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Nebraska vs. Louisiana Tech

Pre-Game

14:32 CDT
My name is Mike Nolan, the manager of the Huskers List for the past seven years, and I'll be doing the play-by-play on this textcast.
We have a new interface this year, the score and situation should be in a separate box throughout the game, the folks at Covalent Technologies have been working on this for a while and today we get to find out how well it works.

14:33 CDT
It's a new season, and for the first time in a quarter century, Tom Osborne isn't the man at the helm of the Good Ship Cornhusker. That task now belongs to Frank Solich, a newcomer yet a Husker veteran, having spent 19 seasons at UNL as a graduate assistant, assistant coach, and as the assistant head coach for the past few years.

14:35 CDT
How will Solich do? This game might not really be the best indication of it, nor will the 1998 season. But a good start is important for Frank, both in today's game and throughout the season. (There are already folks suggesting in some online forums that Solich should step down IF he doesn't have a great first season - a very premature rush to judgement.)

14:37 CDT
But if there was a type of opponent that the Huskers have had to worry about, Lousiana Tech may be one. A mobile quarterback who can fling the ball, the nations best returning receiver, and a team that has nothing to lose if they fail to defeat the Big Red, all of those spell possible trouble for the Huskers.

14:38 CDT
On the other hand, the Huskers have a defense that is fairly intact from last year, despite losing two first round draft choices. This may be the best secondary that the Huskers have had in quite a while, and they'll put Tim Rattay and Troy Edwards to the test.

14:39 CDT
The bookies have made the game a 35-36 point spread, which means that if the Bulldogs manage a few touchdowns due to blown coverage or great individual effort, the Huskers may have to score 50 points just to beat the spread, though I doubt that is of any importance to Frank Solich, his assistants, or his players.

14:42 CDT
It's a typical summer day in Lincoln, the temperature should be in the low to mid 90's, and there is a light breeze, but probably not enough of one to be a factor.
But the Huskers had two-a-day practices mostly in mid 90's temperatures, so they should be prepared for the heat.

14:43 CDT
Where the Huskers may have the edge is in conditioning and depth, Louisiana Tech is not a particularly deep team, and Nebraska won three National Championships in part because of the finest conditioning program in college football.
So what may ensue today is a game that starts out close, but with the bigger, faster, stronger, deeper, and better conditioned Huskers putting the game away, probably in the 2nd half.

14:47 CDT
It's a sellout crowd filing into Memorial Stadium, extending an NCAA record that now is 221 games long.
And the fans filling the seats will have some new sights, a $40 million construction project which is only half done, and will eventually give the Huskers 42 skyboxes, a state of the art press facility, and improved concourses on the west side of Memorial Stadium.
And the field has a new name, too. Tom Osborne Field.

14:48 CDT
We're only about 20 minutes away from the kickoff, not just of the game but of the Frank Solich era at Nebraska.

14:56 CDT
The marching band is playing our National Anthem.

15:00 CDT
Of course, Solich isn't the only new face. Bobby Newcombe won the starting QB job at the spring game, and will get his first start today. Correll Buckhalter will start at I-back while DeAngelo Evans recovers from a knee injury. But at fullback is Joel Makovicka, on a path to be the best fullback in Nebraska football history. Makovicka was named as a candidate for the Doak Walker award, given to the nation's top running back every season.

15:02 CDT
The fans are getting ready for the Tunnel Walk, a new but popular tradition at Nebraska. Josh Heskew commented earlier this week that it will be a lot easier for him to see down the walk this season. (Solich is 5'8", nearly a half foot shorter than Tom Osborne.)

15:04 CDT
And here come the Huskers!!

15:06 CDT
The team captains led the way onto the field, a departure from the past when Coach Osborne would lead the procession.

15:08 CDT
LA Tech wins the coin toss and defers to the 2nd half.

1st Quarter

15:12 CDT
Makovicka gets the first handoff, he's up the middle to the 42. Well, bar bets all across the state just got settled, the first play Solich called was 'fullback up the middle'.

15:13 CDT
Pitch to Wiggins, he's across midfield and out of bounds on the left sideline at the LA Tech 46, another first down for the Huskers.

15:14 CDT
Newcombe back, he has Jackson open at the 10, hits him, and the Huskers score quickly!

15:14 CDT
Brown in for the PAT, it's good.

15:15 CDT
Under a minute for the first scoring drive of the Solich era.

15:15 CDT
Now Brown will kick off to the Bulldogs, and it goes through the end zone.

15:16 CDT
So Tech will start out at their own 20, down by 7 points.
Three receivers on the right for Tech, pass to Edwards, he falls down at the 22.

