Nebraska a "dark horse" team next year

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

MSNBC

Dark horses: Virginia Tech and Nebraska. Having learned valuable lessons during their two-week bobble this past season, the Hokies, who pitched four shutouts in 2006, should be the frontrunners in the ACC next season. Don’t dwell over the loss to Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Bowl too much. That’s just the kind of offseason ploy Frank Beamer needs to get his team prepared properly for a crucial trip to LSU on Sept. 8.

 

If Bill Callahan can plug some big holes on defense and QB Sam Keller, a talented transfer from Arizona State, meshes into the Huskers’ stacked offense, Nebraska could build toward something special.

 

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

A couple of other interesting tidbits from that article on page 2:

In trouble: Colorado’s Dan Hawkins. The flipside to Petersen is Hawkins. He left Boise State to take over in Boulder where it was thought that his system would take a while to sink in, but a 2-10 record was much too much sinking for Buff backers.

 

If Hawkins thought 2006 was tough, just wait for 2007. In addition to the rugged Big 12 schedule, he’ll also have to lock horns with Colorado State, Arizona State and Florida State in September. And if he’s inclined to go with his son, Cody, at quarterback, the pressure will be intense.

 

The “Florida State” of 2007: Oklahoma. They won’t fall to the depths of playing in anything equivalent to the Emerald Bowl, but Bob Stoops and his program will slide next season after coping with a headache that will last for the entire offseason.

 

The dramatic nature of their loss to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl almost masks the fact that the Sooners’ only bowl win since the 2002 season was a 17-14 victory over Oregon at the 2005 Holiday Bowl. Yes ... Oregon ... oops, sorry to bring up another Sooner sore spot.