Dixon off team; Cooper ready for camp
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By BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
The beginning of Husker fall camp came with news of a player dismissal from the team. Senior defensive tackle Kevin Dixon has been kicked off the team for violating team policies, Husker coach Bo Pelini said Monday morning.
He was cited twice in July, according to court records. At 12:30 a.m. on July 13, a UNL Police officer stopped a green Buick in the area of 19th and P streets for improper license plates, said Capt. Carl Oestmann.
A small bag of marijuana allegedly was found in the car, Oestmann said. The driver, Lisa Iznaga, 25, and Dixon, who was a passenger, were cited on suspicion of possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, Oestmann said.
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Dixon pleaded not guilty to the charge; prosecutors later dismissed the case.
On July 4, UNL police allegedly caught Dixon urinating in public near Andersen Hall, Oestmann said. On July 24, prosecutors charged Dixon with littering for it, but the case was dismissed to pre-trial diversion.
"We move on, we move forward," Pelini said, not taking the matter much further. "We want guys that do things the right way."
Senior nose tackle Ndamukong Suh said he found out about Dixon's dismissal Sunday.
“It’s a tremendous loss, but also it's a tremendous opportunity for somebody to step up,” Suh said.
Players who will be asked to fill bigger roles now include sophomore Ben Martin of Lincoln Southwest, and redshirt freshmen Terrence Moore of New Orleans and Jared Crick of Cozad.
Suh said Pelini has a very fair disciplinary system.
“Personally I don't think it's a short leash. Some people might see it as a short leash. I think it's a reasonable leash that he allows us to do what we want to do within the parameters of having respect for your own teammates, him, our coaches, and everybody leading up to Coach Osborne,” Suh said.
“As long as you're taking care of your own business, you're in your own house, not trying to get yourself out and get your own attention through the media and different sources, you're going to be fine.
“Be a team player, basically.”
Other things learned:
* Sophomore offensive tackle Jaivorio Burkes will miss the first couple of days of practice, Bo Pelini said, for undisclosed medical reasons.
* Pelini said true freshman Baker Steinkuhler will start the fall camp on the defensive line and Ricky Henry will start on the offensive line.
* Sophomore cornerback Anthony Blue is not on Nebraska's 105-man roster, still on the recovery from an ACL tear from winter conditioning.
“You can't rush those things because he has a bright future ahead of him,” said Pelini, not wanting to guess on a timetable for Blue.
* Four members of Nebraska's 2008 recruiting class are still not ready to go: wide receiver Antonio Bell, offensive lineman David Grant, defensive back Justin Rogers and cornerback David Whitmore.
Pelini was optimistic that Bell will be cleared to play by the NCAA.
* Wide receiver Khiry Cooper is in town and ready to go, having not signed with the Los Angeles Angels, who drafted him in the fifth round. The Angels have until Aug. 15 to sign him.
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com. Lori Pilger contributed to this report.
