Nebraska Cornhusker Football vs. Iowa

[KEVIN KUGLER] Hi, everyone, I'm Kevin Kugler and welcome to "Big Red Wrap-Up." If you were to write a storyline for the 1999 Nebraska football Team, you'd have to lead with defense so far. First, the near shutout in Iowa. Then the shutout against Cal. But this past Saturday was the cherry on top for the blackshirts. Not only did Nebraska count on the defense for defense, but the defense was counted on for offense, too. Linebacker Julius Jackson accounted for two of Nebraska's three Touchdowns in the 20-13 win over Southern Mississippi. And although the game was a tense one for Husker fans everywhere, The Big Red defense made the big plays to secure the win. Not exactly the way Frank Solich and the Huskers would like to close out the non-conference season though. Saturday's win brings back some old familiar questions, and most of those questions concern the Nebraska offense. The rushing attack is, by Husker standards, virtually non-existent, And without its rushing attack, Nebraska just doesn't seem like Nebraska. There's plenty to discuss this week, not only about the Huskers' win over Southern Mississippi, but about the Huskers' Big 12 opener At Missouri, and the rest of the Big 12 conference. And we'll do all that in the next hour with help from you, of course, and also with help from out guests. Joining us tonight on "Big Red Wrap-Up," first from the "Lincoln Journal Star" Curt McKeever. Also Tom Shatel from the "Omaha World-Herald." We want to hear from You as well. Give us a call in Lincoln at 472-1212 or toll free globally -- That's right right globally -- at 1-800-676-5446. You can also e-mail us at sports@unl.edu. Be sure when you call or e-mail to tell our operators your name, where you are calling from, and, of course, your question or comment. Let's talk about the Southern Miss game. Curt, a defensive gem for Charlie Mcbride's crew and it looks like defense is going to be what carries this team this year.

[CURT MCKEEVER] I don't think anybody should be too surprised at that. I know when you return your starting quarterback and most of your Offensive line, you should be OK, but let's remember Nebraska struggled a lot last year and in the Big 12 especially you have teams loading up to stop the run and Nebraska that's their bread And butter, maybe. Maybe not for this team. They're going to have more growing pains.

[KUGLER] Is this a defense that ranks among Nebraska's best ever, Tom?

[TOM SHATEL] Until they played Iowa and Cal, if you ask me, I think those two will finish below Baylor. I think that was a better indication but now they will start playing better teams. The first great offense they will face will be in Austin, Texas. I think if you look at them, they were fast, they're deep, they have a lot of experience and the guys who are -- back in the 1980's, all the playmakers were on offense. Now they're all on defense except for Crouch.

[KUGLER] This game on Saturday was a great football team. It was a sloppy football game. Not aesthetically pleasing but the score was close, kept the fans involved. A game fun to watch if a fan. Nebraska fans hate close games. They would rather have a 70-14 win.

[SHATEL] Was that fun for them?

[MCKEEVER] It wasn't fun for Nebraska fans. They can't stand especially when a team comes on their field and Challenges them and plays them deep into the fourth quarter. Walking out of that stadium, I thought they lost. If you closed your eyes, you would have thought they lost the game hearing the comments made. [KUGLER] You would have almost thought it from the press conference today. The players were talking like, oh well we'll learn from this game. Now we'll know what we need to do better.

[SHATEL] Everything here is just so different. The whole standard here is so high and maybe it's too high but that's why I think they have been so good over the years. Yeah, it was almost like they lost. But I think also that there were just some concerns about how the game ended. They almost fumbled. They had a couple of plays where they almost didn't get the plays in on time and there were all the Husker turnovers and just the overall atmosphere of the game -- of this team was they were just trying to get off the field. It was a telling statement by Frank that they didn't want to screw it up, that they just wanted to get out of there. I guess that is what it has come to right now is they don't want to screw it up.

[KUGLER] Is that a surprising attitude for a fifth ranked team? They're 3-0 and all of sudden in the second half they're up by 5 they want to just put the clamps on it.

[MCKEEVER] Yeah, I believe that teams that continue to play not to lose and aren't willing to take some chances, they're going to lose eventually. You know, field position played a big part in Saturday's game. Nebraska with terrible field position. They could never generate offense. They were three and out on 12 possessions or maybe that's too many because they fumbled four and threw an interception. You can't take too many chances so I understand where Frank is coming from but they're going to have to open up. If they continue to play not to lose, they will lose.

[KUGLER] It's a state that always tends to panic a little bit. Is this -- were people pushing the panic button too early?

[SHATEL] Everything is a process. Today at the press conference, Adam Julch was saying everybody we talk to says the offensive line stinks. It's a place where you have fans that have their -- they watch Offensive linemen during the game and this guy is not blocking, his splits are too wide. It's great but that's the way it is. The offensive linemen here are critiqued as I-backs.

