Pelini seeing red after practice
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By the Lincoln Journal Star
The fewer the words, the greater the displeasure. That’s how it usually is with Husker head coach Bo Pelini.
There were few words after Wednesday’s practice.
“Not good enough,” Pelini said. “We didn’t get better today as a football team. We took a step back.”
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It was the team’s ninth practice of the spring but first since a Sunday scrimmage that junior I-back Quentin Castille said was extra physical and almost felt like a game.
After two days off, the Huskers laid an egg.
“I just felt like (Pelini) was mad at us and I was like, ‘Man, we need to come out Friday and start all over,’” Castille said. “We already messed up one practice. I just felt like today was a whole waste of time almost. As far as the learning curve, it wasn’t a waste of time, but the way we went out and were sluggish. … Like coaches said, our leaders need to step up. You can tell nobody was out there really ready to practice today.”
Pelini said it was more than just a lack of intensity that burned him.
“You can go right down the board,” he said. “We didn’t get better as a football team. We didn’t play well. We didn’t practice well. Not everybody, but we’re not getting it collectively like I like to see it.”
Castille was optimistic the team would respond to Wednesday’s critique with a hard push before the spring game on April 18.
“We still got it in us,” he said. “We’re looking for a good rest of the spring. These six practices we got left, I think we’ll be ready for the game.”
Helu a spectator: Junior I-back Roy Helu missed his second straight practice with a hamstring injury. He was on the stationary bicycle at times during the practice.
“He’s coming. We’ll see,” Pelini said. “It’s not a time of year you want to rush him.”
Wide receiver Chris Brooks also sat it out.
A better understanding: Wednesday’s step back came after defensive coordinator Carl Pelini spoke recently about signs of defensive progress this spring.
Pelini said last week that players are starting to ask “second-level questions.”
Said the coach: “They’re getting past the memorization part of learning the defense, and they’re really starting to understand the concept of the defense.
“Here was the deal last year: They would make a wrong call, and they’d move the front the wrong way, and a panic would set in. Now if they make a wrong call, and the front moves the wrong way, they still understand the concepts and fits — enough to move themselves into a position to compensate.
“If they make a mistake in a shift, they can shift to a complementary defense and we’re fine. They’re starting to get it, and that makes me excited.”
Alamo in January: In a move that matters to Big 12 schools, the Alamo Bowl is going to be on Jan 2, 2010, after this regular season.
The game that pits a Big 12 team against Big Ten team had previously been played in late December.
“This year’s calendar has provided us an excellent prime time Saturday time slot that will allow the Valero Alamo Bowl to reach a wide audience,” Alamo Bowl CEO Derrick Fox said in a statement. “The January 2 date should also work well for people traveling to the game as they can celebrate Christmas at home and then spend a long weekend ringing in the New Year in San Antonio.”
—Brian Christopherson and Steven M. Sipple
