[ ♪ >> [ DRUM ROLL ] >> HI, EVERYONE, I'M MIKE'L SEVERE AND WELCOME TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP" ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

IT IS YEAR FOUR WITH SCOTT FROST AND HE KICKS OFF WITH A CONFERENCE MATCH-UP.

THAT SHOULD BE A FUN ONE.

JOINING ME TONIGHT, FORMER HUSKER, JAY MOORE, SEAN CALLAHAN FROM "RIVALS."

OPENING UP WITH THE CONFERENCE GAME, HOW DOES IT CHANGE PRACTICE, YOU THINK, OPPOSED TO PLAYING - I DON'T KNOW, ARKANSAS STATE, LOUISIANA TECH -- >> YEAH, I -- >> NO OFFENSE TO THOSE SCHOOLS.

>> NO, ZERO OFFENSE, RIGHT.

IT DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING FOR ME, BECAUSE YOU WERE SO READY TO PLAY THAT FIRST OPPONENT.

IT DIDN'T MATTER.

YOU WERE SO TIRED OF GOING AGAINST THE FIRST OFFENSE, THE SECOND OFFENSE, AS A DEFENSIVE PLAYER, THAT YOU WERE JUST LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO HIT OTHER THAN IN A RED AND WHITE UNIFORM, RIGHT?

SO, YOU - YOU'RE KEYED IN AND HONESTLY IT WAS ALMOST MORE OF A - FOR ME - IT WAS ALMOST MORE OF A LETDOWN FOR THE SECOND GAME BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH BUILD-UP FOR THAT FIRST ONE THAT YOU'RE SO EXCITED THAT YOU'RE - YOU KNOW, THAT YOU - ALL THROUGH SUMMER - YOU'RE, AGAIN, SPRING BALL.

YOU HAVE SUMMER CONDITIONING, AND YOU FINALLY - YOU GET THROUGH FALL CAMP AND YOU'RE LIKE, "OKAY, HERE WE GO."

AND IT'S THAT BUILD-UP, YOU KNOW?

IT'S A FALL SATURDAY.

THE FIRST GAME IN MEMORIAL STADIUM IS, I MEAN, IS NOT - ISN'T LIKE ANYTHING ELSE AND SO YOU HAVE THAT BUILD-UP AND YOU FINALLY GET THERE AND YOU'RE LIKE, MAN, YOU DIDN'T CARE WHO IT WAS.

I MEAN, WE COULD HAVE BEEN PLAYING, YOU KNOW, LINCOLN EAST HIGH SCHOOL - YOU'RE - YOU'RE - YOU'RE GEEKED UP TO PLAY.

SO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO BE READY TO PLAY AND JUST THE FACT THAT IT'S - IT'S - YOU'RE NOT PLAYING A LOUISIANA TECH, AN ARKANSAS STATE, A FLORIDA ATLANTIC AND, YOU KNOW, AN AKRON, OR WHOEVER IT MAY BE, AND YOU'RE PLAYING A GOOD FOOTBALL TEAM WHO BEAT YOU LAST YEAR, AND WHO YOU'VE KIND OF STRUGGLED WITH IN THE BIG TEN.

SO, I THINK THERE - IT'S - IT'S - IT'S A NICE TEST.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR SOME OF THESE COACHES AND, UH, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS AND IT'S YOUR FOUR, THEY BETTER BE BUCKLED UP AND READY TO GO.

>> I HAD SOMEONE ASK ME, "SEAN, WHY YOU GUYS MAKING THIS GAME TO BE SUCH A BIG DEAL?"

THE COACHES HAVE.

THE PLAYERS.

CAM TAYLOR-BRITT SAID, "I WANT THIS BAD.

THIS IS A BIG GAME, NOT JUST IN THE MEDIA, BUT FOR THIS TEAM AND THE STAFF."

>> YEAH, AND THE BIG PICTURE OF THE SEASON, AND THE SCHEDULE, THIS IS THE ROUTE THAT GETS THIS SEASON ON TRACK - WIN AT ILLINOIS.

THEN, YOU HAVE TWO HOME GAMES WITH FORDHAM AND BUFFALO WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEAVILY FAVORED.

THEN, YOU GO TO OKLAHOMA.

AS WE KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH DEAL, BUT YOU'VE GOT MICHIGAN STATE, WHO'S PICKED SEVEN IN THE EAST, AND YOU'VE GOT NORTHWESTERN WHO JUST LOST THEIR BEST PLAYER AND ALREADY HE'S DOWN 18 STARTERS FROM A YEAR AGO.

>> ONLY 38% COMING BACK IN PRODUCTION.

>> SO, YOU JUST LOOK AT THE FIRST SIX GAMES.

YOU KNOW, 5-1 IS A THOUGHT RIGHT NOW -- >> SURE -- >> AND, YOU CAN'T GET THERE, THOUGH WITHOUT BEATING ILLINOIS AND KIND OF GETTING THESE GOING, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT A LOSS WOULD DO AROUND THIS PLACE.

HOW NEGATIVE, TALK RADIO, MESSAGE BOARDS, TWITTER - I MEAN, IT WOULD BE UGLY.

AND, CAN THIS TEAM WEATHER THAT KIND OF EARLY BEATING IN AUGUST AND STILL KEEP THEIR COMPOSURE THE REST OF THE WAY?

>> YEAH, THE SCHEDULE'S UP RIGHT NOW AND AS YOU SAID, NEBRASKA HAS NOT WON THREE IN A ROW UNDER SCOTT FROST.

MY QUESTION IS, CAN THEY WIN THREE IN A ROW TWICE?

BECAUSE THEY START OFF WITH THE THREE, I BELIEVE WE CAN.

MICHIGAN STATE, YOU MENTIONED WHERE THEY ARE.

NORTHWESTERN'S DOWN, AND YOU GET A MICHIGAN TEAM, HEY, THEY COULD BE A MESS BY THAT POINT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CRUCIAL SEASON, AS WELL.

THAT COULD BE BACK-TO-BACK THREE WINS SURROUNDING OKLAHOMA.

>> YEAH, THERE'S A LOT THERE AND MINNESOTA, AS WE KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY TOUGH GAME.

THEY RETURN AS MANY STARTERS AS ANYBODY.

IT THINK THEY'RE THE SLEEPER PROBABLY, IN THE WEST, NOT GETTING AS MUCH PLAY JUST BECAUSE THEIR SEASON WAS SO HARD TO READ BUT MO IBRAHIM'S BACK AT RUNNING BACK.

TANNER MORGAN'S BACK.

I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT A LOT TO WORK WITH.

>> HUGE OFFENSIVE LINE, AS WELL.

WE HAVE LOTS TO TALK TO TONIGHT.

WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF IT, AS WELL.

YOU CAN TEXT OR EMAIL US YOUR COMMENTS, OR QUESTIONS, TO BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

WE ALSO ARE MONITORING THE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

SEND YOUR THOUGHTS TO THE "BIG RED WRAP-UP" FACEBOOK PAGE, OR TWITTER ACCOUNT AND WE'LL ANSWER AS MANY OF THE QUESTIONS AS WE CAN TONIGHT.

ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO HEAD OVER TO OUR WEBSITE AND DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THE "2021 NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE" POSTER.

YOU CAN PRINT THESE OFF FOR YOUR HOME OR YOUR OFFICE AND KEEP THEM UP TO DATE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON ON YOUR HUSKER FOOTBALL SCORES.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING A LOT OF THOSE WINS THIS YEAR.

AND, OF COURSE, OUR "SIDELINES SURVEY."

IT'S BACK AND READY FOR YOUR VOTE TONIGHT.

I THINK IT'S A PRETTY EASY QUESTION, DOES NEBRASKA HAVE TO WIN THEIR FIRST GAME AGAINST ILLINOIS TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SEASON?"

ONLY TWO POSSIBLE CHOICES, "YES" OR "NO" AND "YES" RIGHT NOW IS LEANING 87 TO 13.

AND, BY THE WAY, THAT IS THE CORRECT ANSWER.

CHECK EACH WEEK FOR OUR BRAND NEW SURVEY.

IT'S THAT IMPORTANT, RIGHT?

I MEAN, HONESTLY, IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW MANY WINS, THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN NOT JUST THE ONE WIN, BUT IT'S MAYBE A TWO OR THREE-DIFFERENT WIN, I THINK.

>> WELL, YEAH, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

WE JUST WENT THROUGH THAT SCHEDULE AND SIGN ME UP RIGHT NOW FOR 6-1 FOR THE FIRST SEVEN GAMES, LIKE, I'LL TAKE THAT ALL DAY EVERY DAY.

AND, IT COMES DOWN TO CAN - CAN THEY BEAT THE TEAMS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BEAT, AND THEY HAVEN'T -- THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE GOT TO REALIZE.

CAN THEY DO THE LITTLE THINGS?

CAN THEY LIMIT THE PENALTIES, LIMIT THE TURNOVERS?

CAN THEY GET 11 GUYS ON SPECIAL TEAMS AT TIMES?

CAN THEY NOT CALL TIME OUTS COMING OUT OF A TV TIMEOUT OR AT HALFTIME, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THE TIME TO CALL A PLAY OFFENSIVELY?

CAN THEY JUST GET OVER THESE LITTLE THINGS AND GET OVER THIS HUMP?

THEY GOT THE - THE TALENT IS NOT, TO ME, IS NOT AT ISSUE.

>> NOT ANYMORE.

>> THE SIZE TO ME IS NOT AN ISSUE ANYMORE.

THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE.

>> NOT ANYMORE.

>> IT'S FINALLY TIME TO REALIZE THE OPPORTUNITY AND JUST START PLAYING SOME GOOD FOOTBALL.

THE EXCUSES ARE DONE, TO ME.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS, AND THE LITTLE THINGS ARE HARD.

THAT'S HARD.

CAN YOU DO THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY?

CAN YOU ACCEPT THE PROCESS, ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY?

AND, THAT STARTS FROM TOP/BOTTOM.

THAT STARTS WITH SCOTT.

THAT STARTS WITH HIS ASSISTANTS.

THAT STARTS WITH THE CAPTAINS THAT JUST WERE ANNOUNCED?

THAT'S EVERYONE.

CAN YOU ACCEPT TO DO THE LITTLE THINGS?

THAT'S GOING TO CLASS.

THAT'S STEPPING WITH THE RIGHT FOOT.

THAT'S, YOU KNOW, LINING UP ON THE RIGHT HASH MARK, OR IN RELATION TO THE HASH MARK FOR WIDE RECEIVER.

THOSE LITTLE THINGS MATTER, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'VE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL AND TRYING TO GET TO A 7-5, 8-4 SEASON, SO YOU CAN PLAY IN JANUARY.

I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN A WHILE, SO -- >> WIN BETWEEN MONDAY AND FRIDAY.

>> A THOUSAND PERCENT.

>> WIN FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY -- >> A THOUSAND PERCENT.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO ACCEPT, YOU KNOW.

IT'S - YOU CAN - YOU CAN DO THOSE LITTLE THINGS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY - IT BECOMES A LOT EASIER ON SATURDAY.

BUT, CAN - DO THEY HAVE MATURITY?

AND, I THINK THEY DO.

THAT'S ONE THING I DO LIKE ABOUT THIS TEAM IS, THIS TEAM IS GETTING OLDER AND I THINK THAT THERE IS SOMETHING TO THAT.

BUT AGAIN, I'M TOTALLY IN "WAIT AND SEE" MODE.

BECAUSE, I'VE - YOU'VE BEEN TOLD A LOT OF THINGS -- >> AND BURNED.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> PLENTY OF TIMES.

>> YEAH, I'VE - I'VE DRANKEN THAT KOOL-AID TOO MANY TIMES AND HAD TO SPIT IT OUT BECAUSE IT WASN'T ANY GOOD.

>> THIS WAS A GOOD CAMP, THOUGHT, RIGHT?

