CO L L EGE FOOTBA L L OMAHA WORLD-HERALD10C • SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2017

begin speculation on the futureof coach James Franklin, wholeft that game with a 16-14record in his third year.

What followed was a magiccarpet ride.

Penn State, the youngestteam in major-college footballand one of the most-injuredon defense, started to grow upand get healthy.

Soon came an upset of OhioState, a thrashing of Iowa anda comeback against Indiana.The winning streak reachednine, including a Big Tenchampionship game upset ofWisconsin, before a 52-49 RoseBowl loss to USC.

Now, the Nittany Lions, whofinished No. 7 nationally aftergetting nary a vote in the pre-season poll, are in the Top 10

of many of the way-too-earlyprojections for 2017.

What’s not to like?PSU, which hosts Nebraska

Nov. 18, returns 17 starters offan 11-3 team, including juniorrunning back Saquon Barkley,who was Big Ten offensiveplayer of the year; juniorquarterback Trace McSorley,who was second-team all-con-ference; and linebacker JasonCabinda, a third-team pick.

The concern, the coachingstaff says, is to teach a still-young roster that winning 11games a year isn’t automatic.

Said Franklin: “How do wetake the experiences we hadlast year — playing in the RoseBowl, playing in the Big Tenchampionship game and onthose types of stages — andlearn from them and growwithout losing our identity as

blue-collar and hard-working?”In some spring interviews,

the Nittany Lions have beenasked about complacency.

“When people bring up theword complacency,” Franklinsaid, “I think that’s a positivebecause you’ve done some-thing. You’ve become part of adifferent discussion.

“But none of those wins,none of those points, none ofthose tackles or turnovers isgoing to transfer to this year.We’ve got to rebuild it fromthe ground up.”

Any complacency can betaken care of by noting PennState’s final record last seasoncould have been 6-6 if not forfour double-digit comebacks inthe second half.

The Nittany Lions trailedMinnesota by 10 points at halfbut won 29-26 in overtime.

They trailed Ohio State by 14entering the fourth quarterbut won 24-21. They trailed In-diana by 10 points in the thirdquarter but won 45-31.

And in the Big Ten titlegame, Penn State fell behind28-7 in the second quarter andwas still down 14 points at halfbefore rallying to win 38-31.

“We only had one senior onoffense and three on defenselast year,” Franklin said. “Wehave a lot of guys coming backwho have made big contribu-tions.

“But there is a lot of heavylifting to do yet. The teamswe want to compete with havebeen having these types ofyears consistently the last fiveto 10 years. We had a nice year,but we’ve got a long way to go.”

lee.barfknecht@owh.com, 402-444-1024,twitter.com/leebeeowh

Penn State: After big 2016, Franklin aims to maintain team’s blue-collar approachContinued from Page 3

Final step to let recruitssign during 72-hour periodin December is leaguecommissioners’ votethis summer

BY HUNTER PANIAGUA

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The NCAA took another steptoward implementing an earlysigning period in college foot-ball, approving a package of rulechanges Friday that will alterrecruiting and the makeup ofcoaching staffs.

“It was collaborative and inclu-sive and we did a lot of listening,”said Big 12 Commissioner BobBowlsby, chair of the NCAA foot-ball oversight committee, duringa conference call with reporters.“This was the most I’ve seenthe American Football CoachesAssociation — and their board —engaged in any initiative in my30 years around intercollegiateathletics.

“There were disagreements.There were a lot of compromisesbuilt in. But, in the end, we endedup with a comprehensive pack-age. A very impactful package.It’s long overdue.”

The NCAA Division I councilvoted to change the recruitingcalendar, adding an early signingperiod in December to go withthe traditional signing period inFebruary. Before taking effect,the change needs approval thissummer from the ConferenceCommissioners Association,which administers the NationalLetter of Intent program.

The 72-hour early signingperiod would begin the thirdWednesday in December. It wouldgive recruits a chance to end therecruiting process two monthsearlier and would free coach-es from worrying about otherprograms poaching their commitsin the final weeks before the Feb-ruary signing day.

