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	T O P   N E W S

And are better off for it.

The day of thunder started with a published report that junior I-back DeAngelo Evans had quit the team. Even before he confirmed Evans' departure later in the day, Nebraska coach Frank Solich started his weekly media briefing by dropping a couple of other incendiary devices.

Backup Eric Crouch was made the starting quarterback. But not only did previous starter Bobby Newcombe lose his job, he lost his position. Beginning Saturday against Southern Mississippi, Newcombe will play wingback (essentially a slot receiver in Nebraska's offense) and return punts.

When Big Red heads stop spinning they should realize these are the final, agonizing death throes of the Tom Osborne era. Solich is trying to gain control instead of letting the program spin out of it.

Few programs switch coaches seamlessly, even national powers. Washington paid Rick Neuheisel $1 million and then watched him break NCAA rules. Colorado's Gary Barnett had his team so ill-prepared for Colorado State 10 days ago, the Buffs suffered their worst opening-day loss in 20 years.

Notre Dame, Georgia, Michigan, Southern California, Oklahoma ... you name it, even the superpowers have had serious problems adjusting to new coaches over the years. For some reason, we seemed to think Nebraska was above all that.

It wasn't.

Failure, though, is relative. Nebraska went 9-4 last season, losing that many games for the first time in 30 years. In the last three weeks, three players have quit or threatened to quit.

But another way to look at it is that it has been only 19 months since Solich took over Osborne, who ran the program to various amounts of criticism for 25 years, before being canonized with three national titles in four seasons (1994, 1995, 1997).

So, in a way, Solich is just beginning.

Two weeks ago, Solich and receivers coach Ron Brown chased Crouch, a sophomore, back to his old Omaha high school. They were worried that Crouch had left Lincoln sulking or worse -- quit the team -- the day Newcombe, a junior, was named starter. Crouch denied quitting the team, but why would a couple of coaches pull up stakes in the middle of the week just to say hi to the Millard North coach?

Last week, backup I-back Correll Buckhalter missed three practices upset over the lack of playing time. Buckhalter eventually returned.

All the while, the quarterback situation had become a hot potato as Crouch and Newcombe shared time. Even though Crouch's overall stats were better, Newcombe continued to start.

"It's probably been the toughest couple of weeks in coaching for me," Solich said Tuesday. "Not everyone can be the No. 1 guy. Sometimes those decisions can create problems with players on your team. But I don't think if you look at our football team you'll see a wholesale unity problem or a problem with our chemistry."

And that is what Nebraska football is all about. Win quietly and keep any turmoil within the family. With all that has been swirling around them, the 2-0 Huskers are ranked fourth in the country and have not allowed an offensive touchdown.

"A team in turmoil, it shows on Saturday," said Solich, a trusted Osborne assistant for 19 years. "To me, that's losing control. If you look at our team in general you'll come away with a great feeling."

Huskers players tend to speak the company line like they are the Stepford Wives. But that's the beauty of the program's existence. Except for the odd Lawrence Phillips, it mostly is neat as a pin.

Bobby Newcombe will now get a chance to showcase his skills more at wingback and returning punts.(AP)

"Why would anybody want to leave Nebraska?" Newcombe said. "I gave my word on a letter of intent that I would come here. I followed through with it."

There was speculation late last season that Newcombe had left the team when he went home to Albuquerque, N.M. after knee surgery. Talk was so rampant that Newcombe had to hold his own press conference upon his return to explain himself.

Newcombe returned ready to play this season but apparently his knee didn't. That's probably what fueled Solich's ultimate decision Tuesday. Newcombe was being compared to the legendary Turner Gill when he came to Nebraska in 1997. It is now obvious that his reconstructed knee isn't the same. His greatest talent -- making defenders miss -- has been eroded.

So he was moved to a familiar position. As a freshman, Newcombe played wingback and averaged 20.3 yards on punt returns. Assuming those same duties, he can play more on instinct and not worry about knowing when to pitch. His move back to those roles should also improve his stock to the NFL.

The switch should benefit all involved. It became obvious when Solich took over that he was tweaking the offense. Osborne's I-option was devastating in its time but Solich decided the offense needed to throw more. With the emergence of the press defense and run blitzes, Nebraska needed to evolve.

Cal stacked the line Saturday and held Nebraska to 114 rushing yards. Crouch and Newcombe were forced to pass to beat the Bears. They each threw a touchdown pass and combined for 20.7 yards per attempt.

"The best interest of our team is why this was done," Crouch said. "I think this is really going to improve our offense."

A decision had to be made with Nebraska entering the meat of its schedule. In the next two weeks the Huskers face Southern Miss and Missouri, two strong defensive teams. After that, it's the chase after the Big 12 title it lost last season.

Solich has beaten coaches like Lloyd Carr and John Cooper to the punch by sorting out his situation. Forced into action after Newcombe's injury last year, Crouch played surprisingly well with the job all to himself.

Evans' departure might be a blessing. He came out of Wichita, Kan., three years ago as the next Barry Sanders. He'll return with a sore hamstring and a degree if he follows through his vow to pursue a communications studies degree.

Evans couldn't complain about playing time because he didn't deserve it more than able-bodied junior Dan Alexander. Evans' body is so beat up that football is no longer an option. Neither is transferring. If he did, Evans would have to petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. This is a case of a once-great athlete who wisely gave up the game.

In four seasons, Evans has played in only 16 games. Since the 1996 Big 12 championship game he has 301 yards in five games. Against Cal, he rushed six times for five yards.

Solich's housecleaning is by no means complete. His regime cannot yet be fully judged. A lack of depth will more than likely catch up with the Huskers later this season. They are overrated in the polls and short of talent on the field.

But it is not a sign that Solich has lost control, just that he has steered the mighty program away from a cliff. For now.