DESPITE THE LAST PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY WHERE THERE WERE SOME TENSIONS, BUT FOR THE MOST PART EVERYTHING YOU'VE HEARD - BEEN A GOOD CAMP.

>> OH, YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT THIS TEAM, AND ADRIAN'S DIFFERENT.

I MEAN, HE'S WIRED DIFFERENTLY.

HE'S EXPERIENCED THE BEST OF NEBRASKA AND THE WORST OF NEBRASKA.

I THINK HE'S NOW READY FOR THIS YEAR - MAYBE THE FINAL CHAPTER FOR HIM.

AND, THE RUNNING BACK.

WE THINK THERE'S AT LEAST THREE QUALITY BACKS.

THE TIGHT END -- VOKOLEK'S PROBABLY OUT, BUT AUSTIN ALLEN'S AN NFL GUY.

THE O LINE, I THINK'S STILL A QUESTION, BUT THE MATERIAL IS THERE.

AND THEN, THE RECEIVER POSITION IS THE MOST IMPROVED ON THE TEAM RIGHT NOW, TOP TO BOTTOM.

AND SO -- >> ON PAPER.

>> ON PAPER.

ON PAPER.

AND, YOU JUST LOOK AT THIS GROUP AND IT'S ALL THERE.

I MEAN, IT'S THE DETAILS, IT'S AS JAY SAID.

THE LITTLE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE THE TALENT GAP, OTHER THAN MAYBE OKLAHOMA AND OHIO STATE, THE OTHER 10 GAMES, THERE'S NOT A SIGNIFICANT TALENT GAP FOR NEBRASKA.

>> THE FEELING YOU HAVE WHEN IT IS - AND I KNOW ADRIAN COULD COME BACK BUT WHEN YOU - AT LEAST YOU THINK IT'S YOUR FINAL SEASON, WHAT'S THAT FEELING LIKE OF - I'M NOT GOING TO SAY "DESPERATION," BUT IT'S YOUR LAST CHANCE TO HAVE A SEASON WHERE YOU'RE WEARING THIS UNIFORM.

>> BETTER GO OUT SWINGING.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU'D BETTER TAKE YOUR SHOTS -- >> HE SAID THAT TO US.

>> BETTER TAKE YOUR SHOTS AND COMMIT AND TRUST IT, AND TRUST WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TAUGHT OVER THESE FOUR YEARS AND TRUST WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED, AND JUST FULLY COMMIT TO IT.

AND, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING ELSE.

I WISH I HAD A BETTER SCENARIO, BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO - GOT TO COMMIT TO IT AND TRUST IT AND KNOW THAT EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO PREPARE, THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH, AND DON'T SECOND-GUESS YOURSELF.

DON'T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF IF YOU DO MAKE A MISTAKE.

YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES.

YOU'RE A QUARTERBACK AND YOU'RE - YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A BAD THROW OR A TIPPED BALL HERE OR THERE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

THE BIGGEST THING IS WHEN THOSE MISTAKES HAPPEN, DON'T GET TOO DOWN ON YOURSELF.

>> RIGHT.

>> DON'T POUT.

GO MOVE ON AND - AND - AND DO BETTER NEXT TIME.

>> IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE A '27 TEAM MAKENZIE MILTON SEASON WHERE HE BASICALLY MADE ZERO MISTAKES THE WHOLE SEASON - HAD ZERO FUMBLES.

MOST DON'T HAPPEN.

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THE NCAA INVESTIGATION AFFECTS THE TEAM AT ALL AND AFFECTS THE COACHING STAFF?

>> I DON'T THINK IT HAS MUCH AT ALL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S LIKE IT JUST HAPPENED WHEN THE BRETT MCMURPHY STORY WENT OUT AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ANALYST.

TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE'S UP TO 12 TEAMS RIGHT NOW IN THE NCAA BEING LOOKED AT FOR THE EXACT SAME THING, SO I THINK IT'S BIGGER IN OUR WORLD AND THE MEDIA, AND THE FANS, AND MESSAGE BOARDS, BUT THE PLAYERS - YOU KNOW, I ASKED A COUPLE GUYS -- >> IT'S A SECONDARY VIOLATION.

>> YEAH, IT - YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE A LOSSAGE OF HOURS.

IT MIGHT BE A LOSS OF -- >> OR MAYBE A VISIT.

>> A VISIT, YEAH - TRIP.

SO, I DON'T REALLY THINK IT MAT - AND, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THINGS IN THAT REPORT, THEY'RE NOT BEING INVESTIGATED RIGHT NOW.

AND SO, UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET TOO WORKED UP RIGHT NOW.

>> HOW ABOUT THE THIRD PART OF THAT STORY BY BRETT MCMURPHY ABOUT OKLAHOMA AND MAYBE SCOTT FROST BEING THE ONE THAT LED THAT?

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THAT AFFECTS THE FEELING OF THE TEAM GOING INTO THE SEASON?

>> I DON'T THINK IT AFFECTS MUCH.

I DON'T THINK -- AS A PLAYER, YOU HEAR THESE INVESTIGATIONS AND I WAS ASKED ON JUST DOING SOME OTHER RADIO SHOWS, YOU ARE SO FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

I MEAN, THEY'RE STARTING CLASSES THIS WEEK.

YOU GOT SO MUCH TO WORRY ABOUT - YOU ARE NOT WORRYING ABOUT WHAT'S KIND OF GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES SOMETIMES.

I MEAN, ONCE YOU GET AWAY FROM THE FOOTBALL - THE FOOTBALL FACILITY - I MEAN, YOU JUST WANT TO GO PLAY SOME VIDEO GAMES, GO LIKE HANG OUT, LIKE, YOU KNOW - WATCH SOME TV.

LIKE, YOU AREN'T WORRIED ABOUT THAT STUFF.

YOU JUST WANT TO HAVE SOME PEACE AND QUIET TO YOURSELF AND JUST MAYBE TALK - YOU KNOW, HANG OUT WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND, OR WHATEVER MAN, AND JUST HANG OUT WITH SOME HIGH SCHOOL BUDDIES.

SO, I DON'T THINK - I DON'T THINK ANY OF THAT STUFF IS, YOU KNOW - I WOULD IMAGINE THEY'RE GLAD THEY'RE PLAYING, LIKE, HEY GET A SHOT OF THEM, MAN.

LET'S ROLL THE DICE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO DOWN IN NORMAN.

>> SEAN, NOW WHAT ABOUT IN TERMS OF YOUR FEEL FOR IT, BECAUSE IT IS - IT DOES MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU'RE AFRAID - LIKE, IF YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THE GAME, YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT GAME, SO YOU THINK ABOUT CHANGING IT.

DO YOU THINK THAT HAS ANY EFFECT AT ALL ON IF THIS DOESN'T GO WELL, WE TALK ABOUT HOT SEAT-- IF THIS SEASON DOESN'T GO WELL, YOU DON'T THINK THEY'LL BRING UP THE OKLAHOMA THING?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT OKLAHOMA MOMENT, IF IT DOESN'T GO WELL AND THAT'S THE MOMENT WHERE IT FALLS OUT FOR, YOU KNOW - WHICH IT COULD BE.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

YEAH, THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING YOU LOOK BACK ON AND JUST HOW THAT - YOU KNOW, THE "NO FEAR OF FAILURE" MENTALITY THAT YOU CAME WITH AND THEN YOU FEARED FAILURE AT OKLAHOMA, AND THEN IT HAPPENED, AND YOUR TEAM SENSED THAT, YEAH, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT, WHAT 2018 WAS AND WHAT WE'RE AT NOW.

THAT IS SOMETHING TO, I THINK, REFLECT BACK ON.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT IS THE NATIONAL MEDIA SEES THIS DIFFERENT THAN US.

WE'RE AROUND IT EVERY DAY.

THEY TALK ABOUT THE HOT SEAT CONSTANTLY AND WHAT - I THINK SCOTT FROST WAS LISTED AS NUMBER TWO OR THREE ON THE HOT SEAT.

IS THAT YOUR FEEL?

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT?

YEAR FOUR THAT HE'S ON THE HOT SEAT?

>> YES AND NO.

I THINK...IF THE SEASON WENT SIDEWAYS AND THEY GO 5-7, I THINK HE'S STILL BACK.

IN MY OPINION, I STILL THINK HE'S BACK.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE'S A WAY WHERE HE'S NOT BACK?

WOULD THAT REQUIRE A 2-10?

>> MAYBE.

YEAH, I'D - PROBABLY.

I'D - LISTEN, I - THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY MY ONLY - IT WOULD HAVE TO BE UGLY.

LIKE, YOU'D HAVE TO BE REALLY, REALLY -- >> DISASTROUS.

>> DISASTROUS, IN MY OPINION.

>> WELL, THE CLIMATE THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW WITH FINANCES, I JUST DON'T KNOW, LIKE, IF ANY SOUND NEBRASKAN'S GOING TO BE LIKE, "THIS IS WORTH --," YOU KNOW, I MEAN, LIKE - I MEAN, TO JUST COME UP WITH $20-PLUS MILLION TO MAKE ANOTHER CHANGE, AND THEN I - I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THE DAMAGE IN THE ROSTER AND THE PORTAL IF YOU DID A CHANGE AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE PORTAL THE WAY IT IS NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE GUYS AGAIN AND THEN YOU MAY NEVER KNOW IF YOU GET BACK, SO I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT'S GOT TO BE SO OBVIOUS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WHEN YOU MAKE A DECISION LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS PORTAL ERA.

>> 2007 KIND OF THING, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> KIND OF FALL APART.

>> YEAH, KIND OF LIKE THAT.

>> AND, WHERE DO YOU GO?

WHO'S OUT THERE?

>> I DON'T - I'M NOT A HUGE FAN OF, "IF NOT HIM, WHO?"

BUT, BECAUSE -- >> BUT - BUT, THERE'S ALWAYS A GUY.

WE HAVE SHORTNESS OF FIELD.

>> WE'VE - WE'VE - THERE'S GOING TO BE - I THINK WE'VE JUST GOTTEN TO A POINT NOW, WE'VE GONE DOWN THIS ROAD SO MANY TIMES.

>> YEAH.

>> WHETHER IT WAS WITH COACH CALLAHAN, MIKE RILEY - EXCUSE ME, COACH CALLAHAN, BOTH PLAYING WITH MIKE RILEY NOW WE HAVE - LET'S - I THINK -- >> LET IT RIDE OUT.

>> LET IT RIDE OUT.

LET SCOTT FINALLY LEARN - GO THROUGH THIS.

GO THROUGH SOME HICCUPS, MAN, AND IF YOU'VE GONE OBVIOUSLY ENOUGH - I KNOW WE'VE GOT TO BE MORE PATIENT BUT LET HIM WORK THROUGH THIS THING AND TRY TO GET IT GOING, AND YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE HIM SOME TIME.

>> I ALWAYS SAY GARY PINKEL.

JUST KEEP WAITING.

HE EVENTUALLY GOT IT TURNED AROUND.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING BY BRINGING IN THE ATHLETICS MITCH SHERMAN JOINING US.

HEY, MITCH, THANKS FOR JOINING US MAN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YEAH, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> SO, YOU COVER IT BOTH WAYS.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU WORK FOR A NATIONAL PUBLICATION, BUT YOU COVER IT LOCALLY.

DO YOU FEEL THAT SCOTT FROST IS ON A HOT SEAT?

OR, CLOSE TO THE HOT SEAT?

>> NOT TODAY, NO.

I THINK IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DEFINE THAT AND AS I LOOK AT IT RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT FOR NEBRASKA, FOR SCOTT FROST.

HE'S GOT A SEASON IN FRONT OF HIM THAT HAS A LOT OF IMPORTANCE.

I AGREE WITH WHAT JAY AND SEAN WERE SAYING BEFORE I CAME ON.

THIS IS A EXTREMELY IMPORTANT GAME ON SATURDAY.

