husker rob
All-American
Slauson: USC game 'huge' for Huskers' future
BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007 - 03:34:47 pm CDT
Some local reporters tried their best at Tuesday’s press conference to get Husker head coach Bill Callahan to just once admit this weekend’s showdown with No. 1 Southern California was an extra big game — you know, perhaps the biggest football game ever played by mortal men.
Callahan wasn’t having it. You would’ve thought Maine was coming to town Saturday.
“They’re all big,” he said.
Yes, yes, but not every game is nationally televised in primetime under the lights and brings a No. 1 team to town for the first time since Oklahoma in 1978.
A win by the 14th-ranked Huskers would almost definitely vault them into the top 10 and make them an undeniable presence on the national scene.
“It’s tough to not be extra juiced because it is the No. 1 team. It’s a big game,” Husker offensive lineman Matt Slauson said, just before he started to sound like Callahan.
“But you know what, they’re all big games with the goals we’ve got.”
Last year, when Nebraska lost 28-10 at USC, Slauson admitted some Huskers went into the game “scared.”
He assured that won’t be the case this time around.
“After playing them, and playing Auburn, and playing Texas, we can play with whoever comes to us,” Slauson said. “It’s all about us now. We have to do what we have to do and the other team isn’t a factor for us.”
Last year, Callahan took some criticism from some fans and media for being overly conservative and running the ball too much.
“I don’t disagree with what he did,” Slauson said. “He’s a lot smarter than me. Obviously, he knows what he’s doing. And really, people criticize him in everything. That’s just going to come.”
And for those who hope to see nothing but Air Callahan this time around against USC, they might be in for a disappointment.
“Our biggest goal is to take their legs,” Slauson said. “Oregon State (last year) did well with that. USC came out and they were flying around when you’re watching in the first quarter. Then watching in the fourth quarter, it’s a completely different team.”
At one point, someone asked Slauson what USC represented to Nebraska players.
“To us, they’re another team coming in trying to take our trophy away,” he said. “To me, they’re really good. I look at their defensive line and I’m just like, ‘Wow.’ This is going to be the biggest challenge for me.
"This is going to be huge for our team’s future, huge for my future. This is going to be one of the games that if somebody in their future is looking at me, is going to turn on that film and see how I did against all the All-Americans.”
BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007 - 03:34:47 pm CDT
Some local reporters tried their best at Tuesday’s press conference to get Husker head coach Bill Callahan to just once admit this weekend’s showdown with No. 1 Southern California was an extra big game — you know, perhaps the biggest football game ever played by mortal men.
Callahan wasn’t having it. You would’ve thought Maine was coming to town Saturday.
“They’re all big,” he said.
Yes, yes, but not every game is nationally televised in primetime under the lights and brings a No. 1 team to town for the first time since Oklahoma in 1978.
A win by the 14th-ranked Huskers would almost definitely vault them into the top 10 and make them an undeniable presence on the national scene.
“It’s tough to not be extra juiced because it is the No. 1 team. It’s a big game,” Husker offensive lineman Matt Slauson said, just before he started to sound like Callahan.
“But you know what, they’re all big games with the goals we’ve got.”
Last year, when Nebraska lost 28-10 at USC, Slauson admitted some Huskers went into the game “scared.”
He assured that won’t be the case this time around.
“After playing them, and playing Auburn, and playing Texas, we can play with whoever comes to us,” Slauson said. “It’s all about us now. We have to do what we have to do and the other team isn’t a factor for us.”
Last year, Callahan took some criticism from some fans and media for being overly conservative and running the ball too much.
“I don’t disagree with what he did,” Slauson said. “He’s a lot smarter than me. Obviously, he knows what he’s doing. And really, people criticize him in everything. That’s just going to come.”
And for those who hope to see nothing but Air Callahan this time around against USC, they might be in for a disappointment.
“Our biggest goal is to take their legs,” Slauson said. “Oregon State (last year) did well with that. USC came out and they were flying around when you’re watching in the first quarter. Then watching in the fourth quarter, it’s a completely different team.”
At one point, someone asked Slauson what USC represented to Nebraska players.
“To us, they’re another team coming in trying to take our trophy away,” he said. “To me, they’re really good. I look at their defensive line and I’m just like, ‘Wow.’ This is going to be the biggest challenge for me.
"This is going to be huge for our team’s future, huge for my future. This is going to be one of the games that if somebody in their future is looking at me, is going to turn on that film and see how I did against all the All-Americans.”