[KUGLER] It was a game that even by Nebraska offensive standards, the stats are not going to show it was a very good offensive game. Is it something the offensive line is not doing or the offense? What do they need to do to make the stats look more palatable?

[MCKEEVER] I think a lot of it is mental. I think if you look at their errors, I think they had three or four missed assignments at key times on third down plays which left them fourth and a yard a couple of times. I don't think it's all the offensive line. I think some of the backs were not going the right way. It's easy for us to blame the offensive line because they're paving the road but I noticed a couple of the fullbacks were off on some plays, too. It's easy to get overlooked when you are going backwards I guess And the offensive linemen are what you are looking at. It's a combination of things. I think Southern Mississippi's defense Is very outstanding.

[SHATEL] I agree. It was just one game. Let's get that straight. I don't expect them to be that way again. This week I think they will play better on offense. I think that this team does have some limitations right now as far as running the ball. I think, you know, that -- I think maybe in other years they have had those kind of breakdowns or whatever you want to call them but they've had players who were better than they were and they had special players who if there was not a hole there, you had a guy who could make a hole or find another hole. I'm not sure right now they have a great running back and the offensive line has not shown it. They're 3-0. Iowa State is 3-0 and -- at the spring party they have -- what do They call it? VIESHA? They go nuts. Here 3-0 is like a funeral.

[KUGLER] 3-0 with a close win.

[SHATEL] I think they will be better on offense but how much better can They be? I think they have to find out where their so-called strengths are and play to those and that may mean opening up the offense a little bit.

[KUGLER] Nobody knows more than Frank Solich that the running attack is not what it has been in past years. He spoke to that today in the press conference.

[SOLICH] You look to the fact we were a yard or two short on three or four drives and you look at the turnovers and you're not going to have good offensive production when you have that kind of combination. So we need to go about being a more disciplined team in terms of making sure we are not penalized like we have been. Got to make sure we take much better care of the football and we've got to make sure 11 guys are doing the right thing on all the plays. And then, you know, if you look at the play calling was very conservative. I don't think there was any question of that. As the game went along and we were to the point where we were turning the ball over, two interceptions, a fumble earlier on, fumble on the punt, all those things and especially the way our defense was playing, the one thing I did not want to do was give the game away. I knew our defense was playing great football and that Southern Miss was having a difficult time moving the ball. If we could keep field position and keep from losing the game, we could get a win out of this thing despite the fact we were not playing very good football offensively.

[KUGLER] It's almost as if Nebraska went into a shell in the second half. Coach Solich says just about as much. I can't remember hearing a Nebraska football coach saying we just Want to keep from losing this game.

[SHATEL] That's a dangerous thing to say. It cannot become a habit or it could be... bad.

[KUGLER] That sums it up right there.

[SHATEL] For lack of a better word, bad.

[KUGLER] Exactly. We have Ed from Omaha on the line. How are you?

[ED] I'm doing great.

[KUGLER] Thanks for joining us. What's your question?

[ED] What do we know about Jeff Perino and what can we look forward to in his senior year. His capabilities indicate he would have to be called in to lead us down the road? What can we expect from him?

[SHATEL] I think we have learned more about Jeff perino than we expected To. He is the number two quarterback. I don't know if he can do it. He has not been up there for so long.

[MCKEEVER] He has had more injuries than Deangelo Evans ever did. He was in the coaching booth for a couple of years and now he's back. You know the kid has a passion to play football and I think essentially he is an insurance policy. He is not going to play. If Crouch goes down, he is not going to play.

[SHATEL] But good for him for hanging in there. That's a great story.