IT'S A CRITICAL SEASON FOR SCOTT FROST AND FOR NEBRASKA FOOTBALL, BUT I BELIEVE THE TIME THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW MAKES SOME OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES DIFFERENT IN COMPARISON TO, SAY, THE DECISION TO BE MADE IN 2007 ABOUT BILL CALLAHAN, OR THE DECISION 10 YEARS LATER ABOUT MIKE RILEY.

LOOK, NEBRASKA HAS TRIED THAT ROAD.

IT HAS GONE DOWN THAT PATH TO MAKE CHANGES AFTER FOUR YEARS OR, IN THE CASE OF RILEY, AFTER THREE YEARS, AND THE RESULTS HAVE - HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD IN THE TRANSITION WITH THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THAT IT DOES TO THE ROSTER.

I THINK THAT WOULD ONLY BE INCREASED IN THIS CLIMATE TODAY WHERE IT'S SO EASY TO TRANSFER.

COACHING CHANGES ARE GOING TO DECIMATE ROSTERS FOR PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN MORE STABLE POSITION THAN WHAT YOU SEE WITH NEBRASKA RIGHT NOW.

SO, IT'S - IT'S GOT TO BE, AS YOU GUYS PUT IT, A DISASTROUS SITUATION TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THIS MOMENT - NOT TO MENTION THAT NEBRASKA'S IN THE EARLY STAGES OF BUILDING A FACILITY NEXT TO MEMORIAL STADIUM.

IT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE, THE LARGEST BUILDING THAT'S EVER BEEN CONSTRUCTED BY THIS ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AND IT IS THE VISION OF SCOTT FROST.

IT IS WHAT HE WANTED FOR HIS PROGRAM FROM THE DAY THAT HE CAME TO LINCOLN.

SO, LET HIM WORK IN THAT.

LET HIM HAVE THAT AND SEE WHERE -- WHERE THINGS GO FROM THERE.

>> MITCH, WHAT DID THE, IF ANYTHING, WHAT DID THAT MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE TELL YOU ABOUT THE FEEL GOING INTO GAME WEEK BASED OFF OF WHAT YOU HEARD FROM SCOTT FROST?

>> WELL, WE DIDN'T HEAR A LOT FROM SCOTT FROST.

I DO THINK THAT HE HAS SAID ALL THERE IS TO SAY TO THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO TRY TO OVER-ANALYZE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE SAW.

HE WAS SHORT - HE WASN'T ALL THAT INSIGHTFUL WITH THE ANSWERS THAT HE GAVE.

SEEN THAT AT TIMES FROM COACHES AFTER GAMES, AND YOU CAN GET INTO TROUBLE BY TRYING TO READ TOO MUCH INTO IT.

HIS PLAYERS ARE - WERE INSIGHTFUL THIS WEEK.

HIS ASSISTANT COACHES OFFERED A LOT WHEN THE QUESTIONS WERE ASKED, SO FROM THE STANDPOINT OF US DOING OUR JOBS, THIS IS FINE.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF ACCESS TO PLAYERS AND COACHES AT NEBRASKA IN COMPARISON TO THE WAY IT IS AT OTHER PLACES.

I DON'T EXPECT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH SCOTT.

HE WASN'T IN THE MOOD TO GIVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ON MONDAY.

THAT WAS AN ABNORMAL PRESS CONFERENCE IN COMPARISON TO WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN WEEK AFTER WEEK AND YEAR AFTER YEAR.

I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE A CORRELATION BETWEEN THAT AND MUCH ELSE THAT'S HAPPENED THIS AUGUST, SO WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE.

HE'S GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS AGAIN ON THURSDAY - AGAIN ON SATURDAY AFTER THE GAME - AGAIN NEXT MONDAY, SO MANY MORE CHANCES TO TALK TO HIM AND GET THAT INSIGHT THAT WE PROBABLY DID NOT GET ON MONDAY.

>> MITCH, JUST THIS GAME IN GENERAL, THOUGH, WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITY COULD IT BE FOR NEBRASKA, BEING REALLY THE FIRST COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE SEASON, ON NATIONAL TV, POWER FIVE ON POWER FIVE?

I MEAN, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, YOU WOULD THINK, TO MAYBE CHANGE SOME OPINIONS PRETTY QUICKLY FOR FROST AND NEBRASKA.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE ON THE BIG STAGE AND I DO THINK THAT THERE WILL BE A LOT OF EYES ON NEBRASKA.

I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WERE CURIOUS ABOUT THIS - THE STATE OF THIS PROGRAM AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE HEARD - AND, GENERALLY, THE HEADLINES FOR NEBRASKA THIS OFF-SEASON THAT HAVE - THAT HAVE REACHED A NATIONAL LEVEL HAVEN'T BEEN FOR POSITIVE REASONS.

YOU GUYS REFERENCED THE OKLAHOMA SITUATION IN MARCH.

THERE WAS THE - THE NEWS LAST WEEK OF THE NCAA INVESTIGATION.

THESE ARE NOT THINGS THAT REPRESENT NEBRASKA IN A GREAT LIGHT, SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NEBRASKA ON A BIG STAGE, PLAYING AT NOON IN WEEK ZERO, BIGGEST GAME OF THE DAY, TO GO OUT AND PUT ITS BEST FOOT FORWARD AND - AND SHOW PEOPLE THAT THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS MADE IN - IN THE LEAD-UP TO THIS SPORTS SEASON FOR SCOTT FROST.

SO, IT'S BIG FROM THAT STANDPOINT AND, OF COURSE, IT'S HUGE FOR NEBRASKA TO SET THE TONE AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE 3-0 ON SEPTEMBER 18, AND THEN AGAIN BE BACK ON THE NATIONAL STAGE IN A GAME THAT - THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS SIGNIFICANCE TO THIS SEASON, BUT MORE SIGNIFICANCE HISTORICALLY BECAUSE IT'S THE RENEWAL OF THAT GREAT NEBRASKA/OKLAHOMA RIVALRY.

>> SPEAKING OF HISTORY, MITCH, AND WE TALK, OBVIOUSLY, ABOUT WINS AND LOSSES, BUT ADRIAN MARTINEZ HAS A CHANCE TO PUT HIMSELF IN SOME LOFTY PLACES IN THIS RECORD BOOK IF HE HAS A REALLY GOOD SEASON, IF HE CAN GET TO A BOWL GAME.

JUST KIND OF TALK ABOUT HOW BIG THIS SEASON IS FOR ADRIAN MARTINEZ.

>> RIGHT, HE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ABOUT HIM AND IT'S ALREADY CHANGED MORE THAN ONCE IN HIS CAREER.

AS A FRESHMAN, ADRIAN WAS VIEWED AS A PHENOM, A GUY WHO CAME IN FIRST IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO START FROM GAME ONE OF HIS TRUE FRESHMAN YEAR, AND HE WAS FANTASTIC AT THE BEGINNING.

NEBRASKA GOT OFF TO AN 0-6 START, BUT IT WAS NOT BECAUSE OF ADRIAN MARTINEZ.

AS YOU REMEMBER BACK TO THAT COLORADO GAME, IN HIS DEBUT AND HOW WELL HE PLAYED AND HOW SMOOTH HE LOOKED IN SCOTT FROST'S OFFENSE, AND THEN HE GOT HURT, UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE END OF THAT GAME AND BY THE TIME HE CAME BACK, SOME THINGS HAD SNOWBALLED ON - ON THE TEAM, AND IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THEM TO GET OUT OF IT, BUT WHEN THEY DID, HE PLAYED WELL AGAIN AND THEN LAST YEAR HAPPENED, AND WE KNOW HE GOT BENCHED, AND HE FOUGHT THROUGH IT, AND HE CAME BACK, AND YOU KNOW, MISSING THE 2019 SEASON, WHEN THERE WERE SOME UPS AND DOWNS - IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER EVERY SEASON.

ADRIAN'S PLAYED SO MANY SEASONS HERE, BUT HE'S GOT A CHANCE HERE IN 2021 TO WRITE A NEW CHAPTER.

YOU MENTIONED, MIKE'L, THAT HE HAS A CHANCE TO BREAK SOME RECORDS.

I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ADRIAN IS TO GET - IS TO QUARTERBACK A WINNING TEAM.

ALREADY THE FIRST THREE-TIME CAPTAIN IN THE HISTORY OF THIS PROGRAM, AND HE'S NOT DONE.

ADRIAN COULD COME BACK FOR A FIFTH SEASON NEXT YEAR IF THAT'S WHAT HE CHOOSES TO DO, SO HISTORICALLY, YEAH, HE STANDS OUT, BUT I KNOW THE THING THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO HIM IS TO WIN GAMES.

>> JAY.

>> YEAH, MITCH, GOING INTO THE WEEK ONE, OR WEEK ZERO GAME HERE, YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MAYBE A NEW WRINKLE, SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING MAYBE UNEXPECTED.

WHAT ARE YOU KIND OF LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IN THIS GAME ONE AGAINST ILLINOIS?

>> YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT OFFENSE WITH SCOTT FROST TEAMS AND THEY'RE BUILT AROUND OFFENSE, GOING BACK TO HIS DAYS AT UCF, AND OF COURSE HIS EXPERTISE IN COACHING WHEN HE WAS IN OREGON AND WAS ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE.

I WANT TO SEE THE WRINKLES THAT NEBRASKA THROWS OUT ON DEFENSE, BECAUSE IT HAS THE ABILITY TO DO IT THIS YEAR, AND I THINK IF THIS TEAM IS GOING TO REACH ITS PEAK AND BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT CAN BE, IT'S GOING TO BE LED, AT LEAST EARLY IN THE SEASON, ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL.

SO, WE'VE HEARD SOME FROM ERIC CHINANDER ABOUT SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT HE HAS.

THE DEPTH THAT NEBRASKA CAN SHOW ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE, I THINK, LEAVES IT TO BE ABLE TO PUT ITSELF IN A POSITION WHERE IT CAN DO A NUMBER OF THINGS WITH ITS FRONT.

AND, YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT LOOKS, YOU CAN HAVE THREE BIG GUYS UP THERE - CERTAINLY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY SOME FOUR-MAN FRONT AND THE PASS THAT'S BEEN DONE MOSTLY BY PUTTING AN OUTSIDE LINEBACKER ON THE EDGE WITH HIS HAND ON THE GROUND DOESN'T NEED TO BE THE CASE WITH THIS GROUP AND AS DEEP AS NEBRASKA GOES ON THE OFFENSE - ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE.

SO, I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THAT FRONT SEVEN, WHAT KIND OF DIFFERENT LOOKS THEY HAVE.

THEY'RE DEEP REALLY EVERYWHERE.

AT NOSE TACKLE THEY'RE TWO DEEP.

AT DEFENSIVE END, THEY'RE TWO DEEP - ACROSS THE BOARD.

AT NOSE TACKLE, THEY'RE THREE DEEP.

IN TALKING TO TONY TUITOTI TODAY HE REALLY LIKES WHAT NASH HUTMACHER GIVES NEBRASKA AS A THIRD NOSE TACKLE, AND YOU CAN PUT TY ROBINSON AT THAT SPOT, SO THERE ARE FOUR DEEP AT THE NOSE TACKLE SPOT.

THAT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN REGULARLY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND AT BOTH OF THOSE BACKER SPOTS, THEY'RE DEEP, TOO.

SO, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND LOOKS THAT NEBRASKA CAN GIVE FROM A DEFENSIVE PERSPECTIVE.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW MUCH CHINANDER MIXES IT UP AND HOW MUCH HAVOC HE CAN WREAK ON OPPOSING OFFENSES WITH SOME OF THAT - SOME OF THAT CHANGEUP.

>> LAST 30 SECONDS, MITCH - SPECIAL TEAMS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S COST NEBRASKA GAMES.

YOUR FEEL, BASED OFF WHAT YOU HAD TO SEE IN A LITTLE BIT OF PRACTICE, DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO IMPROVE THIS YEAR?

