It took some heavy lifters.

From the Husker athletic director to the NU president, with an important assist from associate athletic director for academics Dennis LeBlanc, it was not the easiest assignment to move Nebraska football practices in the fall from the afternoon to the morning.

“A lot had to be done,” Nebraska associate athletic director for football Matt Davison told Husker247 this past week. “A lot of people put a lot of work into making it work for us.”

They got it accomplished.

Space has been made for the Huskers to get their practice work done up until at least 11:30 each morning of the week this fall, a shift from the past when Nebraska would usually have a window arranged from the mid-afternoon to early evening for practices.

“I knew it was something that was top priority for Scott when he got here,” Davison said. “He really believes in it. And I think the success that he’s had at other programs should show that there are benefits to it.”

It was something that was used to great success by Oregon when Frost was an assistant there, and he used the same schedule while building up Central Florida the past two years.

As Frost shared during the spring, he’d have his UCF teams practice hard during the season on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. By the time players walked off the field on 11 a.m. on Wednesdays, “the hay is in the barn and the work is done.”

Frost further explained what he saw as the advantage of that.

"That really helps us recover, prepare, and then re-energize the guys so that we're fresh and ready for football games,” he said.

The Huskers got used to getting up early in the spring, with practices kicking off over the 6 o’clock hour on certain days.

Early-morning workouts have also been a constant for players under the direction of NU football strength coach Zach Duval.

"I could talk for an hour about why I think that's better,” Frost said in March. "It's great physiologically to get out of bed and to get moving. Our kids are going to be able to do that. I think you're at your best, and highest testosterone-point in the morning, so we'll get more out of them in the morning.”

Frost even noted that early practices could help the Huskers some as students. He recalled being a student-athlete himself, and how you could be tempted to sleep in and miss a class.

"But kids aren't going to miss workouts or practices,” Frost said. “If you know you have a hard practice the next day, you're not going to be doing too many dumb things the night before. So it keeps us out of trouble that way, too."

So the move has been made.

A move that Davison made clear never happens without some major help by NU president Hank Bounds, athletic director Bill Moos and LeBlanc, among others.

“It was really important to get it done,” Davison said. “Nebraska as a university, not just athletics, but the university as a whole had to do a lot of things to help us with that. And it did. I think it’s going to be really beneficial to our players.”