Western Kentucky
9th Sun Belt2-10
Nebraska
5th Big 1210-3
Western Kentucky @ Nebraska preview
Memorial Stadium
Get ready for a good old fashioned Nebraska Cornhusker opening-game opponent.
In the proud tradition of Arkansas State, Western Michigan and Nicholls State, Nebraska tunes up for its final year in the Big 12 against Western Kentucky. The Huskers beat Florida Atlantic, another Sun Belt team, 49-3 in last season's opener.
Nebraska begins the season in the top 10 for the first time in eight years. Last year was a breakthrough year for the Huskers, as coach Bo Pelini led his defense-oriented squad to the brink of a Big 12 Championship - and nearly muddied the national championship waters in doing so.
This year “nearly” won’t get it done. Expectations are sky-high in Lincoln. Returning starter Zac Lee’s quarterback job was put up for grabs after an injury-plaued 2009. The three-way competition between, Lee, sophomore Cody Green and speedy redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez was the talk of town throughout August. The coaching staff had not named a starter a few days before the opener, but whoever gets the job will be playing behind a seasoned offensive line. The running back position is another strength, as senior Roy Helu Jr. leads a talented corps that rushed for over 2,000 yards last year.
The defense is much less of a mystery for the Huskers. The Blackshirts kept Nebraska in nearly every game last year, and Pelini has already predicted that this year’s unit can be even better. That’s a tall order, considering they will need to fill a Ndamukong Suh-sized hole on the defensive line. But with preseason all-Big 12 standouts, defensive tackle Jared Crick, and cornerback Prince Amukamura, the staff has plenty to feel good about. Senior Amakamura is a physical, shutdown corner who is hoping to move up to be a first round draft pick in 2011. Crick enjoyed a monstrous sophomore season lining up next to Suh. The defensive tackle racked up 70 tackles and nine sacks while defenses double-teamed the Heisman contender.
The Hilltoppers were winless last year, and coach Dave Elson was fired at the end of the season. Former Stanford running back coach Willie Taggart was brought in for the 2010 campaign. Taggert’s squad features and new-look defense and returns nine starters on offense.
The Huskers are the consensus pick to win the Big 12 North in their final year in the conference. On June 10th, the Nebraska accepted an invitation to join the Big 10 in 2011.
In the proud tradition of Arkansas State, Western Michigan and Nicholls State, Nebraska tunes up for its final year in the Big 12 against Western Kentucky. The Huskers beat Florida Atlantic, another Sun Belt team, 49-3 in last season's opener.
Nebraska begins the season in the top 10 for the first time in eight years. Last year was a breakthrough year for the Huskers, as coach Bo Pelini led his defense-oriented squad to the brink of a Big 12 Championship - and nearly muddied the national championship waters in doing so.
This year “nearly” won’t get it done. Expectations are sky-high in Lincoln. Returning starter Zac Lee’s quarterback job was put up for grabs after an injury-plaued 2009. The three-way competition between, Lee, sophomore Cody Green and speedy redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez was the talk of town throughout August. The coaching staff had not named a starter a few days before the opener, but whoever gets the job will be playing behind a seasoned offensive line. The running back position is another strength, as senior Roy Helu Jr. leads a talented corps that rushed for over 2,000 yards last year.
The defense is much less of a mystery for the Huskers. The Blackshirts kept Nebraska in nearly every game last year, and Pelini has already predicted that this year’s unit can be even better. That’s a tall order, considering they will need to fill a Ndamukong Suh-sized hole on the defensive line. But with preseason all-Big 12 standouts, defensive tackle Jared Crick, and cornerback Prince Amukamura, the staff has plenty to feel good about. Senior Amakamura is a physical, shutdown corner who is hoping to move up to be a first round draft pick in 2011. Crick enjoyed a monstrous sophomore season lining up next to Suh. The defensive tackle racked up 70 tackles and nine sacks while defenses double-teamed the Heisman contender.
The Hilltoppers were winless last year, and coach Dave Elson was fired at the end of the season. Former Stanford running back coach Willie Taggart was brought in for the 2010 campaign. Taggert’s squad features and new-look defense and returns nine starters on offense.
The Huskers are the consensus pick to win the Big 12 North in their final year in the conference. On June 10th, the Nebraska accepted an invitation to join the Big 10 in 2011.