Husker Football Tickets

A new name for the Husker offense?

There's the run-and-shoot. The spread. The wishbone. The power game. And who can forget the West Coast?

Offensive styles have had their own names developed over the years. But new Nebraska offensive coordinator is keeping it simple when asked if his new offensive style has a name.

"How about 'The Nebraska offense?'" he asked reporters late last week.

Watson had fun with reporters after Friday's practice session, mocking disgust at the media's insistence that a name be attached to the new Nebraska offense after the short-lived days of the West Coast offense under the previous coaching staff.

"Everybody, stop trying to name it," he begged reporters. "Everybody wants to put a name on it around here. It's the Nebraska offense. How's that? Sounds good to me."

The offense is showing some pop in early practices, according to the second-year offensive coordinator.

"It's all about effort . . . It's been really competitive practices," he told the Lincoln Journal-Star.

Watson said the coaches will tweak the game plan based on the personnel they have in at the time. He said they will be "getting those guys touches in creative ways" this season after getting the base of the offense put in place.

Husker fans will get a chance to see the offense -- and defense -- in action during the annual Red-White Spring Game, set for Saturday, April 19 at Memorial Stadium. Get your tickets for the annual intra-squad scrimmage, as well as tickets to all Nebraska home games, now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker home game is ever sold out.

Spring football is here -- time to let 2007 go

Last year's 5-7 season for the Husker football team was a year we'd all just as soon forget.

Why, then, does the media continue to bring it up?

With the start of spring football practice at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, one would think the focus would be on the new coaching staff and the fact that just about every position -- except for quarterback -- is for the taking heading into the 2008 season.

For some reason, though, some of the local media wants to continue beating the dead horse that is 2007. And, unfortunately, some of the players on the team are only too willing to provide the tools.

Offensive lineman Matt Slauson and running back Cody Glenn were recently quoted by both of the state's largest daily newspapers in airing their dirty laundry surrounding the former coaching staff. Slauson felt he was getting "jacked around a little bit" by the coaching staff, while Glenn couldn't trust his position coach after the coach told him one thing during practice, then did something completely different during games.

Recently, the Lincoln Journal-Star tried to bait safety Major Culbert into getting his digs in on the prevous regime. Culbert nibbled a bit, but didn't go for the full bite when asked about him being switched back to safety after spending time in just about every position on the team outside of punter and waterboy.

"I feel like last year I didn't really know what I was doing because I kept bouncing back," he was quoted.

On the one hand, we understand the need to compare how the current coaching staff is approaching this year compared with how things were done in the past. And rather than dwell on the negative of the last four years, can't we minimize -- or even eliminate -- the urge to bash those who are no longer here to defend themselves?

Unfortunately, the past is going to continue to be brought up by anyone who writes more than 10 words about the Nebraska football team. The local media will bang on the dismal 2007 season time after time, and it's only a matter of time before ESPN and the other major media descend upon Lincoln and bring up the ugliness that was the 2007 season.

Enough, already . . . let's move on and look ahead. While it's true that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it, it's also easy to be stuck in the rut that is known as the past and let it have a negative effect on your pursuit of better times in the future.

The 2007 season is over, folks -- nothing more to see here, time to move ahead to the kickoff of the 2008 season.

First spring practice goes well for Huskers

The first day of spring practice for the Husker football team went very well, according to new coach Bo Pelini.

In talking with reporters after Wednesday's practice, Pelini said things went as he expected.

"There were a lot of mistakes, but the effort was great," he said.

Players were flying around the practice field at the Hawks Championship Center. Most notable was the play of the defense, which looked to be playing at an intense level from start to finish.

With the players understanding that everybody is starting with a clean slate, you can expect a lot of players stepping up their game in an effort to impress the new coaching staff. There is a positive energy about the team early on as the Huskers look to rebound from last year's 5-7 campaign.

The Husker football team will practice again on Friday and Saturday of this week. They will have four practices a week starting next week, leading up to the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 19 at Memorial Stadium.

Spring football season gets underway

Spring is the time of year when young man's thoughts turn to . . . football.

In Nebraska, the anticipation is high as the Husker football team begins preparations for the 2008 season. They held their first spring practice Wednesday and will have 14 practices scheduled over the next 3 1/2 weeks before ending the spring season with the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 19.

The Huskers will hold practices Friday and Saturday this week, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the next two weeks and Monday, Wednesday and Thursday the week of the Red-White Spring Game. All practices will be closed to the public and the media, allowing the team to get things put in place with few distractions leading up to the inter-squad scrimmage that climaxes the spring practice schedule.

