Huskers Get Back into Practice Mode

Lincoln -- The Nebraska football team went through nearly two hours of practice in half-pads on the grass fields adjacent to Memorial Stadium Tuesday afternoon. It was the Huskers' first practice to prepare for their upcoming nationally televised Thursday night contest at Southern Miss on Sept. 25.

Head coach Frank Solich said Nebraska practiced well enough, but is glad that the Huskers will be able to get a little more down time before taking off for their first road contest of the season.

"All in all, today's practice was okay. We were able to go some 1s against 1s, but that was mainly to work on pass protection, pass rush, that type of thing," Solich said.

"I think the offensive line was a little tired (after the last game). We did not substitute much, and they were averaging around 80 snaps a game, so they are worn down a little. It's probably okay that we're not playing this coming Saturday. We've played three physical football games, so I think the timing of this is probably going to be okay for us."

The extra time to work in practice and get physically rested suits the Huskers well because they know the upcoming game with Southern Miss should be a tough contest. Nebraska edged the Golden Eagles, 20-13, in Lincoln in 1999 while on its way to a 12-1 season. Solich also added that the atmosphere at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg will be tough on the visitors.

"It'll be a very good atmosphere, it'll be jam-packed down there," Solich said. "We will get their very best shot. I think they are a very good football team and well coached. And the crowd will be very much into it. It's never an easy environment going away from home to play at night in a nationally televised game on ESPN, so it will be big for everybody.

"They are very aggressive (on defense), and they run very well. They have a excellent secondary, so it's not a deal where you can just take advantage, regardless of whether you are talking run or pass. When you look at them from what they are doing defensively, they do a lot of different things and will blitz an awful lot."

Nebraska returns to practice on Wednesday through Friday before starting to put the final touches on the game plan this weekend.