Steven M. Sipple: How team responds is Bo's next challenge
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NORMAN, Okla. — It was late in the second quarter Saturday night when ESPN cameras found Tom Osborne and Barry Switzer along the sideline. The sight of those two legends in the same area code still elicits goose bumps. What a grand rivalry this used to be.
Make it past tense, until further notice.
On this night, Oklahoma led Nebraska by 28 points by the time ESPN panned to Osborne and Switzer. A few moments later, shortly before halftime, the Sooners’ lead swelled to 35. You would be mistaken to say this game was over at the half, because it was essentially over when OU forged to a 21-point lead 4½ minutes into the no-contest.
If you can still call this a rivalry, it’s an awfully strange one, folks.
This was ridiculous.
Is Oklahoma’s program really this far ahead of Nebraska’s?
Don’t ask, Big Red fans.
Just understand that Oklahoma has no fewer than four surefire first-team All-Big 12 picks on its offense alone, which is four more surefire picks than Nebraska has on its entire roster.
“Our margin for error is small,” Husker coach Bo Pelini said.
Nebraska made a large number of errors, and we all saw the margin — 62-28.
We’re about to learn more about Pelini, the psychologist. Pelini has to make sure his players retain some semblance of confidence in the wake of a nationally televised embarrassment. As strange as it might sound this morning, Nebraska’s final three games are very winnable, although Kansas now will be the favorite coming to Lincoln next Saturday. Kansas State and Colorado have deteriorated into pitiful shape.
With a record of 5-4 overall, Nebraska remains in excellent shape to return to a bowl game. I cling to the notion that, for growth’s sake, Pelini’s program needs a bowl game. Anyway, it’s safe to say the Huskers could use the extra 15 practices.
“That was a poorly coached defense, and I’m at the head of that,” Pelini said.
Nebraska’s offense managed 418 yards, most of which fell under the “empty yards” category. Once again, there were too many Husker penalties (eight for 74 yards). Either NU had a player ejected late in the game, or Pelini booted him from the sideline, depending on whom you ask. Whatever, the Huskers too often seem undisciplined.
What’s more, the kickoff coverage was abysmal.
Yes, fourth-ranked Oklahoma (8-1, 4-1 Big 12) enjoys a significant edge in talent. The Sooners have two All-Big 12-caliber players on the offensive line in left tackle Phil Loadholt and left guard Duke Robinson. You can make a strong all-conference argument for center Jon Cooper. Tight end Jermaine Greshman (two touchdowns) will play in the NFL as long as he wants. Same goes for Sam Bradford (19-for-27, 311 yards, five TDs, one pick).
But Nebraska’s not as bad as it looked early in this game. And that’s on Pelini, who admirably accepted responsibility.
Pelini barred his players from talking to the media after the game. He said he wanted to be the only voice. Neither Tom Osborne nor Frank Solich ever went that far. Pelini became angry when pressed about the matter, but calmed as his postgame session progressed.
“We’re going to hang together through thick and thin,” he said.
Lack of talent is one thing. But the Nebraska defense too often looked confused and out of position. The Sooners’ game-opening touchdown drive looked much too easy. Of course, Joe Ganz’s interceptions on NU’s first and third series obviously didn’t help matters, nor did tight end Dreu Young’s fumble on the second series. OU converted all three turnovers into touchdowns. Ballgame.
“You need a psychologist better than me to come in and fix that stuff that fast,” Pelini said.
Nebraska faced an awesome challenge against a bona fide top-five outfit. But the Huskers obviously weren’t ready for that challenge. They weren’t ready to match the Sooners’ intensity.
A lot of the fan and media discussion in Nebraska during the past week was about the Huskers’ previous trip to Norman in 2004. The Husker offense stayed in a shell most of that night, apparently trying to, well, avoid an embarrassment like this.
After a practice earlier this week, Nebraska linebackers coach Mike Ekeler motioned toward Pelini.
“He’s never going to have a team that tip-toes down the ramp (to the playing field),” Ekeler said.
Nebraska didn’t tip-toe down the ramp Saturday, but it did stumble badly once it reached the field.
Now, the psychologist in Pelini has to pick up the pieces quickly, because his team still has a lot for which to play.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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