Nebraska...not feeling Frosty anymore

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Team Jack Foundation posted on Facebook:

Wow....what an incredible night! We cannot begin to thank everyone enough for your support and generosity. A special surprise tonight came from Dan Campbell, Step-Father of Husker, Kenny Bell, who presented the Team Jack Foundation with an unexpected $25,000 check from his company, EMC Corporation. Thank you Mr. Campbell and EMC Corporation for your generosity, we cannot begin to express how appreciative we are!

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53 minutes ago • By BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
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Fans attending Nebraska’s men's basketball scrimmage Friday night are eager to see a more athletic, more talented team.

They’ll also see players who are leaner, stronger and faster.

That, as much as anything, may determine how much progress the Huskers make in their second season under Tim Miles.

“We’re in way better shape right now than we were last year,” said Terran Petteway, a sophomore transfer from Texas Tech. “Way better shape.”

That’s thanks in large part to strength and conditioning coach Tim Wilson, whose summer workout program has produced positive results.

Walter Pitchford has fondly nicknamed Wilson’s workouts “death.” But Pitchford is feeling “more alive altogether,” he said, because of them.

“I feel faster, (have) more energy,” said Pitchford, a sophomore transfer from Florida. “A lot stronger.”

The 6-foot-11 Pitchford arrived in Lincoln a year ago weighing 230 pounds. He dropped 15 pounds of bad weight and has worked his way back up to 235 pounds, in the form of muscle. His body fat is 8 percent.

Junior-college transfer Leslee Smith has seen similar gains. Since coming to Lincoln in June, he’s dropped seven pounds while cutting his body fat from 13 percent to 10 percent.

“I can feel it, too. I can definitely feel it,” said Smith, a 6-8, 253-pound forward. “I’m moving a lot faster, jumping a lot higher. This is the best I’ve felt in two years.”

Pitchford and Smith aren’t the only ones who’ve made strides. Wilson mentioned Petteway, Shavon Shields, Deverell Biggs and David Rivers as others who’ve reshaped their bodies or seen significant gains in conditioning. And Mike Peltz has the team's lowest body fat percentage, at 5.3 percent.

Even the freshmen — Nick Fuller, Nathan Hawkins, Tai Webster — have seen improvements in the few months they’ve been in Lincoln, Wilson said.

“I was told a long time ago by an old coach that you will determine your season’s success by how hard you train in the offseason,” said Wilson, entering his third season at Nebraska. “I truly think, in my 30-plus years of doing this, I don’t ever remember a team doing as well and training as hard and having the focus as this team does this year.”

Nebraska players met four days a week at 6:45 a.m. and had strength-and-conditioning workouts that lasted 75-90 minutes.

By the end of the summer, Peltz, despite his recovery from knee surgery, had the fastest conditioning time, Wilson said, followed by Biggs, Petteway, Shields and Webster. All five players finished with an average time of less than 60 seconds in a five-set lines drill. The goal for guards was 63 seconds.

“That was the biggest surprise for me, to see him run that fast,” Wilson said of Peltz’s average time of 57 seconds. “He’s got good speed. Guy should be on special teams, coming down the field.”

Wilson says that, knowing the 6-2, 203-pound Peltz is also the team’s strongest player, with a bench press of 380 pounds. Pitchford is next, with a bench of 300.

Jordan Tyrance had the top squat of 455 pounds, with Petteway, Pitchford and Biggs each increasing his squat by 90 pounds since the end of last season. Ray Gallegos has the team's top vertical jump, at 43 inches; Pitchford, Biggs and Benny Parker are all above 40 inches.

And remember when the 6-7 Rivers arrived in Lincoln two years ago weighing 170 pounds? He’s now pushing 200.

Shields, who's grown a half-inch and gained more than 10 pounds, finished first in Wilson’s “tough guy” test — one that’s a combination of speed and strength — ahead of Peltz, Webster, Petteway and Smith.

“Coach Wilson’s done a great job with us over the summer, getting us stronger, faster, leaning down,” Shields said. “That helps with being able to guard multiple positions, because you’re big enough to guard the bigger people but quick enough to guard the guards. It’s great.”

Wilson credited nutritionist Lindsey Remmers and trainer R.J. Pietig for their roles, and also gave a nod to players.

"It’s been exciting for me, and I give credit to the players," Wilson said. "Because their work ethic has been unbelievable.”

OPEN SCRIMMAGE

All fans are invited to attend Nebraska’s scrimmage Friday at 7 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Doors open at 6 p.m., and admission is free.

General public parking will be in the city lots around the arena, including the Red 1 garage across the arena, as well as the parking lots at Haymarket Park.

The team will be introduced, then scrimmage for one hour, with coach Tim Miles providing commentary. Players will sign autographs afterward.

