After Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee threw three interceptions, and a collection of other players combined for five lost fumbles, Husker coach Bo Pelini was beside himself following Iowa State's 9-7 upset Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
"Yeah, it's pretty obvious, eight turnovers," Pelini said. "I give credit to Iowa State. They did what they needed to do to win the football game. I'm disappointed in our football team. It starts with me."
The Cornhuskers' minus-eight turnover margin against the Cyclones broke NU's former record of minus seven against Missouri in 1968. They weren't just regular turnovers either, as four of the eight ISU takeaways happened inside the Cyclone 5-yard line.
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said giving the ball away to the opponent is demoralizing in itself, but doing it so close to the end zone was doubly painful.
Tight end Mike McNeill, who had a ball taken away from him for an interception, said all the team can do is look in the mirror.
"We just beat ourselves," McNeill said. "It's tough. Obviously, we're not happy. We just have to come back."
The flurry of NU blunders started on the very first play of the game. On a run play designed to go left, and after running back Roy Helu Jr. moved the pile about three yards, the ball popped out and was recovered by ISU's Kennard Banks.
The next two Husker drives were much cleaner. NU drove from its 26 to the ISU 38 before being forced to punt, already down 3-0. The next drive resulted in what turned out to be NU's only touchdown of the game when Dontrayevous Robinson crossed the goal line from three yards out.
With the Huskers leading 7-3, the imploding resumed. Lee led the team inside the ISU 20-yard line only to throw a pass to McNeill that was picked off just short of the end zone. Two possessions later, Lee found receiver Niles Paul bolting down the sideline for a 72-yard reception, but as Paul approached the goal line, he lost control of the ball.
At the end of the first half, NU had committed three turnovers that allowed the Cyclones to maintain a 9-7 halftime lead.
According to ISU defensive tackle Nate Frere, he and the rest of the defense didn't need turnovers to have confidence against the Huskers.
"We came into the game supremely confident with our defense," Frere said. "We really showed up when we needed to. That's the kind of things you need to win these big games. I feel really blessed to get this win."
Nebraska's ball security was even worse in the second half.
Both possessions the Huskers had in the third quarter ended in fumbles inside the ISU 5-yard line. Only one of Nebraska's six second-half possessions didn't result in a turnover.
Watson said what took place Saturday was something he had never been a part of and hopes to never be again.
"You can't turn the ball over like that and beat anybody," Watson said. "We self-destructed. The kids played well up front, and we were able to do a lot of good things, rushing the ball, had a good plan, but you can't go down in the red zone and turn the ball over like that. End of story."
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