LINCOLN -- Best T-shirt of the day seen on the way to Memorial Stadium goes to young lady wearing one that read: "My Bo-Friend's Back." Yes indeed, the Bo Pelini era at Nebraska kicks off tonight at Memorial Stadium and there's obviously plenty of anticipation for his debut.

It should be a very interesting season, to say the least. Considering East Carolina's victory over Virginia Tech this afternoon, a 4-0 start could be a distinct possibility for the Huskers. Then again, let's see how things go against the Broncos tonight.

The predictions:
--Terry Douglass, sports editor: Nebraska 35, Western Michigan 17
--Dale Miller, staff writer: Nebraska 37, Western Michigan 24
--Brian Ayers, sports writer: Nebraska 31, Western Michigan 10
--Tony Boone, sports writer: Nebraska 28, Western Michigan 20
--Kevin Schuster, sports writer: Nebraska 27, Western Michigan 17

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LINCOLN -- Nebraska released its depth chart for Saturday night's season opener against Western Michigan today.

There were no major surprises with the possible exception of Mike Smith being listed as the No. 1 left tackle ahead of Jaivorio Burkes, who was No. 1 at right tackle going into fall camp, but has missed practice time dealing with blood-pressure issues. Lydon Murtha, listed as the starter at left tackle on the preseason depth chart, is now listed as the starting right tackle.

At I-back, you can add another "or" as now there's not only an "or" between Marlon Lucky and Roy Helu, but also an "or" between Helu and Quentin Castille.

On defense, no preseason depth chart No. 1s were unseated. True freshmen linebackers Will Compton (Mike) and Sean Fisher (Buck) have moved into backup roles.


Nebraska Depth Chart
OFFENSE
Left tackle--Mike Smith, So.; Jaivorio Burkes, So.
Left guard--Mike Huff, Sr.; Keith Williams, So.
Center--Jacob Hickman, Jr.; Mike Caputo, RFr.
Right guard--Matt Slauson, Sr.; D.J. Jones, So.
Right tackle--Lydon Murtha, Sr.; Marcel Jones, RFr.
Tight end--Mike McNeill, So.; Dreu Young, So.; Ryan Hill, RFr.; Ben Cotton, Fr.
Wide receiver (X)--Nate Swift, Sr.; Menelik Holt, Jr.; Will Henry, So.; Chris Brooks, Jr.
Wide receiver (Z)--Todd Peterson, Sr.; Niles Paul, So. (or) Curenski Gilleylen, RFr.
Quarterback--Joe Ganz, Sr.; Patrick Witt, RFr.; Zac Lee, So.
Fullback--Thomas Lawson, Sr.; Justin Makovicka, So.
I-back--Marlon Lucky, Sr. (or) Roy Helu Jr., So. (or) Quentin Castille, So.

DEFENSE
Base end--Zach Potter, Sr.; Clayton Sievers, Sr.
Nose tackle--Ndamukong Suh, Jr.; Shukree Barfield, Sr.; Terrence Moore, RFr.
Defensive tackle--Ty Steinkuhler, Sr.; Jared Crick, RFr.
Open end--Barry Turner, Sr.; Pierre Allen, So.
Will linebacker--Cody Glenn, Sr.; Blake Lawrence, So.
Mike linebacker--Phillip Dillard, Jr.; Will Compton, Fr.; Colton Koehler, Jr.
Buck linebacker--Tyler Wortman, Sr.; Sean Fisher, Fr.
Right cornerback--Anthony West, So.; Prince Amukamara, So.
Strong safety--Larry Asante, Jr.; Major Culbert, Jr.
Free safety--Rickey Thenarse, Jr.; Matt O’Hanlon, Sr.
Left cornerback--Armando Murillo, Sr.; Eric Hagg, So.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Place-kicker--Alex Henery, So. (or) Adi Kunalic, So.
Punter--Dan Titchener, Sr.; Jake Wesch, Sr.
Long snapper--T.J. O'Leary, Sr.; Justin Baumgartner, Sr.
Punt returns--Nate Swift, Sr.; Niles Paul, So.
Kickoff returns--Larry Asante, Jr.; Niles Paul, So.

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With quarterback Josh Freeman set to enter his junior year at Kansas State, the story of how he de-committed from Nebraska to sign with the Wildcats and coach Ron Prince is old news.

