Just blame Bo.

After No. 6 Nebraska’s closer-than-expected 17-3 win over South Dakota State on Saturday, coach Bo Pelini said he was at fault for his team’s poor showing.

“It was pretty much a team effort in being a bad football team today,” Pelini said. “That comes back squarely to the head coach.”

Saturday’s game was the third win this season to get negative reviews from Pelini.

After allowing 10 points against Western Kentucky, Pelini called his defense “an absolute embarrassment.”

The next week’s 38-17 victory over Idaho earned the offense what Pelini called a “you-know-what chewing.” A 56-21 thumping of Washington earned some praise from Pelini, but he said the game against the Jackrabbits left him “disappointed.”

“I always believe when you walk out there you’re going to get better or you’re going to get worse,” he said Saturday. “We got worse.”

But with the SDSU game coming only a week after the 4-0 Huskers easily dispatched Washington, Pelini said he still believes in his team.

“I’m not pushing the panic button because this is the same football team that went out to Washington last week and played pretty good football,” he said.

Before the game last week, Pelini said he would prefer to not schedule Division I FCS teams like the Jackrabbits. But afterward, he said the close game didn’t come as a result of Nebraska taking SDSU lightly.

“I thought our attention, our practices were good,” Pelini said. “They did a good job, don’t get me wrong.”

Sophomore wide receiver Tim Marlowe agreed, saying the tight game came from Jackrabbit execution and not Cornhusker complacency.

“We definitely prepared just as hard for this game as we did for any other,” he said. “But this team came out and really hit us in the mouth for a while.”

Sophomore quarterback Cody Green, however, said gaps in preparation were evident in Nebraska’s performance.

“We just weren’t prepared,” he said.

“I don’t think we came in there and had the same mindset we had against Washington. You hate to have that, but I think I could see it. We went out there thinking we were going to break a few runs. We couldn’t look at it like that. You have to let the game come to you.”

The lack of a rushing attack was one of many disappointments for the Huskers.

Entering Saturday, Nebraska ranked fourth nationally with an average of 344 rushing yards per game. But instead of having three 100-yard rushers like against Washington, the Huskers mustered only 205 yards the ground.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez, who was benched in favor of Green in the second half, also failed to summon the breakaway speed and passing consistency that had earned him comparisons to Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch.

Martinez still led the team with 75 yards rushing, but lost a fumble and was 6-for-14 passing with two interceptions.

Pelini said he didn’t hesitate to pull Martinez from the game, but added that poor coaching contributed to his struggles.

“He had a tough game,” Pelini said. “I can promise you the guys around him didn’t do anything to make it any better, and we as coaches sure as heck didn’t do a good job of helping the guy.”

And with a week off before opening Big 12 Conference play against Kansas State on Oct. 7, Pelini said his team will need to focus on executing the plays that caused problems against SDSU. But he said he blame for Saturday belongs to him.

“It all comes down to our football team wasn’t ready to play for whatever reason,” he said. “That comes squarely back to the guy in charge. I take responsibility.”

Lincoln offers its citizens the basic elements of Midwestern culture: friendly people, shopping malls, Husker football, grade-A beef and a variety of Wal-Mart locations throughout the city. Yet beyond Nebraska’s borders exists a world full of culture unlike our own, and the only way to experience it is to get the heck out of here.

For a large portion of U. Nebraska-Lincoln students, studying abroad is a great way to experience another culture while learning within their fields of study. According to the Office of International Affairs, nearly 800 UNL students studied abroad during the 2009-2010 school year.

“I think that the international and intercultural experience that you can gain through study abroad is almost expected of graduates now,” said Sarah Barr, an advisor for study abroad programs. “To be able to compete you have to have it.”

Although studying abroad is purported to be such an important factor in achieving success post-graduation, students may wonder how they can accomplish such a venture. For many prospective study abroad students, there are barriers involved.

