It's Must-Win For Nebraska Against KSU

Wildcats can lock up North Division with a victory

LINCOLN - "Certainly, everyone knows this is a big game."

That observation this week by Nebraska Coach Frank Solich would probably qualify as the consensus among NU fans, as well as those hopeful followers of the Kansas State Wildcats.

It is elegant understatement, in any context, and also deserves to be recognized.

Nebraska, ranked Nos. 7 and 6 by the AP and the coaches, has no margin left for error this season. That is, insofar as a loss to K-State this week, or to Colorado later this month, would be defined as error. Obviously, it would be defined as tragedy among a good many in the Cornhusker State.

For K-State, a win over the Huskers might, just might, be the beginning of a beginning of a new era for the Wildcats.

Kansas State is undefeated and ranked No. 5 in both major polls. Kansas State defeated Nebraska last year. Kansas State can lock up the Big 12 North Division title and a shot at the conference crown with a win over NU.

The prospect of back-to-back victories over Nebraska has Wildcat fans in a dither.

Coaches downplay that stuff about their guys getting pumped up over something the other team did, or said. But at least one story has got to get the Huskers' attention before game time. It's the one about some merchant in Kansas having printed up a bunch of t-shirts proclaiming "Big Red is Dead" and hailing the Wildcats for winning two in a row from NU.

If you're putting on a Nebraska jersey and some pads today, that little tale has got to make your jaws tight, your eyes wide and your muscles twitch.

Nebraska lost to Texas, and stumbled around against Kansas. The Black Shirt defense has delivered all year. The offense has had some problems, especially in the category of way too many fumbles within a couple strides of the goal line.

Kansas State is pretty much in the same boat. No losses, but the offense sputters now and again. The defense, however, is among the few to rival that of Nebraska.

The defensive units of both teams have been so dominant, in fact, that one measure of the outcome might be this: the team whose defense scores first is likely to win. Both teams have defensive and special teams players who can be the kind of "difference makers" traditionally thought of as coming strictly from the offense.

Wingback Bobby Newcombe will test the K-State defenders, whether quarterback Eric Crouch goes to him or not, or pitches to him or not. Newcombe's previous performances proved he's too dangerous to be left unguarded, let alone ignored.

Kansas State is 9-0 and the only unbeaten team in the Big 12. Nebraska is 8-1, with that one miserable loss coming to conference opponent Texas.

All of the quotes and feature stories and news conferences coming out of both camps this week boiled down to a single reality that is acknowledged by both teams: This is a must-win for both of them.

What the deal comes down to is this:

If K-State can, in the vernacular, open a can of whipass on Nebraska today, the Wildcats' chances for a lot of better tomorrows will be perceived as very, very good.

If the Huskers win, it means they are still the Nebraska Cornhuskers and they can turn back a bunch of wannabe Wildcats. If the Huskers should open that notorious can of whipass on K-State, however, and clobber 'em real good, it will mean that they are still the Cornhuskers and everyone better remember it.

And everyone will. Until the following Monday when everyone begins to talk about Colorado and the open date before the game with the Buffs, and whether the win against KSU might raise the specter of a possible letdown against Colorado and . . .

About that time look to Solich. He'll put things in perspective with something pithy and to the point. Like, maybe: "Certainly, everyone knows this is a big game."

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