NU FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Raiola among former Huskers at scrimmage

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BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL

Dominic Raiola spotted Milt Tenopir on the sideline and gave his former coach a big hug.


See, not everything has changed with Nebraska football.


"Every time I come back, I like to come down here. It's such a good feeling," said Raiola, an All-America center for the Huskers in 2000.

"I love Coach Tenopir. He's what started me. I respect everything he did for me and appreciate it all."


Raiola, now playing for Detroit in the NFL, and Tenopir, the retired offensive coach of the Huskers, were among several former notable NU faces at Friday's scrimmage in Cook Pavilion.


Among other former players on hand were Damon Benning, Lance Lewis, Lee Jones, Todd Proffitt, Dan Steiner, Cartier Walker, Demorrio Williams and Kyle Kollmorgen.


Numerous high school coaches and parents of current players were also in attendance.


Raiola noted the upbeat style of NU's practice.


"A lot of chitter-chatter going on, a lot of people talking," he said. "A lot of teaching. It can't be bad."


INJURY UPDATE: Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said the team made it through Friday's scrimmage relatively injury-free. The only notable injuries were to Ross Pilkington (pulled hamstring) and Tierre Green (shoulder stinger).

Callahan said he didn't know the extent of Pilkington's injury but noted Green finished practice.


SPECIAL TEAMS: Cory Ross nearly returned a kickoff for a touchdown to highlight Friday's work with the return units. Callahan also singled out the play of return men Willie Amos and David Horne and credited Brandon Rigoni for his work in coverage as a gunner. "Our overall coverage on the kickoff team was impressive today," Callahan said.


LeFLORE PROGRESSES: Callahan said the coaching staff has been "really captured" with receiver Mark LeFlore's ability to make plays, and that coaches are trying to utilize him in many different ways. "Continual progress," Callahan said of the 5-foot-11, 190-pound LeFlore, who's listed No. 2 on the pre-spring depth chart at the Z  position. "He has great flashes, and he's starting to be a crisper, more precise route runner. His transition in and out of the breaking point, where he has to be, and his ability to get out of it and make the play on the ball is impressive."


GETTING THE WORD: Callahan said he was looking for a walkie-talkie, but that otherwise, communication during Friday's scrimmage was relatively sound. Plays were signaled in from the sidelines, with offensive coordinator Jay Norvell handling the duties. "It's critical that you be able to communicate that under the 25-second clock, and to do that in a manageable sequence, with the personnel groupings going on and off the field and the ability to get in and out of the huddle and then up and down the line of scrimmage to get the play off ... I thought we did very well," Callahan said. "The speed of operation was very impressive."


FULL SPEED AHEAD: Nebraska will work on goal-line scrimmaging Monday, may have more segments of scrimmaging on Wednesday and will have a full practice Friday before the Spring Game one week from today. "There won't be any tapering off," Callahan said.