Are Your Ready For Some Football? Huskers open season with Western Illinois Sept. 4 in Lincoln August 31, 2004 NEW NU TO DEBUT New coach, new offense as fan anticipation builds in season opener vs. Western Illinois By Jim D. Berryman MissingNebraska.com The anticipation is oozing in Lincoln and across the college football nation. Will new Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan's west coast offense air out a great season? Or will it deflate like a missile through a hot-air balloon? The answers to said questions will be answered soon enough. The Nebraska Cornhuskers kick off the season at 6 p.m. Saturday, September 4 against Western Illinois in Lincoln. Husker fans usually look at this type of opener as a chance to get the summer kinks out. Then of course they watch as Big Red goes on to trounce an outmatched opponent. It's usually a huge kickoff-the-season tailgate party that lasts right through the game. The worries and worthy opponents come later in the season. This Nebraska football season is anything but usual. Led by quarterback Joe Dailey, the Huskers have a lot to learn, and a lot to prove with the pass-heavy west coast offense. Dailey has never started a college game, even though he saw quite a bit of playing time in 2003. Callahan has NU as ready as they can be, that's a guarantee. The Huskers have been doing their homework and getting lots of practice time, but how that translates when the ball is snapped for real is anybody's guess. Most Husker fans have big expectations for the new season. At the same time, many are realistic that when you begin an entire new era of football at a traditional college football powerhouse, change can bring problems. Especially with a young, inexperienced offense. It should be a bit easier to discover and assess problems against a team like Western Illinois than a team such as USC or LSU. And whatever problems or weaknesses are discovered, they will have to be corrected before Southern Miss comes to town, and definitely by the time the Huskers hit the road to Pittsburgh on September 18. In terms of how fans are feeling, there are still a number of die-hard Husker traditionalists who are disappointed to see the luster wiped away from the Cornhusker football program. Many are still trying to get over the poorly handled firing of Frank Solich by NU athletic director Steve Pederson. That said, these same fans welcome and accept Coach Callahan and want nothing more to see Nebraska play to the ability that we all grew to know and love. From some, the era of the Husker "aura" is over. For others, there's excitement in the fact that some very entertaining football may be about to take place, and if things bounce NU's way, the season will be most exciting. Thrills and chills are a guarantee. As the sea of red gushes into Lincoln for a season of fun and football, it is time to grab the lifejacket, then kick back and let it all unfold. Go Big Red! Feedback NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS vs. WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS PREVIEW STORIES & LINKS 09-04-04: Callahan says Huskers won't forget to run More from Chicago Sun-Times 09-04-04: Callahan wants greeting for team entrance More from OWH 09-04-04: A new coach is bringing the west coast to Nebraska More from International Herald Tribune 09-04-04: Huskers come to pass More from Denver Post 09-04-04: NU's Dailey hopes hard work pays off More from GII 09-04-04: Pay per view gets strong response from Husker fans More from GII 09-03-04: Leathernecks are up to their necks in changes More from LJS 09-03-04: Outsider is transforming culture of Nebraska offense More from New York Times 09-02-04: Leathernecks no gimme More from GII 09-02-04: WIU back learned from LSU More from OWH 09-02-04: Breaking down the Leathernecks More from LJS 09-02-04: Callahan putting on game face More from GII 09-01-04: Getting Off The Ground: Change in the air at Nebraska More from USA Today-Yahoo! 09-01-04: Incognito, three others out More from OWH 08-31-04: NU-W. Illinois on Pay-Per View More from wiufootball.com 08-31-04: Callahan 1st pep talk may be just short, sweet More from OWH Huskers on ESPN.com Husker Hot Pics Photos from AP Husker Game Watch Locations Nationwide