STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, November 30, 2006 6:00 pm
A few players wore shorts.
Fullback Dane Todd and at least two offensive linemen went sleeveless.
Never mind that the temperature dipped into the low 20s Thursday as the sun set on Nebraska’s two-hour practice in Memorial Stadium, conditions similar to what is expected for the Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma on Saturday night in Kansas City, Mo.
“We got acclimated today,” said Husker coach Bill Callahan, wearing a bright-red stocking cap with an ‘N’ on the front. “We ordered this weather, and it was great. … It’ll be the same type of atmosphere on Saturday night, so it was good to get outside.”
No matter the situation, Callahan said, he prefers that his team practices outdoors on Thursdays.
Callahan has coached in his share of cold games over the years, including nearly 10 in the NFL.
Asked if cold weather affects the game plan on offense, Callahan said, “It just depends. I really don’t think that’s a problem. You should be able to execute everything. I know in pro ball that you prepare for everything, and you call it. There’s no hesitation whatsoever. You prepare and call.”
DONE THAT: Eighth-ranked Oklahoma will be the third top-10 team Nebraska has played this season. The Huskers fell 28-10 at No. 4 USC and 22-20 to No. 5 Texas in Lincoln. This will mark the first time NU has played three top-10 teams in the same season since 1998 (Washington, Kansas State and Arizona).
“I know we derived a lot of confidence in those games (against Southern Cal and Texas),” Callahan said. “Although we didn’t win, I know that coming out of the Texas game, our team was more confident knowing they matched up and went toe-to-toe with the defending national champion. Same thing with (USC) and Michigan last year. It’ll be no different against Oklahoma.”
INJURY UPDATE: Backup I-back Marlon Lucky, slowed in last week’s win against Colorado because of a sore back, practiced Thursday and is set to play against Oklahoma, Callahan said. Although reserve I-back Cody Glenn (foot sprain) missed Thursday’s workout, Callahan remains optimistic the sophomore will be ready to play.
TODD HONORED: Todd, a senior from Lincoln Southeast, has been selected as an ESPN The Magazine second-team Academic All-American. The award follows his first-team selection in 2005. He graduated in May with a degree in biological sciences and completed his undergraduate work with a perfect 4.0 GPA. This semester, he is enrolled in graduate courses and plans to pursue medical school next fall.
ETC.: NU senior defensive end Adam Carriker has been named a third-team All-American by Rivals.com. … The Huskers depart for Kansas City this morning. … Ex-Husker assistant Scott Downing, now the head coach at Northern Colorado, was on hand for Thursday’s practice.