“There’s a large portion of thepopulation that wants to get itfinished — the recruiting process,the commitment process — soon-er rather than later,” Bowlsbysaid.

Mike Riley and his Nebraskaassistants voiced unanimous sup-port for the earlier signing date.Riley pushed for another to startin June or July, but that lost steamamong other coaches. Still, NUwill view the December signingperiod as a positive assuming it’spassed by the conference com-missioners.

“You’re still going to have togrind in January,” safeties coachBob Elliott told The World-Heraldthis month. “But you won’t have togo into as many homes unless youhave spots to fill.”

The council also approved areform package that includedthe addition of a 10th assistant tofootball staffs.

Schools are currently allowedto have nine full-time assistants,but the change will go into effectin January. Nebraska is expectedto promote graduate assistant Ta-vita Thompson, who coaches tightends, to a full-time assistant.

“We’ve got a heck of a coachhere, Tavita Thompson, that wehave earmarked for that spot,”said NU Executive Director ofPlayer Personnel Billy Devaneyin February. “He does a great jobwith the tight ends.”

Another big change that passedFriday was the addition of anearly period for official visits.Previously, recruits were allowedto begin taking official visits —paid for by the school — startingwith the opening day of classestheir senior year of high school.

The change will allow for visitsbeginning April 1 of the pros-pect’s junior year and ending the

Sunday before the last Wednesdayof June that year. For example,Nebraska would be allowed tohost recruits on official visitsfor the spring game, or at otherpoints during the summer, insteadof waiting for game days in thefall.

“It will be great to be able topay for that visit,” Riley said inFebruary of potential spring gameofficial visits. “I think that’s rightfor these families. ... Now wehave some decisions to make onthe visits. There is some strategyinvolved that I’m not sure about.”

That change goes into effectnext spring.

Other items approved by theNCAA on Friday:

» Schools will be prohibitedfrom hiring individuals asso-ciated with prospects during atwo-year period before and afterthe recruits’ enrollment. The ruleprovides an exception for full-time, on-field coaching positions.This was proposed with the goalof limiting the practice of hiringpeople as a way to entice a recruitto sign with that school.

» Schools are now limited tosigning 25 prospects to nationalletters of intent.

» Coaches’ participation incamps is now limited to 10 days inJune and July, and requires thosecamps to be held on a college’scampus or in facilities regularlyused by that school for practice orcompetition. That puts an end tosatellite camps at high schools orother private facilities.

Material from the AssociatedPress was also used in this report.

Big changes for two-a-daysTwo-a-days — a rite of passage

for decades — is over as fansremember it.

The NCAA Division I councilalso voted to end the practice offull contact two-a-day practic-es — be it in August or in springpractice. Teams rarely used themin spring, but for some programs,they were a hallmark in fallcamps.

Nebraska conducted four two-a-days in August 2016 — one morn-ing practice and one late eveningworkout. College programs areallowed 29 preseason practices.

Now, if teams want to have twopractices in the day, one must be a“walkthrough,” during which con-tact is prohibited and no protec-tive equipment, such as helmetsor pads, can be worn.

No conditioning can take placeduring walkthroughs, either.Walkthroughs can last up to twohours, while a standard, paddedpractice can last up to threehours.

“The Council’s action reinforcesour commitment to the health andsafety of our student-athletes,”said Council chair Jim Phillips,athletic director at Northwestern.“We continue to be guided by therecommendations from medicalprofessionals, coaches and admin-istrators and the strong supportfor discontinuing two contactpractices in the same day.”

The NCAA considered thisdecision “emergency legislation,”effective immediately.

No legislation is consideredfinal until the NCAA board ofdirectors’ meeting in late April.

— Sam McKewon

NCAA signs offon earlier signing

St. Louis and two from KansasCity — to “coach” the springgame on the sidelines. Theyeven got to call some plays.

Strangely, MU did not winthe Big Eight championshipthat fall.

But the writers didn’t haveany complaints about theplay-calling (well, maybe acouple). Think about it.

Think about this: Whatwould you change about theNebraska spring game?

How crazy do you want toget?

It’s not like interest is aproblem. A crowd of 70,000 ormore is expected for today’sRed-White game at MemorialStadium.

The headliners are newquarterbacks, a new defensivecoordinator and 25 to 40 highschool prospects known bysome fans by both name andTwitter handle.

There’s football to beplayed. This is the 15th prac-tice. There’s serious businessat hand, such as finding fivebig young men who can block

somebody.But there’s no use deny-

ing that spring games havebecome an important tool inpromoting and measuring thefootball program.

Who has the biggest crowd?Who’s on live TV? Who’s gotthe best celebrities?

Ohio State’s honorary cap-tains today are Lou Holtz andPhil Knight.

There’s absolutely nothingwrong with this. In fact, ifyou’re Nebraska, you not onlyembrace the party, you find away to throw the biggest andbest spring fling.

NU has actually stood out inrecent spring games. Bo Peli-ni and the cat. Jack Hoffman’smemorable run. One year,coaches ran Oklahoma drillsduring the quarter breaks.

Good stuff. It showed anoth-er side of Nebraska football. Aheart. A sense of humor. Imag-ination. All good things.

Through the years, Nebras-ka has been mostly business.It was a football game with adrug pledge at halftime and allthose kids on the field. Therewasn’t a lot of crazy.

Well, it’s time for Nebraskato go nuts, up the ante, put itsimagination cap on. The springgame is about to become amassive recruiting tool. AndNU has a not-so-secret weap-on.

You know who you are.Husker fans are a force

of nature. They are thegame-changers for so manyrecruits who will walk intoMemorial Stadium today andleave with a great impression.

With 70,000 fans in thehouse, the Red-White game isbasically a simulation of a fallgame experience.

That’s important becausethe NCAA on Friday approvedan early signing period, forDecember, and added an offi-cial visit period from April 1to June for high school juniors.

Since NU will be able tostart paying for recruits tocome to the spring game, whynot give them a show?

» Bring back the footballalumni. Have an old-timersgame of touch (let Jason Peterand Grant Wistrom tackle ifthey insist), wearing their oldjerseys. Let the old guys min-

gle, sign autographs, show up

at a mixer afterwards where

fans pay to hang out.

» Show off the players’ per-

sonalities. I’m thinking along

the lines of Kansas’ “Late

Night in the Phog” for basket-

ball, where players do skits

or perform songs. Have skills

contests with players.

» Turn it into a weekend car-

nival. Bring in a Ferris Wheel

outside the stadium. I can’t be-

lieve I just wrote that.

» Let a couple of fans be-

come honorary coaches for

the day, and let them call some

plays.

» Have a postgame concert.

Whatever the NCAA will

allow, do it. Call it Footballapa-

looza. There’s no such thing as

too big or too crazy. With offi-

cial visits coming to April next

year, the crazy factor is about

to be turned up.

Just remember one thing. If

you see a Ferris Wheel outside

Memorial Stadium, it wasn’t

my idea.

tom.shatel@owh.com, 402-444-1025,twitter.com/tomshatelOWH

Shatel: Creative spring game ideas? Let wheels turnContinued from Page 1

BRYNN ANDER SON / THE WORLD -HERA LD

Nebraska has been ahead of the curve in making spring games entertaining. In 2013, this touchdown run by 7-year-old cancer survivor JackHoffman won an ESPY. In 2014, Bo Pelini carried a cat onto the field.

away, pulling off a Los An-geles Kings hockey jersey toreveal a Nebraska sweatshirt.

“I was thinking aboutbuilding my legacy away fromhome and starting fresh in theheart of the country. A newcity, new beginnings, new ev-erything,” said Radley-Hiles,who is from from the LosAngeles area.

He is unofficially visitingNU this weekend and attend-ed the Huskers’ Thursdaypractice, staying late to talkto cornerbacks coach DonteWilliams, who has knownRadley-Hiles for years. Whilehead coach Mike Riley can’tofficially acknowledge thecommitment, he obliquely re-ferred to it on Twitter shortlyafter Radley-Hiles’ video wasreleased.

