While his teammates waged a difficult battle against Texas Christian, Diedrick watched from the sideline in gym shorts and game jersey, serving a one-game suspension for an altercation at a downtown Lincoln tavern the previous weekend.

This Saturday, however, the junior from Scarborough, Ontario, will come to Memorial Stadium prepared for combat as fourth-ranked Nebraska takes on Troy State at 11:30 a.m.

Along with his helmet, shoulder pads and cleats, Diedrick will bring with him the confidence and swagger of a heavyweight boxing champion.

"I think I bring a lot to the table," Diedrick said Wednesday. "I'm going to come in there with power and speed. I'm going to get things done.

"I'm going to try to not have any negative yards. I'm going to go in there and operate the offense the way it's supposed to be operated - no mistakes. I want to run the option well and block well - pick up those linebackers coming in."

Although Nebraska defeated Texas Christian 21-7, the Husker offense floundered at times, especially against blitzes. A total of 15 plays produced negative yardage, and NU managed only 159 yards rushing after averaging 349.3 to lead the nation a year ago.

Thunder Collins, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior, made his first college start at I-back and rushed 14 times for 71 yards and two touchdowns.

"I think Thunder did a good job," Husker running backs coach Dave Gillespie said. "But like everyone on our offensive football team, he took his turn making some mistakes that cost us and slowed us down.

"With Dahrran in there, we're less likely to make those mistakes. And this time around, Thunder will be less likely to make those mistakes."

After backing up Dan Alexander and Correll Buckhalter the past two years, Diedrick said he's eager "to get things rolling" Saturday. Nebraska Coach Frank Solich has indicated Diedrick will get the lion's share of the carries at I-back this season.

"From what the coaches have told me, they're going to try to get me the ball 20 to 25 times a game," Diedrick said. "I'm more than happy with that."

In two seasons, the 6-foot, 225-pound Diedrick has rushed 90 times for 515 yards, or 5.7 per carry. His shining moment occurred in 1999, when he gained 93 yards on 14 carries against fifth-ranked Kansas State.

Of the Husker I-backs, Diedrick is arguably the strongest running between the tackles. Yet he possesses the speed to turn the corner for big yardage on pitch plays.

"He brings us a little bit bigger body - a little bit more of a banger than Thunder might be," Gillespie said.

Gillespie said Diedrick possesses "the heart of a warrior" because of the zeal the player shows in practice and in games. Gillespie also said Diedrick enjoys the physical nature of football and never backs down.

"To me, that's a warrior," Gillespie said.

Gillespie admired the way Diedrick reacted in the wake of his arrest for failure to disperse. The incident occurred shortly after midnight Aug. 19, less than a week before Diedrick was set to make his first college start.

Diedrick supported the decision to suspend him.

"I screwed up," he said. "I have to take responsibility for it."

"Throughout that whole ordeal, he never had his head down," Gillespie said. "He came out here (at practice) and busted it every play. He never had a negative attitude. To him, what was best for the team was best for him.