2002 Nebraska Cornhusker Football

Wally's View
from the cheap seats

2002 Game Predictions and Commentary

The 2002 Cornhuskers finished 7-7. The next kickoff is 8/30/03 against Oklahoma State in Lincoln. GO BIG RED!

The 2003 season

Previous seasons from the cheap seats: 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998

Cornhusker pride
Click on the team's logo for links and info

Wally's prediction: Nebraska 35 Arizona State 10
Actual score: Nebraska 48 Arizona State 10

August 24th in Lincoln	1	2	3	4	F
Arizona State	3	0	7	0	10
Nebraska	3	7	14	24	48

Wally's fearless prediction:
While the Las Vegas boys may be predicting a blowout, this game shouldn�t even be that close. Now before
the Sun Devil faithful start sending hatemail and viruses to my recycle bin like the Colorado couch burners,
please hear me out. The untested Nebraska offensive line stands to remain untested with the suspension of
ASU senior defensive tackle Danny Masaniai. It's alleged that he was having a rip-roaring good time with a
handgun at the Acme Roadhouse and has been suspended for the first two games. That's not a good thing
heading into Lincoln. ASU should improve upon last season�s 4-7 record and can probably hang with the
Cornhuskers until halftime, but Nebraska's conditioning, depth and talent will overcome this wild west
uprising. A friendly note to the travelling Sun Devil fans: please check your sidearms at the stadium gate.

Series history: Nebraska leads 5-2
Last game: 1996, NU lost 19-0 in Tempe
Last ASU victory: 1996 in Tempe 19-0
ASU's record in 2001: 4-7

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
Well, it wasn�t pretty but a win is a win. The media doomsayers are wrong about Lord and the
Blackshirts (for the most part), but right on the money regarding the offensive line. Although
talented, the O-line is as green as an Okie�s teeth and left Lord scrambling all night long. A little
pass protection, please? Super Demorrio delivered exactly as advertised, as did Lannie Hopkins.
As expected, the special teams proved to be a bright spot in an otherwise unspectacular effort.
A good first game for the young Huskers. Two weeks to adjust before a real test in Happy Valley.

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Wally's prediction: Nebraska 49 Troy State 14
Actual score: Nebraska 31 Troy State 16

August 31st in Lincoln	1	2	3	4	F
Troy State	0	3	7	6	16
Nebraska	7	7	14	3	31

Wally's fearless prediction:
Troy State is an up and coming football program that is perfectly capable of pulling off a huge upset.
After all, they played Nebraska tough early last season and pulled out a win against Mississippi State.
In Starkville, no less. But realistically, Troy State represents little more than cannon fodder for Nebraska.
This is a tuneup game for Penn State, a chance to give the offensive linemen reps to work on their timing.

Series history: Nebraska leads 1-0
Last game: 2001, NU won 42-14 in Lincoln
Last TSU victory: Never
TSU's 2001 record: 7-4

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
As suspected, Troy State was able to hang with NU for a half. Okay, three quarters. ALRIGHT, FOUR!
But this game amounts to little more than a tuneup for a team that does more tuneups than Aamco.
Nebraska is only one cream puff away from playing Penn State, a team that dominated Central Florida
today with a three point win. The real question is who would win between Troy State and Central Florida.

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Wally's prediction: Nebraska 48 Utah State 3
Actual score: Nebraska 44 Utah State 13

Sept 7th in Lincoln	1	2	3	4	F
Utah State	7	0	0	6	13
Nebraska	17	20	7	0	44

Wally's fearless prediction:
I�ll be the first one to admit that I don�t know jack about the Utah State Utes. No wait, they're
called the Aggies. They could be named the �Fighting Bigamists� for all I know, but that would be
politically incorrect and I happen to be renowned for my political correctness. Back to football,
this team is just more cannon fodder for our beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers. Click on the logo above
to educate yourself on the Utes' team. Er, I mean Aggies. Repeat after me: The Utah State Aggies.

Series history: Nebraska leads 6-0
Last game: 1991, NU won 59-28 in Lincoln
Last USU victory: Never
USU's record in 2001: 4-7

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
A good game by the ~~Utes~~ Aggies. They actually gained positive rushing yards against Nebraska.
Play time is over and it's time to get serious. As Richie Incognito says, "we're getting nasty".
Well, it's time for that. For the Nebraska Cornhuskers, it is time to get nasty. One game at a time.

