
Bowl Game Recap & Portal Breakdown
Special | 58m 18sVideo has Audio Description
Big Red Wrap breaks down the Las Vegas Bowl performance and looks at the transfer portal picture.
Join Mike'l Severe, Sean Callahan, Jay Moore, and Damon Benning as they discuss Nebraska's loss at the Las Vegas bowl. Sean Callahan will share up-to-the-minute recruiting news and transfer portal updates. Tonight's special guest is former husker Jerimiah Sirles.
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Big Red Wrap-Up is a local public television program presented by Nebraska Public Media

Bowl Game Recap & Portal Breakdown
Special | 58m 18sVideo has Audio Description
Join Mike'l Severe, Sean Callahan, Jay Moore, and Damon Benning as they discuss Nebraska's loss at the Las Vegas bowl. Sean Callahan will share up-to-the-minute recruiting news and transfer portal updates. Tonight's special guest is former husker Jerimiah Sirles.
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(BAND MUSIC) >> IT DIDN'T GO WELL IN VEGAS.
WE'LL RECAP THAT.
WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE TRANSFER PORTAL AND IN THE LAST HOUR, A NEW QUARTERBACK.
WE'LL GET YOU UP TO DATE ON EVERYTHING.
I'M BIG RED WRAP-UP.
(band music) >> WE START OFF TONIGHT AT THE RECRUITING WALL TO GET YOU UPDATED ON EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE PORTAL.
AND OF COURSE, SEAN CALLAHAN IS HERE TO HELP US TOO.
LET'S START OFF THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION.
NOT I-BACK, QUARTERBACK.
LET'S START OFF WITH ANTHONY COLANDREA.
>> YEAH.
NEBRASKA PIVOTED QUICKLY.
ANTHONY COLANDREA, MADE IT OFFICIAL BY AN HOUR AGO.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS RELATIVELY BREAKING NEWS TO MOST OF OUR VIEWERS, BUT, KENNY MINCHEY WAS OBVIOUSLY THEIR INITIAL QUARTERBACK COMMIT.
BACKED OUT LAST NIGHT AND NEBRASKA PIVOTED QUICKLY.
AND THEY GO WITH COLANDREA.
WHO'S A DUAL THREAT.
THREE YEAR STARTER FROM VIRGINIA AND UNLV.
HE WAS THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR.
>> OFFENSIVELY.
>> YOU KNOW, HAD TEN RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS THIS YEAR, 26 PASSING TOUCHDOWNS.
CLEANED UP HIS INTERCEPTIONS.
I KNOW AT VIRGINIA, HAD A HIGHER PICK NUMBER OVERALL IN PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS.
HE SCORED A 90.
SO ONE OF THE HIGHEST GRADED PLAYERS AT THE QUARTERBACK POSITION NATIONALLY.
I MEAN, THERE'S SOME THOUGHT OUT THERE THAT THIS IS ALMOST A BETTER GUY THAN WHAT MINCHEY WAS BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A THREE YEAR PROVEN STARTER COMING IN HERE.
>> YEAH, HE HAD NINE HIS FIRST YEAR, 11 YEAR LAST YEAR IN THE NINE THIS YEAR FOUR FUMBLES.
REALLY GOOD RUNNER.
YOU MENTIONED DUAL THREAT 865 YARDS.
WHEN YOU TAKE OUT THE SACK YARDS THAT'S OVER SIX YARDS A CARRY.
PLUS HE'S ONE OF THOSE GUYS TOO THAT HE DOESN'T REALLY GET CAUGHT IN THE POCKET A LOT.
>> NO AND THEN THE ABILITY TO SCORE IN THE RED ZONE TOO.
BECAUSE WITH THE RUNNING BACK QUESTION THAT WITHOUT EMMETT JOHNSON, YOU NEED ANOTHER THREAT TO SCORE ON THE GROUND AND YOU'VE GOT A QUARTERBACK.
NOW THAT THAT CAN HELP YOU.
NOW, NEBRASKA STILL MAY GO IN THE PORTAL AND ADD ANOTHER QUARTERBACK.
BUT I LOVE THIS ADDITION, ESPECIALLY THE PRESSURE THIS NEBRASKA STAFF WAS UNDER TO GET THIS DONE.
BECAUSE THE LONGER THIS LINGERED, YOU KNOW, THE MORE WORRISOME IT GOT BECAUSE THESE BIG NAMES GO OFF THE BOARD QUICKLY.
HE WAS AT FLORIDA STATE TODAY.
NEBRASKA WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THIS DOWN.
GEORGIA TECH WAS ALSO, IN PLAY AS WELL TO GET COLANDREA.
>> YEAH.
LET'S GO TO OFFENSIVE LINE TO PROTECT HIM.
BRENDAN BLACK OUT OF IOWA STATE.
AND THEN ALSO, A GUY NAMED BIG TREE, WHICH I LOVE.
BOBALADA FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, BOTH OF THOSE GUYS.
BUT START OFF WITH, BRENDAN BLACK.
>> YEAH, THEY GO TO IOWA STATE.
BRENDON BLACK, A MULTI-YEAR STARTER AS A RIGHT GUARD, CAN PLAY SOME CENTER.
BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE KIND OF HEIR APPARENT TO ROCCO SPINDLER.
VERSATILE GUY WITH EXPERIENCE, THOUGH.
THAT COULD PLAY REALLY ANYWHERE ON THE INTERIOR.
ONE OF THE LONE CYCLONES THAT'S NOT GOING TO FOLLOW MATT CAMPBELL TO STATE COLLEGE.
>> MORE THAN 30 STARTS TOO, EXPERIENCE GUY.
BABALADA DOESN'T HAVE AS MANY STARTS, BUT HE PLAYED BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT.
>> SO, BABALADA AS A TRUE FRESHMAN STARTED AT LEFT TACKLE.
THEN, YOU KNOW, REDSHIRTED, PLAYED THE FOUR GAME OF THE YEAR LAST YEAR.
THEN THIS YEAR WAS A STARTER AT RIGHT TACKLE.
BUT YOU LOOK AT THIS OFFENSIVE LINE, ELIJAH PRITCHETT OBVIOUSLY FIGURES HEAVILY AT THE LEFT SIDE.
YOU FIGURE BABALADA AND OBVIOUSLY GUNNAR GOTTULA CAN PLAY GUARD OR TACKLE.
THEY'VE GOT SOME OPTIONS THERE.
BUT I THINK WHAT THE LONNIE TEASLEY CONNECTION HERE, THIS ONE MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO BRING HIM IN.
HE WAS A HIGHLY, HIGHLY REGARDED RECRUIT COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
>> YEAH.
14TH HIGHEST.
I THINK HE'S A GUARD AT THE NEXT LEVEL, BUT CERTAINLY RIGHT TACKLE HERE.
LET'S GET INTO THE LINEBACKERS.
WILL HAWTHORNE'S A GUY THAT NEBRASKA KNOWS REALLY WELL.
>> YEAH WILL HAWTHORNE CAME TO NEBRASKA'S CAMP OVER A YEAR AGO.
PICKED IOWA STATE FOR PROXIMITY REASONS.
HE'S A TEN, 800 ELECTRONIC GUY, A98 BROAD JUMP.
RAN, YOU KNOW, IN THE 4 OR 5 AT NEBRASKA'S CAMP.
SO FIT ALL THOSE INTANGIBLES.
I KNOW THEY LOVED HIM WHEN HE CAME TO NEBRASKA'S CAMP AND WHEN HE PICKED IOWA STATE.
BUT THAT'S WHAT THE PORTAL WAS.
YOU KEEP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
AND WILL HAWTHORNE A YEAR LATER, IS NOW AT NEBRASKA.
YEAH.
>> AND THEN OWEN CHAMBLISS, DEFINITELY A RUN-HIT GUY.
THIS IS A GUY CAN GO SIDELINE TO SIDELINE.
>> LEADING TACKLER FOR SAN DIEGO STATE OVER 100 TACKLES A YEAR AGO.
HE'S GOING TO COME IN WITH GREAT FAMILIARITY AS NEBRASKA MAKES THIS TRANSITION.
AND WHEN YOU MAKE A BIG HIRE NOW A HEAD COACH OR COORDINATOR, I THINK THE QUESTION PEOPLE ASK IS WHO ARE YOU GONNA BRING WITH YOU?
