[Husker] Possible impact players (recruiting related)

[Alan Siporin]

> On 2/6/2005 at 11:22 AM HuskersNY at aol.com wrote:
> 
>> I hate to ask stupid questions, but I've failed at figuring this one  out
>> on 
>> my own.  Can someone please explain to me about Mike and Will
>> Linebackers?  
>> When did they get these names?  Why?  How do they  differ from linebackers
>> of, 
>> say, 5 years ago?  thanks!
> 

I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure this goes back to when Osborne was
still coach. Many programs use the same terminology. I think football people
don't like using the term "weak" to describe a position. So it began with
the weakside linebacker, also referred to as the weak linebacker, becoming
will linebacker. Then, to be consistent, the strongside and middle changed
to sam and mike. As was stated by Bob Beach, the first letter determined the
names.