LINCOLN — Zac Lee had nothing to say. Literally.

“I’m at a loss for words,” the junior quarterback said in the moments after Nebraska’s one-point loss Saturday night in the Big 12 championship game.

How could the Huskers expect to rebound from a devastating loss to Texas, considering the stakes, and play with the equal energy in a bowl game?

Finally, Lee had found an answer.

“There’s not a game next week,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing. We have practices to get better. Hopefully, we take advantage of those.”

A task awaits the Nebraska coaches upon their return to Memorial Stadium from recruiting business this month. The mood in NU camp, after the Huskers watched a potential berth in the Fiesta Bowl slip from reach in the final seconds at Cowboys Stadium, may need a jolt.

But even in the wake of that 13-12 defeat, several Huskers said they won’t struggle to find motivation to prepare for the Dec. 30 Holiday Bowl against Arizona.

It’s a problem that happens in college football: Lose a big game late in the year. Slide down on the bowl pecking order and fail to regain the enthusiasm.

Not this team, said I-back Roy Helu.

“If you’re not motivated to play a bowl game, you shouldn’t be playing college football,” Helu said. “That’s just coming from a guy on a team a couple years back that didn’t go to one. We’re in a fortunate situation.”

Nebraska will break from practice for the next few days. It’s expected to return to the field next week, though a December schedule has not been released. The Huskers traditionally take another short break before departing for the bowl site around Christmas.

“It won’t be hard to regroup,” senior safety Larry Asante said. “Our coaches will get us ready. There’s no doubt in my mind we’re going to regroup and be ready for that bowl game.”

Coach Bo Pelini, apparently, began to lay the groundwork even before the Huskers left Texas.

In his talk to the Huskers after the Big 12 championship game, Pelini told them to prepare soon to “get back to work.”

According to Prince Amukamara, Pelini’s attitude and impact on the team will prevent a letdown in the wake of disappointment. It’s worked before, Amukamara said.

“That’s the kind of guy he is,” the junior cornerback said. “We’ll stick behind him and get ready for the next one. I think there’s quite a bit left to prove. Ten wins would be great for this program and for the seniors to end on a good note.”

Contact the writer:

402-444-1031, mitch.sherman@owh.com

« Sports - Big Red Today

Share