Forward Past

It was a dark and dreary day last October in Lincoln when Husker Nation – players, coaches, fans, former players, former coaches, former fans – officially entered the twilight zone. Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson had just scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to give the Cowboys a 38-0 lead over NU heading into halftime. In Memorial Stadium. On homecoming. And with the 1997 National Championship team reunited on the sidelines to celebrate its 10th anniversary, no less.

This had to be rock bottom.

Amazing it is, then, how much positive feeling is within that same Husker Nation heading into 2008’s season opener on Saturday night against Western Michigan. But consider how much has happened since Robinson’s touchdown:

About 48 hours after, wildly unpopular Athletic Director Steve Pederson was fired. Twenty-four hours after that one of those men standing on the sidelines for the ’97 reunion, the wildly popular former head coach Tom Osborne, was called upon to replace him. His first order of business was to fire out a warning shot to coach Bill Callahan and warn fans that things could get worse before they got better. Over the next six weeks, things certainly did – worse in that the Huskers proceeded to drop four of their last five games in deplorable fashion, then better on Nov. 24 when Osborne canned Callahan. Eight days after that, the old coach announced LSU defensive coordinator and one-time Nebraska defensive coordinator (in 2003) Bo Pelini as his choice to lead NU back to glory.

To say Husker Nation developed Bo-mania over the next eight months would be a vast understatement, but college football in the new millennium is a competitive beast. Common sense says a rebuilding will take some time. Here’s a glance at what Pelini will be working with this season:

Coaching

Husker Nation was divided for most of the past four years when it came to Callahan – many holding onto blind faith that he was the right man for the job while smarter ones loathed him and his practices from the get-go.

That’s not the case with Pelini, who has united the Husker fan base by embracing Nebraska traditions such as the walk-on program while publicly leaning on the wisdom of Osborne from day one. Smart moves. And unlike Callahan, he realizes that this is not pro football: Traditions are important. Redshirting and the steady development of players are vital. Young guys need intense and physical practices. And getting four-star and five-star players to sign is not the end-all, be-all.

That stuff is important, but even more key will be his flat-out knowledge of the X’s and O’s of defensive football, where Nebraska needs immediate help in the worst way. His simple style has been effective everywhere he’s coached since leaving Nebraska in 2004: Teach your players how to get in the right position to make big plays. That was certainly the case during his one-year stint as defensive coordinator at NU in 2003, as the defense forced 47 takeaways as the Huskers led the nation in turnover margin.

It looks like Pelini is leaving most of the offensive stuff to the guys who know it best, and that starts with coordinator Shawn Watson. Whether it was Callahan or Watson who was actually responsible, there’s no arguing that NU’s offense was more than capable at times over the past three years. They shouldn’t miss a beat this year.

The rest of the staff is a mixture of old and new. Only Watson and receivers coach Ted Gilmore were retained from Callahan’s staff. Pelini brought back old Husker standbys Ron Brown and Barney Cotton on offense and Marvin Sanders on defense. His other defensive assistants, Carl Pelini, Mike Ekeler and John Papuchis, are less experienced but carry the head man’s same intensity with them.

The Offense

While Nebraska’s defense was surrendering points by the bucketful last season, the offense did a pretty good job at the impossible task of trying to keep pace, averaging 47 points per game over its last four. With a mixture of experience and young talent at each position, a potent offense gives Husker fans a reason to be hopeful in 2008 – even if the defense struggles to catch on early, this offense should be able to keep the Huskers in every game.

It starts with quarterback Joe Ganz, the unquestioned leader of this team. Ganz earned the respect of his teammates and fans by stepping in to throw for more than 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns in the last three games of 2007 after NU lost Sam Keller to injury. Ganz isn’t the most talented quarterback around, but he has mastered Watson’s offense and should be able to cut down on the mistakes he did make last year.

Ganz will throw to two guys – seniors Nate Swift and Todd Peterson – who are just as familiar with the offense as he is. Swift and Peterson are more dependable than flashy, but expect them to put up good numbers this year. This rest of the receiving corps is made up of unproven but talented players. The Huskers need somebody, be it Menelik Holt, Niles Paul, Chris Brooks or Curenski Gilleylen to step up and replace Maurice Purify as a downfield threat.

