Callahan Recognizes Final Game?s Importance

Lincoln - The Nebraska football team continued preparations for this weekend’s nationally-televised matchup against Colorado with a two-hour and 15-minute workout in full pads inside Memorial Stadium on Monday. The Huskers face CU at 11 a.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium in a game to be televised by ABC.

Earlier in the day at his weekly press conference, Head Coach Bill Callahan spoke of the importance of the Huskers’ final regular-season game against the Buffaloes.

"We’re excited about this opportunity to play Colorado, about having the chance to keep the (bowl) streak alive, for our seniors to go out on a winning note and give them a memorable game that will endure in their careers," Callahan said.

Callahan heaped praise on the team’s group of seniors, recognizing the importance each has played to the program’s success over the years.

"Our seniors have undergone quite a bit in terms of coaching changes and wins and losses," Callahan said. "It’s been a rollercoaster ride for these guys so it’s important that they leave on a good note with a good taste in their mouth. What they’ve given our program this year and in the last four or five years that they’ve been here; a lot of them have given their heart and soul. Not only the Barrett Ruud’s, but you take a look at the Danny Burrow’s and Ben Zajicek and Kiffin Wigert, those guys that are really unheralded in terms of what they’ve given the program. You look at them as a group and you can see that they’ve really gone through quite a bit and I’d love to see them go out with a win."

Callahan also announced Nebraska’s players of the game for the contest against Oklahoma. I-back Cory Ross gained recognition as offensive player of the game for the seventh time this season, after becoming the first person to rush for more than 100 yards against the Sooner defense this season, while linebacker Barrett Ruud collected defensive honors for the fourth time this year. David Dyches was named special teams player of the game. Dan Burrow and Mike Huff earned the respective honors of offensive and defensive scout team players of the week.

NU will continue its preparations for the Buffs with an afternoon practice on Tuesday.