>> I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO KICK THE BALL THROUGH THE END ZONE ON KICKOFFS, AND THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS.

IT HELPS YOUR KICKOFF COVERAGE.

YOU CAN'T CONTINUALLY GIVE YOUR OPPONENTS THE BALL AT THE 40-YARD LINE AND EXPECT TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE END ZONE AND KEEP THEM OFF THE SCOREBOARD AND WIN GAMES WITH YOUR DEFENSE, SO THAT'S A GREAT STARTING POINT.

I THINK THEY'VE MADE BIG ADJUSTMENTS IN THAT AREA.

I'M NOT SURE WHO IT'S GOING TO BE - IF IT'LL BE FRANK, OR MEYER, OR CHASE, ONE OF THOSE THREE GUYS AND WHOEVER IT IS, HE'S GOT A BIG LEG - HE'S GOT TO KICK THAT BALL THROUGH THE END ZONE AND GIVE THAT NEBRASKA DEFENSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO START IN GOOD FIELD POSITION AND, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THE RETURN GAME WILL BE IMPROVED.

MIKE DAWSON HAS TAKEN THIS REALLY SERIOUSLY AND I THINK THE PLAYERS HAVE BOUGHT INTO MAKING A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT AREA.

>> MITCH, WE APPRECIATE IT.

WE'LL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS GUYS.

>> NEXT ON THE "WRAP-UP," WE'RE JOINED BY FORMER HUSKER LINEBACKER, JAY FOREMAN, TO GIVE HIS INSIDE TAKES ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM PRIOR TO WEEK ZERO MATCHUP WITH ILLINOIS.

BEFORE WE DO THAT, THOUGH, WE'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT BECOMING A VALUED MEMBER OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND HOW YOU CAN HELP KEEP CONTENT LIKE THIS ON THE AIR.

>> THANKS, MIKE'L, I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH THE "BIG RED WRAP-UP" TEAM.

NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA IS NEBRASKA'S HOME FOR SPORTS.

AND, "BIG RED WRAP-UP" IS ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WHY.

THE START OF A NEW SEASON IS ALWAYS A TIME OF EXCITEMENT FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW HUSKER FOOTBALL.

IT'S ALSO A TIME OF EXCITEMENT HERE AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AS WE ROLL OUT OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE AND HOPE TO HIT PAY DIRT WITH YOUR HELP.

YOUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAKE PROGRAMS LIKE "BIG RED WRAP-UP" POSSIBLE.

MEMBERSHIP DOLLARS GO PRIMARILY TO PROGRAMMING AND PRODUCTION COSTS SO TAKE A QUICK MINUTE NOW AND CALL IN AND GET A GREAT "THANK-YOU" GIFT.

GIVE US A CALL AT 800-989-8236, OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE AND WE'LL WELCOME YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

WHEN YOU MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF $20 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER WE'LL THANK YOU WITH AN AUTOGRAPHED THREE DECADES OF HEISMAN WINNERS OIL LITHOGRAPH.

IT FEATURES JOHNNY "THE JET" RODGERS, A WINNER IN 1972 -- MIKE ROZIER, THE SECOND HUSKER HEISMAN IN 1983, AND THE 2001 HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER, ERIC CROUCH.

WE'LL ALSO THANK YOU WITH THE BOOK "FOR HUSKER FANS ONLY, WONDERFUL STORIES FROM NEBRASKA FANS."

WHEN YOU MAKE A DONATION OF $6 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH A PRINT AND A DVD COMBINATION.

IT'S A HUSKER - HERBIE EVOLUTION PRINT THAT'S 11 X 17 INCHES, AND IT FEATURES HERBIE HUSKER FROM 1940 TO THE PRESENT.

IT'S A LIMITED EDITION, NUMBERED, AND AUTOGRAPHED BY HERBIE HUSKER HIMSELF.

AND, WE'LL INCLUDE THE "NEBRASKA SPIRIT, GO BIG RED" DVD."

IT'S ONE OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA'S LATEST PRODUCTIONS THAT SHOWS YOU ALL OF THE STUFF GOING ON AROUND NEBRASKA SPORTS.

CALL OR TEXT THE WORD "DONATE" TO 800-989-8236, OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

THERE'S MORE TO NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SPORTS IN ADDITION TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

YOU KNOW BY WATCHING THE HOURS AND HOURS OF LIVE SPORTS HERE ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA THAT WE LOVE SPORTS AND WE PRESENT IT FOR THE STATE BECAUSE IT'S A BOND THAT BRINGS SO MANY OF US TOGETHER.

HUSKER SPORTS, OF COURSE, BUT ALSO SEVERAL ON THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, AS WELL.

WE DO ALL OF THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THESE GAMES ARE TO COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

WE LIKE TO SAY THAT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA IS NEBRASKA'S HOME FOR SPORTS AND IT'S TRUE.

NOW, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO KEEP IT ALL POSSIBLE.

JOIN US RIGHT NOW DURING OUR MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN AND YOUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION WILL DO JUST THAT.

WE HAVE SOME GREAT "THANK-YOU" GIFTS FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM.

GIVE US A CALL AT 800-989-8236, OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

WHEN YOU MAKE A DONATION OF $20 A MONTH, WE'LL THANK WITH THAT AUTOGRAPHED THREE DECADES OF HEISMAN WINNERS OIL LITHOGRAPH, THAT FEATURES JOHNNY RODGERS, MIKE ROZIER, AND ERIC CROUCH, AS WELL AS A BOOK FOR HUSKER FANS ONLY.

WHEN YOU MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF $6 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH THE "HERBIE EVOLUTION" PRINT AND THE DVD, "NEBRASKA SPIRIT, GO BIG RED."

CALL OR TEXT THE WORD "DONATE" TO 800-989-8236.

THANK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SPORTS.

NOW, LET'S GO BACK TO THE PROGRAM AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HUSKER FOOTBALL.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

IT'S TIME TO BE JOINED BY A NEBRASKA HALL OF FAMER, FORMER HUSKER JAY MOORE JOINING US HERE ON THE SET.

JAY, HOW YOU DOING?

>> I'M DOING ALL RIGHT, HOW ABOUT YOURSELF?

>> I'M GOOD, MAN.

I - A LOT OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS INVOLVING NEBRASKA, BUT WATCHING THAT CEREMONY WHERE THE GUYS GOT THE BLACK SHIRTS, I THOUGHT, WAS THE BEST TO WATCH.

I HAD GOOSEBUMPS WHEN IT HAPPENED.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE THERE?

>> OH, IT WAS COOL.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I WAS HAPPY FOR 'EM.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ME AND JAY HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT AND OURS WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE LOW KEY.

>> IT WAS PUT IN THE LOCKER, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, YOU JUST SHOW UP AND IT'S THERE JUST OUT OF NOWHERE.

BUT IT'S STILL A GOOD MOMENT, BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

AND, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING HARD.

YOU KNOW, DEFENSE PLAYED PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, PRETTY CONSISTENT, YOU KNOW, ALL YEAR LAST YEAR EXCEPT FOR PROBABLY THE ILLINOIS GAME WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY, LIKE, EYESORE, YOU KNOW.

SO, A LOT OF THOSE GUYS ARE EXCITED AND, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST HOPE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS AND - AND TAKE IT AND JUST GO OUT AND PROVE IT EVERY DAY.

>> JAY, OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE BEEN WITH THIS DEFENSE ALL CAMP.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THE BIGGEST JUMP COULD BE MADE WHEN YOU JUST LOOK AT THIS FRONT SEVEN AND THE KIND OF DEPTH THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DEVELOPED UP THERE?

>> WELL, YOU SAID IT.

THE DEPTH IS GOOD.

YOU KNOW, JUST - YOU KNOW, GUYS THAT PLAYED LAST YEAR GOT REPS LAST YEAR, SO ITS CONTINUITY IS THE BIGGEST THING WHICH, IN MY OPINION, YOU KNOW, WILL LEAD TO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEIR PASS RUSH IS GOING TO BE BETTER.

I THINK ANOTHER YEAR IN THE SYSTEM, GETTING A TRUE OFF-SEASON, SPRING, AND YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE FALL CAMP WITH ERIC CHINANDER'S DEFENSE IT BREEDS CONFIDENCE.

YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THEY'RE PRETTY EXCITED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, VETERAN LEADERSHIP BEHIND THEM AS FAR AS THE FRONT SEVEN.

MIXING IN SOME YOUNG GUYS, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO PROVIDE DEPTH FOR, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR AND LATER IN THE SEASON AND, YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS TO COME.

SO, FOR THEM, I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST DOING THE LITTLE THINGS RIGHT, SO IF WE GO FROM LIKE A GOOD DEFENSE, RIGHT, SO THEY WERE PRETTY SOLID LAST YEAR, TO, YOU KNOW, GOOD TO GREAT, YOU'VE GOT TO IMPROVE ON YOUR WEAKNESSES, RIGHT?

RUSHING THE PASSER, GETTING OFF ON THIRD DOWN - YOU KNOW, BETTER - YOU KNOW, TACKLING, ESPECIALLY ON THE EDGES.

SO, THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING HARD AT.

LOOK, THE ONE THING I CAN SAY IS IT TAKES A UNIQUE ABILITY TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, YOUR SORES OR WHAT YOU DON'T DO WELL, AND KIND OF ADDRESS 'EM, PARTICULARLY AT DEFENSE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO IT, SO YOU KNOW, PUTTING IN THE HONEST EFFORT TO BECOME BETTER INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, SO HOPEFULLY IT PAYS OFF ON SATURDAY.

>> SO, YEAR BY YEAR, JUST NOT OF IMPROVEMENT OF THE DEFENSE, BUT YOU BROUGHT UP GETTING TO THE QUARTERBACK.

>> RIGHT.

>> I KNOW ERIC CHINANDER WENT BACK AND CHARTED EVERY SINGLE SACK THAT HAPPENED IN THE BIG TEN LAST YEAR.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHAT'S THE KEY?

IS IT MORE PLUS PRESSURE?

IS IT JUST MAKING IT HAPPEN WITH THOSE OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS?

WHAT'S THE KEY?

>> RIGHT - I MEAN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

I THINK JAY WOULD TELL YOU THAT, LOOK, WHEN HE WOULD GET SACKS, OR SAY WHEN I GET A SACK, IT'S A COMBINATION OF EVERYBODY DOING THEIR JOB, RIGHT?

SO, LOOK, YOU'VE GOT CONTINUITY, KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING - YOU'RE NOT GUESSING OUT THERE, YOU'RE JUST PLAYING, REACTING.

AND, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S NOT JUST THE SACK NUMBERS, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GET HITS ON THE QUARTERBACK, YOU WANT TO MOVE HIM OFF THE SPOT, YOU WANT TO GET IN HIS FACE, YOU WANT TO THROW THEIR TIMING OFF, SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

BUT, JUST TO GET SACKS, I THINK EVERYBODY JUST ONCE THEY LEARN THEIR JOB A LITTLE BIT MORE AND DO IT WITH JUST THAT MUCH MORE, YOU KNOW, EMPHASIS AND LESS THINKING, YOU'LL SEE THE PRESSURES GET THERE AND THEN THE SACKS.

YOU KNOW, SACKS ARE JUST LIKE INTERCEPTIONS, RIGHT, YOU CAN GO A GAME OR TWO GAMES WITH LIKE ONE SACK - NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU HAVE SIX - THEN YOU HAVE FIVE AND THEN YOU KNOW IT ALL EVENS OUT, SO IT COMES IN BUNCHES.

>> HOW HAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP BEEN WITH BARRETT?

BARRETT RUUD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE BARRETT'S HAD THE EYE OF THOSE, THE LINEBACKERS - OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING BACK THERE, AS WELL, BUT JUST WORKING WITH HIM - NOT OVER - NOT STEPPING ON HIS TOES TOO MUCH, BUT JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, JUST HELPING OUT REIMERS AND HEINRICH - ALL THOSE GUYS AND, YOU KNOW, AND JUST DEVELOPING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH BARRETT.

