Nebraska Football 2011: Key to Success Is Winning Close Games

Nebraska is a team to watch in 2011. The Cornhuskers enter a new conference, install a new offensive system, and have a high preseason ranking. Each of these facts has Cornhuskers fans excited about the 2011 season.

The Cornhuskers had high expectations for the 2009 and 2010 seasons as well. In both seasons the Cornhuskers were picked to represent the North in the Big 12 Championship game. While Nebraska was able to meet these goals, think about how successful 2009 and 2010 would have been if the Cornhuskers could have won the close games.

The Cornhuskers have played well defensively over the past two seasons. The offense has been the question mark for the team and remains the question mark heading into the 2011 season. The Cornhuskers needed at least a B+ effort from their defense to win games. Anything less would dig the Cornhuskers a whole that the offense could not climb out of. The lack of offense, turnovers and penalties has led to the close games over the past two years.

A new offensive philosophy and continued strong play from the defense should result in the Cornhuskers ability to win the close games and turn a good season into a great season.

Here is a list of close games which the Cornhuskers could have won if the offense would have matched the play of the defense.

Cornhuskers Fall Asleep Against Virginia Tech

The run of losing close games that should have been wins for the Cornhuskers begins with the Nebraska versus Virginia Tech game in September of 2009.

This game was the first test for the Cornhuskers in 2009. After a close 30 – 35 loss to the Hokies in Lincoln the previous year, many thought the Cornhuskers would be ready for this game.

The Blackshirts defense was fired up to play! Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh chased down mobile quarterback Tyrod Taylor all day long. The Cornhusker offense could not manage to produce any kind of offense. One play for the Cornhuskers could have won them the game, but quarterback Zack Lee complete just 11-30 passes for 136 yards and two interceptions.  

The Blackshirts played outstanding football all day but allowed Hokie wide receiver, Danny Coale to get behind the coverage and take a reception 84 yards to the end zone.

The Cornhuskers had no answer to the long score and lost the game 15-16 in Blacksburg.

Turnovers Lead to Cornhuskers Loss at Iowa State

No other lost was more shocking the last two years than the shocker in Ames, Iowa in October of 2009.

Nebraska did all they could to hand this game to the Cyclones. The Cornhuskers came into this game after a 31-10 loss to Texas Tech. Many Cornhusker fans believed Iowa State would receive a beat down from an angry Cornhuskers team.

One side of the ball showed up for this game while the other did not. The Nebraska offense committed a school record eight turnovers in the game! Four of the turnovers were inside the Iowa State five yard line!

Each time the Cornhusker offense turned the ball over, the Blackshirts defense would bail them out. Finally the turnovers became too much for the Blackshirts to handle and Iowa State won the game 9-7.

First year coach, Paul Rhoads celebrated as if the Cyclones just won the National Championship. The Cornhuskers could have turned their season around if they could have found a way to put some points on the board and win this close game.

Texas is Award Enough Time to Edge the Cornhuskers

Despite the two losses to Virginia Tech and Iowa State, the Cornhuskers were able to make it to the Big 12 Championship game in 2009.

Texas entered the game with one of the most prolific offenses in the country. Nebraska entered the game with one of the most feared defenses in the country.

The Blackshirts played terrific defense! They were able to intercept Texas quarterback Colt McCoy three times in the game. The question was, could the Cornhuskers offense put up any points on a good Texas defense?

The Cornhuskers managed just three first downs in the first three quarters. It looked like Nebraska would be able to win the game behind the foot of kicker Alex Henery. Henery kicked four field goals in the game, including a 52 yarder.

Nebraska had the lead 12 – 10 as time ran off the clock. Nebraska needed one more play from the Blackshirts to give them the Big 12 title. As time ran down, Ndamukong Suh chased down Colt McCoy, forcing him to throw the ball out of bounds. The Cornhuskers ran onto the field celebrating their victory. The referees gathered and awarded Texas one more second of play. Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence nailed a 46 yard field goal to give Texas the Big 12 Championship and Nebraska their third close loss of the season.

Revenge is not Served in Lincoln in 2010

The Cornhuskers got off to a great start in 2010 behind freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez.

During the offseason Cornhusker fans raved about the revenge game against Texas in 2010. Many Cornhusker fans felt Nebraska should have won the game in 2009. They disagreed with the added time to allow Texas to kick a field goal. Too bad the Cornhusker did not have the same emotions!

Texas caught the Blackshirts off guard by running their quarterback Garrett Gilbert. Gilbert ran for 71 yards while only passing for 62. Despite the rushing attack from Gilbert, the Blackshirts played well scoring Nebraska’s only touchdown of the game. Once again, the Cornhusker offense could not manage to get anything going against the Texas defense.

This game was not as close and not as dramatic as the year before. Texas won the game 20 – 13 and ended Big 12 play against the Cornhuskers winning nine of the 10 meetings between the schools.

Another close loss for the Cornhuskers in a game they were favored to win.

Penalties and Turnovers Doom the Cornhuskers against the Aggies

 Nebraska entered the game against Texas A&M needing one more win to clinch a berth in the Big 12 Championship game for the second year in a row.

The game was a defensive battle. Taylor Martinez injured his ankle and the injury severely slowed down the Cornhusker offense. The reason why the Cornhuskers lost the game was because of penalties. Nebraska committed a school record 16 penalties for 145 yards. Some Cornhusker fans believe the Big 12 referees did not want Nebraska to win this game. The debate can go on for decades. The fact is that Nebraska had a chance to win the game but blew it because of turnovers and penalties.

With the best kicker in the country on the Cornhuskers’ team, no one thought Nebraska would ever lose a kicking battle, but they did. Texas A&M beat Nebraska 9-6, forcing the Cornhuskers big 12 title hopes to be put on hold.

Another Big 12 Championship Let Down

Last year’s Big 12 Championship game began to look like a statement game for the Cornhuskers. Nebraska quickly got out to a 17-0 lead but managed to let the Sooners back into the game.

With the score 23- 20 in Oklahoma’s favor, the Cornhuskers had a chance to tie the game. All they needed was a play from the offense. Instead of making a play, quarterback Taylor Martinez took a sack in a situation where the young quarterback must know to throw the ball away. Bo Pelini opted to send out Alex Henry to try a 62 yard field goal instead of throwing a “Hail Mary” pass into the end zone. Henery missed the kick and Nebraska lost another close game.

Nebraska Must Win the Close Games

The 2009 and 2010 season could have resulted in the Cornhuskers playing in back-to-back BCS bowl games if only they could have won these close games.

In 2011 Nebraska must figure a way to stop committee penalties and turning the ball over, and must get more production out of its offense.

New Nebraska offensive coordinator, Tim Beck has his hands full. The word out of Lincoln is that Nebraska has designed an offense to match the skills of its players. That is a good thing!

Nebraska must also learn to stop making mistakes. That might be a tough task with so many young players expecting to play this season.

If Bo Pelini can get his team to become more focused and win the close games, this could be the season the Cornhuskers return to a BCS bowl game!