[KUGLER] He certainly knows the offense. He is a kid that came out highly touted from Colorado and suffered injury after injury after injury. Finally got healthy and decided I have the passion for the game, I want to keep playing so he has. Kudos to him. He didn't play in the Southern Miss game. Let's take a look at the highlights of Saturday's 20-13 win. Remind you, it was a win for the Huskers by seven over Southern Miss. Take a look at Frank Solich inside the huddle. On the very first play of the game, things looked good for Nebraska. Jeff Kelly back to pass and met by Eric Johnson. Johnson later in the game would sprain the MCL in the left leg. He is out 4 - 6 weeks. Kyle Vanden Bosch with a sack. Julius Jackson picks it up. Nine tackles, two sacks for Vanden Bosch. Josh brown's kick Misses and it stays 6-0 Nebraska early on in the first quarter. Things looking good for the black shirts and for the Husker defense. Julius Jackson up the middle untouched for the touchdown. Five tackles to go along with his offensive plays for the day. Rough day at Wingback and Punt returner for number 12 as he fumbles the punt away. That proves costly to the Huskers on Saturday as Southern Miss Starts the drive from there. Jeff Kelly finds Sherrod Gideon. Was he inbounds? Hard to tell. Mike brown doesn't think so. Sherrod Gideon eight catches and 81 yards. A six-play, 45-yard drive. 11 catches for 163 yards for Todd Pinkston on the day. Wide open Bobby Newcombe. Took his eye off it for a moment. Unfortunately for Bobby not a great day. That kind of sums it up. That and the fumbled punt were about all he had to offer Saturday. Willie Miller caps off the play. Eight plays, 46 yard drive. Two-point conversion play fails. Nebraska leads 12-7 at halftime. Third quarter, Sherrod Gideon in the end zone. Set up by a Nebraska fumble. Southern Miss leading by one. Solich trying to find offense and he finds it through defense again. Julius Jackson catches it and runs it in for the touchdown. Dan Alexander runs in the two-point conversion. Still plenty of drama in a rather sloppily played game by both teams. A fumble there. Huskers with five fumbles on the afternoon. Southern Miss driving. Keyuo Craver, the man on the spot. They keep testing this young guy. He keeps delivering in pretty big situations. He gets the interception there. First interception of the day for Keyuo Craver. Southern Miss again forces the Huskers to point. Southern Miss driving again. You see them on the Nebraska 14 yard line. A bad pass from Kelly as Craver was there to catch it. He preserves the Husker win 20-13. Craver with two interceptions. Julius Jackson two touchdowns. Bobby Newcombe a few words for Frank Solich along the lines of it's got to be better next week, coach, for me anyway. Huskers win 20-13. Nebraska comes up with the win despite the tumultuous week and afternoon with fumbles and interceptions and everything. A game that Nebraska shouldn't win, maybe doesn't win. Huskers with 66 yards of passing offense. 119 yards rushing for 185 total. They held the eagles to 25 yards rushing on 34 carries. 268 yards through the air. On and off day for the quarterback Kelly. Two fumbles by Southern Miss. Huskers with just 8 first downs. What do you see on the stats that stands out to you guys?

[SHATEL] Oh, boy, time of possession. Besides the offensive numbers, the turnovers. And nine penalties. It's kind of a sloppy, choppy game for them. They can't do that every week or it will be... bad.

[KUGLER] Does it surprise you, Curt, in the third game of the season, Nebraska has trouble with, trouble with penalties, trouble with fumbles?

[MCKEEVER] I was surprised to see that at home, too. But offensively this isn't a veteran team and it's kind of like when you look at what Southern Mississippi did, I was astounded by their quarterback. He threw four interceptions but was sacked on the first or second play of the game and came back. He had thrown 12 passes in his career last year. We have to remember that a lot of those guys playing offense right Now are in that same position. They went the other way. They had a bad performance but they'll get better.

[KUGLER] Greg in Lincoln via e-mail wants to know how did it get to the point that Nebraska doesn't have a great I-back? Husker fans are used to Nebraska having a stellar i-back.

[SHATEL] Good question. I think they missed on a couple of guys. Who they were, I don't know off the top of my head. I'm not a guru of recruiting.

[MCKEEVER] Jamal Lewis at tennessee. Davis at Iowa state.

[SHATEL] He was never going to go there. But I think you had Evans who just a couple of years ago was -- Everybody thought he was going to be there for the whole time and he would start. If you are a high school stud that you have to play early and you can't go somewhere and sit and wait. I think that they had injuries and the fact they just didn't sign anybody.

[KUGLER] As far as the I-backs go, I can remember in Deangelo Evans freshman year, fans were chomping at the bit to get him in there instead of Ahman Green. Now they probably wish we had Ahman green. How things have changed. We have a trivia question for you. Here is tonight's first big red trivia question. Be the first correct caller and you will receive one of our Nebraska etv mugs. One winner per household this season. Julius Jackson scored two defensive touchdowns in Saturday's 20-13 Win over Southern Mississippi... In what game did the Huskers last score two defensive touchdowns And who scored the touchdowns? Be the first correct caller and you will see our Nebraska ETV mug. We have another caller joining us. It's Curt in Madison. How is it going tonight?

[CURT] Pretty good.

[KUGLER] what's on your mind tonight?

[CURT] I went down to the game on Saturday and there was one thing I noticed that kept bothering me and it was Wilson Thomas was out -- He would be lined up to the outside on quite a few snaps during the Game and he would have a cornerback on him and from what I have heard he has about a 30-some-inch vertical.

[KUGLER] he can leap high.

[CURT] Anyway what I'm trying to get at, why didn't they throw downfield to him and let him go up and get the ball like they do in the NFL all the time. Granted he doesn't have much experience but I think he have to take a chance on something like that when you have a guy that big. What are your thoughts on that and why haven't we looked at a play like that?

[KUGLER] Is it inexperience?

