make some errors. He's going to have some errors that he's going to have to correct and improve upon but generally speaking he's getting better as a football player. We're glad to have him."

Growing pains

After watching true freshman place-kicker Jordan Congdon miss a 21-yard field goal last week against Iowa State, TV cameras caught Callahan chucking his headset to the ground in disgust. However, Nebraska's head coach said he still has faith in Congdon.

"I'm real confident," Callahan said. "I just get a little emotional now and then."

Congdon is 7 of 10 on field goals this season. However, a missed point-after kick and two misses inside of 30 yards have caused some to wonder why the Huskers haven't given proven backup David Dyches a try.

"Jordan is trying his best -- he's a young guy," Callahan said. "He's under some pressure. For a high school kicker coming out of San Diego to step in to Nebraska and try to crank field goals in pressure situations, it's a task, and I think it will only help him and improve his play as we move forward."

Mulkey's the man

Those impressed by Nebraska receiver Grant Mulkey's ability to make tough catches over the middle while absorbing big hits are not alone.

"I think he's a brave player. He's a selfless player," Callahan said of Mulkey. "When he takes the ball he sacrifices a lot of his 172-pound body. He'll go over the middle and he's got a defined toughness about it. As the fans have watched him over the past two years, he's taken some real licks inside. A couple of them, he's been about decapitated on, but he continues to exemplify and display the type of tenacity that you want out of your receiving corps."

Through four games, Mulkey has eight receptions for 100 yards. He's paid the price on several of them.

"I love Mulk. I love the way he plays," Callahan said. "He's relentless. He's fearless and that's the type of guys you have to have in your receiver corps."

Where's Cody?

After performing well in short-yardage situations against Pittsburgh, many Nebraska fans and members of the media figured to see more of freshman running back Cody Glenn. However, that wasn't the case as Glenn didn't get a single rushing attempt against the Cyclones. However, NU offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said there was no particular reason Glenn didn't get a single carry.

"We played with the flow of the game, and Cory (Ross) was having a good game," Norvell said. "He was hot. That's something you don't really mess with, when a player is playing hot. We'd like to play Cody (Glenn), we'd like to play a lot of our young guys, but sometimes a game doesn't dictate that. We're not just going to run certain plays to get a guy in the game. So we went with the flow of what we were doing, and Cory was in a flow, so we kept him in there."

Terry Douglass

Practice report

LINCOLN (AP) -- Nebraska finished preparations for its game against Texas Tech with a practice emphasizing offensive efficiency inside the 20-yard line and the kicking game, Callahan said Thursday.

"We reviewed a lot of those special situations that you dont normally get a chance to throw in during the week," Callahan said. "We try to bring up one new situation for the team to practice on, so it was a good practice in that respect."

Callahan said he expects Tech will be prepared for the noise in Memorial Stadium.

"I think, for the most part, when you encounter a hostile environment like we have with our crowd noise, you can expect them to come in and no-huddle our defense," Callahan said. "Its just as important to get noise when they're in no-huddle at the line of scrimmage trying to get signals and plays as when they come to the line of scrimmage."

Nebraska will hold a short walk-through practice on Friday.

 

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]Winning bringing Huskers closer [/SIZE]

A 4-0 start producing positive feelings in Nebraska's locker room

 

By Terry Douglass

terry.douglass@theindependent.com

While a hair-raising 4-0 start might not be getting Nebraska mentioned in the same breath as Southern Cal and Texas on the national scene, perhaps no other team has enjoyed the thrill of victory to a greater degree this season than the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska's players and coaches have capped their last two outings by rushing the field to celebrate dramatic wins over Pittsburgh (7-6) and Iowa State (27-20 in double overtime). After a tumultuous period that included a coaching change and last year's 5-6 finish, all indications are that the Huskers are a happy bunch once again.

"This season, one of the things we wanted to do was bring our team closer," Nebraska redshirt freshman receiver Nate Swift said. "After the last two games, being in the locker room with the coaches, everyone's jumping around, hugging each other ... some of the guys are crying.

"It's great to see the love that everyone has for each other. Alone, that's not going to win the games for us, but I think that's a big part of the rest of our season."

Nebraska (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) will attempt to carry its momentum into Saturday's 3:05 p.m. (TBS) game against 15th-ranked Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0) at Memorial Stadium. The Red Raiders are four-point favorites for the Big 12 Conference contest in Lincoln.

