Mavericks Begin Spring Football
Mar 11, 2009 | General
Spring Football Release
Spring Practice: The University of Nebraska at Omaha football team will begin its spring practice with a workout on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Caniglia Field. The Mavericks will practice 14 times from March 11 through April 10 and finish the spring season with their annual spring game on April 11 at Caniglia Field.
The Coach: #Pat Behrns# will be entering his 16th season at the helm of the UNO football program this fall. The native of David City, Neb. is 112-57 with the Mavericks and 148-84 overall as a head coach. He has guided the Mavs to 13 straight winning seasons and eight NCAA playoff appearances. In 2007, he guided UNO to its first undefeated regular season in 53 years and finished the season ranked seventh in the nation. He is a 1972 graduate of Dakota State College.
2008 Season Wrap: The Mavericks went 7-4 overall and finished third at 6-3 in their first season in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. They began the season 3-0 after wins against Nebraska-Kearney, Emporia State and Missouri Southern before suffering back-to-back losses to eventual national runner-up Northwest Missoouri State and Truman State. The Mavs bounced back with a Homecoming win over Missouri Western before losing on the road at Pittsburg State. UNO wrapped up the regular season with wins over Central Missouri, Fort Hays State and Washburn and earned a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Mavs ended the season with a 33-21 loss at Pittsburg State as they made their fourth straight trip to the NCAA postseason.
Coming Back: Among those returning this year for Nebraska-Omaha are all-MIAA players Mike Higgins, Zac Keller and Greg Zuerlein. Zuerlein was named first team all-MIAA as a placekicker. He was 9 for 11 on field goal attempts, missing just twice outside of 30 yards, and he was 43 of 45 on PATs. Keller was a second team defensive lineman who was fifth on the team as a junior with 49 tackles and Higgins earned honorable mention as a sophomore tight end. He caught 20 passes from 346 yards and two touchdowns.
Key Losses: The Mavericks will have to replace second team all-MIAA quarterback Zach Miller. The senior passed for 137.1 yards a game while averaging 96.5 yards rushing. The threw 11 touchdown passes and ran in 18 himself. Also gone will be senior tailback Brian McNeill, the team's leading rusher with 131.4 yards a game and an All-Super Region 4 pick. The Mavs also lose their leading two receivers in Troy Kush and Keith Eloi who combined for 62 catches, nearly 700 yards and four touchdowns On defense, Jeff Souder, Jacob Skow, Garrett Friesen and Jacob Chandler all move on. Souder and Skow led the team in tackles last year with a combined 143 stops. Souder was first team all-MIAA and Skow was honorable mention. Friesen had 49 tackles and Chandler had 42 while playing in just nine games because of injury.
The Media: Nebraska-Omaha's spring practices are open to the media and the general public. Members of the media may conduct interviews with players or coaches 15 minutes prior to each scheduled practice time or by request through the UNO athletic media relations office.
Spring Practice: The University of Nebraska at Omaha football team will begin its spring practice with a workout on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Caniglia Field. The Mavericks will practice 14 times from March 11 through April 10 and finish the spring season with their annual spring game on April 11 at Caniglia Field.
The Coach: #Pat Behrns# will be entering his 16th season at the helm of the UNO football program this fall. The native of David City, Neb. is 112-57 with the Mavericks and 148-84 overall as a head coach. He has guided the Mavs to 13 straight winning seasons and eight NCAA playoff appearances. In 2007, he guided UNO to its first undefeated regular season in 53 years and finished the season ranked seventh in the nation. He is a 1972 graduate of Dakota State College.
2008 Season Wrap: The Mavericks went 7-4 overall and finished third at 6-3 in their first season in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. They began the season 3-0 after wins against Nebraska-Kearney, Emporia State and Missouri Southern before suffering back-to-back losses to eventual national runner-up Northwest Missoouri State and Truman State. The Mavs bounced back with a Homecoming win over Missouri Western before losing on the road at Pittsburg State. UNO wrapped up the regular season with wins over Central Missouri, Fort Hays State and Washburn and earned a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Mavs ended the season with a 33-21 loss at Pittsburg State as they made their fourth straight trip to the NCAA postseason.
Coming Back: Among those returning this year for Nebraska-Omaha are all-MIAA players Mike Higgins, Zac Keller and Greg Zuerlein. Zuerlein was named first team all-MIAA as a placekicker. He was 9 for 11 on field goal attempts, missing just twice outside of 30 yards, and he was 43 of 45 on PATs. Keller was a second team defensive lineman who was fifth on the team as a junior with 49 tackles and Higgins earned honorable mention as a sophomore tight end. He caught 20 passes from 346 yards and two touchdowns.
Key Losses: The Mavericks will have to replace second team all-MIAA quarterback Zach Miller. The senior passed for 137.1 yards a game while averaging 96.5 yards rushing. The threw 11 touchdown passes and ran in 18 himself. Also gone will be senior tailback Brian McNeill, the team's leading rusher with 131.4 yards a game and an All-Super Region 4 pick. The Mavs also lose their leading two receivers in Troy Kush and Keith Eloi who combined for 62 catches, nearly 700 yards and four touchdowns On defense, Jeff Souder, Jacob Skow, Garrett Friesen and Jacob Chandler all move on. Souder and Skow led the team in tackles last year with a combined 143 stops. Souder was first team all-MIAA and Skow was honorable mention. Friesen had 49 tackles and Chandler had 42 while playing in just nine games because of injury.
The Media: Nebraska-Omaha's spring practices are open to the media and the general public. Members of the media may conduct interviews with players or coaches 15 minutes prior to each scheduled practice time or by request through the UNO athletic media relations office.
Tuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