[MCKEEVER] He mentioned NFL. I'm not sure Wilson has NFL type hands. That's a good observation. Any time you get a guy with a size mismatch, yeah give it a shot once.

[SHATEL] you have to have hands. You can't just jump.

[MCKEEVER] They threw 10 passes and had two of them picked off. Southern Miss wasn't getting fooled too often either.

[KUGLER] Would short passes open up the running game more? That's something Frank talked a little bit about today in the press Conference. Is it going to be air Nebraska, air Solich in the next few weeks?

[SHATEL] I think so. Those tight end passes of I don't know how many years ago, I say bring those back. Throw to the backs a little bit. Of course, Bobby Newcombe. I think he will be a star at the position. They have to open it up. I think all of their playmakers are out there right now.

[KUGLER] We do have a winner in our first trivia question. Right now we have Mike in Omaha. How is it going?

[KUGLER] This is a great positive. Minority opinion to be positive. We won the game. Think about this, the offense stunk, we gave it away about 20 times but our defense stripped so many passes. You have a great defense that caused turnovers and that wins championships.

[KUGLER] Is this a situation like Nebraska has every year with a national championship drive? Was this one of their lucky games?

[MCKEEVER] I don't know if it was luck but they were at the point where They were one disaster away from losing the game. That's a good point. The defense -- I think the defense will carry this team. Saturday they looked like the volleyball team batting those passes around.

[KUGLER] It was a defensive game, that's for sure. If Nebraska -- can Nebraska win a national championship with this Defense and with this offense right now?

[SHATEL] I think ask me in about a month. It's one game. I think the offense is going to get better. I think Frank is going to open things up, I really do. I don't think he is locked into this running game, power option. I think if he got away from that, there might be people who would Probably pass out. I think you have to run the ball. If you are going to win a championship, you have to have a great defense and you have to run the ball at some point.

[KUGLER] It would be the first time a Nebraska school would win without running the ball. They will have to develop that at some point. "Big Red Wrap-up" is available over the internet. Here is your chance to have friends and relatives log onto the worldwide web. Log on at wrapup.unl.edu. You can watch the wrap-up at a later time or check back. Log in at wrapup.unl.edu. Who is going to step up and break out at I-back and who is the next Super star at defense? Maybe Randy Stella is the next superstar of defense.

[SHATEL] Maybe he is the next I-back. I think Craver. I think he will be good enough to change the game. He is the kind of guy that is just going to dominate. I really think that. As far as I-back, if there's a great I-back on the team right now, Please step up.

[KUGLER] and raise your hand, right?

[SHATEL] I'm not going to say that won't happen. But it's time for somebody. Alexander, it's unfair to say he is not a great player but he is different. Maybe Frank has to go to a -- some kind of a one back offense where you do throw. Alexander so me will be a terrific NFL player. He is like Jerome Bettis. But I-Back running the option - he doesn't quite fit there. We will see. It's only September.

[KUGLER] Mike from Columbus on e-mail. We have heard about Josh Davis and Robin Miller. How is his progress? Those are two future participants.

[SHATEL] Robin got hurt early - I don't know about his progress. Josh was talking about -- they're talking about moving him to Wingback. I don't know if that means he won't be a great I-back. He is back at I-back. It's early. They're freshmen. That will play out. If they're all that, I think they will be in the line-up eventually, maybe at the end of this year.

[KUGLER] Why wasn't Turner Gill in the press box? Turner was moved to the sidelines at the beginning of the season. Dave Gillespie moved to the press box. Turner will be on the sidelines all the time. If you see him down there, he is not lost. That's where he will be all the time. Tom, can you do anything about Lee Barfknecht's voting in the A.P.?

[SHATEL] I have been working on that. He has them at seventh right now. That's fine. That's probably where the offense is right now. It will all play out. Nebraska is undefeated. I think Lee will pick them number one at the end of the year. We will put the pressure on him.

[KUGLER] We had Lee last week and every question, why is Nebraska ranked so low? Everybody worries so early in the season where Nebraska is. We have a winner in the first trivia question. Jeff of Lincoln, Nebraska is the winner. He knew the answer to this trivia question. In what game did the Huskers score two defensive touchdowns and who scored them? It was in 1996 against Michigan State. Mike Minter and Grant Wistrom both being paid to play football now. I don't understand why they don't throw a dump pass over the center to the tight end. That's a play Nebraska used over the years like with Sheldon Jackson in the play. Why don't they do it more often?

[SHATEL] You got any thoughts?

[MCKEEVER] It seems like they're moving tight ends downfield more than they used to trying to take advantage of a mismatch in speed that tracey Wistrom might have. Part of the problem is they don't have established receivers other Than matt davison and tracey wistrom. Who on the team has stepped up and made big catches. The Shevin Wiggins loss was huge to the passing game I think.