Things get even better for NU in the running game. The offensive line, anchored by returning starters Matt Slauson, Mike Huff, Jacob Hickman and Lydon Murtha, is the deepest and most talented it’s been since 2001.

They’ll be blocking for an All-American candidate in Marlon Lucky, the Big 12’s leading returning rusher. Lucky put up great numbers in 2007 (1,724 yards of total offense), but he’s still yet to prove he can be dominant, particularly in big games. If he fails to do so early, the coaches are confident in youngsters Roy Helu Jr. and Quentin Castille. Senior Thomas Lawson is the team’s No. 1 fullback.

The Defense/Special Teams

It would be nothing short of a miracle if Pelini can transform this defense the way he did with his 2003 squad. Even though it was full of players that underachieved in 2002, the 2003 team was far more experienced and talented, loaded with future NFL’ers Barrett Ruud, Demarrio Williams, Fabian Washington and Josh and Daniel Bullocks.

No such talent is apparent within this group. The bright spot is the defensive line, which returns all four starters – Ndamukong Suh, Ty Steinkuhler, Zach Potter and Barry Turner. While that is obviously a positive thing, it doesn’t mean quite as much when you consider how soft that group played in 2007. They combined for just 6.5 sacks and were constantly pushed around in the running game. It’s doubtful that Pelini will tolerate that for long, so look for contributions from Jared Crick, Pierre Allen or even true freshman Baker Steinkuhler at some point this year.

The linebacking corps was decimated by graduation, losing its top four linebackers, a group that combined to make 270 tackles last season. Only middle linebacker Phillip Dillard has any experience and he was slow and out of position most of the time last year. The other two starters are seniors Tyler Wortman and Cody Glenn. Both are inexperienced but do have a little upside. Wortman is your typical overachieving walk-on and by all accounts has been NU’s most athletic linebacker in camp. Glenn played running back his first three years as a Husker, but at least he was never poisoned by former defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove. There will be a tremendous learning curve for this group, which could receive help from true freshmen Will Compton and Sean Fisher.

There’s much more hope for NU’s last line of defense, the secondary, although not one single player on the roster recorded an interception in 2007. But there’s no denying that talent exists back there. Expect the most improvement to come from strong safety Larry Asante, and fellow returning starter Andre Murillo should also benefit from more aggressive coaching at cornerback. The wild card is junior Rickey Thenarse, who’s become a fan favorite thanks to his heavy hitting on special teams but who needs to prove he can keep his assignments.

Special Teams is an obvious strength heading into 2008, as the Huskers have an All-Big 12 candidate at punter, Dan Titchener, and two capable kickers in Alex Henery and Adi Kunalic. NU will need to find dependable return men, but should find it in Niles Paul and Roy Helu Jr.

Schedule

Everybody seems to be pointing to Nebraska’s Sept. 27 game against Virginia Tech as the measuring stick for this team. Easy, kids. The measuring stick will come the second NU takes the field against Western Michigan on Saturday. That game will set the tone for the rest of the season; a loss would be devastating to the momentum Pelini established during the offseason but a big win over the experienced and underrated Broncos could signal big things to come later in the season.

The rest of the schedule sets up well for a solid start to the Bo Pelini era. After Western Michigan, NU has two gimmes at home against San Jose State and New Mexico State, followed by the Virginia Tech game and a true test against Missouri. All five of those are at home, so a 5-0 start isn’t completely out of the question. Should that happen, with Kansas and Colorado also at home, all bets are off. Tough road games include visits to Oklahoma and Texas Tech.

Nine wins isn’t out of the realm of possibility; seven would be considered a step in the right direction considering the rock bottom depths NU achieved last season. But it’s time to stop talking and start playing. It’s time for Husker Nation to find out where Pelini will be taking them – and there’s nowhere to go but up.

Husker OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS

POSITION ANALYSIS: I honestly would have laughed had you told me this a year ago, but NU is in good hands as long as senior starter Joe Ganz is healthy. Although he wasn’t perfect, Ganz proved himself capable, at the very least, in his three starts last year. After him, there’s nothing but unproven potential.
Sky’s the Limit: It’s tough to say ... both backups, Patrick Witt and Zac Lee, are gifted athletes and have serious potential, but if the Sam Keller saga taught us anything last year, it’s that it takes much more than that to succeed in a pro-style or West Coast Offense.

