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UM can't bank on rerun of Nebraska's collapse

Colorado ran at will on normally stout Huskers D, but 'Canes aren't reading much into that.

By BOB HARIG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 2, 2002

LOS ANGELES -- The numbers are numbing, shocking statistics by Nebraska standards. The Cornhuskers do this to others but don't have it done to them. But the record book forever will note their day of futility, the worst loss in school history.

In losing to Colorado in their last game Nov. 23, the Cornhuskers yielded 380 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 7.3 yards per carry.

It's enough to make Miami running back Clinton Portis blush Nebraska red.

"It could get you excited, but you've got to say, "Man, that's not going to happen twice.' That only happens once in a lifetime," said Portis, UM's leading rusher with 1,200 yards this season. "A team isn't going to get two running backs six touchdowns. If they do, (Nebraska's) defensive coordinator is going to be on his way out."

Portis would love to see the holes presented to Colorado running back Chris Brown (198 yards on 24 carries, 6 touchdowns) or the green grass run across by CU running back Bobby Purify (154 yards on 20 carries) when the No. 1-ranked Hurricanes play the fourth-ranked Cornhuskers on Thursday night at the Rose Bowl.

Should the Hurricanes, who boast one of the country's best offensive lines, have half the ground production, they are likely to cruise to their fifth national championship.

It was a humbling day for the "Blackshirts," a tradition that began decades ago. First-team defensive players at Nebraska are given black shirts, which were all but stained with humiliation after the last defeat.

Nebraska entered the game against Colorado ranked second in the country in scoring defense, having allowed 127 points, an average of 11.5.

But the Buffaloes scored two touchdowns less than four minutes into the game and had a 35-3 lead early in the second quarter.

"It was depressing, we knew we got whipped," cornerback Keyuo Craver said. "I was out there and I didn't know what was going on. They were killing us, they just shoved it down our throats. We learned from that."

"Colorado was just clicking on all cylinders," Nebraska linebacker Jamie Burrow said. "We didn't execute. Probably nine of our 11 starters had their worst game of the season. We had to adjust on the fly, and we didn't. We were pathetic.

"We gave up the most points in Nebraska history, and that's not something I want to be remembered for. So I have a chance to make things a little sweeter in this last game."

Aberration or trend? Nebraska enters the Rose Bowl sixth in the nation in scoring defense (15.75 points per game) and eighth in total defense (287.17 yards).

But Nebraska allowed 93 points in its last two games and gave up an average of 32.8 since defeating Baylor on Oct. 13.

"We have a goal as a defense of 10 or fewer breakdowns per game," defensive end Chris Kelsay said. "At times, we had two or three breakdowns on one play at Colorado.

"We've got to prove we're a better team than that. We gave up the most points ever put up on a Nebraska defense. To be a part of that is really disappointing and embarrassing."

"I don't think we tackled well, we were out of position," Nebraska defensive coordinator Craig Bohl said. "That's what caused the game to get out of hand. I thought Colorado played well."

Getting so far behind made it nearly impossible for the Cornhuskers to catch up, even with Heisman Trophy quarterback Eric Crouch, who had perhaps his best game with 360 total yards.

"I don't think anybody attacked them like Colorado did," UM offensive line coach Art Kehoe said. "Colorado just made the commitment that they were going to smash their face right in. They did a heck of a job of it by just running at them and playing power football. Their running attack just came after them.

"Whether it was the fact that Nebraska takes other teams out of their commitment ... I don't know. But Colorado came in and said, "This is what we're going to do,' and did it really well."

Could UM employ the same plan? Perhaps, but not likely. Despite rushing for 204.6 yards per game, it is not UM's style to pound the ball play after play, especially if there is resistance. The Hurricanes have too many weapons in the passing game with quarterback Ken Dorsey. And with starting fullback Najeh Davenport out with a broken foot, a key weapon in the backfield will be missing.

And, as Portis pointed out, the Hurricanes don't typically run their offense out of the same formations used by Colorado.

"Their dominant set was the one-back, and we run two backs," Portis said. "At the same time, we're going to do whatever it takes to win. If that means adjusting to a one-back set or throwing the ball and going four wide, we're going to do that."

The Hurricanes figure the Cornhuskers can't be that bad again. They insist they have looked at all the games to try to find weaknesses and noticed far more success against other opponents. And they know Nebraska will be determined to put forth a better effort.

"They'll play a lot better defense against us," UM coach Larry Coker said. "I think we realize that won't be the Nebraska we see."

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