• Photo Showcase: NU football practice, Sept. 14
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LINCOLN — Nebraska receiver Niles Paul was surprised at the call Saturday on the first play of the second half. And based on the result, it may not happen again soon.
Paul, with the Huskers leading 31-3 over Idaho, lined up behind center in the Wildcat formation. He took the snap and fumbled when he ran into I-back Rex Burkhead. Idaho's Aaron Lavarius recovered.
“I was real excited we actually ran it,” Paul said. “I was supposed to carry out the fake, and I think I rushed it too much, because I ended up colliding with Rex.”
Paul said he was intent on keeping the football.
“I saw nothing but green grass,” he said.
Paul's fumble, one of eight Saturday for Nebraska, contributed to four turnovers against the Vandals. As a result, he said, the coaches are overloading the Huskers this week in practice with a “massive amount” of ball-security drills. Tough work, according to Paul.
“It's terrible,” he said.
He said he expects to return kickoffs Saturday against Washington for the first time this season. He handled punt returns in the first two games.
No predictions for Compton's return
A lighter moment from the NU press conference Tuesday came when defensive coordinator Carl Pelini was asked if he had a sense of when linebacker Will Compton might return.
“Do I have a sense? Let me think,” Pelini said, closing his eyes and pressing two fingers to his temples. “ I don't know. There's some healing that has to go on there, and everyone's different.”
Compton, projected as a starter, went down with a broken foot two days before the season opener.
“He looks ridiculous riding around in that scooter,” Pelini said, “so I hope it's soon.”
NU-Washington game is a hot ticket
According to information provided by StubHub, the Nebraska-Washington game is the hottest ticket of the college weekend on the popular ticket-brokering website.
So far, fans have paid an average of $196 for tickets purchased on StubHub.com, ranging from $35 to $648. StubHub reports that Washington buyers outnumber Nebraska fans 2 to 1 but that a significant contingent of NU fans has purchased seats.
Pelini remembers Buckeye defeat
Twenty-four years ago this week, Bo Pelini went to Seattle as an Ohio State freshman to face Washington. His Buckeyes, ranked 10th nationally, lost 40-7.
Husky Stadium didn't leave a lasting impression, Pelini said, but the Huskies did.
“We got beat pretty bad,” Pelini said. “We had a bunch of punts blocked. It was a nightmare.”
Burkhead earns coach's praise
Burkhead, a sophomore I-back, continues to impress his coaches. Burkhead has rushed for 134 yards on 14 carries (9.6 per attempt) with one touchdown in two games. He also has caught five passes for 88 yards.
“There is nothing on the field that he doesn't do well,” Bo Pelini said. “ He's a good threat in the passing game. He's obviously a good running back. He can protect. He is a really, really good football player. He can do so many things to help your football team, and you couple that with his character and his toughness, he is a good guy to have on your football team.
“He's a leader. He's everything you want in a football player.”
— Mitch Sherman
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• Video: NU's DeJon Gomes at the Tuesday press conference:
• Video: Bo Pelini at the Tuesday press conference:
• Video: Carl Pelini at the Tuesday press conference:
• Video: Niles Paul at the Tuesday press conference:
• Video: Jared Crick at the Tuesday press conference:
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