>> LOOK, BARRETT'S A - I'VE BEEN ON BARRETT SINCE HE WAS A LITTLE PIPSQUEAK, SO YOU KNOW, DATING MYSELF.

BARRETT'S A GREAT COACH, GREAT DUDE.

FIRST OF ALL, HE'S THE COACH, AND, YOU KNOW, PART OF US BEING DOWN THERE, I CAN SPEAK FOR ME IN PARTICULAR, NEVER WOULD STEP ON ANY TOES BECAUSE THEY - YOU KNOW, IT'S HIS JOB AND I'M THERE TO SUPER - I CALL IT "SUPER ASSIST."

I'M NOT EVEN AN ASSISTANT.

YOU KNOW, I'M BEING ABLE TO JUST TRYING TO TEACH THEM HOW TO, YOU KNOW, GO DAY-BY-DAY AND WIN.

YOU KNOW, THE XS AND OS BARRETT'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THAT, SO IT'S WORKED OUT GREAT.

AND SO, I'VE NEVER ENVISIONED IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM.

I KNOW BARRETT'S NOT THREATENED BY ME.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TRYING TO COACH.

I DON'T WANT TO COACH AND I'M NOT GOING TO - LOOK, I'M HERE FOR THE UNIVERSITY FIRST, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

SO, IF I'M TRYING TO HELP OUT IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE, ME TRYING TO, LIKE, UNDER-COACH OR OVER-COACH A COACH THAT IS THEIR COACH WOULD BE DEFEATING THE PROCESS, SO YOU KNOW, WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH IT AND THE PLAYERS HAVE BEEN GREAT, THE COACHES HAVE BEEN GREAT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE FOR ME WHEN I PLAYED, YOU KNOW, MY DAD IS - SHOULD BE IN THE HALL OF FAME.

A GREAT PLAYER, RIGHT?

SO, WHEN HE'D CALL ME UP AND TELL ME SOMETHING, I WASN'T LISTENING, BUT THEN WHEN MY UNCLE WOULD CALL ME, RIGHT - SO, I GUESS IT'S UNCLE JAY, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT LISTEN A LITTLE BIT MORE - JUST A DIFFERENT VOICE OR A DIFFERENT MINDSET, BUT EVERYTHING'S BEEN GOOD.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY FOR 'EM THAT THEY'RE AT GAME WEEK, RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN REALLY WORKING HARD FOR A LONG TIME AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY IT PAYS OFF FOR 'EM.

>> ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THIS TEAM, LAST YEAR ESPECIALLY, LOTS OF YARDS BUT GOT IN THE RED ZONE AND COULDN'T SCORE, COULDN'T FINISH DRIVES.

AS A GUY WHO'S PLAYED A LOT OF DEFENSE AT BOTH COLLEGE AND THE PROS, WHAT'S THE THING THAT GAVE YOU THE MOST PROBLEMS FROM AN OFFENSE IN THE RED ZONE?

HOW CAN THEY IMPROVE, SIMPLY GETTING MORE POINTS AND LESS FIELD GOALS?

>> OH, FOR - YOU KNOW, FROM A DEFENSIVE STANDPOINT, THE PRESSURE THAT YOU COULD PUT ON, YOU KNOW, DIRECT, ADDED, AT THE MIDDLE OF THE - OF THE DEFENSE, REALLY ALWAYS WORRIED ME.

YOU KNOW, WE GOT, YOU KNOW, BIG OL' TIGHT ENDS.

YOU KNOW, WE GOT BACKS AND RECEIVERS THAT ARE BIGGER NOW - YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE LIKE THE KIND OF LITTLE WATER BUGS THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS, SO YOU CAN WIN THOSE 50-50 MATCHES, MATCH-UPS, BUT THEN YOU CAN ALSO CREATE PROBLEMS IN CROSSING ROUTES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT THEY CAN DO AND THEN ONCE YOU KIND OF GET 'EM ON THEIR HEELS, THEN YOU CAN JUST LINE UP AND TRY TO POUND 'EM, OR YOU COULD GO - YOU KNOW, SO IF YOU'VE GOT TO PLAY CAT AND MOUSE WITH THE DEFENSE AND THAT'S WHAT I - THAT'S WHAT ALWAYS WORRIED ME IN THE RED ZONE, PUTTING PRESSURE ON YOUNG GUYS, TOO - YOU KNOW, FROM AN OFFENSIVE STANDPOINT, COMMUNICATION WILL BE KEY, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THEM, YOU KNOW, HESITANT, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT IN THEIR COMMUNICATION.

YOU KNOW, GET IT HOPEFULLY A EASY TOUCHDOWN HERE AND THERE AND THEN ONCE YOU GET THE MOMENTUM, YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP IT.

>> JAY, CHRIS KOLAREVIC'S A NEW GUY THAT CAME IN THAT LINEBACKER ROOM WITH YOU GUYS.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN FROM HIM?

WE SAW THE TESTING NUMBERS WHERE HE WENT OFF THE CHARTS.

WHAT IS HE GOING TO BRING TO THE TABLE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, HE'S A GREAT ATHLETE.

HE'S NOT A GOOD ATHLETE.

I MEAN, HOME BOY CAN - HE'S LEGIT, AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU SEE LIKE WHEN YOU TEST IS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LIKE ALL "WELL, CAN HE REALLY PLAY?"

RIGHT?

YOU KNOW, CAN HE APPLY HIS 40, HIS VERTICAL, TO WHAT YOU SEE IN PRACTICE AND ON THE PLAYING FIELD?

SO - AND HE DOES THAT.

SO, HE'S A TOUGH KID.

YOU KNOW, TALKED TO HIM AT LENGTH.

HE LOVES FOOTBALL.

HE LOVES THE CHALLENGE.

AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH THE BIGGEST THING FOR HIM, MAKING THE JUMP FROM WHERE HE CAME FROM TO HERE.

YOU KNOW, DOES HE LOVE FOOTBALL?

IS HE WILLING TO MEET THE CHALLENGE AND BE CHALLENGED EVERY SINGLE DAY AND DEAL WITH THE DAYS THAT SOMETIMES IT JUST DOESN'T WORK OUT FOR HIM BECAUSE OF EXPERIENCE?

YOU KNOW, HE'S - YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIG JUMP UP FOR HIM BUT HE'S MET IT EVERY SINGLE TIME, SO I'M, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, HAPPY FOR HIM AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING HIM ON SATURDAY.

>> ASK YOU ABOUT A GUY WHO, WHEN HE COMMITTED ON SIGNING DAY, IT WAS A BIG DEAL FOR NEBRASKA IN CALEB TANNOR.

>> RIGHT.

>> LONG LEVERS.

HE CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE HE'S BUILT FOR IT.

HOW DOES HE TRANSLATE THAT FROM WHAT HE'S DONE IN PRACTICE - I KNOW THE COACHES SAID TO ACTUALLY GETTING DONE IN THE GAME?

>> WELL, LOOK, JUST GO OUT THERE AND JUST DO WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING.

I MEAN, REALLY, ALL THE GAME IS YOU'RE GOING OUT THERE MOST OF THE TIME, NOW - LOOK, I KNOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT PRACTICING IN NEBRASKA'S BEEN A BIG DEAL, BUT YOU'RE JUST GOING OUT THERE AND SHOWING HOW YOU PRACTICED.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHEN YOU WANT TO REALLY MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, BREAK IT DOWN AND BE SIMPLE.

SO, IT'S NOT AN ATHLETIC ABILITY THING.

I THINK HE'S REALLY MATURED, YOU KNOW - STEPPED UP HIS, YOU KNOW, PREPARATION AND THE WAY HE PRACTICES, GOES ABOUT HIS BUSINESS, AND SO, I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING FOR SO LONG THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON SATURDAYS, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

SO, FOR HIM, IT'S JUST GOING OUT THERE AND JUST DOING WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING AND HE'S GOT THE WHOLE, YOU KNOW, BUILD THING.

YOU KNOW, GOT THE LONG ARMS, HE'S GOT A GOOD "GET-OFF," GOT, YOU KNOW, PRETTY GOOD FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING THAT HE CAN'T DO OUT IN THE FIELD.

NOW IT'S JUST A MIND SET THING.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT OVERALL ERIC CHINANDER AND WHAT HE'S DONE WITH THIS TEAM - TURNOVERS, OR GETTING TURNOVERS, THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING TO TURN THIS FROM BEING, AS YOU SAID, A GOOD DEFENSE TO BEING MAYBE A VERY GOOD DEFENSE?

>> YEAH, SURE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LOOK, YOU'VE GOT TO DO WHAT YOU DID LAST YEAR, RIGHT?

I CALL IT DOUBLING DOWN ON IT, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE AND THEN WHEN YOU GET THE CHANCE TO MAKE THE PLAYS, RIGHT, DON'T DROP OPEN INTERCEPTIONS - MORE HATS TO THE BALL - GET SOME FUMBLE, FORCED FUMBLES - GET 'EM, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU GET SOME TURNOVERS, YOU KNOW, LET'S TURN 'EM INTO SEVEN POINTS.

SO, LET'S BE MORE AGGRESSIVE AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PREACHING THAT AND THEN THEY'RE REALLY BUYING INTO IT.

SO, TURNOVERS, LIKE SACKS, COME IN BUNCHES AND IF YOU CAN CONSISTENCY DO THAT - CONSISTENTLY DO IT, YOU'LL BE IN A LOT OF THE GAMES.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT LIKE IN THE BIG TEN - LOOK AT INDIANA, RIGHT?

THEY'RE REALLY A HIGH, PRODUCTIVE TEAM AS FAR AS GETTING THE BALL, TAKING AWAY FROM OFFENSES, SO EVEN WHEN THEY'RE STRUGGLING, THEY'RE ABLE TO KIND OF LIKE HANG AROUND A GAME UNTIL YOU CAN KIND OF FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

>> JAY, NEBRASKA'S BEEN IN THE 3-4 SINCE DIACO, BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU GUYS DO A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

HOW LONG HAS IT TAKEN NEBRASKA JUST TO GET THE RIGHT PIECES?

>> RIGHT -- >> TO GET TO WHERE THEY'RE AT TODAY WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE RIGHT PERSONNEL TO RUN THIS DEFENSE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, 3-4 IS - IT'S A HARD DEFENSE TO RECRUIT TO BECAUSE NOT A LOT OF TEAMS IN HIGH SCHOOL PLAY IT, AND THERE'S A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE COACHES THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO COACH IT.

AND SO, THERE'S DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF IT.

THERE'S KIND OF THE BASE 3-4, KIND OF LIKE WHAT DIACO WAS WHERE YOU'RE LIKE CATCHING A LOT.

I THINK NEBRASKA'S KIND OF A COMBINATION, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO FIND GUYS THAT REALLY ARE EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING THAT.

IT'S A VERY COMPLEX DEFENSE TO RUN AND IT'S A VERY COMPLEX DEFENSE FOR OFFENSES TO GET AHOLD OF, YOU KNOW, SO YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE MINDSET AND THE PERSONNEL, AND YOU'VE GOT TO RECRUIT SPECIFICALLY TO THE BIG TEN, WHICH IS EVEN HARDER BECAUSE YOU'RE PLAYING AGAINST THE BEST GUYS OUT THERE.

SO, I THINK THEY'RE GETTING IT AND, LOOK, YOU HEAR NICK SABAN - HE'S WON NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS LEFT AND RIGHT.

HE'S NEVER HAPPY WITH HIS ROSTER AND PROBABLY WANTS ALL, YOU KNOW, FUTURE ALL-PROS -- >> RIGHT.

>> AND SO, YOU'VE GOT TO PLAY IT AND ADJUST YOUR SCHEME TO THE GUYS YOU GOT AND I THINK THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB OF IT.