“I want to see how other cultures work and it would be a great experience,” said Eddie Merrill, a freshman marketing major. “But it’s too much money.”

Money being a major limiting factor for students doesn’t have to keep them from pursuing this academic goal.

“If finances are something students worry about, the earlier they start, the better,” Barr said. “UNL is really lucky because we have people in financial aid that specialize in study abroad. They know about all the financial stuff and how it works with specific study abroad programs.”

Students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be considered,

“As a first priority, we always encourage students to complete the FAFSA,” said Caroline Routh, assistant director of Scholarship and Financial Aid. “Then we can look into scholarships – the Federal Pell Grant, as well as institutional scholarships.”

Barr suggests attending a GO session as a first step in the study abroad process, offered three times per week at the Office of International Affairs.

“A GO session is not a commitment. We will discuss the four different kinds of study abroad programs and the barriers involved: language, scheduling and credit transfer,” Barr said. “The earlier they can come in and start their research the better.”

Madeline Daly, a junior finance major, said her time abroad in Tokyo was worthwhile.

“I knew I wanted to see something different,” Daly said. “Of course studying abroad looks good on a resume. But really, it also helps you grow as a person, just by getting out of your comfort zone. It can be scary, but it’s worth it.”

Riding the bus between East and City campuses or from an off-campus residence to the U. Nebraska-Lincoln is a daily routine for many students. Other students, however, are unsure how to use the bus services that UNL and the City of Lincoln offer.

Some college towns have well-established bus services for students, while others lack any bus service at all.

UNL and Iowa State U. in Ames, Iowa, both have bus systems for student use, but route schedules vary widely.

ISU’s bus system CyRide is utilized by ISU students and Ames residents alike. It even has a Moonlight Express services which runs from 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. on weekends with both fixed routes and on-call shuttles. The bus is a popular mode of transportation in Ames, with 5,002,146 total riders in 2009, according to CyRide.com.

At UNL, there are two fixed intercampus routes and a perimeter route. These are through Lincoln’s city-owned bus system, StarTran. Students pay $8.94 per semester as a part of the student fees for bus passes allowing free ridership for the school year. This includes all City of Lincoln buses, not just intercampus routes.

The intercampus buses run from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The perimeter bus route runs from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday only. Students can board at any of 11 stops on City Campus and nine on East Campus.

As for buses going elsewhere in Lincoln, students may be at a loss as to where they can board a bus traveling to places other than the two campuses.

Linda Wisehart, an office assistant for StarTran, said there are several locations near campus where students may catch a bus to the greater Lincoln area.

“Some of the buses will go to 13th and Q,” she said. “All buses go to the Gold’s building on 10th and O streets and the State Office Building on 14th and M.”

StarTran city buses run from 5:15 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5:55 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. Saturdays. There is no service on Sundays or on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Lauren Long, a junior psychology major who takes the bus almost everyday, said the intercampus buses are much improved from years past.

“I think it’s a lot better this year,” she said. “It’s really convenient. You never have to worry about not getting a seat. There’s never overcrowding.”

Franque Thompson, a senior broadcast journalism major, has experience taking a city bus getting to and from campus.

“It was pretty timely,” she said. “I had never really ridden the bus before, so it was a new experience.”

Thompson said the biggest adjustment was getting used to the schedule.

“It doesn’t come every five minutes like the ones on campus do,” she said. “I had to plan my schedule accordingly.”

She also said she thinks it would be more convenient if the buses had a specific drop-off point, so students who don’t live very far from campus don’t have to wait 20 minutes for the bus to complete its route before stopping near her home.

Mansour Alrsheed, a senior electrical engineering major, said he thinks the buses are not always the fastest option.

“Sometimes if I walk it’s faster than if I ride the bus,” he said.

Hannah Werth has got it.

Call it confidence, swagger or simply attitude, but whatever it is, the sophomore from Springfield, Ill., has it.

From painting her nails “fun colors” to embracing her new on-court eyewear, Werth is comfortable with her place on the Nebraska volleyball team.