Average Joe: I still think Ganz is more a product of the system than he is a great player, but really, who cares? He knows offensive coordinator Shawn Watson’s system like the back of his hand and despite his average athleticism, he will put up big numbers again this year.

X-Factor: He proved a lot last year and earned the respect of Husker Nation, but there are still quite a few questions surrounding

Ganz: Can he hold up for an entire season? Can he avoid throwing interceptions in key moments? How much will NU even throw this year without Callahan?

Must Step Up: If Ganz goes down, Bo Pelini will have to trust his first season to either Witt or Lee or God forbid, Beau Davis. Let’s hope we don’t have to find out.

Grade: C+; Ganz could end up being regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 by season’s end or he might prove his brief - albeit successful - stint last year was a fluke. We’ll see. And there’s not enough proven depth behind him to warrant labeling this group as any more than average.

No. Name Class Ht./Wt.
15 Beau Davis Sr. 6-4/180 12 Joe Ganz* Sr. 6-1/210 3 Zac Lee So. 6-2/210 2 Patrick Witt Fr. 6-4/225

Running Backs

POSITION ANALYSIS: Anytime you head into a season with the conference’s leading returning rusher - but you only list that guy as a co-No. 1 on your depth chart, you’re probably in pretty good shape at the running back position. That’s NU’s situation heading into 2008 with Marlon Lucky and Roy Helu Jr.

Sky’s the Limit: This is still for the uber-talented Lucky; he put up great numbers last year but as I commented before the spring game, in probably eight of NU’s 12 games in 2007 their opponent just seemed to have a better back on the field. Let’s see if he can change that and become truly dominant in 2008.

Average Joe: I never really caught Quentin Castille fever last season and now that Helu Jr. has seperated himself as the clear No. 2 (or “co-No. 1”), I don’t see him as a huge factor this year. But obviously, his bruising style will be valuable around the goalline.

X-Factor: It will be interesting to see how the fullback is used in 2008. Bill Callahan didn’t believe they were of much use, but in case you haven’t heard, a few things are changing in Lincoln this year. Whatever role the fullback plays in the offense this season, the position will be manned by senior Thomas Lawson.

Must Step Up: A good chunk of the (positive) buzz heading into 2008 surrounds Helu Jr., but I think he still has a lot to prove. One-third of his 2007 carries came in one game, and he only played in seven. A lot of that was Callahan’s fault, but Helu Jr. must be consistent this fall.

Grade: B; There’s a good mix of proven veterans and mostly untapped young players at this position, which except for the offensive line, is NU’s best position. So yes, the Huskers should have a pretty good running game this year. No wonder Pelini talked about running the ball more in 2008.

No. Name Class Ht./Wt.
19 Quentin Castille So. 6-1/245 10 Roy Helu Jr. So. 6-0/215 36 Thomas Lawson* (FB) Sr. 6-0/250
5 Marlon Lucky* Sr. 6-0/215 45 Justin Mackovica (FB) So. 6-1/240
32 Marcus Mendoza Fr. 5-10/185

Offensive Line

POSITION ANALYSIS: Take any combination of the 10 players that comprise the two-deep of this year’s offensive line and you’d have a better unit than any NU has seen since 2001. And because of a suspect defense that will demand it control the ball this year, NU is depending on this group to live up to its hype.

SKY’S THE LIMIT: You could argue a few people here, including sophomore Keith Williams, sophomore D.J. Jones and freshman Marcel Jones. But we’ll give the nod to Jaivario Burkes, who started four times as a true freshman last year. Imagine where this group could be in three years.

AVERAGE JOES: Even though I just ripped off a list of talented youngsters, the heart and soul of the line are veterans Matt Slauson, Jacob Hickman and Mike Huff - all returning starters. Each player has improved dramatically during his time at NU and earned his spot as a starter.

X-FACTOR: Ricky Henry wasn’t listed on NU’s two-deep heading in, but his intesity and nasty attitude has been one of the hot topics of fall camp. Methinks the Huskers could use a little of that somewhere on the field this season.

MUST STEP UP: We’re all still waiting for big things from 6-foot-7 behemoth Lydon Murtha, who many thought fit the prototype of the classic left tackle - tall, strong and mobile - when he arrived on campus, but he’s yet to live up to the hype. Well, the senior is running out of time. The good news? Besides Ganz, Pelini would only pin down Murtha as an offensive player who would definitely start against Western Michigan.