[SHATEL] I agree.

[KUGLER] I think that's something that has hurt the Huskers. They counted on him in fall camp and he is gone and what do you do there. Let's look at the polls we alluded to moments ago. You see Nebraska at fifth. Florida state with the majority of first place votes at number one. A&M behind the Huskers and Nebraska behind Michigan. Second 10, purdue at 11th. They may be one of the better teams in the big 10 conference this Year. Wisconsin got shocked this week losing to cincinnati. On the basketball court it wouldn't be a surprise but it is Football. Final five, you see Mississippi state. Air force 2-0 after beating rick neuheisel's washington huskies. Florida State number one in the A.P. Nebraska at number six. Somebody loves Virginia Tech and expects them to be the national Champions. Georgia at 11 to start the second 10. B.Y.U. at 17. Wisconsin falls to number 20. And the final five, Air Force and N.C. State round out the top 25 with texas at 22 in the A.P. Nebraska's standing in the poll is something we talked about tonight. What about the rest of the polls? Anybody in there surprise you?

[MCKEEVER] At this point in the season, I try not to pay attention to the Polls, I really don't. Wisconsin losing was a shocker when you consider Cincinnati lost at Troy state the week before. Maybe Bob Huggins will be coaching the football team. Nobody in the top 10 is a major surprise right now.

[KUGLER] Scott in Lincoln says with Deangelo complaining, do you think Solich is changing his offensive philosophy? The Deangelo Evans situation seems to resolved itself in the past Couple of days with Deangelo making strong statements about the program yesterday.

[MCKEEVER] I believe it's good to hear both sides of the story so I'm glad Deangelo felt comfortable enough to talk about it. I think it's very difficult even in the first game of the year to change -- to make wholesale change in your offensive philosophy. They are going to have to make some tweeks to the offense if they will continue to have success. You get to the fall part of camp, you make your evaluations in the spring and you have pretty much made up your mind going into the fall. I have seen other programs make changes in the middle of a season and almost always, you never get good results from doing things like that. It's almost like it's coaching changes after a couple of years. It's like you are throwing away the next couple of years but why do you do it?

[KUGLER] Exactly. We will talk more about the Deangelo Evans situation in a moment. Here is tonight's second trivia question. Be the first correct caller and you will receive the year 2000, 16-month calendar. One winner per household this season. Husker split end Matt Davison caught two passes in Saturday's win extending his streak to 20 straight games with at least one reception. Who holds the Nebraska record for consecutive games with at least one reception and what is that record? Be the first caller and you will win the year 2000 Big Red Calendar. That's not too tough when you think of the receivers Nebraska has had in its history. Narrows it down a little bit. Be the first caller and you will win the big red calendar. Via e-mail: Evans gives Solich an ultimatum to give him more carries and all Solich says is do you want to keep your scholarship. I say good riddance to Deangelo Evans. Your thoughts?

[SHATEL] I agree. I think the game against Texas was a great -- it was a game where you had to stand up and applaud the guy because he was in so much Pain. His true colors came out today. He wanted to be the man. There is something to be said for that but I think he carried It too far. In the game I saw him, he said he was rusty. I saw a guy who didn't quite have the same acceleration, the same moves, the same over all confidence out there. I didn't think he -- I thought he really was off a step or two. I think Frank Solich -- I think if Deangelo was still special, he might have said I will give you more carries but for him to say I want more carries, that's not the way to go about it either. Interesting. I don't know how you feel about it, Curt, but it seems Frank is going out of his way with other guys to make sure everybody is happy. Bobby and Eric want to play. This is how they want to do it. I thought in this case, he kind of drew line.

[MCKEERVER] Deangelo made a demand really. He took a big risk hoping he would hear the right words he wanted To hear and it blew up in his face. Frank didn't have a choice. Frank may have said I'm going to take it up with the team but I think he knew which direction he was headed with that Decision.

[SHATEL] I say fine. You don't have to ask the team. You are the head coach, you don't have to do that.

[KUGLER] One thing Deangelo brought up was Frank Solich didn't make the decision, it was the team's decision. He went and talked to the players and the players are making the decision. Frank was asked whose decision it was to not allow Deangelo back on the Nebraska football squad.

[SOLICH] It was my decision as to whether or not he came back. I did want to get a general feel of our coaches. I did want to get a general feel of our players. There's been numerous cases -- maybe numerous is not the word -- But there have been cases where the unity council has gotten a feel from the team as to where this team is at and so I don't think you can ever not take into consideration certainly your team's feelings so you try to get a pulse on where everything is at and I am not saying -- I'm not saying anything about the matter in terms of a Decision other than when it came down to a final decision as to who was going to make that decision, it was going to be me.