It's been said that winning cures a lot of ills. That definitely seems to be the case for the Huskers, whose 2004 season included some internal rifts and players admitting publicly that they never completely bought into the coaching staff's system.

This year, Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said the Huskers are a completely different team. He said players from all across the country are developing chemistry with one another -- and their coaches -- and the winning has followed.

"That's why I was excited about our victory against Iowa State because it was a game where there was a tremendous amount of adversity, tremendous amount of pressure and they won for each other. That's the essence of team," Callahan said. "When you've got guys playing for each other, winning for each other, then you've got a dynamic that you can build on."

Nebraska defensive end Jay Moore said much of the change can be attributed to believing in themselves and their teammates.

"We're closer as a team and we respect each other a lot more," Moore said. "We respect everything that we do. We take more pride in what we do.

"Last year was one of those weird things that we've put behind us. We're just out here to prove that we're better than last year."

Adversity was something Moore said the Huskers simply didn't deal with very well last season. For example, Moore cited last year's Texas Tech game when Nebraska committed seven turnovers and the Blackshirts couldn't manage to make a stand.

"When (bad) things happened, we weren't ready for it," Moore said. "We were inexperienced when it came to that because that's really never happened to us before."

Neither had a 70-10 loss, which marked the worst setback in school history. Looking back, Moore said that game seemed to start the Blackshirts on a downward spiral that they never pulled out of.

"It seemed like we started to become real inconsistent as a defense," Moore said. "It was a real roller-coaster ride after that."

Nebraska linebacker Stewart Bradley said he couldn't imagine that happening with this year's team.

"When we face adversity, we bond closer together and that has something to do with how the offseason went and how hard we worked together," Bradley said. "We're really confident in each other's ability.

"I know when I'm on the field or in the locker room and I look around, I can count on every other guy that I see to do his job."

Junior college transfer Ola Dagunduro said he's been impressed with how the team has come together since he arrived in Lincoln last January.

"It's unbelievable," Dagunduro said. "Everybody loves each other. It's like family."

 

[NamelessHusker]

 

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]Red Zone Focus [/SIZE]

Kicking game also fine-tuned

The Nebraska football team concluded the full-scale phase of its game-week practice schedule with a two-hour workout Thursday and the emphasis was on finding success in the red zone and the kicking game.

Coach Bill Callahan said, “We reviewed a lot of those special situations that you don’t normally get a chance to throw in during the week. We try to bring up one new situation for the team to practice on, so it was a good practice in that respect.”

While Callahan said that he knows the Memorial Stadium crowd will be raucous on Saturday against Texas Tech, he expects the Red Raiders to be prepared for the environment, even if that means employing a no-huddle offense.

“I think, for the most part, when you encounter a hostile environment like we have with our crowd noise, you can expect them to come in and no-huddle our defense, try to quiet the crowd and put our fans on their seats with that no-huddle situation,” Callahan said. “It’s just as important to get noise when they’re in no-huddle at the line of scrimmage trying to get signals and plays as when they come to the line of scrimmage. It’s going to be an interesting dynamic Saturday to see how they come out and if they’re going to feature the no-huddle system, which they’re capable of doing.”

Callahan also talked about the NU offense developing the ability to spread the passing game evenly, as evidenced by last Saturday’s contest when quarterback Zac Taylor distributed the ball to 10 different

Husker wide receivers. Callahan said that Nebraska’s offense attempts to rely more on balance than on one single target.

“I think the Iowa State game is indicative of what we do structurally, from a formation aspect and what we did with the routes that we were running and the people we were featuring. We just tried to get a little more balanced in our attack.”

Nebraska will continue its game-week preparations Friday afternoon with a short walk-through practice.

 

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]Ross Rules Running Game [/SIZE]

Recruits wait their turn

Someone apparently forgot to tell running back Cory Ross that he was supposed to make way for 2005 Nebraska recruiting class stars Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn.

If anything, the first four games have shown that Ross is entrenched as the Cornhuskers' starting I-back.

"Those guys are two of the top freshmen I've seen at Nebraska, and they're doing a great job and pushing me to do the best I can," Ross said. "I know when their opportunity comes, they'll show their abilities."

The way Ross has been playing, it might be awhile before Lucky and Glenn get many meaningful snaps.

