Friday was an opportunity for redemption.
And with a 45-17 win against Colorado to clinch the Big 12 North Division title, consider Nebraska Cornhusker quarterback Cody Green and coach Bo Pelini redeemed.
Six days after a loss to Texas A&M in which Green was pulled in favor of a hobbled Taylor Martinez and Pelini came under scrutiny for his repeated outbursts at officials, both men were in top form against the Buffaloes.
Green said outside skepticism about how the Huskers would rebound didn’t become a distraction.
“It was almost scary how focused people were,” he said. “We started off on Monday flying around. It was almost like everyone had an inner clock, an inner drive in them.”
Taking on a Colorado team that had won two straight and would have become bowl eligible with another victory, Green led the Huskers with two passing touchdowns and a running score in his fourth career start.
After solid but unspectacular performances as a backup and in his only other 2010 start against Iowa State, coaches were asked last week whether Green’s development had been disappointing. They said no, and after the sophomore quarterback completed 10 of 13 passes Friday for 80 yards, Pelini said his belief in Green never wavered.
“Cody Green played a tremendous football game,” Pelini said. “I’ve said all along, we have a lot of confidence in him.”
And after whittling away the Buffalo defense with a power run offense sprinkled with just enough passes, Pelini said Green should feel more secure if he’s needed to start Saturday’s Big 12 Championship game against Oklahoma.
“It has to give him a jolt of confidence,” Pelini said, “playing in this kind of situation and stepping up the way he did.”
NU offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said after Green lost the starting job to Martinez, he took defeat with grace. That made seeing Green seize Friday’s opportunity all the more satisfying.
“He’s a servant to the team,” Watson said. “He’s a real team player. He’s never batted an eye. He’s just been positive, upbeat, enthusiastic about everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s just embraced his role.”
Nebraska’s offensive attack started slow, with a 42-yard Alex Henery field goal accounting for the first quarter’s only points. Henery would later tie Kris Brown as Nebraska’s all-time leader in points scored.
But a second quarter scoring sprint from running back Rex Burkhead — who finished with 101 yards on the ground — and a touchdown pass from Burkhead to Brandon Kinnie gave the Huskers a 17-3 halftime lead.
Green got in on the scoring with a third-quarter touchdown throw to Kinnie before Burkhead, who ran several plays out of the wildcat offense, salvaged a broken play by flicking a 4-yard touchdown to Kyler Reed.
Green then capped his three-touchdown afternoon with a 1-yard scoring pass to Reed and a quarterback sneak to the end zone that canceled out Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins’ two third-quarter passing touchdowns.
With Martinez sidelined with two separate foot injuries and Zac Lee battling back from an arm injury, Green managed a turnover-free game in what might have been the most hectic week yet of Pelini’s tenure.
After drawing criticism from national pundits and even UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman for his criticism of officials during last week’s game against the Aggies, a calmer Pelini said Friday’s game showed the true character of Green and his program.
“I think our team showed resiliency over and over for a long time,” he said. “A lot of people tried to tear this team apart, and we weren’t going to let it happen.”
And after losing playing time to both Martinez and Lee earlier this season, Green said Friday provided redemption and validation after a year that has, at times, proved trying.
“It’s a little pride thing,” he said. “I’m not a guy who just gives up. I can always say that there’s times that it’s been rough, but you just have to keep going.”