Husker Football Notes, 11/10: Octavien sits out practice
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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Nebraska weakside linebacker Steve Octavien, who missed last week’s win against Missouri with an ankle injury, sat out of practice Thursday.
“We just backed him down,” Husker coach Bill Callahan said. “He’ll be ready for the game.”
Nebraska plays Texas A&M on Saturday in College Station, Texas.
Octavien, a junior from Naples, Fla., has appeared in only five of 10 games this season because of various injuries. He practiced “full-go” Wednesday, Callahan said.
Meanwhile, NU starting middle linebacker Corey McKeon (ankle, knee) practiced again Thursday and apparently will return to action Saturday after missing last week’s game.
Long-snapper Lane Kelly (foot) will remain sidelined this weekend, but may be ready for the Nov. 24 Colorado game in Lincoln. The Huskers are off next week.
TODD HONORED: NU senior fullback Dane Todd has been named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VII team. The selection marks the third straight year Todd has been named to the all-district team and advances Todd to the ballot for Academic All-America honors. Three other Huskers were named second-team academic all-district: junior tight end J.B. Phillips, sophomore offensive guard Andy Christensen and senior defensive back/special-teams wizard Brandon Rigoni.
A graduate of Lincoln Southeast, Todd last season earned first-team Academic All-America honors. He is playing this fall as a graduate student, after completing his undergraduate work in biological sciences last May with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
Also, Todd was one of 11 players named Thursday as finalists for the 2006 Wuerffel Trophy, presented to the player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
NORVELL IN MIX? NU offensive coordinator Jay Norvell already has surfaced in media reports as a potential candidate to take over as Iowa State head coach. Dan McCarney resigned Wednesday after 12 seasons in charge. The 43-year-old Norvell worked as an assistant for McCarney at Iowa State from 1995-97. “I’ve worked a long time to get into position to become a head coach,” Norvell told The Des Moines Register on Thursday. “I’ve been around a lot of great people and coaches, including Dan McCarney. I’d be excited to be a head coach at the right place, but right now we’re in the middle of a championship hunt at Nebraska, and that’s where all of my focus is.” ISU athletic director Jamie Pollard has not revealed potential candidates.
HICKMAN TICKETED: NU freshman offensive guard Jacob Hickman earlier this week was cited by campus police for theft of services and criminal mischief, both misdemeanors, following a parking-garage incident.
According to a campus police spokesman, Hickman allegedly tried to drive out of the parking garage on Stadium Drive without paying. In doing so, he allegedly broke off the gate that swings upward after payment. It was unclear Thursday night if the incident will affect Hickman’s playing status this week.
TURN IT UP: The Aggie War Hymn, played repeatedly at Texas A&M athletic events, was played repeatedly over large speakers this week during Nebraska practices — loudly. “It’s imbedded in my brain right now,” Callahan said Thursday. Crowd noise was mixed with the music, “just to keep our guys focused and get them acclimated” to the atmosphere they’ll experience in College Station, Callahan said.
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