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During football season, Labor Day is not a holiday for Nebraska's football coaches, though it is for the players. And since Mike Riley held his weekly news conference today, it's not a holiday for people who cover Husker football.
Mike Riley sez C Dylan Utter and LT Nick Gates had solid games up front vs. Fresno State. Returning starters, but both at new spots #Huskers
— Rich Kaipust (@RKaipustOWH) September 5, 2016
Riley said on D Young, Jones, Banderas, Dzuris, k. Williams and Kalu played well
— Samuel McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) September 5, 2016
He also brought up the performance of the young man who had the biggest shoes of all to fill last Saturday night.
Mike Riley, at weekly press conference, notes freshman punter Caleb Lightbourn handled emotion, showed poise, punted well. #Huskers
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) September 5, 2016
A "Get Off My Lawn" moment? Mike Riley was not pleased about the two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for celebrations.
Riley says "really disappointed in all that" with two celebration penalties (Darlington, A.Williams) #Huskers
— Rich Kaipust (@RKaipustOWH) September 5, 2016
Riley no fan of celebrations after good plays: "I had sense every time we made a good play we were going to have penalty. That has to stop"
— Eric Olson (@ericolson64) September 5, 2016
He has a point about the penalties, but there is a danger of looking out of touch with the generation of players. Trick is to find ways to celebrate or express yourself within the rules.
If you left the stadium concerned about Nebraska's punt return game, you weren't alone.
Riley on the punt return game: "It looked like a cartoon. Us trying to get out of the way of the ball." #Huskers
— Brian Christopherson (@HuskerExtraBC) September 5, 2016
Coach Riley says that Nebraska catching punts in the opener was a "scary play" every time. Compared it to a cartoon. #Huskers @ketv
— Thor Tripp (@ThorTripp) September 5, 2016
While those of us in the "Run the Ball" love this year's approach more than last year's , expect the pendulum to begin to shift back towards a little more passing.
Riley notes the obvious, that Nebraska will need more balance with rushing/passing going forward. #Huskers
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) September 5, 2016
"The last time I remember that is when I was the quarterback," Riley said of being part of a game with only 13 passing attempts. #Huskers
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) September 5, 2016
After Nebraska's offensive line looked like a Three Stooges/Keystone Kops skit when David Knevel had to leave the game due to injury, Mike Riley is rethinking having offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh up in the press box.
Riley said he may reconsider having offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh in the press box; may want him back on the sideline. #Huskers
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) September 5, 2016
Riley said Sam Hahn "did a very nice job" at left guard; haven't yet met regarding personnel decision, if he'll maintain starting job.
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) September 5, 2016
The secondary should be at full strength this Saturday, as "Defense Rex" should be back.
In addition to Nate Gerry's return from suspension, Riley expects Antonio Reed (injury) to be back for Wyoming game. #Huskers
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) September 5, 2016
Riley gives good review to debut of Lamar Jackson. He says he wants him on field and that he's only going to continue to grow. #Huskers
— Eric Olson (@ericolson64) September 5, 2016
"I was really impressed with how our defense was running to the football," Mike Riley said. #Huskers
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) September 5, 2016
Riley also talked about the two-point conversion trick play and why they ran it.
Yep, Coach Riley talking about forcing other teams to spend practice time on the 2 point, swing and gate.
— Mike'l Severe (@MikelSevere) September 5, 2016
Riley said Darlington has no say on field about whether to follow through on 2-point conversion off swinging gate; completely called up top.
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) September 5, 2016
OK, you force teams to focus on it now...but didn't showing the formation force that issue? And now, opponents now know what to defend...unless you have another play to run off of the formation. We'll look back later in the season as to who wins this game of chess.
Riley: "I just thought and wanted to be cleaner. We had 7 penalties...but we didn't have to have those. You want it to be cleaner than that"
— Eric Olson (@ericolson64) September 5, 2016
Maybe I've become immune to the number of penalties, but I thought the opening game was relatively clean in terms of penalties.
Riley didn't back off criticism of game one. Said he told the team "Who do we want to be?"
— Samuel McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) September 5, 2016
Riley: "I don't want to be a downer on the win, either. I like that a lot better than losing on a Hail Mary."
— Brian Christopherson (@HuskerExtraBC) September 5, 2016
Riley was also asked about the story about the burglary at the home of Sam Foltz's brother during the game.
"Really sad story...I wouldn't want to be that guy in this state." - Mike Riley on Foltz home being targeted this weekend.
— Josh Harvey (@JoshHarveyScout) September 5, 2016
Some people simply have no decency.
For some reason, I doubt that Mike Riley stayed up until 3:30 am Sunday morning to watch the storm-delayed Wyoming game live, but he did watch the video.
Wyoming showed many pressures and blitzes against Northern Illinois, more so than last season, Riley said. #Huskers
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) September 5, 2016
Don't sleep on this weekend's opponent. Wyoming and Craig Bohl will be focused on this game.