With health such a major consideration for every game, head coach, Bill Callahan said that simply to guard for the immediate future, two players didn’t
practice much today. "We backed down Barrett Ruud today and also Chad Sievers."
Callahan said. "They’ll practice tomorrow of course, but we limited them today,
backed them way down just to get them freshened up for Saturday’s game."
With Nebraska playing on a grass-field in Ames, Iowa this weekend, the
coaching staff is tentatively planning on hitting the grass-field tomorrow,
providing the conditions are right. "A lot of it has to do with these fields
being soggy." Callahan said as to why the team hasn’t been out there already.
"As a player, it could fatigue you more. It could take your legs away from you
if you haven’t been on it."
"So, we want to be smart. We’re not going to be out here very long, so there
is the possibility that we do go out on the grass fields."
One player that is practicing that did miss last week’s game was special
team’s "gunner", Brandon Rigoni. Due to a hamstring, Callahan said that they
backed him down for the game, but said that Rigoni will be back for the
road-trip to Iowa.
The game is set to kick off at 1:00 p.m. central time and will not be aired
on TV. Nebraska is currently a 5 ½ point favorite. The Huskers lost the last
time they were on the road against the Cyclones, QB, Seneca Wallace leading his
team to a resounding 36-14 victory over NU.
Iowa State being a school that is close to the Husker state utilizes several
native-Nebraskans on its roster.
Amongst those on the team, Nebraskans starting for Iowa State will be running
back, Stevie Hicks from Omaha (Creighton Prep), flanker, John Davis of Papillion
(Papillion-La Vista) and nose guard, Nick Leader of Omaha (Millard West).