LINCOLN The Nebraska baseball team opened practice Friday with a roster that is light on power and pitching but one that, according to coach Mike Anderson, is full of good guys.
Anderson is serious about that last point after a trying 2007 campaign.
"The nice thing," he said, "is that you get the chance to move on."
The Cornhuskers reached the NCAA regional finals for the sixth time in eight years after slipping into the national tournament with a 32-27 record. They were fourth in the Big 12 at 14-13.
They had bigger problems off the field, ranging from alcohol-fueled tomfoolery to NCAA violations for an equipment-exchange scheme at a local sporting goods store.
"We're not even talking about last year," outfielder DJ Belfonte said. "It's a new team."
Nebraska, ranked 38th by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, starts the season Feb. 22 at Stanford. The Huskers' home opener is Feb. 29 against UC Riverside.
Ten of the Huskers' 20 opponents were in the 2007 national tournament, and eight appear in at least one preseason poll. Six position players are back, but only 10-game winner Johnny Dorn has significant experience among the pitchers.
No one with more than five home runs returns, and that's from a team that was 11th in homers in the Big 12.
"We've got good speed on this team, and we've got guys who know how to win," Belfonte said. "We'll find ways to score runs. That's not going to be a problem. Home runs? Everyone wants to hit home runs. Looking at us, it doesn't look like we're going to put up too many."
Anderson said Jake Opitz and newcomers Cody Neer and Tyler Farst have shown the ability to be big boppers, and there are others who could surprise.
"My anticipation is that we'll be in the middle of the pack of the Big 12 in power numbers," Anderson said. "My hope is that we're at the top in RBIs and run production."
The pitching staff was decimated with the departures of Luke Wertz, Matt Foust, Tony Watson and Drew Bowman to pro ball.
Dorn, 10-3 with a 5.28 ERA, assumes the role of staff ace. Dan Jennings and Thad Weber combined for four wins, primarily as relievers.
Newcomers Joe Hatasaki and Erik Anderson figure to contribute, with Hatasaki in line to be a midweek starter and Anderson auditioning for the closer's job.
"The guys who aren't experienced, they're ready to go and looking good, and we're expecting a lot out of them," Dorn said.
Though the Huskers say they are not looking back at last year's problems, they'll feel the consequences when they start the season.
The NCAA suspended utilityman Craig Corriston for the first six games for trading bats for credit at the Scheels store in Lincoln.
Infielder Jeff Tezak, who batted a team-leading .335, also received vouchers from the store but was not suspended because the vouchers were worth less than $100.
Outfielder Andy Gerch and catcher Jeff Lanning also were involved, but Gerch took a medical hardship after having a second surgery on his shoulder, and Lanning transferred.
Other disciplinary problems, some alcohol related, led to the suspensions of five players during the season.
The addition of first-year pitching coach Eric Newman "his character is off the charts," coach Anderson said helped create a fresh environment.
"The culture, I knew we needed to make a change in some things," Anderson said. "We are disciplined, and we have high standards here. Sometimes kids don't live up to it."
Anderson pointed out that the team combined for 250 community-service hours in Lincoln during the holidays, and the squad's fall GPA of 2.94 was the highest it's been in 10 years.
Anderson also said he's put on "character seminars" and established a unity council made up of players who set team rules.
"We're committed to doing things right," Anderson said. "That doesn't mean we're going to be perfect. When we do make mistakes, we know there are going to be some consequences and discipline in place."
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University of Nebraska athletics: http://www.huskers.com
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