Huskers Continue Preparations for Big 12 Championship

Lincoln ? The Nebraska football team escaped frigid temperatures outside with a two-hour, half-pad workout in the Hawks Championship Center Wednesday afternoon, as the squad continued to prepare for Saturday’s Big 12 Championship game against No. 8 Oklahoma.

Saturday’s nationally televised game marks the ninth straight Big 12 matchup for the Huskers as well as the end of a tough nine-game stretch that included five road games. It is NU’s fourth Big 12 Championship Game appearance and first since 1999.

Head Coach Bill Callahan was impressed with the way the team had continued to practice hard through the end of the season, and said that bowl game discussions have not distracted the Huskers as they focused squarely on Saturday’s contest in Kansas City.

"It was a good, physical practice," Callahan said. "The guys are focused, and I like their concentration. It was a good day. I don’t even want to talk about (bowl game situations). I just want to concentrate on this game, and focus on what we’ve got to get accomplished in Arrowhead (Stadium). I know what our goals are. I know what our team is thinking, and I want to focus on what we’ve got to get accomplished."

Callahan additionally addressed the injury issues that have plagued the team after getting banged up through 12 games this season, and the importance of getting everyone ready to play on Saturday against Oklahoma.

"We backed (sophomore I-back) Marlon (Lucky) down, and he worked with our trainers today, but I’m pretty optimistic that he’ll play in the game," Callahan said. "(Sophomore I-back) Cody (Glenn) has been nursing that sore foot, but I’m confident that he’ll be ready. And then our two lineman, (senior offensive lineman Greg) Austin and (sophomore offensive lineman Matt) Slauson, they both practiced.

"It’s important we get everybody back, whether its running backs, tights ends, lineman or receivers ? we need everybody healthy. I think our trainers are doing a great job getting these rehabbed and getting these guys ready."

One area that has impressed Coach Callahan about Oklahoma is the play of the Sooners defensive ends and their ability to run a variety of schemes at the opposition.

"They’re all good, and I think (senior defensive end C.J.) Ah You is one end that’s a pretty good player," Callahan said "I think they’re all excellent, and they have the ability to put them in a lot of different positions. I know in the nickel (package) they’ll put Ah You on the nose (tackle), and they’ll feature him in a lot of different ways, whether it’s over the guard, over the tackle or over the center. . This is their best athlete, their best pass rusher, so they’re going to try to put him in a position to get a match-up."

Despite the focus on the clinching the Big 12 North and the upcoming divisional championship game, Callahan was encouraged by the staff’s commitment to recruiting that has continued through the busy weeks of November.

"No, we definitely didn’t have to put anything on hold," Callahan said. "We’re out there. We were out there on Sunday, and scaled back Monday, and we’ll be back out tomorrow night and the following night. It’s really been exciting. We’ve got our staff working, and they’ve really done a tremendous job. To go the extra effort, after being here for practice, go play our game, and continue to be on the road (recruiting) this week, it’s been a tremendous effort by our staff."

The Huskers will hold its final full-scale workout tomorrow afternoon.