GRADE: A; With that much depth the Huskers have the rare luxury of being able to rotate players, and in the trenches that’s something usually reserved for defensive lines. What’s that mean? NU should be wearing teams down and winning fourth quarters.

No. Name Class Ht./Wt.
76 Lydon Murtha* (T) Sr. 6-7/315
61 Mike Huff* (G) Sr. 6-4/300
68 Keith Williams (G) So. 6-5/305
67 Jacob Hickman* (C) Jr. 6-4/290
70 Matt Slauson* (G) Sr. 6-5/320
73 D.J. Jones (G) So. 6-5/305
72 Jaivorio Burkes (T) So. 6-5/325
78 Marcel Burkes (T) Fr. 6-7/310

Receivers/Tight Ends

POSITION ANALYSIS: Nebraska lost a lot of production and playmaking ability with the graduation of Terrance Nunn and Maurice Purify, but they still have experience in senior starters Nate Swift and Todd Peterson. Callahan also collected a nice pool of talent at this position - will that develop on the field?

SKY’S THE LIMIT: It’s nice to hear reports that Niles Paul has cracked the top four at the position; the former High School All-American from Omaha North has the size and speed to become the playmaker NU so desperately needs this season. If he can’t do it, it better be Menelik Holt.

AVERAGE JOES: I love hearing about Swift and Peterson’s “average” skill sets. If that’s the case, so be it; every other receiver (on scholarship, anyway) on NU’s roster is more talented yet none of them can steal either of the fifth-year seniors’ jobs. You know what you’re getting with these two - and in 2008, it will be big seasons, especially from Peterson.

X-FACTOR: Besides Paul and Holt, someone else from this unit needs to produce in 2008. I keep waiting for Chris Brooks to do something. He looks the part, but he has just one career catch. Maybe it will be freshman Curenski Gilleylen, who provided the spring game’s signature play, a 77-yard TD grab.
MUST STEP UP: There’s basically no experience at the tight end position, but expect veteran coach Ron Brown, back with NU for the first time since 2003, to have somebody ready for the opener. I think Mike McNeil can will be the guy; he reminds me of a young Matt Herian.

GRADE: C+; There are two consistent players (Swift and Peterson) and two outstanding coaches (Brown and receivers coach Ted Gilmore) among this unit and enough talent to warrant a better than average grade. Expect this group to make the biggest strides of any on the team by the end of the year.

No. Name Class Ht./Wt.
1 Chris Brooks Jr. 6-2/210
11 Curenski Gilleylen Fr. 6-0/210
80 Ryan Hill (TE) Fr. 6-3/245
4 Menelik Holt Jr. 6-4/200
44 Mike McNeil* (TE) So. 6-4/240
24 Niles Paul So. 6-1/210
17 Todd Peterson* Sr. 6-4/215
87 Nate Swift* Sr. 6-2/200

Husker DEFENSE
New head coach and former NU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini insists that what happened in 2007 is in the past, but it’s hard to ignore just how bad the defense was last year. It will be up to a veteran defensive line and a few talented newcomers in the secondary to anchor this side of the ball if they are to regain their Blackshirt reputation. Here’s a rundown of each defensive position for 2008: (Likely 2008 starters marked with an *)

Defensive Line

POSITION ANALYSIS: The test of Pelini’s impact and his ability to put his defense on the opposite spectrum of 2007 in terms of intensity and production starts up front with the defensive line. That’s because this position, unlike the linebackers or the secondary, is loaded with experience and talent. They will be counted on to lead the turnaround.

SKY’S THE LIMIT: How long can the coaching staff resist keeping true freshman Baker Steinkuhler off the field? All indications at this point are that he will redshirt - and I’m all for that - but should the interior line faulter early, he may just see the field in 2008.

AVERAGE JOE: I like the guy’s motor, but Zach Potter just didn’t produce last year. He better find a way to get to the quarterback more often this fall.

X-FACTOR: Redshirt freshman Jared Crick’s performance during fall camp was one of the most talked about. He took full advantage of Kevin Dixon’s dismissal and could push Ty Steinkuhler for a starting role.

MUST STEP UP: Junior Ndamukong Suh is talking a big game this fall, but it’s put up or shut up time for the former high-profile recruit. He was too soft last year.

GRADE: B+; All pieces are in place here, now let’s see if Pelini & Co. have instilled a new playmaking attitude up front.

