Can NU back up tough talk?

Nebraska starting defensive tackle Le Kevin Smith said the Huskers, stung by losses to Kansas State in each of the last two seasons, have big plans today for the Wildcats. "I think this year it's going to be a whole different story," Smith said earlier this week. "We plan to go down there and just lay into them with a big stick." Which raises a question: Should a Husker defender be talking in such a cocksure manner after being torched in the last two weeks by Texas Tech and Baylor for a combined 923 yards? On second thought, perhaps Smith ought to bring a big stick — anything to help Nebraska's moribund pass rush, which has produced a mere three sacks in the last two games.

 

The great K-State QB mystery

We may not know Kansas State's starter at quarterback today until shortly before kickoff. Nebraska fans should hope for No. 8 (Allen Webb) as opposed to No. 9 (Dylan Meier). Meier, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound sophomore, has been impressive in the last three games, completing 64 of 107 attempts (59.8 percent) for 737 yards and six touchdowns. However, Meier left last week's game against Oklahoma after taking a hard hit with seven minutes to play, and K-State head coach Bill Snyder has kept Meier's status shrouded in secrecy this week, as Snyder is wont to do. This much is certain: Webb, a 6-3, 205-pound sophomore, is a better runner than Meier but has been shaky in managing the offense. 

 

Poof! Sproles disappears

Anybody seen Darren Sproles, the little fella with quick feet who graces the cover of K-State's 2004 football media guide? Under Sproles' name are the words "Heisman Trophy Candidate." Well, that campaign has hit a snag, as the 5-foot-7, 180-pound tailback has yet to top the 100-yard rushing mark in Big 12 play. Nebraska defenders probably will remember Sproles well, assuming they can track him down. In the last two seasons, Sproles has rushed for a combined 295 yards and four touchdowns in convincing Wildcat victories against NU. Nebraska this season ranks second nationally in rushing defense, but the Huskers have yet to face a running back of Sproles' caliber.

 

Trying to stop the slide

Remember all those years Nebraska dominated this series? Well, that all changed in 1998, when, on a snowy November night in Manhattan, the Wildcats ended a 29-game losing streak to Big Red. K-State has won four of the last six games in the series, including 49-13 and 38-9 decisions the past two years. This will be the first time since 1968 that neither Nebraska nor K-State is ranked when they meet. Nonetheless, the players understand the significance of this rivalry, and don't think recent embarrassments at the hands of KSU won't stoke NU's players. "I think it's a feeling that you can't have unless you play in it. Even the fans don't like each other," Wildcat defensive tackle Jermaine Berry told The Kansas City Star.