“The Huskers just landedan incredibly special youngman!” Riley wrote. “He sawthe vision. Time to keep it

going!”Nebraska has pursued

Radley-Hiles for two years— almost the bulk of the timeRiley has been at NU.

The 5-foot-10, 185-poundRadley-Hiles is part of the“Calibraska” contingent andthe cousin of current Husk-er signee Tyjon Lindsey. Hebegan his high school careerat Las Vegas Bishop Gormanbefore transferring for hisjunior season to Calabasas(California) High School,where he played with currentHuskers Tristan Gebbia andKeyshawn Johnson Jr. As areceiver, Radley-Hiles had51 catches for 806 yards and10 touchdowns. On defense,he had 54 tackles, two sacksand two interceptions. Heattended NU’s Friday NightLights camp last June, wherehe impressed against a seriesof top 2017 prospects.

For his senior year, Rad-ley-Hiles has transferred toIMG Academy, a sports-fo-

cused boarding school inBradenton, Florida. IMGcoach Kevin Wright said Rad-ley-Hiles has already madehis mark there.

“Bookie’s been a tremen-dous fit from the start. He’sa competitor,” Wright said ofRadley-Hiles, who has beenat IMG for a little more thanthree months. “What he lacksin height he makes up in hiscompetitiveness. He runswell, uses his hands well. He’sa really good press coveragecorner. If we needed him onoffense, he’d play offense,too — he’s that athletic. Verydynamic guy, but first andforemost he’s a leader on andoff the field. He made thatimpression since January.”

In an interview with Scout,Radley-Hiles said the pres-ence of Lindsey, Gebbia andJohnson was an “extra posi-tive” but not the determiningfactor in picking Nebraska.In an interview with theWorld-Herald’s “The Bottom

Line,” Radley-Hiles said Lin-coln — and the Husker fans —were a big draw.

“I was expecting — peoplewould tell me — cornfieldsout there,” Radley-Hiles said.“When I got out there and Ididn’t see any, I was, ‘So whatwas I supposed to be seeing?’I didn’t know it was an actualcity with a downtown. It lookslike a real city. It is a realcity.”

Radley-Hiles is the fifthcommitment for the 2018class, and he may not be theonly one this weekend. Ne-braska will be making a majorpress with so many prospectson campus to get more play-ers in the boat.

Bookie’s in it already andbecomes the highest-rankedprospect to commit to NUin the Riley era. The secondhighest? Lindsey.

That’s a cousin combo.

sam.mckewon@owh.com, 402-219-3790,twitter.com/swmckewonOWH

NU recruit: Touted corner another ‘Calibraska’ getContinued from Page 3

PENN STATE

Coach: James Franklin, fourth year,25-15

2016 record: 11-3 (8-1, T-first East)

Returning starters: 17 (9 offense, 6defense, 2 kickers)

Star power: Saquon Barkley rushedfor 1,076 yards as a freshman and1,496 as a sophomore. The 5-foot-11, 223-pound running back fromCoplay, Pennsylvania, may just bewarming up.

Not so special: There’s still work todo in the offensive line, though atleast the number of bodies availablehas improved. Only nine scholarshipO-linemenwere there when Franklinarrived. He has 17 now.

Worth a look: October looks likethe key month for the Nittany Lions.The opponents: at Northwestern,Michigan and at Ohio State.

Quote: “When your best players

are your best guys and your best

leaders, you’ve got a chance.” —

Franklin in praising Barkley and

quarterback Trace McSorley.

Schedule

Sept. 2, Akron

Sept. 9, Pittsburgh

Sept. 16, Georgia State

Sept. 23, at Iowa

Sept. 30, Indiana

Oct. 7, at Northwestern

Oct. 21, Michigan

Oct. 28, at Ohio State

Nov. 4, at Michigan State

Nov. 11, Rutgers

Nov. 18, Nebraska

Nov. 25, at Maryland

BobBowlsbyThe Big 12commissionerand former IowaA.D. heads theNCAA footballoversightcommittee.