WELL, HE'S NOW BROUGHT TWO GUYS, AND OWEN CHAMBLISS BEING ONE OF THE MORE HIGH PROFILE ONES AS THE LEADING TACKLER.
>> YEAH.
AND THEN THE LAST 50 MINUTES, THE SAFETY DWAYNE MCDOUGLE, WHO HAD FOUR INTERCEPTIONS AND 51 TACKLES LAST YEAR FOR SAN DIEGO.
>> YEAH.
THE SECOND, AZTEC TO JOIN ROB AURICH IN LINCOLN.
ANOTHER VETERAN SAFETY.
AND LOOK NEBRASKA LOSES DESHON SINGLETON.
THEY LOSE MALCOLM HARTZOG.
THEY LOSE CEYAIR WRIGHT.
A LOT OF MOVEMENT ON THE BACK END.
MARQUES BUFORD GONE.
THAT NEEDS TO GET FIGURED OUT IN THIS FIVE DEFENSIVE BACKS SCHEME.
SO CLEARLY, SOMEBODY THAT HAS FAMILIARITY THAT PLAYED A LOT FOR ROB AURICH.
>> AND ON COLLECTION NIGHT.
IF FOR SOME REASON SOMETHING HAPPENS, WE'LL COME BACK TO THE WALL.
>> I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE BOARD HERE, LIKE I'M.
>> CATCH-UP BACK WITH YOU.
>> GOTTA SHOW THE MAPS.
>> SEAN WILL BE THERE ALL NIGHT IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS ON AIR TO UPDATE US.
BUT LET'S NOW TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET.
HOW WE CAN HEAR FROM YOU.
YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PORTAL.
YOU CAN CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK.
OF COURSE YOU CAN DO IT ON TWITTER.
YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.
TALKING ABOUT WHATEVER YOU WANT, INCLUDING THE GAME IN LAS VEGAS OR THE PORTAL.
AND THEN WE'LL GET TO AS MANY OF THOSE AS YOUR QUESTIONS AS WE CAN AT THE END OF THE SHOW.
NOW, TIME FOR THE SIDELINE SURVEY.
NOW, THIS WAS A SIDELINE SURVEY THAT ACTUALLY ABOUT AN HOUR AGO MATTERED.
IF YOU ARE NOT VOTING FOR ANTHONY COLANDREA YOU HAVEN'T BEEN WATCHING THE SHOW.
SO 33% SAY THAT.
BEAU PRIBULA SAY IT'S 50% AND AIDAN CHILES GOT 17%.
BUT WE KNOW WHO IT IS.
NOW IT IS COLANDREA.
LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE BOWL AND OF COURSE, THE PORTAL AS WELL.
YOU GUYS WERE BOTH IN VEGAS.
DIFFERENT REASONS.
YOU WERE WORKING.
YOU WERE HAVING FUN.
>> I WAS WORKING.
>> OKAY, SURE.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE AND EVERYTHING.
>> YEAH, I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT.
THAT'S FIRST TIME BEING IN THE, THE DEATH STAR AS THEY CALL ALLEGIANT STADIUM.
NO.
IT'S COOL.
I THOUGHT THE ATMOSPHERE WAS GREAT.
A LOT OF FANS.
TONS OF UTAH AND NEBRASKA FANS.
I MEAN, SEEMED ABOUT 50/50.
YOU KNOW, 25,000 NEBRASKA FANS SEEMED ABOUT RIGHT.
OBVIOUSLY THE START OF THE GAME WAS, WAS FANTASTIC AND ENDING WAS WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT WENT.
BUT, THE VENUE WAS GREAT.
I THINK.
I KNOW IF NEBRASKA WANTS TO GET ABOVE THE BOWLS, THOSE THE TIERS ABOVE VEGAS, BUT IT'S A GREAT SPOT TO GO FOR THESE GUYS TO GO AND EXPERIENCE TO HAVE FUN.
BUT YEAH, THAT WAS BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THAT WAS MY FIRST GAME THAT I HAD BEEN INTO IN PERSON, AND THIS YEAR WAS THE BOWL GAME.
BUT, YEAH, IT WAS.
I'D GO BACK, I'D GO BACK AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> YEAH, I KNOW YOU WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT AT LEAST ONE PLAYER DURING THE GAME.
MEKHI NELSON FINALLY GOT HIS OPPORTUNITY.
>> YEAH, I LIKE THE BACKFIELD.
YOU KNOW I THINK IT'S COMPETITIVE.
I THINK COACH BARTHEL DOES A SUPER JOB.
I'M A BIG MEKHI NELSON FAN.
I THINK IKE IS REALLY, REALLY GOING TO BE A GOOD PLAYER.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR IKE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HE PLAYED RUNNING BACK FOR ONE YEAR.
>> YEAH.
>> COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
SO I GET THE TRANSITION AND THEN THE DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY.
BUT WITH NELSON HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.
HE'S A TOUGH KID.
HE'S AN EXPLOSIVE KID.
AND I THINK HE'S WAITING FOR HIS OPPORTUNITY.
TAKES REALLY GOOD CARE OF THE FOOTBALL.
AND THAT ROOM IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE.
JAMAL'S, JAMAL RULE WILL BE, A GOOD ADDITION TO THAT ROOM AS WELL.
THEY MAY GET ONE, BUT I DON'T.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY.
>> RIGHT.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S LOADED.
I MEAN, IN TERMS OF BODIES, BECAUSE YOU GOT BOOTH, YOU GOT RULE ADDED IN.
IVES, WE DON'T TALK ABOUT KENNETH WILLIAMS, EITHER.
IT'S ANOTHER GUY IN THAT ROOM.
>> IT'S A GOOD ROOM.
AND LISTEN, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN ROLL THEIR EYES AND SCOFF OR HOWEVER THEY FEEL ABOUT THE RUNNING BACK SITUATION, BUT IT'S THE EXACT SAME SENTIMENT THEY HAD A YEAR AGO WITH E.J.
BEFORE HE HAD THE YEAR HE DID.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A COLLECTION OF TALENT, IT'S GREATER GOING INTO THIS YEAR THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF ATHLETICISM.
>> DON'T FORGET THAT HE WAS A FOURTH STRING.
AND THEN ENDED UP BEING THE BIG TEN BACK OF THE YEAR.
>> OH YEAH.
>> HOW DO YOU THINK TJ PLAYED.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT BRINGING IN A QUARTERBACK OUT OF THE PORTAL.
WE ALREADY GOT A QUARTERBACK FOR THE TEAM.
WHO'S GOT FOUR STARTS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAY HE PLAYS.
>> YOU KNOW I THINK THEY PROTECTED HIM A LITTLE BIT.
OBVIOUSLY WITH COMING OFF THE HAMSTRING INJURY.
NOW HIM BEING ABLE TO PRACTICE A LOT LEADING UP INTO THE BOWL PREP.
GOT TO USE HIS LEG, USE HIS LEGS A LITTLE BIT.
BUT THEY TRIED TO RUN THE FOOTBALL.
THEY RAN IT SUCCESSFULLY EARLY.
>> YEAH.
>> MEKHI NELSON AFTER THE GREAT START AND NEBRASKA WAS MOVING THE FOOTBALL WELL AGAINST A PRETTY DARN GOOD UTAH DEFENSE IN THAT FIRST HALF.
WHAT I JUST, DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE WAS NEBRASKA KIND OF INABILITY TO STRETCH THE FIELD.
WITH THE DEEP BALL.
I THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE THAT A LITTLE MORE.
THEY BUILT A TACKED ON FEEL A LITTLE MORE.
>> 0 FOR 8.
>> YEAH.
SO I JUST THE THAT THE MISCOMMUNICATION, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, IT JUST LOOKS I THOUGHT THEY DID HAVE THAT ABILITY TO DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS AGAINST THIS UTAH DEFENSE.
LISTEN, I KNOW LIKE I SAID, THE LEAD UP TO IT DIDN'T GET A PRACTICE OF TIME, BUT I, I SEE WHAT THEY SEE.
I LIKE TJ, I LIKE HIS ARM STRENGTH.
I LIKE HIS MOBILITY.
I LIKE HIS POISE FOR BEING A VERY YOUNG PLAYER.
AND I LIKE HIM GOING IN AND GETTING HIS REPS AND GETTING THE BALL PRACTICE AND GETTING THESE LIVE, THESE, LIVE BALL REPS.