The biggest concern right now, for Husker fans, is seeing this team rebound from what has been a dreadful four-year run under former coach Bill Callahan. The Huskers had two losing seasons during Callahan's four-year tenure, the first losing records for a Nebraska team since the days before Bob Devaney became coach in 1962. There was a lot of negativity circling the program in the final days of the Callahan era, and new coach Bo Pelini is working to turn the team's mental psyche around and get them back to playing winning football.

Nebraska has some big holes to fill, particularly on defense. All three starting linebackers and half of the defensive secondary graduated, so there will be some spirited competition to fill those gaps on defense.

Offensively, many of the key players are back, including quarterback Joe Ganz and running back Marlon Lucky. The big question will be at wide receiver, with two starters graduating and a number of talented young players looking to step in.

Over 45,000 tickets have already been sold for the Red-White Spring Game. A sellout crowd of over 80,000 is anticipated for this year's public scrimmage at Memorial Stadium, and it will be interesting to see what kind of progress this team will have made by then as they prepare to open the season Saturday, Aug. 30 at home against Western Michigan.

Get your Husker football tickets now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker home game is ever sold out.

Three Huskers on College Football HOF ballot

Three former Husker football greats are among 83 people on the ballot for this year's induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Trev Alberts, Will Shields and Grant Wistrom are on the ballot that goes out to 12,000 National Football Foundation mebmers for current consideration. The 2008 class will be announced on Thursday, May 1, with induction ceremonies taking place at the National Football Foundation's annual awards dinner on Dec. 9 in New York City.

All three Husker honorees were All-Americans and award winners during their days at Nebraska and could join a group of 13 former players and six former coaches from Nebraska in the Hall of Fame later this year.

Those in the running from Nebraska are:

** Grant Wistrom -- Wistrom was a part of three national championship teams with the Huskers and was a two-time unanimous first-team All-American in 1996 and 1997. He won the Lombardi Award in 1997 and was a two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honoree. He earned Academic All-American honors, was a recipient of the NCAA Top Eight Award and won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the St. Louis Rams. He recently finished his career with the Seattle Seahawks.

** Will Shields -- Shields was an Outland Trophy winner and first-team All-American in 1992. He also was an Acadmeic All-American and an NFF National Scholar-Athlete who went on to a standout career as an offensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs.

** Trev Alberts -- Alberts won the Butkus Award and was a first-team All-American in 1993, helping the Huskers win the Big Eight title and earn a trip to the Orange Bowl, where they lost a heartbreaker to Florida State for the national title. A success in the classroom as well, Alberts was an NFF National Scholar-Athlete and an Academic All-American.

Things should get better for Huskers in 2008

If the Nebraska football team needed a classic rock song to describe its outlook for 2008, we might suggest the Howard Jones tune, "Things Can Only Get Better."

It certainly can't get much worse.

Consider that during Nebraska's worst season since 1961, the following happened:

-- the Huskers lost five consecutive games, the first losing streak of longer than three games since 1961 and the longest since a seven-game slide in 1957.

-- the Huskers gave up the most points in a single game, allowing Kansas to rack up 76 (which was also a record in the 115-game history between the two schools).

-- Three teams (Kansas, Oklahoma State and Colorado) set series records for points scored in a single game against the Huskers.

-- Nebraska set team records for points allowed, total yards allowed and first downs allowed.

-- The Husker defense, traditionally among the best in the nation, was among the nation's worst in rushing yards allowed, total yards allowed and points allowed per game.

As a result of last year's 5-7 debacle, Bo Pelini was brought in as the new head coach by new athletic director -- and Husker coaching legend -- Tom Osborne. And for Pelini, the job is simple: turn this once-proud program back into a winner.

As bad as last year's team was, there are still some bright spots in the form of returning talent that can help the Huskers on the road back to success.

Offensively, there is some good talent back, led by I-back Marlon Lucky, who is the top returning rusher in the Big 12 Conference after going over 1,000 yards last year. Quarterback JOe Ganz also returns after putting up some amazing late-season numbers, and wide receiver Nate Swift is among a talented group of returning receivers.

The Huskers ran a pass-oriented offense last year, but it is expected that the team will return to a more balanced attack, with offensive coordinator Shawn Watson running the show. It won't be a run-run-run style that was part of the Huskers' glory days in the 80's and 90's, but expect to see Nebraska run first and pass second more than it has in previous years.

Defensively is where the big questions are. Nebraska's defense was torched often during 2007, giving up an astonishing 476 yards a game. Pelini's defensive genius will be key in getting things turned around, and he has hired his brother, Carl Pelini, to serve as defensive coordinator. While Bo Pelini will be directing the entire program, expect to see his influence as a defensive coordinator at LSU, Oklahoma and Nebraska as this once-proud Blackshirts unit tries to get its groove back.

The Huskers kick off the season Saturday, Aug. 30 at home against Western Michigan. Get your Husker football tickets now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker home game is ever sold out.

