Balance isn’t a word that’s been used very often to describe Nebraska. Going back to the days Tom Osborne guided the Huskers, the program has been known for running the football with the precision of a Swiss time piece.
Year in and year out, Nebraska was among college football’s elite teams running the ball. You could set your watch to it.
Perhaps that’s what made Husker fans so jumpy when Bill Callahan took over for Frank Solich in 2004. The offense that had piled up decades worth of 400-yard afternoons was out.
The West Coast offense was in. And for two seasons, the ball spent a lot more time in the air than tucked away by a running back.
“When you change a culture and do a complete overhaul of the system, it’s a dramatic change,” Callahan said. “It’s going to come under criticism, especially when you don’t win. I understand that.”
However, the icy reception he initially received has melted. The 19th-ranked Huskers (9-3, 6-2 Big 12) claimed their first Big 12 North title since 1999 this season and will face No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2, 7-1) in the Big 12 championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
That passing game is a big reason why Nebraska is in this position. Former Norman High standout Zac Taylor directs an offense that finished the regular season averaging 250 passing yards a game and nearly 34 points a contest.
Callahan believes Taylor is should get most of the credit for the Huskers’ offensive success.
“He’s done an outstanding job of handling everything we’ve given him,” he said. “He’s allowed the offense to grow and mature and progress at a much faster rate than any other quarterback I’ve been around in my history.”
Taylor was a known commodity entering the season. He etched his name next to just about every Nebraska passing record last season. And he’s thrown for another 2,789 yards and 24 touchdowns this season.
But there’s something very different between the current Huskers and the team OU last faced in October of last year.
The rush is back in Lincoln and Nebraska is staking a claim as one of college football’s most balanced teams. The Huskers are 18th in the nation in passing offense, as well as 18th in rushing offense.
“We’ve come a long way,” Callahan said. “We only averaged 2.7 yards per carry and now we’re averaging 4.4. Our ranking was so poor it was hideous. We were 107th in the country. We’re pretty proud of the fact we’ve moved from 107th to 18th.”
The Huskers rushed for 2,199 yards during the regular season, using a quartet of running backs. Brandon Jackson led the way with 881 yards and seven touchdowns. Also, Marlon Lucky rumbled for 640 and six touchdowns, Glenn Cody added 370 yards and eight touchdowns. Kenny Wilson ran for 337 yards and four scores.
“Any quarterback will tell you he’d love to have a good running back and we have four of them,” Taylor said. “It helps.”
It helped Nebraska run through the regular season with its only blemishes coming against No. 2 USC, No. 17 Texas and an upset loss at Oklahoma State.
Despite the setbacks, the Huskers enter the conference title game on a three-game winning streak and hopes of reaching their first BCS bowl game since the 1999 national championship game, a lopsided loss to Miami at the Rose Bowl.
“It’s been our goal since Day 1,” Taylor said. “Back in July we made it our goal to be here Dec. 2 in Kansas City. We look forward to that challenge. It will probably be our toughest test. But to win a championship, you’re going to have to beat someone good. So, we’re excited to be playing Oklahoma.”
The players aren’t the only ones. Nebraska fans have gobbled up tickets to Saturday’s game and just any about any hotel room within a modest drive of Arrowhead Stadium.
But that’s to be expected. It’s money they’ve waited seven years to spend. This year’s Huskers have given them the opportunity.
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Huskers
With Taylor's leadership, they're finally balanced
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