LINCOLN — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini was not thrilled Tuesday with the Huskers' first of four workouts this week as they began the busiest period of Holiday Bowl practice before NU departs for San Diego.

“It was a decent practice,” Pelini said. “It was decent tempo. Nothing great. I'd say it was pretty average.”

The Huskers, taking final exams this week, go back to work at the Hawks Center this afternoon, followed by practices Friday and Saturday. They'll then disperse before returning to Lincoln Dec. 24.

Pelini said NU plans to use this week to install its game plan for the Dec. 30 meeting with Arizona. Three practices in California will be used for review.

“This is an important week of practice,” he said. ‘Real important, obviously. We've got to make use of all the time we have to practice.”

He said the Nebraska coaches plan to “mix in” recruiting business late this week.

Wildcats look familiar

The Wildcats (8-4), ranked No. 22 by the Associated Press, look similar in some ways to a few of this year's Nebraska opponents, Pelini said.

“They don't re-create the wheel, if that's what you mean,” the second-year coach said.

As for the Huskers, he said, there's “no change” in the works at quarterback after Zac Lee failed to lead Nebraska to a touchdown in its 13-12 loss to Texas in the Big 12 championship game.

Is NU looking to do anything differently on offense in San Diego?

“We're always looking to tweak the offense a little bit,” Pelini said. “We'll be ready to go.”

Brace slows Brown

Nebraska tight ends coach Ron Brown was fitted with a full neck brace during practice Tuesday at the Hawks Center.

Brown said that he underwent neck surgery last week in Omaha for an old injury and that he'll wear the brace for three to four weeks.

It restricts his typically frenetic pace. Brown, 53, usually puts himself through a workout as the Huskers practice. Not this month, though.

He said he's seeking self control and wisdom to avoid another injury.

“I've got to control myself,” he said. “The players, when they see this big thing, they try to stay away.”

Gill ‘validated'

Brown, a longtime friend and mentor to Turner Gill, said he was “very pleased” with Gill's landing of the head-coaching job at Kansas.

“It's something I know he's been looking forward to for a long time,” Brown said, “but I don't think it validates him as a coach. I think he's already been validated. He was a great assistant coach. I think he was a great head coach at Buffalo.

A man is measured by how he handles adversity, Brown said.

“His character was revealed in some tough times, not only in the fact that Buffalo had to get things turned around, but it was tough to keep that process going. He had a difficult assignment, and with God's help, he was able to do something that very few coaches could get done.”

Brown said he had no plans to join Gill at KU.

“This is where I'm at, right here at Nebraska,” Brown said. “For me, it's not just about coaching football, it's about a whole state. Whatever the Lord wants, that's what I do.”

Suh’s return

Nobody had to remind Larry Asante that Nebraska’s talented defensive tackle returned to the practice field Tuesday.

Senior Ndamukong Suh, whose weeklong, award-filled tour across the country ended Sunday, was back in pads working with the Huskers for the first time since the Big 12 title game.

Asante could tell the difference Tuesday as soon as he dropped back in coverage. Suh doesn’t make things easy on quarterbacks, Asante said, even in practice.

“We don’t have to cover that long,” Asante said. “He’s always constantly applying pressure. There were a lot of plays that were cut short today because he was applying pressure.”

Just like his work ethic, Suh’s general personality hasn’t changed either, despite all of the extra attention recently, according to receiver Brandon Kinnie.

“Suh’s still the same Suh — still the funny, goofy dude in the locker room,” Kinnie said. “Same dude.”

— Mitch Sherman and Jon Nyatawa

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