No. Name Class Ht./Wt.
95 Pierre Allen (DE) So. 6-5/265
56 Shukree Barfield (DT) Sr. 6-4/290
94 Jared Crick (DT) Fr. 6-6/280
98 Zach Potter* (DE) Sr. 6-7/285
88 Clayton Sievers (DE) Sr. 6-4/255
43 Ty Steinkuhler* (DT) Sr. 6-3/280
93 Ndamukong Suh* (DT) Jr. 6-4/300
99 Barry Turner* (DE) Sr. 6-3/265

LINEBACKERS

POSITION ANALYSIS: Oh boy. The Huskers return only one player with any sort of experience on the defensive side of the ball and that guy, Phillip Dillard, was awful in 2006. The other starters will be a walk-on and a guy who’s played running back the last three years.

SKY’S THE LIMIT: I have to think that the highly recruited Will Compton will be one of the true freshman who will see time in 2008. Any impact he can make would be a huge boost to the unit.

AVERAGE JOE: A number of guys in the two- and three-deep fit this bill, but I especially think the window has closed for sophomore Blake Lawrence.

X-FACTOR: Everybody’s saying Cody Glenn’s transition to defense has been a rousing success. I’m rooting for him but I also have to think it will take a couple of games before he’s truly comfortable out there.

MUST STEP UP: Count Dillard among several guys (Ndamukong Suh and Larry Asante are others) who you can expect 180’s from in 2008. I think the defensive staff will get through to him.

GRADE: D; It’s going to be up to Dillard and senior Tyler Wortman to get this unit through the early part of the season. Then hopefully contributions will come through from the inexperienced players and the linebackers will be better than people think.

No. Name Class Ht./Wt.
51 Will Compton Fr. 6-2/230
52 Phillip Dillard* Jr. 6-1/235
34 Cody Glenn* Sr. 6-0/235
40 Blake Lawrence So. 6-2/225
7 Latravis Washington So. 6-3/225
53 Tyler Wortman* Sr. 6-3/235

Secondary

POSITION ANALYSIS: Like the rest of the defense, this group’s play was despicable last year. But unlike the linebacking corps, there’s reason to be somewhat optimistic due to good size, decent depth and experience.

SKY’S THE LIMIT: If he can get a handle on his assignments, expect a monster season from athletic free safety Rickey Thenarse. He’s made himself a fan favorite due to his big hitting on special teams the past couple years, but starting on defense will be a whole new test.

AVERAGE JOE: Until proven otherwise, I think both returning starters, strong safety Larry Asante and corner Armando Murillo, are pretty damn average. They combined for 24 starts and exactly zero interceptions in 2008. Ouch.

X-FACTOR: How about Prince Amukamara, who’s making a serious push to start over Anthony West? Perhaps he could be the playmaker Pelini is looking for.

MUST STEP UP: It’s got to be Asante, who says he’s going after the NCAA record of 14 interceptions in a season. For a guy who was a step slow too often as NU’s last line of defense in 2007, I’d take five.

GRADE: C; This could be NU’s “diamond in the rough” by season’s end. Remember, Pelini & Co. turned a pourus 2002 secondary into a 2003 playmaking machine. The talent is back there for a similar turnaround in 2008.

No. Name Class Ht./Wt.
21 Prince Amukamara So. 6-1/195
4 Larry Asante* Jr. 6-1/210
2 Major Culbert Jr. 6-0/205
28 Eric Hagg So. 6-1/200
6 Armando Murillo* Sr. 6-0/190
3 Rickey Thenarse* Jr. 6-0/195
22 Anthony West* So. 6-0/200

Specialists

POSITION ANALYSIS: Things should be solid in the kicking game with one place kicker built for accuracy (Alex Henery) and one for power (Adi Kunalic). NU will have a punter (Dan Titchener) who’s an all-conference candidate but the Huskers will have to find some return men.

SKY’S THE LIMIT: Titchener was one of the few bright spots for the Huskers last season, downing 16 punts inside the 20. He should compete for all-conference honors this year.

AVERAGE JOE: I love to heckle the average Joe who mans the long-snapping position - but it’s an important one. And NU will have an experienced one in senior T.J. O’Leary, who’s manned the position the last 22 games for the Huskers.

