LINCOLN On the morning of the Nebraska football team's first practice this spring, offensive line coach Barney Cotton told Mike Smith he would be playing center and guard. Smith's expression betrayed his feelings about the news.
"Coach Cotton was like, 'You look shocked,'" said Smith.
He looked shocked because he was. A little background is in order.
Smith, a sophomore from Las Vegas, was recruited as a defensive end. After redshirting his first season and playing defensive end on the scout team, he was moved to offensive tackle last spring. The move made sense, sort of. Smith played tight end in high school, and in his team's offense, it was like a "glorified tackle," he said.
So he made the move, gained weight and learned enough that as the season went on, he got to play, primarily in situations that required a pulling tackle. A couple of times, fans in Memorial Stadium saw No. 65 pull and demolish a defender on the run.
"He runs like a tight end," Cotton said. "He really runs well."
Late in the season, Smith was told that he would be working some at center during bowl practices. The Cornhuskers didn't qualify for a bowl, however.
At least the move to center wasn't completely unexpected. And he had practiced snapping before the season ended. But guard? "I had no clue," he said.
"I was like, 'Well, I'm sure I can do it.'"
Smith did it but for only a couple of practices. He's still playing center. But he's back at tackle. "I think we probably found the right two spots," said Cotton.
If there were a game tomorrow, he would be the No. 2 left tackle, behind Lydon Murtha, and the No. 3 center, behind Jacob Hickman and Mike Caputo, a redshirted freshman walk-on from Millard North who's having "a really good spring," Cotton said. "I've really been pleased. He's a hard-working, coachable, blue-collar guy."
Caputo is listed at 6-foot-1 and 270 pounds, which is not particularly big for an offensive lineman. But then neither is the 275 the 6-6 Smith weighs.
"He needs to get a little bigger and stronger," said Cotton.
Smith was as heavy as 290 last season, but "they worked us so hard in winter conditioning I couldn't gain any weight," he said.
Within reason, weight is less of a concern at center than athleticism. And Smith might be the most athletic of the linemen, according to Cotton, who sees something of himself in Smith. Cotton played offensive tackle on the Nebraska freshman team. He was a tackle and back-up center as a sophomore. He moved to defense and started at tackle as a junior. And he moved back to offense and started at guard as a senior.
He also backed up at center in the NFL. He has first-hand experience.
The center "has to be the guy that probably takes the best first step," Cotton said. Snapping without being able to take that first step, "you have no chance."
Smith is athletic enough "he could come in and be a short-yardage tight end. He's probably good enough to be a goal-line defensive lineman," said Cotton.
Smith wouldn't mind playing some defense now and then. Being an offensive lineman, "you don't get any glory at all," he said with a laugh. "Basically, you have to do all the hard work in the trenches but nobody knows your name."
He didn't resist when he was told he would be moving to the offensive line last spring. And he certainly isn't resisting now.
"I thought I wanted to play defense in college, but they think I'm a better fit to be an offensive lineman. I think so, too, now," he said. "Coming out of high school, you have a big head, you don't really want to listen to what people are telling you. After I've been through the system, I realize they're doing the best for me and for the team."
Nevertheless, he couldn't hide his surprise when Cotton told him he would begin this spring as a guard and center. The look on his face gave him away.
Red-White game is a sellout
LINCOLN The April 19 Nebraska Red-White spring foootball game is a sellout.
In light of a packed house for first-year head coach Bo Pelini's debut, all adults escorting students to the spring game to take the Drug Free Pledge at halftime, are reminded that they must have a ticket to enter the game.
The Nebraska Athletic Department announced late Wednesday afternoon that the allotment of tickets available for the spring game had sold out. Earlier Wednesday, more than 1,000 reserved tickets remained, but those tickets sold by 4:45 p.m.. The ticket office will not be selling any tickets the day of the game.
All students (eighth grade and below) taking the Drug Free Pledge will be admitted free. Based on past experience, Drug Free Pledge participant numbers could reach more than 10,000. All students should pick up their Drug Free Pledge Card at the Husker Nation Pavilion (opens at 10 a.m.) or at Gates 16 (northeast corner) and 24 (southeast corner) where you enter the stadium. All students taking Drug Free Pledge are asked to sit in the general admission seating (unless their parents have purchased reserved seating for them).
All general admission seating is located in the North or South Stadiums.
Gates open 90 minutes prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff (11:30 a.m.).
The spring game will be shown live from the Husker Nation Pavilion and students may also take the Drug Free Pledge from the Pavilion by watching the big screen.
When the 1,000 remaining reserved tickets are sold, ticket sales/distribution will have reached approximately 65,000, and sales will end to account for complimentary admissions and general admission seating (stadium capacity is 81,067 with fans filling every seat).
Only the following groups will be allowed entrance to the spring game without a ticket in hand:
Those taking the Drug Free Pledge (must have Drug Free Pledge card for entrance).
UNL students and staff (must have UNL N-Card for entrance).
Former football players (must have player lanyard for entrance).
Children under six years of age.
Nebraska Continues Lively Spring Practices
LINCOLN Despite a brisk wind and clouds, the Huskers continued to show the enthusiasm their head coach is known for in Wednesday's practice. Nebraska ventured into Memorial Stadium for a spirited 2 hour session this afternoon in preparation for April 19's Red-White Spring Game.
"We had some good work today," Head Coach Bo Pelini said. "Some good things and some bad things on both sides of the football, but we are making some progress. The effort has been good and we are staying fairly healthy. I like where we are at at this point in the spring."
Practicing his team in full pads, Pelini described several areas the team needs to improve, including scheme and technique, but said the defense has learned a lot in two weeks.
"We are installing more everyday and throwing more at them technique wise, fundamentally and in all aspects, but we are getting better," he said. "We are not nearly where we want to be, but it is coming. I am seeing some good things."
Pelini pointed out several players on the defensive side that he has noticed this spring, including linebacker Cody Glenn and defensive end Pierre Allen.
"I like how Cody Glenn has adjusted to the linebacker," Pelini said. "He has already become a factor on defense. There is no doubt that he has shown the ability that he can be a heck of a football player. We are excited about that."
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