AND ALSO, ANOTHER YEAR IN IT AND ANOTHER FULL, LIKE, OFF-SEASON TO REALLY DO THE INS AND OUTS OF IT I THINK IS REALLY GOING TO HELP THE DEFENSE.

>> WHAT'S THE POSITION IN YOUR OPINION HARDEST TO FIND?

IS IT FINDING THE NOSE, IS IT THE 5 TECH 4-I?

IS IT THE OUTSIDE LINEBACKER, OR IS IT THE STRONG SIDE OUTSIDE LINEBACKER?

WHAT'S THE HARDEST THING TO FIND?

>> WELL, JUST DEPENDS ON, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU RUN IT, BUT JAY WILL TELL YOU, SO YOU JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, "YOU'VE GOT A UNICORN OVER THERE."

PASS RUSHERS ARE HARD TO FIND.

>> SURE.

>> LAWRENCE TAYLOR AND VAUGHN MILLER JUST AREN'T FALLING OFF THE TREE, YOU KNOW?

>> NOBODY EVER SAYS RICKEY JACKSON.

WHAT'S UP WITH RICKEY JACKSON?

>> RICKEY JACKSON, PAT SWILLING -- ( LAUGHTER ) >> YOU KNOW, WE COULD GO ON - TAD BROWN, KEVIN GREENE, GREG LLOYD, ALL OF 'EM, RIGHT?

AND, JOEY PORTER, ONE OF MY FAVORITES - THEY'RE HARD TO GET, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'RE HARD TO GET AT COLLEGE.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE GUYS - WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRO GUYS, RIGHT?

SO, ESTABLISHING GUYS ON THE OUTSIDE IS A VERY HARD POSITION TO RECRUIT, DEVELOP, AND CONTINUE TO HAVE FOR YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

>> AND IT'S HARD BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE GUYS WERE 4-3 DEFENSIVE ENDS, HAND IN THE DIRT.

>> YEAH.

>> AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GOT TO STAND UP, RUSH, AND ALSO DROP IN THE COVERAGE, SO YOUR BRAIN STARTS MOVING A LITTLE QUICKER AND YOU START GETTING OVERWHELMED BY STUFF.

SO, IT'S TOUGH TO NOT ONLY RECRUIT TO THEM, BUT OBVIOUSLY DEVELOP INTO AND PLAY PROFESSIONALLY.

>> IT WAS KELSAY, NOONAN - YOU WERE THERE - JASON PETER - HOW MANY DOWNS COULD YOU GUYS GIVE US?

>> OH, TWO, ONE IN AND ONE OUT.

( LAUGHTER ) >> THREE YARDAGE GOALS.

>> OH, EXACTLY, NOW I COULD HANDLE BUSINESS FROM THE THREE END, RIGHT?

ALL I HAVE TO DO IS A HOOK DROP, AND I'M NOT COVERING ANYBODY, SO THAT'S IT.

FROM THE FIVE-YARD IN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JAY TIME, BUT PLAYING MULTIPLE PLAYS WOULD PROBABLY BE HARD BUT IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THOSE GUYS.

IT WAS GOOD THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TEAM KIND OF EMBRACED IT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF BUILD THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PLAYERS AS FAR AS THEY'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LOOK, WHEN YOU GO THROUGH CAMP, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET ONE AND WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT, SO IT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> JAY, WE APPRECIATE IT.

I KNOW EVERYBODY'S GLAD TO SEE YOU AROUND THE PROGRAM AND BEING THERE AND HELPING OUT AND HELPING OUT THE UNIVERSITY.

>> YEAH, I APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S BEEN FUN.

YOU KNOW, IT'S - YOU KNOW, I DON'T DO TOO MUCH.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN - BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT ON THE STAFF OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT JUST TRYING TO -- >> YOU GET SOME GEAR?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, SHORTS HERE AND THERE, YOU KNOW.

I WEAR THE SAME STUFF EVERY DAY, SO I'M EASY - I'M AN EASY GUY TO PLEASE.

>> THANKS, JAY, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> JAY FOREMAN.

UP NEXT ON THE SHOW, SEAN WILL HELP US LOOK AT THE 2022 RECRUITING CLASS AND THE WORK THAT'S STILL AHEAD FOR NEBRASKA AS THEY ENTER THE SEASON.

BUT FIRST, ANOTHER CHANCE, LET'S MAKE SOME GREAT PREMIUMS BY BECOMING A MEMBER OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

HERE'S IAN MOSSBERG.

>> I APPRECIATE HOW "BIG RED WRAP-UP" GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM SPECIAL GUESTS.

WE'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE UPCOMING SEASON ALREADY, AND THERE'S MORE TO COME IN JUST A MINUTE.

WE'RE BACK FOR ANOTHER SHORT BREAK FROM "BIG RED WRAP-UP" TO THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND SUPPORTING NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE IS UNDERWAY AND IT'S YOUR CHANCE TO BECOME A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

YOUR DONATIONS SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE NEBRA -- LIKE THIS.

NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA IS HERE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BRINGING YOU GREAT SPORTS COVERAGE, LIKE BASKETBALL, WRESTLING, HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL, AND VOLLEYBALL, TOO.

HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO SAY "YES, I WANT TO HELP."

THE NUMBER TO CALL IS 800-989-8236, OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE, AND WE'LL SAY THANKS WITH ONE OF THESE GIFTS.

WHEN YOU MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF $20 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH THE AUTOGRAPHED THREE DECADES OF HEISMAN WINNERS OIL LITHOGRAPH.

IT FEATURES JOHNNY "THE JET" RODGERS, WHO WAS THE WINNER IN 1972 - RUNNING BACK MIKE ROZIER IN 1983 - AND, THE 2001 HEISMAN WINNER, ERIC CROUCH.

AND, WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE THE BOOK "FOR HUSKER FANS ONLY!

WONDERFUL STORIES FROM NEBRASKA FANS."

IF YOU MAKE A DONATION OF $6 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH A PRINT AND A DVD.

IT'S AN 11" X 17" PRINT FEATURING THE EVOLUTION OF THE HUSKER MASCOT, "HERBIE HUSKER."

AND, WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE THE DVD, "NEBRASKA SPIRIT: GO BIG RED."

IT'S OUR LOCAL PRODUCTION THAT DIGS INTO THE PASSION FOR HUSKER - FOR THE HUSKERS THAT ONLY TRUE FANS UNDERSTAND.

CALL OR TEXT THE WORD "DONATE" TO 800-989-8236, OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

"BIG RED WRAP-UP" IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE QUALITY SPORTS PROGRAMMING PRODUCED LOCALLY AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

WE HAVE HUSKER FOOTBALL AND VOLLEYBALL, DOCUMENTARIES HERE, AND IN-SPORT - IN-DEPTH SPORTS JOURNALISM, AS WELL.

SO, GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR DONATION RIGHT NOW.

THE NUMBER TO CALL IS 800-989-8236, OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE, NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE, AND BACK TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

( SWOOSHING SOUND ) >> I LOVE MY TEAM RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE HAVING FUN.

WE'RE PREPARING HARD.

WE'RE GETTING READY FOR THAT FIRST GAME.

WE'RE EXCITED.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE A HARD-NOSED TEAM AND I'M EXCITED TO GET OUT THERE AND PROVE THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE A TEAM THAT'S DISCIPLINED, THAT'S NOT GOING TO SHOOT OURSELVES IN THE FOOT, AND DO THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND WHAT COACH WANTS US TO DO.

( SWOOSHING SOUND ) >> YOU'RE NEVER 100% SATISFIED - WE CAN ALWAYS GET BETTER BUT I'VE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT THE PREPARATION - ALL THE PREPARATION IN THE WORLD DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU DON'T GO PLAY WELL, SO I THINK OUR GUYS ARE LASER-FOCUSED RIGHT NOW AND I LIKE WHERE THEY ARE.

( SWOOSHING SOUND ) >> THAT'S WHY YOU AT NEBRASKA, MAN.

THE LIGHT SHOW, THE CAMERAS ALWAYS HERE - THEY HAVE TO BE READY FOR THAT.

WE JUST CAN'T LET THAT, YOU KNOW, OVERWHELM ANYBODY, BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST WEEK OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL JUST TO KICK EVERYTHING OFF AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO STAY LOCKED IN.

DON'T JUMP INTO THE HYPE, MAN - JUST, LIKE I SAID, STAY LOCKED IN AND BE READY FOR THIS GAME.

( SWOOSHING NOISE ) >> YEAH, THERE'S SOME CHALLENGES OF PLAYING A TEAM THAT HAS A NEW STAFF.

WE DIDN'T PLAY VERY WELL AGAINST 'EM LAST YEAR.

WE MADE SOME MISTAKES.

WE NEED TO PLAY BETTER THIS YEAR.

( SWOOSHING NOISE ) >> WELL, THEY WANT TO RUN THE BALL DOWN YOUR THROAT, AND WE'VE GOT TO GIVE PUSHBACK, CREATE THOSE ALLEYS FOR LINEBACKERS TO RUN THROUGH, MAKE TACKLES, MAKE TURNOVERS, PUNCH THE BALL OUT - PRETTY SIMPLE.

>> WELCOME BACK AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR TONIGHT'S "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE, JOINED BY SEAN CALLAHAN.

TIME TO TALK SOME RECRUITING.

NINE SO FAR IN THE 2022 CLASS?

>> YEAH, IT OBVIOUSLY FEELS LIKE, "WOW, THEY'RE WAY BEHIND."

BUT, THEY'RE HONESTLY ABOUT RIGHT WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXTREMELY SMALL CLASS.

IN FACT, THE SMALLEST CLASS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE INTERNET ERA OF RECRUITING, IN THE '85 ERA.

NEBRASKA'S ONLY GOING TO TAKE 13, MIKE'L.

I MEAN, TODAY THEY MIGHT TAKE ONE MORE O-LINEMAN, AND PROBABLY THREE DBS.

AND THEN, THINGS COULD ALWAYS CHANGE, BUT THEY'VE REALLY MADE AN EARLY PRIORITY IN JUNE TO GET SOME KEY GUYS BUILT BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE A SMALL CLASS.

>> BASED OFF OF WATCHING TAPE, VICTOR JONES STANDS OUT TO ME ON HOW GOOD HE IS.

GRANT PAGE REMINDS ME OF A BIGGER KENNY BELL COME OUT OF COLORADO.

TELL ME ABOUT OUR TWO WIDE RECEIVERS.

>> YEAH, YOU LOOK AT THE TWO RECEIVERS.

THEY KEEP ADDING SPEED AND SIZE AND THEY'VE DONE IT NOW TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

I THINK YOU LOOK AT THE FRESHMEN THERE NOW, THEY LIKE THIS GROUP, AND THEN THIS GROUP, AS WELL.

YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE MATT LUBICK A LOT OF CREDIT.

I THINK HE'S REALLY TRANSFORMED THAT POSITION AFTER TREY WALTERS KIND OF WENT O-FOR.

I MEAN, EVERY GUY THAT WALTERS BROUGHT IN, FOR THE MOST PART, DIDN'T PAN OUT.

SO, I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THEY GET THE RIGHT GUYS.

WE STILL DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE THE RIGHT GUYS, BUT I THINK THEY'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH THERE.

>> YEAH, EVEN WHEN WIDEOUTS WAS HERE, SAME THING.

GUYS WOULD COME IN BUT A LOT OF THEM LEFT - COULDN'T KEEP THEM AROUND.

LET'S TALK - QUARTERBACKS ARE ALWAYS A BIG PART OF THIS - ANY CLASS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT BRINGING A QUARTERBACK INTO THIS MIX.

>> YEAH, RICHARD TORRES, OUT OF SAN ANTONIO.

THEY BROUGHT HIM IN FIRST AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A COUPLE OTHER GUYS THEY LOOKED AT - M.J. MORSE OUT OF ATLANTA WAS A FOUR-STAR THAT THEY - THEY HELD OFF - AND, TORRES WAS THE FIRST GUY THEY WANTED.

A.J.