The practice is Nebraska’s first of 30 over 42 days before the Huskers' Nov. 8 regular-season opener against Florida Gulf Coast.

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Tim Miles met with the media on Thursday afternoon.

Tim Miles Press Conference Recap
Courtesy NU Media Relations
Thu, October 03, 2013

Lincoln -- Nebraska Coach Tim Miles met with the media Thursday afternoon and hit on several topics, including the injury status of David Rivers and Shavon Shields, his thoughts after the first week of practice as well as the battle at point guard.

On the status of David Rivers (foot) and Shavon Shields (tailbone)

They have both practice full since the scrimmage and it has been good. You get guys who are nicked up, but it is nothing out of the ordinary. Shavon practiced twice the next day (Saturday).

What are your thoughts after the first week of practice
There are some exciting possibilities with this team. I really like their athleticism and their movement. We have a good group of guys who are athletic and play the game really hard. We lack some things too. It might be a little unfair to judge this early. We are inexperienced. Our best guys that we think can make an impact are young. We have one senior on scholarship. When you are inexperienced like that, you worry a little bit about the peaks and valleys. It feels like a roller coaster some days.

On the challenges of having a youthful team

Decisions. Whether it is what pass you can make or a passing decision, a bad shot or a defensive gamble. Those things are decisions and discipline and they go hand-in-hand. And bringing it everyday and having that ability to come every day with a certain mentality to be successful.

Yeah, and I thought last year’s group made a heckuva lot better decisions than this year’s group. This is an aggressive group, which I like, but that can lead to issues too. It’s a delicate balance of how much to reign them in and how much to let them go. Early, I think we will try to figure out our best combinations to be successful.

On the benefits of having 30 practices before the season opener

I looked at the last three years and before our first game, we had 22, 22 or 23 or 19. We had a short year in there too. We have significantly more practice time. That is a double-edged sword because already they are ready to play someone else early. Now that you get into it coaches are going to want something else. With earlier practices, it would be nice to have an earlier scrimmage. One about mid-October when we used to start and another one or an exhibition game toward the end of October. We are going to have to figure that out.

On creating a system so the newcomers are not overwhelmed.

Our system is built to go to the players’ strengths so whatever those guys need at the time that they can execute is what we will do. We are going to see what we can do well, and we aren’t going to do any more or and we are not going to just add stuff to add stuff. We have to find out what we can do well though. Every team is a little different. The team you think you have in October quite often is not the team you end up having in January and February. That is the discovery and I look forward to the improvement of this team throughout the season. Right now, I think it is going to be a roller coaster early. I think we will play well some nights, but there are some nights we might struggle. That comes with maturity and discipline. That comes with better decisions and experience. When all of those things fall into place, I think we can have a nice club on the floor.

On whether the Huskers will play at a faster pace than last year

There were two games where we played only five guys in the second half, so I promise you we will be faster than last year.

On where this team can improve and get better during the season

We are not going to get more possessions If we don’t get defensive stops, so we have to be an excellent defensive team and we have room to grow there, there is no doubt. I think this team is an athletic bunch who can get down the floor and that is important. I think we can be a better rebounding team. Those are two areas where I can see improvement in.

On the battle at point guard between Benny Parker, Deverell Biggs and Tai Webster

It is going great. I think you can play a couple of guys at the same time. When you have multiple handlers and playmakers, that can really help create more opportunities for those other guys. We are looking at all options, but competition is always healthy.

On Tai Webster’s development

He is a freshman and he plays like a freshman, but a talented freshman. Tai has a lot of talent and has shown some exciting potential. There are some things he needs to get better at, there is no question about that, but every guy is like that. Every guy in our program is going to have a thirst to want to get better; a thirst for self improvement and team improvement. Tai wants to get better. He’s looking forward to it and working hard at it.

On Deverell Biggs

The lights are on now so he is only a few games away from getting out there, so he’s pretty excited. He’s played well in practice, except yesterday, but that happens to everybody.

On if Mike Peltz will redshirt

I think Mike is going to play. If we redshirt him, I can’t see him on special teams for the Husker football team next year. I say that tounge-in-cheek a little bit, but I think that kid could do anything. I believe we will see him on the floor, but we have only had him a little bit in practice right now.

On the post play

I think Leslee Smith and Walt Pitchford have done some good things. Sergej is still developing and I want him to speed it up a little bit. Those are our three best options at this point down there. We might not play traditional where you play four out and one in and throw it around an anchor. I’ve had all conference guys like Andy Odige. We played around him for two years at Colorado State. Chad Koenen was an All-American for us at Southwest Minnesota State that we played around him. Sometimes you get anchored, sometimes you don’t and we will see. There are a lot of ways to get the ball into the paint and we are going to figure out how to be at the rim because you have to be at the rim, whether it is throwing it to a guy whose back is to the basket, or driving it or screen and roll or transition or offensive rebounds. We are going to pick from three or four of those pots and go strongly in that direction.