It’s that comfort that fuels her to be a force for the No. 3 Huskers.

The reigning Big 12 Freshman Of The Year learned about pressure last year.

In NU’s run to the Elite Eight, Werth put up big numbers hitting the ball to power the Huskers, but what was more impressive was her defensive play in the postseason.

After putting up back-to-back double-doubles in the first two NCAA Tournament matches, Werth fell one kill shy of a third double-double in the upset of Iowa State.

This year, Werth has shown the same inspired play on defense, and has become a key component to Nebraska’s ability to put pressure on opponents.

So far this season, Werth has seven solo blocks in just 43 sets. Compare that to her eleven solo blocks in 103 sets last year, and it’s easy to see the difference a year makes.

For Werth, stepping it up on defense was just her way to find comfort in the NU system.

“It’s something that Nebraska prides itself on is blocking and defense,” Werth said.

“We train so hard for that. I’m just trying to help us do our best as a whole and so far it shows on the court.”

The impressive part about Werth’s play is that with her increase in defensive achievement has also come an increase in her hitting numbers.

After battling illness early in the year, Werth has come up big since conference play kicked off two weeks ago. In their four Big 12 matches, Werth has been second on the team with 3.31 kills per set, a dramatic increase from her early season numbers.

And it’s not just about what she’s doing, but when she’s doing it.

In last week’s match against Kansas, the Huskers stormed out to a 2-1 lead after dropping the first set, but the Jayhawksanswered in the fourth set to make things interesting.

After drawing to within one point in set number four, Werth answered with a solo block and a number of clutch kills down the stretch to power Nebraska to the win.

Yet even with her personal success, Werth still said the credit is due to the team, rather than her as an individual.

“I wouldn’t be able to do anything without my teammates, I’m just trying to do my job,” Werth said.

In addition to the play of her teammates, Werth has also been helped by the addition of what she calls “sports goggles.” Due to an inability to wear contacts, Werth had to turn to the goggles to correct for errors with her vision.

Whether it’s coincidence, or a sign they are actually working, Werth’s first match with the goggles was the conference opener, and since then she’s been on a tear.

In fact, the biggest issue she’s faced with the goggles is trying to keep them from fogging up during matches.

To solve that problem. NU coach John Cook said they turned to baby shampoo, and since then he said the goggles have added a spark to Werth’s game.

“Her numbers are definitely up,” Cook said.

“And even though her numbers are up, the most important thing with any athlete is what they believe. Hannah believes they really help her.”

Whether it’s the goggles, or having another year to mature, one thing is certain: Werth is ready to make another run at a conference and national title, with or without the impressive personal stats.

This year, she said, it’s not about her.

“No not at all, that’s why it’s a team.”

For many students, part-time jobs are necessary to help pay for expenses.

According to an April report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 42.1 percent of college students who graduated high school in 2009 either had or were looking for jobs.

For some students, however, finding a part-time job may be a challenge.

Emily Wilber, assistant director of Career Services at the U. Nebraska-Lincoln, said the economic downturn’s lingering effect causes a more difficult job search for some.

“Just like in any other sector, there’s been a dip,” she said. “The job search is more competitive both on and off campus.”

For students looking for work, Career Services offers a variety of resources.

“The primary resource to look at is the website,” she said.

The Career Services website offers listings for jobs both on and off-campus, including descriptions of jobs and information on how to apply.

Wilber said students should take opportunities to make themselves more competitive in the job market.

“One thing to do for any job search is to participate in activities on campus and take on leadership roles,” she said. She also said that students should go to Career Services for help on resumes, writing cover letters and interviewing. She said more employers are now asking for resumes, even for part-time jobs.

Wilber recommended that in addition to looking at the Career Services job listings, students consider businesses or organizations relevant to their interests.

“You can’t blanket the whole city in applications,” she said. Instead, she recommended that students consider their career goals and experience when targeting employers.