I ALWAYS SAY IN THE BOWL PREP LEAD INTO THIS OFFSEASON LEADING THE SPRING BALL.
IN WITH COLANDREA COMING IN.
IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT COMPETITION TO SEE WHO COMES OUT AHEAD THIS FALL.
>> TALKING ABOUT EARLY IN THAT GAME BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO I REALLY RESPECT ONLINE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE OFFENSIVE LINE LOOKED DIFFERENT AND THEY SAW THINGS IN IT.
WHAT DID GEEP HAVE A CHANCE TO DO OVER THOSE PRACTICES TO GET THEM KIND OF CHANGED AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
>> SO THAT'S A FANTASTIC QUESTION.
I THINK BEEN THERE AS LONG AS I WAS.
AND SEEING THOSE GUYS EARLY AT GORMAN.
YOU KNOW JUMP PROTECTION IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
YOU KNOW, THE QUICK GAME, GETTING THE BALL IN AND OUT OF THEIR HANDS, THEY'RE REALLY AGGRESSIVE AT THE POINT OF ATTACK.
AND THE TECHNIQUE IS DIFFERENT.
YOU KNOW THUMBS UP VERSUS THUMBS DOWN AND OUT.
SO SOME OF THAT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM A TECHNIQUE STANDPOINT.
I ALSO LIKE THE FACT THAT THEY SPENT A GOOD CHUNK OF TIME, THEY WORKED A TON OF DOUBLES AND ISOS, PLAYS WITH PENS AND PULLS A LOT OF HALF LINE TYPE STUFF AS THEY WERE WORKING WITH THE GROUP.
SO THAT WAS PROBABLY THE ONE GROUP THAT I WAS THE MOST CONCERNED WITH DURING THE TRANSITION, BECAUSE THAT GROUP WAS THE TIGHTEST WITH THEIR FORMER COACH.
>> SURE.
>> THAT OFFENSIVE LINE RALLIED AROUND, DONNY RAIOLA.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WAS INTERESTED TO SEE THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, GEEP WADE AND, YOU KNOW, HE JUMPED IN WITH BOTH FEET.
SUPER AGGRESSIVE.
HE'S GOT A GREAT SPIRIT.
HE'S VERY HE'S GOT THIS PERSONALITY.
IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF OFFENSIVE LINE.
A LOT OF TIMES THOSE GUYS ARE JUST ABOUT THEM.
RIGHT.
THEY'RE VERY.
AND NOW HE'S INTENSE.
HE'S GOT THAT PART DOWN.
>> YEAH.
>> BUT HE'S GOT A VERY GOOD PERSONALITY I CAN SEE WHY HE'S HIGHLY REGARDED AS A GOOD RECRUITER.
HE AND TEASLEY, THAT'LL BE A NICE TANDEM BECAUSE HE'S GOT A NICE AURA ABOUT HIM.
>> YEAH AND HE SAYS WINDOW INSTEAD OF WINDOW.
AND SO YOU WANT A GUY LIKE THAT COACH OFFENSE.
>> YEAH I WANT >> YOU WANT A GOOD SOUTHERNER.
>> HE COMMANDS PRESENCE.
THAT'S THE ONE THING I THINK YOU'LL SEE.
>> AS A DEFENSIVE LINEMAN.
YOU WATCH A GUY LIKE DEVON DAMPIER.
>> YEAH.
>> THE REASON WHY, YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO DAMON BEFORE THE SEASON.
I THOUGHT YOU TALK MAYBE BE A TEAM.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OR MAYBE HEISMAN TROPHY.
HE GAVE THOSE GUYS SOME >> YEAH.
>> STRUGGLES.
>> HE DID.
HE GAVE A LOT OF DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE ALL YEAR.
HAS HIS ATHLETIC ABILITY.
AND SURPRISINGLY I DID YOU KNOW AND COACH RHULE'S POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE SAYING YOU KNOW UTAH WAS 5-7 LAST YEAR.
BUT OBVIOUSLY DAMPIER WAS NOT WAS NOT THERE.
BUT HIS ABILITY TO THROW IT, HIS ABILITY TO MOVE AROUND THE POCKET, IT MADE, YOU KNOW, I THINK NEBRASKA DOES HAVE TO GET MORE ATHLETIC IN THE FRONT SEVEN.
BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, HE'S WHAT HE WOULD GIVE ANYBODY.
MOST ATHLETIC DEFENSE FITS.
I MEAN HIS ABILITY TO STEP UP IN THE POCKET UTILIZING HIM IN THE RUN GAME 11 ON 11 FOOTBALL.
YOU HAVE TO PLAY VERY SOUND, DISCIPLINED FOOTBALL AT ALL LEVELS BECAUSE OF HIS ABILITY TO KEEP IT BOOTLEGS, HIS SCRAMBLE AND THE ABILITY TO PLASTER IN THE SECONDARY.
WHEN HE MOVES OUT OF THE POCKET, IT GETS SO DIFFICULT.
AND HE HIT SO MANY THIRD LONGS AND FOURTH DOWN PLAYS, AND YOU THINK NEBRASKA'S IN A GREAT SITUATION ON THE FIELD.
HE'S ABLE TO ESCAPE AROUND THERE, PUT HIS HEAD DOWN AND GET A FIRST DOWN.
BUT AGAIN TO THE SECONDARY.
BUT NOT BEING ABLE TO PLASTER IN THOSE SITUATIONS AND SAY ON THOSE WIDE RECEIVERS AND THAT GREAT TIGHT END THAT UTAH HAS, IT WAS IT WAS FITZ AND WAS JUST TOO MUCH FOR NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE ALL GAME LONG.
AND THE INABILITY TO GET OFF THE FIELD ON THOSE THIRD DOWN PLAYS, JUST THIS CRUSHED THIS DEFENSIVE AND ANY MOMENTUM THAT NEBRASKA WAS ABLE TO, TO STABILIZE.
>> YOU GOT A TACKLE.
13 MISSED TACKLES TOTAL EIGHT OUT OF THE SECONDARY.
THERE WERE TIMES WHERE GUYS WERE IN THE RIGHT SPOT AND JUST COULDN'T GET THEM DOWN.
THAT'S WHY SO MANY THIRD AND FOURTH DOWNS, AS YOU MENTIONED.
>> YEAH.
IT'S A BUGABOO.
AND I THINK NEBRASKA, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS I THINK THAT THEY'VE GOT TO DO DEFENSIVELY.
NUMBER ONE, YOU NEED A LITTLE MORE PHYSICALITY AT THE POINT OF ATTACK.
SOME PEOPLE CALL IT KNOCK BACK.
SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT PLAYING ON THE OTHER SIDE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, WHATEVER YOU CALL IT.
GETTING INTO GUYS HAS TO BE A THING.
WHEN YOU PLAY AN ODD FRONT, A LOT OF TIMES YOU'RE SHORT A GAP.
SO YOU YOU HAVE A GUY OR TWO, TWO GAPPING.
SO IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PLAY WITH ANY SORT OF FOUR EYES OR SOME SORT OF LIKE A TIGHT FRONT, THEN YOU HAVE TO BE VIOLENT.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, IT'S JUST BEING HESITANT, RIGHT?
IF YOU'RE FIRST LEVEL SETS THE TONE, THE SECOND LEVEL MAKES THEM RIGHT IN THE THIRD LEVEL FITS OFF THAT.
WHEN YOU'RE TENTATIVE PLAYING DOWNHILL, YOU CAN LOOK REALLY SLOW.
AND I DON'T THINK THEY PLAYED WITH A TON OF CONFIDENCE, ESPECIALLY ON THE SECOND LEVEL AND THE THIRD LEVELS.
I DIDN'T HAVE SO MUCH OF A PROBLEM WITH DEFENSIVE LINE PLAY.
IT'S JUST WHEN YOU ARRIVE, YOU GOT TO GET THERE WITH BAD INTENTIONS.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THEY CAN CORRECT THAT IS MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING LIVE GOOD SHOOTING YOUR SHOT IN PRACTICE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO PLAY CLOUDY, CLEAR AND HAVE SOME PEEKABOOS WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO FIT IN THE RUN GAME AT A VIOLENT, HIGH RATE OF SPEED, YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE IT BECAUSE THE LEAGUE IS TOO GOOD.
