Nebraska-A&M Blog

Call it the “Buyout Bowl”, call it a “You’d Better Win or You Might Not Go to a Bowl.”

Whatever the moniker, feel free to share your comments on the game right here.

This is becoming one of the more frequented blogs for Husker reaction. We had 15,000 views this week, making “Schick’s Shtick” the 9th-most visited page on ketv.com.

Let’s keep it going.

Another Letdown

There was a different energy at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Having Tom Osborne in the building as the new AD seemed to energize the crowd, which in turn fed the players some enthusiasm for the game.

Unfortunately, the Husker offense could only muster 14 points, as Nebraska falls 36-to-14 to Texas A&M.

The Huskers are now 4-4 overall (1-3 in conference). More alarming, the Huskers are 3-3 at home in 2007. Who wouldathunkit.

Similar to Last Week, With Better Weather

This loss falls on the shoulders of Bill Callahan and the Husker offense. Nebraska had it clicking at times, but could not maintain a consistent attack. The defense, in my opinion, played well enough for Nebraska to stay in the game, if not win it.

How does this offense only muster 14 points against the Aggies? In the past three games, the Nebraska offense has 34 points, and only two meaningful touchdowns.

Nebraska had a couple of critical 3rd-and-short and 4th-and-short attempts that they failed to convert on, the most troubling coming in the 4th quarter with a 3rd-and-two and Sam Keller rolling out on a pass play. Why not pound it with Castille? Keller lost a yard, getting tackled near the boundary, and the ensuing 4th down play fell incomplete in the endzone.

Defense Played Better, Despite the Scoreboard

In the first half, Kevin Cosgrove’s guys were flying around. Guys finishing tackles? A defense playing with enthusiasm? Blackshirts showing emotion? Who was this team? Unfortunately, the offense could not support the blackshirts, and the defense was unable to sustain in the second half.

We hadn’t seen this defense play as passionately and as consistently all season long as we did in the first half. It looked like something had finally clicked, and that these guys actually take pride in wearing those blackshirt jerseys in practice afterall.

Sidenote: The old Corey McKeon showed up on Saturday. I remember him from 2005. Long time no see. But a 15-yard late hit personal foul (a harmless shove at that) on Stephen McGee in the third quarter was uncharacteristic of a three-year starter. Baffling.

It wasn’t just the offense letting the defense down. Following a nice blackshirt stand, Nate Swift muffed a 2nd quarter punt at the Husker 28-yard-line. A&M scored two plays later to give take a 16-to-7 lead. It was all uphill after that for Nebraska.

A positive: Anthony West showed a lot of ability on the field, creating havoc in the backfield on blitzes and showing some sure-tackling. I was impressed.

Back to that Offense

I didn’t think I would say this at any point this season, but the offense could’ve used some of the defense’s emotion.

Offensively, the biggest disappointment was Sam Keller. You may want to see Happy Feet in the movie theater, but not in your quarterback. The signal-caller looked uncomfortable under center; the normally-accurate passer was erratic at times, skipping passes to open receivers. His decision making was poor. I was shocked he wasn’t benched late in the 4th quarter. Throw Joe Ganz in there and give him some snaps; he’s returning to the program next year. If the preseason competition for the starting job was as close as Bill Callahan said it was, how can you not give Ganz some live action?

Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson was on the sidelines for this game, taking on more of the play-calling responsibilities. While he and Callahan usually share those duties, Callahan was more free to be in-tune with the defense. Whatever the purpose, it seemed to work early on. But in the end, same old same old.

Nebraska had 405 yards of offense, but only 14 points to show for it.

Other offensive notes

Roy Helu showed why he should be on the field more often. The freshman from Danville, California was a blur in the backfield, and undoubtedly earned more playing time.

The first quarter double reverse to Frantz Hardy was the kind of play husker fans have been waiting for all season. Can you remember another gadget play Nebraska has run this year? It’s about time.

Distraction?

It was a crazy week at the University of Nebraska. Might it have been a distraction for this football team? Possibly. Then again, it was hard to tell. We’ve grown accustomed to this type of performance.

Bowl-less in Lincoln?

This may have been Nebraska’s last best chance to get a win this season. At 4-4 overall, the Huskers now must win two of their final four games to qualify for a bowl. It seems impossible. Do you see it?

Bill Callahan may have sealed his fate on Saturday. Getting blown out at home with fans flooding the exits before the final whistle for the second consecutive week? That’s not good for job security.