Ross was one of eight Big 12 backs to rush for more than 1,000 yards last season, but many recruiting analysts, media and fans trumpeted the arrival of Lucky and Glenn and pushed aside the 5-foot-6, 195-pound senior from Denver.

Ross refuses to go away.

In last week's 27-20 double-overtime win over Iowa State, Ross played the most complete game of his career. Recruited for the triple-option by Frank Solich in 2001, Ross looked like a prototypical West Coast offense running back against the Cyclones.

He caught a career-high eight passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yarder off a center screen.

The Huskers ran only 25 times, but Ross had 15 of those carries for 32 yards and a TD.

Lucky and Glenn?

They're going to have to wait. Lucky has seen spot duty in each game but has only 16 carries for 43 yards. Glenn has appeared in one game and run four times for 20 yards.

"In the flow of the game you have to be able to trust guys in all areas, and Cory Ross has done it," offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said. "He's done it in big games; he's performed and produced. When we're trying to win an important football game, those are the kind of guys you ride. You ride the guys who got you there."

Ross seems to be getting better each week, quarterback Zac Taylor said.

"He understands that he's going to be used in different ways, and if he has to block he's going to block, and we can count on him every play," Taylor said. "Obviously he showed he can catch the ball, too."

Ross said he's found happiness in coach Bill Callahan's offensive system, which relies heavily on quick, short passes.

"Not to say the option wasn't the best thing, but this shows my ability to block, run and catch the football," Ross said. "That's the type of offense everyone wants to be in, especially if you want to be an NFL player."

Catching passes allows Ross to put his elusiveness on display, he said. Plus, using Ross as a receiver forces defenses to have a linebacker cover him, a matchup that Ross likes.

"When you catch the ball, you're out of the whole crowded area of linemen, D-linemen," he said. "You're almost in one-on-one situations, and those are kind of fun to be in."

Ross said it took him some time to catch on to the West Coast system. He said the difficulty of learning the offense probably is one of the reasons why Lucky and Glenn haven't gotten more playing time.

"I was hesitant my first year in the West Coast offense," Ross said. "Sometimes you're out there second-guessing yourself. Once they become comfortable, they'll be great in this offense. But it probably takes a year."

 

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]Huskers Get Ready for Red Raiders[/SIZE]

Mike Ballmer/ Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Nebraska finished preparations for its game against Texas Tech today with a practice emphasizing offensive efficiency inside the 20-yard line and the kicking game.

Callahan said he expects Tech will be prepared for the noise in Memorial Stadium on Saturday. He said he wouldn't be surprised if the Red Raiders use a no-huddle offense.

10/11's Mike Ballmer and Ryan Gager were at the practice. They added that Callahan said they need to focus and work on avoiding the penalties.

Nebraska will hold a short walk-through practice on Friday.

 

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]Huskers want more than revenge in Texas Tech match[/SIZE]

By ROBIN WASHUT

October 07, 2005

In Stewart Bradley’s opinion, last year never happened.

For the past week, whenever last season’s 70-10 loss to Texas Tech last season has been brought up, the senior linebacker has stuck to his guns. He insists that what happened in the past isn’t worth discussing.

For Bradley and his coaches and teammates, the Cornhuskers’ worst loss in school history is only a few numbers in the record book.

“I’m focused on this year,” Bradley said. “Last year we played a different (Texas) Tech team, and I’m concerned about the work we’ve done this year, and where we’re headed this year. I’m not focused on last year at all.”

While one could assume the revenge factor for the Huskers is a key element in facing a team that destroyed them by 60 points on national television, the NU players and coaches see Saturday’s 3 p.m. contest as their biggest game of the year -- only because of what it means in the context of their season.

Coming into the game a perfect 4-0 and ranked No. 15 nationally, Texas Tech not only boasts one of college football’s most potent passing offenses, but one of the best -- all-around, statistically -- in the country.

The Red Raiders rank in the top-25 in nine of the 13 major NCAA statistical categories, and are among the top-10 in five of those categories.

Above all, it’s the Red Raiders’ offense that has garnered the most attention so far this season.

Along with boasting the nation’s best passing offense and scoring offense – averaging more than 449 yards and 57 points per game – the Red Raiders also rank second in total offense with 585.3 yards per contest.

