Did anyone else see that elephant – er, Hokie - walk into the stadium on Saturday?
Nebraska jumped out to a 24-6 lead over Arkansas State at halftime. Quarterback Zac Lee was nothing short of brilliant, and the Huskers were playing a little better defense than the week before.
No one watching the first half would accuse NU of looking ahead to next week’s date with Virginia Tech, and defensive coordinator Carl Pelini was blown away by the play of the team.
“I thought we took the field with a better attitude than any point since we’ve been here,” Pelini said. “I thought we took the field with a killer instinct.”
After halftime, though, it seemed like the Huskers’ focus was elsewhere.
NU head coach Bo Pelini called his team’s play sloppy, but that’s to be expected. It’s hard to play good defense when your mind is in Blacksburg, Va.
While the defense only gave up three points in the second half, it was far from on point.
Multiple communication problems and a lack of containment allowed for several big plays from the Red Wolves. ASU’s running game found holes outside the box, and its passing game even picked up with a 43-yard post play.
On offense, NU scored on its first possession of the half but sputtered after that.
Safety Rickey Thenarse said there may have been a drop in focus later in the game because the end result wasn’t in question.
“It is kind of hard to stay focused when you know you are beating a team,” Thenarse said. “The game is not exciting. No one is really doing anything.”
Though coaches will say their team is focusing on one game at a time, that doesn’t mean players weren’t thinking about Virginia Tech during NU’s 38-9 victory.
“Everyone has it in the back of their minds,” Thenarse said. “We all know that game is going to come.”
Thenarse admitted he’s been thinking about the Hokies for a while, and why wouldn’t he be?
Even offensive coordinator Shawn Watson was looking ahead.
Nebraska’s offense gave Virginia Tech quite a few more formations to deal with.
Offensively, the Huskers lined up with I-back Roy Helu Jr. split out wide. At times, the team came in tight with two tight ends and two receivers, and before the ball was snapped, players went in motion before flying out to the flats or turning to throw a crack back block.
There were plenty of read plays, some shovel pitches and even an end-around that receiver Niles Paul took for a touchdown.
Watson’s message to any observer was to expect the unexpected. It’s a strategic ploy to keep a notoriously stingy Hokie defense on its toes.
Watson wouldn’t reveal if Nebraska had more tricks waiting for Virginia Tech, though.
“I can’t do that. Bud (Foster) will be watching this,” Watson said with a laugh. “We have a lot of creativity and a lot of stuff.”
Foster, Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator, will have to find a way to defend a multitude of weapons.
Last year, Nebraska hadn’t really put together a great offensive performance going into its showdown with Virginia Tech. Now, players such as Lee, Paul, Helu Jr. and tight end Mike McNeill have established themselves as threats — even if their performances came against the likes of Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State.
The media and fans didn’t circle FAU or ASU as games of interest. No, Sept. 19 was the date on their minds.
It won’t be prime time again, but Nebraska will have a national audience and an opportunity to provide some answers for its 2009 season.
Next Saturday is go-time.
Thenarse said the coaches came into the locker room after Saturday’s game and said to start thinking about Virginia Tech.
“It’s time to get after it,” he said.
MICHAEL SCHAEFER IS A SENIOR NEWS-EDITORIAL MAJOR. REACH HIM AT MICHAELSCHAEFER@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
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