Husker coach Bill Callahan said on Monday his heart aches the most for coaches’ families during this tough season filled with criticism.

“As a coach in this business, when the highs are high, they’re great. When the lows, when they’re low, it’s hard on the families,” Callahan said. “It’s hard on the kids and all the siblings. But we’ve got a strong group of women, a lot of good wives on this staff. They’re good people. They’re really good people.

“They’re weathering the storm. It’s not fun to go to school and be ridiculed and things of that nature, but I would say the overwhelming majority of Nebraska fans have been great. They recognize that we’ve struggled and they recognize that these kids are in tough positions, and I think their hearts go out to what’s going on.”

Despite this 4-6 season, Callahan said he gets a good share of e-mails and letters of encouragement every day from Nebraskans.

Of course, he gets plenty of the other kind of mail, too.

Said Callahan: “There’s a lot of negativity as well out there, and that’s understandable because Nebraska fans want excellence and they want greatness, and we’re about that, and we didn’t do that, so we understand.”

CROUCH VISITS: Former Nebraska quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch was a surprise visitor at Tuesday’s weekly media luncheon.

Crouch, who had hip and knee surgery on Oct. 16, was in Lincoln for rehabilitation. He was walking outside the stadium, he said, when a reporter invited him upstairs.

Never mind Crouch was wearing a Creighton basketball sweatshirt.

“Going to the game on Friday,” he said of the Bluejays’ opener.

Crouch, who lives in Omaha, said he has been spreading the word on the new All-American Football League, of which Crouch hopes to be a member. The AAFL holds its draft in January. Crouch said he has been eyeing teams in Texas.

BY THE NUMBERS: 67. The number of points Nebraska allowed during the entire 1980s against Kansas. The Jayhawks scored 103 against NU during the ’90s.

SCOUTING REPORT: LB Bo Ruud 

Husker senior linebacker Bo Ruud did not practice Tuesday, but defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove is certain he’ll play Saturday against Kansas State.

“I don’t think he’ll miss this game for anything,” said Cosgrove, who expects Ruud to practice Wednesday.

Ruud has been out with a knee injury since hurting it on Texas A&M’s first offensive play of the game on Oct. 20.

But Saturday is Senior Day at Memorial Stadium, the Lincoln native’s last chance to play before the home crowd.

“This is of the utmost importance for him to come out and play well and for our team to have success,” Cosgrove said.

“Bo, he’s a great person. He’s been a joy to coach since I’ve been here. He has a great family. He’s a true pro. He studies the game more than anybody. He’s always in there watching film, just looking for ways he can improve. Sure going to miss him.”

Opponent watch: Colorado

CU coach Dan Hawkins is truly a rare breed.

He has his own blog (www.coachhawkins.com) where he doesn’t look to hide much of anything.

His latest entry is about CU’s woeful showing against Missouri, a 55-10 loss.

Hawkins wrote: “Ouch … again!  To all the Buff faithful, I am sorry for the outcome (of the Missouri game). Coach (Gary) Pinkel took me to the woodshed in a big way; it’s hard to remember, but that may be the largest loss I have ever been a part of. Football, as in life, will always have a way of humbling you the longer you throw yourself into the fire.”