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Wally's prediction: Nebraska 28 Penn State 21
Actual score: Nebraska 7 Penn State 40

Sept 14th in Happy Valley	1	2	3	4	F
Nebraska	0	7	0	0	7
Penn State	0	13	20	7	40

Wally's fearless prediction:
Nebraska's season starts on Saturday. Put away the cupcakes and bring on the main course.
The Huskers travel for the first time this season and will find themselves in very hostile
territory. It will not be a sea of red mainly because the Notre Dame faculty does not work
in State College, PA. Penn State struggled against a feisty Central Florida team, the same
one that was dismantled Saturday by Arizona State 46-13. YIKES! The fans poised to take
a dive off the grain bin may just want to stick around and enjoy some Cornhusker football.

Series history: Nebraska is 5-6 against PSU
Last game: 1983, NU won 44-6 in the Kickoff Classic
Last PSU victory: 1982 in Happy Valley 27-24
PSU's record in 2001: 5-6

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
Nebraska made Penn State�s season tonight. PSU can go 0-10 from here on out and still
call the 2002 season a success by beating Nebraska. JoePa may wear goofy looking pants
but that man can flat out coach, and that was more than evident tonight. The Blackshirts
were exposed again and picked apart by a very good Penn State offense. Regardless of
your allegience, this was a very bad football game to watch. Payback comes in Lincoln.
The newspaper headlines will practically write themselves: "Huskers mauled in lion's den"
or "The Cornhuskers get thrown to the lions." It is all too predictable, but painfully true.

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Wally's prediction: Nebraska 28 Iowa State 23
Actual score: Nebraska 14 Iowa State 36

Sept 28th in Ames	1	2	3	4	F
Nebraska	0	7	7	0	14
Iowa State	3	16	7	10	36

Wally's fearless prediction:
It's gut check time for Nebraska as they head into a huge game in Ames.
Is this game a turning point in the Cornhuskers' season? A must win?
It could be. The 'Clones are for real and will bring it to the Huskers.
Seneca Wallace & company will give the Blackshirts all they can handle,
so let's hope NU used this past week off to prepare a winning game plan.

Series history: Nebraska leads 78-13-2
Last game: 2001, NU won 48-14 in Lincoln
Last ISU victory: 1992 in Ames 19-10
ISU's record in 2001: 7-5

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
I am speechless. What a poor display of football. Turnovers, penalties, poor blocking, etc.
I could go on and on but I wont. On the bright side, ... um, how about our punter? Nice punting
today Huskers! Also, Josh Brown was 2 for 2 on PAT's! Those are the only positives that I saw.
The Cornhuskers shot themselves in the proverbial foot again today - with a rocket launcher.

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Wally's prediction: Nebraska 35 McNeese State 7
Actual score: Nebraska 38 McNeese State 14

Oct 5th in Lincoln	1	2	3	4	F
McNeese State	0	7	0	7	14
Nebraska	7	14	0	17	38

Wally's fearless prediction:
The Cowboys may be fleeing one storm and heading into the eye of another. The Huskers
are pissed off, or at least they should be. It will be very interesting to see how this Nebraska
team responds to adversity but I think I already know the answer. McNeese State is just what
the doctor ordered: Take two aspirin, drink plenty of fluids and play McNeese State in Lincoln.

Series history: First meeting
Last game: Have never met
Last MSU victory: Have never met
MSU's record in 2001: 8-4

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
A game against Cupcake State was just what Nebraska needed to get them back on a winning track.
The season is all uphill from here so let's hope Lord & Company gained enough swagger to see it
through. This game didn't answer any questions and it settled no issues but hopefully the win will
provide this young team with confidence heading into the meat of the Big 12 Conference schedule.

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Wally's prediction: Nebraska 24 Missouri 17
Actual score: Nebraska 24 Missouri 13

Oct 12th in Lincoln	1	2	3	4	F
Missouri	10	3	0	0	13
Nebraska	7	7	7	3	24

Wally's fearless prediction:
The last Missouri victory over Nebraska happened 23 years ago - in Lincoln. Will it be deja vu all over again?
Nope. But Bohl's Blackshirts need to do a much better job of defending against freshman QB Brad Smith
than Oklahoma did last weekend. This is a young and talented Mizzoo team that will give Nebraska all they
can handle. But losses in Lincoln will not come at the hands of the Missouri Tigers. Not this year, anyway.

Series history: Nebraska leads 55-29-3
Last game: 2001, NU won 36-3 in Columbia
Last MU victory: 1978 in Lincoln 35-31
MU's record in 2001: 4-7

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
The Huskers took a small step toward redemption today. One small step for
the Huskers, one giant leap for the Husker Nation. Okay, whatever. It was
a quality win over a feisty Missou team but NU has to hit the road again and
prove themselves away from Lincoln. The next two games are looming large.

