Callahan Ask Former Huskers to Remember the 'Brotherhood'
NU coach hopes members of 1997 squad will visit with the team
by Samuel McKewon
October 10, 2007
It lacked the vigor his pep talk on Tuesday, but Nebraska Head Coach Bill Callahan offered a mild rebuke for any former NU football players publicly criticizing this struggling 2007 team.
"Everybody has an opinion. That's just the way of the world," Callahan said. "Those guys have a strong passion for this place and they're going to voice it in different ways. Some do it quietly, some do it loudly, some do it privately.
"...Does it affect us? No. I would just say this: Our current players? They're a part of this product. They're a part of this university. For them it's too bad that they would be criticized because they're all part of the same brotherhood."
A number of former Huskers have expressed frustration about Nebraska's 4-2 start, which includes blowout losses to Southern California and Missouri on national television, and a narrow defeat of Ball State. Some of them - including former tight end Vershan Jackson and All-American defensive tackle Jason Peter - appear on radio.
Peter, who co-hosts "The Spread" sports talk show on ESPN's radio affiliate in Lincoln, quipped that the Huskers' defense was "all frost and no cake" after linebacker Corey McKeon's press conference two weeks ago.
Callahan's comments coincide with this weekend's 10-year reunion of Nebraska's 1997 national championship team. Many Huskers from that 13-0 squad will enjoy a private celebration on Friday, and will be honored on the field Saturday before the Oklahoma State game.
Former players are always welcome to NU's practices and the Friday "walk-through," Callahan said, although he did not mention any specific plans to have 1997 team members talk to this current group before the game.
"It's great to have them back to the university to really honor them for what they accomplished," he said. "That's a great achievement when you win a national championship. They deserve to be honored."
"The best thing we can do is honor them by winning the game. That's a standard that they set and a standard of excellence is what Nebraska's all about. I think our players would be excited if they came by and visited with them a little bit."
Other Odds and Ends
- One of the few pleasant surprises in a season of discontent, senior tight end Sean Hill ascended to the top of the depth chart at the "H-back" position, moving ahead of J.B. Phillips. Hill has a been a consistent, sure-handed target for quarterback Sam Keller this year, especially in the 41-40 win over Ball State, when he caught a 73-yard touchdown and had long catches on two other touchdown drives. Hill's shown an ability to slip behind defenses on play-action passes.
With 11 catches for 229 yards and three touchdowns, Hill is on pace to have the best statistical season for a tight end since Tracey Wistrom gained 429 yards in 1999.
"He's always had the talent to do the things in this offense that we wanted him to do," Callahan said. "He's tied it all together."
Callahan said Hill can run "virtually any route" Nebraska has in its playbook.
He's certainly been more a deep threat than any of NU's receivers thus far.
- Another dismal update on the rushing game: Just 877 yards for the season at 3.9 yards per carry clip. Take away that Nevada game, and it's 464 yards and 3.0 yards per carry. Last year through six games, Nebraska had gained 1,264 yards on 4.9 yards per carry.
Husker coaches and players continue to insist the numbers are a function of opportunity, and not futility.
“I think we get ourselves in passing situations because we get behind sometimes during games and we're trying to catch up," Nebraska center Brett Byford said. "It is not really anything with system."
Of course, Byford also said he "felt fine" about his performance thus far this season.
"It's been good, it's been good," he said. "There's room for improvement always, but I feel fine about it. Just gotta keep working."
The Huskers ran the ball just 11 times for 42 yards in the first half against Missouri. On two different first-half drives, they had 3rd-and-2. On both, Keller threw incomplete passes.
-Oklahoma State's offense poses many of the same challenges that Missouri's did, with a greater commitment to running the ball, and less sophisticated passing attack.
In last year's 41-29 win over Nebraska, OSU used a number of big plays from quarterback Bobby Reid - and a particularly big touchdown catch-and-run by receiver Adarius Bowman right before halftime - to help propel the Pokes to victory. NU's rushing defense wore down significantly in the second half. Oklahoma State gained 267 ground yards for the game, and averaged 6.5 yards per carry.
"Tremendous athletes, all across the board," Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. "They give you multiple formations."