WITH MOBILE QUARTERBACKS, YOU'RE FORCED TO PLAY 11 ON 11.
THERE IS NO FREE SAFETY, SO IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET OFF BLOCKS CONCEPTUALLY, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU CAN GET PLUS ONE.
>> AND AS YOU KNOW, ALL THE RULES FOR THE MOST PART LEAN TOWARDS THE OFFENSE.
>> IT'S RIDICULOUS.
>> MAKE IT DIFFICULT ON YOU.
THAT SECOND LEVEL, THOUGH, WITH ONLY TWO LINEBACKERS ON THE FIELD, THOSE GUYS HAVE TO RUN.
>> YEAH, WITHOUT A DOUBT.
YES.
YOU WANT TO TALK?
YOU'RE BACK.
YOU'RE SEVEN BACK, SEVEN GUYS THERE.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO BE YOU HAVE TO SIDELINE THE SIDELINE, RIGHT?
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU FIT YOUR FLOWS.
>> AND YOU'RE EITHER IN YOUR PASS DROPS OR YOU'RE PLAYING AT 45.
YOU'RE NOT PLAYING.
LATERAL.
RIGHT?
THERE IS NO LATERAL IN THIS DEFENSE.
WE SAW A LITTLE TOO MUCH LATERAL.
>> AND IT'S JUST THE ABILITY.
AND THAT'S JUST THE THING IS COMMUNICATE.
BUT I THINK SOMETHING THAT YOU SAW A LOT MORE FROM PHIL SNOW OBVIOUSLY HELPING OUT WITH THE DEFENSE MORE WITH WITH BUTLER BEING GONE IS THE EYE DISCIPLINE.
NEBRASKA'S ABILITY TO DO THAT I DO THINK AND TO WHAT DB SAID EARLIER ON BEING A LITTLE HESITANT.
I DON'T KNOW IF HAD ANYTHING TO DO, YOU'D HEARD THAT, THEY'RE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT SOME NEW SOME NEW CALLS WITH THE NEW DEFENSE THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THIS, IN THE SPRING WITH AURICH.
BUT THE EYE DISCIPLINE AT TIMES JUST WASN'T IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH ON THE PLAY ACTIONS AND JUST SEEING WHAT YOUR ROUTE TREE COME.
ALL THOSE THINGS.
BUT YEAH IT'S WHEN YOU PLAY THAT THAT A QUARTERBACK LIKE THAT AND YOU HAVE TO LIKE THE PLASTER SITUATION.
I SAY PLASTER QUARTERBACKS OUT OF THE POCKET AND IT'S THOSE ROUTE TREE COMBINATIONS ARE COMPLETELY BROKEN DOWN.
YOU GOT TO FIND YOUR GUY AND YOU GOT TO LOCK ONTO HIM AND NEBRASKA DIDN'T DO A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF THAT WITH DAMPIER.
BUT THE SECONDARY WAS DARN GOOD ALL YEAR.
BUT THE LACK OF ABILITY TO GET HANDS ON FOOTBALLS AND GET SOME INTERCEPTIONS WAS QUITE SURPRISING.
THE KIND OF THE BACK HALF OF THE SEASON.
>> EYE DISCIPLINE, I THOUGHT WAS HUGE.
RIGHT.
THEY YOU GO THREE BY LITTLE SHORT MOTION.
THE CRACK REPLACE.
THEY RUN THE WHEEL OFF OF IT I MEAN YOU CAN'T I CAN'T BE BETTER THAN THAT.
AND I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND FROM A SEQUENCING STANDPOINT YOU GET SO TENTATIVE BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN BEAT WITH SOMETHING.
SO YOU SAW, YOU KNOW, IT START IN A THREE BY, NUMBER TWO TO GO SHORT MOTION THAN THEY WERE ON THE WHEEL.
YOU KNOW, YOU GET A COUPLE OF SAFETIES THAT FALL ASLEEP.
WELL, WHAT HAD HAPPENED IS THEY HAD BEEN RUNNING THE BALL OFF OF IT.
AND YOU HAVE TO CRACK REPLACE.
SO YOU SEE THE GUY COME INSIDE AND YOU GOT TO GET DOWNHILL.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY THROW OFF OF IT AND RUN ACTION.
IT'S LIKE OH OH BLEEP.
HERE WE GO.
SO I THINK THE EYE DISCIPLINE THING WAS BIG.
AND THE COOL THING ABOUT UTAH WELL COOL IF YOU'RE A UTAH FAN.
>> YEAH.
>> IS YOU HAVE TWO RUNS IN ONE PLAY PLUS THE PASS OPTION.
SO THEY'RE ALWAYS GETTING YOU SCHEMATICALLY WITH THE TRIPLE THREAT.
AND WHEN YOUR QUARTERBACK BALANCES THE PLAYING FIELD YOU BETTER GET OFF BLOCKS.
>> YOU LOOK AT THE TWO SCHOOLS THAT ARE THE BEST AGAINST THEM BYU AND TEXAS TECH, BOTH OF THEM GOOD SAFETY PLAY AND GREAT LINEBACKER PLAY.
>> YEAH.
>> AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING TO SLOW THAT TEAM DOWN, BIG TIME.
LET'S GET TO THE HEADLINES NOW.
GOING BACK TO LAST YEAR WHEN OF COURSE NEBRASKA PLAYED IN VEGAS.
THERE'S MATT RHULE.
WITH THE HAT ON BACKWARDS GETTING READY AS A PART TIME DEFENSIVE LINE COACH, AS WELL.
MEKHI NELSON AS WE MENTIONED WITH DAMON EARLIER CAME OUT RIGHT AWAY.
HE GOT HIS OPPORTUNITY AND HE WAS FIRED UP FOR IT.
AND HE WAS TELLING HIM ABOUT IT AS WELL.
THIS IS A GREAT RUN RIGHT HERE.
CUTTING BACK CROSS, FROM ONE SIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE OTHER END.
SOME GOOD BLOCKS TOO.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU GOT TO SEE THE CREASE BE THE CREASE.
ONCE YOU SEE IT GET IN IT.
>> YEAH.
AND HE DID THAT.
AND THEN HE DANCED WHICH HE WAS PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT.
AFTER THE GAME HE GOT A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE MEDIA.
THIS, WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
YOU DIDN'T COVER TWO.
THAT CAN'T HAPPEN.
>> NO.
>> WHO'S GOING DOWN THE MIDDLE TO FEEL LIKE THAT.
>> LISTEN, THAT'S, YOU GOT TO BE BETTER ON THE BACK END.
STOP GUESSING AND PLAYING PEEKABOO.
GET OUT OF YOUR BACKPEDAL AND HOLD THE HASH.
>> AND THERE'S A NICE MOVE.
AND DAMPIER IS GOING TO MAKE THIS MOVE A LOT OF TIMES.
ORIGINALLY IT WAS CALLED SHORT HELMET CAME OFF, BUT WHEN THEY REVIEWED IT SHOWED THAT HE GOT IN FOR THE TOUCHDOWN.
THE TWO YARD RUN, HIS FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF THE DAY.
NEBRASKA COMES BACK THOUGH AGAIN STILL IN THEIR EARLY PLAYS.
AND GETTING THE BALL TO A GUY THAT I REALLY LIKE IS ISAIAH MOZEE.
>> YEAH.
SO TOUGH DOWNHILL GUY ALWAYS MAKES THE FIRST GUY MISS.
HE'S A HANDFUL.
>> AND CAME BACK FROM THAT ANKLE SPRAIN TOO EARLY IN THE GAME.
HERE'S, NELSON AGAIN ON A KIND OF A WHEEL ROUTE, GETTING THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD.
AND THIS IS THIS IS REALLY NICELY BLOCKED AS WELL.
>> YEAH.
I LIKE HOW YOU SEE GUYS RUNNING WITH THEIR HANDS AND KIND OF SEALING THE EDGE AND LETTING BARNEY GET DOWNHILL.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS BEFORE UTAH STARTED TO BRING WHAT I WOULD CALL RUN BLITZ PRESSURES.
>> YEAH.
NEBRASKA END UP GETTING A STOP EARLY ON.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND QUARTER.
NEBRASKA CHOSE NOT TO GO FOR IT ON FOURTH AND TWO.
GET THE BALL BACK TO UTAH.