15:17 CDT
Now we have a lot of receivers on the left side, in the shotgun, The pass is knocked down by Foreman at the 27, nearly picked off.

15:18 CDT
Shotgun again, jailbreak screen to Edwards, he gets across the 25 but Kelsay brings him down there. The Bulldogs will have to punt the ball back to the Huskers.

15:21 CDT
Newcombe may be changing the play, he scrambles free, reverses direction to the left, and picks up a yard the long way.

15:21 CDT
Pass to Davison, he's knocked out of bounds at the Tech 48, another first down for the Huskers.

15:22 CDT
Newcombe's changing the play again, keeps it, goes right, picks up 3 yards.

15:23 CDT
Pitch to Buckhalter, he goes right and is down at the 33.

15:24 CDT
Nice block by Makovicka to spring Buckhalter on that last play.

15:24 CDT
Makovicka up the middle, gets to the 26 but no further.

15:25 CDT
Maryland I, Newcombe runs into a blocker and winds up about a yard short of the first down.

15:25 CDT
Makovicka breaks the I, Buckhalter gets the ball up the middle, good for the 1st down.

15:26 CDT
A good stretch by Correll to pick up the first down.

15:28 CDT
Joel comes out, Cheatham and Wiggins come in, single back set, the Huskers call time out before the plan starts, Cheatham saw something the Huskers weren't expecting and called the time out.

15:30 CDT
Buckhalter up the middle, dragging players with him, he's inside the 10, inside the 5, and finally stopped at the 2.

15:30 CDT
Buckhalter up the middle, if there's a gain it isn't much.

15:32 CDT
Newcombe right, wants to pitch late, doesn't do it. The ball is on the ground but Nebraska recovers, and to compount their problem, Tech is called for a late hit. First and goal at the one.

15:33 CDT
Makovicka up the middle, he's close to the goal line, they're unstacking the players, and they spot it about two inches from the goal line.

15:33 CDT
I think we have an official's time out, maybe for TV.

15:34 CDT
Those of you following the game here, let us know what you think of the new interface. (I can't see it very well myself.)

15:35 CDT
Brown in for another PAT,he's closing in on the all-time scoring record at Nebraska, and now he's another point closer to it.

15:39 CDT
Brown ready to kick off, this one goes through the end zone, too.

15:42 CDT
Pass up the middle to Jenkins, he's wide open but doesn't hold on.

15:43 CDT
3rd and 15, screen pass to Edwards, he can't get free and is downed by Brown at the 32.

15:44 CDT
The punt gets off, barely, Lance Brown makes the fair catch at the 37.

15:46 CDT
Miller in at FB, he goes up the middle and picks up 6.

15:47 CDT
Alexander bumps into a teammate, scrambles loose, and fights his way to the 36.

15:48 CDT
Maybe time left for one play in the quarter. Pitch to Alexander, he leaps over a would-be tackler and is down at the 18. And that should end the first quarter.

2nd Quarter

15:52 CDT
The Huskers had the ball 10:40 in the first quarter.

15:53 CDT
Miller gets the ball, bounces his way through the line and scores.

15:59 CDT
A little technical problem. Brown put the ball into the end zone, but Tech is putting on a little drive of its own, they're down to the Husker 42.

15:59 CDT
Jailbreak screen to Daigne, he gets about 5.

16:00 CDT
Tech still moving the ball, I'm still having problems with the interface. Ball at the 35. Pass to Cangelosi, he picks up the first down

16:01 CDT
Rattay under pressure, takes off up the middle to the 27.

16:02 CDT
Pass to Newman at the 18, another first down for the Bulldogs.

16:02 CDT
Pass into the end zone, broken up by Ralph Brown.

16:04 CDT
Tech still trying, they've got the ball down to the 5 now.

16:04 CDT
Pass into the end zone, caught on the bounce, though.

16:05 CDT
The technical folks tell me they've started up some more servers that should solve the problem I had.

16:06 CDT
Rattay throws for the back of the end zone, over the receiver's head, he was well covered by Swiney

16:07 CDT
The PAT is no good, so that makes it 21-6.

16:10 CDT
The kick is taken by Walker at the 2, he finds a seam and is downfield, he'll score!

16:11 CDT
So the Huskers don't waste any time reacting to the first score against them this year!

16:13 CDT
Brown's kick is taken 4 yards deep and downed, the crowd boos, they wanted some action!

16:13 CDT
Pass incomplete, short of Cangelosi.

16:14 CDT
Flags before the play gets going, false start on Tech.

16:15 CDT
Catch by Edwards, he's up to the 24.