Big crowd expected for Red-White Spring Game

If you can't wait until fall to get your college football fix, there is a great opportunity to catch some college football action at Memorial Stadium.

The Red-White Spring Game is set for Saturday, April 19, and will feature the entire Nebraska football program as they conclude spring drills with their annual intra-squad scrimmage.

With new coach Bo Pelini showing off his first team as a head coach, this is already a hot ticket with a strong possibility of the first-ever sold out crowd for a Red-White Spring Game. In 2005, over 65,000 fans attended the scrimmage and it has become a popular event for Husker fans in the past few years.

Ticket Express can help you get your tickets for the Red-White Spring game, so click here for more information or give Ticket Express at call at 800-817-2820.

Season tickets for eight Husker home games in 2008

Husker football fans have long been known for the enthusiasm and non-stop support of the University of Nebraska football team.

The Huskers will have eight home games on the 2008 schedule, including a key non-conference matchup against one of last year's national title contenders.

The season kicks off on Aug. 30 when the Huskers host a young and hungry Western Michigan team. That follows with home games on Sept. 6 against San Jose State and Sept. 13 against New Mexico State.

The key non-conference battle comes two weeks later, as Virginia Tech comes to town. The Hokies were in the hunt for a national title for most of last season, eventually earning a BCS bowl bid and losing to Kansas in the Orange Bowl. The Hokies look to be a contender once again in 2008, so this will be a huge game for Husker fans wanting to cheer the team on to victory in a big-time matchup.

Conference tournament play begins the following week, and the Huskers will host defending North Division champion Missouri on Oct. 4. After two straight road games, the Huskers come back home Oct. 25 for a homecoming matchup against Baylor.

The Huskers play at Oklahoma on Nov. 1, then will try to pay back Kansas for last year's 76-39 drubbing in a Nov. 8 battle at Memorial Stadium. After playing at Kansas State, the Huskers close out the season at home against Colorado on Nov. 28.

You can get tickets to all the Husker football home games -- and the Big 12 Conference championship game -- at your number one source for tickets, Ticket Express -- where no Husker home game is ever sold out.

Not the "old times" Husker fans wanting to revisit

When Nebraska hired Bo Pelini as its new head coach, Husker football fans were hoping that this was the thing to help get Nebraska back to the "good old days" when Husker football was the king of the college football hill.

This is not the "good old days" Husker fans were hoping to revisit though -- the times when Husker football players were running afoul and having their brushes with the law documented in the local and national media.

In the past week, it was starting to look like the troubled time off the field during the 1995 season when Lawrence Phillips dragged his girlfriend down a flight of stairs by her hair, Christian Peter was assaulting anyone standing in his way and you couldn't seem to swing a dead cat without hitting another story about a Husker going bad.

First, there was Andy Christensen, who allegedly reached underneath the skirt of a co-ed in a Lincoln nightclub and fould himself charged with first-degree sexual assault.

Later that same night, four Huskers, including two seniors on last year's team, were among those ticketed at some local house parties. One of them, Maurice Purify, seemed to have forgotten his alcohol-related legal troubles that occurred less than a year ago.

Recently, several players were suspended from the football team and one was dismissed. The Lincoln Journal-Star reported that backup kicker Daniel Lee, a transfer from Vanderbilt, was the player sent packing.

The weekend of debauchery led the new Nebraska mentor to have a little sit-down session with his players earlier this week. And suffice it to say that the fiery coach left no tush unscorched by the time that meeting was over. The players have not only been told to, as an old Spike Lee movie suggests, do the right thing -- but there will be severe consequences for those who don't.

Kids being kids, it won't be surprising to find that some who attended that meeting won't get the message until they are asked to leave as a result of their next screw-up. But Pelini is taking the proactive approach in this issue and has made it known that he is not about to put up with this garbage, and that he expects those who pull on the pads for the Husker football team to properly represent themselves, their families and the football team they play for in the best manner possible.

Those who do not -- will not be a part of the program.

Spring Game set for Saturday, April 19

The 2008 Red-White Spring Game, which features the Nebraska football team in their annual intra-squad scrimmage, is set for Saturday, April 19 at Memorial Stadium.

It promises to be a great opportunity for Husker fans to get a first look at the 2008 Nebraska football team under first-year coach Bo Pelini. Interest in the intra-squad scrimmage has grown in recent years, with a record 65,000 fans showing up for the 2005 game. Husker officials are expecting a sellout crowd for this year's game.

You can make it a two-fer day that day if you are a true Husker fan. Later that day, the Nebraska baseball team will be in action, taking on Kansas at Haymarket Park, located just a short walk from Memorial Stadium.

Get your tickets for the Red-White Spring Game and the Nebraska-Kansas baseball matchup now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker home game is ever sold out.