Callahan's not going to be run out of town on the first flatbed leaving Lincoln. Not going to stay on the bad side of anyone who ever donned a corn-cob hat.
That doesn't mean Callahan is going to be Nebraska's Bob Stoops.
Two ancient rivals, Callahan's Cornhuskers and Stoops' Sooners, collide tonight as the Big 12 football championship commences at Arrowhead Stadium, and it's about danged time.
A dozen years after the Big 12's hatching, finally we get a Big Red finale. We've had Nebraska-Texas twice, Oklahoma-Kansas State twice, Texas-Colorado twice, Oklahoma-Colorado twice, Nebraska-Texas A&M once and Kansas State-Texas A&M once.
But no Oklahoma-Nebraska. Not until now.
What took so long? Well, first the Sooners didn't pull their weight. But even after Joe Castiglione struck gold with Stoops, Nebraska didn't cooperate. The Huskers blew up their bridge and in 2004 started over with Callahan, a West Coast-offense guy hired to win a million miles from the ocean.
Callahan seemed lost his first 20 months in Nebraska. Bewildered, confused, almost angry. Said goofy things. Did goofy stuff. Lost to Kansas, NU's first defeat to the Jayhawks since Lyndon Johnson's presidency.
Callahan was drifting down Schnellenberger Boulevard. In Norman, the Colonel replaced Gary Gibbs (OU's Frank Solich) and was an epic misfit. Went 5-5-1 in Soonerville and was shown the door. Callahan went 5-6 his maiden season and some wondered if he'd survive.
"It's been a rough couple of years, but that's what happens when you're in transition," said Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor. "All the seniors have never played in a championship game. That's kind of unlike Nebraska."
Now the Huskers ride high. Won at Texas A&M. Nearly beat Texas. Won the North Division for the first time since 1999. And thus meet their old slobber-knocking partner for the conference crown.
But is it like old times? Is Nebraska back?
"I like to believe we're getting better," Callahan said. "I see progress across the board.
"Being in this game is a great accomplishment for our players. But we came here to be in this game. That's what Nebraska is all about."
Better? Yes. Championship better, even in a slumped Big 12? No.
Nebraska won the Big 12 North because someone had to. Missouri? Fraud. Kansas State? Feisty but young. Kansas? Mediocre. Colorado? El stinko I. Iowa State? El stinko II.
Again, nothing against Callahan. But he's done only what any reasonable coach would do: lead the Cornhuskers to the North flag.
"I think he knew that by about this time that we'd have a pretty good team," Taylor said. "It was just a matter of time (paraphrasing an old Schnellenberger staple). I think we're peaking at about the right time ... things are really starting to turn around for us."
Taylor would backtrack even under oath, but analyze those statements. "Pretty good team." "Starting to turn around."
That's not the calling card of a champion.
This Oklahoma team is not a vintage Stoops juggernaut. More scrappy than spectacular. More industrious than dynamic.
But the Sooners have played seven straight solid games. The Cornhuskers, despite hearty showings against the Texans, needed overtime to win at home against KU and were avalanched the second half in Stillwater.
The Sooners should be able to run on Nebraska, and the Huskers likely won't be able to run on Oklahoma. There's your ballgame.
Callahan is no Schnellenberger, but he's also no Stoops. Not yet anyway. Oklahoma 27-10.
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