Watson’s WildcatShawnWatson gets the lastShawnWatson gets the lastlaugh, pulling a Wildcat outlaugh, pulling a Wildcat outof his hat with this effective,of his hat with this effective,multidimensional offense.multidimensional offense.
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WhippedWildcatsArizona thought it wasArizona thought it was
prepared for NU’s defense. Itprepared for NU’s defense. Itwasn’t. “Nothing we did waswasn’t. “Nothing we did wasworking,” Nic Grigsby said.working,” Nic Grigsby said.
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Big Red runawayA full-page photo of NilesA full-page photo of Niles
Paul running past the jubilantPaul running past the jubilantHusker bench for a TD.Husker bench for a TD.
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MoreHuskersPages8C-12C
POSTGAME
Watch video from Bo Pelini’sWatch video from Bo Pelini’spostgame press conference andpostgame press conference and
other postgame interviewsother postgame interviews
Replay the Husker TalkReplay the Husker TalkLive postgame chatLive postgame chat
Omaha.com/bigred
IN SPORTS:IN SPORTS: After a 15-game suspension, Christian Standhardinger counts down the days until his regular-season debut with the NU basketball team. Page 3CAfter a 15-game suspension, Christian Standhardinger counts down the days until his regular-season debut with the NU basketball team. Page 3C
T H U R S D A Y , D E C E M B E R 3 1 , 2 0 0 9 • • GAME 1 4 • 1 2 PAGES • SECT ION C
H O L I D A Y B O W L
33 0
RAZINGARIZONA
Blackshirts bludgeonWildcats as Nebraska’s offense finally hits high gear
Bowl blowout and 10-win season make Husker prospects bright for 2010
MATT M I L LER / THE WORLD -HERA LD
NU’s defense lived up to the hype, shutting out Arizona and holding the Wildcats to 109 total yards. Linebacker Phillip Dillard, left, and safety Larry Asante sent an early message in the first quarter to running back Keola Antolin.
SAN DIEGO — Do you believein omens? Karma? Fish tacos?
Let me put it this way: Whenwas the last time Nebraska wonthe Big 12 championship? Here’sa hint. It was 1999.
OK, now when was the lasttime NU ended the season withthe best team in the land, thoughit didn’t get to play for the wholeenchilada? Again, that would be1999.
Now, for 50 bonus points anda free bike rental at PacificBeach, name the bowl game thatNebraska played in the yearbefore 1999.
That would be the 1998 Holi-day Bowl, last time the Huskersplayed in America’s Finest City.
I’m just saying.Pardon the stretch, but op-
timism reigned on Wednesdaynight, like the light rains thatfell on Qualcomm Stadium.
Nobody was predicting a titlerun in 1998, after Arizona beatNU 23-20. Eleven years later,different story. Much differentstory.
Nebraska beat the Wildcats33-0 on Wednesday night, in agame so ridiculously easy it wasover by the halftime fireworks.The Huskers beat U of A inevery area, and the only upsetwas that it was Nebraska’s of-fense that brought the fireworks.Yet another reason for a sunnyforecast in 2010.
They got the first shutout by aNebraska team in 46 bowls. Nosurprise there. They scored themost points of the season againsta non-Sun Belt team— all onoffense, for those keeping scoreat home and in the press box. Bigsurprise there.
They put an exclamation pointon the first 10-win season since2003, when coach Bo Pelini was
NU steamroller a scary sightfor rest of the Big 12 North
See Shatel: Page 11
SAN DIEGO — Arizona calleda timeout on fourth down at theNebraska 8-yard line. 1:41 left.
The ensuing play carriedabsolutely zero significance tothe outcome of the Holiday Bowl.The Huskers led 33-0. They werefinishing a turbulent 2009 on top.
But during the timeout, Nda-mukong Suh and Barry Turnertraded barbs with Arizona of-fensive linemen.
“What could they say?”linebacker Phillip Dillard said.“They had 5 (total) yards for likean hour and a half.”
Arizona players had calledNebraska’s second-ranked scor-ing defense “overrated.” Theyhad said the Big 12 was “soft.”
At least that’s what Bo Pelinitold his team. (A coachwouldneeeeever embellish or fabricatedetails formotivational purposes.)
On fourth down, P.J. Smithblitzed the quarterback andknocked down Matt Scott’s finalpass. Nebraska’s first-ever bowlshutout was secure.
Except Suh wasn’t done talk-
ing. He had a few last words forthose Wildcats.
When he finally pulled himselfaway from the debate, collegefootball’s best defender didsomething very unlike Ndamu-kong Suh:
He curled his mammoth armsand flexed like Hulk Hogan.
TheHuskers showed characterWednesday night, and that’s nicebecause a frustrating night in Dal-las could’ve left them apathetic.
The Huskers showed chemis-try, and that’s nice because thosefrustrating few months on of-fense could’ve left them at eachother’s throats.
But you know the adjectiveI like best after watching thisridiculous mismatch?
Their biceps flexing, Huskersdeliver message of meanness
TomShatel
See Chatelain: Page 9
DirkChatelain