Ian Bargar, a senior biosystems engineering major, has a part-time job at UNL’s Engineering Library. He checks books out, shelves books, fills out inter-library loan requests and helps patrons. He chose his job because it was related to his field of study.

“Since I’m in the Engineering College, having a job at the Engineering Library made sense,” he said. “It’s convenient.”

Bargar also said that he appreciates having time to do homework while he’s at work and that his schedule is flexible.

“So long as I tell the supervisor ahead of time, it’s OK,” he said.

Wilber recommended that students make clear to employers that they may need time off during finals week, fall break and other vacations.

“Most employers, even off-campus, try to be as flexible as they can,” Wilber said. “One benefit of our website listings is that those employers are looking for college students.”

This, she said, often makes them more likely to accommodate a college student’s schedule.

More than a half-year after an earthquake of devastating proportions rocked Haiti, Port-au-Prince is a city with a landscape defined largely by tents, tarps and widespread homelessness.

The subsequent international relief effort included donated money, items and scores of volunteers who traveled to Haiti over the summer, some of whom call the U. Nebraska-Lincoln home.

“This isn’t just another nation across the ocean,” said Meghan Vilter, a sophomore secondary education English major. “These are real people with real needs.”

Vilter spent time teaching and playing with children at the Son of God orphanage, as well as distributing shoes and medical essentials to those in need, over the course of her eight-day trip. She traveled as part of a mission trip group, known as AIM, helping in the most humanistic sense, but also cultivating an environment of hope and spirituality.

“The Haitians were a very persevering people,” Vilter said. “Being with them and going through their losses, it opened my eyes. Instead of despairing, they are now persevering through God’s strength.”

This widened perception was brought on by the high level at which the Haitians find comfort in what they have.

“We brought an extra tarp to one of our translators, and he was just so excited and grateful,” Vilter said. “I was just kind of put to shame by these people who have nothing. I live in America with a roof over my head and complain if it’s too cold inside. We get too tied up over the worst things in life.”

Other UNL volunteers shared similar assessments of the Haitian people and their mindset.

“The people are just phenomenal – very resilient,” said Anna Buettow, a junior economics and accounting major, who traveled to Haiti this past summer as part of a group from the UNL Lutheran Center. “You can’t know how people living like that everyday feel until you meet them and talk to them.”

Buettow’s crew volunteered at the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys in Port-au-Prince, worked with the mentally and physically handicapped and dug out a foundation for the home-rebuilding process. Despite the full week’s worth of work that Buettow’s group and so many others like it took part in, the experience was quite indicative of the jobs that are yet to be done.

“I met a group of people and talked to them for a while,” Buettow said. “They said we were the first aid group that had come to see them since the earthquake. Of all the groups to come down in the last six months, it was kind of shocking there were some people that hadn’t received any help whatsoever.”

The enormous need combined with the scarcity of help adds a degree of cynicism for many volunteers.

“I was skeptical hearing through the news and media about all the money being sent and all the great plans for the relief effort,” Buettow said. “While I was there I didn’t see that much at all. I think it’s just inhumane to live like that. We have a responsibility to get the 1.5 million people in tent cities into real houses.”

Yet, as the struggle for restoration continues, the individuals most in need of an optimistic frame of mind possess it to a great extent.

“A lot of the Haitian people would be talking to us about the earthquake, and a lot of them viewed it as a chance to rebuild better than before,” Buettow said. “It was such a motivating experience for me.”

It’s the sidewalk chalk outside the Nebraska Union advertising a philanthropy event for a club. It’s the convenience of a vending machine.

Unknown to many, there is a group of students who know the specific needs of those enrolled at the U. Nebraska-Lincoln – big or small – and the group is called the Union Board.

“We are advocates for students all around campus for the things that go on in the Union,” said Annie Kaup, a junior elementary education major and second-term member on the board. “The board is the voice for students on campus. We look to utilize all the space in the Union. Little things don’t go unnoticed; we discuss everything as a board.”