However, Freeman did touch on the subject at last month’s Big 12 media days, noting how Prince won him over back in December of 2005.

“At that time, I would say I was maybe kind of wavering in my commitment to Nebraska,” Freeman said. “Missouri coaches have been in my ear, my dad really wanted me to go visit Oklahoma and several coaches were wanting to schedule in-home visits.”

After Prince was named the head coach at Kansas State, Freeman was told by his father that Prince wanted want of those in-home visits.

“At that point, I didn’t really even seen Kansas State anywhere in the picture,” Freeman said. “I was like, ‘Well, it’s his time. He can waste it if he wants.”

Freeman said Prince arrived soon after and visited with his parents for an hour before he got home from school. Then, he started putting the full-court press on Freeman.

“Man, he just really blew us out of the water and with just the type of man he was,” Freeman said. “Coach Prince had similar types of beliefs and morals and the type of stuff we believed in. My parents loved him.

“I still wasn’t sold on the idea of coming to Kansas State, but in the back of my mind, I was kind of thinking (Prince) was the right guy to play for.”

Freeman said he then took an unofficial visit to KSU’s campus in Manhattan, Kan., on a December day during the semester break to check things out.

“It was like a ghost town and a cloudy day and I was thinking, ‘Why would I want to come here?” Freeman said. “But I talked to my parents about it, prayed about it and it ended up being the right decision.”

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It's difficult to believe, but it's coming up on five years this November since Frank Solich was fired as the head coach at Nebraska, despite his 58-19 record. Since the controversial move, Solich has guided Ohio to a 19-18 record over the past three years and took the program to its first bowl game in 38 years (2006 GMAC Bowl).

In Saturday's edition of The Sporting News Today, Solich was the subject of a brief Q&A for the online magazine. Of course, Solich was asked about the biggest adjustment from coaching at Nebraska to coaching at Ohio.

Solich's response: "There is interest in athletics here, but the interest at Nebraska really is at the top. You look at the fact that it is the only Division I school in the state, and we have several Division I schools here (in Ohio). The competition for support is a lot different than what it was at Nebraska."

Read Solich's complete Q&A here.

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Grand Island Central Catholic graduate Tyler Wortman is featured in a story posted Tuesday on www.huskers.com.

The senior linebacker entered fall camp Monday as the starter on the depth chart at the "Buck" linebacker position. The story details Wortman's now-infamous knock down of the staged option play pitch in the spring game as well as his academic accomplishments at Nebraska.

As the story notes, Wortman is a recipient of both a Regents and Kiewit Scholarship. He owns a 3.956 grade-point average, majoring in mechanical engineering, and the first-team academic All-Big 12 selection is scheduled to graduate in May 2009.

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I'm guessing most Husker fans already have the DVRs fired up for this one, but just in case ...


FSN previews the 2008 Nebraska football season in a 30-minute special premiering Saturday and airing throughout August on FSN Kansas City and FSN Midwest.


FSN’s Nebraska Football Preview includes:

· An interview with new head coach Bo Pelini

· A profile of quarterback Joe Ganz

· Interviews with offensive lineman Matt Slauson and defensive end Barry Turner

· A review of the Huskers 2007 season

· Analysis of Nebraska’s competition in the Big 12 North



The Nebraska Football Preview airs at the following dates and times on FSN Kansas City and FSN Midwest:

· Saturday, Aug. 2 at 3 p.m.

· Monday, Aug. 4 at 9 p.m. (FSN Midwest only)

· Monday, Aug. 4 at 11:30 p.m. (FSN Kansas City only)

· Saturday, Aug. 9 at 12 p.m.

· Saturday, Aug. 16 at 2:30 p.m. (FSN Midwest only)

· Monday, Aug. 18 at 9:30 p.m.

· Friday, Aug. 22 at 12 p.m.

· Friday, Aug. 22 at 10:30 p.m. (FSN Kansas City only)

· Saturday, Aug. 23 at 8 p.m. (FSN Midwest only)

· Monday, Aug. 25 at 9:30 p.m. (FSN Midwest only)

· Saturday, Aug. 30 at 1:30 p.m.


The Nebraska Preview will also air on other FSN regional networks. Check local listings for dates and times. FSN is also producing football previews for other schools in the Big 12. Air dates on FSN Midwest and FSN Kansas City for those shows can be found at FoxSports.com/Midwest or FoxSports.com/Kansas City.


- FSN -

(all times central)

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