Husker Football Notebook, 9/2: Callahan says Herian 'back to form'
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Nebraska tight end Matt Herian, set for his first game action since October 2004, is "back to form," Husker head coach Bill Callahan said Friday morning.
"Every day you see him getting better," Callahan told a Big Red Breakfast crowd of about 450 at the Holiday Inn Convention Centre.
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Herian, a fifth-year senior, is listed No. 1 at his position on the season-opening depth chart. He missed all of last season recovering from a fractured left leg suffered in the eighth game of the 2004 season. He has averaged 20.6 yards on 53 career receptions.
"It's really nothing short of a miracle for him to be on the playing field," said Callahan, praising Herian for persevering through the setbacks he experienced during his rehabilitation.
"He's getting better," the coach said. "You can see his stride length getting better. You can see his burst getting better. There was never a question about his hands. He has great hands.
"But as you watch him run, you can see his form steadily return."
CLOCK CHOP: Of the handful of significant rules changes in college football this year, Callahan seems most interested in the change regarding the play clock. Under new rules, the clock will start on a change of possession when the ball is marked ready for play, not when it is snapped. "How fast the officials chop the 25-second clock into play, that's what I want to know," the coach told the breakfast crowd. "You're going to find out the same things I'm looking forward to (in Saturday's game)." Because of the rule change, he said, many teams will now call the first play of a given possession on the sideline and immediately "jump the ball," meaning they'll bypass the huddle. "What's gone now is the time when you could go on the field, huddle, break the huddle and come to the line of scrimmage. I think those days are gone."
HILDEBRAND UPDATE: Quarterback Brian Hildebrand, a junior-college transfer who joined the Huskers on Aug. 12 in the midst of preseason drills, failed to crack the season-opening top three on the depth chart. However, Callahan said Hildebrand has made progress in the past week. "When he first came in, he was a little rusty and a little raw because he was going to summer school and (had) an enormous amount of hours. He really hadn't had the time to put into his workout program. But watching him develop in the last week, he's really throwing the ball tighter, more compact. We've really been more impressed with him. You can see his development."
BAKER'S OFFER: Lincoln Southwest junior lineman Baker Steinkuhler this weekend will receive a scholarship offer from Nebraska, according to Rivals.com. His father, Dean Steinkuhler, in 1983 won the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy. Baker's brother, sophomore Ty Steinkuhler, is the Huskers' No. 2 defensive tackle behind Barry Cryer. At least two other Nebraska prep players this weekend are expected to receive Husker scholarship offers for the class of 2008 -- offensive lineman Trevor Robinson of Elkhorn and running back Ronnell Grixby of Omaha Central. Grixby has one brother playing for Nebraska (starting cornerback Cortney Grixby) and another brother who is an ex-Husker (DeAntae Grixby, 2000-03).
WILLING TO LEARN: Former Husker linebacker Matt Penland (1990-92), who now leads the team's chapel and Bible study, spoke briefly to the Big Red Breakfast crowd. He described Callahan as "a learner," someone who continually seeks improvement. "He always has a level of dissatisfaction," Penland said. "He's never really satisfied with where he's at. That's an awesome thing for these kids."
UNCOMMON MAN: Husker starting left guard Greg Austin, playing on a chronically sore knee, is "truly an inspiration," Callahan said. "I would tell you that the common man couldn't go through what he goes through on a daily basis."
ETC. NU officials are suggesting that fans be in their seats by 2:10 p.m. Saturday so they don't miss any part of the pregame production . . . NU is ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press poll, No. 22 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll . . . The Huskers have captured a nation-leading 20 straight season openers since a 17-13 loss to Florida State in 1985 . . . Saturday's contest marks the 276th straight sellout at Memorial Stadium, which has expanded to an official capacity of 81,067.
QUOTABLE: Callahan, on his players' anticipation for the 2006 season: "Our players truly understand what's expected of them this year. Our expectations are high. Very high. Higher than what you probably have in mind. That's not to state any bold predictions. That's just the nature of competition and what we believe in."
Most Commented news