Steve Octavien doesn't necessarily care much for the annual Red-White Spring Game.
While the WILL linebacker respects the tradition, he said it's nothing like the season.
But whatever his opinion, the 6-foot, 235-pound junior enjoyed his time on the field Saturday, recording the lone interception of the game.
``It's just another practice,'' Octavien said. ``Overall, I just want to get the kinks out. Everybody knows that we're trying to get everything going, get the season rolling. The spring game is a big deal, I just don't care much for it.''
However, Octavien was thrilled with the fan support.
After breaking his left fibula and severely tearing a ligament in his knee in the second quarter of Nebraska's first game of 2005, Octavien was forced to sit out the rest of the season.
His first hit on sophomore running back Leon Jackson was something Octavien had been waiting for since being sidelined in September. To hear the fans and feel the intensity, he said, gave him a lot of confidence throughout the rest of the game.
The defining moment came in the third quarter when he intercepted a pass from sophomore quarterback Beau Davis and ran it five yards.
``I read the quarterback's intentions and picked it off,'' Octavien said. ``I tried to take it to the house, but it didn't work out that way.''
Altogether, Octavien tallied two solo hits and an assist. He attributed the low numbers to the fact that not many big runs came out of the White squad's offense.
``I just try to make big plays,'' Octavien said. ``Just like everybody on the defense. At times I just have a knack for the ball, sparking the crowd up and sparking the D.''
Deemed as one of the Blackshirts' probable leaders, Octavien said he isn't the most vocal - junior Corey McKeon has claimed that role - but he does like to lead by example.
While it may seem like Octavien has his position locked up for the fall, NU Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove rejected that notion.
``We'll start a new competition in the fall,'' Cosgrove said. ``(Octavien) is going to come back and he's going to compete, I know that. They all make each other better.''
Octavien is not lacking in confidence in himself and his teammates. By the end of the 2006 season, he said, the Blackshirts could be ranked in the top five in the nation.
With spring training done and summer conditioning around the corner, Octavien is excited.
``(The spring game) is just another practice for us, so it's just for the fans,'' Octavien said. ``I enjoy the fans, but overall I don't care for the spring game. I just want the season to start.''
