Pelini promises physical, demanding spring camp

"We won't be playing tag," NU's first-year head coach says

Confident and blunt, Nebraska Football Coach Bo Pelini opened his spring football press conference with terse, uncompromising words.

"Our way works," he said to a room of media members. "It's proven on both sides of the ball. There's not a lot of room debate. It's gonna be done a certain way and if (the players) don't like it, there are a lot Division I teams they can play for."

What way is that? Pelini turned that question on its head.

"The right way," he said. "Effort first. And attitude. And focus."

Turning any query about positions, predictions or NU's moribund 2007 season back on the interviewer, Dressed in a red polo with an "N" logo, Pelini said he and his staff "won't concern ourselves" with anything other than "laying the bricks of foundation" for his vision of the program.

"You can make the mistake of trying to being the (New England) Patriots," he said.
"We're not gonna be that on Wednesday...it's not about September, it's about getting started."

When the Cornhuskers open spring practice Wednesday, they will be installing a wholly new defense from Bill Callahan regime.

Pelini labeled last year's defensive performance "irrelevant" and said he hasn't watched any of the tape from last year. He'll spend some time trying figure out what talent he has, and "tweaking" the scheme to the players. It will also be more physical.

"We're not gonna be out there playing tag, I promise you that," Pelini said.

Senior defensive end Zach Potter said he expects to "fight for my job" and "work from a clean slate." The system Pelini preaches isn't easy, he said, but "we're gonna live by it."

"Come Wednesday it'll be a big day," Potter said. "We're really looking forward to seeing how they coach in that atmosphere."

Said senior safety Larry Asante: "It's very intense around here. Everything is competition...I can't wait. We've been working hard....I love coach. he's after our best interests. he wants to win, and whatever we've got to do win, I'm down for it. The defense works. We've got to buy into that. Everywhere Coach has been, the system has worked."

The offense, quarterback Joe Ganz said, should be "pretty much the same" as it was in 2007, except that running plays will use a more "precise," simplified numbering system.

Ganz was one of the few players Pelini mentioned by name - the other players he talked about were either injured or coming off of injuries - as the senior goes into spring camp as the starter.

"He's a leader," Pelini said. "He had tremendous confidence. He's just touching the base of his talent."

Both Potter and offensive lineman Lydon Murtha had high praise for their offseason workout program, as designed by new strength and conditioning coach James Dobson. Former S&C leader Dave Kennedy preached stamina with long runs.

Dobson, Murtha said, has everything at "game speed."

Quick sprints. Explosive exercises. Little down time between exercises.

"Guys liked it a lot," Potter said. "I joked with my dad that I could actually feel an ab."

Email Samuel McKewon at sam@ne.statepaper.com

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