Forty bucks for this?

Forty bucks to witness Nebraska batter woeful Western Kentucky much of the game, but play sloppy enough on defense to elicit ample nitpicking?

Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini actually did more than nitpick, saying the defense "was an absolute embarrassment" in the Huskers' 49-10 season-opening triumph Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

I watched the game mindful of folks who paid $40 for the pay-per-view broadcast.

At least they got to see a magic show on offense.

All right, I'll tone it down. I solemnly vow to resist engaging in hyperbole regarding redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez -- nicknamed "T-Magic" by teammates -- who sizzled at times as Nebraska's sparkling new starting quarterback.

In fact, we should make a pact -- resist the Martinez hype.

It'll be a challenge.

He reaches top speed as quickly as any quarterback I've seen.

I'm guessing he was placed on this fine earth to run the zone-read.

(Deep breaths. Don't go overboard here).

He dashed for three electrifying touchdown runs. He put serious zip on his passes.

He's more accurate, patient and decisive in the passing game than many of us anticipated.

On his first touchdown sprint -- a 46-yard burst on Nebraska's third play from scrimmage -- I thought, "Uh, oh." I kept thinking that way after his nice plays. Yep, the "T-Magic" hype could rage out of control even though his coming-out party was against a bottom-feeding Sun Belt Conference team that's lost 21 straight games.

Remember Zac Lee, the king of the Sun Belt last season? Most of us got pretty excited back then, too. He looked like Namath.

A year later, we see where Lee stands in the three-way quarterback battle that captivated us the past several weeks -- he was the mop-up guy against the Hilltoppers.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Martinez captured our imaginations, and made a strong case to be the permanent starter.

No question, he was worth forty bucks.

If nothing else, it was worth forty bucks to formulate your side of the debate.

Pelini made it clear the quarterback race continues indefinitely. That's just the way Bo runs his program. You earn your job for each game, and Martinez won "a really close race" over Lee and sophomore Cody Green, Pelini said.

"It was so close that if you made a bad decision in practice, then somebody else jumped in front of you," Green said.

For Saturday's opener, Pelini said, the plan was to start Martinez and give Green a series in the first half. From there, Pelini said, there was no set plan. Should we get used to that scenario? Or is Martinez destined for the starting role? Destined to eventually be "the guy?"

Stay tuned.

Green, a 6-4, 225-pound sophomore, looked calm and composed leading two touchdown drives. Again, it was against Western Kentucky. Deep breaths. Even so, Green showed the arm strength and strength in general that makes him a viable candidate to run Nebraska's offense.

So much for the safe choice. Lee, who started 12 games last season and seemed to be a popular media choice to reclaim his starting role, simply lacks the running ability of either Martinez or Green. Pelini wants a runner at the position.

What's more, it appears both Martinez and Green made strides as passers in the offseason. Also, both managed the offense adeptly Saturday.

Bottom line, Martinez's blazing speed changes the dynamic of the offense. He's a joy to watch. I'd pay 100 bucks to watch him again.

Oops, there I go again.

"Nothing changes, it's just that one man's in the driver's seat right now," said Green, referring, of course, to "T-Magic."

I'll just call him Taylor Martinez, for now.

Reach Steven M. Sipple at ssipple@journalstar.com or 402-473-7440.

Bo: Some good things, but problems on defense