NATIONAL CHAMPS.NET
Coach: Frank Solich
21-5, 2 years
1999 Record: 12-1
Sep 04 @Iowa Won 42-7
Sep 11 California Won 45-0
Sep 18 Southern Miss Won 20-13
Sep 25 @Missouri Won 40-10
Oct 02 Oklahoma State Won 38-14
Oct 09 Iowa State Won 49-14
Oct 23 @Texas Lost 20-24
Oct 30 @Kansas Won 24-17
Nov 06 Texas A&M Won 37-0
Nov 13 Kansas State Won 41-15
Nov 26 @Colorado Won 33-30
Dec 04 Texas Won 22-6
FIESTA BOWL
Jan 02 Tennessee Won 31-21
1999 Final Rankings
AP-3,   BCS-3,   Coaches-2
2000 Outlook

The key to the success of Nebraska will be how fast the defense developes. There is talent abound on that side of the ball but it must jell fast. If the Huskers are going to get beat it will be from teams moving the ball and eating the clock. The offense will line up and point to where they want to run the ball and then do it. No one in the Big 12 or for that matter anywhere will be capable of matching the power of NU's ability to run, run, run. The offensive line may turn out to be listed with some of the best that has ever come out of Lincoln, and that's saying something. Without Texas or Texas A&M on the 2000 schedule at least until the conference championship, Nebraska only need win at Manhattan against K-State. The rest is not going to touch the Huskers. The Big Red is back again and anything less than the Orange Bowl would be a disappointment. Projected 2000 record: 13-0.

Nebraska 2000 Schedule

 

NEBRASKA
*POWER RATINGS
Offense
Defense
QB - 4 DL - 3
RB - 4.5 LB - 3
WR - 4 DB - 4
OL - 5  



NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
2000 PRESEASON PREVIEW

2000 OFFENSE
Strengths: The skill positions are stellar. QB and leading rusher Eric Crouch returns to a typical Nebraska offense with a very solid offensive line for moving the ball through the trenches. Look for much the same in 2000 just like NU did in the Fiesta Bowl in it's domination of Tennessee. Bobby Newcombe, who was the projected starter at QB to start 1999, will stay at the wing back position and is the most athletic player on the field when the Huskers have the ball. Look for Newcombe to get the pigskin anyway Coach Solich can find. Leading receiver Matt Davison is back to keep defenses honest against the run and run Nebraska will with fullback Miller and last season's second leading rusher Alexander returning to carry the load. Maybe one of the Huskers best weapons will come in the form of TE Tracey Wistrom, one of the nations best. Look for Wistrom to catch the ball as much as the receivers as he finished with the most total yards in 1999 with nearly a 27 yard average per catch.
Weaknesses: If Nebraska has a weakness it is the same one that has been a Husker staple and that is the questionability of Crouch to move the ball through the air when coming from behind. Although that may not happen all year. Crouch has also been known to be injury prone and their are no solid backups with experience, especially when backup Jamaal Lord went down in the spring. The coaching staff must find a remedy for the great fumble plague of '99. The offensive line took a hit with the loss of senior studs Julch and Sherman but 9 out of 12 OL players with playing experience return. Nebraska's long history of filling in beef up front with bodies will continue with new names to many but the same results. Look for tackle Jason Schwab to return from an injury that kept him sidelined in 1999.
OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
QB Eric Crouch 6-1 195 Jr. Jammal Lord 6-2 210 Fr.
FB Willie Miller 6-1 245 Sr. Judd Davies 6-0 245 Fr.
IB Dan Alexander 6-0 245 Sr.   Correll Buckhalter 6-0 225 Sr.
SE Matt Davison 6-1 185 Sr.   Wilson Thomas 6-5 210 So.
WB Bobby Newcombe 6-0 195 Sr.   John Gibson 6-0 185 Sr.
T Dave Volk 6-5 300 Jr.   Nate Kolterman 6-3 310 So.
G Toniu Fonoti 6-4 330 So.   Jon Rutherford 6-3 300 Jr.
C Dominic Raiola 6-2 295 Jr.   Matt Shook 6-2 290 So.
G Russ Hochstein 6-4 290 Sr.   Steve Altstadt 6-5 280 Jr.
T Jason Schwab 6-1 300 Sr.   Kyle Kollmorgen 6-5 295 Jr.
TE Tracey Wistrom 6-5 220 Jr.   Aaron Golliday 6-4 270 So.
K Josh Brown 6-2 185 So.   Dan Hadenfeldt 5-11 195 Sr.
Returning starters in bold.

Key Losses: Adam Julch-OL, James Sherman-OL, Matt Baldwin-C, T.J. DeBates-TE, Jeff Perino-QB, Ben Kingston-FB, Sean Applegate-WR, Frankie London-WR, Shevin Wiggins-WR


2000 DEFENSE
Strengths: The Big Red defense will reak havoc with tackle Loran Kaiser and end Kyle Vanden Bosch closing in on opponents. Carlos Polk, the teams second leading tackler and 2000 Butkis Candidate, will do much the same from his middle linebacker spot. In the defensive backfield Craver is the man and will get his share of interceptions and Booker can cover ground much the same. Erwin Swiney at cornerback hopes to return to the form he once had prior to injuries. Opponents will have a hard time moving the ball against a very aggressive style of play the Huskers implore.
Weaknesses: The offense will be the Huskers strength. Losses of both Browns in the backfield,, Mike and four year starter Ralph, hurts real bad and also does the loss up front of Wills and Warren. With injuries to Chris Kelsay and Justin Smith at defensive end the depth chart gets real thin on the outside. The big factor will be the departure of four main linebackers who shared time in '99 so depth will be a concern there also. Coach Bohl will now move from the chalkboard to calling the plays and needs to adjust to that pressure.
DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
DE Demoine Adams 6-2 225 So. Chris Kelsay 6-5 275 So.
NT Jason Lohr 6-2 280 Jr. Jon Clanton 6-2 290 So.
DT Loran Kaiser 6-4 295 Sr.   Jeremy Slechta 6-6 290 Jr.
DE Kyle Vanden Bosch 6-4 270 Sr.   J.P. Wichmann 6-4 240 Jr.
OLB Rod Baker 6-0 220 Sr.   Scott Shanle 6-2 230 So.
MLB Carlos Polk 6-2 250 Sr.   Jamie Burrow 6-1 235 Jr.
OLB Randy Stella 6-0 210 Jr.   Blanchard Johnson 5-11 205 Fr.
CB Keyuo Craver 5-10 190 Jr.   Jeff Hemje 6-0 185 Jr.
CB Erwin Swiney 6-0 185 Jr.   DeJuan Groce 5-10 190 So.
SS Joe Walker 5-10 195 Sr.   Wes Woodward 5-8 190 Jr.
FS Dion Booker 6-1 205 Jr.   Clint Finley 6-0 205 Sr.
P Dan Hadenfeldt 5-11 195 Sr.   Josh Brown 6-2 185 So.
Returning starters in bold.

Key Losses: Aaron Wills-DE, Steve Warren-DT, Tony Ortiz-LB, Brian Shaw-LB, Eric Johnson-LB, Julius Jackson-LB, Mike Brown-DB, Ralph Brown-DB