With spring practice coming, the Huskers need to keep building momentum

The Nebraska football team got underway with the Bo Pelini era about as solidly as one could have expected in 2008.

Well, in the end we would like to have seen the 35-30 loss to Virginia Tech and 37-31 overtime loss to Texas Tech turn into victories. However, after two bowl-less seasons in a four year span (2004-2007) under Bill Callahan capped by a horrific 5-7 campaign in 2007, the Huskers went 9-4 in 2008 punctuated by a 26-21 come-from-behind victory over Clemson in the Gator Bowl. Most importantly, the Huskers finished the season winning six of their last seven games as opposed to losing six of their final seven in 2007.

Just a few weeks ago, Brandon Vogel of the Big Red Network (also a fan blog) devoted a story about how momentum means something. One of the cruxes of his point was that in 2005 Nebraska finished an 8-4 campaign with a three game winning streak capped by a 32-28 come-from-behind win in the Alamo Bowl over Michigan. Most Husker fans thought that finish with a flourish was a sign of things to come.

Vogel also added that after the 2005 season we were “hoping” that the strong finish was a sign of things to come whereas now we “believe” that the 2008 stellar finish is a sign of better times continuing.

That point definitely has merit that I believe to be true but I would also add another view. To me, the key is not so much the fact that Nebraska won six out of seven to finish the season. After all, every year teams start with records of 0-0.

As spring practice gets underway for Year # 2 of the Pelini era, the important thing is what the Huskers do with that momentum. How do they build on it? Do they sustain that success?

If Nebraska goes worse than 9-4, that would represent a step backward and therefore negate the momentum generated from last season. On the other hand, if the Huskers match or surpass that 9-4 mark, then we can say they are at least sustaining their success and hopefully enhancing it.

The Husker offseason has not been totally quiet. There was the departure of Patrick Witt and Major Culbert. There was Barry Turner’s minor scrape with the law. There was South Florida’s flirtation with Husker linebackers coach Mike Ekeler as its defensive coordinator. The best news was defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh’s decision to stay in school for his senior season. If you can’t beat ‘em, Suh ‘em!

The next step is to have a solid spring practice. Keep everyone healthy and continue to refine the principles. Then, continue to be well-continued until fall camp and keep that momentum going through the season opener.

In some ways, the Huskers did sustain their success in 2006 following the 2005 finish. They won their first Big 12 North title in seven years and despite losing 21-7 to Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game and 17-14 to a Top Ten Auburn squad in the Cotton Bowl, they were games that Nebraska could have easily won. However, after starting the season 6-1, Nebraska went 3-4 down the stretch and all of the sudden the perception of the season did not feel as good.

In the decade of the 2000s, momentum has been mostly a foreign concept. In 2000, the Huskers finished with a 66-17 Alamo Bowl with over Big Ten fraud Northwestern. In 2001, Nebraska concluded with blowout losses to Colorado and Miami. In 2002, the Huskers finished a 7-7 season with three straight losses. In 2003, Nebraska finished with stirring wins over Colorado and Michigan State but with the firing of head coach Frank Solich and the subsequent coaching search, the program was a rudderless ship.

In 2004, the Huskers finished a 5-6 season with three straight losses. We addressed the 2005-2008 seasons already so you get the idea.

Momentum, however, can also be fickle in that it can work in your favor or against you. It can be a sign of good things to come or it can be a tease. That said for the Huskers, I think their current momentum resembles the former.

We know the coaching staff is solid. The team still has its limitations in some areas as far as talent but the coaching staff has demonstrated that win or lose, they will have a team that is ready to play every week and will give maximum effort.

If the Huskers are to sustain their success, the defense will need to continue its forward momentum while also getting solid play from the quarterback position.

Most importantly, it’s good to see Uncle Mo back.