Still no Blackshirts in practice
CAPTAIN BOWMAN: For the second straight week, no defensive starters are wearing Blackshirts in practice.
Senior captain Zackary Bowman, the first player to go without a Blackshirt, said he was surprised last week when he saw other defensive teammates in normal practice attire.
“I looked, and I saw all these red jerseys,” Bowman said, “and it didn't even hit me, until I asked Cortney (Grixby). I said, ‘Hey, man, where's ya’ll Blackshirts?' He was like, ‘They took them away.’”
The coaches took them away?
“I have no clue,” he said. “I had class, so when I came to practice, everybody was there, wearing red jerseys.”
Bowman has gone weeks without a Blackshirt. He voluntarily removed his because he said he didn’t feel like he was playing up to the standards of a Nebraska defense.
It’s been an odd twist to a tumultuous season Bowman never expected.
“It's been tough,” he said. “I never thought that it would happen this year like this. We had high hopes, and everybody worked hard, and everybody had goals we set for each other and for the team and stuff. You try to keep everybody focused and level-headed.”
GRIXBY READY: Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said Grixby was fielding punt returns Wednesday. Grixby injured his thumb early in Saturday’s game against Texas A&M and didn’t field punt or kickoff returns.
“As long as that thumb holds up, we should be in great shape,” Callahan said of Grixby’s status for returning kicks against Texas.
Grixby leads Nebraska in kickoff returns, averaging 24.8 yards on 29 attempts, with a long of 51 yards. He’s also returned seven punts for 36 yards — 5.1 per return.
Andre Jones is the top backup to Grixby.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3
Injured players questionable for Saturday’s game — linebackers Bo Ruud and Blake Lawrence and center Brett Byford. None practiced Wednesday. Callahan said they will travel to Texas.
SCOUTING REPORT: OT Jaivorio Burkes
Jaivorio Burkes is going straight from what was a redshirt season to starting at right tackle in a road game against Texas.
Understandably, the true freshman is a little anxious.
What about his coach?
Callahan said he’s not nervous, that he has total confidence in Burkes, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound lineman from Phoenix.
“I think it’s a process whenever you have a young player stepping into that role,” Callahan said. “But I think all of the other linemen and Coach (Dennis) Wagner have been real supportive. They’ve worked hard — extra time, extra film, things of that nature — to try to get him up to speed.”
Burkes is being thrust into the starting role after a season-ending foot injury to junior Lydon Murtha.
Callahan said Burkes has a good grasp of the system.
“But it’s different when you have to go out and execute,” he said. “It’s different for a freshman to go out and play big in a big-time game like this. It will be a great challenge for him.
“He’ll compete. That’s the one thing about Jaivorio is that he will compete.”
Opponent watch: Texas
Texas coach Mack Brown feels good about his team’s chances when the Longhorns have more “explosive plays” than their opponent.
And with good reason.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, the Longhorns count how many passing plays go for 16 or more yards and how many running plays go for 12 or more yards — and label them “explosive plays.”
Texas, Brown said, is 59-0 when the Longhorns win the number of explosive plays and turnovers — and 1-16 when they don't.
Brown said the 2007 Longhorns are the second-most-explosive offense he's had since coming to Austin. The top, not surprisingly, was the 2005 national championship team.
Senior captain Zackary Bowman, the first player to go without a Blackshirt, said he was surprised last week when he saw other defensive teammates in normal practice attire.
“I looked, and I saw all these red jerseys,” Bowman said, “and it didn't even hit me, until I asked Cortney (Grixby). I said, ‘Hey, man, where's ya’ll Blackshirts?' He was like, ‘They took them away.’”
The coaches took them away?
“I have no clue,” he said. “I had class, so when I came to practice, everybody was there, wearing red jerseys.”
Bowman has gone weeks without a Blackshirt. He voluntarily removed his because he said he didn’t feel like he was playing up to the standards of a Nebraska defense.
It’s been an odd twist to a tumultuous season Bowman never expected.
“It's been tough,” he said. “I never thought that it would happen this year like this. We had high hopes, and everybody worked hard, and everybody had goals we set for each other and for the team and stuff. You try to keep everybody focused and level-headed.”
GRIXBY READY: Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said Grixby was fielding punt returns Wednesday. Grixby injured his thumb early in Saturday’s game against Texas A&M and didn’t field punt or kickoff returns.
“As long as that thumb holds up, we should be in great shape,” Callahan said of Grixby’s status for returning kicks against Texas.
Grixby leads Nebraska in kickoff returns, averaging 24.8 yards on 29 attempts, with a long of 51 yards. He’s also returned seven punts for 36 yards — 5.1 per return.
Andre Jones is the top backup to Grixby.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3
Injured players questionable for Saturday’s game — linebackers Bo Ruud and Blake Lawrence and center Brett Byford. None practiced Wednesday. Callahan said they will travel to Texas.
SCOUTING REPORT: OT Jaivorio Burkes
Jaivorio Burkes is going straight from what was a redshirt season to starting at right tackle in a road game against Texas.
Understandably, the true freshman is a little anxious.
What about his coach?
Callahan said he’s not nervous, that he has total confidence in Burkes, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound lineman from Phoenix.
“I think it’s a process whenever you have a young player stepping into that role,” Callahan said. “But I think all of the other linemen and Coach (Dennis) Wagner have been real supportive. They’ve worked hard — extra time, extra film, things of that nature — to try to get him up to speed.”
Burkes is being thrust into the starting role after a season-ending foot injury to junior Lydon Murtha.
Callahan said Burkes has a good grasp of the system.
“But it’s different when you have to go out and execute,” he said. “It’s different for a freshman to go out and play big in a big-time game like this. It will be a great challenge for him.
“He’ll compete. That’s the one thing about Jaivorio is that he will compete.”
Opponent watch: Texas
Texas coach Mack Brown feels good about his team’s chances when the Longhorns have more “explosive plays” than their opponent.
And with good reason.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, the Longhorns count how many passing plays go for 16 or more yards and how many running plays go for 12 or more yards — and label them “explosive plays.”
Texas, Brown said, is 59-0 when the Longhorns win the number of explosive plays and turnovers — and 1-16 when they don't.
Brown said the 2007 Longhorns are the second-most-explosive offense he's had since coming to Austin. The top, not surprisingly, was the 2005 national championship team.
Copyright © 2002-2008 Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved.