Notes:Huskers try luck on lanes

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Nebraska quarterback Joe Dailey's bowling style might have made the proprietors of a Lincoln bowling center cringe at times Wednesday night.

"I'm not great, but I have my own style - I throw it about 30 feet before it even hits the lane," Dailey said.

Nebraska coaches and players enjoyed a night of bowling Wednesday. Head coach Bill Callahan said the outing was a reward for the players' and coaches' hard work during winter conditioning.

"It's an opportunity to forget about football, forget about school and anything between coaches and players that has to do with football and really just focus on having some fun," Callahan said. "We want to come together, get closer as a team."

Dailey said Nebraska's revamped coaching staff, which features seven new full-time assistants, is "more outgoing" than the previous regime.

"It's not a knock on the other guys,"Dailey said. "But these guys relate a lot better to us than the old coaching staff, I believe."

CRUCIALSWITCH:Of the dozen or so Husker position switches, junior Richie Incognito's move from tackle to center is arguably the most significant. "We made that move because of the success that's needed at that position,"Callahan said. "If we can control the nose, if we can control the point, that allows us to do what we want to do in our zone (blocking) game." Incognito, a junior, was scheduled to be arraigned today in Lancaster County Court on three counts of assault stemming from an alleged altercation Feb. 7 at a Lincoln party. Callahan said Incognito has faced "disciplinary action within the organization" of the team.

TIMECRUNCH:A decade ago, when he was an assistant at Wisconsin, Callahan remembers coaches having more practice time during the spring. "I can't believe how much spring practice rules have really changed,"said Callahan, who left Wisconsin for the NFL after the 1994 season. "I thought for sure I'd get three mini-camps coming in here as a new head coach. They've really restricted the amount of days and time in pads."

ONTHEMOVE:In a break from Nebraska tradition, Callahan will allow reporters to watch entire spring practices. Offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said media members will witness a fast practice tempo. Norvell outlined the practice schedule, detailing everything from meeting times to stretching periods to various stages of live practice action. "We want to practice fast, we want to be explosive, and we want to finish,"Norvell said. "We want our players to make it a part of their personalities."

COSGROVEIMPRESSED: Defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove, starting his first year at NU after 14 at Wisconsin, said he thinks the Huskers have more depth on defense than the Badgers did. As for his defense's style, Cosgrove said, "We want to be known as a defense that plays with great fundamentals, as a defense that is very physical and as a defense that runs to the football and plays with passion."

NUMBERSGAME:Callahan said 113 players will participate in spring practice - 60 scholarship players and 53 walk-ons. A total of 18 scholarship newcomers will join the squad for fall camp, pushing the number of scholarship players to 78 of an NCAA-allowed 85. The final seven scholarships will be filled at a later date, Callahan said.

HEREANDTHERE:Husker quarterbacks will wear "hands-off" green pullover jerseys in practice . . . Offensive lineman Chris Loos has received a sixth year of playing eligibility.

- Steven M. Sipple