Husker Football Notebook, 9/7: Callahan wary of tricky special teams play
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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Nebraska coach Bill Callahan earlier this week expressed concern that Nicholls State’s triple-option offense can be effective in chewing up large chunks of time and keeping opposing offenses off the field.
In fact, Callahan said, the Colonels attempt to limit opponents to eight possessions per game.
The Nebraska coach took it a step further Wednesday, saying Nicholls State also tries to “steal your possessions” with special-teams tricks of the trade.
“Their kickoff team has about five different clubs in its bag,” Callahan said. “They can drive the ball. They can hit the lob shot. They can hit the motor kick, the little bump and run. They do it all.”
It doesn’t stop there.
“They’ll try to steal another possession by faking a punt,” Callahan said. “It doesn’t matter where they are on the field or the down and distance, they’re going to try to steal a possession.
“We have to be alert. We have to be sharp.”
Nicholls State ran on 47 of its 51 snaps en route to 195 rushing yards in a 35-0 season-opening win against NCAA Division II Southern Arkansas. Last season, the Colonels led Division I-AA with 368.4 rushing yards per game.
Nebraska continued preparation for Saturday’s game with a two-hour practice Wednesday at Memorial Stadium. Callahan called it an “excellent” session.
“Our defensive coaches have done a great job of teaching the assignments and teaching where you need to be in terms of gap discipline and gap responsibilities,” Callahan said.
PEDERSON POSITION: Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson last month took over as chairman of the NCAA football issues committee, which deals with legislation crucial to the sport. For instance, committee members on Tuesday took part in a teleconference in which text messaging in recruiting was discussed. Pederson took over as chairman Aug. 1 after being appointed to the position. A total of 24 people serve on the committee. “I’m anxious to do it because we have people who are interested in making sure that football’s great and keeping focused on the things that make football strong,” Pederson said. “In the NCAA structure, as big as it gets, sometimes people feel like football isn’t getting a voice. That’s why this was important to me.”
KELLER REPORT: Sam Keller, the transfer from Arizona State who began practicing with the Huskers on Aug. 25, has worked mostly with the scout team thus far while seeing “limited reps” operating Nebraska’s West Coast offense, Callahan said. “He’s made a good transition, and we’re impressed with that,” the coach said.
INJURY REPORT: Husker starting center Kurt Mann sat out of practice Wednesday. Callahan declined to say why. “He’s fine,” the coach said. Reserve free safety Bryan Wilson also sat out with an undisclosed injury.
JACKSON NEAR CHOICE: Former Husker running back and safety Leon Jackson is close to deciding where he will transfer to continue his college career, his father, Leon Sr., said Wednesday. The younger Jackson, who will have three years of eligibility remaining after he sits out one year as a transfer, has narrowed his choices to Arizona and Washington, which is near to his hometown of Pasco, Wash.
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