Tad Stryker: First Step

As the ultimate seconds ran down throughout Nebraska’s 35-21 victory over Indiana (see video clip above), it appeared acceptable to look to the south and thank the Cajun connection of Mickey Joseph, Invoice Busch and Trey Palmer — all of whom moved from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Lincoln this 12 months — for injecting a much-needed dose of excellent information into the bloodstream of the Nebraska soccer program, which earned its first win over a BCS workforce in 364 days.

Busch’s fingerprints had been throughout this victory, as a result of protection and particular groups confirmed up in a giant manner for the Huskers, who had not defeated Indiana in Lincoln since I.M. Hipp performed I-back for the Huge Purple

For starters, Nebraska ended a three-year drought of special-teams touchdowns. Chris Kolarevic and Malcolm Hartzog teamed as much as ship a blocked punt for a landing, one thing NU hadn’t finished since Halloween 2009 in a 20-10 win over Baylor, the day Jared Crick had a school-record 5 sacks for the Huge Purple. And much more stunning, the Huskers put collectively three punt returns for 37 yards, and one in every of them arrange a landing.

The protection, which got here into the sport rated close to the underside of all BCS faculties in nearly each defensive class, can get pleasure from a measure of pleasure. The unit could have earned again its Blackshirts, giving up solely 290 yards of whole offense to what has been thought of a good Indiana offense.

The Hoosiers scored no factors within the second half, and the Huskers allowed the Hoosiers solely 5 whole yards on 12 snaps within the fourth quarter. Furthermore, Indiana, which ran greater than 100 performs from scrimmage in its sport in opposition to Cincinnati, had solely 67 snaps in opposition to Nebraska. Joseph and Mark Whipple didn’t dramatically decelerate Nebraska’s offensive tempo — the Huskers hardly ever huddled — however they held almost a 10-minute benefit in time of possession and practiced complementary soccer for the primary time in current reminiscence.

In his maiden voyage as Husker defensive coordinator, Busch used fairly a little bit of press man-to-man protection, and Travis Fisher’s secondary held up properly, breaking apart eight passes, with Hartzog getting a type of in his first begin at nook. Linebacker Luke Reimer intercepted a go.

Joseph, who was largely chargeable for bringing Palmer to Lincoln, and obtained the sport ball from Trev Alberts within the locker room, was the catalyst to a rejuvenated-looking workforce — an offense that performed sloppy soccer very often, piling up double-digit penalties and triple-digit penalty yards — however total, performed with extra vitality than it has all 12 months.

With the sport tied 21-21 heading into the ultimate interval, Nebraska put collectively a robust fourth quarter when it wanted one.

Credit score quarterback Casey Thompson, who was sacked 4 occasions however saved coming again, even after injuring his shoulder halfway by the third quarter. He threw a 71-yard landing go to Palmer early within the fourth quarter to provide the Huskers the lead. Then he got here again and led the drive of the sport, a mistake-free, 12-play, 54-yard scoring march that consumed 6:05. Thompson scored on a 1-yard run with 6:53 remaining to provide NU some respiratory room.

Credit score Joseph and Whipple for sticking with the run sport even when it wasn’t producing all that properly. They stayed affected person because the Huge Purple frittered away glorious discipline place within the scoreless third quarter with sloppy offensive line play, together with three penalties over the course of back-to-back collection that began on the Indiana 49 and the Husker 44. In the long run, Nebraska ran the ball 51 occasions, stacking up that time-of-possession edge, and Anthony Grant had one other huge sport, speeding for 136 yards on 32 carries, and toting the ball seven occasions for 31 yards on the game-clinching landing drive.

“We completed at the moment within the fourth quarter,” Thompson stated within the postgame press convention. “We completed the sport with the ball in our palms, which is a constructive. We have been overdue to complete the sport in a victory (formation), and take a knee.”

Palmer caught eight passes for 157 yards and a landing, and he had these three punt returns. He caught an 11-yard go on third-and-10 crossing path to jumpstart that game-winning drive.

Joseph and his workforce wanted one thing to construct on, and successful a sport that was tied within the fourth quarter is an efficient place to begin. The street will get more durable. It’s time for one more step.