Nebraska...not feeling Frosty anymore

[entropy]

for stan..

The Nebraska volleyball team's consecutive home sellout streak of 164 matches at the NU Coliseum will grow by at least 21 this year.

Single-match tickets for 21 matches at the Coliseum sold out in less than 30 minutes Wednesday morning. Tickets sold out in less than 30 minutes in 2011 as well.

Nebraska is playing its final season in the Coliseum before moving to the soon-to-be-renovated Devaney Sports Center in 2013.

Some fans camped out at the ticket office starting Monday morning, and were greeted by a few members of the Husker volleyball team Tuesday evening.

Seats still remain for Nebraska's match against Notre Dame on Aug. 26 at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Those tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.

Tickets are also still available for the 7 p.m. Red-White Scrimmage on Aug. 18 at the Coliseum. Tickets are $10 for reserved sets and $8 for general admission.

NU's regular season begins Aug. 24 against St. Louis at 7 p.m. The Huskers will host defending national champion UCLA on Aug. 25 at 6 p.m.

[lineygoblue]

volleyball school

[THE_WIZARD_]

shaddup

:::weeps:::

[entropy]

not sure I agree w/ #4 and #8..

Tom Dienhart link

Nebraska’s maiden voyage in the Big Ten has to be considered a success on many fronts. The Cornhuskers finished 9-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten. But along the way, Nebraska found out it needs to get bigger and more physical on defense to better deal with Big Ten offenses. And the Husker offense must improve its passing game to give the attack better balance.

Even with improvements in those areas, however, Nebraska still may struggle to win a competitive Legends Division that includes favorites Michigan and Michigan State. Still, there is lots to look forward to. With that, I present 10 reasons for Nebraska fans to be excited about 2012.

1. An improved Taylor Martinez? It seems like he has been on campus for a decade. Alas, he’s only a junior. In the offseason, Martinez worked with a private coach to improve his footwork, among other things. The goal is to become a better passer. He completed 56.3 percent of his passes last season for 2,089 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight picks. Martinez also ran for 874 yard and nine scores. If he indeed is more accurate and composed, it will make the offense much more effective.

[BTN.com: See all of Dienhart's 10 reasons to be excited posts]

2. Rex Burkhead. This is the quintessential hard worker who has a dedication and work ethic that is second to none. The senior finished third in the Big Ten in rushing last season, averaging 104.4 yards per game after running 284 times for 1,357 yards. But often times, he was asked to do too much. (Remember the 38-carry game vs. Iowa?) Burkhead may be even better if he isn’t overused. But he won’t complain either way.

3. Deep receiving corps. What was an inexperienced corps is now a deep and proven collection of wideouts that could be among the best in the Big Ten. The only key loss was Brandon Kinnie. Kenny Bell is back after leading the team with 32 catches for 461 yards as a freshman. Also back are junior Quincy Enunwa and sophomore Jamal Turner. Throw in senior tight ends Kyler Reed and Ben Cotton, and the Huskers’ cup runneth over.

4. O-line. Like the receiving corps, this group was largely unproven entering 2011. Now, it’s a strength. The center spot still needs to be firmed up, but the staff loves tackles Jeremiah Sirles, Andrew Rodriguez and Tyler Moore along with guards Spencer Long and Seung Hoon Choi. This could be one of the league’s top fronts.


5. Brett Maher. There probably isn’t a better combination kicker/punter in college football, as he was named the Big Ten’s top kicker and punter in 2011. Maher hit 19-of-23 field-goal attempts with all but one of the misses coming from 50 yards or longer last season. And Maher averaged 44.5 yards per punt.

6. Motivation. There is a sense of urgency for the program as it enters its fifth season under Bo Pelini. The Cornhuskers have won nine, 10, 10 and nine games in the first four seasons under Pelini. But Big Red Nation wants more. It wants the program’s first conference title since winning the 1999 Big 12 title. This is where motivation and preparation could intersect in a big season—or at least that’s the hope.