[KUGLER] Really not a whole lot of debate about that after Frank talked about that. It was his decision and he -- is this him asserting himself in the public over this program? There were some questions a couple of weeks ago, maybe Frank doesn't have control of this program because you see players Leaving, you see this indecision. Is this Frank Solich saying the buck stops here, I made the decision, that's it?

[SHATEL] I think so. I think it's a great move. He could not have let him come back on the team especially the way a lot of those guys felt about Deangelo. That would have been chaos but it's one of those things. He has been in the program for over -- I don't know how many years. Since 1978 or 1979. I think if you are a young head coach -- young -- he is however old but this is his second year. It's going to take you a while to get things figured out. I think maybe he is learning on the run and that is great. This was a good move. You can't let a guy go into your office and say I demand this. It just isn't going to work.

[KUGLER] We have a winner in the second trivia question. When you talk about Evans, it comes back to the players. There were comments made by the players in the week about whether or not Deangelo Evans should be allowed back on the team. It seemed to be from what we heard today but the past week and a half, relatively unanimous. There was not a lot of voting for Deangelo to come back on the team from the players' standpoint.

[MCKEEVER] I think Deangelo got off to a bad start by how he handled things over the summer, how he went outside the program. I'm not saying he was wrong. He went outside. Went probably against the wishes of the trainers and team doctors To have an injury taken care of. He stayed at home over the summer to train. It rubed a lot of people the wrong way. When you hear the head of the strength department talking and Boyd Epley hardly ever says anything. I noticed comments he made. It's bad.

[SHATEL] It's bad.

[KUGLER] It comes back to that again.

[SHATEL] There's a perception that Frank let Bobby go home a couple of times when he could have been with the team and he let Deangelo do his thing. I think he needed to step up and say I'm in charge and this is not going to happen anymore and you are not coming back.

[KUGLER] Deangelo said he didn't understand why he didn't get a second chance like Eric Crouch. Eric addressed that situation and said it was a different thing because he never left the team to begin with. Let's hear from Eric Crouch.

[CROUCH] You know, I never quit the football team at all. I never missed any practices and I never missed any meetings or anything. So the difference with that is I was really never given a second chance. I think that's kind of out of the question. I never needed a second chance. With Deangelo, I think he quit and decided then maybe that was not what he wanted to do so he wanted to come back and I think we had a decision with the coaches and teammates about that situation so, you know, we just got to put that behind us right now. I'm not going to listen to anything that's really said about that situation because a lot of those things that are said, some of them are false.

[KUGLER] I think that's something that has only -- is only going to galvanize the rest of the team against Deangelo Evans when he comes out and names names. Well, Eric Crouch got a second chance and Correll Buckhalter got a second chance. Why don't I get a second chance? Those players didn't come out and make statements against the program.

[SHATEL] he knew he was gone so.

[KUGLER] A comment from Richard in Lexington and it's a pretty good comment: Nebraska would have been very hurt if Brook Berringer had the same attitude as Deangelo Evans and some of the other players. A good comment. Mark in York, by e-mail: In the paper it said Evans said Solich is stubborn and classless. Does that have an effect on the rest of the team the rest of the season? Does it bring them together, push them apart?

[SHATEL] I don't think it brings anybody apart. I think they think that was Deangelo saying that and he is gone. I think everybody is going to move on.

[KUGLER] Jim in Lincoln: speaking of I-backs, do the Nebraska coaches believe Diedrick has the ability to play?

[MCKEEVER] He is in line. He is going to have to show -- I think one of these weeks he will have to show he is a Big 12 quality back. They don't have any options right now at that position and you hear rumors of other players, even defensive players, taking a crack at it. Who knows maybe before it is over, you will see Bobby Newcombe back there. I think he will have an opportunity. Who knows, maybe in a week or two. Personally I don't think he is ready right now. I think he is up there because of good fortunate for himself.

[KUGLER] Could be Randy Stella. He has looked good. We had a few calls of people wondering is randy stella going to Move to I-back. It's a little more difficult than going to I-back and waiting for the handoff.

[SHATEL] A spring project maybe.

[KUGLER] Before we put the caps on DeAngelo's career one of the I-back teammates and now the starting I-Back, Dan Alexander, had a comment about Deangelo leaving the football team.

[ALEXANDER] I have learned my approach has been good. You know, I look at kind of what's been happening and kind of look at my own mind and say I'm glad I have tried to put the team first because it's helping out the team. We have a lot of guys out there for the team first but when you see guys go out there and put themselves ahead of the team, it really tears down what we have. You know, I thank God that I have remained faithful and committed to putting the team first and not trying to put a premium on myself or any other, what they call one of our better players. All this goes to show is what people have known throughout history, selfishness isn't going to get the job done. We have to work as a team, as communities, as a culture to get things done. We're going to do what we can.

