The Bill Callahan era at the University of Nebraska took flight quickly and sailed in for an easy landing as the Huskers soared past Western Illinois 56-17.

Sophomore quarterback Joe Dailey tied a Nebraska single-game record by accounting for six touchdowns in his first career start. Dailey connected on 15-of-30 pass attempts for 218 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed four times for 28 yards and two more scores.

Nebraska jumped out to a 42-0 lead before allowing a Western Illinois field goal just before half.

"We wanted to come out of the tunnel and play fast and start fast," said Callahan after the game.

The Huskers scored on their first three drives of the game. Nebraska notched their first touchdown of the 2004 season less than two minutes into the contest. Nebraska drove 79 yards in six plays, scoring on a six-yard run by Dailey. Their second score came on an 85-yard march, capped by a five-yard completions to Matt Herian to lift the Huskers to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first period.

Nebraska rolled up 581 yards of offense including a more Husker-like 363 yards of rushing. Two Husker backs surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark.Junior running back Cory Ross ran for 125 yards on 13 carries, while freshman Tierre Green rushed seven times for 112 yards and two touchdowns.

Nebraska's new-found passing attack allowed their receivers to step up. Junior tight end Matt Herian recorded seven receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns, while senior receiver Willie Amos added two receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns.

Nebraska erupted for 28 points in the second quarter. The Huskers went 53 yards in three plays including a 36-yard touchdown pass from Dailey to Willie Amos. NU then produced two quick scores off Western Illinois turnovers forced by the Blackshirts. Washington intercepted a LaFalce pass at the Leatherneck 34. Nebraska converted the Western Illinois turnover into another score when Dailey hit Herian for a 22-yard scoring strike with 12:34 remaining in the half. NU led 28-0 after DeAngelis' PAT kick. Later, Daniel Bullocks intercepted another LaFalce pass and returned it 58 yards to the WIU 18. Amos scored on the game's next play, hauling in an 18-yard pass from Dailey and sneaking into the front corner of the end zone.

Nebraska turned to its ground game for its final touchdown of the first half, as Green scored on a 28-yard run with 4:45 remaining in the first half. Green had two carries for 46 yards during the six-play, 70-yard drive.

Western Illinois answered with its first touchdown of the game, as Norris broke loose for a 98-yard kickoff return. WIU scored again at the end of the third when Smith hit Boomer Moore with a six-yard touchdown pass to make it 49-17, Nebraska.

Nebraska ended the scoring with 5:22 remaining in the game. Freshman running back Brandon Jackson picked up 35 yards on four carries, before Green produced his second score of the game with a 34-yard run.