Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 38

HUSKER EXTRA Sunday, August 31, 2003 Confusion, boos rain down bn. Nil's offense A Lincoln Journal Star CrS i Va Jf After a first half filled with organizational problems, the Huskers turn things around with an efficient second half. BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL Lincoln Journal Star A chorus of boos filled Memorial Stadium as the first half clock ticked away Saturday. The Nebraska fans weren't very happy with their team's field goal attempt being blocked with 13 seconds remaining on second-and-5 from the Oklahoma State 16-yard line. What about a shot at the end zone, Coach? "I thought we were in good enough position right there to get the game within one point," Nebraska coach Frank Solich said.

"I didn't want to put it up for grabs for a turnover." Oh, another thing that disgruntled Husker fans even though the clock was stopped, Nebraska didn't have a timeout left when Sandra DeAngelis lined up for a 33-yard at They were long gone. Nebraska burned all three of its first-half timeouts within the game's opening 19 minutes. Hence, the Huskers had no choice but to take a delay-of-game penalty at the OSU 33, when the play clock wound down to two seconds, and quarterback Jammal Lord arose from center and began walking to the Nebraska sideline, in apparent confusion. "It was not perfect, and we did not expect that it would be perfect," Solich said. "We hoped that it wouldn't come back to haunt us." It didn't Nebraska cleaned up some of its management problems in the second half and pulled out a 17-7 victory over No.

24 Oklahoma State. But like Solich said, it wasn't perfect. Or pretty. The problems with timeouts, he said, were partly to blame on Nebraska's new system of signaling plays from the sideline. For as long as Solich could remember at least back to 1979, his first year with the Huskers plays were always sent in from the sideline with a player.

"There were times when there was a little bit of a mixup on that, as to what was being called and what was actually delivered. That caused some problems for us," Solich said. "Through the course of the game, we continued to have a few problems with that in the second half. They weren't as glaring. But there were still some areas there that we definitely need to improve on." Barney Cotton, who's in his first year as Nebraska's offensive coordinator, said he was surprised his unit had as much problems with the play signals as it did.

"We never run a play in practice that we don't signal," Cotton said. "We probably ran a thousand plays in training camps, and every one of those was signaled in." Said wide receiver Ross Pilking-ton: "We've only had one major scrimmage this fall, and we've got a couple different guys signaling in plays. It's tough for Jammal. We've got guys going in and out. It just take a little bit of getting used to." Nebraska, however, doesn't want to get used to overcoming penalties.

Even though the offense controlled the line of scrimmage and generated 346 yards of total offense, it only scored one touchdown and that was set up by a turnover. The Huskers sputtered in the red zone. They settled for a field goal on their first possession, when Lord WILLIAM UUERLmcoln Journal Star Oklahoma State defenders Jon Holland (17), Darrent Williams (9) and Elbert Craig (3) combine to stop Husker quarterback Jammal Lord (5) for a short gain on an early first-quarter run. made a bad pitch on third-and-4 from the OSU 7 and lost four yards. Nebraska had first-and-goal at the OSU 4 in the second quarter, but an illegal-procedure penalty and a holding call pushed the Huskers back, and Sandro DeAngelis hit the left upright on a 34-yard field goal attempt.

Oklahoma State recovered a Josh takes. That's what I told them on the sidelines. I said, "This isn't us, guys. We're not like "I was discouraged, but I thought we would come out of it. We've got tough kids, and they overcame adversity today.

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthaljournalstar.com. Davis fumble on another serious-Husker threat, recovering at the OSU 12 in the third quarter. Nebraska finished with nine penalties for 75 yards and had two turnovers. "To be honest with you, that's not like us," Cotton said. "We haven't done that in training.

We haven't made those types of mis IT Husker linemen really get physical on OSU it IV HOW HUSKER OPPONENTS FARED i Date Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 25 Oct.

4 Oct 11 Oct. 18 Oct 25 Nov. 1 Ncv.8 Nov. 15 Nov. 28 Huskers watch as Cowboys are the ones who are winded during this game.

BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL Lincoln Journal Star Talk about a sight for sore eyes. When Nebraska offensive tackle Richie Incognito looked over at the Oklahoma State defensive linemen, he saw signs of fatigue. "They had their hands on their hips, breathing vs. NU This week NU 17-7 lost to Nebraska 17-7 lost to Utah 4O20 def. Temple 23-10 lost to California 34-2 lost to Kansas State 41-5 def.

Illinois 22-15 vs. Arkansas State def. Northern Iowa 17-10 vs. New Mexico State (today) lost to Nortnwestem 28-20 def. Troy State 41-5 vs.

Colorado State Next week vs. Wyoming, at Nebraska vs. Boston College Thursday at UAB at Minnesota at Ball State vs. Utah vs. Ohio Does not play vs.UNLV vs.

McNeese State vs. UCLA Opponent Oklahoma State (O-l) Utah State (0-1) Penn State (1-0) Southern Miss (0-1) Troy State (0-1) Missouri (1-0) Texas MM 00) lovra State (1-0) Texas (00) Kansas (0-1) Kansas State (1-0) Colorado (00) Conference's most potent offenses. It didn't, however, generate Ik 1 If heavy, Incognito said. "We knew we had them." That was in the second quarter. Sure enough, the Husker offensive front an oft-maligned unit last season 'i many points.

Penalties, turnovers and game management problems halted many drives. That stuff, players and coaches say, can be corrected. For now, the offensive line is SEWELL 12A VILI WALDROP sion. The Huskers' 36:48 to 23:12 advantage was better than any Nebraska enjoyed last year, when NU opponents outpossessed the Huskers in nine of 14 games. Not surprisingly, opponents ran 49 more plays than Nebraska in 2002.