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Wally's prediction: Nebraska 31 Oklahoma State 17
Actual score: Nebraska 21 Oklahoma State 24

Oct 19th in Stillwater	1	2	3	4	F
Nebraska	0	7	0	14	21
Oklahoma State	0	3	14	7	24

Wally's fearless prediction:
Nebraska is taking their show on the road again, a road that has been treacherous and filled
with potholes. The Nebraska Blackshirts need to build upon the momentum they gained in the
victory over MU on Saturday. The offense has so far been unable to gather any momentum at all.
Stillwater is not exactly the best place to go looking to find your offensive power, but the Huskers
can hopefully muster just enough offense to finally get that road monkey off their backs.

Series history: Nebraska leads 35-2-1
Last game: 1999, NU won 38-14 in Stillwater
Last OSU victory: 1961, 14-6 (Tied in 1973)
OSU's record in 2001: 4-7

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
Nobody wearing a football helmet has fared this badly on the road since Jack Nicholson hopped on a Harley in Easy Rider.
41 years of dominance over OSU is now a distant memory but the Cowboys played a great game and deserve credit.
The image on your milk carton is the Cornhusker offense. Please return them, there is a substantial reward. If you didn't
get the Easy Rider reference then go rent the video but don't watch a tape of the OSU-Nebraska game. Two thumbs down.

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Wally's prediction: Nebraska 31 Texas A&M 17
Actual score: Nebraska 38 Texas A&M 31

Oct 26th in College Station	1	2	3	4	F
Nebraska	7	7	7	17	38
Texas A&M	14	7	10	0	31

Wally's fearless prediction:
Road games for the Cornhuskers up to this point have meant turnovers, penalties, mental breakdowns and
sloppy execution. And losses. They travel to Kyle Field in College Station, an inhospitable place if ever
there was one, where the Texas A&M Aggies have lost only 10 games in the past 14 years. So why should this
Saturday be any different? I don't have any answers, only a hope that the Huskers will play up to their potential.

Series history: Nebraska leads 7-2
Last game: 1999, NU won 37-0 in College Station
Last A&M victory: 1998 in Lincoln 28-21
A&M's record in 2001: 8-4

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
That's more like it. Now, how many of you jumped off the bandwagon when Nebraska was down 31-14?
You are lying! Not me. I'm driving this bandwagon and if you jump off I will run you over. This was
a quality win for a team that is showing it hasn't quit. We can accept losses in a rebuilding year, but
nobody should accept quitting. These Huskers haven't quit. That's the Huskers we know and love.

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Wally's prediction: Nebraska 24 Texas 21
Actual score: Nebraska 24 Texas 27

Nov 2nd in Lincoln	1	2	3	4	F
Texas	3	3	14	7	27
Nebraska	3	0	7	14	24

Wally's fearless prediction:
The outcome of this game depends on which Nebraska team shows up. Will it be the Three Stooges who bumbled
and fumbled their way to defeat in Stillwater, or will it be the Comeback Kids who never gave up in College Station?
The strategy for both teams is simple: stop the run. The last time the Longhorns came into Lincoln they ended Nebraska's
47-game home win streak. NU hasn't lost in Memorial since and has a 26-game home win streak heading into Saturday.

Series history: Nebraska and Texas are tied 4-4
Last game: 1999, NU won the Big XII Championship game 22-6
Last UT victory: 1999 in Austin 24-20
UT's record in 2001: 11-2

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
All they needed was a field goal to tie it up and send the game into overtime! Nebraska played well enough to
win tonight but didn't get it done. If Frank had gone for the field goal only to lose in overtime, people like us
would still be second guessing him on why he didn't try for the win in regulation. That's just what we do.

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Wally's prediction: Nebraska 52 Kansas 14
Actual score: Nebraska 45 Kansas 7

Nov 9th in Lincoln	1	2	3	4	F
Kansas	7	0	0	0	7
Nebraska	14	10	21	0	45

Wally's fearless prediction:
Of all the things that will cure what ails you, having the Kansas Jayhawks come into Lincoln has got to rank right
up there at the top. These young Cornhuskers are finally starting to come together as a team and show their potential.
The character of this team has never been more evident. This is not a very good Jayhawk football team and I wouldn't
expect Nebraska to be in a very merciful mood. Those two things will add up to a very long afternoon for the Hawks.

Series history: Nebraska leads 81-16-3
Last game: 2001, NU won in Lawrence 51-7
Last KU victory: 1968, KU won 23-13
KU's record in 2001: 3-8

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
There were no surprises Saturday. Nebraska beat up on a bad KU team just as they expected to do.
The surprising thing is that the Cornhuskers have put together three strong performances in a row after
some mid-season setbacks. The offensive line deserves most of the credit for that. They'll need
to put together another strong one this week if they are hoping for a sweep of the Sunflower state.

