LINCOLN, Neb. — Bo Pelini downplays the notion that maybe, just maybe, Nebraska is on the verge of recapturing its past glory on the gridiron.Unlike his predecessor, he knows and embraces the history of the program he took over.
So he knows that what his first Cornhuskers team accomplished would have elicited little more than a pat on the back, if that, in the Bob Devaney-Tom Osborne era.
"We're not in the business of celebrating nine-win seasons at Nebraska," Pelini said.
Understandable, considering that the Cornhuskers strung together 33 consecutive seasons of at least nine victories from 1969-2001 and won five national championships.
After a four-year malaise under coach Bill Callahan, which followed the firing of Osborne's hand-picked successor, Frank Solich, Nebraska fans were rejoicing in a four-win improvement to 9-4 in 2008, Pelini's first season.
With wins in six of the last seven games, including a thrilling 26-21 Gator Bowl win over Clemson, all signs point to the Huskers becoming relevant again on the national scene.
Nebraska, the Big 12 North favorite, has its share of potential flaws — quarterback, receivers, linebackers among them. But fans, many of whom wear "In Bo We Trust" T-shirts, are convinced Pelini is the right man at the right time.
Pelini refuses to get caught up in the excitement. He's repeated through preseason practices that the team has a long way to go to meet his expectations, let alone match the level of the powerful squads of yesteryear.
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