X-FACTOR: How about the Adi Kunalic and his powerful leg? He and Alex Henery combined for a 9-for-9 season on field goals last year; Kunalic hit one from 46 yards out.

MUST STEP UP: Somebody must step up as a dangerous return man, as the Huskers lose the reliable and sometimes dangerous Courtney Grixby. Punt returns could be handled by ballyhooed true freshman Khiri Cooper and kick returns may delegated to Niles Paul and Roy Helu Jr.

GRADE: A-; The Huskers should win the kicking game more often than not in 2008, and don’t discount how important that can be. If someone can prove to be a playmaker in the return game, NU’s special teams could be responsible for a win or two this season.

No. Name Class Ht./Wt.
56 Justin Baumgartner (LS) Sr. 6-2/245
90 Alex Henery* (PK) So. 6-2/175
20 Adi Kunalic (PK) So. 6-0/185
82 T.J. O’Leary* (LS) Sr. 6-1/235
97 Dan Titchener* (P) Sr. 6-0/200
37 Jake Wesch (P) Sr. 6-1/205

simulation
d»ja vu

Things get ugly as CW writer previews 2008 Husker season via video game

By Patrick Runge

As husker fans, we all want to know how the 2008 season will turn out. Will Bo Pelini be able to recapture the glory of years past? To answer that question, we turn to the wizards at EA Sports. Using their “NCAA Football ‘09” game on the Xbox 360, I will play through the Nebraska 2008 season and see what the results are.

Unfortunately, I’m not the best with deadlines. This was a great idea two weeks ago when my editor gave me permission to write the story. It was a less great idea tonight, the day before the story is due, when I hadn’t started playing yet. But it’s not a problem, I can pull an all-nighter and give you the results of the game as I get them.

NEBRASKA 28, WESTERN MICHIGAN 22 (NU 1-0 overall, 0-0 in the Big 12)

The Broncos struck first, and led the game 7-0 and 14-7. Nebraska built a lead in the second half and had to fight off three Western Michigan scoring drives in Nebraska territory in the fourth quarter. Nate Swift had a 69-yard touchdown reception, and Marlon Lucky had 23 carries for 119 yards and two touchdowns, one a 73-yard scamper on the last play of the half.

Commentary: OK, first game jitters. I didn’t play well, but a win is a win.

NEBRASKA 54, SAN JOSE STATE 14 (NU 2-0, 0-0)

Again, the Huskers give up a score on their opponent’s first drive, but after that the game was all Nebraska. NU built a 38-7 lead at halftime and cruised to victory. Chris Brooks caught 7 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown, while the Blackshirts forced four Spartan turnovers.

Commentary: Much better. Things are looking up for the Big Red.

NEBRASKA 35, NEW MEXICO STATE 33 (NU 3-0, 0-0)

A back-and-forth game throughout, with the Aggies ahead 19-14 at the half. After an interception from Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz, the Aggies took the lead with 1:43 to play. But the Huskers answered with a nine-play drive ending in a 35-yard field goal from Adi Kunalic to give them the lead. The Blackshirts held off New Mexico State’s final push to escape with a victory.

Commentary: Explaining to Mrs. Law-Talking Guy why I am doing this proved more complicated than I anticipated. Honest, baby, I’m working!

#21 VIRGINIA TECH 20, NEBRASKA 0 (NU 3-1, 0-0)

The Hokie defense stymied Nebraska’s offense, holding the Huskers to 62 yards of total offense and forcing three interceptions as Virginia Tech shut out Nebraska at home. The game was scoreless until late in the first half, when Virginia Tech got a touchdown run from Jahre Christensen and a late field goal. Ganz’s third interception in the fourth quarter was returned for a touchdown by Victor “Macho: Harris to seal the defeat.

Commentary: Ugly. Maybe I need something to eat. Good thing I bought a bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

#5 MISSOURI 27, NEBRASKA 24 (NU 3-2, 0-1)

A heartbreaking loss, as Nebraska held the lead with 52 seconds left to go after a touchdown pass from Ganz to Swift. But Missouri’s Jeremy Macklin returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to tie the score again. Ganz then threw an interception to William Moore, and Missouri kicked the game-winning field goal with 2 seconds remaining.

Commentary: Maybe the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos weren’t such a good idea. I’m blaming this loss on digestive issues.

