CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's Nebraska preview

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Nebraska Cornhuskers

Big Red set to do big winning

College Football: The New Century

'99: 12-1, 7-1 Big 12

Coach

Frank Solich (third season, 21-5)

Key offensive players

Eric Crouch, QB, Sr.
Nation's speediest option quarterback (team-leading 889 yards, 16 TDs in '99) has added 10 pounds of muscle from last year.

Dominic Raiola, C, Sr.
Learned a lesson about trash talking at Texas last year, developing into legitimate Outland Trophy candidate with strong late performance.

Dan Alexander, I-back, Sr.
Bullish inside threat may be challenged for playing time if juco transfer Thunder Collins is as good as advertised.

Bobby Newcombe, WR/KR, Sr.
Still could be pressed into duty at quarterback if Crouch is hurt.

Key defensive players

Carlos Polk, MLB, Sr.
Strong senior season could cement his status as greatest linebacker in Nebraska history.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Rich Glover, DT, 1970-72
"Dominated the line of scrimmage in his junior and senior years."

Brightest Moment: Nebraska's scintillating 35-31 1971 triumph over Oklahoma in the "Game of the Century" helped propel the Cornhuskers to their first undisputed national championship.

Lowest Moment: Tom Osborne earned praise by going for two and the national championship in the 1984 Orange Bowl, but failed when Miami defender Ken Calhoun deflected Turner Gill's pass to preserve a 31-30 victory.

Loran Kaiser, DT, Sr.
Solid inside run-stuffing anchor who gets his chance to emerge this season.

Keyuo Craver, CB, Jr.
Will be counted on to stablize young secondary which loses leaders Mike and Ralph Brown.

Key newcomer

Collins, RB, Jr.
Six running backs are ahead of him on the depth chart, but some Nebraska insiders say he's the missing ingredient needed for a national championship.

Throwback player

A strong recovery from an ankle injury could make Cornhusker fans remember Grant Wistrom and Trev Alberts when they see DE Kyle Vanden Bosch play.

21st century player

LB Randy Stella showed flashes of his other play-making abilities by blocking punts and running backs kicks last year.

Fast fact

Punter Dan Hadenfeldt, who broke the school punting record last season, was granted a sixth year of eligibility after petitioning the NCAA.

Outlook

Solich might worry about the lack of defensive producers, but the Cornhuskers have a deep team brimming with offensive weapons. The Cornhuskers return nine offensive starters but must keep Crouch healthy if they want to challenge for a national championship. The lack of a proven backup at quarterback and depth at outside linebacker are two questions that the Cornhuskers face coming into the season. If Crouch makes it through the season in one piece and Collins develops as advertised, Solich's first national championship could be in the works.

-- Tim Griffin