I actually worked with Cliff at the Nebraska Book Company Warehouse back when I was in high school (late '70s).
Spring game Cliffs?
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The narrower goal posts have given him trouble. Going from 23 feet 4 inches to 18 feet 6 inches has proven to be a bit much through his first year on campus.
Yeah Alvano still not there yet imo. I wonder do we give someone else a chance if his struggles continue. Craziest thing because I thought this kid would be nails from day 1. Honestly I've been as disappointed with him as I have any on the roster. I guess because I had super high expectations.
Holla
I think everyone will drink the kool ade on the Dowdell TD run but I was much more impressed with EJ. Imo he's definitely number 1.
Dowdell kinda looked like what I thought he would. Straight line guy who looks very good when he has a hole. Generally he's gonna struggle creating much other than powering forward and moving the pile.
EJ showed shiftiness in the hole. Avoided tacklers. Showed power and nice jump cuts in tight spaces. He just looks much more comfortable than last year. Gabe and Rahmir will have their hands full trying to beat out that kid.
I do think there is a place for Dowdell though. Late in games I think he could be a beast if our OL gets to wearing people down. Between the tackles he runs hard. Just not a complete back yet imo.
Holla
EJ is the clear #1. Dowdwell looks like a nice change up.
He is not good. I know he had this "amazing" state championship game...but he is not good.
DR looked better, that was pretty easy to see, but it is subjective and your comments about the stats are true.
I am not against either one starting in September and can make a case for either guy. HH has had a year under his belt, while DR is just getting started. Do you do a dis-service to a true freshman by throwing him into the meat grinder right off the bat? Or do you ease him in to the beginning of the season?
I think both are going to play.. but I suspect the job will have to be won over by DR at least part way through the season anyway. You want the kid to earn his stripes, but however Matt Rhule wants to play it I guess.
i think we have a 2 deep at WR.
WR- Banks or Naylor
WR- Bonner or Coleman
Slot- Llyod, Barney
WR- Banks or Naylor
WR- Bonner or Coleman
Slot- Llyod, Barney
Not sure, but he didn’t have any receptions..
Can’t help to think that Barney won’t move up the depth chart as true Freshman..
Doss played both corner and receiver. I can’t believe we still have folks entertaining starting HH. DR slammed the door on that. Haarberg has improved, but still threw his wild passes and maybe three that were cleanly accurate.
Just to pump a little brake on the offense though, the QBs were not live and we played a ton of backup defenders. It would’ve been concerning had they not looked good.
Disagree with anyone scared about “Throwing DR into the meat grinder” This kid is not a typical freshman and he is the best QB on the roster by leaps and bounds, in other words he’s the clear cut starter.
Barney will be a dude, I’m saying at least our best return man since Demornay. (Not saying much) Hope he’s the starter there this year with no redshirt.
Neyor looked better than I expected. Lloyd’s hands have improved, he will clearly be a problem this year. EJ looked like the best back with Dowdell close behind. I was not impressed with Kwinton Ives at all aside from one blitz pickup. He was a defender magnet.
A lot to like from that game though! It still doesn’t feel real that we have a likely first round pick at QB
Pretty sure they were brothers. Charles Thone changed the spelling of his name when he got into politics. Here is Cliff's obit:
LINCOLN - Clifford Thoene, 78, died April 18, 1999, in Lincoln.
Clifford was born March 24, 192l, to John A. Sr. and Kathryne Thoene
in Bow Valley. He served in WWII and received a purple heart and was a prisoner of war. He was the owner of a cafe and smoke shop in Lincoln. Clifford was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Chamber
of Commerce, V.F.W. 131, American Legion Post #3, and former president
of the Nebraska Restaurant Association.
Survivors include his wife, Betsy; three brothers, John Thoene Jr.,
Bow Valley; Alton "Dick" Thoene, Hartington; and former Gov. Charley
Thoene, Lincoln; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sally (Westermark).
Wednesday, Apr. 28, 1999 - Cedar County News
You're right. He's not good. Just had one game. Never mind he scored 118 points his senior year in HS, which was #2 for kickers nationally, made 16 field goals his Sr year, which was #9 nationally, and was rated the #5 kicker in the country coming out of HS.
Obviously, there's something that is bothering him. He started rough last year but finished better. He had a rough Spring Game no doubt. I'm willing to stay with him - but make sure we have enough competition that he's pushed to continue to get better.
They asked Barney to early enroll. I don't know if I have ever heard a recruit say that. So I'm guessing he's playing quite a bit.
Just watched highlights of the game, not sure how much you can take from it, but it's a positive buzz right now. What the players and coaches do from today going forward to the first fall practice will show up quickly come game time.