AND AGAIN THERE'S DAMPIER.
>> YEAH.
HE HAD A GUY COME THROUGH KIND OF WITH THE BLITZ PRESSURE THERE.
AND JUST HAD TO HAVE HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PICK HIM UP AND GET HIM DOWN.
AND IF YOU DON'T DO IT, YOU'RE IN.
HE'S GONNA KILL YOU JUST LIKE THAT.
>> THAT'S THIRD AND GOAL FROM THE 20.
>> THAT'S BAD EYES.
>> YEAH, THIRD AND GOAL FROM THE 20.
>> YOU GET A CROSSING ROUTE THAT TAKES THAT LONG.
THERE'S NO SENSE IN LOOKING IN THE BACKFIELD.
>> YEAH.
YOU GOT TO PLASTER AS YOU WERE SAYING ON THE GUY.
AND THEN MISSING TACKLES.
GOT TO MAKE THOSE TACKLES IN THE OPEN FIELD.
THE EXTRA FIVE, SIX SEVEN YARDS OBVIOUSLY ADDS UP IN.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAW FROM DAMPIER IS THAT HE SPREAD IT OUT.
HE GOT THE BALL EVERYBODY.
>> YEAH.
HE'S REALLY.
I LIKED HIS COMMAND.
HE KNEW WHAT HE WANTED TO DO WITH THE FOOTBALL IS A SMOOTH OPERATOR.
>> GOT TO STOP THERE.
FORCED A FIELD GOAL NEBRASKA STILL IN THE GAME.
ONLY DOWN 17-14.
PROBLEM IS THEY COULDN'T GET ANYTHING DONE.
AND THEN DAMPIER HAS TO COME BACK ON THE FIELD.
AND AGAIN THIS THIS IS JUST A GREAT CATCH BACK.
>> SO EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE CATCH.
THE THROW WAS CONSIDERABLY BETTER THAN THE CATCH IS JUST A TWO HAND CATCH BACK SHOULDER.
THE THROW IS INCREDIBLE >> YEAH.
PUT IT WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE.
GIVING THIS GUY A CHANCE.
THAT'S WHAT I LIKE.
AGAIN SPEAKING BY GIVING A GUY A CHANCE.
IT'S ANOTHER ONE GETTING IN FOR A TOUCHDOWN.
NOW THEY'RE UP 24-14.
IT'S KIND OF GETTING AWAY FROM NEBRASKA.
AND HERE'S DAMPIER JUST BUYING SO MUCH TIME.
THAT WAS ALMOST A SACK BY VAN POPPEL.
AND THEN OF COURSE THEY CALL THAT A PERSONAL FOUL.
ONE OF THE LIGHTEST PERSONAL FOULS IN THE HISTORY OF FOOTBALL.
THEY REVIEWED IT FOR TARGETING.
IT WAS NOT A TARGETING.
DAMON WAS ON THE RADIO TALKING ABOUT THAT ONE A LITTLE BIT.
>> GOOD, FORCED ME TO BE A PROFESSIONAL.
>> I KNOW, I MEAN, A TOUCHDOWN.
ROGERS RUNS THE MIDDLE FOR THREE YARDS.
NOW IT'S 31-14.
REALLY GETTING OUT OF HAND.
WE'RE STILL IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
DAMPIER MAKING GUYS MISS FINDING GUYS DOWN THE FIELD.
AND THIS IS A GREAT CATCH DOWN THE SIDELINE GETTING HIS FEET INBOUNDS.
THAT'S A PRO CATCH.
AND THEN ONE MORE TIME UP THE MIDDLE STRETCHES.
DAMPIER SCORES ANOTHER TOUCHDOWN.
AND NOW IT'S 38-14.
BUT NEBRASKA DID NOT QUIT.
THEY DID NOT QUIT ON OFFENSE.
TJ LATEEF WENT OUT THERE.
HE'S TRYING TO PROVE TO EVERYBODY THAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE QUARTERBACK NEXT YEAR.
CAME OUT RAN IT NICELY.
I WANT TO SEE A LITTLE BIT THIS EARLY.
>> YEAH.
THIS IS THE FIRST REAL SERIES WHERE THEY CUT IT LOOSE WITH HIS LEGS.
AND I THINK HE'S LIKE, OKAY, I FEEL LIKE I CAN JUST LET THIS THING RIP.
>> YEAH, THIS IS LATE.
EARLY ON, THAT ROUTE WAS OPEN.
LATE AFTER HE GETS PUSHED BACK, HE THROWS IT BACK THERE.
HE GETS PICKED OFF.
>> YEAH, YOU COULD SEE THAT.
OPEN UP REAL TIME, MAN.
THAT NEEDED TO BE OUT A SECOND AND A HALF EARLY.
BUT THE CONCEPT WAS GOOD.
>> ANOTHER ANOTHER MISSED TACKLE THERE ENDED UP BEING A TOUCHDOWN.
YOU GOT TO MAKE THOSE TACKLES AN OPEN FIELD THAT MAKES IT 44-14.
NEBRASKA GETS THEIR LAST DRIVE WHERE THEY SCORE GETTING THE BALL LIKE THEY DID EARLY ON.
AGAIN THE NELSON DOWN THE FIELD.
>> YEAH THERE'S ONE DIRECTION HE LIKES TO MOVE.
AND THAT IS TOWARDS THE GOAL LINE.
>> AND LOOK AT TJ SACRIFICING HIS BODY.
HE WANTED THAT SCORE.
HE WANTED THAT TOUCHDOWN BADLY.
>> AND THERE'S NO TOMORROW.
>> NO NOT, DEFINITELY.
>> ONLY THE OFFSEASON.
>> AND THEN A TWO POINT CONVERSION TO A GUY WE ALL LIKE QUINN CLARK.
WHO IS A HECK OF A PLAYER AND IS GOING TO BE A CONTRIBUTOR NEXT YEAR.
>> YEAH, HE'S GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC PLAYER.
I HAVE NO QUALMS SAYING THAT.
SUPER COMPETITIVE AND SUPER TALENTED.
>> THAT MADE IT 44-22 AND IN THE LAST THROW TO THE END ZONE, TRYING TO GET ANOTHER SCORE, BALL GETS KNOCKED AWAY.
NEBRASKA FALLS 44-22.
DOUBLED UP TO SEE THE STATS HERE.
JUST LOOKING AT THOSE NEBRASKA ACTUALLY DIDN'T DO THAT BAD.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THEY RAN THE BALL, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST HALF.
BUT OVER 500 YARDS TOTAL FOR UTAH.
AND YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE BOTTOM IN THE RED ZONE SEVEN OF SEVEN IN THE RED ZONE.
MOST OF THOSE TOUCHDOWNS THAT'S HOW YOU END UP GOING.
LET'S DO OTHER PLAYERS OF THE GAME AND OUR PLAYERS OF THE GAME ON OFFENSE, MEKHI NELSON, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT WITH HIS NUMBERS AND THE LEADING TACKLER IN THE GAME, YOUNG CALEB BENNING CONTRIBUTING, GETTING HIS CHANCE AND MAKING THE BEST OF IT.
>> YEAH, HE MIGHT BE ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE I SAW 535 FOR UTAH.
IS THAT ONLY ABOUT 35 YARDS OVER THEIR SEASON AVERAGE.
THAT OFFENSE IS A HANDFUL.
>> AND THEY DO EVERYTHING OH THREE BY ONE.
THEN THEY COME OVER AND YOU HAVE TO.
>> THEY CAN GET TWO TIGHT ENDS.
WHEN THEY THROW IT THEY TAKE THEIR SHOTS.
IT'S CRAZY.
>> THEY DO EVERYTHING A LOT MORE COMING UP ON BIG RED WRAP-UP, INCLUDING TALKING TO JEREMIAH SIRLES.
AS WE COME BACK ABOUT THE PORTAL AND THE PLAYER AGENT PERSPECTIVE.
(BAND MUSIC) A LOT MORE COMING UP ON BIG RED WRAP-UP.
(BAND MUSIC) >> ALL RIGHT, LET'S WELCOME IN NOW, FORMER HUSKER JEREMIAH SIRLES VIA ZOOM.
OF COURSE, FORMER PLAYER AND NOW AN AGENT.
WHAT'S YOUR IMPRESSION SO FAR OF THE NEW SINGLE-WINDOW PORTAL?
