LINCOLN — Niles Paul turned 21 Monday, another reminder of the offseason incident in which he was convicted of underage drinking and minor in possession of alcohol.
Paul, a senior from Omaha North and Nebraska's top returning receiver, talked openly about the situation for the second time in the past month. He also discussed it last month at Big 12 media days.
“My dad always tells me, character is all you've got,” Paul said. “I hate when people question my character. From the outside looking in, it's not what it seems. I'm pretty much the leader of this team.
“I got everybody going — me, Roy (Helu), Rex (Burkhead), Zac (Lee). If you're not part of the team, you wouldn't understand.”
The May 28 incident marked Paul's second alcohol-related offense. He was arrested in May 2009 on suspicion of driving under the influence and pleaded guilty to reckless driving and minor in possession.
Paul said Monday he does not drink often and that he would celebrate his birthday by going to dinner with his family and then returning home. He said he would not drink.
“Can't do it,” he said.
Paul is also in favor of the Huskers installing a no-alcohol policy during the season. He said he's “pretty sure” the policy would meet approval.
Martin, Huskers getting warmed up
Three practices, three very hot and humid days.
For Nebraska linebacker Eric Martin, none has been better or worse than the other.
“All three days felt like they were all the same,” Martin said. “Honestly, these numbers that the sun is putting up are ridiculous.”
The Huskers' third workout came with temperatures in the mid-90s and a heat index close to 115 Monday. It's far worse than what Martin and others remember from the start of camp a year ago.
“This is a hot summer, for sure, but it's all part of it,” NU center Mike Caputo said. “It's going to get us all better.”
Coach Bo Pelini said each practice is about “fighting through it, mental toughness.” He said it gives the team a chance to show what it gained from summer conditioning.
Martin, being from Moreno Valley, Calif., at least has a reference point for extreme heat.
“There's more humidity out here,” he said. “But Moreno Valley is a desert. Where I'm from it's a desert.”
Heat sends Hardrick to Lincoln hospital
Junior offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, suffering from heat-related ailments, was transported off Nebraska's football complex in an ambulance well after practice concluded Monday.
Lincoln Fire and Rescue responded to a report of dehydration and cramping around 6:20 p.m. The Nebraska campus police online log indicates that Hardrick was taken to St. Elizabeth's Regional Medical Center.
Hardrick could be heard screaming in the training room as practice concluded, presumably dealing with severe cramping. The 6-foot-7, 320-pound junior college transfer was later carted out of the Hawks Center and into an ambulance.
No redshirt for Kunalic
Redshirting senior kicker Adi Kunalic apparently isn't something that Nebraska's head coach has given much thought.
When asked about Kunalic's status, Pelini acted a bit startled at the notion of sitting the specialist for one season.
Kunalic, a kickoff specialist who serves as Alex Henery's top backup during field goal situations, did express interest in the spring about utilizing a redshirt year to take on an expanded role in 2011.
But that's not the plan, said Pelini. Sounds like it never has been.
“You haven't heard me talking about redshirt,” Pelini said. “I don't know where that came from. He's playing.”
Watch lists include three Huskers
Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara and defensive tackle Jared Crick have been named to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award.
The Bednarik Award, established in 1995, is presented annually to the nation's top defensive player. NU defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh won the award last year.
Also on Monday, Husker I-back Roy Helu was named to the Maxwell Award watch list, which has honored the nation's most outstanding player since 1937. The only Maxwell winner from Nebraska was Mike Rozier in 1983, though Tommie Frazier and Eric Crouch were finalists.
Both the Maxwell and Bednarik winners will be announced Dec. 9 as part of the ESPNU College Awards Show.
— Mitch Sherman, Rich Kaipust and Jon Nyatawa
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