[KUGLER] As a final word about Deangelo Evans, what's the final epitaph you write for his career at Nebraska?

[MCKEEVER] For his career at Nebraska? Well, to be continued. Not at Nebraska but somewhere else. I wish the kid good luck, too. I'm like Tom, I like him. I think he made a big mistake. I wish him luck.

[SHATEL] I think it was kind of sad. I think he started out great, he got hurt, he played hurt in the game against Texas. Maybe he should not have played that game. That was one of those things he wasn't going to say no. They had him out there and he had three or four carries against Texas. Maybe that screwed him up. I don't know. I'm not a doctor, I just play one in the paper.

[KUGLER] And on TV tonight.

[SHATEL] He got swallowed up by the whole thing. All the fans and us and everybody got on him and where he is, why isn't he playing. That was part of his frustration. Did he have an ego? Sure. I think it's sad the way it ended and he went down in flames today. It's too bad.

[KUGLER] Deangelo Evans will be back on the football field at some point at a Division I-AA or Division II. He will probably show up at a lower division school sometime in the future. We wish him good luck. Let's take a look -- we have a winner in our second trivia question of the night. Steve of Lincoln knew the answer to this question. Who owns the N.U. record for consecutive games with at least one reception and what is the record? The holder of the record is Johnny Rodgers. The number was the trickier part. It's 34 games. Davison has a chance to break the record if he catches it in 14 More games. Right now it's Johnny Rodgers. Is Solich going to go coach in the NFL? He think he will stick at Nebraska for a while.

[MCKEEVER] Is that a hint?

[KUGLER] Do you want him to go? Call, Frank, he may be interested in listening to you. Is there a psychological problem with the offense because the Defense doesn't seem to have a problem. Tom, you played a doctor on tv an now you can play a psychologist on TV.

[SHATEL] Psychological, I don't know. Like Curt said before, they are young in a lot of places. They don't have -- I don't think -- they all say it, their Offensive line isn't as good as it has been. They don't have an I-back. I think the offense will be fine. And it has it has been settled who is the quarterback, who is the I-back. I think give them a couple of games, I think they will get better, I really do.

[MCKEEVER] I think there's more pressure on them the longer it goes that they struggle to run the ball if that's what they're going to pound away at.

[SHATEL] Frank needs to decide. He needs to say this is what we're good at and this is what we're going to do. I think they have to have an identity when they go into Texas. Then you have Kansas. Then A&M, K-State, Colorado. That's the season there.

[KUGLER] Let's take a look at what's going on in the rest of the Big 12. You see Oklahoma -- air Oklahoma 41-10. 400 plus yards passing for the Sooners. Colorado with a win over Kansas. Looks like the Buffs had a toast in the first game. They seem to be on track. Iowa state over UNLV. They're 3-0 this year so far. Missouri with the win over Western Michigan 48-34. Mississippi State is not a bad football team. 29-11 over oklahoma state, a team regarded as one of the better Defenses. Texas close with rice. Rice had not scored a touchdown until that game. A&m no down, all up. 62-13 over tulsa. Maybe the biggest surprise, North Texas beating Texas Tech. Nebraska 20 over Southern Miss 13.

[KUGLER] Three in a row in Lubbick. Spike Dykes may be in the hot seat after losing to North Texas. Let's take a look at our third trivia question of the night. Be the first caller with the correct answer to our question and you will receive a vhs copy of "coach osborne: more than winning" Produced here at Nebraska public television. The Huskers open big 12 play this weekend against the Missouri Tigers. The tigers have lost 35 straight games against teams ranked in the top 10 of At least one major poll. What year did mizzou last beat a top 10 team and what team did the Tigers beat? It wasn't Nebraska. Be the first correct caller and you will receive a vhs copy of "coach osborne: more than winning." Let's talk about the tigers coming up this week. They don't have Corby Jones at quarterback. They don't have Devin West west at running back. What do we know about the tigers?

[MCKEEVER] You just said it. They haven't played anybody either. 48-34 against Western Michigan. Granted Western Michigan has probably a first round NFL draft pick Quarterback but even against Alabama-Birmingham, Missouri's defense gave up a lot of yards. That's supposed to be the heart of their team this year. Larry Smith is on spin control right now I think. He talks a good game and says they're where they should be and Their quarterbacks are playing great and yes, devaughn black is surprising at tailback. I think if he was honest with himself, he doesn't know. We're a month into the season.

[SHATEL] They're going to find out fast on Saturday how good they are. I think it's a dangerous game obviously because it's a night game. I think the crowd will be all juiced up. it will be very loud. I think they will play over their heads if that's possible. Sorry I just don't -- I think that the black shirts are really, really good and I don't care who they're -- if their two Quarterbacks were Pete Woods and Phil Bradley, maybe they have a chance.

