Cornhuskers full of tricks
Nebraska used six trick plays in victory over the Buffaloes

Published: November 28, 2006

Did you pay attention to Nebraska's 37-14 win over Colorado? The Huskers tossed six trick plays at the Buffs.

The coolest was a fourth-down play. Quarterback Zac Taylor of Norman barked signals under center, then raised up and, appearing frustrated — as though the called play wouldn't work — walked toward the Nebraska sideline.

Just then, the center snapped the ball to safety Tierre Green, who was lined up as a tailback. Green ran 7 yards for a first down.

Nebraska pooch-punted from a field-goal formation, faked another field goal, and had Taylor as a receiver on a quarterback throwback play. Tailback Marlon Lucky threw that pass, which fell incomplete, and also was tabbed to try two more halfback passes. Nebraska also ran a reverse.

"We got all that cool stuff," Nebraska linebacker Corey McKeon told the Omaha World-Herald. "It's fun."

It was also done with an eye to the future. The Huskers probably didn't need the trickery to beat Colorado, which finished 2-10. But now, OU will have to work on those plays in practice this week.

Not that coach Bill Callahan was ready to admit it.

"They're in our repertoire, and it just so happened that the situations were right for those particular calls," Callahan told the World-Herald.