16:16 CDT
So the Huskers will get the ball back again.

16:18 CDT
Makovicka up the middle to about the 40.

16:21 CDT
Buckhalter gets through the line and picks up a first down at about midfield.

16:22 CDT
Buckhalter tries to push through, but is shoved back. If the ball gets any closer to the goal line they'll need a micrometer to measure it. Newcombe keeps it again, delayed call but they give him the touchdown.

16:23 CDT
The PAT is good, and the score goes to 35-6. That 36 point spread is looking a lot better, isn't it?

16:23 CDT
I think Jackson is going to hear it from his teammates for not scoring on that pass, and the crowd was on his side.

16:24 CDT
Brown kicks it 3 yards deep, Edwards brings it out to the 13.

16:26 CDT
If Tech has a two minute drill, here's the palce to use it. Pass to Edwards at the 20, flag on the play. Personal foul, roughing the passer. That's the first penalty on the Huskers in the game, and it moves the ball down to the 38.

16:27 CDT
Rattay in the shotgun, drops the snap, picks it up, loses it again, but Tech retains possession, that was close, folks!

16:28 CDT
Rattay tries to throw to Hampton, knocked away by the Huskers, Foreman may have gotten a hand on it.

16:28 CDT
Pass over the middle to Hampton, Mike Brown brings him down at the Husker 35.

16:29 CDT
Tech calls time out with 40 seconds left.

16:31 CDT
Pass knocked down by Wiltz, flag on the play, though. they pick up the flag, the play stands.

16:31 CDT
Pass to Edwards who quickly steps out of bounds at the 26.

16:32 CDT
Pass to the tailback, Tell, but he doesn't hold on.

16:33 CDT
Rattay to JOrdan at the 20, Ralph Brown stuffs him there.

16:35 CDT
Rattay tries to change the play but gets called for delay of game instead.

Halftime

16:39 CDT
Tech picked up 156 yards passing in the 1st half, but lost 7 yards rushing.

16:44 CDT
I'm not sure what adjustments the Huskers need to make in the locker room. Tech's biggest success has been on a couple of great athletic plays, their bread-and-butter play has been the jailbreak screen, and it looks like the Huskers are starting to put the pressure on Tim Rattay. On offense, everything they've tried seems to have worked, the Huskers have scored every time they've got the ball, including a 98 yard kickoff return. I doubt we'll see Frank Solich pulling out any trick plays, they just aren't needed today. Crouch could get in a solid quarter or more of work, and having an experienced reserve QB is always a good idea.

16:54 CDT
Bobby Newcombe is 4-4 passing with one TD, almost two of them, and 121 yards. Newcombe has two rushing TD's under his belt, too.
Buckhalter is leading the rushing category, with 48 yards on 6 carries.
The Huskers picked up 135 yards on the ground, 256 overall.
Rattay is 21-33 passing.

3rd Quarter

16:57 CDT
Pass to Edwards, he spins out of a tackle and gets the first down at the 32.

16:58 CDT
End around, Johnson is caught in the backfield but breaks a tackle and gets close to the 40 yard line.

16:59 CDT
Pass to Edwards, he jukes past a defender and is finally knocked out of bounds at the Tech 45.

16:59 CDT
Tell up the middle for 4.

17:00 CDT
Edwards has the ball knocked out of his hands, nearly picked off.

17:01 CDT
Pass over the middle to Edwards, he breaks free on the left side and scores.

17:02 CDT
Edwards averaged 155 yards/game last season, and he's over that with this play.

17:04 CDT
That last drive showed Tech at its best, and the Huskers didn't put much pressure on Rattay.

17:05 CDT
Bobby Gray limps off the field for Tech.

17:06 CDT
Newcombe to Davison, he gets to the 39 and picks up a first down.

17:07 CDT
Newcombe loses the handle on the ball, falls on it, but that'll lose a couple of yards, back to the 36.

17:07 CDT
Newcombe back, hits Cheatham at the 45, he gets to the 49 and is just short of the first down.

17:08 CDT
Buckhalter is close to midfield, he has the first down.

17:09 CDT
Newcombe back, goes left, finally throws at Buckhalter, but the pass is short.

17:10 CDT
Buckhalter gets the pitch and is to the 48, but that brings up 3rd and long.

17:11 CDT
That puts the ball on the Tech 29.

17:11 CDT
The Huskers are moving the ball, but it isn't very pretty. Buckhalter to the 33.

17:13 CDT
A Tech player hops off the field. Newcombe back, takes off, is nearly stopped, is finally tackled at the 40. That play didn't work any way you look at it. LaFleur comes in to punt.

