2007 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2007
Team=Nebraska Cornhuskers


Conference=Big 12 Conference
Division=North
ShortConference=Big 12
Record=5-7
ConfRecord=2-6
CoachRank=
APRank=
HeadCoach=Bill Callahan
OffCoach=Shawn Watson
DefCoach=Kevin Cosgrove
OScheme=West Coast
DScheme=
StadiumArena=Memorial Stadium‎
Champion=
Bowl=
BowlResult=The 2007 Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Team were the representatives of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season.

The Huskers played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The team was coached by Bill Callahan, who returned for his fourth year with the Huskers, and expectations for the season were high, considering NU had reached the Big 12 title game the previous year. But the Huskers recorded only their second losing season since 1961, and the second in four years (the last one coming in 2004 on Callahan's watch). Following the conclusion of the season, Callahan was fired by interim athletic director Tom Osborne. [cite news | title=Source: Interim Nebraska AD Osborne fires Callahan | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3125379 | accessdate=2007-11-24 | date=2007-11-24 | first=Joe | last=Schad | publisher=ESPN ]

On December 2, 2007, Bo Pelini was named as Head Coach for Nebraska by interim Athletic Director Tom Osborne.

Preseason

The Nebraska football team's schedule has been rated the toughest Big 12 and the 12th toughest in the NCAA. [Rivals.com [http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1144&CID=681879 Top 25 Schedules: Nos. 11-15] Retrieved on 22 August, 2007] . The team has had predictions to win the Big 12 North division. [Stassen.com [http://preseason.stassen.com/consensus/2007.html#big-12 2007 Preseason Consensus] Retrieved on 22 August, 2007]

After a tight competition with two-year backup Joe Ganz, former-Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Keller won the starting position; Keller had spent the previous season on the scout team as per NCAA transfer rules.Carolyn Braff, [http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/082107aak.html Running A Reverse] , CSTV.com, August 21, 2007.]

Preseason Rankings

Schedule

CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = September 1
nonconf = yes
time = 2:30 p.m.
rank = 19
opponent = Nevada
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Lincoln, NE
tv = ABC
score = 52–10
attend = 84,078CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = September 8
time = 11:00 a.m.
nonconf = yes
rank = 17
away = yes
opponent = Wake Forest
site_stadium = Groves Stadium
site_cityst = Winston-Salem, NC
tv = ESPN
score = 20–17
attend = 32,483CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = September 15
nonconf = yes
time = 7:00 p.m.
rank = 14
opprank = 1
opponent = USC
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Lincoln, NE
tv = ABC
score = 49–31
attend = 84,959CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = September 22
nonconf = yes
time = 11:30 a.m.
rank = 22
opponent = Ball State
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Lincoln, NE
tv = FSN PPV
score = 41–40
attend = 84,294CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = September 29
time = 1:05 p.m.
rank = 22
opponent = Iowa State
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Lincoln, NE
tv =
score = 35–17
attend = 84,703CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = October 6
time = 8:15 p.m.
rank = 23
away = yes
opprank = 17
opponent = Missouri
site_stadium = Faurot Field
site_cityst = Columbia, MO
tv = ESPN
score = 41–6
overtime =
attend = 70,049CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = October 13
homecoming = yes
time = 11:30 a.m.
rank =
opprank =
opponent = Oklahoma State
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Lincoln, NE
tv = PPV
score = 45–14
overtime =
attend = 84,334CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = October 20
nonconf =
time = 1:05 p.m.
rank =
opprank =
opponent = Texas A&M
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Lincoln, NE
tv =
score = 36–14
overtime =
attend = 84,473CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = October 27
time = 2:30 p.m.
rank =
away = yes
opprank = 16
opponent = Texas
site_stadium = Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Austin, TX
tv = ABC
score = 28–25
overtime =
attend = 85,968CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = November 3
time = 11:30 a.m.
rank =
away = yes
opprank = 8
opponent = Kansas
site_stadium = University of Kansas Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Lawrence, KS
tv = FSN
score = 39–76
overtime =
attend = 51,910CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = November 10
time = 11:30 a.m.
rank =
opprank =
opponent = Kansas State
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Lincoln, NE
tv = Versus
score = 73-31
overtime =
attend = 84,665CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = November 23
time = 11:00 a.m.
rank =
away = yes
opprank =
opponent = Colorado
site_stadium = Folsom Field
site_cityst = Boulder, CO
tv = ABC
score = 51–65
overtime =
attend = 51,403

Players

Roster

Nebraska's first official depth chart for the 2007 football season was announced August 28, prior to the Huskers' season opener against Nevada on September 1.

