LINCOLN, Neb.—Nebraska coach Bo Pelini says getting a bowl bid this season would help lay the foundation for the 2009 season and beyond.
The Cornhuskers (5-4, 2-3 Big 12) need to win one of their final three regular-season games to become eligible for a postseason game and the extra month of practice that would come with it.
“That would really help us, obviously,” Pelini said. “Getting to a bowl game gives you a number of extra practices. That helps you developmentally doing some things.”
The Huskers play North Division co-leader Kansas (6-3, 3-2) at home on Saturday. They wind up the regular season with two games in which they probably will be favored—at Kansas State (4-5, 1-4) and against Colorado (2-7, 1-4) at home.
Nebraska used to take December bowl practices for granted. The Huskers played in an NCAA-record 35 in a row from 1969 to 2003.
That streak ended with 2004’s 5-6 record. They went to the Alamo Bowl and Cotton Bowl the next two years but failed to reach postseason play after last year’s 5-7 campaign.
Sophomore I-back Roy Helu Jr. said he and other young players understand that it’s expected for Nebraska to go to a bowl every year.
“We’re playing for more than just this season,” Helu said. “We’re playing for way more than the time I’m going to spend here. There’s just so much tradition. We’re just trying to set a standard here.”
Senior defensive end Zach Potter said a bowl would be a great way to finish his career and help Pelini continue his rebuilding project.
“We have so many new guys that you don’t know what they can do in gamelike situations,” Potter said. “You can put them in situations like that in bowl practices; to see how they progress would be beneficial.”
Pelini said even though the Huskers still have a lot to play for, it’s a chore for players to stay mentally and physically sharp.
“Everybody’s a little bit tired and weary,” he said. “That’s part of the deal when you start going into week 10. But I think our guys will be ready to go.”
Pelini already has begun preparing for 2009. He has redshirted a good number of true freshmen, some of whom probably would have played this season if they had been in other programs. On Monday he held a scrimmage involving members of the scout team.
“We’ll just keep that up as the season progresses into this finish,” Pelini said. “You’d hope, if we take care of our business, that we’ll have some more time in our bowl preparation. You have to earn that.”
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