Callahan went the same 9 – 3 and then proceeded to lose to Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game and then to Auburn in the Cotton Bowl, although both games were close contests. I believe that this may be Callahan’s “make or break” season in Lincoln and he is not facing what you would call a “cream-puff” schedule, with 3 of the first 4 non-conference games against teams that went to a bowl game last year, including the #4 team in the nation University of Southern California, then follow it up with a conference schedule that includes games at Missouri, then Oklahoma St. and A&M at home, then at Texas for the month of October. All three games against the Big 12 South are on consecutive weeks. It is highly possible that the Huskers will have a better team than in 2006, but a worse record. Had enough gloom, despair and agony yet? Okay, then how about some highlights.

For starters the Huskers have to replace the Big 12 player of the year at Quarterback, sound like good news yet? Well with returning back-up Joe Ganz and transfer Sam Keller it makes things a little bit easier. Couple them up with Junior College recruit Zac Lee, whose dad was a 12-year NFL player and things are too bad. Both Ganz and Keller had outstanding spring games and both looked right at home running Callahan’s West Coast offense. The Huskers biggest worry will be at running back where they lost leading rusher Brandon Jackson to the NFL and Kenny Wilson to a broken leg, then for good measure throw in Cody Glenn with a foot problem and that only leaves you Marlon Lucky, who was hospitalized right after the spring game with a mysterious illness and you have nothing but a BIG QUESTION MARK at this position. Let’s face facts; there is no way you can win in the Mid-West in November without a good ground game.

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The defense should be improved this season, it will have to be, as the Huskers have to get better with their pass defense (a place where they finished 79th nationally last year). There’s always been a fascination with the Nebraska “Black Shirt” defense, but last year’s team couldn’t lay claim to that tradition, not after ranking 56th in the nation in total defense (331.9) and 24th in scoring defense (18.3). That’s not horrible, but it isn’t what championship teams do. The 4-3 defense returns top performers along the two back lines, but the front four must replace all four starting defensive linemen. The Blackshirts will need to find a way to get Bo Rudd and Steve Octavien on the field at the same time.

All in all I believe that the Huskers will have enough to win the Big 12 North and will finish the regular season with another 9 –3 overall and 7- 1 in the Big 12 with their loses coming to Wake Forrest, USC and Texas.

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