‘Huskers can look to ‘98 for motivation vs. La. Tech

By Josh Lashley  |   Tuesday, May 02, 2006  |  Comments( 1 )

Nebraska Cornhuskers
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Seldom does a 29-point victory leave fans of that program with an uneasy feeling in their collective stomachs. That was case, however, when the Nebraska Cornhuskers hosted Louisiana Tech in the Eddie Robinson Classic on August 29, 1998, a contest that they won, 56-27. For the first time since that fretful day, the Huskers and Tech will face off, once again in Lincoln, for the opening game of the 2006 season on September 2nd.

For those Big Red supporters who have successfully blocked the memory of '98 game from their minds, it was then that Tech quarterback Tim Rattay threw for an unbelievable 590 yards. Biletnikoff Award winner Troy Edwards, Rattay's main target back then, had 21 receptions for 405 yards. The 'Huskers defense was embarrassed by the brilliance of Rattay and Edwards, who are both now NFL veterans, but don't expect anything close to that (except maybe in terms of the margin of victory) when the two programs collide in just under four months.

Although the Bulldogs finished at 7-4 and culminated the 2005 season with a triumph at Fresno State on the final day of Western Athletic Conference play on December 2nd, they just may be the perfect opening day foe for the 'Huskers this coming fall. Matt Kubik, the starting quarterback in 2005 was a senior, and two of his top wide receivers, in terms of catches, were also seniors. Eric Newman led his team with 30 receptions and Jonathan Holland caught 29 passes for Tech last fall.

At the spring 'Bone Bowl' a few weeks ago, junior Joe Danna completed 11 passes for Tech and senior Anthony James caught five passes. Junior Zac Champion and red-shirt freshman Mike Mosley each completed 10 of 21 passes for the Bulldogs. Whoever gets the starting job when September 2nd rolls around, it's easy to envision them getting rattled in severe fashion by an aggressive Nebraska defense.

Tech did run the ball a bit in the spring game (the leading rusher had just over 60 yards), but they don't appear to have the sort of ground attack needed to thwart an un-coming Black Shirt defense.

So, that uneasy memory from late August of 1998 may still linger with some of in Big Red country, but the remedy to perhaps erase it completely is coming on September 2nd. Actual predictions as to the score of the game will have to wait, but rest assured, the Nebraska Cornhuskers will be 1-0 when the welcome their second foe…………Nicholls State.
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