NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
Fans voice opinions on QB situation
By Michael Schaefer The Daily Nebraskan
LINCOLN, Neb. — The sounds from Memorial Stadium have fallen on deaf ears.
Quarterback Zac Lee didn't hear the resounding booos after his fourth down incompletion that all but assured Nebraska's 31-10 loss to Texas Tech Saturday. His backup Cody Green said he didn't see or hear the ovation that followed his third quarter entrance.
But the crowd made it obvious who they would like to see under center.
Green marveled at how quick the crowd had turned on his teammate.
"I didn't really think it would be this fast," Green said. "There was one play Zac didn't make, and it was like the whole state was against him."
His shock isn't unfounded. Nebraska fans have a history of turning on starting quarterbacks. Joe Dailey was once the apple of the eye for this state when fans grew tired of starter Jammal Lord's penchant for bounce passes. Frankie London had quite a fan-following in 1997 before Scott Frost established himself as a reliable leader.
In both cases, the original starter prevailed over his backup, and the team was better off. Yet each year, fans of teams across the country call for a change at the offense's most important position.
College football is a world of immediate reaction. Fans want success, and a quarterback's body of work is rarely studied and easily forgotten. Lee will always remember how short memories can be. He was reminded of this during Tuesday's media session.
Lee had to listen to head coach Bo Pelini address questions about the quarterback controversy. He heard Pelini tell the media that the job is still his. He listened as a reporter asked how close Green is to taking his job. Pelini downplayed the situation and said that both Lee and Green would take their usual reps at practice.
All eyes will be on Lee this Saturday, counting his incompletions and missed opportunities. There will be cheers and jeers, but that comes with the territory.
"You're in a fish bowl," Lee said. "You've got to put everything on the back burner. You can't look at anything, even the positives. You've got to keep yourself focused on what's going on around here. I tried to keep myself focused on what I can control and go from there."
Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee, left, is tackled by Texas Tech's Bront Bird in the second half of their game last Saturday in Lincoln, Neb. Texas Tech beat Nebraska 31-10.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Offense looking for identity
By Spencer Schubert The Daily Nebraskan
LINCOLN, Neb. — Bo Pelini is experiencing a troubling case of deja vu.
This time last season, the Nebraska coach was trying to shape a defense that didn't realize its own potential until later in the year. This year, the defense doesn't need much molding, but according to Pelini, the offense does.
"I see ourselves on offense going through many of the same things we went through a year ago on the defensive side of the ball," Pelini said. "We have some inexperienced guys. We have some guys we're trying to find the right combinations for — the inconsistency part of the process of developing guys."
According to Pelini and other coaches, the youth of the offense is showing through. Nebraska entered this season with inexperienced players at several vital positions. In 2008, receivers Niles Paul, Curenski Gilleylen and Menelik Holt had a combined 55
Along with the new receivers, offensive line coach Barney Cotton has had to replace the entire right side of his line because Matt Slauson and Lydon Murtha graduated. Not to mention a new and inexperienced quarterback, Zac Lee.
With the plethora of new faces on offense, Pelini said the unit needs to find its identity. Lee, who has led the offense through the first six games, agrees.
catches. After just six games, the three have already combined for 43 this season.
"I think there have been times where we have really shined offensively, and there have been times where we haven't," Lee said. "It's been pretty up and down. That is just having inexperience at places and not executing at times. That is something we'll continue to grow with and continue to improve."
The offensive identity struggle has become much more evident the last two weeks than during the start of the season. Nebraska has rushed for a mere 175 yards and passed for 373 yards against Missouri and
Texas Tech. The Huskers had nearly identical numbers in one game against Louisiana- Lafayette just weeks before.
Offensive tackle Mike Smith said it was frustrating to hear about Pelini's comparison.
"It's hard to hear that because we are going out there trying as hard as we can and doing everything we possibly can, but I think it's going to come together eventually," Smith said. "You can't practice and play as hard as we are and not have anything come of it."
Defensive tackle Jared Crick said he understands why Pelini compared the two units. Crick was a backup for former Husker Ty Steinkuhler last season when the defense went through its own problems. He said one of the biggest factors that plagued the defense was confidence.
"We just didn't know how good we could be," Crick said. "We thought we were OK compared to 2007, but it wasn't until after the Texas Tech game last season that we found out we could beat good teams like that. It gave us a new mindset, and it made all the difference."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE WAVE OCTOBER 23,2009