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Huskers optimistic after improvement on the road
By Evan Bland, Daily Nebraskan
October 12, 2006
(CSTV U-WIRE) LINCOLN, Neb. -- Seemingly everyone on the Nebraska football team is going about his business a little more upbeat this week.
Junior linebacker Corey McKeon has kept the jokes coming. Sophomore offensive lineman Matt Slauson shaved his head, save for a mohawk-like strip down the middle. Coach Bill Callahan even seemed looser at Tuesday's weekly media conference.
Maybe that's because road games -- which have been Nebraska's nemesis for the past four years -- are finally starting to treat the Cornhuskers a little better.
In the Big 12 Conference, NU hasn't had a winning road record since 2001, when it went 3-1. Since then, Nebraska has been 6-11 in league games away from home and 3-6 under Callahan.
But one needs to look no further than Oct. 7's 28-14 rundown of Iowa State in Ames, Iowa, to see the Huskers have shown improvement outside Memorial Stadium.
Callahan sees it.
"We feel we've established a pretty good routine on the road," Callahan said, likening it to Nebraska's routine before a home game. "I think that has a lot to do with (the players') preparation and their mind-set when they hit the field on Saturday night."
It worked for the Huskers last weekend as they continued their quest to "Restore the Order," winning at Iowa State for the first time since 2000.
It's those types of streak-breaking wins that convinced the team they could do it again and again, some players said.
"It shows us as a team that we can run the ball and of course we can throw the ball," NU sophomore running back Cody Glenn said. "It gives us confidence."
Callahan has said many times he believes a championship-caliber team wins on the road by running the football and controlling the clock. Through six games this season, his play-calling has reflected that philosophy.
In both of Nebraska's road games -- Southern California and Iowa State -- the Huskers ran the ball about 68 percent of the time, a higher ratio than any home game.
Besides being able to wear down a defense with the running attack, Callahan said another fruit of winning the time of possession battle is it takes the opposing crowd out of the game.
"These divisional games that you get into, every one's a season of its own," Callahan said. "You have to be able to get on the road and play at your best and have the road mentality to overcome distractions."
There will be a lot of those Saturday at Kansas State, a place Nebraska hasn't won since 1996. And it's Harley Day.
"You get down there, and the student section is right behind you, the band is right behind you," Callahan said. "Motorcycles will be running around the track. There will be a lot of things going on there."
Senior quarterback Zac Taylor has a little experience in Manhattan. His dad, Sherwood Taylor, was a defensive backs coach for K-State from 1984 to 1986, and the younger Taylor said he remembers being at the stadium "with about 15 other people" as a toddler.
With that little bit of familiarity, Taylor heads into Nebraska's second-straight conference road game with some confidence after completing 17 of 21 passes for 131 yards against the Cyclones last Saturday.
Still, Taylor and Co. know it will probably be the run, not the pass, that determines if the Huskers can push their conference road record to 2-0.
"A game like this is just a game to establish the run and kind of see how effective the run can be," Glenn said. "Toward the end of games, whenever we want to close out games ... it's especially big then."
Fine, Coach, we understand the philosophy. But it wouldn't kill you to throw the ball down the field in road games. A 15-play, 80-yard drive does quiet the crowd. So does an 80-yard pass play. Don't be afraid to go for the throat!!!
:nanalama
By Evan Bland, Daily Nebraskan
October 12, 2006
(CSTV U-WIRE) LINCOLN, Neb. -- Seemingly everyone on the Nebraska football team is going about his business a little more upbeat this week.
Junior linebacker Corey McKeon has kept the jokes coming. Sophomore offensive lineman Matt Slauson shaved his head, save for a mohawk-like strip down the middle. Coach Bill Callahan even seemed looser at Tuesday's weekly media conference.
Maybe that's because road games -- which have been Nebraska's nemesis for the past four years -- are finally starting to treat the Cornhuskers a little better.
In the Big 12 Conference, NU hasn't had a winning road record since 2001, when it went 3-1. Since then, Nebraska has been 6-11 in league games away from home and 3-6 under Callahan.
But one needs to look no further than Oct. 7's 28-14 rundown of Iowa State in Ames, Iowa, to see the Huskers have shown improvement outside Memorial Stadium.
Callahan sees it.
"We feel we've established a pretty good routine on the road," Callahan said, likening it to Nebraska's routine before a home game. "I think that has a lot to do with (the players') preparation and their mind-set when they hit the field on Saturday night."
It worked for the Huskers last weekend as they continued their quest to "Restore the Order," winning at Iowa State for the first time since 2000.
It's those types of streak-breaking wins that convinced the team they could do it again and again, some players said.
"It shows us as a team that we can run the ball and of course we can throw the ball," NU sophomore running back Cody Glenn said. "It gives us confidence."
Callahan has said many times he believes a championship-caliber team wins on the road by running the football and controlling the clock. Through six games this season, his play-calling has reflected that philosophy.
In both of Nebraska's road games -- Southern California and Iowa State -- the Huskers ran the ball about 68 percent of the time, a higher ratio than any home game.
Besides being able to wear down a defense with the running attack, Callahan said another fruit of winning the time of possession battle is it takes the opposing crowd out of the game.
"These divisional games that you get into, every one's a season of its own," Callahan said. "You have to be able to get on the road and play at your best and have the road mentality to overcome distractions."
There will be a lot of those Saturday at Kansas State, a place Nebraska hasn't won since 1996. And it's Harley Day.
"You get down there, and the student section is right behind you, the band is right behind you," Callahan said. "Motorcycles will be running around the track. There will be a lot of things going on there."
Senior quarterback Zac Taylor has a little experience in Manhattan. His dad, Sherwood Taylor, was a defensive backs coach for K-State from 1984 to 1986, and the younger Taylor said he remembers being at the stadium "with about 15 other people" as a toddler.
With that little bit of familiarity, Taylor heads into Nebraska's second-straight conference road game with some confidence after completing 17 of 21 passes for 131 yards against the Cyclones last Saturday.
Still, Taylor and Co. know it will probably be the run, not the pass, that determines if the Huskers can push their conference road record to 2-0.
"A game like this is just a game to establish the run and kind of see how effective the run can be," Glenn said. "Toward the end of games, whenever we want to close out games ... it's especially big then."
Fine, Coach, we understand the philosophy. But it wouldn't kill you to throw the ball down the field in road games. A 15-play, 80-yard drive does quiet the crowd. So does an 80-yard pass play. Don't be afraid to go for the throat!!!
:nanalama
