Monday column: A glimpse at Nevada, a Husker recruit, and the odd motivational techniques of KSU's Prince

Callahan calls on entire senior class to lead Huskers

Good morning from the center of the world.

So, game week. It's been this way for years, but kicking off before Labor Day still seems premature.

Why are Americans always in such a rush to truncate summer? It's the influence of technology as much as anything; if millions can gather around the information superhighway, what's the use of a picnic at the lake?

Anyway, Nevada.

The first thing you notice about the Wolfpack is their gimmicky “Pistol” offense, a shotgun formation that places the quarterback only a few yards behind the center.

Nevada throws the ball a bunch out of the formation, with three and four wide receivers, and likes to get its quarterback outside the pocket to make plays. The running plays are rooted in misdirection and delay. It's the kind of offense, quite frankly, that Nebraska's fast defense should dismantle.

The bigger challenge is Nevada's defense, which was pretty good in the WAC where, if nothing else, teams can score. It will be a undersized-but-fast, attacking unit that will try to rattle NU quarterback Sam Keller, forcing fumbles and interceptions. Then again, the Pack gave up 41, 38 and 52 to Hawaii, Boise State and Arizona State respectively.

Nebraska's biggest opponent is its own expectations. You get this sense they're sky-high, partially because the Huskers finally have an experienced offensive line, partly because of the returning skill players, and partly because of Keller. Coach Bill Callahan knows where his bread's buttered, though. Don't be surprised to see good a dose of Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn.

Bo Ruud, Zack Bowman and Brett Byford are the 2007 captains, elected by the team. Bowman's selection should speak to not only his character, but what the team perceives as his relative health; if Bowman's teammates thought he wasn't going to play much (or be half the player he was at the end of 2005) I'm guessing they would have voted for someone else. Since the Huskers have seen more of Bowman than anyone since he was hurt in the spring – including the coaches – take that as a real positive.

Callahan, of course, praised the three, but added an intriguing addendum on Saturday:

“But I’ve also told our entire senior class that we have so many great senior leaders that just relying on those three won’t be enough,” he said “It’s going to be the entire class that leads this team and that’s the message I sent to our team.”

Which means, to me, Callahan not only likes his senior class, but thinks the Huskers have captains who simply weren't elected by the team. It also serves as a smoothing-over device if there were any mixed emotions.

________

Caught the first big high school football game of the season on Friday night: Millard North v. Millard South. Got a glimpse of NU recruit and MN safety Sean Fisher, too.

Fisher isn't likely to fondly remember the game. The Patriots won 24-14, and Fisher was beaten by running back Tyler Kildow on the game's decisive play, a 76-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bronson Marsh with 1:29 left in the game.

The Mustangs had pulled within 17-14 when Marsh, out of the shotgun, hit a sprinting Kildow on a go route. Fisher had the coverage responsibilities; Kildow burned past him. On the ensuing kickoff, Fisher bobbled the ball, then was sandwiched by two Millard South tacklers.

The kid's an athlete, though. He returns kicks, he punts, he plays wingback. He never left the field Friday. You can't teach raw athleticism, and Fisher has it.

The player who impressed me most? Marsh, a 6-foot sophomore who threw for 257 yards and had a nice touch on just about every one of his passes. He could run a little, too. But his best attribute was his willingness to face a blitz; the Mustangs had a linebacker or defensive end running free on almost every pass play. He needs to grow a couple inches, but if he does, he's a major prospect. It's hard to teach toughness, too.

A lot of strange stories coming out of Kansas State in the last couple weeks. First, quarterback Josh Freeman failed the physical endurance test, then proceeded to stink it up for a couple weeks. A couple guys have left the program. And Coach Ron Prince had his assistant coaches running stadium steps.

Either Prince has watched “Remember The Titans” at the planetarium a few too many times, or he thinks he could steal one at Auburn on Saturday.

Know what? The Wildcats just might do that against an Auburn offense that can lay an egg, KSU needs two turnovers, a couple big plays on special teams, and a passable performance from Freeman. Auburn has more athletes, a great defense, and a home crowd. But the Tigers sometimes invent ways to lose, too.

Confident, chatty, slightly eccentric, Prince is precisely the kind of coach who will get under the skin of NU fans. But it's better for Nebraska that Kansas State be competitive Saturday.

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