LINCOLN, Neb. — The development out of preseason camp at Nebraska that received the most attention over the past several days involved coach Matt Rhule’s Saturday choice to place a scrimmage on lockdown. So yes, excitement has taken a backseat to the mundane.
For the Huskers, the end of August remains too distant to see light at the end of the tunnel. Adrenaline from the start of camp has dwindled. Advertisement “You’ve got to double down on the process,” linebacker Princewill Umanmielen said Tuesday.
As Nebraska scrimmaged on the grass outside the Osborne Legacy Complex on Saturday, Rhule kept doors closed to the typical crowd of players’ family members, high school coaches and former Huskers. He said he wanted to eliminate distractions — and plans to do it again this Saturday for another scrimmage — to “create a bubble” where his players can perfect their craft before taking it to the arena Aug. 31 when UTEP visits Memorial Stadium.
“We’re being nitpicky with a lot of things,” junior running back Gabe Ervin said. “We don’t want to hear (about) it every day. But we’ve got to.
We’ve got to be that nitpicky on details.” GO DEEPER Can Isaac Gifford spur change at Nebraska? 'He plays like everything is on the line' In two weeks, the adrenaline will be back. For now, the mental fight continues.
No matter the measures required to keep the Huskers’ focus on daily improvement, Rhule plans to do it this month. “Stay in the moment,” he said. �.