Watch lists

*Sam Keller
**Manning Award watch list [ Most Valuable Network [http://mvn.com/ncaa-nebraska/2007/08/09/huskers-qb-on-manning-award-watch-list/ Huskers QB on Manning Award Watch list] Retrieved on 22 August, 2007]
**Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the YearBig 12 Sports [http://www.big12sports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072007aab.html 2007 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team] Retrieved on 22 August, 2007]
*Corey McKeon
**Bednarik Award watch listCollege Football Poll [http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/season_preview_2007_watchlist_bednarik.html 2007 Bednarik Watch list] Retrieved on 22 August, 2007]
*Bo Ruud
**Bednarik Award watch list
**Preseason All-Big 12 selection
*Matt Slauson
**Outland Trophy watch list [Football Writers Association [http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2007/outland070612.html 2007 Outland Trophy Watch list] Retrieved on 22 August, 2007]
**Preseason All-Big 12 selection

Game notes

Nevada

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Nevada
R1=0
R2=10
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Nebraska
H1=7
H2=14
H3=24
H4=7Marlon Lucky was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week for his career-best 233 yards rushing against Nevada. [Huskers.com [http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=1206456 Lucky Named Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week] Retrieved on 4 September 2007]

Wake Forest

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Nebraska
R1=3
R2=10
R3=7
R4=0
Home=Wake Forest
H1=0
H2=10
H3=7
H4=0As ESPN described the game, "Sam Keller nearly gave away the game during his first road start at Nebraska. Zack Bowman jumped up to take it back for the Cornhuskers. Three plays after Keller threw an interception deep in Nebraska territory, Bowman picked off a Wake Forest pass in the end zone and the 16th-ranked Cornhuskers held on to win 20-17 on Saturday."cite news | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=272510154 | title=No. 16 Nebraska hangs on to beat Wake Forest | work=ESPNU.com | publisher=The Disney Company | date=September 8 2007 | accessdate=2007-09-08]

outhern California

*USC scored 35 points in the second and third quarters to turn a 10-7 deficit into a comfortable 42-10 lead en route to a 49-31 victory. The Trojans intercepted Keller twice in the third quarter, scoring touchdowns off of both turnovers. Nebraska added three touchdowns late in the game to close the final margin to 18 points. USC rushed for 313 yards in the game.Linescore Amfootball
Road=USC
R1=7
R2=14
R3=21
R4=7
Home=Nebraska
H1=7
H2=3
H3=0
H4=21

Ball State

*Nebraska rallied from a 40-28 deficit in the game's final minutes for a dramatic win. The Huskers capped the comeback when Keller dodged the BSU blitz and hit receiver Maurice Purify for the go-ahead touchdown The Cardinals missed a 53-yard field goal with two seconds left, which would have given them a rare upset victory inside Memorial Stadium. Linescore Amfootball
Road=Ball State
R1=0
R2=10
R3=21
R4=9
Home=Nebraska
H1=7
H2=7
H3=14
H4=13

Iowa State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Iowa State
R1=3
R2=7
R3=0
R4=7
Home=Nebraska
H1=0
H2=7
H3=21
H4=7

Missouri

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Nebraska
R1=3
R2=3
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Missouri
H1=14
H2=6
H3=14
H4=7

Oklahoma State (Homecoming Game)

Athletic Director Steve Pederson was fired after this game. Former Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne was named as interim Athletic Director. He is indicating that there will be no coaching changes during the season."cite news | url=http://www.ketv.com/sports/14353545/detail.html | title=TO: No Football Staffing Changes During Season | work=KETV.com | publisher=KETV | date=October 16 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-16]

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Oklahoma State
R1=17
R2=21
R3=0
R4=7
Home=Nebraska
H1=0
H2=0
H3=0
H4=14

