Corn-fed to Callahan: win now.(College Football)

Nebraska fans are among the classiest, most knowledgeable and most supportive fans in college football. Bowl directors love them, and opposing coaches appreciate the way the Children of the Corn conduct themselves at games. Still, don't assume Bill Callahan caught a break from pressure when he got the premier job in the heartland after he was ousted in Oakland, one year after guiding the Raiders to the Super Bowl.

When Callahan took the field last week for his first spring practice at Nebraska, he had one of the toughest acts to follow in college football. This has little to do with replacing Frank Solich, who was not an endearing figure in Lincoln. Solich was a nice man who took the Cornhuskers to the national championship game in 2001. But Solich's biggest failure was his inability to keep up with Texas and Oklahoma in recruiting. He allowed Nebraska to fall from its perch, lust consider that Solich received his walking papers after a 10-win season.

No, Callahan is on the spot because former NFL coaches have become college football's miracle workers, and it can be seen at all levels of Division I-A. Pete Carroll guided Southern California to a national championship in his third year. June Jones pulled off the biggest turnaround in NCAA history by going 9-4 at Hawaii in 1999 a year after the Rainbow Warriors were winless without him. In 2003, his first season, Steve Kragthorpe took Tulsa from 1-11 to 8-5 and its first bowl game since 1991.

Pat Hill has made Fresno State a force on the West Coast. Kirk Ferentz has restored pride at Iowa. Les Miles is building a solid program at Oklahoma State, and Al Groh is doing the same at Virginia.

Callahan is being asked to move the Huskers forward--as in the forward pass--in the span of 15 spring practice sessions. That might constitute a minor miracle, considering Nebraska has been entrenched in the option offense for decades and led the nation in rushing in 13 of the past 24 seasons. The option gave the Huskers an identity and three national championships.

For an offense that often was as subtle as a sledgehammer, switching to the West Coast offense will be a quantum leap. Just ask Tyrone Willingham about making the transition at Notre Dame.

Such a move usually warrants a grace period, but Callahan will not have that luxury. Nebraska allows little room for slippage even in a league with Kansas State, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas. Then there is the matter of Callahan's Super Bowl experience. That means super expectations.