Fans restless at Nebraska
Callahan defends program's passion
Callahan defends program's passion

By Andrea Cohen

Published: October 10, 2007

"I just wanted to clear my head and really think about some things,” said Callahan, who added Monday that people shouldn't read too much into it. "I really tried to evaluate where we're at offensively, defensively. I just wanted to clear my head and really isolate myself so I could really see what was going on.”

What's going on at Nebraska is that the Huskers are 4-2 overall, 1-1 in the Big 12. The record isn't terrible, but after a near-loss to Ball State (Nebraska pulled out a 41-40 win over the middle-of-the-road Mid American Conference opponent on a missed field goal) and a shellacking in Columbia, Nebraska fans' sky-high expectations are sinking. Fans reportedly booed loudly during Nebraska's most recent home game, and discontent and talk of indifference has become so rampant that Callahan addressed it in the opening of his Tuesday press conference.

"I think it's important to understand that no one,” Callahan said, "and I mean no one, wants to win more than I do. We as a staff and as a program and as a team hate to lose.”

When asked why he felt the need to make that statement, Callahan responded: "Because we want to win and we feel an obligation to this state and the fans expect so much from us and we feel we let them down. I just want that to be said so people understand that there is passion in this program.”

Nebraska fans always have high expectations – five national titles will do that to a program – but the Huskers' mediocre start is being even more scrutinized because Callahan signed a contract extension in early September. Approval for the coach was high after a strong finish in 2006 and the Huskers' first Big 12 North title since 1999.

The fourth-year head coach's new five-year contract keeps him at Nebraska until 2012 and gave him a raise to $1.75 million a year. The new contract also included a new bonus structure where Callahan can earn up to $425,000 a year for winning division, conference and national championships.

With the new contract Callahan remains the Big 12's fourth-highest paid coach behind Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, Texas' Mack Brown and Texas A&M's Dennis Franchione.

Less than two weeks after signing the new contract then-No. 14 Nebraska went out and lost to Southern California 49-31 at home, with the Trojans scoring 35 straight points in the second and third quarters. The Huskers followed up with the Ball State near-disaster.

Nebraska's historically great defense is last in the conference in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense.

"There's issues,” Callahan said this week. "There's no doubt we've got issues. We've got things we need to fix.”

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