IMPROVING IN THE SUMMER

A great article on what is expected in the summer...

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
By Terry Douglassterry.douglass@theindependent.com
Published: Sunday, April 19, 2009 6:53 PM CDT
LINCOLN— The end of the spring practice season is actually only the beginning, according to Nebraska star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.The Cornhuskers capped their 15-practice spring season Saturday with the Red’s 31-17 victory over the White in the annual Spring Game before a crowd of 77,670 at Memorial Stadium. While head coach Bo Pelini and Suh agreed that Nebraska got a lot accomplished in the past few weeks, the senior-to-be insists that the period between now and the start of fall camp is arguably the most critical of all.“That time is the hugest time,” Suh said. “I think that’s where we made our biggest gains last year out of spring ball just because everybody knew what they had to do.”Coming off a 5-7 season in 2007, Suh said Nebraska’s players were determined to do better. With NCAA rules limiting players’ contact with the coaching staff, offseason improvement was up to the Huskers and their work ethic in a program designed by NU strength coach James Dobson.Whether it was in seven-on-seven drills or lifting and conditioning, Suh said he and his teammates made their biggest gains by pushing each other. The result: a 9-4 season that was capped with a Gator Bowl victory over Clemson.“Everybody was picking it up and it was intense,” Suh said. “There was tremendous intensity and that’s where I think we make our biggest growth because we were pushing ourselves.”Pelini expects a similar effort from the Huskers again this summer.“They know what’s expected of them and we’ve already been through that,” Pelini said. “They’re with Coach Dobson and he helps guide them with what they have to do.“They’ll be doing all the things down here in the weight room and conditioning-wise, but they kind of organize some things on their own and there’s enough experience there, enough guys that know exactly what’s being asked of them to do to get prepared for camp.”For players who are trying to establish themselves in leadership roles— like quarterback Zac Lee — summer workouts offer the ideal setting.“During conditioning, I just feel like I have to work as hard as I can every time out there and set an example in that way,” said Lee, who was 15-of-18 passing for 214 yards and three touchdowns in the Spring Game. “Guys see me out there, working hard and hopefully they’ll be inspired by it and work hard, too.”Now the clear front-runner to win the starting quarterback job, Lee said he thinks it’s vital for players like he and Suh to show teammates that they’re willing to push themselves to the max every day.“As you’ve seen in the past here, the best teams— the great teams— are run by the team and that allows the coaches to just coach and manage,” Lee said. “All the little stuff that happens within a team, within a group of 130 college guys is managed by that internal central group, so I definitely think that’s a role we’ll look to take.”Summer workouts are also a prime time to build team chemistry, Suh said.With the 2008 senior class now departed, Suh said team chemistry has to be redefined. That process was started in the spring, but is apparently still developing.“It’s starting to grow and we were starting to get it toward the end of these last couple of practices when we were going live and everybody was understanding what they have to do, but it’s still not there 100 percent,” Suh said. “That’s how teams win championships: They have great chemistry, and that’s the thing we’ve got to work on.”
Copyright © 2009 - The Independent

POINT GUARD PLAY

“With point guards, it’s not their numbers,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “It’s how the team plays and our team has played very well."

FINAL 4 BOUND

Off to the best 4 days of the year - the Final 4. Maybe the worst possible location to ever hold it but we will make it work. Will be missing Miller and Timmy but will represent for them.