Football
Associated Press 16y

Nebraska, Texas A&M try to put distractions to the side

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The famous words are inscribed across the
west side of Memorial Stadium: "Not The Victory But the Action."

With Texas A&M coming to play Nebraska on Saturday, it might as
well read: "Not The Victory But the Distraction."

At Nebraska this week, athletic director Steve Pederson was
fired, Cornhusker coaching legend Tom Osborne was named to replace
him temporarily, and the heat on coach Bill Callahan was cranked up
another degree or two.

Texas A&M, meanwhile, is coming off a 35-7 loss at Texas Tech,
which followed the administration's figurative spanking of coach
Dennis Franchione for putting out a secretive for-pay newsletter to
boosters. Franchione's job status, like Callahan's, is in jeopardy.

Callahan said he's trying to stick to his game week routine, but
it's not easy.

"We're all human," he said. "The guys on the staff, they have
families and children, and they hear things and see things. It's
not very comfortable. If your job is in the position where people
were talking about you every day, it's not a real good feeling."

Coaches from both teams say their task is to keep their players'
minds on what happens on the field.

"The thing I try to implore on them is, 'Don't let someone else
steal your season,' because that's what happens," Aggies defensive
coordinator Gary Darnell said. "Don't let somebody sitting out
there, watching, seeing, writing, talking, steal your season,
because you're not going to get another one."

The Texas A&M game starts the most important five-game stretch
of Callahan's four seasons at Nebraska. Pederson hired Callahan and
provided unwavering support. Osborne said he would make no decision
on Callahan until after the last game.

Nebraska (4-3, 1-2 Big 12) has been outscored 86-20 in its last
two games. Osborne, in an interview this week, bemoaned the
Huskers' lack of competitiveness in the 45-14 loss to Oklahoma
State last Saturday.

After playing the Aggies, Nebraska has three straight games
against opponents now ranked in the Top 25 -- visits to Texas and
Kansas and a home game with Kansas State. The Huskers finish with
improving Colorado.

Callahan senses the pressure: "It's looking at you right in the
eye. I don't dismiss it. I try to keep it on the peripheral and try
to focus in on the job at hand. It is hard."

Texas A&M (5-2, 2-1) has been awful in its two road games,
getting outscored 69-24 by Miami and Texas Tech. But the Aggies are
catching the Huskers when they are vulnerable, and a win would let
them keep pace with Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State in the
Big 12 South.

"We're both coming off losses, so there's a lot of incentive
for both of us to win," Aggies defensive end Chris Harrington
said. "That's college football. If you're not winning, then you're
going to have critics and there are going to be consequences."

Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller said he and his teammates can't
let themselves worry about Pederson's firing or the situation with
Callahan.

"We as players have a very simple job. That's to go out and
play and practice hard and go to school," Keller said. "This
change, it really is a decision that's made so far above us that we
try not to let it affect our thinking."

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