[MCKEEVER] supposed to be a full moon Saturday?

[SHATEL] Only at Harpo's.

[KUGLER] It was a full moon down there two years ago when Nebraska won in dramatic fashion in overtime. That game gets brought up every year when Nebraska plays Missouri. First trip back to Columbia. We have it for you one more time. It's still an amazing play to watch. Matt Davison hates this play. You see Davison there with the catch that made him famous. Got him a trip to the ESPY's.

[MCKEEVER] I like the play by play call. It's like eeeeh. Then you see him run up with the ball.

[SHATEL] Everybody knows where they were when it happened. Moment in time.

[MCKEEVER] I guarantee he will be down there kissing the spot on the field in pre-game Saturday.

[KUGLER] You know Shevin Wiggins said I knew it was coming. I kicked it up in the air. Then Missouri fans said it should have been a penalty. Davison talked about it today in the press conference. It was almost like he didn't want to relive that.

[DAVISON] I really haven't been able to get away from it. I don't know if it's something I will ever live down. I have tried to make other plays and, you know, be a big part of the offense and be a guy that is consistent in catching the ball and a guy to look to in clutch situations but it doesn't seem like anything I do will let me get away from being known as a one-catch guy and, you know, it's not something I want to forget about. It was a great point in my career. But I have two years left so hopefully I can do some other things.

[KUGLER] It seemed like he back tracked there. In the beginning he tried to distance himself. But then it was a great play. I think it's something you have to stick with if you are Matt Davison.

[SHATEL] I think most people would have killed to have that moment in their career. I think right now he wants to catch more. He wants to catch a touchdown pass. He wants to be known for other things right now. I think in 10 years or so, he will think that was the greatest thing that happened to him.

[KUGLER] Tom Shatel our resident Missouri expert. Will Nebraska beat Missouri? You are a Missouri guy. Will Nebraska beat Missouri?

[SHATEL] No, I think Nebraska will win.

[KUGLER] Curt, this is a Missouri team that comes in with a lot of unknowns. One thing that is known that their defense ranks near the bottom of the big 12. Is this a chance for our offense to get well this weekend?

[MCKEEVER] I think that is their goal right away is to hammer away at them. Missouri has probably the best defensive end in the league in Justin Smith. We all saw what the Thomas kid from Southern Mississippi did against Nebraska last week and if Missouri has linebackers who are as quick and physical as Southern Mississippi, it's not going to be that much easier.

[SHATEL] Nebraska needs a statement early. If they win the toss, I would take the ball and grab a score. They need to score early. Or else it could be a long night.

[MCKEEVER] Offensively, right?

[SHATEL] yeah.

[KUGLER] Julius Jackson is taking notes right now. Nebraska though has had problems getting out of the gate in games this season. Frank talked about that at the press conference today. Somebody asked him what do you need to do to get out of the gate. What does Nebraska need to do to get out of the gate early?

[MCKEEVER] I don't know if there's a concrete answer to that other than become more physical and play that first series like it is the only one in the game. I don't know, maybe they're pacing themselves but it has not been just this year that Nebraska has had problems taking the first drive down and getting anything out of it.

[SHATEL] Throw on first down, too. Get that thing loosened up a little bit and then throw Alexander in There. It's a gamble but they need to do to kind of shake things up a Little bit. I think they need a spark.

[MCKEEVER] You were talking about one back situation. It wouldn't surprise me to see them start with something like that So you see Missouri thinking a little bit. You brought up their defensive numbers have not been that good. They probably think they know Nebraska pretty well. if you come in a different set, all of a sudden you're going, wow, Whoa.

[SHATEL] I think between Alexander and Miller, they have two really good Guys who could be one backs. How good is Willie at blocking? He is still getting there. I think they should go to some of that. Get Bobby involved in the offense early and often.

[MCKEEVER] We have hardly talked about him.

[SHATEL] He will be fine. He will be a star. Get him the ball. He needs the ball.

[KUGLER] He could have a huge game this week. Their secondary is relatively untested. This could be a great breakout game for Bobby Newcombe at wingback Position.

[MCKEEVER] He only played 13 snaps and granted they had 50 or 51. I envision him in there 60% of the time. He is the best big play bet.

[KUGLER] For Missouri, you have to expect the Tigers again will put six, Seven, eight, nine men in the block to try to stop Nebraska.

[SHATEL] I don't like that excuse. That's happened how many years? They have to make plays. They got to make blocks. And they got to catch the ball and not have penalties.

[KUGLER] Well, that's about all the time we have tonight for "Big Red Wrap-up." Hopefully folks are not panicked about Nebraska anymore. Next week Mike Babcock and Warren Swain will join us. Now for McKeever, Tom Shatel, and our ETV production crew, I'm Kevin Kugler, good night. See you next week on "Big Red Wrap-up."