Though not dominant, Huskers continue to improve

Are they back? Is the Nebraska football team finally ready to reclaim its throne over the college football world?

No, But are they getting better? Absolutely.

Nebraska's 38-7 win over New Mexico State was a three quarter blowout followed by a back-up filled fourth quarter. Even the No. 2 guys added three more on two solid drives.

The Cornhusker football team looked good on paper Saturday night. They out-rushed, out-passed and out-played a New Mexico State team that didn't seem to know where they were until about halfway through the second half.

Senior Marlon Lucky finally found room to rumble while senior quarterback Joe Ganz was … well, himself. Normally, it would be easy to credit the impressive win to the fact that New Mexico State hadn't played a game until Saturday night, but to quote ESPN's Lee Corso, "not so fast, my friend."

While the Aggies' 2008 inexperience does still linger around in the decision, these Huskers still put up quite a night.

They were facing a defense they didn't really know what to expect from on top of having a lackluster performance the week before, and if you are around this team enough, you know there was pressure on any player in pads to fix whatever might be wrong quickly - and they did.

It's safe to say if Nebraska didn't start this season 3-0, a lot of fans would have been shocked. Not to take any credit away from the first three opponents, but now the season gets interesting. Nebraska gets two weeks to prepare for Virginia Tech, but then right after that is Big 12 Conference season.

Saying the words 'Big 12 Conference season' last year could make a Husker fan's gut wrench. NU only won two conference games. Two!

The last time the Huskers played that bad in conference play takes us back to the 1961-62 season where the only two NU conference wins came against … you guessed it - Iowa State and Kansas State. And that was when the conference only had eight teams.

As for how NU played the very next year? The Big Red went 9-2 while ending its season beating Miami in no other than the Gotham Bowl. Now the good omens are going to get a little bit weird.

The 1962-63 season (where NU rebounded by going 9-2) was the first season under 'new' head coach Bob Devaney. Obviously this year is a rebound year with yet another new coach in NU Coach Bo Pelini.

In that same rebound year, Devaney led the Huskers to an undefeated 6-0 start before clashing with rival Missouri in Memorial Stadium. Pelini is one win away from leading an undefeated NU into the same type of game.

The Tigers beat Nebraska in 1962 by a score of 16-7, but there's a feeling most fans would have that would guess this year's match up might be a little higher scoring.

The last weird bit of 'good omen' for Nebraska is that during that Missouri game, the stadium ended up selling every last ticket. It was the first sellout game of what became an ongoing streak that still lasts today. By the last home game of 2008 that number will sit at 297. So does this mean Nebraska is "destined" to defy the odds-makers and make a true run at a national championship this year? Some players sure think so, and one might think a coach or two might join in on the thought.

Pelini has stated several times, and he will continue to state, that this team is "far from where it needs to be." After the first three games, it's still too early to tell where this team will be come bowl season, but that is what makes college football fun.

If the Huskers get nine wins this season, Pelini will be everybody's new Devaney, hands down. But in the end, considering what not only Nebraska fans have gone through, but even the players themselves, just making a bowl game in 2008 would suffice just fine.

spencerschubert@dailynebraskan.com