LINCOLN, Neb. — At a boosters’ breakfast yesterday morning, Nebraska running backs coach Tim Beck took the microphone and gave words to the unspoken thoughts that every Cornhuskers fan has been thinking since last December.
“I probably shouldn’t say this,” Beck told the crowd according to a source, “but we’ve been waiting for this game for 10 months.”
Now it seems the Huskers will have to wait an eternity.
Nebraska’s move to the Big Ten next season means there are no more scheduled games against Texas. Instead of remembering last season’s gut-retching last-second loss to the Longhorns in the Big 12 title game, the Cornhuskers have the garish memory of the final seconds bleeding off the clock in the most hyped game here since 2001.
Texas won, 20-13, beating a No. 5 Nebraska team that dropped passes, fumbled balls and committed silly penalties. The game wasn’t even that close.
“It isn’t fun losing, especially to Texas,” said Nebraska lineman Keith Williams. “I’m a senior and I wanted to win that game. It sucks.”
The Cornhuskers (5-1, 1-1 Big 12) are in the familiar position of losing a bigtime hyped game to a league opponent. Oklahoma used to come in here when Nebraska was riding high and destroy Cornhusker seasons. Now it’s Texas.
The Longhorns (4-2, 2-1) snapped a two-game losing streak and all but tore off the red rubber bands the wrists of Nebraska players.
The Cornhuskers wore bracelets that read “Finish,” on one side and “0.01,” on the other. It handcuffed them to last season’s controversial 13-12 loss to Texas in the Big 12 title game in which the Longhorns were awarded one last precious second to kick the winning field goal.
“The wrist bands weren’t just for Texas,” said Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara. “They were to remind us to finish in every aspect.”
Sure they were.
And Nebraska isn’t leaving the Big 12 over money. The university’s board of regents approved a $9.25 million Big 12 buyout on Friday.
Wonder if Nebraska coach Bo Pelini slipped Mack Brown the check when they shook hands after the game? Pelini said that all of his team’s goals are still within reach but that’s spin. Nebraska has virtually no chance of getting to the BCS title game. The Cornhuskers will be pressed to get to the Big 12 title game.
And redshirt freshman sensation Taylor “T-Magic” Martinez, who entered the game as a Heisman Trophy candidate, was benched.
Martinez, who came in averaging a staggering 10.8 yards per carry, was burnt toast. He gained just 21 yards on 13 carries (1.6 yards per carry) and completed just 4-of-12 passes for 63 yards.
He got no help from his receivers who dropped two sure touchdown passes. Martinez declined interview requests after the game, completing a day in which he failed to deliver.
“I saw signs of this all year,” said Pelini. “We’re not a finished product. People around here want to make us out to be the 85 Bears. We’re not there yet.”
The Huskers are in no-man’s land with one-loss teams such as Alabama. The first BCS standings will be released today and the Cornhuskers will find themselves below teams such as Boise State and TCU.
Nebraska boosters will be thrilled with that.