Saturday, the Huskers had 81 plays to Oklahoma State's 58. "You could see it probably at the end of the third quarter," said Nebraska offensive line coach and coordinator Barney Cotton, when asked at what point the Huskers' physicality began to take its toll. "It became very simple. I only called about three or four different plays there toward the end of the game. I said, 'Guys, this is it.

This is what I'm calling. We're going to run three or four runs. Were going to play ball control, and it's your job to get first downs." And Nebraska did nineteen, to be exact, with 13 coming by running the football. The Huskers churned out four first downs in the fourth quarter, including two on their final possession, when they ran the last 3:30 off the clock. "They controlled the ball a lot, they killed a lot of clock," Nebraska defensive coordinator Bo Pelini said.

"They're as responsible for what we did defensively as we Nebraska's penchant for controlling possession did give the Blackshirts a break against what many consider one of the Big 12 i Hp 7 took control of Saturday's game, paving the way to victory. Just like the good old days. "Old-school Nebraska football with a little twist," Incognito said. In a 17-7 victory against No. 24 Oklahoma State, the Husker offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage, helping create a very Nebraska-like 268 yards on the ground.

It began on the opening possession, when the Huskers drove 54 yards in lOrunningplays before settling for a field goal. "When we got off on the sidelines, we were like, 'Man, those defensive guys are on their knees, trying to suck in center Josh Sewell said. "From that first drive, we were just pounding them and pounding them and pounding them. It was go time." That dominance led to a decisive difference in time of posses- just happy to see its physicality affect its opponent. "When we saw their d-linemen huffing and puffing, looking tired, it was a great feeling," tackle Dan Vili Waldrop said.

"We didn't even make them look like that last year. We kept them in the game last year." Other than the two-minute drill at the end of the first half, Waldrop said he felt in great shape. He played every offensive snap. Incognito credited Nebraska's success to new strength and conditioning coach Bryan Bailey. "Bailey did a great job conditioning us in the off-season, and it really started to show as the game went on," Incognito said.

"This sets the tone for the rest of the season. I thought we came out and played real physical football today. Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthaljournalstar.com. RANDY HAMPTONLmcoln Journal Star Husker left offensive tackle Richie Incognito (51) gets ready to fight off an Oklahoma State pass rusher during the second quarter. Incognito and the rest of the NU line kept Jammal Lord from being sacked and wore down the Cowboys defense in the later stages of Saturday's 17-7 victory.

McKeever Continued from Page IE terday. Carroll would be just as impressed with what Pelinl orchestrated against the quick-draw Cowboys, who after driving 52 yards for a touchdown on their first possession spent the rest of the afternoon shooting blanks. The junior Fields, who came in regarded as the top returning quarterback in the Big 12, left with his lowest passing total (97 yards) as a starter. It happened thanks in large part to tne punches pulled by Feliru. If he wasn't moving weakside linebacker Williams up to the line, he was niixing in man-to-man coverages with zone looks at a rate that left Fields dizzy.

"The players are the same," ing," Miles said. "You have to think more about calling plays when your quarterback is getting that much pressure put on him." Miles sounded more astonished by the sound technique Pelini had his bunch playing. "They got a lot in," he added. What the Blackshirts took back with their dominant performance, and what they woefully lacked as the 2002 season wound down with three losses in the final four games, was a confident strut. Although wary that the Cowboys could change the game's tone with one big play to Woods, or 1 000-yard rusher Tatum Bell, Pelini 's group never flinched.

"No one panicked, and everyone responded the way I thought they would," said Pelini. Funny, how on Friday night he was harping on how they'd have to stay after it if Oklahoma State came out and "hit them in the face" with an opening-drive TD. "We weren't scared," middle linebacker Barrett Ruud said. "They'd line up and we said, 'We're going to do Control the game they did. After Oklahoma States third series, which ended with a blocked field goal, the Cowboys made it into Husker territory on just one other drive.

And with Nebraska's offense doing a similar wheel-spin, that kind of defensive effort ended up deciding the outcome. "I already hugged him and told him I loved him," offensive coordinator Barney Cotton said of Pelini. Cotton also might want to consider doing some yard work at the defensive coordinator's home this week, too. Because the way it looked Saturday, Pelini is going to have to continue coming up with ways for his troops to mow down opposing offenses while the Huskers develop their firepower. "We're going to keep setting the bar higher," Pelini "Our defensive players, they're men of great character, and they'll keep raising it.

I know USC's Carroll wouldn't be surprised to hear that Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeeven8joumalstar.com. "CT OSU's All-America wide receiver Rashaun Woods said of the i Huskers. But "their schemes are dif- Chili Bowl Cookoff Classic 2003 Join your friends to get "fired up" for the start of the 2003 United WayCHAD campaign Free Admission! Friday, September 12,2003 Lincoln Station in the Historic Haymarket 7th and Streets Taste and judge chili prepared by local restaurants 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Music and Dancing 5 p.m.

to 10:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony 9 p.m. Fun for the Whole Family! PBLINI rerent. siiii Woods didn't like them, either. Last year, left one-on-one against the secondary, he torched the Huskers with 1 1 receptions, 134 yards and a touchdown to fuel the Cowboys to a 24-2 1 win.

Woods found paydirt again Saturday, making a 4-yard grab just in front of NU cor-nerback Pat Ricketts. But thereafter, he was limited to three catches for 15 yards. Even the tough guy from Youngst own, Ohio, shook his head at that stat. "I've been away from college ball for so long I wasn't sure how we would stack up," Pelini admitted. "We made some right calls.

other times, guys just made plays. It's a credit to what they've learned." If Oklahoma State coach Les Miles were grading the Huskers' defense, he'd be handing out extra credit "Their game plan absolutely changes our play call 3.