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Wally's prediction: Nebraska 17 Kansas State 14
Actual score: Nebraska 13 Kansas State 49

Nov 16th in Manhattan	1	2	3	4	F
Nebraska	0	6	7	0	13
Kansas State	14	7	7	21	49

Wally's fearless prediction:
The annual rivalry game with the Kansas State Wildcats is almost here! Um, no. How many of you circled the
KSU game on the calendar as a red letter day? It's an important game, one of six or seven on the schedule
but it isn't a true rivalry in my mind. Not yet, anyway. KSU needs to have won more than two games in the last
thirty years to be considered a true rival. Nebraska is 71-12-3 against Kansas State which is hardly the stuff
of rivalries. KSU fans begging for Nebraska's respect doesn't make them rivals. It makes them pathetic whiners.

Nebraska has lost two games in Manhattan since 1998 but before then you'd have to go back thirty years
in search of a Cornhusker defeat at the hands of KSU. Do two games make a trend? Three? Bill Snyder has
assembled a formidable and highly ranked team, one that destroyed a wilting ISU squad. But isn't this the
same team that lost to Texas by three points? Does that margin of defeat sound familiar? Nebraska will have
their hands full, there's no doubt about it. Turnovers and penalties will spell doom for either team. If NU
can continue playing like they are capable of then this will be a competitive game. Either way, stay off the
field and leave the goalposts alone. Act like you've been there before. Nebraska has. KSU wishes they have.

Series history: Nebraska leads 71-12-3
Last game: 2001, NU won 31-21 in Lincoln
Last KSU victory: 2000 in Manhattan 29-28
KSU's record in 2001: 6-6

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
Merry Christmas, Coach Snyder! Nebraska wrapped this one up and delivered it to your doorstep. The Huskers
failed to show up for this game and handed it over on a silver platter. Changes need to be made. Adios, Craig Bohl.
The worst part isn't that the Cornhuskers got beat or even that they were blown out. The most disturbing thing is that
the players quit. They flat out quit in the second half and that is unacceptable. The coaches are responsible for that.

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Wally's prediction: Nebraska 34 Colorado 31
Actual score: Nebraska 13 Colorado 28

Nov 29th in Lincoln	1	2	3	4	F
Colorado	7	0	14	7	28
Nebraska	0	10	3	0	13

Wally's fearless prediction:
They're playing this one for pride and neither the Nebraska nor Colorado players will have any trouble getting
charged up for this game. Visiting Colorado fans will undoubtedly be treated much better than Cornhusker fans were
in Boulder last season and hopefully Buff fans will get a desperately needed lesson in good sportsmanship and class.

Series history: Nebraska leads 42-15-2
Last game: 2001, CU won 62-36 in Boulder
Last CU victory: 2001
CU's record in 2001: 10-3

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
The seniors deserved better than another second half letdown as the streak of 9-win seasons ended at 33 years.
Another pathetic defensive breakdown in the 3rd quarter allowed the Buffs their first win in Lincoln since 1990.
There is yet another streak that's in jeopardy this season: 41 years of winning seasons. At 7-6, it's looking shaky.
Changes are underway and will be announced as early as next week. Until then, Shreveport here we come!

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The Independence Bowl

Wally's prediction: Nebraska 35 Ole Miss 28
Actual score: Nebraska 23 Ole Miss 27

Dec 27th in Shreveport	1	2	3	4	F
Ole Miss	0	14	10	3	27
Nebraska	3	14	3	3	23

Wally's fearless prediction:
With all the drama over the coaching situation and recruiting, people seem to have
forgotten that the Huskers have one more game to play. The team has not. They want to
win this game to preserve one of the few incredible streaks that are left. A win against
Ole Miss will mark Nebraska's 41st consecutive winning season dating back to 1962.
Mississippi's high-powered passing attack will test a Blackshirt defense that was
shredded through the air by more than one team. Nebraska's power running game will
test an Ole Miss defense that has given up almost 26 points per game and has yet to face
a ground team like the one the Huskers are bringing to Shreveport. Look for a shootout
between two football teams with very contrasting styles. This should be a good one!

Series history: 0-0-0
Last game: NU has never played Mississippi
Last Ole Miss victory: N/A
Ole Miss record in 2002: 6-6 2001: 7-4

Wally's view from the cheap seats:
This game was an exclamation point on a disappointing season. When does Spring football start?
Next year the Cornuskers will be looking to renew all the winning streaks that were broken this season.
The 2002 season marked the end of an incredible era in college football - one that will never be duplicated.
Stay tuned, Husker fans. The Big Red will be back!

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