17:15 CDT
Well, so far Tech is looking a lot sharper in the 2nd half, I doubt that Solich is happy with the performance of his team so far this quarter.

17:16 CDT
But here's a chance for the Huskers to hold the Bulldogs. A deep pass isn't near anybody, Brown was the closest player to it and it was five yards over his hands.

17:17 CDT
Well, this could turn out to be a ballgame after all. Pond gets the PAT.

17:18 CDT
Edwards has 262 yards in 13 catches now.

17:19 CDT
A stunned crowd is trying to figure out what's going on.

17:20 CDT
Newcombe to Lance Brown out of the double wingback formation, that gives the Huskers a much-needed first down.

17:22 CDT
Makovicka has a big hole up the middle and takes advantage of it, going all the way to the Tech 42.

17:23 CDT
Newcombe back, throws to DeBates on the left side, down at the 23. Flag on the play, holding on Tech, they take the penalty instead of the play. That puts the ball on the 20.

17:23 CDT
Buckhalter gets the pitch and goes right to the 17.

17:24 CDT
Edwards has put himself into the Nebraska record book, nobody has ever gotten that much receiving yardage against the Huskers. Buckhalter gets the pitch and gets to the 13, about a yard short.

17:25 CDT
Buckhalter gets the pitch, goes around the right corner but can't quite get to the corner, he's down at the 3.

17:26 CDT
They mark the ball at the 4. Newcombe keeps it, pitches late to Alexander, who dances his way across the goal line for the score, nice job on the sideline there.

17:26 CDT
Brown gets the PAT, it's 42-21.

17:27 CDT
The offense came back to life on that series, now it's the defense's turn to show that they can conquer the wide open passing game that Rattay and Edwards have played this half.

17:29 CDT
Brown ready to kick, it goes through the end zone.

17:29 CDT
QB draw, Rattay picks up 5.

17:30 CDT
Jordan gets the ball at about the 30, enough for the first down at the 31.

17:31 CDT
Edwards gets the ball at the 40, moves to the 44 before Ralph Brown brings him down.

17:31 CDT
Tell gets 2 up the middle, Tech has positive rushing yardage now.

17:32 CDT
Pass to Edwards is broken up by Ralph Brown.

17:33 CDT
Pass over the middle to Jenkins, the crowd isn't happy with the spot, which gives Tech a first down.

17:34 CDT
Swinging gate formation, the snap goes over Edwards head, he chases it down but it is a big loss for Tech, all the way back to the Tech 36.

17:36 CDT
That puts Tech back into negative rushing yardage again.

17:37 CDT
3rd and 24 now, Edwards has the ball in Nebraska territory, gets to the 45, that ends the 3rd quarter.

Nebraska: 42 Louisiana Tech: 21

4th Quarter

17:40 CDT
Edwards has 16 receptions for 295 yards and two TD's.

17:41 CDT
Pitch to Brown, he tries to tightrope down the right sideline and is out of bounds at the 29.

17:41 CDT
Buckhalter gets to the 24.

17:42 CDT
There's a flag on the play, personal foul on the Bulldogs, that puts the ball on the 12.

17:43 CDT
Pitch to Buckhalter, he runs into traffic at the 6 and is down there.

17:43 CDT
Makovicka tries the middle, gets across the 5 but not much further.

17:44 CDT
Newcome pitches to Buckhalter going left, he gets into the end zone at the corner.

17:45 CDT
Brown gets his 7th PAT of the day.

17:48 CDT
The Kick is through the end zone again.

17:50 CDT
The good news is I doubt the Huskers will see another passing combination this good all season.

17:51 CDT
The kick is taken at the 18 by Walker, he finds a couple of holes up the middle and gets across midfield.

17:51 CDT
Not quite midfield, the Huskers will start at their own 48. Alexander gets across midfield and is out at the Tech 49.

17:53 CDT
Pitch to Alexander, he gets to the 43, but there are flags on the field, holding on the Huskers. Tech has a player down.

17:55 CDT
Tech is closing in on the record for passing yardage against the Huskers, Edwards already has the individual receiving record.

17:55 CDT
2nd and 19 at the 39 after the penalty. Shotgun formation, Newcombe spins through a tackle and gets a total gain of about 3 yards.

17:56 CDT
Newcombe rolls left, finally throws to Buckhalter on the left sideline, short of the 1st down, though.

17:57 CDT
LaFleur will punt again, Lance Brown tries to down it inside the five but can't get it stopped this time.

17:57 CDT
Pass to Edwards in the left flat, he gets to the 27.

