LINCOLN — Matt O'Hanlon is the second-oldest player on the Nebraska football team. He'll be 24 in a few days, nearly three years older than some of his senior classmates.
Funny thing, though, how many of those same Huskers are standing in as protective older brothers this week for O'Hanlon.
“I don't believe Matt's name should be thrown out there the way it's been,” said senior Larry Asante, Nebraska's other starting safety. “He didn't lose that game. We lose as a team. We win as a team. It's never on an individual's shoulders.”
O'Hanlon missed a big assignment for all to see at the worst time Saturday in the Huskers' 16-15 loss to Virginia Tech.
With the Huskers in a cover-two zone as the Hokies faced second down-and-six from their 16-yard line in the final 90 seconds, O'Hanlon bit on a Tyrod Taylor pump fake toward the middle of the field. The safety's hesitation allowed Tech receiver Danny Coale to break free on a post route. Taylor hit him in stride.
A nightmare for any defensive back.
O'Hanlon caught Coale after the sophomore had gained 81 yards to set up the game-winning touchdown pass three plays later.
“It wasn't his fault,” junior cornerback Prince Amukamara said. “We could have finished the game and never been in a position for that play to matter.”
NU coaches and teammates stand behind the two-year starter out of Bellevue East this week as O'Hanlon battles to move forward. He did not talk to the news media after the game and declined interview requests this week.
“I've been there,” said Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, a former safety at Ohio State. “You recover. You make a mistake. Unfortunately, it wasn't just the safety. There were a couple things that contributed to that happening. You get it corrected. People are going to analyze it and point and say that was Matt O'Hanlon only, but it wasn't.
“I think he'll be fine. He's a strong, tough-minded kid. People forget it's the same kid who knocked the ball down in the Gator Bowl to save that football game.”
Pelini's resounding message?
“One play doesn't define somebody.”
Especially not O'Hanlon.
He made the team as an uninvited walk-on in 2005 and emerged last year to start nine games and rank third on the team in tackles. His pass breakup against C.J. Spiller of Clemson helped save the Huskers' Gator Bowl win.
This year, O'Hanlon's 15 tackles rank third on the team. He's forced a fumble and intercepted a pass.
And his sack of Taylor for an 8-yard loss on the play immediately after the 81-yard pass put the Huskers back in position to win.
The key now for O'Hanlon, according to senior safety Rickey Thenarse, is to make sure the mistake doesn't stay with him on the field as the Huskers host Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday night.
“Just forget about the play,” Thenarse said. “Move on and don't let that play haunt you or get you down. It's a long season. Every team goal we have is still up there. We're all moving on as a team and supporting him. Just don't let it happen again. We all know mistakes happen.
“We really don't have to say anything to him. We went over it as a team. We went over it as a position. Focus. That was all it was.”
Contact the writer:
402-473-9587, mitch.sherman@owh.com
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