Callahan hopes to lean on leaders in tough environment
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BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
If Nebraska coach Bill Callahan’s game plan is as good as his coachspeak was Monday, the Huskers might prove to be something quite formidable this weekend.
Then again, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel’s coachspeak was pretty darn good, too.
During the weekly Big 12 Teleconfence, both coaches talked about Saturday’s 8:15 p.m. meeting in Columbia, Mo.
Both talked for about 10 minutes without really saying anything of matter.
“I know it’s not going to be the easiest atmosphere for any football team to go into, but no road game ever is,” Callahan said.
“But we’ve got some good senior leaders who have played a lot of tough road games and been in some tough settings. ... I’m really confident in our players. We embrace those types of atmospheres because that’s what college football is all about.”
Callahan said some nice things about Missouri and Pinkel said some nice things about Nebraska.
Pinkel was asked if he suspected Nebraska would try to use the same 3-3-5 defensive scheme that so bothered Missouri last year during a 34-20 Husker win in Lincoln.
“In our offense, we really have to prepare for about everything,” Pinkel said. “A lot of times teams will do things that they don’t normally do because of the challenges our offense presents to people. So really, we have to cover about every possible situation you can cover, because we see it all.”
Callahan was asked if the Huskers would put more emphasis on running the ball this week in an effort to keep the defense from getting fatigued.
In Saturday’s 35-17 victory over Iowa State, the Husker defense spent 102 plays on the field, and looked the worse for it on a fourth-quarter, 17-play, 97-yard Cyclone drive that ended in a touchdown.
“I think each game is different in how it unfolds and what you need to do to win,” Callahan said. “If it means more run and less pass, or less run and more pass, we’ll do whatever it takes to win.”
Though several players hobbled off the field against Iowa State, Callahan said: “Really, right now, there’s nothing major relative to our medical status, so as far as I know everyone’s good to go.”
He did mention that senior cornerback Andre Jones did not play in the Iowa State game because of disciplinary reasons. He did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, Pinkel said he thought the bye week — the No. 17 Tigers did not play Saturday — has helped his guys and that the team had two good weekend practices.
Not surprisingly, Tiger players have been watching game film of Nebraska dating back to last Sunday.
Nebraska hasn’t won at Missouri since 2001, having lost the last two times there by scores of 41-24.
Pinkel welcomes the homefield advantage, but notes it’s really only an advantage if his guys are playing well.
“We’ve got to give them something to yell about, that’s up to us,” Pinkel said. “Our players are certainly looking forward to it. I’m sure Nebraska is, too. That’s why you get into this business, to have games like this.”
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.
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