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LINCOLN, Nebraska (Ticker) -- Even when Nebraska's talented I-backs run into trouble, there are enough of them around to make sure the team does not. Thunder Collins ran for 71 yards and two touchdowns as fourth-ranked Nebraska won its 16th straight season opener with a 21-7 victory over stubborn Texas Christian in the Pigskin Classic. "We were in a tough football game and we responded," Nebraska coach Frank Solich said. "Our young players played well. Certainly we'll be a better football team because of today's game." Quarterback Eric Crouch ran for 69 yards and a score for the Cornhuskers (1-0), who were happy to get back onto the field after a turbulent offseason that included brushes with the law by several players. The latest incident was last weekend when Dahrran Diedrick, the team's top I-back, was arrested for his part in a disturbance outside a Lincoln bar. Solich suspended Diedrick from Saturday's game, opening the door for Collins, who has had problems of his own. Collins entered a pretrial diversion program following his arrest for assault in June, and was later cleared of the charges. There was no trouble on the field for Collins, a junior from Los Angeles who scored on runs of six and 26 yards. "Obviously I didn't get 200 yards rushing today, but that is OK because I want to be a team player," Collins said. "There are 11 guys on the team and we all have to work together." The Horned Frogs (0-1), beginning their first full season under coach Gary Patterson, returned just four starters on a unit that ranked fourth nationally in total defense. But the defense settled down after a shaky start and stayed within one touchdown until late in the third quarter. "You have to play Nebraska. You can't sit there in zone and play a base front all the time," Patterson said. "You have to create some lost yardage and for most of the game we were able to do that." Nebraska easily moved downfield on its first possession. Crouch had runs of 12 and 33 yards to set up a TD run around right end for Collins, who went into the end zone virtually untouched. TCU answered quickly as Casey Printers scrambled around several defenders before launching a 67-yard TD pass to Matt Schobel. Printers completed 10-of-21 passes for 122 yards. The Cornhuskers moved ahead 13-7 late in the first quarter when Crouch threw a 41-yard pass to John Gibson before going into the end zone on a one-yard sneak one play later. Crouch completed 10-of-18 passes for 151 yards and one interception. "I don't think we were confused. You have to give TCU credit," Crouch said. "For the most part they did what we saw in the game film, but there were some things that we didn't see on film that they were able to execute." Nebraska finally began to wear down the Horned Frogs late in the third quarter, embarking on a 10-play, 98-yard drive that ended when Collins scampered around left end for a 26-yard TD run. Texas Christian defensive tackle John Turntine was removed from the field on a stretcher in the fourth quarter with what was feared to be a neck injury. But Turntine had movement in his arm and legs and the injury is not believed to be serious. In their first game since the departure of star running back LaDainian Tomilson to the NFL, the Horned Frogs rushed for 56 yards on 28 carries. Nebraska, which had a 310-186 edge in total yards, has not lost a season opener since a 17-13 setback to Florida State in 1985.
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