BIANCO OUT OF HONOLULU, ST. LOUIS, WAS SUPPOSED TO COME IN AND THEY REALLY PLAYED THAT AGAINST TORRES.

HE CAME IN FIRST AND BIANCO WAS GOING TO COME IN TWO WEEKS LATER AND THEY SAID, "ALL RIGHT, THAT WINDOW'S COMING.

IF BIANCO COMES, HE CAN COMMIT."

SO, THAT REALLY LED TORRES TO MAKING HIS DECISION.

HE PICKED NEBRASKA OVER KANSAS STATE - THOSE ARE REALLY THE TWO MAJOR PLAYERS THERE.

KIND OF REMINDS YOU AGAIN OF HEINRICH HAARBERG, WITH THE BIG STRONG ARM, TALL GUY.

>> CAN RUN.

>> CAN RUN A LITTLE BIT.

DOESN'T PLAY FOR A GREAT PROGRAM.

SAN ANTONIO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MAJOR METRO AREAS, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE THE LOW BAR OF TEXAS, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK HE'S A BIG DEAL DOWN THERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN A LOT OF RECOGNITION WITH HIS COMMITMENT TO NEBRASKA.

>> YEAH, THE BEST TEAMS ARE USUALLY FILLED WITH THE AIR FORCE KIDS WHO COME IN AND THEY'LL BE ON THE BASE THERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IN-STATE GUYS, ERNEST HAUSMANN, OBVIOUSLY, OUT OF COLUMBUS COMMITS.

BUT, THERE'S FOUR BIG GUYS IN THE TOP FIVE THAT ARE GOING TO BE HEADING OTHER PLACES.

>> YEAH, YOU LOOK AT THE IN-STATE TOP FIVE, DESHAWN WOODS, OUR NUMBER ONE RIGHT NOW GOING TO MISSOURI AND, YOU KNOW, IT JUST KIND OF TURNED EARLY FOR NEBRASKA.

THAT WAS A GUY GREG AUSTIN OFFERED.

IOWA STATE WAS HIS FIRST OFFER BUT IT JUST NEVER WAS THERE AND I THINK THE PANDEMIC REALLY HURT NEBRASKA.

THEY DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GET DESHAWN ON CAMPUS AND SPEND TIME WITH HIM.

DEVON JACKSON, THEY WERE HIS FIRST OFFER.

THEY WENT AFTER HIM RIGHT AWAY.

BOTH HIS MOM AND HIS DAD PLAYED SPORTS AT ILLINOIS - DID NOT GROW UP AS A HUSKER KID.

SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK HE'S GOING TO ARIZONA STATE, BUT WITH THE RECENT NCAA THINGS THERE, IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT DIRECTION DEVON'S GOING.

OREGON'S IN THERE.

MIAMI'S IN THERE, LSU.

HE'S GOT EVERY MAJOR OFFER.

THEN, THE TWO TIGHT ENDS OUT OF BELLEVUE WEST, MICAH RILEY-DUCKER, KADEN HELMS.

WELL, GUESS WHAT?

NEBRASKA TOOK THREE TIGHT ENDS LAST YEAR.

ONE OF THEM WAS THE NUMBER ONE-RANKED TIGHT END IN THE COUNTRY, THOMAS FIDONE, WHO IS BETTER THAN BOTH THESE GUYS.

SO, I THINK THEY SEE THAT AND THEY'RE LIKE, "YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS NOT A FIT."

MICAH RILEY-DUCKER, I'M REALLY INTRIGUED.

HE'S GOING TO PLAY AT AUBURN AND HE'S GOING TO PLAY IN A PRO-STYLE SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, FOR THEM DOWN THERE AND, KADEN HELMS IS HONESTLY A VERY GOOD FIT IN WHAT OKLAHOMA DOES, SO THEY MADE GREAT CHOICES WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

NEBRASKA GOT THEIR ONE TIGHT END THAT THEY WANTED TO TAKE AND THEIR ERNEST HAUSMANN.

YOU KNOW, JUST A VERY, VERY INTERESTING STORY.

HE WAS ADOPTED FROM AFRICA, CAME OVER AS A YOUNG BOY TO COLUMBUS, AND HAS REALLY TURNED INTO AN ATHLETIC SPECIMEN AND, YOU KNOW, HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.

HIS FATHER, BOB HAUSMANN IS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IN COLUMBUS, SO JUST A GREAT KID AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A HUGE PRIORITY TO GET HIM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU KNEW THOSE OTHER FOUR GUYS WERE NOT COMING.

>> LAST THING.

YOU MENTIONED SMALL CLASS HERE, OBVIOUSLY 13.

2023 COULD BE SMALL, AS WELL, RIGHT?

BASED ON WHAT WE SEE FROM THE NUMBERS?

>> YEAH, IT'S SO HARD TO SAY WITH ATTRITION, BUT TODAY, RIGHT NOW, AFTER THE JAMIN GRAHAM TRANSFER PORTAL AND THE JIMMY FRITZSCHE TRANSFER PORTAL, THEY'RE AT 49 FRESHMEN, AND RED-SHIRT FRESHMEN-- >> WOW.

>> AND COVID FRESHMEN, OF THE 85.

SO, IF THEY TAKE 13 RIGHT NOW AND ASSUMING EVERY JUNIOR COMES BACK, WHICH SOME JUNIORS COULD GO PRO, OR MOVE ON, THEY'D BE AT 91 WITH 13.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO GET LOWER, BUT I MEAN, THAT KIND OF GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE THEY'RE AT WITH THE NUMBERS CRUNCH.

>> YEAH.

APPRECIATE IT, SEAN.

BE SURE TO VOTE ON THIS WEEK'S "SIDELINE SURVEY."

"DOES NEBRASKA HAVE TO WIN THE FIRST GAME AGAINST ILLINOIS TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SEASON?"

WE TOLD YOU EARLIER, THE ANSWER IS "YES," AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.

88% OF FOLKS SAYING THAT THIS GAME IS IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SEASON, WHICH MAKES PLENTY OF SENSE BECAUSE THIS COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT - MAYBE MORE WINS IF YOU GET THE FIRST ONE UNDER YOUR BELT.

>> YEAH, THAT'S - GOING TO A BOWL GAME, STAYING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DETROIT AND VEGAS.

(LAUGHS) >> THEY HAVE A CHANCE, AND THIS IS THE BAD SIDE OF IT - THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE THE WORST RUN NEBRASKA'S HAD SINCE '56-59.

THAT'S WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW WITH THAT CHANCE.

ADRIAN MARTINEZ HAS THE CHANCE TO BE ONE OF THE FEW QUARTERBACKS THAT'S EVER PLAYED STARTER FOUR YEARS AT HIS UNIVERSITY AND DIDN'T MAKE A BOWL GAME.

DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN.

>> OH, BOY.

>> THERE'S JUST A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S A PART OF THIS SEASON THAT'S HISTORICAL.

>> YEAH, JOJO DOMANN, THE ONLY PLAYER ON THIS ROSTER THAT PLAYED IN A BOWL FOR NEBRASKA, HE GOT INTO THAT GAME AS A TRUE FRESHMAN BEFORE HE GOT RED-SHIRTED THE NEXT DAY.

>> THE LAST ONE - THE MUSIC CITY BOWL -- >> THE MUSIC CITY BOWL, YEAH, HE HAD A FUMBLE STRIP IN THAT GAME.

>> JEEZ.

>> YEAH.

SO, THERE'S ONLY ONE GUY WITH HUSKER EXPERIENCE IN A BOWL GAME ON THIS ROSTER.

>> THAT'S CRAZY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ILLINOIS, AND THE KEYS TO THIS GAME.

LAST YEAR, EVERYBODY RAN ILLINOIS.

EVERYBODY DID.

WE'VE HEARD ABOUT NEBRASKA'S TOP THREE BACKS.

DO YOU FEEL THAT NEBRASKA CAN ESTABLISH THE RUNNING GAME AGAINST ILLINOIS THIS YEAR?

>> JUST FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD IN THE SCRIMMAGES, THAT'S BEEN AN EMPHASIS.

I MEAN, NEBRASKA HAS ALMOST BEEN, FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT, 65-35 RUN PASS.

I THINK THEY LIKE THEIR TIGHT ENDS.

WE KNOW TRAVIS VOLKOLEK'S KIND OF NICKED UP.

TURNER CORCORAN'S A STORYLINE TO WATCH, TOO.

HE HASN'T REALLY PRACTICED MUCH OF AUGUST WITH AN UNKNOWN LEG INJURY.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND, HE'S BEEN BACK IN PRACTICE THIS LAST WEEK, SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO WATCH - THAT LEFT TACKLE.

AS WE KNOW, THE LEFT TACKLE IS A KEY SPOT ON THE LINE - PROTECTS ADRIAN MARTINEZ'S BLIND SIDE, BUT I DO THINK MIKE'L AND JAY, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN EMPHASIS WITH GABE ERVIN, MARKESE STEPP, AND SEVION MORRISON, BUT I THINK GABE ERVIN THE STARTER IF I HAD TO PROJECT RIGHT NOW.

>> REALLY.

YOU HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT SEVION MORRISON WITH HIS NEW LOOK, AND EVERYTHING.

THAT'S A GUY I THINK COULD HAVE A REALLY BREAKOUT, BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE LONG RUNS.

>> AND TODAY, THEY SAID - THEY GO, "WE KNOW WHO THE GUY IS, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY," SO I - YOU KNOW, IT'S - IT'S BEEN THIS POKER GAME, AND I DON'T THINK ILLINOIS PUT OUT A DEPTH CHART, EITHER.

>> YOU MEAN THE LAST TRUE FRESHMEN TO START THE OPEN SEASON AT RUNNING BACK FOR NEBRASKA.

>> UH, YEAH.

>> GOT ANYBODY?

>> I DON'T KNOW OF ONE.

>> I KNOW DAVID HORN DIDN'T, DID HE?

>> NO, MILO GREEN DID IT.

I MEAN IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA -- >> MARLO, LIKE -- >> HE DID IT.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT'S - THAT WOULD BE A HUGE STORY.

>> TRUE FRESHMEN IN GENERAL ON OFFENSE.

I MEAN, THERE JUST HASN'T - THERE'S BEEN SOME WIDE RECEIVERS -- >> AND, THERE'S BEEN OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, OBVIOUSLY, BUT YEAH, THERE HASN'T BEEN A TON - A LOT OF 'EM, YEAH.

LET'S - LET'S TALK SOME QUESTIONS FROM FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

WAYLON SAYS, "IS A SIX-WIN SEASON AND GOING TO A BOWL GAME A SUCCESSFUL YEAR?"

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY, IT IS.

I MEAN, WHAT'S IT FOR - YES.

>> YES.

>> YES, TOTALLY.

YEAH, I - I - MY MARK'S 7-5, BUT I SAID 6-6 IS A - IS A GOOD SEASON.

I MEAN, WE CAN'T BE GREEDY.

I MEAN, HELL - 9-3, 10-2 SOUNDS GREAT, RIGHT?

BUT, I MEAN, 6-6 IS AN IMPROVEMENT.

I MEAN, THAT'S - YOU'RE BEATING THE TEAMS YOU PROBABLY SHOULD AND MIGHT HAVE SOME MISTAKES IN THERE, BUT I WOULD TAKE - I MEAN, 6-6 IS NOT A - SCOTT FROST IS A KID FIRED UP IF YOU GO 6-6.

>> SEAN, YOU REFERENCED A SECOND AGO, BUT TODD, ON FACEBOOK, WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE DEPTH.

THIS IS AS DEEP AS, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE BACK 2011, 2012, IN TERMS OF THE TEAM IN TERMS OF DEPTH.

>> WELL, I THINK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DEPTH, IT'S THE VERSATILITY, AND IF IT'S A GUY GETS HURT, CAN YOU PUT SOMEBODY IN AND NOT HAVE A DROP-OFF?

>> RIGHT.