Texas A&M

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Texas A&M
R1=9
R2=7
R3=14
R4=6
Home=Nebraska
H1=7
H2=7
H3=0
H4=0

Texas

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Nebraska
R1=0
R2=10
R3=7
R4=8
Home=Texas
H1=3
H2=0
H3=6
H4=19

Nebraska first played the Texas Longhorns in 1933 and the Longhorns hold a 7–4–0 record. Nebraska won the first meeting by the lopsided score of 26–0. As with Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, Nebraska plays the Longhorns two out of every four years as part of the Big 12 Conference schedule.cite news | url=http://www.big12sports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121906aaa.html | title=Big 12 Releases Future Football Conference Schedules | publisher=Big 12 Conference | date=December 19 2006 | accessdate=2007-04-02] Since their first meeting, the series has included a number of upsets and close calls. In 1960 a #4 ranked Longhorn squad was upset by an unranked Nebraska team, 14–13. In 1996 an unranked Texas team defeated #3 ranked Nebraska (who were also the defending national champions) 37–27 to win the inaugural Big 12 Conference football championship and deprive the Cornhuskers a shot at repeating as national champions. In 1998 an unranked Texas team beat #7 Nebraska 20–16.

In 1999 the two teams met twice. In the regular season, #18 Texas beat #3 Nebraska by 24–20. However, #3 Nebraska beat #12 Texas in the Big 12 Championship game, 6–22. In 2002 the Longhorns were ranked #7 and they went to Lincoln, Nebraska to play an unranked Nebraska team. In front of the largest crowd in Nebraska history (78,268) the 'Horns snapped the Huskers’ national-best 26-game winning streak at Memorial Stadium by a score of 27–24. [cite news | url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/pages/gameweek/2002_03/009neb/recap.html | title=No. 7 Texas 27, Nebraska 24 | date=November 2 2002 | publisher=MackBrownTexasFootball | accessdate=2007-04-02] Most recently, in the 2006 game, #5 Texas faced #17 Nebraska on a snowy day in Lincoln. The Longhorns were trailing and needed a field goal by walk-on kicker Ryan Bailey (with just 23 seconds remaining in the game) to win 22–20. [cite news | url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=40&url_article_id=2528&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2 | title=Longhorns edge Huskers, 22-20 | publisher=Associated Press | author=Olson, Eric | date=October 21 2006 | accessdate=2007-04-02] cite news | url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=36&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=298&change_well_id=2 | title=All Time Record vs. Opponents | publisher=MackBrownTexasFootball | accessdate=2007-03-31]

On the morning of the game, oddsmakers favored Texas to win by 21 points.cite news | url=http://www.vegas.com/gaming/sportsline_ncaaf.html | title=Gambling - NCAA football | work=Vegas.com | publisher=Vegas.com, LLC | date=October 27 2007 | accessdate=2007-10-27] The weather forecast called for a high of 76 degrees and plentiful sunshine with winds NNE at 10 to 15 miles per hour. [cite news |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USTX0057?from=search_city | title=Local weather forecast for Austin, Tx | work=Weather.com | publisher=The Weather Channel|date=October 272007|accessdate=2007-10-27] Texas stuck with their passing game for three quarters and was trailed Nebraska most of the way; the Cornhuskers led 17–9 to start the fourth. [cite news | url= http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/playbyplay?gameId=273000251&period=0 | title=Nebraska 25, (19) Texas 28: Play-by-play | work=ESPN.com | publisher=The Disney Company | date=October 272007 | accessdate=2008-03-10] ESPN reported, “Once Texas figured out it should be running against one of the nation's worst run defenses, things turned out all right for the Longhorns.” cite news | url= http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273000251 | title=Nebraska 25, (19) Texas 28: Recap | work=ESPN.com | publisher=The Disney Company | date=October 272007 | accessdate=2008-03-10]

The Longhorns may have switched to running game almost by chance. McCoy took a hard hit as he scrambled outside the pocket and was shaken up badly enough to leave the game for a play. John Chiles came in at quarterback; his one play, a zone-read handoff to Jamaal Charles, produced 24 yards. According to ESPN, “suddenly Texas had figured out how to beat a Cornhuskers' team that had been steamrolled on the ground in recent weeks. Texas only threw three passes in the fourth quarter.”