17:58 CDT
Pass off Williams fingers, Kelsay got a hand on it.

17:59 CDT
Edwards gets the ball at the 37, spins to the 40, another first down for Tech.

18:00 CDT
Pass in the left flat to Edwards, he tries to juke his way past a couple of defenders, and gets to the 45 a gain of just 2.

18:01 CDT
Pass is underthrown, but the Huskers are flagged for interference.

18:02 CDT
Walker had his hand on Jordan, and drew the flag. Troy Edwards has 400 yards in 20 catches and is closing in on an NCAA single-game record at this point.

18:03 CDT
Good defense by Ralph Brown on that play.

18:04 CDT
3rd and 7: Tech is operating almost exclusively out of the shotgun, and it's keeping the Huskers from putting on much of a pass rush, because Rattay can get rid of the ball very quickly, and Edwards is so fast that he's 20 yards downfield by then. Cangelosi gets the ball coming across the middle, but he'll be short of the first down yardage.

18:05 CDT
Tech will go for it on 4th down. Pass is intercepted by Foreman, but it looks like the officials had blown the play dead first. False start on Tech negates the interception.

18:06 CDT
Rattay calls time out.

18:07 CDT
Pass to Edwards, he doesn't hold on and the Huskers take over on downs with 6:39 left in the game.

18:08 CDT
Crouch comes in at QB for the Huskers.
Makovicka gets across midfield to the 49.

18:09 CDT
Holding on the Huskers negates a small gain.

18:10 CDT
Pass incomplete, Cheatham was the intended receiver.

18:11 CDT
3rd and 16: Crouch back, Davison is tripped up downfield, that draws the flag.

18:12 CDT
That gives the Huskers a first down, the ball was over Davison's head but if he hadn't been tripped up he might have been able to catch up to it.
Wiggins gets the pitch and is down around the 35. Flags come out and the ball is loose. The officials will have to sort this one out. Holding on the Huskers is the call, but Tech came up with the ball and they decline the penalty.

18:13 CDT
5:28 left in the game. The pass is behind Edwards.

18:14 CDT
That was Tech's 55th pass of the game.
Here comes #56, incomplete, Wilson was the target.

18:14 CDT
Simon gets the catch and pays for it, Kelsay levels him.

18:15 CDT
4th and 5, Tech goes for it again. Pass to Simon, he wiggles around a defender and picks up the first down.

18:15 CDT
Pass complete to Cangelosi, he's down to the 23.

18:16 CDT
That gives Tech 520 yards passing, a new record against the Huskers. Pass incomplete, Edwards and Walker bumped into each other at the goal line.

18:17 CDT
Screen to Daigre, he gets to the 14, 3rd and 1 coming.

18:18 CDT
JOrdan gets the pass on the left flat, moves down to the 8, another first down.

18:19 CDT
Edwards leaps over two defenders and into the end zone. There are penalty flags on the play, Tech is called for holding and that wipes out the TD.

18:20 CDT
Pass is tipped and intercepted by Wilks, he gets to the sideline where he laterals it to Reynolds who is knocked out of bounds.

18:21 CDT
Ball at the Husker 45. Crouch keeps it, makes a couple of nice moves and gets into Tech territory. Tech has a player down, it looks like some of their players are starting to cramp up.

18:22 CDT
Another Tech player limps off the field, too.

18:23 CDT
Ball at the Tech 49. Flags before the play gets going, the Huskers moved ahead of the snap.

18:24 CDT
Crouch back to pass, hits Cheatham on the right, back to midfield.
Makovicka gets through the middle of the line to the 43.

18:26 CDT
Under two minutes left now. Wobbly pass to Brown, incomplete. Crouch might have been hit.

18:27 CDT
Brown gets another PAT, and the Huskers crack the 50 point barrier, leading 56-27.

18:29 CDT
Troy Edwards has an NCAA receiving record with 405 yards in the game.

18:29 CDT
Pass complete to Cangelosi at the 42.

18:30 CDT
Pass to Jordan at midfield.

18:31 CDT
under 20 seconds left, pass to Daigre, Tech calls time out with four seconds left in the game.

18:32 CDT
Ball at midfield, Simon gets the pass, is pushed out of bounds at the 28, but that ends the game.

18:34 CDT
Final score, Nebraska 56, Louisiana Tech 27.
The Solich era starts with a win, but surely the critics will complain about the defensive backfield, which many people thought to be one of the Huskers strong suits. But a win is a win is a win, and I suspect Frank will take this one, however ugly it got in the 2nd half.

18:35 CDT
This concludes today's textcast, we'll be back in a week with the Alabama-Birmingham game.