[Optimus Prime]

SI reports Martinez out with turf toe v. Illinois?

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Armstrong started

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Btw... big ten refs <<<<< big 12 refs

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http://deadspin.com/espn-cameras-catch-nebraska-player-appearing-to-relieve-1441550335

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Husker volleyball beats Wisconsin in 5 sets.

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Too funny. Mike has..."style".

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hfklelmnvIY"]Nissan Heisman House | Coordinated - YouTube[/ame]

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AA averages 9.4 yards per carry in the second half of games, second-best mark in college football. (Paging Mr. Beck.)

He's also 7th in the country in rushing yards, 2nd in B10 just behind Melvin Gordon.

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Too funny. Mike has..."style".

Nissan Heisman House | Coordinated - YouTube

LOL

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tunnel walk of shame... Ill game..

http://www.tunnelwalkofshame.com/

[Wild Hoss]

Not sure how much more Taylor Martinez we're going to see this year...the chronic ankle problem has resurfaced, along with turf toe. The "4.2 40 Taylor" is almost certainly gone for good.

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UNL beats Michigan in 5 sets

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Zack Darlington is confident he will play football again.

He speaks of the future with measured enunciation and carefully chosen words. The stutter is gone, or so it seems, but then it slowly creeps back into his voice.

Two concussions in a two-month span can have that kind of impact.


He?s well aware of the speech lapses. It?s part of his therapy; part of the step-by-step process he said will have him back playing the game he loves by the time the Nebraska Cornhuskers hit the field for spring practice in March. He will be there.

That?s the plan.

?One hundred percent. That?s my goal and that?s what I?m working toward now,? said Darlington, an Apopka High senior who committed to play quarterback at Nebraska on June 14. Ten days later, his life would change forever.

Darlington spoke Thursday about the traumatic injury, his recovery and his future.

One of the state of Florida?s top college football prospects, Darlington was recently invited to the Marine Corps-sponsored Semper Fi All-American Game, which is Jan. 5 in Carson, Calif. He will not play, but he expressed his deep gratitude to the Marines for including him despite his inability to take the field.

He has been sidelined since taking a horrific hit during Apopka?s season-opening loss at Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes High. Athletic trainers and on-field personnel struggled to find Darlington?s pulse, prompting his 8-year-old brother to run frantically in search of his mother, screaming, ?He?s dead, mom. He?s dead.?

After a night at a South Carolina hospital, Darlington slowly got back on his feet. He?s been able to think back and reflect on what he has endured. His goal to return has never wavered. The 6-foot-2, 212-pound quarterback goes at every task life presents as if he is always wearing a helmet and pads.

He was going hard last summer, as usual, during an offseason workout that included a drill with large tractor tires. The goal was to push a tire across the line before your teammate and his tire.

As Darlington went to lunge across the line ahead of his teammate, however, he was hit awkwardly in the head and neck area by his teammate?s tire and crumpled to the ground.

He couldn?t move. He couldn?t talk.

?I wasn?t knocked out, but I wasn?t able to do everything,? he said. ?My hands seized up, which was really scary. I couldn?t use my hands and my arms were fidgeting and my mouth was like . . . I was trying to say something and nothing was coming out. That was really scary. . . . I felt like I was capable of doing something that my body couldn?t.?

He had endured injuries before. Broken bones, no problem. He led Apopka to Class 8A state semi-final and championship game wins last year with a broken wrist. Not playing never crossed his mind.

This, however, was different.

For the first time in his somewhat injury-plagued football life, he actually wondered if he could return to the field. After being hit by the tire, Darlington would slowly regain most of his muscle control. But his fingers remained curled a day later and he still could not talk.

The fingers finally straightened. The speech never did.

?It was about three days and all I could get out was lots of stuttering and not complete sentences,? he said. ?I?d kind of use the wrong words or use words in context that didn?t make any sense.?

It was scary for Darlington and his family, especially 16-year-old Molly, one of the seven Darlington children.

?She was the one who broke down and cried. Me and her, we bicker at times, but we are the best of friends and we get along really well, so when I was barely able to speak, it really hit her hard,? Zack Darlington said. ?I think she got really scared because she knew how much I loved to laugh and joke around and when I wasn?t able to do it, it kind of freaked her out.?

No one, however, was more freaked than 8-year-old brother Wyatt after Zack?s second concussion.

After the initial injury, the Darlingtons brought in a specialist, Dr. Semyon Slobounov, who works with the Penn State laboratory for virtual reality and traumatic brain injury. They were also seeing Dr. James Ray, a physician at the National Training Center in Clermont, as well as Tom Gibbons, director of the Orlando Stuttering Center.

