Huskers downplay revenge factor against Kansas

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Nebraska's trip to Kansas last season resulted in a costly lesson for the Cornhuskers, one they say they're better off for now.

Kansas beat Nebraska 40-15 last year for its first win over the Cornhuskers since 1968. The Jayhawks travel to Lincoln for the Big 12 opener for both schools on Saturday night, but Nebraska players say they aren't using revenge as a motivating factor.

"Whoever we were going to play that week, it just wasn't one of our finer games," quarterback Zac Taylor said. "Kansas happened to be the team that got the best of us. That really kind of springboarded us into the success we've had."

The No. 21 Huskers are 6-1 since then, including an Alamo Bowl win over Michigan.

During preseason practice, secondary coach Phil Elmassian addressed the team for a half hour about the Kansas loss. His message: It made the Huskers who they are.

"Coach Elmassian believed that was our turnaround game," linebacker Corey McKeon said. "We realized how we could play as a team when we played well, and how we played when we played poorly.

"He asked us, 'Do you want to play like you did in the Kansas game or like you did in the Michigan game?' Everyone, obviously, chose the Michigan game."

The Huskers pulled to 17-15 in the third quarter before the Jayhawks scored 23 straight points. They had two 100-yard rushers.

The last time the Huskers had lost to the Jayhawks, Lyndon Johnson was president, the Beatles were all the rage, coach Bill Callahan was in seventh grade and running backs coach Randy Jordan hadn't been born.

The loss last year was the Huskers' third straight and dropped them to 5-4, prompting a reporter to ask Callahan the following week: "If you were athletic director, would you fire yourself?"

"You always want to continue a streak like that because it's fun for the fans," Taylor said. "Kansas is a good team, and eventually it was going to happen. Unfortunately, it was last year, and now we have to start a new streak."

Callahan said he wouldn't even remind the players about the loss.

"Everyone wants to know about revenge," McKeon said. "If you watch last year, and you see our game versus Kansas and our game versus Michigan, those are two different teams.

"When we played to our full potential, we were able to beat any team in the country. If we play like we played against Kansas -- with a lot of mental errors, a lot of mistakes -- we can get pounded by anyone. That's how college football is now. You can get beat by anyone at any time."