11:11 a.m.: In a conversation with Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson last week, some of what we discussed was the positive carryover from the 33-0 blitzing of Arizona in the Holiday Bowl.
"I think our whole team is excited,'' Watson said. "Everybody walks around here with a smile on their face. There was a lot of gratification at the end of the season with how we found a way through the whole thing.''
Now consider the other side. What did it do to Arizona?
Check out this ESPN.com piece — Holiday Bowl debacle still haunts Arizona — about the Wildcats still licking their wounds a little heading into spring practice.
"We lost a lot of respect in that game and that's just how it happens — it can happen pretty quickly," Arizona coach Mike Stoops said. "I think our players are excited to regain their stature."
And from a player perspective?
"It makes your stomach hurt watching that film,'' quarterback Nick Foles said. "It really humbles you."
Say what you will about bowl wins or losses, but it's the game you have to live with for two or three months before you put the pads back on again. Nebraska has had the benefit each of the last two years of taking a solid bowl victory into winter conditioning.
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