NU FOOTBALL - NU Re-View: Nebraska 45, Kansas 35

THE GOOD ...
- OK, NOW CAN HE BE THE STARTER? As has been said here since about game two of the season, Roy Helu, Jr., is Nebraska's best running back. He may not be the most talented overall, but in terms of what a running back needs to bring to this offense, Helu gives you the most. Marlon Lucky probably has better speed and skills in the open field, but it's Helu that gives NU an explosive threat in the backfield. And what a difference in the offense it makes to have that threat.
- SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH: The biggest single key to the defeat of Kansas was, I believe, the ability of the defensive front to bottle up KU's Jake Sharp and get a rush on Todd Reesing. Led by Ndomukong Suh, the front four did their jobs admirably, setting up an unexpectedly dominant performance against a well-coached Jayhawks squad. And the touchdown reception was pretty cool, too.
- TRICKERATION: A jump pass out of the Wild Husker formation. A fake field goal straight out of the LSU playbook. Apparently Bo Pelini knew this game was the one remaining game on the schedule he had to get, and pulled out all the stops to get it. One way to combat a lack of talent is with unpredictability, and NU showed that in spades on Saturday.

THE BAD ...
- STOP DIGGING: This Nebraska team apparently doesn't like to make things easy. After being bombed by the Sooners, Nebraska shot themselves in the collective foot repeatedly in the first half with turnovers and penalties. While the turnovers got better, the lack of focus showed up again at the end of the game when NU conceded an easy touchdown and then failed to recover the onside kick. Nebraska was good enough to overcome those problems on Saturday, but we've seen what happens against teams that are of a higher talent level.
- NOT-SO-SPECIAL TEAMS: Yes, the fake field goal was very cool. But punting was still shaky for NU, and the kickoff teams were anything less than special. Given Nebraska's lack of true playmakers on offense, execution in special teams is critical to maintain field position. That's been lacking in the past few weeks.
- THE STUDENT SECTION CONTROVERSY: OK, a little off-topic, but amazing how much publicity empty seats in the student section has attracted. Athletic Director Tom Osborne has hinted that some student seating may be lost next year if the students don't show up to fill it. Students are, of course, still upset about being moved up to the top rows of the stadium, a move that mystifies me in an era where home field advantage is so important. Dr. Tom, please, bring the students back to the field.

... AND THE VALIDATION.
In his first season, Pelini got his best win of his coaching tenure against Kansas. Keep in mind, this was functionally the same team that hung 76 points on NU in Lawrence last year. A ten point win over that team is very satisfying, especially when you consider that the score was not really indicitive of the game itself. Absent the mistakes in the first half, NU could have had a double-digit lead in the first half and won comfortably in the second. Nebraska showed itself to be superior to the Jayhawks in all phases of the game, and has now staked a claim as the clear second place team in the Big XII North.

THE BIG PICTURE
Two observations come to mind at this stage of the season. First, Pelini's 'Huskers have not lost a game in which they have taken the lead. Second, Pelini has done exceptionally well against teams that have equal or lesser talent than Nebraska. That may seem obvious, but after seeing some of the losses under Frank Solich and Bill Callahan, beating teams you should beat becomes more important. I was not a Pelini guy when he was hired, but I have now been sold. NU's dominant performance against a solid Kansas team after being humiliated on national television tells me a lot about Pelini's coaching ability. Now, let's see if he can recruit.

THE NEXT GAME
Nebraska (-7) at Kansas State. How bad must it have gotten in Manhattan for the Purples to axe head coach Ron Price halfway through the season? And Nebraska fans thought the end of the Callahan era was painful. KSU responded to Prince's firing with a less-than-convincing performance at Missouri, in a game that was nowhere near as close as the final score indicated. At this point, you have to think that KSU quarterback Josh Freeman is polishing up his NFL resume for this spring, and the rest of the team is ready for basketball season to start. This one has Big Red blowout written all over it, take the 'Huskers and give the points.

GBR, baby.