KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s a popular question these days: Is Nebraska back?

Of course, the answer depends on one’s definition of “back.”

At any rate, Nebraska coach Bill Callahan, during a Big 12 Championship Game press conference Friday, was asked if the Husker program has advanced to where he wants it.

“We’re close,” he said. “I don’t think we’re there yet. I think we still have a lot of work to do.”

Work continues tonight against Oklahoma.

“This is a key game, to measure ourselves and see exactly where we’re at in terms of progress and consistency,” he said.

Callahan said Nebraska has reached a point where “we want to become more oriented toward high school recruiting.

“As we make that transition through the next few years, that will kind of help the progress so we can build our depth and develop our younger football players, and not be in a position where you have to have a (junior college) guy for just two years.

“The expectations at Nebraska are very high,” Callahan added. “We embrace that standard. It’s what makes us go day-in and day-out.”

WEATHER FACTOR: The two coaches essentially expressed opposite views on any effect weather might have on tonight’s game. About 10 inches of snow was removed from the Arrowhead Stadium field Friday. A temperature in the mid-20s is expected tonight.

Callahan said he expects his play calling to be unaffected, noting wind won’t be a factor. Everyone expected it to be cold, he said.

“I don’t think it’ll change a thing,” Callahan said. “Our kids have practiced in this type of weather. I really don’t think it’ll be a huge factor for either team.“

Stoops said the teams should obtain a feel for the conditions early in the game.

“You can’t deny it’s a part of it,” he said of the weather. “It does change both teams’ game plans to a certain degree.”

GADGET TALK: Nebraska’s extensive use of trick plays this season has been “a lot of fun,” Callahan said. He noted Husker coaches have a tryout day in preseason camp “to see who can do what, and we build on that throughout the year.” For instance, coaches learned wide receiver Maurice Purify throws a football about 60 yards, Callahan said.

LET’S HEAR IT: As many as 60,000 Big Red fans are expected to be on hand at Arrowhead, which would figure to be an advantage for the Huskers (NU is technically the visiting team). “It’s only an advantage if we can score early and make plays and do things that excite our fans,” Callahan said.

NO REGRETS: Stoops said he doesn’t second-guess the fact Oklahoma didn’t recruit Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor, a native of Norman, Okla. Nor does Stoops wish any degree of ill will on Taylor because he’s playing for a rival school. In fact, Stoops’ sentiment is quite the opposite. “He’s found a great place there, in the way they’re playing and what he’s doing,” Stoops said. “I’m excited for him, being a local guy and his father having played here, that he’s found so much success. It’d be awfully little of me to not want him to have success.”

FRIENDLY FOES: Callahan was asked if incidents in Nebraska-Oklahoma games in the last three seasons — such as the alleged pre-game scuffle between a Husker player and a Sooner spirit-squad member in 2004 — have affected relations between the teams. “Not at all,” he said. “Our staffs get along very well. There’s a lot of internal communication (involving coaches) during the course of the season.”

QUOTABLE: Callahan, on his awareness of the Oklahoma-Nebraska rivalry: “I think it’s a great tradition. I’m a traditionalist at heart. I had an opportunity to watch a lot of those classic matchups as a kid growing up in Chicago. I have a great affinity for this particular matchup. …  This is a great college game. It’s going to be great for our fans, great for college football in general.”

ETC.: Nebraska I-backs Marlon Lucky (back) and Cody Glenn (foot sprain) both are expected to play tonight. … NU’s four appearances in the Big 12 title game ties Colorado for the most in the North Division, while Oklahoma is making its league-leading fifth appearance in the title game, all in the past seven years. … The Huskers and Sooners are two of three teams to capture two or more Big 12 titles in the first 10 years of the league. OU has three league crowns, while NU and Texas have each captured two. Kansas State, Texas A&M and Colorado each won  one Big 12 crown.