Zavier Betts, PC updates, Fidone healthy
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I doubt it was too difficult to convince guys to watch women's beach volleyball
Are they still looking for volunteers?
Next game 😆 🤣Are they still looking for volunteers?
InsideNebraska - Quick hits from Matt Rhule, TE Thomas Fidone II and LB Chief Borders
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, as well as tight end Thomas Fidone II and linebacker Chief Borders met with the media.
nebraska.rivals.com
Not only was head coach Matt Rhule behind the podium talking about his team and the winter conditioning program it's been going through, but two intriguing players — tight end Thomas Fidone II and linebacker Chief Borders — also talked.
Fidone was the captain of the offseason competition winning team while Borders was the co-leading point winner in offseason competitions.
Fidone, who's currently listed at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds but has bulked up and added good weight, was the crown jewel of the Huskers' 2021 class as a four-star prospect who was rated the No. 1 tight end and No. 36 overall recruit. His college football career hasn't gone how anyone has planned, however, as back-to-back non-contact knee injuries in consecutive springs has kept the Lewis Central High School product off the practice and game fields. He's played in just one game the past two seasons.
Borders, who joined the program this offseason as a transfer from Florida, is hoping to make an immediate impact as a linebacker in new defensive coordinator Tony White's 3-3-5 defense. The versatile 6-4, 240-pounder could be a perfect fit for it. He played in 16 total games the past two seasons in Gainesville, mostly on special teams.
Here are the quick hits:
Matt Rhule
>> Rhule wants to thank the players for their hard work and the creative team for showing everyone what the program has been up to. Rhule also gave a shoutout to the winter sports, like wrestling, both basketball teams, the beach volleyball team and more.>> Rhule thanks the fans again. As he talks to people around the state, the coach wants to make sure the fans know he appreciates the support.
>> Rhule's priority is to build strength and mobility and have the players learn the process. He thinks they've taken steps forward in that, and now the football begins. What he's finding is the players are highly competitive. Can they take the competitiveness and toughness and carry it over to the field while being detailed? That's what he wants to find out.
>> Who's been the most impressive to Rhule? The coach didn't want to single out anyone, and said the players wearing the black jerseys are doing the best. Rhule asked Fidone and Borders to speak today because he's been impressed with what they've done. Rhule said Fidone's leadership has helped pull the best out of his team he was a captain on.
>> Rhule said punter Brian Buschini is the toughest specialist he's ever seen.
>> Rhule said quarterback Casey Thompson will be limited during spring ball. The coach didn't want to set expectations on how soon Thompson would start throwing.
>> The first time Rhule saw Fidone move, the coach went, 'Wow' and said he didn't look like he was a guy who was ever injured. "He looks healthy to me," Rhule said. Rhule added he'll be smart with him during spring ball, meaning the tight end will be limited to start.
>> Rhule said quarterbacks Chubba Purdy and Heinrich Haarberg were two of the fastest players on the team, according to the GPS technology the program uses.
>> Tony White has a quiet confidence to him that Rhule likes. To Rhule, it shows strength that White would be OK with bringing in guys who he hasn't previously worked with. All of the position coaches on defense are Rhule's guys, not White's.
Chief Borders
>> Borders joked that the biggest adjustment to living in Nebraska opposed to Florida has been carrying a bag of salt in the back of his truck.>> Borders said he's enjoyed being a team leader and getting around to the community to elementary schools to give talks.
>> Borders said he's up to playing whatever position White wants him to.
>> Borders described White's defense as "very fun." Borders has the potential to play at the second level or at the line of scrimmage.
>> Borders said he's been watching film of Syracuse's defense daily and is confident in his ability to roll down to the line of scrimmage and go head-to-head against Big Ten offensive linemen. He also said playing in the SEC has helped prepare him for that this fall.
Thomas Fidone II
>> What's kept Fidone going through all the injury adversity? He said his confidence that he belongs on a Power Five field.>> Fidone said his expectations haven't changed from day one. He thinks he has the potential to be the Mackey Award winner and one of the best tight ends in the country.
>> Fidone said he loves the offseason and thinks winter conditioning is more mental than physical.
>> You have to earn the respect of the coaches, Fidone said. It's just not all about offseason talk. The true leaders will emerge from the competitions the coaches have put the players too.
>> Fidone said he could have played last year, but wasn't cleared by the head trainer. The tight end even said there were instances on the sidelines when some were asking him why he wasn't playing.
>> Fidone considered transferring, but ultimately decided to stay. Players think about it all the time, he said, but after seeing who was hired and how they go about their business, he decided to stay with the Huskers.
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anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi
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So refreshing. Having the face of the program not act like they are always miserable is a good step. Hopefully that positive attitude can leak down into what was left of beaten down players that had zero leadership to look toward
I'm having trouble determining whether this is good or bad:
"Rhule said quarterbacks Chubba Purdy and Heinrich Haarberg were two of the fastest players on the team"
"Rhule said quarterbacks Chubba Purdy and Heinrich Haarberg were two of the fastest players on the team"
I have a feeling Fidone has a huge year, too fast for a LB & too big for a DB. 1st or 2nd team all conference.
Big difference between fast and quick
My gawd. Get the oline right. A base package of CT, Grant, Betts, Washington, Fidone, and Gilbert could be killer.
At one time, Lincoln was the 2nd-largest city in the Big 12 - behind Austin.
Not sure where it ranks in the B1G, but probably higher than most people think.
he clarified, saying it was measured by GPS
Haarberg also ran 11.1 in the 100M and a sub-23 second 200M as a 16 year old
not a surprise hearing he's the fastest QB we have & measures among the elite on the team overall
Rhule also didn't mince words when it comes to who's laying cultural foundation:
"When looking at late sheets, you won't find a single [walk-on] listed. Those guys are paying to come to school here; they're paying to be on time."
Borders' comments on the B1G compared to the SEC made me laugh
"When looking at late sheets, you won't find a single [walk-on] listed. Those guys are paying to come to school here; they're paying to be on time."
Borders' comments on the B1G compared to the SEC made me laugh
As far as metro populations go?
It's pretty low in the B1G. But the B1G has massive markets.
Rutgers - NYC Metro
USC/UCLA - Los Angeles
Northwestern - Chicago
Maryland - DC/Baltimore Metro
Michigan - Detroit Metro
Minnesota - MSP metro
Ohio State - Columbus Metro
Wisconsin - Madison
Nebraska - Lincoln
Michigan State - Lansing Metro
Purdue - Lafayette
Illinois - Urbana Champaign
Iowa - Iowa City
Penn State - State College
Indiana - Bloomington
10th is about where I would expect. Lincoln isn't a big city but it's not some small town with 2 stoplights either.
That list right there is why the BIG has such massive TV contracts. Plus a massive alumni base. Really puts it in perspective to list out the giant metro's BIG universities are located in.
Truth. The old Big 12 where Austin was the biggest population and Lincoln was 2nd. Anyone ever been to Lubbock, Norman, Manhattan, College Station, Ames, etc? Yawnsville.
Did you put this in order by population? Because Lincoln is bigger than Madison.
