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[SIZE=12pt]Beck a no-show at NU practice[/SIZE]
By Rich Kaipust
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
NU Notes: No front-line changes so far for Blackshirts
LINCOLN - Staring at what he perceived to be as a No. 4 spot on the Nebraska football depth chart might have led quarterback Harrison Beck to skip the Huskers' third practice, his mother said Saturday night.
Click to Enlarge
Harrison Beck
In the fallout, Beck's exact whereabouts and future with the team were unknown.
Evelyn Bothwell said she believed her son was in Lincoln, but had missed a call from Beck and received only a text message saying he was safe and that she shouldn't worry. Beck could not be reached for comment Saturday night.
"He doesn't want to talk to anybody right now," Bothwell said. "I don't know what else to tell you."
Going off what Beck had told her the day before, however, she said the sophomore-to-be was frustrated by how preseason camp had started for him.
"He showed up Day Two and was listed No. 4, and he blew a gasket after that," Bothwell said. "He called me and said, 'They've got me as No. 4.'
"I don't know why it was done that way. My best guess is because he was injured in the spring. I told him, 'It's Day Two, take a chill pill.' But he said he got something like four reps in practice that day, and I don't think he feels he's getting what he needs to get. He has the potential to be a great player."
Zac Taylor is the clear No. 1 quarterback after starting last season. Other than Taylor and Beck, the Huskers' other returnees are Joe Ganz and Beau Davis, and it was Ganz who finished spring practice No. 2 behind Taylor as Beck nursed shoulder and hamstring injuries.
Bothwell made several other comments off the record in a phone interview from Clearwater, Fla., but said "it's his life" and "it's his decision" when asked if the current situation could lead him to leave NU.
"I don't know if he feels he fits in out there," she said. "I don't know what he'll decide to do. He hasn't done anything like this before, so we have to respect that what he's done he has a reason for doing."
Callahan said Saturday night through NU sports information that he was aware Beck was OK but would have no further comment. After practice, he had said the staff was concerned about Beck and had sent people looking for him.
Beck was with the team for a morning walk-through and lunch, then did not report for afternoon meetings.
"I asked all the players, talked to all the players about it, and it really comes as a real surprise and shock to all of us right now," Callahan said.
NU coaches and players had commented about Beck dropping nearly 25 pounds and reporting for camp with a more businesslike approach. Beck turned down interview requests after practice on both Thursday and Friday.
NU receiver Nate Swift said Beck seemed like the "same old Harrison" when they last talked. Others declined comment Saturday or said they hadn't even noticed Beck was gone at first.
Asked how things had been going for Beck, Callahan said: "Pretty good, really. Very well, in fact. We've been encouraged from what we've saw in the very short period that we started this training camp."
Beck has made a minimal impact at Nebraska since arriving as Callahan's first ballyhooed recruit at quarterback, but still won't turn 19 until Sept. 1.
After having his redshirt pulled late last season, he appeared in two games and completed just 1 of 10 passes for 21 yards. His hopes of solidifying the No. 2 job in spring practice were then disrupted by his missed practice time.
By Rich Kaipust
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
NU Notes: No front-line changes so far for Blackshirts
LINCOLN - Staring at what he perceived to be as a No. 4 spot on the Nebraska football depth chart might have led quarterback Harrison Beck to skip the Huskers' third practice, his mother said Saturday night.
Click to Enlarge
Harrison Beck
In the fallout, Beck's exact whereabouts and future with the team were unknown.
Evelyn Bothwell said she believed her son was in Lincoln, but had missed a call from Beck and received only a text message saying he was safe and that she shouldn't worry. Beck could not be reached for comment Saturday night.
"He doesn't want to talk to anybody right now," Bothwell said. "I don't know what else to tell you."
Going off what Beck had told her the day before, however, she said the sophomore-to-be was frustrated by how preseason camp had started for him.
"He showed up Day Two and was listed No. 4, and he blew a gasket after that," Bothwell said. "He called me and said, 'They've got me as No. 4.'
"I don't know why it was done that way. My best guess is because he was injured in the spring. I told him, 'It's Day Two, take a chill pill.' But he said he got something like four reps in practice that day, and I don't think he feels he's getting what he needs to get. He has the potential to be a great player."
Zac Taylor is the clear No. 1 quarterback after starting last season. Other than Taylor and Beck, the Huskers' other returnees are Joe Ganz and Beau Davis, and it was Ganz who finished spring practice No. 2 behind Taylor as Beck nursed shoulder and hamstring injuries.
Bothwell made several other comments off the record in a phone interview from Clearwater, Fla., but said "it's his life" and "it's his decision" when asked if the current situation could lead him to leave NU.
"I don't know if he feels he fits in out there," she said. "I don't know what he'll decide to do. He hasn't done anything like this before, so we have to respect that what he's done he has a reason for doing."
Callahan said Saturday night through NU sports information that he was aware Beck was OK but would have no further comment. After practice, he had said the staff was concerned about Beck and had sent people looking for him.
Beck was with the team for a morning walk-through and lunch, then did not report for afternoon meetings.
"I asked all the players, talked to all the players about it, and it really comes as a real surprise and shock to all of us right now," Callahan said.
NU coaches and players had commented about Beck dropping nearly 25 pounds and reporting for camp with a more businesslike approach. Beck turned down interview requests after practice on both Thursday and Friday.
NU receiver Nate Swift said Beck seemed like the "same old Harrison" when they last talked. Others declined comment Saturday or said they hadn't even noticed Beck was gone at first.
Asked how things had been going for Beck, Callahan said: "Pretty good, really. Very well, in fact. We've been encouraged from what we've saw in the very short period that we started this training camp."
Beck has made a minimal impact at Nebraska since arriving as Callahan's first ballyhooed recruit at quarterback, but still won't turn 19 until Sept. 1.
After having his redshirt pulled late last season, he appeared in two games and completed just 1 of 10 passes for 21 yards. His hopes of solidifying the No. 2 job in spring practice were then disrupted by his missed practice time.
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