7. Secondary. This group has a chance to be the strongest unit on a defense that has a lot to prove after ranking seventh in the Big Ten (350.7 ypg). Senior safety Daimion Stafford may be the top player on the unit, while the corner duo of junior Andrew Green and JC transfer Mohammed Seisay could be formidable.

8. D-line. Yes, Jared Crick will be missed. But three starters are back up front led by the end duo of Cameron Meredith and Jason Ankrah. Tackle Baker Steinkuhler is an anchor inside. And Bo Pelini made a great hire in luring Rick Kaczenski from Iowa to coach this unit. He is outstanding. Now, big plays are needed, as the Huskers ranked ninth in the Big Ten in sacks last season and last in tackles for loss.

9. Year Two under Tim Beck. Last season, he was in his first year as offensive coordinator. It took time to implement his systems, his scheme, his style. And Beck had to do all of that with a quarterback who still was growing and with inexperience at receiver and on the line. Look for the offense to benefit from those 2011 growing pains.

10. Schedule. This is built for a fast start. Yes, the trip to UCLA for the second game may be tough, but the Bruins are in transition under a first-year coach in Jim Mora, Jr. The other non-league games are at home vs. very beatable foes in Southern Miss, Arkansas State and Idaho State. Nebraska will need that quick start—and accompanying confidence—as it opens Big Ten play vs. Wisconsin and at Ohio State.

[entropy]

not sure I agree w/ #4 and #8..

Tom Dienhart link

Nebraska?s maiden voyage in the Big Ten has to be considered a success on many fronts. The Cornhuskers finished 9-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten. But along the way, Nebraska found out it needs to get bigger and more physical on defense to better deal with Big Ten offenses. And the Husker offense must improve its passing game to give the attack better balance.

Even with improvements in those areas, however, Nebraska still may struggle to win a competitive Legends Division that includes favorites Michigan and Michigan State. Still, there is lots to look forward to. With that, I present 10 reasons for Nebraska fans to be excited about 2012.

1. An improved Taylor Martinez? It seems like he has been on campus for a decade. Alas, he?s only a junior. In the offseason, Martinez worked with a private coach to improve his footwork, among other things. The goal is to become a better passer. He completed 56.3 percent of his passes last season for 2,089 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight picks. Martinez also ran for 874 yard and nine scores. If he indeed is more accurate and composed, it will make the offense much more effective.

[BTN.com: See all of Dienhart's 10 reasons to be excited posts]

2. Rex Burkhead. This is the quintessential hard worker who has a dedication and work ethic that is second to none. The senior finished third in the Big Ten in rushing last season, averaging 104.4 yards per game after running 284 times for 1,357 yards. But often times, he was asked to do too much. (Remember the 38-carry game vs. Iowa?) Burkhead may be even better if he isn?t overused. But he won?t complain either way.

3. Deep receiving corps. What was an inexperienced corps is now a deep and proven collection of wideouts that could be among the best in the Big Ten. The only key loss was Brandon Kinnie. Kenny Bell is back after leading the team with 32 catches for 461 yards as a freshman. Also back are junior Quincy Enunwa and sophomore Jamal Turner. Throw in senior tight ends Kyler Reed and Ben Cotton, and the Huskers? cup runneth over.

4. O-line. Like the receiving corps, this group was largely unproven entering 2011. Now, it?s a strength. The center spot still needs to be firmed up, but the staff loves tackles Jeremiah Sirles, Andrew Rodriguez and Tyler Moore along with guards Spencer Long and Seung Hoon Choi. This could be one of the league?s top fronts.


5. Brett Maher. There probably isn?t a better combination kicker/punter in college football, as he was named the Big Ten?s top kicker and punter in 2011. Maher hit 19-of-23 field-goal attempts with all but one of the misses coming from 50 yards or longer last season. And Maher averaged 44.5 yards per punt.

