Huskers start 2nd week of Gator Bowl preparations

LINCOLN -- The Nebraska football team began its second full week of Gator Bowl preparations with a 90-minute workout inside the Hawks Championship Indoor Center Monday afternoon.

The Huskers are getting ready for their match-up with Clemson in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1.

"We got some work done, some good on good and some of Clemson," said head coach Bo Pelini. "It was just a skeleton crew of coaches because most of our guys are out recruiting."

Pelini praised the Huskers' four captains -- Joe Ganz, Nate Swift, Zach Potter and Ty Steinkuhler -- who were selected by teammates and announced as captains at Sunday's team banquet.

"They were good choices," Pelini said. "On this team, there were a lot of guys that were deserving and the vote was pretty close. We just took the four top vote-getters. It was a good group. There were a lot of leaders, especially in that senior class."

Under Pelini, the Huskers used a system of selecting offensive, defensive and special teams captains for each game, but the end of the season vote determined the season captains.

"I think it gives a lot of guys ownership," Pelini said of the system. "I think the players enjoyed it. I've been around doing it that way for a long time. I think it's the right way to do it. It'll be like that as long as I'm here."

On the injury front, Pelini said linebacker Phillip Dillard continues to make progress, but isn't at full-speed yet.

"He's getting there," Pelini said. "Before we get into the last week of game preparation, we're looking at about two weeks. I would hope he's 100 percent by then. He had a nasty injury."

The Huskers will take Tuesday and Wednesday off to focus on finals before returning to the practice field again Thursday.