LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Coach Bo Pelini cradled a cat in his arms as he walked out of the tunnel and raised it over his head like that scene from the "Lion King."

No, spring games at Nebraska aren't like those strictly business affairs of yesteryear where Tom Osborne would run play after play to give even the players on the lowest unit a chance to shine in front of a big crowd.

The cat - a nod to the avatar on a popular Pelini parody Twitter account - was just a start to the diversions in front of 61,772 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Pelini challenged receiver Kenny Bell to a throwing contest. Cheerleaders helped call offensive and defensive plays for a series. A former player proposed to his girlfriend during a punt, pass and kick competition.