It’s only a day away. Nebraska opens the 2011 season on the gridiron tomorrow afternoon to host the Chattanooga Mocs. With young talent all over the field and a new offensive scheme, there’s a lot that’s uncertain about these Huskers. But head coach Bo Pelini says that the fall practices were promising, and now it’s time to show what they’re capable of on the field. “I think they did pretty good considering we didn’t really hold a lot back,” Pelini said. “Obviously, it’s different on each side of the football, but I thought our guys responded well. That’s the key, once it gets to Saturday is seeing how they respond once the lights come on. It’s one thing to do it in practice and execute what we’re asking them to do, it’s another thing to take the little adjustments you make, the little intricacies of what happens in a game plan, and putting them to work on Saturday. That’s what we’re looking forward to seeing.” Kickoff at Memorial Stadium is scheduled for 2:30. The game will be televised statewide on the Big Ten Network.

The Nebraska volleyball team suffered a loss yesterday when they learned that junior middle blocker Allison McNeal would miss the entire season due to a medical condition that has not been disclosed. McNeal started 17 games for the Huskers last season but did not play in the team’s season opening matches last weekend and had not been practicing with the team prior to that. The Huskers play at 15th ranked Colorado State on Friday.

The Colorado Rockies couldn’t avoid the sweep in Phoenix, losing 4-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the final game of their three-game series. The Rockies fell behind almost immediately as Miguel Montero’s three-run home run put the D-Backs ahead in the first inning. The Rockies pulled single runs back in the second on Eliezer Alfonzo’s RBI single and the third on Dexter Fowler’s second solo home run in as many nights, but would do no further offensive damage. Esmil Rogers allowed four runs on seven hits in his six innings of work to take the loss. The Rockies are off tomorrow before heading to San Diego to conclude their nine-game Western road trip with three games against the Padres. Kevin Millwood is scheduled to start game one at Petco Park against San Diego’s Aaron Harang.

Nebraska’s baseball program received an in-state commitment for its recruiting class of 2013. Brayden Young, a junior at Lincoln Southwest High School, gave his verbal pledge to Darin Erstad’s program yesterday. Young was a second-team Super State selection as a pitcher by the Lincoln Journal-Star as a sophomore, and also played shortstop for the Silverhawks.