Normally losing by 20 points to a conference rival right before a league championship wouldn't be consider a momentum builder.
But Nebraska's 30-10 loss to Iowa State could be just that considering the way the team has powered through adversity this year.
The 2008-2009 season has provided one emotional obstacle after another for the Cornhuskers, all of which they have overcome.
A win at Saturday's Big 12 Conference Championship might be NU's biggest comeback yet.
"You always just try to bounce back," NU junior Craig Brester said. "That's what we've been about all year, bouncing back from losses. Tough things have happened."
The devastating drubbing by the Cyclones was more than just a letdown. Accompanying it was the death of Brandon and Cameron Browne's mother.
"It was a tough dual for everyone, but you try to stay positive about it," Brester said. "We know where we're headed, we've just got to believe we're on the right path."
If there wasn't already enough incentive to win, a victory in the NU Coliseum this weekend would give NU head coach Mark Manning his first conference championship. Add in the bitter and emotional loss to Iowa State, and the Cornhuskers now have a tidal wave of motivation to defend their home mat this weekend.
Manning said that while his team has fought through a great deal this season, his wrestlers have also learned to persevere and grow.
"We're a tough out, just because we have that mental edge to us," Manning said. "Which is a great thing, and come tournament time, that really has to show up."
The Huskers overcame their first setback before classes even began.
Former Huskers Paul Donahoe - the 125-pound national champion in 2007 - and Kenny Jordan were dismissed from the team after violating team rules over the summer. The loss of the two previous NCAA qualifiers left a sizable hole in the Nebraska lineup.
"We lost those two guys, they were great competitors and great wrestlers, but we have more great wrestlers," NU's Stephen Dwyer said. "We've got guys that come in and they're going to wrestle hard for us, for our team and for themselves."
Without two of their starters from last year, the Huskers opened the season 8-0 - the best start in school history.
Then in the HWCA National Duals, the Huskers suffered their first two defeats of the season to Iowa and Iowa State.
The way in which they lost both duals appeared to be more devastating than the dent in their previously perfect record.
After narrowly escaping with wins against Northwestern and Penn State on the back of heavyweight Tucker Lane, the Huskers could only muster three wins against the defending national champions in Iowa.
Then, when the dual against Iowa State came down to Lane's final match for the third time in the tournament, the redshirt freshman couldn't pull out the late heroics.
"We're battle ready, we've been in the tough matches and we've wrestled a lot of tough guys this year," Brester said. "…We know we can stick our nose in there and wrestle with anyone."
Nebraska pressed on in spite of the mid-season hitch, winning four consecutive duals before butting up against then No. 6-ranked Central Michigan and the start of its conference schedule.
The next four duals against Central Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, were decided by three points or less. A disappointing tie with Central Michigan was spurred by an upset at 184 pounds when NU's then No. 10 ranked Vince Jones gave up a 8-6 decision to unranked Vince DiDona.
The Huskers regained momentum defeating UNC Greensboro 43-(-1) and North Carolina 24-15 before entering their season-ending dual against Iowa State. The highly touted season finale transpired like a nightmare.
Last second losses for Dwyer at 165-pounds and Brester at 197-pounds only scratched the surface.
A forfeit at 125-pounds because of Andy Pokorny's failure to make weight put the dual out of reach with four matches remaining.
"We've put that dual behind us," Manning said. "I guess at the time if we would have won, great. If you look at the score, we lost at 165 (pounds) in a close match, we lost at 197 and heavyweight in a close match. We win those three it's 21-19. We had a who-ha at 125. We could have looked really good and had everyone feeling good about it."
Manning said he knows his Huskers lacked the makeup to be a dominant dual-winning team. Part of that can be credited to Nebraska's four lightest weights not defeating a ranked opponent throughout the entire dual season.
But one thing that has Manning optimistic is that he has six or more wrestlers that he believes can beat anyone on any given day.
Even with wiggle room in regards to national tournament bids, a Big 12 title is what currently is at stake.
"It's all about getting the most out of that guy and the most out of that athlete," Manning said. "Winning and losing takes care of itself if you're doing the right thing, preparing the right way, teaching your kids the right things and going out there and letting it fly."
davehoufek@dailynebraskan.com
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