December 6th, 2009
Pelini jump-started Nebraska’s turnaround
ARLINGTON, Texas — Bo Pelini likes to say that he expected Nebraska to be back playing in the Big 12 championship last season — in his first year as the Cornhuskers’ head coach.
The Cornhuskers are back to an accustomed perch at the North Division earlier in the Big 12’s history. Nebraska played in three of the first four Big 12 title games. Since then the Cornhuskers have made only trip back to the title game.
Pelini appears to have the Cornhuskers in the right direction. They are playing defense with a purpose — just like they used to do when Charlie McBride was calling defenses in the final stages of Tom Osborne’s final days of coaching.
Other than the 2006 title game, this is the biggest game the Cornhuskers have played in a long time.
The program is pushing forward with Pelini in charge. The Huskers’ rebuilding program is moving forward faster than expected with back-to-back nine-win seasons.
If they can win tonight, it will be the Cornhuskers’ first BCS berth since the 2002 national championship game at the Rose Bowl. There’s a trip to the Fiesta Bowl and all the recruiting advantages that would be provided.
But to get there, there’s that little task of beating No. 3 Texas tonight.