Once Texas switched to the zone read offense, they quickly started gaining yards and points. Charles ran for a career-high 290 yards, including 216 yards and three long touchdown runs in the fourth quarter. His tally also set a new record for rushing against the Cornhuskers, surpassing the old record of 247 yards by Oklahoma’s Billy Simms. Charles explained "It was my time to show everyone what I can do. When I saw a hole, I blasted through it." Texas finished with 181 yards passing and 364 yards rushing; Nebraska had 315 yards passing and 132 yards rushing.cite news | url= http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=273000251
title=Nebraska 25, (19) Texas 28: Box Score | work=ESPN.com | publisher=The Disney Company | date=October 272007 | accessdate=2008-03-10] The running back was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week. [cite news | url=http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/10/30/Sports/Stay-Calm-3064450.shtml | title=Stay Calm: Brown won’t pull a ‘Gundy’ soon | author=Hale, Cody | work=The Daily Texan | publisher=Texas Student Mendia | dte=October 302007 | accessdate=2008-03-10]

The game was a milestone for one coach and a millstone for another; it was the 100th win for Mack Brown at Texas; and it put more pressure on beleaguered Nebraska coach Bill Callahan. Brown remarked on his victory, “A hundred is nice. I knew the game was going to come down like it did. It didn’t surprise me. They made sure that I’ll remember it the rest of my life.” Callahan was fired five weeks later. [cite news | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3125379 | title=Nebraska Fires Callahan | work=ESPN.com | publisher=The Disney Company | date=November 242007 | accessdate=2008-03-10] Panorama

---

fullwidth = 7474
fullheight = 1290
caption = A panorama of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas during the game against the 2007 Texas Longhorn football team.
height = 200

Kansas

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Nebraska
R1=14
R2=10
R3=7
R4=8
Home=Kansas
H1=21
H2=27
H3=21
H4=7The Nebraska-Kansas series is the longest uninterrupted series in college football at 102 years.cite news | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=273072305 | title=Nebraska 39, (8) Kansas 36 | work=ESPN.com | publisher=The Disney Company | date=November 32007|accessdate=2007-11-03] [cite news | url=http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=1291583 | title=Huskers Set for Road Trip to Face Undefeated Kansas | work=Huskers.com | publisher=University of Nebraska | date=2007 | accessdate=2007-11-03] In the 2007 meeting, Kansas beat Nebraska 76-39. The Jayhawks set an all-time record for most touchdowns and most points scored by a Nebraska opponent.cite news | url=http://www.huskers.com//pdf1/78902.pdf?SPSID=7&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100 | title=Opponent Records | work=Huskers.com | publisher=University of Nebraska | format=PDF | accessdate=2007-11-03] Their 48 points in the first half was the most ever scored against Nebraska in the first half. [cite news | url=http://firebillcallahan.blogspot.com/ | title=Fire Bill Callahan | work=Blogspot.com | accessdate=2007-11-03] With the win, Kansas took their record to 9–0 for the first time since 1908.cite news | url=http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/7405050 | title=Nebraska sets school record in loss | work=FoxSports.com | publisher=Fox Broadcasting Company | date=November 32007|accessdate=2007-11-03]

Fox Sports reported, "It was only the second victory for Kansas in the last 39 games against Nebraska, which appears to be coming to pieces in the fourth season of embattled coach Bill Callahan."

Kansas State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Kansas State
R1=10
R2=0
R3=7
R4=14
Home=Nebraska
H1=14
H2=24
H3=14
H4=21

Colorado

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Nebraska
R1=14
R2=21
R3=0
R4=16
Home=Colorado
H1=17
H2=7
H3=20
H4=21

References

External links

* [http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&SPID=22&SPSID=3 2007 Football Schedule/Results]
* [http://www.lsufootball.net/articles/2007-preseason-polls.htm 2007 Preseason Polls]
* [http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/analysis_bigtwelve_nebr.html 2007 Nebraska Season Win-Loss Predictions]