6. Motivation. There is a sense of urgency for the program as it enters its fifth season under Bo Pelini. The Cornhuskers have won nine, 10, 10 and nine games in the first four seasons under Pelini. But Big Red Nation wants more. It wants the program?s first conference title since winning the 1999 Big 12 title. This is where motivation and preparation could intersect in a big season?or at least that?s the hope.

7. Secondary. This group has a chance to be the strongest unit on a defense that has a lot to prove after ranking seventh in the Big Ten (350.7 ypg). Senior safety Daimion Stafford may be the top player on the unit, while the corner duo of junior Andrew Green and JC transfer Mohammed Seisay could be formidable.

8. D-line. Yes, Jared Crick will be missed. But three starters are back up front led by the end duo of Cameron Meredith and Jason Ankrah. Tackle Baker Steinkuhler is an anchor inside. And Bo Pelini made a great hire in luring Rick Kaczenski from Iowa to coach this unit. He is outstanding. Now, big plays are needed, as the Huskers ranked ninth in the Big Ten in sacks last season and last in tackles for loss.

9. Year Two under Tim Beck. Last season, he was in his first year as offensive coordinator. It took time to implement his systems, his scheme, his style. And Beck had to do all of that with a quarterback who still was growing and with inexperience at receiver and on the line. Look for the offense to benefit from those 2011 growing pains.

10. Schedule. This is built for a fast start. Yes, the trip to UCLA for the second game may be tough, but the Bruins are in transition under a first-year coach in Jim Mora, Jr. The other non-league games are at home vs. very beatable foes in Southern Miss, Arkansas State and Idaho State. Nebraska will need that quick start?and accompanying confidence?as it opens Big Ten play vs. Wisconsin and at Ohio State.

[THE_WIZARD_]

I thought we were 5-3 in the B1G...not 6-2. Michigan, Wisconsin and NW beat us...

[lineygoblue]

Wiz: You complete me.

hello

[THE_WIZARD_]

hi

[entropy]

Wiz.. He was on a roll...

[entropy]

2 hours ago • By the Lincoln Journal Star

The Nebraska volleyball team will have at least seven matches broadcast on the Big Ten Network or ESPN2 this upcoming season.

The Big Ten announced its television schedule, which consists of 50 matches, on Friday. BTN also has built into the schedule at least two wild-card dates in November, allowing the network to select the most appealing matchups among league title contenders.

Nebraska's Aug. 25 home match against defending national champion UCLA will be shown on BTN (Time Warner channel 24) at 6 p.m. BTN also will broadcast Nebraska's league-opener at Penn State on Sept. 19.

ESPN2 (35) will broadcast two Nebraska matches — vs. Minnesota on Oct. 14 and at Illinois on Oct. 21.

Nebraska volleyball TV schedule

Aug. 25: vs. UCLA, BTN, 6 p.m. (24)

Sept. 19: at Penn State, 7 p.m., BTN

Sept. 26: vs. Michigan State, 7 p.m., BTN

Oct. 5: at Purdue, 7 p.m., BTN

Oct. 14: vs. Minnesota, 2 p.m. ESPN2 (35)

Oct. 21: at Illinois, 2 p.m., ESPN2 (35)

Oct. 28: vs. Penn State, 2 p.m., BTN

[entropy]

The word kept surfacing Friday. Both defensive ends kept coming back to it when asked about the new guy.

Attack.

If you want a nice and tidy description of what first-year Nebraska defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski is asking of his guys, his players will sum it up with that word.

“His philosophy is attack,” said junior defensive end Jason Ankrah. “Everything is attacking. Everything is you delivering the blow before the O-lineman gives you the blow.”

“Rather than reacting we’re attacking,” said senior end Cameron Meredith.

It’s more complex than that, of course.