#9 TEXAS TECH 24, NEBRASKA 22 (NU 3-3, 0-2)

In a driving rain in Lubbock, Texas, Nebraska loses another heartbreaker. The Huskers overcame a 14-10 halftime deficit with a 12-point fourth quarter. A Ganz touchdown pass to Roy Helu got Nebraska to within two points with 20 seconds remaining. But when Todd Peterson could not take the screen pass on the two-point conversion into the end zone, Nebraska’s upset bid failed. The Blackshirts certainly acquitted themselves, holding the Red Raiders’ fearsome offense to 211 total yards.

Commentary: No kidding this is work. I had to find a place to go scream after this one so I wouldn’t wake Mrs. Law-Talking Guy up.

IOWA STATE 24, NEBRASKA 23 (NU 3-4, 0-3)

The Huskers continue their run as the heartbreak kids. Nebraska took the lead in Ames with a 42-yard Kunalic field goal with 15 seconds remaining. But the Cyclones’ James Smith returned then ensuing kickoff for a touchdown as time expired to steal the win away from Nebraska. Ganz struggled again, going 24-38 with two touchdowns but three interceptions.

Commentary: Note to self. Do not put controller down and celebrate during final kickoff return. Apparently that’s bad karma.

NEBRASKA 31, BAYLOR 9 (NU 4-4, 1-3)

Nebraska ends their four-game skid with a convincing win at home over the Bears. Overcoming a sluggish start, the Huskers score 21 points in the third quarter to put the game away, highlighted by a 68-yard touchdown grab from Swift and a 79-yard touchdown run from Helu.

Commentary: I could have sworn I heard the computer-generated Pelini screaming at his players at halftime. But it’s way late and I’m a little punchy at this point.

#7 OKLAHOMA 42, NEBRASKA 17 (NU 4-5, 1-4)

The Sooners dominated Nebraska from the opening of this game in Norman. Oklahoma scored first, after a Ganz interception scored another quick touchdown. Nebraska had to chase the game, and was never able to get close. Ganz struggled again, with six interceptions, and Lucky was held to only 17 yards on eight carries.

Commentary: Whatever the CityWeekly is paying me for this, it isn’t enough.

KANSAS 19, NEBRASKA 13, OT (NU 4-6, 1-5)

The heartbreak Huskers return. In a snowy Memorial Stadium, Kunalic hit a 53-yard field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime. But on the second play of overtime, Ganz threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown to end the game. Ganz’ interception was Nebraska’s fourth turnover of the contest.

Commentary: I don’t think the controller’s broken. At least I hope not, those things are expensive.

NEBRASKA 46, KANSAS STATE 7 (NU 5-6, 2-5)

For at least one game, Nebraska looked like Nebraska again. The Huskers dominated the Wildcats in Manhattan, forcing seven K-State turnovers and holding the Wildcats to 182 yards of total offense. Niles Paul had a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown, and Lucky had 26 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown. Larry Asante also picked off two Josh Freeman passes.

Commentary: It doesn’t matter how tired I am or how bad this season is going. Pounding the Purples never, ever gets old.

COLORADO 32, NEBRASKA 13 (NU 5-7, 2-6)

In a disturbing flashback to 2004, the Buffaloes ended Nebraska’s chances for bowl eligibility with a convincing win in the snow at Memorial Stadium. Colorado took a 19-7 halftime lead and never received any serious threats from the Husker offense. CU’s offense was clicking, gaining 411 total yards as they dropped Nebraska to their third losing season in six years.

Commentary: I know this makes me a horrible competitor, but I’m a little relieved I don’t have to play a bowl game. Now I can go to bed.

So, according to EA Sports and yours truly, Nebraska may be in for some struggles this year. But as I recap the season, I have a few suggestions for Coach Pelini. First, be careful with Joe Ganz, he can be an interception machine. Second, stick with the running game. I had much more success when I gave Lucky and Helu plenty of carries, and the balance set up play-action passing much better. Third, avoid playing all your games in one night. That’s probably easier for you, but I think nodding off in the third quarter against Kansas probably wouldn’t work well for you.

And finally, avoid the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. I’m not kidding.

My gamer tag on EA Live is “Riverpirate NE,” so if anyone thinks they can take me down (and given my results, you’ve probably got good reason to think so), then send me a challenge if you see me online. Just wait for a couple weeks, please. I have to wait for the swelling in my thumbs to go down, and I think I might need a new controller.