(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
There is no denying that the Nebraska Cornhuskers are on the road that leads back to glory. They got on this road as soon as Peterson and Callahan got booted. The road became an interstate when Tom Osborne decided to become the Athletic Director, leading to the hiring of Defensive guru Bo Pelini. I still want a "BO UP" t-shirt.
Pelini closed out his first season with an impressive 26-21 win over Clemson to finish the season at 9-4. It felt as if the weight of the world was finally off the back of Huskers fans.
Coming off of last season there is one thing the Huskers must have this season. At least, they must have it if they want to be taken seriously again. So, what is it that they must have in order to stay on the road that leads back to glory? The Big Win.
Although they did have a great season in 2008, it was missing "The Big Win." They got very close against Virginia Tech and Texas Tech, but they fell short both games. If Nebraska wants to be taken seriously again, they must pull off an upset at least once. Looking at the 2009 schedule, Nebraska will have two opportunities—at Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. Both of these games are uphill battles.
Can it be done? I believe it can. Why? Defense wins. Bo Pelini is a defensive man. Suh is the most talked about defensive player coming into the 2009 season. I believe that this season we will see a true resurgence of the Blackshirt defense. With experience at the defensive line, experience in the secondary, and a group of young talented linebackers, the defense is poised for success.
The Huskers are going to have to lean on their defense to win every game this season. With Joe Ganz, Nate Swift, Lydon Murtha, Matt Slauson, and Todd Peterson out of the mix, the offense is rebuilding. Although, it should be noted that they are rebuilding with exactly what they need to compliment a dominate defense. With Helu, Castille, and a swift-footed Lee running the show, the running game should be fun to watch. Shawn Watson is a mastermind when it comes to working an offense around whatever quarterback he has and at managing the clock.
With the stout defense of Pelini and Suh, Watson will prove himself worthy of a head coaching position. It will shake the world whenever the Nebraska Cornhuskers upset Virginia Tech or Oklahoma in the 2009 season, along with a 10-3 finish. It is possible for them to reach 11-2, but I think that might be a stretch.
The Huskers will get the one thing they must have, the big win, this season. They will thrust themselves back into the spotlight in the 2009 season, setting the stage for a BCS appearance in the 2010-2011 season. Helu, Lee, Castille, McNeill, and a solid group of young receivers will all be seniors in the 2010-2011 season. You can also trust that by that time, Pelini will have exactly what he wants in his defense. With these factors and a very favorable schedule, watch for "The Big Win" in the 2009 season and a BCS appearance in the 2010 season.
We're going to send you the most entertaining Nebraska Huskers Football articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
6 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete