Husker Football Notebook, 10/13: Harley riders serenade Huskers
Engines roared and music blared.
A Harley-Davidson convention?
Nope, just another Nebraska football practice.
Husker players and coaches welcomed some surprise visitors to Thursday’s otherwise routine workout at Hawks Championship Center — about 50 members of a Lincoln Harley-Davidson motorcycle club.
“It was just a blast,” said Dave Fischer, owner of Frontier Harley-Davidson in Lincoln and a member of the Frontier Hog Chapter. “They cranked up the music, we rolled in and circled the field. They told us to rev up our motors and make some noise.”
The motorcyclists showed up for the start of Nebraska’s practice and later parked their cycles outside the indoor facility and watched the 90-minute workout.
Nebraska coach Bill Callahan indicated the surprise was initiated by Husker offensive line coach Dennis Wagner and administrative assistant Tim McFadden. The NU assistants apparently arranged the Harley-Davidson gathering at practice in response to Kansas State holding its “Harley Day” before Saturday night’s game in Manhattan, Kan.
Just before kickoff at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, about 100 Harley-Davidsons will make a one-time trek around the field.
“Tim McFadden called up Tuesday and said, ‘We want to steal their thunder. Can you get some Harleys over here?’” Fischer said. “We got 50 people on two days’ notice. Give me three days, and I’ll have 500.”
Callahan said his players enjoyed the scene.
“It was a lot fun,” the coach said. “I think the players enjoyed it a little bit. It was kind of interesting.”
Callahan said he saw some great-looking motorcycles.
Maybe the coach found a new hobby. OK, maybe not.
“I don’t have time for one,” he said, smiling.
INJURY UPDATE: Nebraska starting left guard Greg Austin didn’t practice Thursday. “But he is feeling better, and we will take him on the trip (to Manhattan),” Callahan said. “Hopefully, he’ll be ready to play.” Austin, the lone senior starter on the offensive line, suffered a blow to his knee in last week’s win at Iowa State. Sophomore Andy Christensen likely would make his first career start if Austin isn’t ready.
In other injury news, junior weakside linebacker Steve Octavien, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, practiced Thursday. “He did OK,” said Callahan, emphasizing he was unsure exactly how well Octavien is progressing. “All I did was watch him stretch. I didn’t really get a chance to watch him in drills.”
A Harley-Davidson convention?
Nope, just another Nebraska football practice.
Husker players and coaches welcomed some surprise visitors to Thursday’s otherwise routine workout at Hawks Championship Center — about 50 members of a Lincoln Harley-Davidson motorcycle club.
“It was just a blast,” said Dave Fischer, owner of Frontier Harley-Davidson in Lincoln and a member of the Frontier Hog Chapter. “They cranked up the music, we rolled in and circled the field. They told us to rev up our motors and make some noise.”
The motorcyclists showed up for the start of Nebraska’s practice and later parked their cycles outside the indoor facility and watched the 90-minute workout.
Nebraska coach Bill Callahan indicated the surprise was initiated by Husker offensive line coach Dennis Wagner and administrative assistant Tim McFadden. The NU assistants apparently arranged the Harley-Davidson gathering at practice in response to Kansas State holding its “Harley Day” before Saturday night’s game in Manhattan, Kan.
Just before kickoff at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, about 100 Harley-Davidsons will make a one-time trek around the field.
“Tim McFadden called up Tuesday and said, ‘We want to steal their thunder. Can you get some Harleys over here?’” Fischer said. “We got 50 people on two days’ notice. Give me three days, and I’ll have 500.”
Callahan said his players enjoyed the scene.
“It was a lot fun,” the coach said. “I think the players enjoyed it a little bit. It was kind of interesting.”
Callahan said he saw some great-looking motorcycles.
Maybe the coach found a new hobby. OK, maybe not.
“I don’t have time for one,” he said, smiling.
INJURY UPDATE: Nebraska starting left guard Greg Austin didn’t practice Thursday. “But he is feeling better, and we will take him on the trip (to Manhattan),” Callahan said. “Hopefully, he’ll be ready to play.” Austin, the lone senior starter on the offensive line, suffered a blow to his knee in last week’s win at Iowa State. Sophomore Andy Christensen likely would make his first career start if Austin isn’t ready.
In other injury news, junior weakside linebacker Steve Octavien, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, practiced Thursday. “He did OK,” said Callahan, emphasizing he was unsure exactly how well Octavien is progressing. “All I did was watch him stretch. I didn’t really get a chance to watch him in drills.”
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