>> IT'S CHAOS.
IT IS ABSOLUTE CHAOS.
I AM CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF IT MYSELF AS AN AGENT.
I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO WORK WITH GUYS THAT ARE MOVING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I AM SOME TRAVEL AGENT, SOME ATHLETE AGENT, SOME A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING HERE.
SO I THINK IT'S IN A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IT'S STILL NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
>> JEREMIAH IT'S PUT ME, I WANT TO IF I'M A CLIENT OF YOURS, I'M A PLAYER.
I'M AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN AT SOME SCHOOL.
AND I SAID, HEY, I WANT TO, I WANT TO LEAVE.
I'M GOING TO GO PUT MYSELF IN THE PORTAL.
WHAT IS THOSE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'RE HAVING?
WITH THAT SAID PLAYER?
AND THEN WHO ARE YOU THEN?
ARE YOU INITIALLY TALKING TO AT CERTAIN SCHOOLS TO TRY TO GAUGE INTEREST AND KIND OF THAT WORK FLOW OF ONE OF YOUR CLIENTS KIND OF GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS?
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE NFL, JAY.
YEAH, RIGHT.
FRONT OFFICES ARE BEING BUILT IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
SO I'M TALKING TO DPPS, THE DIRECTOR OF PLAYER PERSONNEL, THE DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE SCOUTING, THESE FANCY TITLES AND FANCY NAMES THAT EVERYONE HAS, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY JUST A FRONT OFFICE.
RIGHT.
AND THEN YOU START GAUGING INTEREST WITH FRONT OFFICE, AND YOU START TRYING TO GATHER MARKET INTEL.
AND THAT'S WHERE IT GETS REALLY INTERESTING, IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE MARKET OF THAT PLAYER, BECAUSE UNLIKE THE NFL, THERE'S NOT A PUBLICLY LOOK WHERE YOU CAN JUST GO TO SPO TRACK AND GO, OH, THIS GUARD MAKES THIS AND THAT, GUARD MAKES THAT AND THIS OKAY.
SO YOU FIT INTO THIS MARKET RIGHT?
EVERY MARKET IS VERY UNIQUE WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE MARKET VALUE FOR IS THAT PLAYER.
AND SO THE JOB OF THE AGENT IS TO COMMUNICATE WITH AS MANY SCHOOLS AS HE CAN TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT MY PLAYERS.
MARKET IS X, AND THEN FROM THERE, YOU CAN WEED OUT THE SCHOOLS THAT AREN'T GOING TO BE IN THAT MARKET.
YOU CAN FIND THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN THAT MARKET AND ABOVE YOUR MARKET.
AND THEN FROM THERE, IF IT GOES INTO BEING AN AGENT, FINDING WHERE THE BEST FIT IS FOR YOUR PLAYER FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO FROM A FIT PERSPECTIVE, HEY, WHERE IS HE GOING TO GO PLAY TO MAKE SURE THAT HE TRANSFERS LIKE THOSE COLLEGE PLAYERS TALKED TO ME ABOUT.
I WANT TO TRANSFER.
MY FIRST QUESTION THEN IS, ARE YOU TRYING TO CHASE THE BAG?
YOU'RE TRYING TO PLAY, RIGHT?
BECAUSE THOSE ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS THAT I NEED TO HAVE WITH MY PLAYERS AND I NEED TO.
BUT THOSE ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS THAT I'D BE HAVING WITH THE GM.
SO I'LL SAY THERE'S NO PLAYERS THAT TELL ME THEY WANT TO CHASE THE BAG, DON'T END UP WORKING WITH ME.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO LET ME GO.
I THERE'S THIS OPPORTUNITY OBVIOUSLY, FOR PLAYERS TO CAPITALIZE BECAUSE OF THE WINDOW AND WHERE IT IS.
IT'S IN JANUARY.
SO IT'S FRENETIC RIGHT?
IT'S YOU'RE UP AGAINST IT AS AN AGENT THAT REPRESENTS GUYS AND THEIR BEST INTERESTS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE PORTAL DATE MOVED AND CONSIDERING YOUR ANSWER SHOULD BE YES, WHY ISN'T IT IN MAY?
>> YES.
YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT DB.
THIS THIS WHOLE THING SHOULD BE IN MAY.
AND I THINK THE BIGGEST REASON IS COLLEGE COACHES FREAK OUT ABOUT.
I GOT TO HAVE MY WHOLE ROSTER IN THE SPRING.
>> SPRING.
>> NO YOU DON'T.
>> IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
>> YOU REALLY DON'T.
YOU REALLY DON'T.
LET'S MAKE THIS THING OUT.
AND THE OTHER PIECES, YOU KNOW, I'M TALKING TO THESE.
I'M TALKING TO GM'S.
I'M TALKING TO PLAYERS, FRONT OFFICES AROUND THE THE COUNTRY.
AND IN DECEMBER, THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THREE MONTHS OF WORK IN 30 DAYS, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THREE DIFFERENT JOBS.
THEY'RE TRYING TO DO RETENTION ON THEIR PLAYERS.
THEY'RE TRYING TO PLAN FOR A BOWL GAME, AND THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO START THE FRONT END OF FREE AGENCY IN ACQUISITION.
IT'S JUST IT'S BORDERLINE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET RIGHT.
AND SO THE BEST WAY TO FIX THIS IS GUESS WHAT?
THERE'S ALREADY A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE THAT HAS THE SCHEDULE FIGURED OUT.
IT'S CALLED THE NFL, RIGHT?
ALL OF THIS SHOULD BE DONE IN THE OFFSEASON.
ALL OF IT.
YOU SHOULD HAVE ALL OF JANUARY TO DO YOUR RETENTION.
YOU SHOULD HAVE ALL FEBRUARY TO START PLANNING WHAT YOUR ACQUISITION IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
YOU SHOULD ALLOW PLAYERS TO DECLARE IF THEY'RE GOING TO ENTER THE PORTAL OR NOT IN MARCH.
AND THEN COME APRIL, THERE'S YOUR PORTAL.
ALL OF APRIL, MAY THEY ARRIVE ON CAMPUS.
THEN YOU CAN START YOUR OTAS IN JUNE.
IT'S REALLY NOT THAT HARD.
I JUST DON'T KNOW.
THE NCAA IS GOING TO BE STICKLERS ON IT BECAUSE OF THE ACADEMIC SCHEDULE.
>> I GET IT.
I STILL THINK MAY FITS THE CALENDAR TOO, WITH ENROLLMENT.
IF THEY STILL WANT TO OPERATE UNDER THE GUISE OF AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION.
BUT WITH SO MANY GUYS IN THE PORTAL, WITH 4000 GUYS IN THE PORTAL, IT'S A VERY SHORT WINDOW.
ARE YOU SEEING ANY BENEFITS AT LIKE THE FCS LEVEL AND NON-POWER FIVE?
BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE QUALITY OF FOOTBALL IS BEING PLAYED AT A REALLY HIGH LEVEL.
ALL ALL 4000 CAN'T GO TO TOP END SCHOOLS.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN ALL 4000 AREN'T GOING TO HAVE A SEAT, RIGHT.
IT'S A MUSICAL CHAIRS.
THE MUSIC'S GOING TO STOP.
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SEAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING ON THE OUTSIDE GOING, OH MAN, I REALLY WISH I WOULD HAVE MADE BETTER DECISIONS.
BUT I MEAN, YOU EVEN LOOK AT THAT FCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON MONDAY NIGHT, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLE EXCEPT FOR THESE DAMN KICKERS.
AND YOU START LOOKING AT IT AND YOU'RE GOING, HEY, THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD PLAYERS ON THIS FIELD.
I'M GOING TO GO PLAY AT THE POWER FOUR LEVELS.
AND SO IF ANYTHING, I THINK THE FCS IN THE GROUP OF FIVE HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER, BECAUSE IF I'M A THREE STAR ATHLETE AND I CAN GET AN OFFER TO GO TO OHIO STATE AND RIDE THE BENCH FOR TWO YEARS, WHY WOULD I WANT TO JUST GO TO NORTH DAKOTA STATE OR GO TO CSU, OR GO TO FRESNO AND BALL FOR TWO YEARS AND THEN GO MAKE $600 MILLION IN THE PORTAL?
RIGHT.
