Assistant coach Ron Brown is not a big fan of the fair catch, and he's letting that be known to the Husker football players who will be returning punts this season.
Brown is in charge of the punt returners, as well as the tight ends, and he is adamant about taking advantage of any hole in kick coverage.
"A punt return ought to be a stinkin' play in the game where everybody (in the stands) gets on their feet," Brown told the Lincoln Journal-Star earlier this week. "We want to move the football. It's got to be an offensive weapon. We want courageous people back there."
Brown cited past players like DeJuan Groce, Tyrone Highes and Rod Smith -- the leader in punt return yardage in 1986 -- who weren't afraid to make something happen on a punt return. Groce averaged over 17 yards per return in 2002 and scored four of Nebraska's six touchdowns off punt returns that season.
That's a far cry from where the Huskers were last year, where they averaged a measley 8.18 yards per punt return with Cortney Grixby and Andre Jones handling most of the duties. In the three previous years, the numbers would have been as bad were it not for Terrence Nunn, who was third in the nation with over 18 yards per punt return.
Of course, there are times when a fair catch is the only play available, so it won't be a situation where the Huskers will return EVERY punt kicked their way. But if the option is there, expect the Huskers to do a lot more advancing punt returns and a lot less waving for fair catches in 2008.
The Huskers will get their first chance at returning kicks on Saturday, Aug. 30, as they open the 2008 season at home against Western Michigan. Get your tickets for the Huskers' season opener now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker game is ever sold out.
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