STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Monday, November 8, 2004 6:00 pm
Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan is preaching patience, while Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Bo Pelini is choosing the high road.
Both men have much on their minds as their teams prepare for Saturday's game at Norman, Okla., the storied programs' first meeting since Nebraska's 20-10 victory in October of 2001.
Pelini, who orchestrated a startling one-year turnaround for Nebraska's defense last season as its coordinator, was among those passed over for the Husker head coaching position last winter.
That situation has nothing to do with Saturday's showdown, said Pelini, 36, who quickly became a popular figure among Husker fans who appreciated his no-nonsense, hard-edged style.
Pelini, reached in his office Monday, said he preferred to avoid discussion about his tenure at Nebraska.
"This game has meaning because we're 9-0 that's really all I care about," said Pelini, who doubles as the Sooners' secondary coach. "The main thing is, this game's not about me at all; it's about what we're trying to get done here at OU."
While second-ranked Oklahoma remained in the thick of the national championship chase with a 42-35 road win Saturday against Texas A&M, Nebraska comes off of a 34-27 loss at Iowa State that dropped the Huskers to 5-4 overall.
It was the Huskers' third consecutive Big 12 road loss, setting off a barrage of angry calls to local radio shows and disapproving commentary on Internet sites.
Asked Monday during the Big 12 coaches' teleconference how he'd respond to impatient fans, Callahan said, "We're going through a transition in the program. We're going through a change in philosophy, a change in culture.
"When I accepted the job, I accepted it under those parameters. I knew there would be some growing pains. That's been a lesson unto itself."
Callahan added that Nebraska is "a young football team." The Huskers feature 14 seniors on their two-deep chart.
"For the fans, I would tell them to stay encouraged," Callahan said. "We're staying the course. We believe in our players, and I hope the fans believe in them as well."
Criticized for his decision to open up the passing game against Iowa State, Callahan reiterated his intent to maintain a balanced offense that puts his team in the best position to win.
"It's a give and take," he said. "You play to your players' skills and talents. We've tried to formulate the system and the game plan to what our players do best."
In falling behind 24-7 at halftime Saturday, Nebraska attempted 27 passes compared with 13 runs. For the season, however, the Huskers have rushed 58 percent of the time, and 49.9 percent of their total offense has come via the run.
Embattled Nebraska quarterback Joe Dailey finished 18-for-42 passing for 230 yards, throwing an interception in the waning minutes that sealed Iowa State's win.
Callahan said Dailey's timing and decision-making in the pocket have improved.
"We have invested a lot of time and energy into Joe Dailey, and we're going to continue to go in that direction and try to get the best out Joe because he's capable of so much more," Callahan said.
Dailey will face an Oklahoma defense that showed vulnerability against A&M and the week before in a 38-35 triumph at Oklahoma State. The Sooners, in fact, pulled freshman cornerback Marcus Walker out of a planned redshirt season to shore up a struggling secondary.
Quarterback Jason White, last year's Heisman Trophy winner, leads Oklahoma's offense along with true freshman tailback Adrian Peterson, a leading Heisman candidate this season.
Peterson suffered a dislocated left shoulder in the fourth quarter Saturday, but returned to the game one series later. Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops said Monday that Peterson practiced and should be OK for the Nebraska game.
"It's not only those two," NU defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. "Their offensive line is physical and athletic. And they have big-time receivers."
In order to pull off the upset, Nebraska will need a much better outing than it had at Iowa State.
"We just need to coach better and coach harder, and try to overcome some of the errors we've had and obviously try to get back on track with some of the coaching talent we have on this staff," Callahan said. "There are indicators (of progress) throughout the season, but it hasn't been consistent enough to get us over the hump."
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.