Calling the shots: Have faith in the Cornhuskers

Jordan Bass
Columnist
Dec. 2, 2004, Page 6

Be patient Husker Nation.
When the final whistle sounded on the Nebraska Cornhuskers football season Friday afternoon I, along with many other fans, was left with many different feelings.
First, the feeling of anger set in. How can a team that has went 10-3 last year fall to 5-6 while switching to a system that is supposed to make them better? Many fans, including myself, were wary of the switch from Nebraska smash mouth football to the West Coast offense, and this year didn't do much to bring us around.
Then, disappointment set in. Why did senior linebacker Barrett Rudd, Nebraska's all-time leading tackler, who played for a national title his freshman year, have to finish his illustrious career as a member of the team that broke Nebraska's record 35 straight bowl appearances streak?
Finally, the most important of all these emotions set in, hope. It was announced Tuesday that the 'Huskers now have the top-ranked recruiting class for 2005. Nebraska has received 20 verbal commitments, which includes commitments from five "4-star" players and two "5-star" players, which is the highest ranking a recruit can receive.
Perhaps the most important recruit in the 2005 recruiting class is Harrison Beck, a 4-star quarterback from Clearwater, FL. Along with junior Jordan Adams, he will be expected to run head coach Bill Callahan's West Coast offense. You would assume that this year's quarterback, sophomore Joe Dailey, has seen his last snap as a 'Husker quarterback.
Beck and Adams will likely be joined in the backfield by seniors Corey Ross, David Horne, and possibly by true freshman Marlon Lucky. Lucky, a 5-star running back from North Hollywood, CA, is rated as the second best running back in the nation. Also mixed into the rotation will be sophomore Brandon Jackson and sophomore Tierre Green.
One can't help but imagine what the West Coast offense will look like with Harrison Beck throwing deep outs to one of Callahan's first recruits, sophomore Terrance Nunn.
And another year for the defense to study under coordinator Kevin Cosgrove should also help the ailing Blackshirts, as will the return of his two starting safeties, Josh and Daniel Bullocks.
In the long run, the West Coast offense will do more for Nebraska than the option attack could of. You don't have to have an athlete at quarterback like Eric Crouch or Tommie Frazier every year to be able to run the West Coast. With the increasing speed of defenses, the option attack the 'Huskers used to employ had to have a top-tier athlete at quarterback, when Nebraska didn't, like in 2002 when they finished 6-6, results were down.
When Callahan can get players that are suited for his type of offense, Nebraska will consistently being a national championship contender.
So, while the 'Huskers got beat up as bad as the Detroit Pistons crowd this year, the future is still full of promise for Husker Nation.