HuskerfaninOkieland
Heisman Trophy Winner
KansasCity.com
LINCOLN, Neb. | Turnovers are critical in a football game.
File that pearl of wisdom under obvious football observations, right next to playing at home is preferable and controlling the clock is helpful.
But Nebraska will look beyond the obvious this season as Bo Pelini takes over. He’s been the turnover doctor, healing mistake-prone programs.
Few piled up more mistakes than the Cornhuskers last season. They gave it away 28 times and collected a mere 11 turnovers. That’s minus-17, or minus-1.42 turnovers per game as the NCAA measures the statistic, which ranked 117th in the nation.
It defined the 2007 season. Nebraska got pushed around, saw its possessions taken and proved powerless to fight back. The result: a 5-7 overall record and 2-6 Big 12 mark that landed the program in the division basement and got coach Bill Callahan fired.
Pelini, who specializes in defense, will trust his offensive staff to solve the giveaway issue.
The takeaway total figures to improve because Pelini will demand it.
“We’ve always had success in that aspect because we emphasize it,” Pelini said. “You get what you ask for.”
Ask may not be the right word here.
“Oh, we’ll get it,” safety Larry Asante said. “Things are different now.”
LINCOLN, Neb. | Turnovers are critical in a football game.
File that pearl of wisdom under obvious football observations, right next to playing at home is preferable and controlling the clock is helpful.
But Nebraska will look beyond the obvious this season as Bo Pelini takes over. He’s been the turnover doctor, healing mistake-prone programs.
Few piled up more mistakes than the Cornhuskers last season. They gave it away 28 times and collected a mere 11 turnovers. That’s minus-17, or minus-1.42 turnovers per game as the NCAA measures the statistic, which ranked 117th in the nation.
It defined the 2007 season. Nebraska got pushed around, saw its possessions taken and proved powerless to fight back. The result: a 5-7 overall record and 2-6 Big 12 mark that landed the program in the division basement and got coach Bill Callahan fired.
Pelini, who specializes in defense, will trust his offensive staff to solve the giveaway issue.
The takeaway total figures to improve because Pelini will demand it.
“We’ve always had success in that aspect because we emphasize it,” Pelini said. “You get what you ask for.”
Ask may not be the right word here.
“Oh, we’ll get it,” safety Larry Asante said. “Things are different now.”