Needless to say, the Huskers have a pretty good idea of what Texas Tech’s offensive game plan will be on Saturday.

“They’re going to pass the ball, and that’s what we’re going to have to stop,” sophomore cornerback Cortney Grixby said. “What this game is going to come down to is tackling. They can run their little 5-yard outs and hitches and be open, but if we can tackle them as soon as they get the ball, they’re going to have to try and stretch the field to get big plays.”

Last season, the Red Raiders embarrassed the Husker defense in nearly every facet of the game, racking up 523 yards of total offense and 25 first downs.

Led by quarterback Sonny Cumbie – who completed 44 of 56 passes for 436 yards and five touchdowns – 10 different receivers caught passes and four had more than 60 yards receiving.

On top of that, the Red Raiders rushed the ball 15 times for four touchdowns.

While the Red Raiders were able to do anything they pleased against the NU defense, the Huskers say that there is little, if any, intimidation of what might happen this time around.

At the same time, the Huskers aren’t using last year’s defeat as any kind of special motivation either.

“We just have to be focused on doing what we’re supposed to do,” junior defensive end Jay Moore said. “I think when you get that revenge factor, you get too wrapped up in that. You’re so focused on getting revenge and payback that you forget what you’re really out here doing, and that’s doing your job as a defensive player.”

Of the various advantages each team may have over the other, the Huskers say there are two elements that could make a huge difference in Saturday’s outcome.

First, the FieldTurf of Memorial Stadium should help slow down Texas Tech’s speedy receivers and running backs, which looked like a team of track stars against NU last season on the artificial turf of Jones SBC Stadium.

The second will be the obvious impact of the Nebraska’s home-field advantage.

When the Huskers got behind in the second half in Lubbock, Texas, they found it an almost impossible task to rebound amidst a raucous Red Raider crowd that was tearing out sections of the student-section bleachers as part of their celebration during the game.

Saturday will be the conclusion of a five-game home stand for the Huskers, and with the momentum from last week’s double-overtime win over Iowa State paired with Husker Nation’s thirst for revenge, the Sea of Red will be swollen with enthusiasm.

“Obviously, Texas Tech is a great team, so we need a big win at home,” junior quarterback Zac Taylor said. “It’s big that it’s at home. Our crowd gives us big support. I know the crowd gave Iowa State problems, so if we can get the same thing out of the crowd with Texas Tech at home, it’s going to be a huge advantage for us.”

As much as the Huskers say last year’s devastating loss has been left in the past, it seems like a stretch that a team could forget the feeling of walking off the field after that game nearly one year ago.

The Huskers are still undefeated, and their season objectives will have greater precedence than simply getting revenge.

At the same time, for every Husker who watched the Red Raiders score more points than any NU team has ever allowed, a little payback could mend some still-gaping wounds.

“There’s not going to be an intimidation factor,” Grixby said. “We’re just focused on getting the win. We don’t need to go out and beat them 70-3. We can beat them 3-0, as long we get the win

 

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]Texas Tech prepares for blitzing Huskers [/SIZE]

10/07/2005

By ERIC OLSON / Associated Press

Texas Tech quarterback Cody Hodges doesn't expect anything close to a repeat of last year's 60-point win when the 15th-ranked Red Raiders visit Nebraska on Saturday.

Last year's game in Lubbock spun out of control as Nebraska committed seven turnovers in a 70-10 loss. The Raiders scored 49 points in a span of 12 minutes in the second half while dealing the Cornhuskers their worst loss in their 115-year history. It was the low point of coach Bill Callahan's first year at Nebraska.

"Obviously, Nebraska is going to be an overall better football team," Hodges said. "They are 4-0 and have been in their system now for two years. It's not going to be that same team we played last year. You can pretty much throw out last year's game compared to this one."

The Raiders (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) bring in the nation's top scoring and passing offense at 57.3 points and 449.3 yards a game. They'll be going against a Cornhusker defense that leads the nation with 26 sacks and is second in points allowed at 9.0 a game.

Nebraska (4-0, 1-0) sacked Sonny Cumbie just once in last year's game and was picked apart for 436 passing yards.

"They tend to blitz a lot, a little more than they did last year," Tech coach Mike Leach said. "I think it has been a big part of their package to begin with, and they have done more of it and reinforced it this year."

