World-Herald post-game coverage

S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 2 5 , 2 0 0 9
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GAME 7 OF 12
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SECTION C
POSTGAME
9
1. FUMBLE
Roy Helu, 14:44, first quarter
Recovered by cornerback Kennard Banks
2. INTERCEPTION
Zac Lee, intended for Mike McNeill, 9:49, second quarter
Picked off by safety David Sims
7
3. FUMBLE
Niles Paul, after a 72-yard reception, 3:31, second quarter
Recovered by safety James Smith
4. FUMBLE
Roy Helu after a 14-yard run, 9:22, third quarter
Recovered by safety Michael O’Connell
EIGHT?
R E B E C C A S . G R AT Z / T H E W O R L D - H E R A L D
JEFF BUNDY/THE WORLD-HERALD
R E B E C C A S . G R AT Z / T H E W O R L D - H E R A L D
R E B E C C A S . G R AT Z / T H E W O R L D - H E R A L D
It’s hard to believe, but a record number of NU turnovers and four inside
Iowa State’s 5-yard line give the Cyclones their first win in Lincoln since 1977
R E B E C C A S . G R AT Z / T H E W O R L D - H E R A L D
5. FUMBLE
Dontrayevous Robinson, 5:37, third quarter
Recovered by safety James Smith (left)
A LY S S A S C H U K A R / T H E W O R L D - H E R A L D
6. FUMBLE
Menelik Holt, after a 10-yard reception, 14:14, fourth quarter
Recovered by safety David Sims
NU confidence is lacking
in stands, in locker room
Fourth quarter. 1:53 left. Nebraska trails Iowa State 9-7.
A light rain falls as the Huskers take over at their 18-yard
line. They need three points.
They need 50 yards maximum
to enter Alex Henery field-goal
range.
No miracle necessary, just
a few completions, a few first
downs against the nation’s 88thranked defense.
Yet look around Memorial
Stadium, a place the Cyclones
haven’t won in 32 years. Behold
a startling view:
Empty seats. Open rows.
Everywhere.
More than 85,000 people
showed up for kickoff. Some
5,000 had filed out before Zac
Lee took the first snap of the
final drive.
That image illustrates Husker
Dirk Chatelain
football seven games into Bo
Pelini’s second season.
NU has staggered into a
crisis of confidence that reaches
beyond those seats and into its
palatial locker room.
Walk arm-in-arm out of that
tunnel all you want, as the Huskers did Saturday. Build a fortress around your sideline and
preach Us Against The World.
But unless somebody steps up,
takes responsibility and starts
to restore belief in this offense,
Nebraska will invent new ways
See Chatelain: Page 9
Omaha.com/
bigred
Watch video from
the postgame press
conference
On Tuesday, watch
live, streaming
video from the
midweek press
conference
Replay Saturday’s
chat with
Mitch Sherman.
And on Monday,
join Rich Kaipust
for Husker Talk
Live at noon
Follow our blogs:
Tom Shatel
on sports,
Lee Barfknecht
on the Big 12 and
the continual
updates on the
Big Red Today blog
A LY S S A S C H U K A R / T H E W O R L D - H E R A L D
7. INTERCEPTION
R E B E C C A S . G R AT Z / T H E W O R L D - H E R A L D
8. INTERCEPTION
Zac Lee, 2:51, fourth quarter
Picked off by safety Michael O’Connell
Zac Lee, 1:31, fourth quarter
Picked off by linebacker Jesse Smith (center)
Tough to point fingers,
but time to pull switch
LINCOLN — Fire the turnover coach.
Let’s start with a stupid statement: Nebraska should have
won this 35-9. Or 28-9. At the
minimum, the Huskers should
have coasted 21-9 and you’re
sitting at home this morning
nitpicking Shawn Watson and
Zac Lee, but not ready to jump
off the ledge.
If Lee doesn’t throw behind
Mike McNeill. If Niles Paul
simply hangs onto the ball in the
open field.
If Roy Helu and Dontrayevous
Robinson hold on tight and don’t
let Paul Rhoads’ band of opportunists create fumbles where
fumbles weren’t.
Just hold on to the darned ball
once, and a gritty Iowa State
team that was no threat to score
just goes away. And you’re back
Tom Shatel
on track in the mad, mad, mad,
mad, mad Big 12 North race.
But that sort of pretzel logic
fell to the wet turf like one of
the eight turnovers, like a hollow
excuse after the most frustrating Nebraska defeat in memory.
Can you think of one that’s
even close to Iowa State 9, Nebraska 7?
It was so frustrating that
Husker fans were eerily silent
at the end, with the Cyclones
running out the clock on their
first win in Lincoln since 1977.
See Shatel: Page 11
More Huskers
Pages 9C-12C
Misplay of the day
How was NU’s day on
offense? Take your pick
of the bizarre. Exhibit
A: Niles Paul goes
long, then drops the
ball for a touchback.
Page 9C
Redshirt no more
Dontrayevous
Robinson hits the
ground running, but
fumble bug bites.
Page 9C
Headscratcher
Once again, the
defense plays lights
out. Can it keep NU’s
lights on?
Page 10C
Block party
A full-page photo
of Ndamukong Suh.
Back Page
IN SPORTS: Junior guard Kaleb Korver wants to play a more active role this season for the Creighton basketball team. By his own admission, that won’t be difficult. Page 3C