We (or most of us) recall the legendary summer conditioning of the 90's when players took it upon themselves to get in the best shape possible while building a team unity that has not been matched since. If that kind of mentality and dedication come forth, the close games that Nebraska lost last season could be turned around with victory's in 2024. It should be interesting.
We (or most of us) recall the legendary summer conditioning of the 90's when players took it upon themselves to get in the best shape possible while building a team unity that has not been matched since. If that kind of mentality and dedication come forth, the close games that Nebraska lost last season could be turned around with victory's in 2024. It should be interesting.
Oh god, here we go.
That Westside team was scoring 7 TD's a game. Most of his points came off of extra points.
He had one amazing game at exactly the right time.
The rest of the season he basically averaged 1 made FG per game.
Hopefully he gets better at kicking because that is all he is asked to do.
Cliff Hillegass was the Cliff of Cliff's Notes and a frat bro of the former governor.
We were talking about different Cliffs. Sorry for the confusion.
Avg 1 made FG per game. Not bad for a team that is scoring 7 TDs a game. 16 made FG was still #9 nationally. How many did he miss his Sr year?
No idea and I really don't care because all that matters is how many he is missing for NU. Which is a lot
9/15 for NU last season and what did he do in the spring game? 1/3?
If Raiola wasn't there, I think I would've watched Haarberg and thought "huh, I think he looks a little better as a passer? but we'll probably be running a run-first QB system again this year..."
Raiola was SO much better than the other QBs, so much better than I expected in general, he was doing things I don't know if I've ever seen from an NU QB. Just an absolutely different level of seeing the field, pocket awareness, ball placement, touch on the ball, it all looked effortless. If he's not the starter from game 1, the coaches are playing some kind of mind games. There is just no doubt in my mind that he's ready and he's easily our best option. It's gonna be a lot of fun watching him for the next 2-3 years!
Raiola was SO much better than the other QBs, so much better than I expected in general, he was doing things I don't know if I've ever seen from an NU QB. Just an absolutely different level of seeing the field, pocket awareness, ball placement, touch on the ball, it all looked effortless. If he's not the starter from game 1, the coaches are playing some kind of mind games. There is just no doubt in my mind that he's ready and he's easily our best option. It's gonna be a lot of fun watching him for the next 2-3 years!
Spring Games are weird. A big play one way seems like a failure on the other side. You really just need to see the difference makers and read that.
I think it was a fairly clean game considering the amount of inexperience playing. I really liked our wideouts/TE's for the most part. You really start looking the part when QB's are giving you the opportunities and placing the ball properly.
I think it was a fairly clean game considering the amount of inexperience playing. I really liked our wideouts/TE's for the most part. You really start looking the part when QB's are giving you the opportunities and placing the ball properly.
So his Freshman season is roughly the same as Drew Brown's - percentage wise. Brown had more attempts. Brown turned out pretty good by the time he was done. Maybe Alvano will, maybe he won't. Let's give him some good competition and see what happens. I'm sure you were ready to get rid of Drew Brown after his 1st year.
Josh Brown hit only 70% his Rs-Fr season and dropped to 50% his Rs-So season. I'm sure you were ready to get rid of Josh after his Rs-So year. He finished his career with a 67% success rate. I think he did pretty well for himself AFTER his career at NU.
I literally don't remember any of those kickers freshmen year.
But I hope your son or nephew starts making kicks.
I said last year when everyone was dogging the WR room, they are definitely better than they’ve looked. We had no one who could get them the ball. They also upgraded the room big time this year and with bigger bodies. Raiola is going to make some things happen this season. If he gets hurt, it will be more of what we saw last year.
Dowdell reminded me of Ozigbo. Bonner was out there reminding me of Enunwa kinda...
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Possible IGC factors in there when he returns? He was pretty exciting split wide before his first injury with the team.
He kicked the 5 field goals in the state championship game with the same goal posts in place.
He probably will. Don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. Think the top 6 have play making ability. It has yet to be scene with Alex.
Bullock is a pretty darned good college receiver and perimeter blocker.
yea I thought he was a top 3 WR for us last year behind Lloyd & Coleman
made some plays deep & after the catch
missed some, too
I think he'll play a lot this season
It appeared to me he and DR already have some chemistry. There was the fairly long pass to the sideline where DR put it high where only AB could get it, and he went up high and got it. Then there was another pass over the middle, I think it was 3rd and long when DR threw a hard, fast ball over the middle between two defenders and AB handled it. I thought that catch was a pick the first time I saw it because the defenders were so close.
There were guys that didn’t play and guys who played very little. Banks was in the second group. Tommi was supposed to be in the first group, but he snuck in for a series.