But as fall camp sound bytes go, no Husker fan out there is likely to take issue with hearing defensive linemen talk that way, especially since Nebraska ranked 84th nationally in sacks and 112th in tackles for loss last year.

Attack indeed.

“In the pass game, it’s all about getting vertical, getting those offensive linemen to kick back or getting them out of position, to turn their hips,” said Meredith, who last year was second on the team in sacks with five.

Don’t misunderstand: Nebraska’s defensive philosophy, and the responsibilities of its linemen, has not changed much.

“It’s the same philosophy, but just with different tools to use,” Meredith said.

Kaczenski has made slight changes to things such as lineman’s stances and the way each player comes off the ball, Ankrah said.

And with those teachings come occasional quizzes.

“This spring, every time we had a play, he’d pull you off and ask what you did,” Ankrah said. “He wouldn’t tell you if you did something wrong or something right. He’d ask you, ‘What do you think you did?’ He’ll evaluate you off what your answer is.”

Ankrah thinks it's helped players better understand, and that the new coach has brought “a sense of urgency” to the defensive line.

Urgency is a good thing to have in what is a rather important fall camp for Nebraska’s D-line, which is hoping to prove it has more depth than a season ago.

By the end of last year, in large part because of injuries, Meredith points out that Nebraska was mostly rotating just five players along the front four.

It was tough duty, and the lack of depth seemed costly at times, certainly in the 28-25 loss to Northwestern, when Nebraska’s defensive line looked worn down in the fourth quarter.

But Meredith believes there are more able bodies now. And the Huskers get a lift this fall with the return of Chase Rome, Kevin Williams and Thad Randle, all defensive tackles who sat out during the spring.

“Coach Kaz was talking the other day that if there’s nine guys that can play football here he’s going to rotate nine guys,” Meredith said. “But if there’s only four, he’s only going to play four. It’s whoever he trusts. But for the most part, I think everyone on the defensive line can play here. I think we have really good depth and I think we have a lot of good players.”

While Meredith seems a lock to start at one end spot, Ankrah and senior Eric Martin figure to have a good battle on the other side. Senior Joseph Carter could also factor in for playing time.

Inside, senior Baker Steinkuhler should provide a sturdy presence. But someone will need to answer the bell and show consistency next to him. That’s where the names of Rome, Randle, Williams and Jay Guy come into the conversation.

Another name worth mentioning?

Wistrom.

Yes, the two-time All-American and three-time national champion Grant Wistrom stopped by to talk to the team last Thursday.

The former Husker defensive end’s words struck a chord with Ankrah.

A little added inspiration, just in time for fall camp.

“That guy, I see why he was so successful,” Ankrah said. “He has a mentality where the guy across from him is not going to beat him, no matter how big you are, he’s just going to go that much harder preparing, watching film on you. His mentality is the type of mentality that every defensive lineman needs to have.”

[entropy]

LJS

Safeties P.J. Smith and Daimion Stafford do more than just share the same position.

Last year, the two shared a room during the team's road trips. Apparently there were some serious tutoring sessions on those trips.

"We'd stay in the hotel and we'd sit there and I'd try to help him understand what (some defensive scheme) was," said the senior Smith. "And sometimes he was like, 'Dawg, I still don't get it.' But he was a playmaker, so he would go out and make plays."

Now, Smith says Stafford — who is also a senior, but was a newcomer as a junior college transfer last year — is more than just a playmaker. He's become a teacher, too.

"Now he's sitting with the younger guys in film meetings and telling them, 'Look, this is what you gotta do,'" Smith said. "And he's helping them understand why Coach (Terry Joseph) is asking us to do that. He's going to have a big year."

Despite the fact he was still trying to figure out things, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Stafford started the final 12 games last season, compiling 80 tackles and 10 pass breakups.

"He came and he was hungry," Smith said. "He stepped up to the plate, and he's a beast, man. You have to give it to him. He's a ball hawk. He loves the game. He's a hitter. He'd rather go and knock somebody's head off than get an interception. But he's a smart player."

