Callahan Focuses on Pittsburgh

Lincoln - The Nebraska football team continued its week-long preparations for Saturday’s road game at Pittsburgh with a two-hour workout in full pads inside Cook Pavilion on Tuesday.

 

Earlier in the day, Head Coach Bill Callahan looked ahead to Saturday’s matchup versus an old mentor, Panthers’ Head Coach Walt Harris. He expects Harris to have Pitt ready for the Huskers.

 

“I’ve known Coach (Walt) Harris throughout my career,” Callahan said. “It started at the University of Illinois. I was his graduate assistant back in 1980 and 1981. I was trained under Coach Harris, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for his abilities as a football coach and as an offensive coach. Basically I cut my teeth at the University of Illinois under him, and I know that he’ll have his team prepared and they will be very physical.”

 

Despite the high number of turnovers occurring on offense in last weekend’s loss to Southern Miss, Callahan believes the players remain confident and will work hard to bounce back with a solid effort against Pittsburgh.

 

“I think when you generate the numbers and the output that we did on the offensive side, I really don’t think the confidence is rattled or shaken,” Callahan said. “This is a driven team, and I’ll tell you something, this team is unique. They’ve been through a lot of challenges in the last year or so, and this is just another one of those challenges we’ve got to go out and work hard on to improve.”

 

Callahan also named NU’s Players of the Week for the Southern Miss game week. Cory Ross earned offensive player of the week after racking up 196 all-purpose yards, while Daniel Bullocks earned the nod on defense, recording six solo tackles and an interception against the Golden Eagles. Adam Ickes was tabbed special teams player of the week, and Brett Byford and Andy Kadavy earned scout team honors.

 

NU will continue its preparations for the Panthers with an afternoon workout Wednesday.