STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Sunday, October 24, 2004 7:00 pm
Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan breaks the 2004 season into four quarters.
The Huskers are 2-1 in each of the first two quarters and today begin a critical three-game stretch against, in order, Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State all Big 12 North opponents.
"We're just trying to focus in on what we need to do for this particular phase of the season and how we can improve and where our focus lies as we go on the road and play at home," Callahan said.
Nebraska, 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12 North, plays Missouri next week in Lincoln before traveling to Ames, Iowa, on Nov. 6.
"We try to bring up the importance of those small details of the schedule and give our players some insight as to what could occur within the divisional race and how we can meet our goals," Callahan said.
Callahan said it's exciting to be in the thick of the chase for the Big 12 North Division crown.
"This will be a big weekend for our team," he said. "We need to rectify some of the road errors we displayed a couple of weeks ago (at Texas Tech). It will be a great challenge for us to go back on the road and see if we can meet that challenge."
The final quarter of Callahan's season breakdown begins Nov. 13 at second-ranked Oklahoma and continues Nov. 26 with the regular-season final against Colorado in Lincoln. The final game in Callahan's breakdown would be the Big 12 championship contest Dec. 4 in Kansas City, Mo.
INJURY REPORT: Nebraska starting I-back Cory Ross missed two practices this week with a toe injury, but is expected to play today. Starting free safety Josh Bullocks injured his shoulder during Tuesday's practice and also missed two days of workouts. His status will be determined at game time, according to NU secondary coach Phil Elmassian.
BIG IMPRESSION: K-State quarterback Dylan Meier was hit hard several times last week by Oklahoma. Meier's toughness made an impression on Elmassian, but so did the play of a couple of OU defenders. "No. 80 and No. 10 are really good players," Elmassian said, referring to defensive end Dan Cody and linebacker Lance Mitchell. "Basically, they just kicked (K-State's) behinds. No. 80 for Oklahoma has the best motor in college football that I've seen in an awful long time. I don't know his name, but I'll tell you what, I am exhausted after watching him play."
SNEAKY LITTLE GUY: Because of K-State running back Darren Sproles' short stature he's 5-foot-7 it can be difficult to spot him coming out of the backfield, said Husker linebacker Barrett Ruud. "You basically have to be in your gap," Ruud said. "If you start looking around, that's when a lot of times he's just going to squirt past you. You have to be really disciplined."
ETC.: Today marks the first time since 1992 the Nebraska-Kansas State game won't be on TV. … Nebraska has lost the past two games against K-State, but the Huskers have never lost three in a row to the Wildcats in a series that began in 1911. … NU has only one player from the state of Kansas true freshman linebacker Lance Brandenburgh of Overland Park.