No-braska?

What has happened to Nebraska football?  

Once a perennial college football powerhouse, the Cornhuskers program has made its way toward the bottom of a relatively weak (by its own standards) Big 12 conference. 

After achieving legendary status, the Huskers brought in former Oakland Raiders head coach Bill Callahan to lead the team. The Huskers, typically known for running the option system to perfection, all of a sudden began running the West Coast offense, which appeared to be doomed.

Callahan recorded the program's first losing season (5-6 in his first year) in 40 years, including a 70-10 thumping by Texas Tech in Lubbock. After putting together a 5-7 campaign, Callahan was quickly fired and the administration made the right decision by bringing in former defensive coordinator for Nebraska and fellow powerhouse LSU, Bo Pelini.

Pelini, however, doesn't seem to have a handle on things. Granted, it's tough on any first-year coach to come in and restore a team to greatness, but Nebraska was handed its worst home loss (52-17 massacre by Missouri) this weekend and things only get tougher for the Huskers in the following weeks.

To make matters even worse, Missouri QB Chase Daniel called the Cornhuskers "one of the dirtiest teams (he's) ever played" and claimed a Husker spit on him during warm-ups for the contest.

Pelini said he's reviewed the tape of the game and hasn't seen anything particularly dirty, but he has a lot more on his plate than some trash-talking or dirty hits. If he doesn't right this ship, he's going to be the next in a long line of potentially great college football names who have been taken down with one of the nation's best programs.