Union Board is made up of 12 students from various areas of campus to ensure that student interests are taken into account any time a decision is made.

The board’s mission is to make sure that the space in the Union is used to its fullest potential based on student needs. One of the current issues at hand is the attempt to get a Redbox on campus, a project that has been a focal point of the board for the past year. Redbox is currently conducting trials at 10 different campuses around the country.

Also, the Imperial Palace Express lease is nearing expiration, which means there could be a new look to the food court. Union Board will go about this the same way it would any other issue. The bids from restaurants to lease the space will be discussed by board members in regards to the best interests of UNL students.

Without the board members, students would have a very different Student Union to facilitate.

“If it weren’t for the Union Board, it would be a faculty-run Student Union,” said Union Board President A.J. Munn, a senior accounting major. “Students wouldn’t have a say in what went into the Union.”

If any student would like to make any requests or proposals to the Union Board, they are welcome to attend meetings that take place every other Thursday.

Leading the Irish as they prepare to step back onto the course this weekend are two familiar faces who are no stranger to the success the Irish have achieved in the last few years. Seniors Katie Conway and So-Hyun Park hope to use their experience to lead the Notre Dame team to a higher level of play this year, and they are just the people to do so.

“So-Hyun and Katie bring a wealth of experience to the team,” Irish coach Susan Holt said. “So-Hyun has played in 31 of 32 events in her career and Katie has played in 30 of 32 events in her career. Both players are ranked in the top seven in career stroke average in program history.”

Conway and Park have been challenging the Irish standards since joining the team in the fall of 2007. Conway ranked third on the team with a 76.75 average while Park became the program’s first All-American and set the Notre Dame record for a single-season stroke average at 73.63 in their rookie season. Winning the Big East that year topped off a stellar inaugural campaign for both Conway and Park.

Building upon their successes during their sophomore season, both Conway and Park began to step up and assumed leadership roles on the Irish squad in the 2009-2010 season with the help of last year’s co-captains Annie Brophy and Kristin Wetzel. Conway played in all 11 events as a junior, up from playing in only eight events her sophomore year, while Park took part in 10. Both players closed the conference season by tying for 25th at the Big East Championships with a three-round score of 246 (Conway 87-82-77 and Park 81-81-84) and their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Regional Tournament.

“They have been part of the most successful three years the program has had with three consecutive trips to the NCAA regional tournament,” Holt said. “They know what it takes to get there and we need their experience to get us past the regional tournament and into the finals.”

But Conway and Park’s success isn’t limited to the golf course. Both are exceptional students with GPAs over 3.7 in the Mendoza College of Business and have made the All-Scholar golf team each year.

“They are solid role models for their teammates both athletically and academically,” Holt said. “They are the full package of what a student-athlete should be. Both have outstanding work ethic.”

As part of that work ethic, Conway and Park are working towards leaving a legacy they’ll be proud to have been a part of, which includes winning the Big East championships and competing in the NCAA finals, a first for the Irish women’s team.

“My goal for this year is to be able to hang up my clubs at the end of the year with no regrets,” Conway said. “I want to leave it all out there on the course and know that at the end of the year, my four years here elevated the program from where it was when I started freshman year. We have a chance this year to play in some really great events and to put ourselves in a good position for postseason play. I know we can do it if we stay confident throughout the season. It would be a perfect ending to my time here. ”

“I think we have a great chance to achieve these goals this year and our teamwork has never been better especially with the two new freshmen, Nicole [Zhang] and Kristina [Nhim], who are exceptionally good and talented golfers,” Park said. “We can’t wait for our season to start.”

The Irish will begin their season this weekend at Michigan State’s Mary Fossum Invitational.

While Niall Platt admits there’s a learning curve as he transitions from tiny Laguna Blanca School in Santa Barbara, Calif., to Division I golf at U. Notre Dame, it’s tough to find evidence of one.

