Huskers Host Gruden at Tenth Spring Practice

Lincoln ? The Nebraska football team concluded their tenth of 15 spring workouts Friday afternoon at the HawksChampionshipCenter with a talk from Tampa Bay Head Coach Jon Gruden, who is in town to speak at the annual Spring Football Coaches Clinic.

 

Gruden volunteered his time to come to Lincoln, where he was able to see good friend and former co-worker, Head Coach Bill Callahan.

 

“I had a chance to spend four or five hours with Bill (Callahan), and we worked closely in both Philadelphia and Oakland, and I learned a lot of football from him,” Gruden said. “He’s been tremendous to me over the years, and I wanted to rekindle my friendship with him. I miss him, and I’m proud of what he’s doing here. I know what he’s up against, and I know the challenges that he has, and I’m just excited to see what he’s doing with this program and where they’re going. Just to witness it with my own two eyes was important to me.”

 

Gruden, who spent seven years with Callahan in the National Football League between stints at the Philadelphia Eagles and the Oakland Raiders, also touched on the reasons why he thinks Callahan is a great fit for a program like Nebraska.

 

“He’s got great versatility,” Gruden said. “We led the league in rushing one year in Oakland, and they led the league in passing the following year, so he’s got great versatility. He can coach the line, he can coach the quarterbacks, and he’s had results everywhere he’s been. He’s a very creative guy, very disciplined, and he’s got a great work ethic.”

 

The Huskers spent the first half of practice with direction from position coaches before grouping as a team as the Huskers’ tunnel-walk song began to blare throughout the HawksCenter, signaling the beginning of the Oklahoma drill, where players are pitted against each other one-on-one.

 

The team closed with four-play situational drills, as the offense began to get a feel for a quick-paced game situation, with each fourth play serving as a third-down situation. Special teams practice and punt returning wrapped up the practice. When he addressed the media following practice, Gruden was impressed with the speed of practice at the collegiate level.

 

“There were 150 plays run in two hours, so the tempo was crisp, and the guys are picking up the system,” Gruden said. “The execution is clean, particularly, and defensively they’ve got a really good energy and confidence. I just think they’re making great strides, the way they closed that last season with the win over Michigan. They’re having outstanding spring practices and a great incoming recruiting class, and that’s what they need to lift this program off again.”

 

Over 700 coaches are in town for the Spring Football Coaches Clinic, and in addition to viewing the two-hour practice, they will hear from Gruden following a dinner this evening in West Stadium. The group represents coaches from 16 states, including California, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

 

Friday’s clinic began with a talk from Lincoln Southwest High School Head Coach Mark King and St. Augustine (San Diego) High School Head Coach Jerry Ralph in the morning. Prior to Gruden, the group will hear from Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride.

 

The clinic will conclude with a talk from well-known special teams coach Frank Gansz, Sr., one of three former or current NFL head coaches speaking at the clinic, and a viewing of Saturday’s scrimmage inside the HawksChampionshipCenter.