I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE SPORT IN THAT ASPECT OF IT, AND I THINK IT'S BETTER QUALITY FOOTBALL ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> YEAH, HONESTLY.
FIRST OF ALL, CLOCK MANAGEMENT IN THAT GAME WASN'T GREAT EITHER.
>> HORRIBLE.
>> THAT'S THE PROBLEM IN THAT GAME AND THEN THE KICKERS.
>> IT'S NOT THAT HARD DB.
STOP IT.
(LAUGHTER) >> I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE IDEA OF THE MAY PORTAL WINDOW.
DO YOU THINK THE COACHES WOULD WANT IT?
BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT THEM SHOWING ANYTHING.
>> BIG TEN WOULD.
SEC WOULD.
>> DO YOU THINK THE COACHES WOULD WANT IT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> OKAY.
>> I THINK THE MORE TIME YOU HAVE TO EVALUATE AND THE MORE TIME YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE, THE BETTER.
BECAUSE THINK ABOUT IT.
HOW MANY GUYS DID THEY SEE IN SPRING BALL THAT SAY HE'S A FRESHMAN AND HE COMES IN.
IN JUNE HE HAS A FULL SEASON, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY GET TO KNOW WHAT HE IS BECAUSE HE'S YOUNG.
WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO SEE THAT GUY IN THE WINTER AND SEE THE JUMPS THAT HE MADE BEFORE?
YOU THINK YOU NEED TO GO GET A GUY IN THE PORTAL OR NOT AT THAT POSITION, LIKE WHAT?
WHAT CAN THIS GUY DO?
AND HEY, THIS FRESHMAN, THEN TOOK WINTER CONDITIONING SUPER SERIOUSLY.
HE GAINED 25 POUNDS.
HE'S GOING TO START FOR ME AT LINEBACKER.
NOW I DON'T NEED TO GO GET A PORTAL LINEBACKER, RIGHT.
THERE'S JUST SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU CAN EVALUATE.
THE MORE TIME YOU HAVE, YOU CAN HAVE LONGER NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE AGENTS AND WITH THE PLAYERS TO FIND A DEAL THAT FEELS GOOD.
IT DOESN'T FEEL RUSHED AND DOESN'T FEEL LIKE YOU'RE FIGHTING EACH OTHER.
AND THEN YOU HAVE COME TO BLOWS.
AND AT THE END OF IT, YOU'RE ALL SUPPOSED TO LOVE EACH OTHER AND SIT DOWN.
LIKE THAT'S NOT THE WAY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.
IN THIS CONDENSED WINDOW, EVERYONE'S TRYING TO JUST EVERYTHING'S TOO FAST.
EVERYTHING'S MOVING TOO QUICKLY.
COMMITTING, UNCOMMITTING THIS WAY, THAT WAY.
IT'S JUST.
EVERYTHING'S A MADHOUSE RIGHT NOW.
UNFORTUNATELY, JUST THE YEAR OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
WE LIVE IN.
>> FORMER HUSKER JEREMIAH SIRLES JOINING US HERE ON BIG RED WRAP-UP.
YOU MENTIONED CHAOS.
SO KENNY MINCHEY COMMITS TO NEBRASKA.
AT LEAST SAYS HE'S COMING AND THEN FLIP THE NEXT DAY.
HAVE YOU HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT HAPPEN WHERE IT GOES FROM ONE DAY TO LESS THAN 18 HOURS LATER, WHERE A GUY IS GOING TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL?
>> I MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU THAT PLAYERS THAT I HAVE IN THE PORTAL RIGHT NOW, I'VE HAD COMMITTED TO GO ON A VISIT.
THEY WEREN'T COMMITTED TO THE SCHOOL.
I'VE HAD THEM COMMITTED.
GO ON A VISIT AND THEN ANOTHER SCHOOL CALLS THAT HAS AN OFFER THAT IS A HIGHER DOLLAR AMOUNT OFFER.
AND YOU CALL THE SCHOOL AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS THE MARKET THAT NOW GONE.
DO YOU WANT TO MATCH THIS?
AND THEY SAY, NOPE, I CAN'T MATCH THAT.
COOL.
WE'RE SWAPPING VISITS OUT, RIGHT?
THAT'S JUST HOW IT GOES BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME, RIGHT?
YOU ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME HERE.
AND YOU JUST YOU DON'T WANT TO.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GET TO CUBED.
I MEAN, A GOOD DEAL TODAY IS A GOOD DEAL TOMORROW.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IN THE FREE MARKET ERA, THIS IS IF YOU'RE NOT COMMITTED AND I'M COMMITTED, I NEED PEN TO PAPER.
THERE'S NO RULES THAT SAY YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE.
AND SO THAT'S JUST THE WAY THIS FREE MARKET IS GOING TO WORK, BECAUSE ONE SCHOOL MIGHT THINK THEY HAVE A GUY LOCKED IN, AND THEN HE COMMITS ANOTHER SCHOOL AND THEY GO DOWN THEIR LIST AND FIND THE NEXT GUY.
AND I MEAN, IT'S JUST CONSTANT MOVEMENT.
SO I THINK THAT'S VERY RARE.
I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW IF THE FULL COMMITMENT OF, HEY, I'M COMMITTED 100%, I'M COMING AND THEN FLIPPING IS HAPPENING.
BUT I DO KNOW FOR A FACT, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING IT, IS HEY, I'M COMMITTED TO A VISIT.
CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE.
THE MARKET FOR MINOR PLAYER CHANGES, I THINK GO TO THOSE SCHOOLS AND SAY, HEY, THE MARKET IS NOW SHIFTED.
ARE YOU IN OR ARE YOU OUT?
RIGHT?
HEY, NO, WE CAN'T MATCH THAT NUMBER.
OKAY, COOL.
AND I'M GOING TO REPLACE YOU WITH THE TEAM THAT IS IN THAT MARKET.
RIGHT.
SO THAT STUFF'S HAPPENING ALL THE TIME, AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE EVERYTHING'S HAPPENING SO QUICKLY.
>> SIRLES HOW WILL THE NUMBERS INCREASE FROM YEAR ONE?
ARE WE IN YEAR THREE OR YEAR FOUR NOW OF THE NIL ERA?
I LOSE COUNT.
>> I'M GOING TO SAY THAT.
I'M REALLY GOING TO SAY THIS IS YOUR ONE, JAY, BECAUSE OF THE REV SHARE.
>> YEAH.
OKAY.
SURE.
GOOD POINT.
>> THAT'S THE WAY YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.
THE REV SHARE IS REALLY YEAR ONE OF THIS YEAR.
>> OKAY.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, HOW SO?
HOW HAVE THE NUMBERS NOW CHANGED YEAR TO YEAR ON WHAT CERTAIN POSITIONS GROUPS ARE GETTING COMPARED TO PREVIOUS TO REV SHARE NOW WITH REV SHARE BEING INCLUDED, OTHER NUMBERS ABOUT THE SAME OR HAVE THEY INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY.
>> I THINK THE NUMBERS FOR THE PREMIER POSITIONS ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE.
QUARTERBACK.
TACKLE.
EDGE RUSHER.
RIGHT CORNER.
LIKE YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE FOUR POSITIONS.
AND AGAIN YOU LOOK AT THE NFL WHAT FOUR POSITIONS ARE PAID THE HIGHEST.
THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE AT RIGHT.
AND SO YOU ALWAYS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY A PREMIUM FOR THOSE POSITIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO HARD TO FIND.
RIGHT.
AND SO I THINK THE NUMBERS FOR THOSE HAVE CONTINUED TO GO UP.
ON THAT REALM THEIR SCHOOLS ARE GETTING CREATIVE IN WAYS THAT YOU CAN USE THE REV SHARE.
THERE'S WAYS TO USE MULTIMEDIA MARKETING RIGHTS AS WAYS USE NIL GO.
LIKE IT'S ALL ABOUT JUST BEING CREATIVE IN THAT PROCESS.
BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THOSE NUMBERS FOR THE PREMIER PLAYERS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE HIGH.
>> JEREMIAH, WE SAW A LOT OF NUMBERS FLOATED OUT THERE FOR GUYS AT NEBRASKA AROUND THE COUNTRY.
SOME ARE ACCURATE, SOME UNFORTUNATELY WERE NOT.
HOW MUCH TRANSPARENCY?
