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Big Red Breakfast: Jamrog recalls spring trips with Bo
BY DIRK CHATELAIN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Flipping a losing culture takes time, Jeff Jamrog told a Big Red Breakfast crowd today.
So the first day of spring classes, Jamrog and Bo Pelini walked around campus poking their heads into classrooms, making a statement about the importance of classroom attendance.
Several nights later, after hearing that a few football players might be excessively exploring their social sides, Jamrog and Pelini made another tour: this time to O Street to check the Lincoln bar scene.
The tactic sounded great in theory. But when some college kids spotted Pelini in a bar, Jamrog said today, they started chanting "Bo, Bo, Bo, Bo."
"He looks at me," Jamrog recalled, "and says, 'Let's get the heck out of here.' "
Next day, Zach Potter walked into the football offices. Heard you guys were out last night, Potter said.
No, Jamrog told him: "We walked in, we walked out. I don't think that constitutes going out."
So not everything goes according to plan in year one of a new coaching regime. But Jamrog spoke enthusiastically today about what Pelini's staff has done, and what the Huskers can do over the last five games of the regular season.
"Our guys are starting to get it," said Jamrog, the Nebraska assistant athletic director for football. "We think we're on the right path."
Among the items Jamrog touched on before about 200 people:
• The walk-on program. Just because NU doesn't offer a kid a scholarship doesn't mean NU shouldn't recruit him vigorously before signing day, Jamrog said.
He made special note of three true freshman walk-ons: Matt Holt, who started at Texas Tech; Jase Dean, a speedy defensive back from Bridgeport, Neb., who would've contributed this fall but decided to redshirt; Brian Thorson, a lineman from Millard North who turned down a scholarship offer from Buffalo coach Turner Gill.
Quality players like them, Jamrog said, give the Huskers an edge over schools like Florida, Texas and LSU.
"That's the one advantage we have," Jamrog said. "And I think it's a big advantage. . . . (Linebackers coach) Mike Ekeler came back from LSU and said that it's unbelievable the difference between the walk-ons at LSU and the walk-ons Nebraska. I think that's critical. . . .
"Don't get all caught up in the hype of recruiting. To me, the key to the whole deal is what happens when they step on Nebraska's campus. All that stuff before, the press clippings, this, that and the other doesn't mean anything. . . .
"There have been a lot of great football players who weren't heavily recruited."
• The scholarship freshmen. The new class hasn't shown its ability in the Big 12, Jamrog said, but there's promise.
"There isn't a bust to date" among the group, Jamrog said.
One junior college transfer, Burke graduate and offensive lineman Ricky Henry, excites Jamrog.
"He has a mean streak," Jamrog said. "You like it. Sometimes you have to calm Ricky down. You'd rather have that than (have to) fire them up."
• And finally, Athletic Director Tom Osborne.
"That guy's out there in the cold, watching practice the other day," Jamrog said. "We fumbled a pitch, and he's stomping his foot. A beautiful thing to see."
BY DIRK CHATELAIN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Flipping a losing culture takes time, Jeff Jamrog told a Big Red Breakfast crowd today.
So the first day of spring classes, Jamrog and Bo Pelini walked around campus poking their heads into classrooms, making a statement about the importance of classroom attendance.
Several nights later, after hearing that a few football players might be excessively exploring their social sides, Jamrog and Pelini made another tour: this time to O Street to check the Lincoln bar scene.
The tactic sounded great in theory. But when some college kids spotted Pelini in a bar, Jamrog said today, they started chanting "Bo, Bo, Bo, Bo."
"He looks at me," Jamrog recalled, "and says, 'Let's get the heck out of here.' "
Next day, Zach Potter walked into the football offices. Heard you guys were out last night, Potter said.
No, Jamrog told him: "We walked in, we walked out. I don't think that constitutes going out."
So not everything goes according to plan in year one of a new coaching regime. But Jamrog spoke enthusiastically today about what Pelini's staff has done, and what the Huskers can do over the last five games of the regular season.
"Our guys are starting to get it," said Jamrog, the Nebraska assistant athletic director for football. "We think we're on the right path."
Among the items Jamrog touched on before about 200 people:
• The walk-on program. Just because NU doesn't offer a kid a scholarship doesn't mean NU shouldn't recruit him vigorously before signing day, Jamrog said.
He made special note of three true freshman walk-ons: Matt Holt, who started at Texas Tech; Jase Dean, a speedy defensive back from Bridgeport, Neb., who would've contributed this fall but decided to redshirt; Brian Thorson, a lineman from Millard North who turned down a scholarship offer from Buffalo coach Turner Gill.
Quality players like them, Jamrog said, give the Huskers an edge over schools like Florida, Texas and LSU.
"That's the one advantage we have," Jamrog said. "And I think it's a big advantage. . . . (Linebackers coach) Mike Ekeler came back from LSU and said that it's unbelievable the difference between the walk-ons at LSU and the walk-ons Nebraska. I think that's critical. . . .
"Don't get all caught up in the hype of recruiting. To me, the key to the whole deal is what happens when they step on Nebraska's campus. All that stuff before, the press clippings, this, that and the other doesn't mean anything. . . .
"There have been a lot of great football players who weren't heavily recruited."
• The scholarship freshmen. The new class hasn't shown its ability in the Big 12, Jamrog said, but there's promise.
"There isn't a bust to date" among the group, Jamrog said.
One junior college transfer, Burke graduate and offensive lineman Ricky Henry, excites Jamrog.
"He has a mean streak," Jamrog said. "You like it. Sometimes you have to calm Ricky down. You'd rather have that than (have to) fire them up."
• And finally, Athletic Director Tom Osborne.
"That guy's out there in the cold, watching practice the other day," Jamrog said. "We fumbled a pitch, and he's stomping his foot. A beautiful thing to see."
