Red Report: Talking bowl games
Husker junior receiver Todd Peterson hasn’t forgotten what 2004 felt like. That’s when Nebraska missed out on a bowl game for the first time in 36 years.
“It was depressing, really,” Peterson said Monday. “So it means a lot to us as just competitors. We want to get out there. We want that extra game.”
The Huskers are in danger of missing a bowl game for the second time in four years under coach Bill Callahan.
At 5-6, Nebraska needs a win Friday at Colorado to become bowl-eligible. Of course, Colorado has the same record and same ambition.
“That’s in both programs’ minds, because no one likes to be 6-6,” Callahan said of the importance of earning a bowl bid. “Certainly, when you have that opportunity to go to a bowl and finish your year on a winning note, it means a lot to these players.”
If the Huskers lose Friday, it will be just the program’s second losing season since 1961.
Nebraska could have avoided a losing season in 2004 had it defeated Colorado in the regular-season finale at Memorial Stadium. But the Buffs won 26-20.
Peterson said that was one tough December.
“As a football player, sitting home around Christmas watching a bunch of other teams, it’s just gut-wrenching,” he said.
IN-STATE ROAD TRIP: Seven Husker assistant coaches spent last Monday and Tuesday visiting high schools across Nebraska.
Normally, coaches would use the bye week to recruit out of state. But given the uncertain futures of the coaching staff, the decision was made to recruit only within Nebraska.
The coaches were believed to have visited about 70 high schools in the state.
How did Callahan think the recruiting went?
“We’re trying to build this walk-on program up, get those numbers up again. And I think the guys did an outstanding job of trying to recruit numbers, and try to get more numbers into this program,” Callahan said. “I didn’t hear one coach come back with anything negative to say from any (high school) coach, so it was a pretty positive reception, from my understanding.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 1. Number of touchdown passes Husker junior quarterback Joe Ganz has against Colorado.
Ganz threw only three touchdowns last season as a backup, but one of them came on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Barry Turner on a fake field goal against CU.
The play came at a critical time, breaking a 7-7 tie in the second quarter. Nebraska went on to a 37-14 win.
SCOUTING REPORT: CB Anthony Blue
Husker true freshman Anthony Blue got his first start at cornerback against Kansas State.
With senior Zackary Bowman playing just one series, Blue saw the majority of the snaps, even breaking up a pass on his first series.
Callahan said Monday no decision has been made as to whether Blue will start against Colorado. But the coach did heap plenty of praise on the kid from Cedar Hill, Texas.
The coach said he’s most impressed with the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Blue’s physicality.
“He’s that corner on the edge that can provide a lot of good-quality, physical play. He’s a collision player who likes contact,” Callahan said. “ He has quick hands and good feet. He’s a really solid tackler, so there’s a lot of upside to Anthony’s game.”
Opponent watch: Colorado
The game film of Nebraska’s 73-31 demolition of Kansas State has made Colorado defensive coordinator Ron Collins quite the Ganz fan.
“Ganz is the better quarterback,” Collins told the Denver Post.
Collins, of course, was comparing Ganz to Sam Keller, who started Nebraska’s first nine games at quarterback before suffering a season-ending broken collarbone in the Texas game.
Ganz has thrown for more than 900 yards in his two starts, including a school-record 510 against K-State.
Colorado’s secondary has struggled mightily in recent weeks, giving up passes of 20 yards or more 11 times in the last two games.
“Going against (Ganz), this is one game where you can’t blow coverage, you can’t mess up,” CU cornerback Terrence Wheatley told the Post. “You’ve got to play pretty much perfectly.
“When you look at the yardage he has thrown for in the last two games, you kind of wonder what his numbers would be like if he played the whole season. They would be kind of ridiculous.”
— Brian Christopherson
“It was depressing, really,” Peterson said Monday. “So it means a lot to us as just competitors. We want to get out there. We want that extra game.”
The Huskers are in danger of missing a bowl game for the second time in four years under coach Bill Callahan.
At 5-6, Nebraska needs a win Friday at Colorado to become bowl-eligible. Of course, Colorado has the same record and same ambition.
“That’s in both programs’ minds, because no one likes to be 6-6,” Callahan said of the importance of earning a bowl bid. “Certainly, when you have that opportunity to go to a bowl and finish your year on a winning note, it means a lot to these players.”
If the Huskers lose Friday, it will be just the program’s second losing season since 1961.
Nebraska could have avoided a losing season in 2004 had it defeated Colorado in the regular-season finale at Memorial Stadium. But the Buffs won 26-20.
Peterson said that was one tough December.
“As a football player, sitting home around Christmas watching a bunch of other teams, it’s just gut-wrenching,” he said.
IN-STATE ROAD TRIP: Seven Husker assistant coaches spent last Monday and Tuesday visiting high schools across Nebraska.
Normally, coaches would use the bye week to recruit out of state. But given the uncertain futures of the coaching staff, the decision was made to recruit only within Nebraska.
The coaches were believed to have visited about 70 high schools in the state.
How did Callahan think the recruiting went?
“We’re trying to build this walk-on program up, get those numbers up again. And I think the guys did an outstanding job of trying to recruit numbers, and try to get more numbers into this program,” Callahan said. “I didn’t hear one coach come back with anything negative to say from any (high school) coach, so it was a pretty positive reception, from my understanding.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 1. Number of touchdown passes Husker junior quarterback Joe Ganz has against Colorado.
Ganz threw only three touchdowns last season as a backup, but one of them came on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Barry Turner on a fake field goal against CU.
The play came at a critical time, breaking a 7-7 tie in the second quarter. Nebraska went on to a 37-14 win.
SCOUTING REPORT: CB Anthony Blue
Husker true freshman Anthony Blue got his first start at cornerback against Kansas State.
With senior Zackary Bowman playing just one series, Blue saw the majority of the snaps, even breaking up a pass on his first series.
Callahan said Monday no decision has been made as to whether Blue will start against Colorado. But the coach did heap plenty of praise on the kid from Cedar Hill, Texas.
The coach said he’s most impressed with the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Blue’s physicality.
“He’s that corner on the edge that can provide a lot of good-quality, physical play. He’s a collision player who likes contact,” Callahan said. “ He has quick hands and good feet. He’s a really solid tackler, so there’s a lot of upside to Anthony’s game.”
Opponent watch: Colorado
The game film of Nebraska’s 73-31 demolition of Kansas State has made Colorado defensive coordinator Ron Collins quite the Ganz fan.
“Ganz is the better quarterback,” Collins told the Denver Post.
Collins, of course, was comparing Ganz to Sam Keller, who started Nebraska’s first nine games at quarterback before suffering a season-ending broken collarbone in the Texas game.
Ganz has thrown for more than 900 yards in his two starts, including a school-record 510 against K-State.
Colorado’s secondary has struggled mightily in recent weeks, giving up passes of 20 yards or more 11 times in the last two games.
“Going against (Ganz), this is one game where you can’t blow coverage, you can’t mess up,” CU cornerback Terrence Wheatley told the Post. “You’ve got to play pretty much perfectly.
“When you look at the yardage he has thrown for in the last two games, you kind of wonder what his numbers would be like if he played the whole season. They would be kind of ridiculous.”
— Brian Christopherson
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