After playing most tournaments solo throughout his high school career, Platt was excited by the opportunity to play with a group of teammates who share his talents.

“I’ve never really been on a good golf team; the team environment was a first for me,” Platt said.

As it turned out, Platt did quite a bit of the heavy lifting for the Irish, rather than the other way around. For his opening act, the freshman fired a one-over-par 217 to finish in a tie for second place overall in Notre Dame’s runner-up finish at the College of Charleston Invitational at Kiawah Island, S.C.

The pressure of playing his first tournament for the Irish on The Ocean Course, one of the toughest in the nation, never affected his play. The rookie did not shy away from the spotlight, admitting that he was comfortable at the highly competitive Invitational.

“I wasn’t thinking as much about my individual scores, which takes the pressure off, knowing the team’s going to pick you up,” Platt said. “It was the most fun I’ve had in a golf tournament.”

Irish head coach James Kubinski was one of many who came away impressed after Platt’s performance, and the talented freshman said he does not take the Kubinski’s trust for granted.

“It means a lot to me, to know he has such confidence in me,” Platt said.

Platt said the confidence of both the coach and player is largely a result of the team’s excellent chemistry and the Irish coaching staff.

“The guys on the team are great characters, very welcoming, and the coaches are helpful too in getting me adjusted,” Platt said.

With a full season still ahead, Platt acknowledged that the Irish roster is laden with talented upperclassmen and he had a lot to learn from his teammates.

“They have all played really well in their careers. I’m trying to learn from them as much as I can,” Platt said

Given Platt’s impressive performance so far, it’s also possible the other golfers could learn a thing or two from him.

As hard as it may be to believe, the 2010 Irish basketball opener is less than six weeks away. U. Notre Dame released both the men’s and women’s 2010-2011 regular season schedules this week, and both schedules hold many challenges for the Irish.

The women open their season on Nov. 3 with an exhibition game against Michigan Tech at Purcell Pavilion. Their regular season opener is on Nov. 12 against New Hampshire, and their first road game is at Kentucky on Nov. 21. Less than two weeks later, the Irish will travel to Waco, Tex., to face Baylor &- the only former NCAA champion Notre Dame has never played. The Bears won the National Championship in 2005, and advanced to the Final Four last year, only to lose to eventual champion Connecticut.

The Irish will face Connecticut twice this season, on Jan. 8 and at Connecticut on Feb. 19. Irish coach Muffet McGraw said she sees the match-ups with teams like Connecticut and Baylor, or any of the other nine teams on the Notre Dame schedule that played in the NCAA Tournament last season, as beneficial for the Irish in the long run.

“I think when you talk about the schedules we’ve had through the years, this has to rank right up there as one of the most challenging ones we’ve put together,” McGraw said in a press release Monday. “Our philosophy has always been to test ourselves during the non-conference season in order to prepare for the demands of playing in the Big East, which is the toughest conference in the country.”

The Irish men will take the court at Purcell Pavilion two days before the women, opening with an exhibition game against Marian U. on Nov. 1 before their season opener on Nov. 12 against Georgia Southern.

Georgia Southern opens a four-game homestand for the Irish, which then head to the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla. At the Old Spice Classic, Notre Dame will play Georgia on Thanksgiving night, and then either California or Temple on Nov. 25. The Irish will play one more game on Nov. 28 against either Boston College, Texas A&’M, Wisconsin or Manhattan.

Notre Dame plays three teams in the Big East twice, while playing the other 12 only once. This year’s three teams for a home-and-home series are Connecticut, Marquette and St. John’s. The Irish host Connecticut on Jan. 4 and travel to Storrs, Conn., on March 5. They host Marquette on Jan. 22 and travel to Milwaukee, Wis., on Jan. 10, and host St. John’s on Jan. 8 before traveling to New York on Jan. 16.

The men’s Big East Championship will be March 8-12 in New York City while the women’s Championship will be March 4-8 in Hartford, Conn.