Husker coach Bill Callahan said linebacker Steve Octavien expressed regret for comments made after Saturday's 41-40 win against Ball State.
Posted: Thursday, September 27, 2007 7:00 pm
Husker coach Bill Callahan said linebacker Steve Octavien expressed regret for comments made after Saturday’s 41-40 win against Ball State.
During an interview on the Husker Sports Network’s postgame locker room show, Octavien was asked about fan criticism of defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove, a main target of boos from the home crowd in the second half.
“We’re not worried about the fans. They can’t play for us,” Octavien answered. “They’re not on the field. We’re the ones putting in the hard work. If they don’t like it, they don’t have to come out and watch the games.”
Callahan said Octavien wished he wouldn’t have said those words.
"I made the comment on my television show the other day that I didn't agree with it," Callahan said on Monday. "I talked with Steve yesterday. He came up here on his own and he said, ‘Coach, I made a big mistake.' And I said, ‘Steve, I've been there myself.' You're in the midst of an emotional game, you know. No one is really happy or satisfied in terms of how we played.
“He said, ‘I'm just trying to defend my coach and our team.’ I said, ‘Well, there's other ways go about that. I don't think that was appropriate…’
“I'm looking forward to him possibly stepping up and saying something to the fans. I thought, by and large, our fans stepped up when we needed them right there in that last drive.”
When it comes to fans booing, Callahan said it’s something he’s just always blocked out.
"People, they have their right, they have their opinion," he said. "In America, people expect excellence and that's what we're trying to achieve. And when you don't achieve that, it's tough, you got to endure that. It's a part of being in the public eye.”
LIMPING LINEBACKER: Husker senior linebacker Lance Brandenburgh hobbled off the field with four minutes left in the first quarter Saturday and did not return. He suffered a high-ankle sprain.
Callahan said Monday he did not know the severity of the injury and that Brandenburgh’s status is “day-to-day” as Saturday’s game against Iowa State approaches.
BY THE NUMBERS — 30: Number of years since Iowa State has defeated Nebraska in Memorial Stadium.
In the 14 meetings in Lincoln since that 24-21 Cyclone win in 1977, the Huskers have averaged 47.5 points to ISU’s 11.7.
Three times in those games, Nebraska scored more than 70 points and twice Iowa State was shut out.
SCOUTING REPORT — DE Barry Turner: Two years ago, the Huskers had 50 sacks. Junior defensive end Barry Turner remembers. He was there for the ride.
Right now, four games into 2007, Nebraska has three sacks, placing NU near the bottom of the national rankings in that category — tied with the likes of Idaho, Syracuse, Minnesota and Northwestern.
Turner’s name has not surfaced much this season. He has 12 tackles, but just one for a loss. He also has half a sack.
Fellow defensive end Zach Potter has six tackles for loss and two sacks.
Despite the big numbers put up by opposing offenses and the lack of quarterback pressure, Turner said optimism still prevails among Husker defenders.
“I don’t think as a team we were frustrated,” he said of the Ball State game. “We just kept going, every time we came off the field, we were being positive, ‘Just keep it going. Keep pushing.’”
And those boos? Well, Turner knows that’s just what comes when you don’t get it done here.
“The fans expect a lot from the Huskers,” he said, “especially the Blackshirts defense.”
OPPONENT WATCH — Texas A&M: Hulking Texas A&M running back Jorvorskie Lane carried the ball only twice for 2 yards last week and apparently was none too happy about it.
The 270-pound Lane came into Thursday’s 34-17 loss to Miami averaging 4.4 yards a carry with seven touchdowns, yet didn’t get a touch in the first half.
After the game, A&M coach Dennis Franchione suggested Miami’s speed made giving the ball to Lane a poor option.
“Nah, with the zone read sometimes, he gets tackled and doesn't get to carry the ball,” Franchione said, according to the Dallas Morning News. "That just happened that way."
The Morning News said Lane appeared angry on the sideline when ESPN's cameras zoomed in for close-ups. He was also one of the first players out of the locker room and didn’t stop for interviews despite being requested by reporters.
—Brian Christopherson