On a blazing hot afternoon to kick off the Nebraska football team’s fall camp, head coach Bo Pelini sauntered into sea of 30-or-so reporters, fixed his gaze on Hawks Center turf and said “have at it.”

But there just isn’t much to have at on a first day, other than a firm grasp of the confident mood among the players after a 2½-hour workout and 90 minutes in front of fawning Husker supporters at Saturday morning’s Fan Day.

Pelini, the most popular autograph of fans - his efficiency under the white tent was something to behold, considering he’s given all manners of items to sign, and fans swiftly darted behind him for stealth photos with the coach - called Saturday afternoon’s jaunt a “typical first day” with a flurry of mistakes and good effort.

“They’re a little more comfortable,” Pelini said of the Huskers. “Meaning with the system, with the coaches, there’s been some continuity. That always helps…we got a lot of work to do. Just kicking it off and getting it started. Getting the kinks out.”

On with the report:

Particulars: Nebraska practiced on the grass fields adjacent to the Hawks Championship Center for 2½ hours in helmets and shorts on a sunny, hot, breezy afternoon. A typical first day, as Nebraska began the long journey toward Sept. 4 and the first game.

What’s New: The FieldTurf practice fields, installed over the summer for a cool half-mil. They now look like the turf inside Memorial Stadium and theoretically give NU the opportunity to practice in the rain more easily instead of heading inside the Hawks Center.

Coach Quote: “I wouldn’t trade James Dobson for anybody.” - Bo Pelini. Dobson, NU’s strength and conditioning coach, did another knockout job in Pelini’s opinion - even with the true freshmen on the roster. Pelini said the Huskers were more athletic and sporting more lean body mass.

Player Quote: “We’ve been itching to get back out every since the Holiday Bowl. It’s good to start hitting each other again. We all had a great offseason.” - Defensive lineman Jared Crick.
Notes:

*Several scholarship players did not make the 105-man roster: Wide receiver Kenny Bell, defensive backs Lazarri Middleton and Marcus Mendoza, guard Nick Ash, linebacker Micah Kreikemeier and quarterback Kody Spano all were not at Saturday’s practice. In addition, 2010 recruit Bronson Marsh was not at practice; he is expected to “grayshirt” and join the team in January.

Pelini said Spano has not fully recovered from his second torn ACL and will spend the rest of the month rehabbing. It’s also questionable, to some extent, just how many useful snaps Spano would have received with a quarterback competition raging. Bell has a hamstring injury that could take at least ten days to heal.

*Former Husker linebacker Matt Holt will retire from NU because of a recurring shoulder injury, according to Huskers Illustrated.

*Nebraska now has three post-practice tables of goodies for players to gobble based on whether they’re trying to gain weight, maintain weight or lose weight. A new staple on each of the tables: Kosher pickle spears. Muscle Milk, Propel and Gatorade sit on the tables, as well.

*The new defensive intern - replacing Doug Colman - is former Husker linebacker T.J. Hollowell. Colman took an assistant coaching job at Tulane.

*Roy Helu confirmed Saturday that he and Rex Burkhead spent their bulk of their summers competing against one another in conditioning drills. Helu said his shoulder wasn’t 100 percent until after spring practice, early in the summer.

*Left guard Keith Williams had high praise for 2010 recruit and true freshman Andrew Rodriguez for his size and athleticism.

Next Practice: Sunday afternoon, which is closed in its entirety to the media.

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