Related
Zack Darlington photos through the years Zack Darlington photos through the years
Apopka's Zack Darlington says faith helps him cope with concussion, uncertain future | Video Apopka's Zack Darlington says faith helps him cope with concussion, uncertain future | Video
Injury to Apopka QB went national, sparking intense coverage from social media, websites and TV Injury to Apopka QB went national, sparking intense coverage from social media, websites and TV
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On Aug.7, Darlington was cleared for full contact.
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It wasn't easy for Apopka head coach Rick Darlington to send his son, Zackm back on the football field. Rick Darlington has had to juggle the responsibilities of coach and father in a much different way than in the past. Zack is his second oldest son. Ty Darlington is a sophomore center at Oklahoma.

?It?s been real tough,? Rick Darlington said after the second concussion sidelined his son for what looks to be the remainder of his senior season. ?When he got hurt in June, we hoped he?d be ready to play. We didn?t know if he?d be ready for Byrnes and he was and then this happened, so it?s been hard.

?I?m not an overly emotional person, but I?ve shed a lot of tears just thinking that he may not be on the field with us this year. It?s his senior year. . . . But God has a bigger plan than our plan and although I?d love to have him out there with us with a helmet on Friday nights, I?m just glad he?s safe and healthy and I can still coach with him. I?m still very blessed he?s still my son and I still get to see him all the time.?

Just 17 days after he was cleared for fall practice, Zack Darlington was sprawled motionless and unconscious on a South Carolina football field, victim of a hit witnessed by millions on ESPN. The scene sent young Wyatt into hysterics as he rushed off to find his mother in the bleachers.

?What everyone was freaked out about was that they weren?t able to find a pulse for about five minutes so they were thinking that I had died,? said Zack of Wyatt, who, along with 12-year-old Jackson, are both Blue Darters ball boys and as much a part of the Apopka sideline as the rest of the team. ?So that?s what Wyatt thought. He immediately ran to my mom and said, ?He?s dead mom, he?s dead. He?s not moving. He?s not breathing.?

?He was just heartbroken at the thought that I had died right in front of him. . . At that age, to have your big brother, go down right in front of you, the one that had battled back from all of these injuries, that you thought could never be broken . . . goes down right in front of you. That is really, really scary.?

Things have settled down a bit now. Wyatt and Jackson are shagging balls, as always. Zack?s not on the field, but his teammates take him out there every Friday night. The Darters decided to have a different player wear Darlington?s jersey for each game. So far, Chandler Cox, Rakeem Smith, Robert Thomas, Anthony Ellis and Jacob Whitrock have all worn the No. 6.

?It?s been really tough not to have Zack on the field and you can tell it really bothers him,? Cox said. ?But God just tells Zack that we think about him out there and we play for him each week and it?s been fine. We just work as a team. We have a strong brotherhood. I think we can work through any adversity by coming together.?

And they?re playing just fine. The Darters are 6-1, haven?t lost since South Carolina and are averaging 50 points per game. Darlington isn?t exactly absent, however. He coaches in practice, just like his father. He?ll run the scout team offense and has even recently been running with the second team just to get in a few reps.

?I?m not 100 percent, but I?m taking steps,? Darlington said and he touched on whether he would quarterback the Darters again. ?It?s not up to me. It?s up to God. He?ll tell me that, tell the doctors that, tell my parents that. It?s all God?s plan.?

When he?s on the field, there is no stuttering. There?s also no stuttering during his fiery pregame speeches. He gave one that caused quite a stir of emotions last Friday night before sending his teammates out on the field to dismantle previously unbeaten West Orange.

?On the field it?s little to none,? Darlington said of the stuttering. ?I don?t know what it is. I just get around my team and it?s like being around your family. It?s comfortable. It?s what you are used to and you don?t feel like you are in the spotlight and you don?t feel like everyone is watching you.?

He returns to Lincoln, Neb., in a few weeks to take his official recruiting trip to the school that has stood by him since he said he wanted to play his college football as a Cornhusker. He?ll be visiting Nov. 15-17, the weekend Nebraska hosts Michigan State.

?I have a great feeling now. I?m not really worried about much,? Darlington said of Nebraska. ?I think when I go up there I?ll feel a little more comfortable with it. It will be the first time for them seeing me since the accident and the first time since I made the commitment, so I?m really looking forward to it.?

It?s just another step toward his goal. And once he?s set his mind to something, the past only speaks volumes for what he can accomplish. Don?t, however, think Darlington isn?t well aware of what he has overcome.

?No doubt. You never expect it. You are definitely thankful when you get the speech back and you realize how blessed you are just to be able to talk,? he said. ?Not many people have had it and been able to talk fine and then had it taken away and know how it feels to not be able to talk and get the looks, like, ?What happened to you?? There are people in worse [situations] than I am, and I?m very blessed that it wasn?t worse than it was.

?I am blessed beyond measure.?




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