Despite penalties, Burkes handles pressure
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
By the Lincoln Journal Star
AUSTIN, Texas — Jaivorio Burkes had his number called twice on TV — he was penalized twice for false-start penalties — but overall, the true freshman’s first start at offensive tackle was something to build on.
“It helps build up my confidence knowing that I can play at this level,” said Burkes, who saw his first action in place of the injured Lydon Murtha. “I can learn from this and do better in my next game.”
Burkes, of Phoenix, said it was obvious Saturday that the game is played at a faster pace than he’s used to. Still, Burkes helped pave the way for an offense that gained 447 yards, Nebraska’s third-highest total this season against a defense that ranked 16th nationally in yards allowed.
Burkes is only the third true freshman to start on the offensive line at Nebraska since 1972, joining Matt Slauson (2005) and Jacob Hickman (2006).
Hold your fire
Bill Callahan and Kevin Cosgrove have faced a lot of heat this season, but what about the members of the Silver Spurs, the student group in charge of Smokey the Cannon?
The cannon fired mistakenly when the Longhorns’ Ryan Bailey missed wide-right on a 34-yard field-goal attempt late in the first half.
Nebraska answered with an eight-play, 80-yard drive to take a 10-3 lead into intermission.
Earn your stripes
It is one thing to mess up a folksy Texas tradition, but it’s another if you can’t get your act together as a handsomely-paid Big 12 officiating crew.
After a minutes-long discussion followed by a snooze-inducing television timeout, referee Greg Burks flicked on his microphone and announced to the full-house crowd and a national-TV audience that, “There is a correction.”
The crew, which had first agreed that both penalties on a Nebraska punt were against the Huskers, rescinded that decision and announced offsetting penalties. After resetting the chains, Dan Titchener kicked again and Texas took over at its 25-yard line.
Without the correction, Texas would have started the drive from its 44.
Then, on the same drive, the crew announced it would review a 36-yard pass reception by Quan Cosby after Nebraska’s Ty Steinkuhler had tackled Jamaal Charles for a 1-yard loss on the next play.
That tackle-for-loss was wiped out by the review, infuriating Callahan. The catch was confirmed in a matter of seconds.
The good and the bad
For the first time in four games, the Blackshirts did not allow a touchdown on the opponent’s opening drive of the game. Texas gained 11 yards on its opening play, but then went three-and-out, thanks largely to a great open-field tackle by Tierre Green on third down.
The Huskers also notched their first takeaway in four games when Zach Potter intercepted a fourth-quarter Colt McCoy pass.
However, Nebraska has now allowed six TD drives of 90 yards or more this season, including Saturday’s three-play, 98-yard Texas march in the fourth quarter that was reminiscent of USC’s four-play, 96-yard march.
At some point, Titchener needs some love for all those kicks inside the 20.
Injury report
The most obvious injury suffered by a Husker on Saturday was the one that knocked Sam Keller out of the game in the fourth quarter. Keller, who was favoring his left shoulder when he was helped off the field, did not return. The extent of his injury in unknown.
Senior linebacker Bo Ruud made the trip but watched from the sideline in sweats. Ruud, who injured a knee on the first play of last week’s game at Texas A&M, sat out for only the second time in his career. He missed the 2005 Alamo Bowl with a broken arm.
Freshman linebacker Blake Lawrence missed the game because of an ankle injury. Center Brett Byford did play despite missing practice this week with a knee injury.
The numbers game
Andy Sand caught two passes Saturday. The senior fullback from Lincoln Southeast entered the game with one career reception. … With two TD catches, Nate Swift now has 12 on his career. ... Marlon Lucky is one catch from tying Johnny Rodgers’ single-season school record of 55 catches in 1972.
Most Commented news