BOULDER, Colo. — Well, at least the athletic director emerged from the locker room this time.

Four years ago here, at Folsom Field, on the eve of Frank Solich’s firing, athletic director Steve Pederson was nowhere near the Nebraska players or coaches after a stirring 31-22 victory.

Friday, about 15 minutes after Colorado’s 65-51 thumping of the Huskers, interim athletic director Tom Osborne exited Nebraska’s locker room. He declined interview requests, saying he had “a thing” to get to.

Osborne then posed for a quick picture with a couple of fans, and walked away.

Whatever happens today, expect it to be early. I’ve been told to begin looking for e-mails as soon as 6:30 a.m.

I didn’t know I could get e-mail at that hour.

So my day’s set. E-mail, press conference, Nebraska-Creighton men’s basketball. Delight.

What about players and coaches?

Joe Ganz said he’ll be in Chicago eating turkey with his family. Corey McKeon said he’ll likely be sleeping.

Offensive line coach Dennis Wagner said that, unless told differently, he won’t come into the office today.

“We honestly don’t know,” Wagner said. “We haven’t been told a thing.”

Said wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore of uncertainty surrounding the coaches: “The whole year’s been uncertain, so it’s no different. I’ll go home, be with my family. That’s all I can control.”

Players said Osborne didn’t speak with them, but that Bill Callahan told the players he loved them, and that he’ll always be there for them.

Junior defensive end Zach Potter said he didn’t want to comment on the coaching situation.

“I’ll leave that to that meeting they’ve got tomorrow,” he said.

Senior linebacker Bo Ruud said he didn’t want to even think about it.

“I just want to get away from it right now,” Ruud said. “It just feels kind of terrible.”

Junior wide receiver Nate Swift was more outspoken. A fan of Callahan’s offense, Swift would prefer things remain status quo.

“I love our coaches,” Swift said. “I think it’d be great if they stayed. I want them to stay. I think our offense is great.

“They all love us, and we all love them.”

McKeon speaks: For only the second time since the Ball State game, McKeon granted interview requests.

Why has the senior linebacker remained quiet this season?

“I understood that our focus wasn’t on the field like it should be,” McKeon said. “Regardless of what happens, you guys are kind of a big distraction, especially in Lincoln, where the media coverage is very heavy.”

McKeon said the season took a turn for the worse after the 49-31 loss to USC. The Huskers were eying a BCS bowl game and had so much invested.

“To get beat the way we got beat,” he said, “it took a lot of wind out of our sails.”

Whiteout: Somehow, the postgame question of why Nebraska wore all-white uniforms seemed unimportant in light of events.

Either that, or I forgot to ask. Take your pick.

In any event, it probably doesn’t need to be noted by longtime Husker fans that the all-white look has a horrible track record. Last time, we think, was the 2002 Independence Bowl.

Other forgettable all-white games: 1992 Iowa State, 1991 Citrus Bowl … most games in the 2002 season, when red pants disappeared for a year.

Going deep

* About time Dan Titchener’s family had a home game. Mark and Jaci, who travel from Cheyenne, Wyo., for every game in Lincoln, had a mere 80-minute drive Friday.

* For the attention of ABC cameramen, there were no fewer than five “Adios Bill Callahan” signs. By both teams’ fans.

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.