>> I - I - I THINK WHEN PEOPLE THINK "DEPTH," LIKE, "OH, THEY'RE GOING TO ROTATE A LOT OF GUYS," AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE PLAN AT ALL.

I DO THINK BRANT BANKS, THOUGH, HIS VERSATILITY TO PLAY TACKLE AND GUARD IS KEY.

BROC BANDO AND TRENT HIXSON, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE STARTERS, BUT THEY GIVE THEM A LOT OF VETERAN DEPTH BEHIND THAT GROUP.

CAM JURGENS, EVERYTHING YOU HEAR HE'S TURNED THE CORNER.

BRYCE BENHART NEEDS A BIG SECOND YEAR NOW.

I THINK HE HAD SOME ROUGH MOMENTS -- I MEAN, THAT PENN STATE GAME -- >> YEAH.

>> THAT WAS TOUGH FOR HIM.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE MATCHUPS THAT HE SAW EARLY AS A FRESHMAN OUT THERE - ETHAN PIPER, SAME THING.

I MEAN, THOSE TWO GUYS HOPEFULLY CAN USE THAT EXPERIENCE THEY GOT A YEAR AGO GOING AGAINST OHIO STATE AND PENN STATE, AND HAVE A REALLY BIG SECOND YEAR AS STARTERS.

>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NOUILI - HE'S LISTED EVERY POSITION.

I WANT TO SEE THAT GUY PLAY SOMEWHERE, BECAUSE HE'S ON EVERY POSITION.

CHRIS ON FACEBOOK SAYS, "CAN WE EXPECT A DEPTH CHART AT ALL THIS SEASON?"

>> UM, HERE'S WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS.

SO, IF SCOTT FROST DOESN'T PUT ONE OUT, I MEAN, KEITH MANN - THE MEDIA RELATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS GENERALLY JUST LIKE LOOKED AT WHO STARTED THE GAME AND THEN THEY MIGHT JUST PUT THAT OUT ON PAPER.

>> OKAY.

>> I MEAN, LIKE WHOEVER THE STARTERS ARE, THEN THEY COULD PUT ONE OUT AFTER THE FIRST GAME, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

YEAH, I DON'T KNOW - I FEEL LIKE IN THIS TRANSFER PORTAL ERA WE'RE IN NOW, TO - YOU OVER-ANALYZE DEPTH CHARTS, YOU GET A LOT MORE UNCLES AND COUSINS GETTING INVOLVED, WHISPERING IN YOUR EAR ABOUT THAT DEPTH CHART.

>> YEAH-YEAH-YEAH.

>> AND SO, EITHER/OR GUYS, TOO - THAT'S ALWAYS A CONVERSATION.

>> SO, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF THEY JUST DIDN'T PUT ONE OUT BECAUSE THEY KNOW, LIKE, HOW MANY QUESTIONS IT LEADS, AND THAT GETS THINGS GOING IN GUYS' HEADS.

>> AND, ABOUT 30 SECONDS, A QUESTION FROM GREG ON FACEBOOK, "YOU'RE A NATIVE NEBRASKAN.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE SOLID STREAK?"

>> IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S - I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S EVERYTHING.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT?

START WINNING MORE FOOTBALL GAMES AND IT WON'T BE AN ISSUE.

>> THAT IS VERY TRUE.

>> IT'S THE WAY I PUT IT.

>> PEOPLE WANT TO GO SEE WINNERS.

>> RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, THAT'S - THAT'S - PUT A GOOD PRODUCT OUT THERE, PEOPLE WANT TO GO SEE IT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME AND THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEND THEIR MONEY ON A BAD PRODUCT.

IT'S SIMPLE AS THAT.

>> AND, PROBABLY ADD ALCOHOL, TOO - MIGHT HELP, TOO.

>> A LOT OF SCHOOLS HAVE DONE IT.

>> THAT'LL HELP A LOT.

>> IT CERTAINLY WORKS SOMETIMES.

ALL RIGHT, WE WANT TO SHARE OUR BURNING QUESTIONS IN JUST A MINUTE, BUT FIRST - FOR THE ILLINOIS GAME - BUT FIRST, HERE'S MORE WITH IAN MOSSBERG.

>> WE ARE ALMOST SETTING OUT FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF BIG RED FOOTBALL.

THANKS FOR WATCHING "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

WANT MORE?

GIVE US A CALL AND BEGIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S HOW YOU SUPPORT OUR GREAT SPORTS ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

GIVE US A CALL AT 800-989-8236, OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE, AND WE'LL WELCOME YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

WHEN YOU MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF $20 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH THE AUTOGRAPHED "THREE DECADES OF HEISMAN WINNERS" OIL LITHOGRAPH.

IT IS SIGNED BY NEBRASKA'S THREE HEISMAN TROPHY WINNERS, JOHNNY "THE JET" RODGERS FROM 1972, MIKE ROZIER IN 1983, AND ERIC CROUCH IN 2001.

WE'LL ALSO THROW IN THE BOOK "FOR HUSKER FANS ONLY!

: WONDERFUL STORIES FROM NEBRASKA FANS."

WHEN YOU MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF $6 A MONTH, OR $72 WITH A ONE-TIME GIFT, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH A PRINT OF "HERBIE, THE EVOLUTION."

IT'S AN 11" X 17" PRINT FEATURING HERBIE HUSKER FROM 1940 TO THE PRESENT, LIMITED EDITION, NUMBERED, AND AUTOGRAPHED BY HERBIE.

AND, WE'LL THROW IN THE DVD, "NEBRASKA SPIRIT: GO BIG RED."

IT'S A NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA PRODUCTION THAT TAKES US DOWN MEMORY LANE, LOOKING AT THE GLORY DAYS SURROUNDING NEBRASKA SPORTS.

CALL OR TEXT THE WORD "DONATE" TO 800-989-8236, OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

MIKE'L IS HERE WITH ME NOW.

FROM NEWSPAPERS TO RADIO TALK SHOWS, THERE'S A LOT OUT THERE ABOUT THE HUSKERS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT "BIG RED WRAP-UP" PROVIDES FOR HUSKER FANS THAT THEY CAN'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE?

>> WELL, IT'S A PRETTY EASY ANSWER.

THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THE TEAM VERY CLOSELY, THAT KNOW RECRUITING, THAT KNOW THE PLAYERS, THAT KNOW THE COACHES, AND GIVE YOU HONEST ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE TEAM, YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE BEST COVERAGE FROM THIS SHOW EVERY SINGLE WEEK, AND I'M NOT BEING BIASED, OR PATTING MYSELF ON THE BACK, EITHER.

>> WELL, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

WE ARE PROUD TO FILL THAT NEED FOR THE HUSKER FANS THAT TUNE IN EVERY WEEK.

YOU CAN KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, AS THEY SAY - DONATE NOW AND ALL THE SPORTS PROGRAMS ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA CAN CONTINUE.

GIVE US A CALL AT 800-989-8236, OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE, AND WE'LL SAY "THANK YOU" WITH SOME OF THESE GIFTS.

AT $20 A MONTH, WE WILL THANK YOU WITH THE AUTOGRAPHED, "THREE DECADES OF HEISMAN WINNERS" OIL LITHOGRAPH.

IT'S SIGNED BY JOHNNY RODGERS, MIKE ROZIER, AND ERIC CROUCH.

AND, WE'LL ALSO THROW IN THE BOOK "FOR HUSKER FANS ONLY!"

WONDERFUL STORIES FROM NEBRASKA FANS."

WHEN YOU MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF $6 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH A PRINT AND A DVD.

IT'S AN 11" X 17" PRINT FEATURING THE EVOLUTION OF HERBIE HUSKER AND THE PROGRAM "NEBRASKA SPIRIT: GO BIG RED."

GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR DONATION RIGHT NOW BY CALLING 800-989-8236, OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

AND NOW, LET'S GO BACK FOR THE FINAL FEW MOMENTS OF "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

>> WELL, IT'S TIME FOR "BURNING QUESTIONS."

YOU GET TO GO FIRST, SEAN.

>> MY BURNING QUESTION IS, CAN WE SEE THAT LONG-DESIRED CLEAN FOOTBALL GAME FROM NEBRASKA OUT OF THE GATES - EXECUTION, CRISPNESS, WHERE IT JUST CLICKS?

AND, I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO CLICK IN ALL PHASES IN A SEASON OPENER, BUT CAN YOU AT LEAST PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT SAYS, "OKAY, THIS IS -- THIS IS WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE UNDER SCOTT FROST"?

>> YEAH, HOW ABOUT YOU, JAY?

>> CAN AN OFFENSIVE-MINDED HEAD COACH LEAN ON THE DEFENSE A LITTLE BIT, AND DEFENSIVE PLAY-CALLING?

AND, SEAN KIND OF ALLUDED TO THAT EARLIER - 65-35 RUN TO PASS.

CAN HE LEAN ON THAT DEFENSE AND KIND OF SLOW IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT?

GET SOME TEMPO GOING, BUT SLOW IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, CONTROL IT, AND HEY, YOU KNOW, TIME OF POSSESSION - LET'S INCREASE THAT AND NOT GIVE US MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOOT OURSELF IN THE FOOT AND JUST CONTROL IT.

AND, LEAN ON THAT - THAT REALLY GOOD DEFENSE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE.

>> NEBRASKA IMPROVED IN RUNNING DEFENSE FROM 2019 TO 2020 BY A GOOD AMOUNT - 4.2 YARDS A CARRY.

GET THAT UNDER FOUR YARDS A CARRY AGAINST ILLINOIS, SLOW DOWN ILLINOIS' RUNNING GAME.

IF YOU DO THAT, I DON'T BELIEVE THE WIDE RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS FOR ILLINOIS CAN BEAT THE PASS DEFENSE FOR NEBRASKA.

SO, IF NEBRASKA STOPS THE RUNNING GAME, I THINK THAT THEY END UP WINNING THE GAME.

AND WE - AND OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE ALL PICKING IT.

WE'RE ALL THINKING IT'S ABOUT POINTS, SOMEWHERE IN THERE.

>> YEAH, TEN-ISH.

>> YEAH, I GOT IT AT 14, BUT THAT'S MY PREDICTION FROM LAST YEAR.

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT'S - I MEAN, WHAT?

OVER/UNDER 55?

>> WE HAVE 54-1/2, SOMEWHERE IN THAT -- >> SO, WE'RE ALL WHAT?

FOR 31-20?

>> 34-20.

>> YEAH, SO IF THEY COME OUT AND TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS, NEBRASKA'S A BETTER FOOTBALL TEAM.

IF THEY DO THE SMALL THINGS.

>> THE LITTLE THINGS.

>> THE LITTLE THINGS.

>> THE DETAILS.

>> THE DETAILS.

DETAILS ARE IMPORTANT.

>> SPEAKING OF PREDICTIONS, DON'T FORGET TO HEAD OVER TO OUR WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE AND CLICK ON "THE PREDICTION."

JAY, SEAN, AND I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT ON SATURDAY, THE HUSKERS HIT THE ROAD FOR GAME ONE OF 2021 SEASON, AS THEY TAKE ON THE FIGHTING ILLINI.

THE WEEK ZERO MATCHUP KICKS OFF AT NOON ON BIG FOX.

NEXT TUESDAY, WE'RE BACK TO RECAP AS WE BREAK DOWN THE GAME WITH SPECIAL GUEST, FORMER HUSKER, JEREMIAH SIRLES.

THANKS TO MITCH SHERMAN AND JAY FOREMAN FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR JAY MOORE AND SEAN CALLAHAN, I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

( DRUM ROLL MUSIC ) CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION SOLUTIONS, LLC.

WWW.CAPTIONSOLUTIONS.COM FIGHTING APPLY NINE.

THE WEEK ZERO MATCHUP KICKS OFF ON NOON.

NEXT TUESDAY WE'RE BACK THE RECAP AS WE BREAK DOWN THE GAME WITH SPECIAL GUEST FORMER HUSKER JEREMIAH SIRLES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "BIG RED WRAP UP."