Red Report: Some recruits may be wavering
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By BRIAN CHIRSTOPHERSON and STEVEN M. SIPPLE
WAVERING RECRUITS: With uncertainty about the direction of the Husker football program, some of the players who have given Nebraska oral commitments appear to be having second thoughts.
With Monday’s firing of Steve Pederson as athletic director, it seemed to cast even more doubt on the future of Bill Callahan as Husker coach.
Much-ballyhooed prep quarterback Blaine Gabbert is taking a visit to the Missouri campus this weekend to watch the Tigers play Texas Tech.
Gabbert has orally committed to Nebraska.
“At this point, his commitment is to Nebraska,” Chuck Gabbert, the player’s father, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “But he has stated that he wants to go attend the game, and that’s fine. He’s had an invitation all year to go down there.”
Chuck Gabbert told the Post-Dispatch his son is not reopening his college search, but said whether Callahan is retained as coach or not “would have a major impact on his decision.”
Another Husker oral commitment, Bryce Givens, an offensive lineman from Denver, reportedly said he’s keeping his options open and might like to pay a visit to Texas.
Callahan admitted Tuesday that the chaos surrounding the program makes it difficult to keep kids from wavering.
“It will be interesting to see what the effect is of the decision that was laid down (Monday) and how it affects recruits,” he said. “I think it is a top-seven recruiting class right now. I don’t know if that’s changed, but we’re doing everything we can to hold on to those recruits.”
The Huskers currently have 24 oral commitments for the 2008 recruiting class. Seven of those players are rated as four-star-caliber or better by the Rivals.com recruiting Web site.
“When you struggle, you’re going to lose some, you’re going to gain some,” Callahan said. “So it is a continual process. We are going to continue to recruit regardless of where our commitment level is at right now.”
SQUELCHING RUMORS: Did you hear Charlie McBride’s the new interim coach? And John Madden’s the new defensive coordinator.
Rumors, rumors, rumors. They swirled out of control Wednesday in Lincoln and across cyberspace.
The biggest Internet falsity was that there was going to be a 6 p.m. press conference where Callahan resigned.
“That’s really sad, because our entire staff was here,” Callahan said. “Coach Osborne was here with us today. I don’t know where that gets started. I guess that’s kind of the day and age we’re living in.
“I understand it, because that’s how it goes, but, no, there’s no truth to that. We came out here and we worked today. Everybody’s here. We’re all working hard, trying to win a game on Saturday.”
Callahan said his players have done a wonderful job getting past all the rumor spreading.
“We had a very spirited practice,” he said. “The guys worked hard and were upbeat. It’s a credit to their resiliency and focus.”
Many questions passed before a reporter asked about Saturday’s football game.
Coach could you talk about A&M’s strong backfield?
Callahan laughed, and joked: “Yeah, I’d be more than happy to. Is there a game this week?”
BY THE NUMBERS: 12
Number of touchdowns scored this season by Texas A&M's 6-foot, 268-pound tailback, Jorvorskie Lane.
He ranks eighth nationally in scoring and third in the conference. The junior tied a 79-year-old school record by scoring 19 touchdowns last season.
SCOUTING REPORT: DB ANTHONY BLUE
Husker freshman defensive back Anthony Blue was much talked about by coaches before the season.
At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, the Texas native has seen the field sparingly, mostly on special teams.
But Blue said he’s gotten a lot out of this season.
“Football-wise, I’ve learned so much,” Blue said. “To take it from the film room to the field, it’s hard, but it’s worthwhile to get done. I guess I’ve progressed a lot. If I had this (experience) in high school, it’d be great.”
Blue’s said his favorite individual play came in the second half against Ball State, when coaches sent him on a corner blitz.
“I was a second late, so close to getting him,” Blue said. “That was exciting.”
Opponent watch: Texas A&M
Texas A&M senior cornerback Johnathan Batson could be pulled from his redshirt year if the Aggies become any thinner in the secondary, coach Dennis Franchione told the Houston Chronicle.
Batson, who played in 12 games in 2006 after transferring from junior college, elected to sit out this season because of an abundance of defensive backs.
But a knee ligament injury that ended starting cornerback Danny Gorrer's season has left the Aggies with just three experienced corners. Batson might have to be used if another one goes down.
“Johnathan understands our situation, and he’s a team guy,” Franchione said. “I think he would hope to hold on to his redshirt and we will do everything we can to hold on to it. But we just can't have another season-ending injury right now.”
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