LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini’s rebuilding job at Nebraska isn’t done, but it appears the foundation is set after four straight wins to finish the season, including the gritty Gator Bowl victory over Clemson.
The Cornhuskers’ 9-4 record in Pelini’s first season marked a four-win improvement over the final year of the Bill Callahan regime.
“Now we just have to keep it going and pick up that torch that the seniors left and keep running with it,” Pelini said.
If the Huskers can find a capable replacement for quarterback Joe Ganz, they’ll be positioned to continue their rise in the Big 12. They’ll go into the spring also needing to develop a couple new starters on the right side of the offensive line and a big-play receiver or two and to shore up some spots on defense.
The offense will return six players who started the 26-21 Gator Bowl win, and the defense will bring back seven if star lineman Ndamukong Suh follows through with his plan to forgo the NFL draft.
The schedule toughens in 2009. All four nonconference opponents, including three from the Sun Belt Conference, finished .500 or better.
The Huskers open against Motor City Bowl winner Florida Atlantic (7-6), then play Louisiana-Lafayette (6-6) before traveling to Atlantic Coast Conference and Orange Bowl champion Virginia Tech (10-4). Tech beat the Huskers 35-30 in Lincoln in September.
Nonconference play wraps up against Arkansas State, which, like Louisiana-Lafayette, wasn’t invited to a bowl even though it was eligible with a 6-6 record.
The Big 12 portion of the schedule has Nebraska playing at Missouri and hosting Texas Tech and Oklahoma.
Patrick Witt and Zac Lee will get first crack at the quarterback job this spring, with Kody Spano also getting a look. Cody Green, an incoming freshman from Dayton, Texas, is enrolled for the spring semester and will be at practice in March.
Roy Helu Jr. and Quentin Castille, who ran for a career-high 125 yards in the Gator Bowl, return at I-back. Menelik Holt, Chris Brooks and Niles Paul will see more opportunities with the departures of receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson.
“People are excited,” Pelini said. “Our kids are starting to believe and showing how good they are. It’s fun to see.”
