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WHEN LAST WE SAW THE CORNHUSKERS: In 1998, the Cornhuskers had a good season by most standards -- unless you call Lincoln, Nebraska your home. Nebraska, which has an incredible 96-15-1 record in the 1990s, went 9-4 in a Frank Solich's first season as the head coach. The year was marked by multiple injuries and disappointment in big games. The only game where the Huskers looked like their old selves was against then-No. 9 Washington on September 26. That day, the college football world got to see the real Huskers, as both injury-plagued quarterback Bobby Newcombe and running back DeAngelo Evans starred. Newcombe missed seven games in '98, and Evans missed 10, but on that day the two were in full force, scoring three rushing touchdowns apiece and combining for 225 rushing yards in the 55-7 win. But the season will be remembered more for losses to Texas, Kansas State and Texas A&M; in the regular season and to Arizona in the Holiday Bowl. Considering the success this program has had, a four-loss season is unheard of.

SPOTLIGHT PLAYERS:

Offense: Newcombe, junior quarterback. Newcombe earned the starting job in '98 but tore ligaments in his left knee in the season opener against Louisiana Tech. Newcombe sat out two games, played in the next five, but then sat out the remainder of the season and had knee surgery in December. When Newcombe played, he showed signs of greatness. Like Tommie Frazier and Scott Frost before him, Newcombe is an incredibly agile quarterback who is tough to tackle and is an accurate passer. In six games, Newcombe completed 50 of 79 passes for 712 yards with just one interception. He also ran for 288 yards and eight touchdowns. The Cornhuskers were 5-1 with him in the game. If he can stay healthy, it will be extremely tough for opponents to cut down the Cornhuskers. If he can't stay healthy, the Huskers do have Eric Crouch available. Crouch, a capable runner but shaky passer, is a nice security blanket, but the team is more electric when Newcome is under center.

Defense: Ralph Brown, senior cornerback, and Mike Brown, senior safety. Two Browns headline one of college football's best secondaries. Ralph Brown was a third-team All-American a year ago, and has started all 39 games for Nebraska since he was a true freshman. He is one of college football's best at man-to-man coverage, and holds school records for pass breakups in a game (7), season (14) and career (35). In addition, the prized cornerback has eight career interceptions. Mike Brown, no relation, will also help anchor the secondary. Brown started '98 at free safety but after seven games switched to his natural strong safety spot. Brown registered 102 tackles in '98, tops on the team. He is the team's surest tackler and an excellent leader.

MAKE-OR-BREAK GAME: vs. Texas A&M;, November 6. The Aggies, TSN's preseason eighth-ranked team, should be Nebraska's toughest opponent of '99. Last season, the Aggies had their way with the Huskers, winning 28-21 by overcoming a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by Newcombe. In '99, a Huskers win will not only gain revenge, but it will be Nebraska's best opportunity to show it can still win the big game. A win would also give the team a great deal of confidence going into its final two games against preseason ranked opponents Kansas State and Colorado. Having A&M; come to Lincoln is a big-time plus for Nebraska.

BURNING QUESTION: Can Nebraska stay healthy enough to field a team -- much less compete for the national championship?

Injuries caused nine starters to miss a combined 45 regular-season games in '98. One of the most notable injured players was Evans, the highly touted running back. Evans sat out all of 1997 with abdominal and groin injuries that required two surgeries and then he played only three games in '99. He missed the first three games after having knee surgery and then missed the final six games with a sore toe and a bruised tailbone. Evans missed most of spring practice due to a torn knee ligament. Can he ever stay healthy?

Other injuries made a promising '98 season a nightmare for Solich, and the injuries make it premature to judge Solich's coaching ability. Besides Newcombe's season-ending knee injury, Crouch missed four games with a hamstring pull and then a hip pointer. Also, junior free safety Clint Finley's season was cut short.

Sidelined with Evans at spring practice were wingback Frankie London with a broken leg, running back Dan Alexander (who started two games in '98) with a torn knee ligament and kick returner Joe Walker also with a knee injury. Also, starting fullback Willie Miller is battling injuries.

Will these injuries carry into the '99 season? Or can the ailing Huskers get healthy -- and stay healthy -- by the season's start? Nebraska has the players to compete for a national championship, but only if the players can make it onto the field by gameday.

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