LINCOLN — It started with a dream.

A few months ago, Cameron Meredith walked by the captains' wall in the Osborne complex and noticed a handsome linebacker from another time.

Mike Knox, Husker co-captain, 1985.

What caught Meredith's attention? It wasn't the smile or the eyes. It was Mike Knox's marvelous mustache.

“I go, ‘Oh my gosh, I've got to do this,'” said Meredith, the sophomore defensive end. “I've got to bring this back.”

Meredith had already secured a girlfriend; he didn't have to worry about a life of loneliness. So he started working diligently toward bigger goals.

Three months later, he's not exactly Tom Selleck, but his upper lip is the envy of teammates — many of whom have followed his lead.

“Everybody tries to ask me, ‘What's your secret?'” Meredith said.

Like Sean Fisher, who said, “Cam's on his own island.” Fisher and the NU linebackers could learn a thing or two from Meredith.

Alonzo Whaley wears a black 'stache, but he dyed it blonde. Will Compton's is blond, but he plans to dye it black.

Graham Stoddard wore a goatee Saturday because it was picture day. Compton heckled him for not trimming down to the mustache.

“Mama wouldn't let me for pictures,” Stoddard said.

Bet Mike Knox's mama never told him what to do.

Pelini not interested in poll

Coach Bo Pelini described Saturday's workout as a “typical first day.”

“I thought the effort was good,” he said. “A lot of mistakes, obviously”

Asked about the Huskers' No. 9 national ranking in the coaches' poll, revealed Friday, Pelini surprised no one with his answer.

“I don't concern myself with polls or anything else,” he said. “We're going to get what we earn this fall, and if we take care of business on the field, we'll be fine.”

He said the Huskers returned in great shape and with more confidence than in the past two years.

“I think they're a little more comfortable with the system, with the coaches,” Pelini said. “There's some continuity. That always helps.”

Spano still on the mend

Quarterback Kody Spano, returning from a second ACL tear, is not on the 105-man roster for preseason camp. The sophomore practiced in the spring but has not returned to full speed.

“He just needs more time in terms of the strength aspect,” offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said.

Pelini described Spano as “right on schedule.”

“If you put him out there and he's going through the day-to-day rigors of camp,” the third-year coach said, “that'll probably set him back a little bit.”

Walk-on sophomore Ron Kellogg is also out until school begins.

Other notables not included in the 105 are offensive lineman Nick Ash and linebacker Micah Kreikemeier. Millard South graduate Bronson Marsh will grayshirt, but cornerback Josh Mitchell is set to join the Huskers in preseason camp, Pelini said. Mitchell did not practice Saturday.

Also, linebacker Matt Holt is no longer on the team after missing all of last season with an injury.

And freshman receiver Kenny Bell, watching practice Saturday, was left off the 105-man roster with a sore hamstring. I-back Braylon Heard has not qualified academically out of Youngstown, Ohio, but may still join the Huskers in January.

Two-QB system in store?

Watson offered a few interesting comments Saturday on a two-quarterback system, saying he'd consider it if one quarterback provided skills for special situations.

“I would be willing to think outside the box,” he said. “I think you've got to. But I don't see anything wrong with playing two quarterbacks if there's a role player. It depends on the situation.”

Coaches still unsure on Adi

Senior place-kicker Adi Kunalic said he's not learned if he'll redshirt this season or continue as the Huskers' kickoff specialist. Kunalic could sit out this year and compete to replace Alex Henery next year. The decision is up to the NU coaches, Kunalic said.

“Whatever they tell me, it's a good deal,” he said. “I really don't stress about it, because either way, I'll help my team.”

Thenarse eager to get going

Rickey Thenarse hasn't just been waiting to get back on the football field.

“It's more like itching,” the senior safety said.

Thenarse is back in the fold after receiving a medical redshirt for last season. He tore his ACL in the fourth game of the season.

Just more than 10 months since the injury, Thenarse said he's eager to make up for lost time.

“I'm ready to play football again,” he said.

Watching was tough, but it was the first time since he got to Nebraska that he really got a chance to sit back and see what was happening during games. Thenarse was the only true freshman to play in all 14 games in 2006. He was named the MVP of the special teams that season.

From the sideline, he got to watch how the game changed and decide how he'd handle certain situations.

“The toughest part,” he said, “was seeing places that I could have helped.”

He's planning on helping plenty this season. Thenarse is in the mix at safety, and could compete for a top spot.

“I'm back,” he said confidently. “All the way back.”

With friends like this ...

At this week's Big Ten media days, preseason All-America defensive end Adrian Clayborn of Iowa said to pass along greetings to two of his old buddies from the St. Louis area who play for Nebraska: guard Keith Williams and tight end Mike McNeill.

When McNeill got Clayborn's message Saturday, a smile slowly crossed his faced. “I'm on his highlight tape,'' McNeill said. “Our schools are the oldest rivals west of the Mississippi River. One time when we played, I went across the middle for a pass and he nailed me like you wouldn't believe.''

A new kind of camp battle

What better way to prepare for a grueling football season than punching each other in the face?

That's what the Huskers did a week ago when Niles Paul brought boxing gloves to the locker room.

Paul tangled with Roy Helu. Prince Amukamara fought Rickey Thenarse. Heavyweights Baker Steinkuhler and Jermarcus Hardrick traded body blows.

Said Mike McNeill: “I was about to cry I was laughing so hard.”

One man was disappointed. Wideout Brandon Kinnie called out the cornerbacks, the guys he'd been battling all summer.

“I wanted them bad,” Kinnie said.

They chickened out, so he settled for running back Austin Jones. Boxing was a good way to finish conditioning and blow off summer steam. No one, however, seems tempted to change sports any time soon.

“It was just a fun day, just to be celebrating workouts being done with,” Kinnie said. “A little break.”

This and that

• I-back Roy Helu, when asked if he did anything “out of the box'' this summer: “Well, I was 21, so I went out a little more.''

• Linebacker Will Compton had some fun during Saturday's media session. He used his iPhone as a tape recorder and stuck it in the face of some teammates while asking leading questions. Teammate Eric Hagg put up with it for a little bit, then said: “There he is. Ron Burgundy. Right there.''

— Dirk Chatelain, Mitch Sherman, Nick Rubek and Lee Barfknecht

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