The Huskers make no secret of their plan to go after Hodges, who was sacked five times last week in a 30-17 win over Kansas. The Jayhawks trailed 20-0 at halftime before making a game of it.

"When Kansas got to him, hit him, good things happened," linebacker Bo Ruud said. "That's when they started getting points on the board and the team came alive."

Leach said he isn't concerned about the Huskers sending a horde a pass-rushers as long as his players pick up the blitzes.

But Leach said Hodges has to be protected better than he was against Kansas.

"He got knocked down more times than he should have, but that is part of the deal of being quarterback and playing football," Leach said. "I certainly would rather him not get hit, but if he does he just needs to get back up and go."

Hodges said he knows what's coming.

"Probably after watching the Kansas game they will blitz more because at times we didn't handle it too well," Hodges said. "Obviously, everything we saw on film against Kansas we can correct."

Texas Tech has six receivers with 10 or more receptions a piece, led by Robert Johnson's 25 catches. Taurean Henderson has 20 catches and, with 256 in his career, needs only seven to become the NCAA's all-time leader in receptions by a running back. Henderson averages 8.4 yards a carry and has rushed for 327 yards and seven touchdowns.

Hodges has completed 72.2 percent of his passes for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns. He's been intercepted just twice in 158 pass attempts.

"They're going to complete passes — that's what they're going to do if they're going to throw the ball as many times as they are," linebacker Corey McKeon said. "You just have to get them on the ground as fast as possible. You have to set the tempo against them and not let them set the tempo against you."

Callahan doesn't want to get into a scoring contest. The Huskers' offense, averaging 22.5 points, has scored just six offensive touchdowns in four games. Two of those TDs came in overtime in last week's 27-20 win over Iowa State.

"Well do the best we can," Callahan said. "I think theres a confidence in our football team, but there isnt an arrogance about it. We know we have to improve and we have to work harder than we did last week."

 

[NamelessHusker]

[SIZE=14pt]Huskers plead amnesia on rout by Texas Tech[/SIZE]

By ERIC OLSON

Associated Press Sports

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska insists revenge is not motivation for its game against 15th-ranked Texas Tech.

"All the Knute Rockne pep talks before a game go out the window when that ball is kicked,'' coach Bill Callahan said. "We're not going to jump up and down and get mad about something. It's a different year, a different team, a whole different dynamic than a year ago.''

That's a good thing because last year's 70-10 loss in Lubbock, Texas, was the most lopsided in program history - and was the low point of the Huskers' 5-6 season. Nebraska committed seven turnovers and gave up 49 points in a 12-minute span of the second half.

"It might as well have been 70,000 to 10,'' linebacker Corey McKeon said. "That performance isn't going to be repeated.''

Cornerback Tierre Green said he wants to forget not just the Texas Tech game last year, but the entire 2004 season.

"We don't want to go back to that level of play where we're going into the tank when we get behind,'' he said.

Linebacker Bo Ruud said the Huskers (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) are preparing the same way they always do. They aren't concerned with last year's result, he said, and they're not worrying about Tech's gaudy offensive numbers.

"Nobody intimidates us,'' he said. "You can sit there and work yourself into a frenzy. Right now we're doing what we've done every game. That means we're not going to talk trash in the media. We're trying to keep it on the level.''

Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0) brings the same style of wide-open, spread-the-field offense to Lincoln. Cody Hodges leads the nation in passing and total offense, completing 72.2 percent of his passes for 1,450 yards. He has 13 touchdown passes and just two interceptions.

The Red Raiders are averaging a nation-leading 57.2 points, but scored a season low in a 30-17 win over Kansas last week.

Asked about Hodges, McKeon said: "Who's Hodges?''

McKeon said he only knows the Tech quarterback by his jersey number (No. 10).

"Our D-linemen are going to be licking their lips coming after him. He's got to think about that,'' McKeon said. "He's got to watch film and see how many times we've been sacking the quarterback (26). I hope he's watching that because he's going to have to dig in and look at our front four all game. Hopefully he'll come out of there alive, for his sake.''

Ruud said he doubts many people felt sorry for Nebraska after last year's Texas Tech game. For years, the Huskers routinely put up big scores.

"Everybody wants to see Nebraska get beat,'' Ruud said. "There are a lot of die-hard Husker fans around the nation, but there are a ton of die-hard Nebraska haters, too. People love to see us get beat.''