LINCOLN – Monday passed without any major announcements from college football conferences, but thanks to the NCAA’s coronavirus pandemic plan, teams started doing more work with coaches and one another.
Starting yesterday, coaches at Nebraska and throughout the NCAA’s football programs were able to work with players for eight hours a week, two of which can be spent in film study. Players were already doing some film work via Zoom, but the NCAA changes allow for more in-depth, in-person work.
The other six hours are spent in strength and conditioning workouts. NU strength and conditioning coach Zach Duval tweeted out several videos of Huskers like center Cam Jurgens hitting the gym. Nebraska athletes had already been doing some workouts and conditioning on a voluntary basis.
NU also welcomed the last of its newcomers this week — walk-ons who played in the Shrine Bowl. These walk-ons, like all other Huskers, will have to pass the safety and virus testing protocols that Nebraska has used since April to ensure the safety of players and the community.
The NCAA allows programs to stay in this second phase of preseason prep until July 24, after which coaches can start working with teams up to 20 hours a week, including six hours in a mini-camp mode with a football. Eight hours can be used for film study, while eight more can be used for strength and conditioning.
A full training camp will be allowed to begin Aug. 7. By August, Nebraska and other league schools should know their new conference-only schedules – if a season is to be played at all.
Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren expressed doubt last week about whether or not the season could be played, and this week reiterated that the decision whether or not to play will be based on the advice of medical experts.
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