You could almost feel it in my living room. My house is just a little over 800 miles away from Lincoln, Nebraska, and I swear I felt it. A powerful void pulled years of tradition, expectation, pride and self respect from Memorial Stadium and left a vacuum. The Husker heart was broken on October 8th this season, and it has not recovered.

The week prior, Nebraska pulled out a thriller in overtime against Iowa State. Theyd been pushed to the limit, but they pushed back and won. It was now time to extract revenge on a school that had done the unthinkable and hung 70 points, a record, on the proud Cornhuskers.

Who knew? Who could have known that Nebraska would sink this far this fast? LeKevin Smiths fumble surely couldnt be the straw that broke the Huskers back, could it? Joel Filani didnt really remove their hearts with a rusty spoon, did he?

Aside from a win the following week at Baylor, Nebraska is in shambles. Theyve lost three straight. They havent lost four consecutive games since 1961, before some of these players parents were born.. Missouri bullied them into a 41-24 victory, with Brad Smith exposing the once vaunted Blackshirt defense as a meek assembly of inexperienced underclassmen. Smith threw for 246 yards, ran for 234 more, and with 2:38 left in the third broke the 24-24 tie, and the game with a 45 yard streak to the endzone.

The next week brought a weaker than usual Oklahoma team to town. The rivalry lacked its normal hype and attention, but both teams needed the win. The Sooners jumped out to a 24-3 lead just after the half and though they tried, Nebraska could not catch up, losing 31-24.

Finally last week, the apex of the Huskers humiliation came to pass in ending a 36 year win streak against the Jayhawks. In Lawrence, which was almost a second home in that theyd won 18 straight there, Nebraska gave up 40 points to team that hasnt scored more than 17 against a Big 12 opponent. The Huskers, once the gold standard of rushing attacks, gained just 21 yards on 22 carries.

Nebraska has just two opportunities to qualify for a bowl. The first, this week against Kansas State, has historically proven difficult. The Huskers lost the last three by an average of 30 points. Then next week they make the trip to Colorado for a rivalry showdown with the North division leaders. Without a win in either of these games, the Cornhuskers will miss a bowl in consecutive years. That hasnt happened since 1961 either.

So whats the resolution? Many of the Husker faithful are willing to give Bill Callahan more time, as long as he can keep his hands in his pockets or at his sides at all times. But this may have more to do with confidence than it does with Xs and Os. Its hard to believe that this season might not be a resounding success were it not for that fateful dagger delivered by Hodges to Filani.

In each of the last four losses, the wagon was shaking just before the wheels came off. Against Missouri, it was the 45 yard run by Smith to cap a 97 yard drive. The lead was clipped to 24-17 just after the fourth quarter began against the Sooners, and Kansas was up just 17-15 with 6:19 left in the third. Theyve shown an ability to get back into games, but they cant close it out.

Theyre a young team and next year should be better. The offense, when the players can actually grasp it, could be lethal. Callahans recruiting is first rate, and the Husker fan base has shown theyre willing to stand behind him and give the time he needs.

But in a game of inches, everything from attitude to the length of the grass counts. Nebraska has displayed no killer instinct all season, opting instead to play unmotivated, void of intensity and fire. The Huskers, banging on their chest at the beginning of the season for respect, need to show some for themselves. What began a year of promise is turning into one of embarrassment, and only the Huskers can save themselves.