Callahan anxious over Nebraska's opener

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Bill Callahan knew expectations were high when he took the helm last January at one of the most storied programs in college football history.

And after seeing 61,000 fans show up to watch the Nebraska's annual team scrimmage in April, he knows people will be frothing at the mouth by the time this Saturday's home opener rolls around.

"The whole experience makes you say 'Wow!' " said Callahan, who came to the University of Nebraska after nine years in the NFL, including the past two as head coach of the Oakland Raiders. "When you look at the tradition and passion of the fans, you're going to find people who are just fanatical about ... the football program here."

Callahan has scrapped NU's vaunted, run-first option attack the Cornhuskers ran since 1980 for the NFL style, pass-oriented West Coast offense.

He and his coaches have been working tirelessly for months trying to install the system, which will get its first test versus Western Illinois.

"Now it's time to see what we can do," he said. "We're extremely excited."

While he's unsure how the offense will play, Callahan said he is more perplexed about what to expect from Western Illinois' defense. The Leathernecks have had three defensive coordinators in less than a year.

"The anxiety lies in the fact that we really don't know what to expect from Western Illinois," Callahan said. "So it's really hard to predict what kind of scheme and tactics that they're going to be utilizing.

"We're really going into this blind," he said. "Until you play the game, you don't really know what you're going to get."

Nebraska should be able to rely on its defense until the offense gets its sea legs.

The Huskers, who led the nation in turnover margin last season after generating a school-record 47 takeaways, return the core of the country's top secondary from last year's 10-3 squad.

Colorado coach Gary Barnett said opening games are important, no matter the foe.

"It sets the tone for the next game and the fans," he said.

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