Enough practice. Today it's finally time for the Nebraska football team to put its expectations to the test. The Huskers wrapped their final practice Thursday as they turnd to today's home opener against Louisiana Tech.
“We are ready,” said coach Bill Callahan said. “There’s no way to prepare for every single thing that might come at you defensively, and we’ve done everything we possibly can. So really we’re just ready to get out there and play the game.
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are ready too: Ready for a big paycheck.
Tech will receive 750-thousand dollars for coming to Lincoln. Huskers. Coach Jack Bicknell says it's not easy playing so-called money games, but it helps the school's athletic budget and gives the Bulldogs exposure for recruiting.It is the largest guarantee Tech has ever received. It's also one of the largest guarantees being paid in college football today.
The Bulldogs got plenty of exposure the last time they visited Lincoln, in 1998. Nebraska won, 56-27, but Troy Edwards set a still-standing N-C-A-A record with 405 receiving yards on 21 catches. Tim Rattay's 590 yards passing remains a Nebraska opponent record.
Expectations are higher for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team this season.
Nebraska is ranked 20th in the preseason AP poll. Winning the north division in the Big-12 conference is expected by many sports pundits and fans.
If QB Zac Taylor can stay healthy, sports pundits say the Huskers should win the Big 12 North
title. Having second-string quarterback Joe Ganz ready to go as a solid back-up is also crucial. Callahan said he hoped Ganz will see game time this weekend. "I definitely hope he gets (to play a series),” Callahan said. “He’s really worked hard and prepared himself, and I think he’ll do a great job if we can get him out there.”
Game time is 2:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 2:00 p.m. to catch an exciting pre-game show. With thousands of new season ticket holders arriving at Memorial Stadium, fans are also encouraged to arrive earlier than normal.
Gates to Memorial Stadium will be opened at 12:30 p.m., two hours before kickoff, as opposed to the usual 90 minutes, to accommodate the large group. The Husker Nation Pavilion will additionally be opened early on Saturday. Gates open at 11 a.m.
The Huskers came out of last season with an 8-4 record and a three-game winning streak that included an Alamo Bowl victory over Michigan. That was a three-win improvement over Callahan's first season. This year, fans expect more. So do sports pundits.
Here's what they're saying:
Dennis Dodd, CBS SportsLine.com- "They'll win the Big 12 North because the Huskers are the division's only ranked team and they're coming off an eight-win season and a bowl victory over Michigan. No other Big 12 North team has as much talent."
SI.com- "Optimism is the order of the day as a result of last season's strong finish. Callahan has acknowledged a sense of urgency in needing to win and return Nebraska to prominence, not only in the Big 12 but also nationally. To that end, he has upgraded the talent in the program."
Associated Press, Eric Olson- Bill Callahan was hired to make Nebraska a championship-caliber program again. In his third season, the Cornhuskers are favored to win the Big 12 North and return to the conference title game for the first time since 1999. Callahan, predictably, insists much work remains. But his players sense that with the North in an apparent down cycle, the division is there for the taking.
CollegeFootballNews.com- "No matter where the Huskers are ranked in the preseason, if they beat the Trojans and Longhorns on the way to an unbeaten season, they're in the national title game no matter how many other teams are unbeaten."
The Sports Network- "As (QB) Zac Taylor goes, so will the Cornhuskers. There is good chemistry between Taylor and his receiving corps, but how much time the senior has to get rid of the football will be another story."
RealFootball365.com- "Then they will be tested by Dwayne Jarrett and USC when they travel to Los Angeles on Sept. 16. If the secondary has not gelled perfectly, the Trojans could pick up where they left off last season and leave Husker fans thinking back to the good old days again."
