STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Saturday, September 17, 2005 7:00 pm
Cory Ross was asked Saturday if it felt lonely to be the only bright spot on the Nebraska offense.
The senior I-back from Denver quickly pointed out that he had ample help from his offensive line, which has received its share of criticism this season as the Husker offense sputtered.
Ross said he challenged Nebraska offensive linemen this week in practice. Ross also challenged himself to step it up a notch, and he responded with a 32-carry, 153-yard performance in Nebraska’s grueling 7-6 win against Pitt at Memorial Stadium.
“Cory ran hard into a lot of eight- and nine-man fronts,” Husker coach Bill Callahan said. “There weren’t a lot of gaps and holes.”
As usual, the 5-foot-6, 195-pound Ross produced many of his yards on his own, through the force of his strong will. Although the offensive line had its moments, Ross still had to do much of the work.
Nebraska (3-0) leaned heavily on its diminutive I-back in the fourth quarter, as he carried 13 times for 50 yards as the Huskers struggled to put away the Panthers. On NU’s final drive, Ross carried on each of the eight plays that led to Jordan Congdon’s missed 38-yard field-goal attempt.
“Whenever it’s like that, I want to be the one to run the ball,” Ross said.
Ross rumbled over right tackle for 6 yards on third-and-4 at the Pitt 32-yard line. Considering the strangeness of the afternoon, maybe it was appropriate that the chains actually moved backward following his gain. That’s because Ross was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, apparently for jumping to his feet and giving the “first-down” signal.
Nebraska wound up with a first-and-10 at Pitt’s 41.
Ross’ 32 carries represented the second-highest total of his career. He had rushed 37 times for 138 yards against Michigan State in the 2003 Alamo Bowl.
“That’s what I came to Nebraska for, to run the ball,” he said.
Ross had opened the season with a 20-carry, 80-yard effort against Maine, followed by a 20-carry, 123-yard night against Wake Forest.
For the third straight game, Nebraska’s offense struggled mightily, producing only one touchdown against a Pitt defense that entered the day ranked 61st nationally overall and 90th against the run.
“We have little things to work on,” Ross said. “But you know what, this is a great win.”
Ross remains optimistic about the offense.
“Once we get in tune and start clicking, it’s going to be a special year and a special offense,” he said.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.