Solich Era Starts With a 56-27 Victory

LINCOLN, Neb. —  New coach, same old story for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The Frank Solich era opened with fourth-ranked Nebraska beating Louisiana Tech, 56-27, in the Eddie Robinson Classic on Saturday, although the Bulldogs made a record-setting impression in defeat.

Wide receiver Troy Edwards broke the NCAA all-divisions record for receiving yards by catching 21 passes for 405 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Tim Rattay rocked the Cornhuskers by completing 46 of 68 passes for 590 yards and four touchdowns. Edwards had touchdown catches of 94, 80 and 52 yards in the second half.

Nebraska set no records in its first game in 26 seasons without Tom Osborne as coach, but Bobby Newcombe made an impressive debut at quarterback. He ran for two touchdowns and passed for one as the Cornhuskers scored touchdowns on all five first-half possessions in taking a 35-6 lead.

Solich, the Cornhuskers’ 19-year assistant who replaced Osborne eight months ago, pumped his right fist in the air several times after Newcombe threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Sheldon Jackson on the third play of the game.

Newcombe then ran over to Solich near the sidelines and the two embraced for a few seconds. Solich even smiled, something Osborne did rarely in 25 years as coach.

“That was a tremendous amount of yards, but that’s the way it goes,” Solich said. “There’s no question we’ve got work to do, but for a first ballgame, it’s OK. We’ll take it the way it came.”

On a hot and sticky day, the crowd of 76,021 watched the Cornhuskers win their 43rd consecutive home game and extend the nation’s longest major-college winning streak to 15 games.

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Record-breaker

Louisiana Tech wide receiver Troy Edwards broke the NCAA all-divisions record for receiving yards and quarterback Tim Rattay completed 46 of 68 passes for 590 yards--all record numbers against Nebraska, which won, 56-27. The old receiving yards record of 370 was held by Michael Lerch of Princeton and Barry Wagner of Alabama A&M.;

PLAYER, REC.: YARDS

Troy Edwards, 21: 405

PLAYER, PASS.: YARDS

Tim Rattay, 46 of 68: 590