Coming Back to You, Omaha

Quick thoughts and photos from the Wake win (is that too strong a term?) and the USC match-up as I prepare to head to Omaha tomorrow...

--Do you remember those Pepsi menu boards that allowed/forced you to place individual letters in the slats to spell out words? You likely saw one behind the counter at the concessions stand at your high school gymnasium or maybe even a family-owned diner and you were always sure to see words like "NACHO$" or prices like "50c". The currency to consonant conversion was always need based. Anyway, that's what Wake Forest had at Groves Stadium!

Now I understand the place is under renovation and experiencing never before seen interest in the program. Because of those two reasons I was willing to forgive the fact that the concourse was so small it was nearly unnavigable, but to run out of water and ice on a 95-degree day? Come on. I wasn't brave enough to wait 30 minutes to get to a stand and I'm glad I didn't . To wait all that time, miss the game and have only warm Mountain Dew to show for it probably would've pushed me over the edge.

Outside the stadium, however, the people of Wake Forest and North Carolina in general couldn't have been more hospitable.

--Saw at least three people over the age of 50 with Demon Deacons tattoos one of which included a little scroll reading '06 ACC Champs. This surprised me for two reasons: 1) I didn't think anyone, even an alumnus, was that passionate about Wake Forest football. 2) These tattooed fans didn't look like Wake Forest alumni. Bowties seemed to be favored over sleeveless shirts in general. In fact, I'd be willing to wager a year's tuition at Wake ($30K+) that none of them went to school there which means that there are at least three random people so passionate about Wake Forest football that they'd tattoo a Deacon on their arm. If this is Florida we're talking about nobody is batting an eye, but Wake Forest? Must've made a deal with the Demons last season.

--In reality, nobody left Groves Stadium happy last Saturday. Wake fans were unhappy with a close loss, Huskers fans were unhappy with an unimpressive win. The one comment I kept getting from frustrated Wake fans was "Ya'll have to play better to beat USC." Believe it or not I--and everyone else in a red shirt--was aware of this.

One particularly disgusted Wake fan took it even further, rationalizing thusly: "At least we don't have to play USC next week." True. Nebraska doesn't have that luxury, but they do have the luxury of being 2-0.

--One final Wake Forest note...as I predicted the generosity of Nebraska fans did make national news. Nice piece by Gene Wojciechowski and again congrats to everyone who contributed to this ticket drive in anyway.

--On to USC, Jon from Corn Nation has every piece of historical information you could ever want on the Trojans. Learn the words to their fight song, know the names of their Heisman winners. Somehow I think that will help come Saturday.

--Last year I wrote that, while USC represented a "warp zone" opportunity for Nebraska, their princess (i.e. the Big 12) was in another castle. It was one of the few times I actually agreed with Callahan's "all our goals" take. (I atoned for this by trashing his lack of a killer instinct in the post-mortem.)

I don't think that's the case this year. Sure Nebraska could lose this game and still win the Big 12 and theoretically still be in the national title hunt. The difference this year is Callahan is now THE guy, contract in hand. He has to show something. Nationally Nebraska is still a wait and see program because they haven't beaten any team that would lead you to think otherwise, but no Nebraska fan is willing to accept that. Not long term. There needs to be some sign on Saturday, even without a win, that inspires confidence.

--That last point is probably easier said than done. Is there any way to objectively predict a Nebraska win? The Huskers might be measurably closer in talent to USC than they were last year but how many NU starters could start at USC right now on either side of the ball? Is the coaching battle even close? Given the theoretical one game life on the line which coach do you choose game would anyone choose Callahan? The one thing Nebraska has after last week is the fact that it's a home game. It will be interesting to see how much that is worth.

--Here's the way I hope those questions are answered: Nebraska comes out swinging from the opening bell. The first quarter will tell you everything you need to know. Callahan can't spend those first 15 minutes trying things out. Can we run? Where can we throw the ball?

USC is amazing but you can't let them dictate what you're going to do at home. Of course, the WCO is essentially built on that premise, taking what the defense gives you but now is truly the time to "take what we want."

I've been waiting three years for that attitude to truly manifest itself with any regularity on the field, but Callahan's holding firm to the company line. Technically he may be right but emotionally I'm pretty certain he's wrong.

Nobody in Memorial Stadium will feel like this is just another game. The play on the field won't look like just another game. The fact that Lincoln will be littered with ESPN trucks indicates it's not just another game.

Wouldn't it be nice to not have to ask these questions anymore? Here's hoping for some answers but until then, well, at least Matt Slauson is saying it. Always liked that kid.