* WALK-ON TALENT: The seven true freshman walk-ons on Nebraska's 105-man roster for preseason camp are easily the most in head coach Bo Pelini's five-season tenure.

In fact, the Huskers' preseason roster never has included more than two true freshman walk-ons in each of Pelini's previous four seasons, according to NU officials.

"We take the 105 best players to help us win," said Jeff Jamrog, NU associate athletic director for football operations. "You go by position. You go by who had the best summer and who will be best in practice."

The seven true freshman walk-ons are Brandon Reilly, wide receiver, Lincoln Southwest; Trey Foster, tight end, Lincoln Southeast; Sam Foltz, wide receiver, Grand Island; King Frazier, I-back, Lee's Summit, Mo.; Jordan Nelson, I-back, Omaha Burke; Graham Nabity, I-back, Elkhorn; and Andy Janovich, fullback, Gretna.

Nebraska has a total of 144 players, meaning 39 were left off the preseason roster.

"We understand some are disappointed," said Jamrog, who guides NU's walk-on program. "Those are tough decisions. It's a good problem to have."

* STAFF ADDITION: Austin Cassidy, a starting safety for Nebraska last season, is helping the coaching staff as a graduate manager. "He's kind of sitting back and learning," Pelini said. "He's kind of evaluating if coaching down the road is something he wants to do."

Meanwhile, NCAA rules now allow four graduate assistants. The Huskers' GAs are Joe Ganz (offense), Vince Marrow (offense), T.J. Hollowell (defense) and Jake Mandelko (defense). Jake's father, Mike Mandelko, was an All-Big Eight offensive guard for NU in 1982.

* LINEMAN LEAVES: Ryan Klachko, a redshirt freshman offensive lineman from Springfield, Ill., has decided to transfer, Pelini said. "We have a culture around here," the coach said. "If somebody doesn't feel like they fit into that culture for whatever reason. ... He decided to take his talents somewhere else. I wish him well."

* AWAITING GO-AHEAD: True freshmen Jared Afalava and Alfonzo Moore are waiting to be cleared academically by the NCAA before joining the team. "They're both day-to-day," Pelini said. "We're still waiting to hear back on some paperwork and some things that had to be re-filed with the NCAA, that type of thing."

* ROSTER NEWS: Todd Peat Jr., a redshirt freshman defensive tackle from Tempe, Ariz., is not on the preseason roster. A touted member of last year's recruiting class, he has battled back issues during the offseason. "That's part of it," Pelini said without elaborating.

* SEEN AND HEARD: Redshirt freshman Braylon Heard spent most of Saturday's practice at running back. He practiced at cornerback (mostly nickel) during the spring and impressed coaches, but that was before running back Aaron Green transferred to TCU. "We'll see how camp goes and how the season progresses," Pelini said. "We're prepared to use (Heard) a little bit on defense if need be."

* THIS AND THAT: Senior kicker Brett Maher said Jase Dean will be the holder this year for extra points and field goals. Cassidy handled those duties last season. … The Huskers sported new Adidas practice uniforms Saturday. Each uniform, looking better than some game uniforms you'll find, had three stripes (with a hint of black in them) above the shoulder pads with an N on the sleeves. The offense was in white, the defense in red. … The Huskers received a bit of a break from the summer heat Saturday, with the temperature only in the high 70s when the 11 a.m. practice began. … As has been done in the past to simulate noise, a loudspeaker on a cart was driven around while the offense took snaps. Among the pounding music from the speakers were tunes from AC/DC, Jay-Z and Kanye West. … About 25 media members were on hand to listen to Pelini talk Saturday after the first practice.

— Steven M. Sipple and Brian Christopherson

[entropy]

Nebraska needs a new OL coach

[THE_WIZARD_]

Duh.

[lineygoblue]

Bad time of the year to realize that.