Broken records at spring game leave fans, team optimistic

Zac Taylor and the fans met for the first time Saturday afternoon, and both sides walked away wearing smiles.

A spring game-record crowd of 63,416 got their first glimpse of Taylor, and by the time Joe Dailey’s spring game passing yards record was broken – on the final play of the first half – it was clear the Oklahoma native had made a few friends.

The last count had the total around 63,416.

  Taylor threw for a spring game-record 357 yards on 20- for-27 passing, contributing three touchdowns as the White squad amassed all 42 points in the first half of a 42-7 victory over the Red team.

After the game, Taylor glowed with a feeling of satisfaction bigger than his body.

“That’s something I’m going to remember for the rest of my life,” Taylor said. “Just sitting in the tunnel before the game, I started getting chills. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s really tough to describe to people who haven’t experienced it. It was just a blast.”

Nebraska’s passing game ran smoothly through the first half as Taylor established a favorite target in Terrance Nunn.

The sophomore out of Houston, Texas, nabbed four receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns, frequently burning the second-string defense on post routes.

Junior wide receiver Isaiah Fluellen also pulled down a game-high six receptions for 106 yards.

“We’re pleased with where (Taylor) is at right now, but he has some work to do,” Coach Bill Callahan said. “He has a long way to go yet. When you’re playing against one or two coverages like we were today, you can pretty much zero in on your reads and anticipate them a little quicker.”

Taylor sat out the second half, most of which was run without stopping the clock in order to lessen the stress on the players. Redshirt freshman Joe Ganz took control of the White team and went 1 for 4 for nine yards.

For the Red team, Beau Davis went 7 for 14 for 60 yards and a touchdown, while Joe Dailey passed for 121 yards, connecting on 35 percent of his passes.

Dailey was picked off once by Daniel Bullocks, who returned it 58 yards for the touchdown.

“Daniel read Joe’s eyes and made a great break on the ball,” Callahan said.

Running back Cory Ross led the rushing attack for the White team, running for 67 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. Ross was limited in his number of carries because the coaching staff didn’t want to tax him too much during the game.

Callahan, wanting to keep the game around 130 snaps, decided to run the clock for the third quarter and the second half of the fourth quarter.

All quarterbacks were wearing green jerseys for the spring game, which kept defenders from tackling them and limited them to tagging them down.

Callahan was pleased with the spring game results as well as the spring practices, noting that the team came in familiar with the system and ready to improve. Last spring was spent installing the West Coast offense.

“There’s a flow going through our practices,” Callahan said. “We don't have to re-educate our players. It’s coming together. I don’t know if it guarantees us anything, but it certainly gives us a chance to be better.”