Where Does Bo Pelini Have Nebraska In Year Two?

Are the Nebraska Cornhuskers back?

That was the question on everyone's mind at the Big 12 Media Days.

NU head coach Bo Pelini was the first coach to face the press and he faced an onslaught of questions regarding where his program is in the national landscape.

Pelini answered that question head on.

"I know one thing—our players don't feel like Nebraska's back," Pelini said. "I believe that they feel—because our expectations are very, very high in our football program and what we want it to be and where we're headed."

So, Nebraska's not back?

This Nebraska team has a legit chance to win the Big 12 North for the second time in the past five years.

It has an opportunity to climb back into the national scene by stealing a tough game in Lane Stadium on Sept. 19.

These are the fans' expectations and hopes. Pelini plays by a whole different set of beliefs.

Even if Nebraska did those things he wouldn't be happy unless those tasks were accomplished the right way—the "Pelini Way", if you will.

"My way of going about it and our staff's way of going about it is to keep them focused on the day-to-day process," Pelini said. "It's something we talk about all the time, about competing every single day. All of the expectations that's for the fans. That's for the media."

So far he's had his team working hard in practice. The Huskers come into the main lobby of the practice complex drenched in sweat and ready to grab their post practice meal—a Gatorade, a bag of pretzels, and a recovery shake.

There are lofty goals for this team, but without Pelini and his staff preaching and applying hard work, the Cornhuskers will fall short.

Practice doesn't mean everything, as it doesn't take someone versed in philosophy to know that Occam's razor applies here. The simplest route for Pelini to get the Huskers back is winning.

But he knows that if his team is going to have any kind of consistency, it's the work that's done from Sunday to Friday that sets up Saturday.

In the meantime Pelini won't get worried about expectations or if the Huskers are getting enough air-time on ESPN.

"All expectations or people talking about where Nebraska is in the program, all of that will take care of itself in time if we take care of business on the field," Pelini said.

"Everything is going to be decided between the white lines. We have to prepare ourselves accordingly. That's how we go about it."