Huskers Focus on Starting Fast

LINCOLN ? The Nebraska football team concluded the full-scale phase of its game-week practice schedule Thursday with a workout that Head Coach Bill Callahan described as "quick" and "brisk." NU finished up the week’s situational work during drills.

While the Husker offense has struggled to put points on the board early during each game this season, Callahan said that his unit continues to work on starting fast every day in practice.

"Whether we are scoring points or aren’t scoring points (early), we address starting fast every week," Callahan said. "That’s why we (script) the first 15 plays. We’ve moved (the ball early). We’ve come out and had some good starts, we just haven’t finished drives. So that’s what we’ve focused on this week, just finish the first drive and try to get some points on the board."

Callahan seemed upbeat following Thursday’s practice. In addition to Saturday’s upcoming Big 12 opener against Iowa State, the Chicago White Sox, of which Callahan claims to be a avid fan, clinched Major League Baseball’s American League Central division title Thursday afternoon with a 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers. The Chicago native grew up on the south side of the Windy City, the same side of town the White Sox call home.

"I’m just excited that the Sox clinched today," he said. "I knew it was coming up. That’s the one thing I do keep up with in the newspapers."

Nebraska will continue its game-week preparations Friday afternoon with a short walk-through practice.