Football 202: 2009 Part 2

Bo Pelini's message was that this 2009 team has talent. We have to continue to change the culture to a family atmosphere and the players have to trust the coaches. We have come a long ways but we aren't quite there yet. We have to be more consistent.

James Dobson, the strength and conditioning coach, is as full of energy as anybody I have ever been around. The word is that he is working the players much much harder than he did a year ago.

Dobson said that in June the team worked on strength, speed, and, power. In July they are working on conditioning.

The team has gained 350 lbs of body mass during this time and yet are faster. They work on acceleration. They sprint 10-15 yards at a time. Dobson said long distance is not football.

Dobson said that a player comes to Nebraska because he trusts us. They have to trust we will make them better. The players have to have a high level of performance throughout the whole year. If you are comfortable, you won't get better.

Ted Gilmore talked about recruiting. He said there is no exact science to recruiting. Nebraska believes in staff recruiting where two, three, four coaches may visit a player.

Recruiting is getting out of whack in some parts of the country because they are recruiting players when they are only freshman or sophomores.

The recruiting philosophy is
1) Academics Nebraska leads the nation in academics. Student athletes must compete in the classroom.
2) Athletics
3) Community Recruits must be a good fit for our state, community, and university

Prospects are evaluated by speed, strength, size, ability, and character. Gilmore said, for example, they like receivers that are big bodied (6'3" and above) and can created separation (quickness and speed)

Gilmore said "We will not always compete with our opponents for the same prospects. However we must recruit individuals that will help us defeat those teams".

NU's goal is to identify every prospect within a 500 mile radius of the University.

Some of the players in the top 105 players for Nebraska last year will not make the top 105 players in 2009. This is even after we lost a bunch of seniors. This means the overall talent level is up at Nebraska. The redshirting and incoming freshmen plus the development of our other players has created an increase in talent. That is good news for NU fans. That is great news!!