Lucky still nagged by turf toe
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By BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON And STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Nebraska I-back Marlon Lucky’s turf-toe injury, which became an issue in early November, remains bothersome, the senior said Sunday.
“I can play on it, but I can’t say it’s 100 percent,” Lucky said after the Huskers completed their second practice in Jacksonville, site of Thursday’s Gator Bowl. “Because it’s a turf-toe, it takes awhile to heal. But I’ll be ready.”
Lucky started the first 11 games this season before sitting out the Colorado game because of the injury. The 6-foot, 215-pound Lucky is Nebraska’s second-leading rusher with 517 yards and tied for the team lead with seven rushing touchdowns. He’s also caught 22 passes for 275 yards and a TD.
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In his last three games, Lucky has rushed 22 times for 62 yards, obviously slowed by the injury to his left foot.
“It’d affect anybody, by just walking on it,” Lucky said. “But it doesn’t affect me now as much as it did before.”
As of Sunday, Lucky hadn’t been invited to any postseason all-star games. His focus now is finishing his college career on a positive note with a win against Clemson (7-5). He said he’s enjoying the Gator Bowl experience to this point.
“We’ve bonded more as a team,” Lucky said. “I mean, you can see it.”
Lucky noted Clemson’s speed on defense, especially in the secondary.
“They have a lot of talent in their secondary, and I think they’re smart,” Lucky said.
HEATING UP: It was in the high 70s and humid while the Huskers worked out on Sunday, though a cool front came later in the day.
Pelini said he liked that his team was being tested by the heat.
“I think it was a shock to their system yesterday but I think today they responded a little bit better,” he said.
TALKING TIGER D: Asked if there was any team on Nebraska’s schedule this year that Clemson’s defense compared to, Husker head coach Bo Pelini said the Tigers showed some similarities to Texas Tech.
“But Texas Tech is probably a little bit more bland than they are,” Pelini said.
Added wide receiver Todd Peterson: “They do some similar coverages to Tech, but I think Clemson does a better job of disguising it and mixing up the blitz. … Clemson has the speed to kind of bring people from the back and not show their hand as early in the snap count.“
THIS AND THAT: Pelini said he wasn’t sure if Andy Christensen would return for a sixth season of eligibility next year, but added: “We’d like to have Andy back.” … Newsflash: The long, black locks of I-back Roy Helu are gone. He now sports a buzz cut. “I like it,” said Nebraska right guard Matt Slauson, smiling. “It’s about time he got rid of that nasty hair.” Helu wore the unfamiliar No. 8 during Sunday’s practice. … Slauson described Nebraska’s practice facilities at the University of North Florida as being “above adequate. The field’s great. The gym’s really nice. The locker rooms are a little small, but really any room for me is kind of small,” said the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Slauson. … Husker athletic director Tom Osborne went fishing Saturday without much luck, he said, but he was headed out again Sunday. … The Husker coaches, players and families enjoyed Sunday afternoon at Adventure Landing, billed as Jacksonville’s premier game park. Ty Steinkuhler (6-foot-3, 280) expressed hope he could fit into the go-karts.
THE SCENE: Each day leading up to the game we give you a little flavor of Jacksonville.
Forget the Husker media guide. You need a bird book to fully cover this bowl game.
Nebraska media members were taking guesses at what species of bird have been circling the sky above Nebraska’s practice field in a vulture-like manner.
Apparently, they’re ospreys — fish-eating birds that are about 2 feet in length and have wingspans that can stretch 6 feet.
There were so many ospreys above the beginning of Nebraska’s practice on Sunday that a local officer fired a blank shot into the air to scare them away.
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 orbchristopherson@journalstar.com"> bchristopherson@journalstar.com. Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