AS A GUY THAT HAS CLIENTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS THE NFL MODEL, YOU CAN SAY, OKAY, LISTEN, RIGHT GUARDS ARE THIS, LEFT TACKLES OF THIS QUARTERBACKS OR THIS BECAUSE YOU GET SCHOOLS THAT CAN RESET THE MARKET.
HOW MUCH TRANSPARENCY DO YOU THINK YOU'D LIKE TO SEE?
>> THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN HAVE TRANSPARENCY THOUGH IS IF YOU HAVE A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> BECAUSE WITH TRANSPARENT WITH TRANSPARENCY COMES A TRUE CAP, RIGHT?
A TRUE CAP, NOT A OH, YOU CAN ONLY SPEND 20, RIGHT?
BUT A TRUE CAP RIGHT ALONG THE LINES OF LIKE THE NFL.
HEY, THIS IS THE NUMBER THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SAYS YOU HAVE TO BE WITHIN 90% OF THIS NUMBER AND AVERAGE OVER THE YEARS.
AND THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN HAVE TRANSPARENCY AMONGST THE CAPS.
THE NIL PORTAL IS NOT TRANSPARENT BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUE CAP, RIGHT?
ALL THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS PUT IN WHAT THEIR NIL WAS THIS YEAR.
AND YOU'VE GOT ALABAMA 20, YOU'VE GOT OHIO STATE AT 35.
AND SO WHEN THERE IS NO TRUE CAP THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE THE MARKET IS WHATEVER SOMEONE'S WILLING TO PAY RIGHT THERE.
THERE'S NO THIS GUARDS WORTH X. IT'S NO, THIS GUARD IS WORTH WHATEVER TEAM IS WILLING TO PAY THIS GUARD THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF MONEY.
SO WHAT I LIKE THERE TO GET TO A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
ABSOLUTELY.
DO I THINK WE'RE CLOSE TO THAT?
NO.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO, DEAL WITH THE THE MANAGEMENT PART OF NEBRASKA.
AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TERMS OF GENERAL MANAGER AND STUFF.
BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE TEAM THEY BUILT WITH PAT STEWART LEADING THEM?
>> I THINK PAT'S DONE A GREAT JOB.
I ACTUALLY REPRESENT GUNNAR GOTTULA.
SO I, I HAVE GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH PAT.
I'VE GOT A CHANCE TO WORK WITH JONATHAN BATEMAN OVER THERE IN COMPLIANCE.
AND THEY DO A REALLY NICE JOB, WITH THEIR TRANSPARENCY, WITH THEIR NEGOTIATIONS.
THEY'RE FAIR, RIGHT.
IN THAT REALM THERE.
BUT ALSO THEY'RE PROFESSIONALS.
AND THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF THIS BUSINESS IS A LOT OF AGENTS AREN'T PROFESSIONALS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT PAT AND COACH RHULE AND ALL OF THEM HAVE DONE A REALLY NICE JOB OF THE MODEL IN WHICH THEY WANT TO BUILD OUT.
AND THE MODEL ON WHICH THEY WANT TO BUILD FOR THEIR TEAM.
>> JEREMIAH, WE APPRECIATE IT.
GOOD LUCK OVER THE NEXT WEEK AND A HALF OR SO GETTING THROUGH ALL THIS.
>> HEY, I APPRECIATE IT, GUYS.
IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE A WHILE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY FUN TO SEE WHERE THE CHIPS FINALLY FALL AND GO BIG RED ALWAYS.
>> NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PORTAL WITH SEAN CALLAHAN REJOINING US.
(BAND MUSIC) >> WELCOME BACK TO BIG RED WRAP-UP.
AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE 18 PLAYERS NEBRASKA'S LOST SO FAR IN THE PORTAL.
I MEAN, DYLAN RAIOLA IS THE BIG NAME.
BUT IS THERE SOMEBODY ELSE ON THIS LIST OR THIS PAGE RIGHT HERE THAT YOU YOU THINK TO YOURSELF WAS A BIG LOSS.
>> FOR ME PERSONALLY, I THINK MALCOLM HARTZOG CHANGED THE WAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY DEFENSE.
>> EXACTLY.
>> WE UNDERSELL IT BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WE'RE WATCHING.
AND WE THINK GUYS JUST AREN'T VERY GOOD, BUT LOSING HARTZOG, I THINK AND HAVING TO MOVE CEYAIR WRIGHT.
AND THE, THE JUXTAPOSITION, WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAD TO DO.
I THOUGHT HURT NEBRASKA TREMENDOUSLY, ESPECIALLY BEEN ABLE TO TACKLE OUT OF THE NICKEL SPOT.
>> DAMON, HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ON WHERE HE MIGHT LAND?
HARTZOG IS I MEAN, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY CHATTER OUT THERE.
>> YEAH, I THINK HE WANTS TO GO CLOSER TO HOME AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S.
YEAH, HE'S A GUY THAT LOOKED AT THE PORTAL LAST YEAR.
HE WAS SO BANGED UP AND AND KIND OF OUT OF SORTS THAT HE JUST WAS LOOKING FOR A FRESH START.
THEY GOT HIM TO COME BACK, AND I, I ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT HIM MAYBE LEAVING THIS YEAR.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO THE OTHER PAGE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT REAL QUICK ON THE OTHER PAGE.
CAN WE JUST SLIDE BACK.
IS THAT POSSIBLE TO HIT THE REVERSE BUTTON.
HIT THE REVERSE BUTTON?
I WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT ONE.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU REALLY QUICK.
LET ME GO BACK TO IT.
SO CADEN VERMAAS, YOUNG KID, LOCAL RIGHT.
A LOT OF GUYS TALKED ABOUT HIM.
IS THERE SOMEBODY ON THIS LIST THAT KIND OF STANDS OUT TO YOU?
I LIKE MACIEJCZAK BECAUSE OF HIS ATHLETIC ABILITY.
I LOVE THAT HE WAS A HERE'S A DECENT BASKETBALL PLAYER IN HIGH SCHOOL.
SO I.
>> YEAH.
>> I DON'T LIKE LOSING YOUR OFFENSIVE LINE, DEFENSIVE LINEMAN, HIM.
>> I LIKED JAYLEN GEORGE.
HE DIDN'T PLAY MUCH.
>> GEORGE IS GOING TO GO TO TULSA.
MACIEJCZAK SIGNED WITH WYOMING.
>> YEAH.
>> WYOMING, OKAY.
>> ANYTIME YOU LOSE GUYS IN THE TRENCHES, I THINK KEONA GOING IN THERE.
THAT'S PROBABLY MY LEAST FAVORITE GUY THAT LEFT HIS.
I THINK HE HASN'T HIT HIS CEILING YET.
YEAH, HIS PRODUCTION, WASN'T WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE, BUT I THINK HE CAN GET THERE.
HE'S YOUNG.
PLAY A LITTLE BIT AS A FRESHMAN.
I'VE PLAYED A LOT THIS YEAR AS A SOPHOMORE.
MY BIGGEST JUMP FOR ME PERSONALLY, PRODUCTION WISE, FROM MY SOPHOMORE TO JUNIOR YEAR, BUT ONLY HAD A ONE HALF SACKS THROUGH THROUGH TWO YEARS.
THE PRODUCTION WASN'T THERE WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
SO IT'D BE UP TO SEE WHERE HE LANDS BECAUSE I COULD GET A KIND OF A DIME ON A ROUGH.
>> I THINK WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THIS OUT LOUD.
AND YOU STUDIED THE DRAFT.
YOU PLAYED IT.
WOULDN'T YOU MAKE THE CASE THAT D-LINE IS WHERE RIGOR MATTERS THE MOST, BUT IT'S WHERE PEOPLE GET THE MOST IMPATIENT.
YOU CAN.
I LOOK AT KEONA DAVIS' CEILING.
IT'S IN THE REGRETTABLY HIGH, BUT I LOOK AT THE OVERALL PRODUCTION AND I'M LIKE, YOU'RE NOT SCRATCHING THE SURFACE.
THAT'S ABOUT REPS AND VOLUME.
>> YEAH.
RIGHT.
>> AND SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE D-LINE IS THE ONE PLACE WHERE I THINK IT IT GOES OUT THE WINDOW THE QUICKEST.
IS THAT THE NIGHT.
THE POSITION.
>> WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT NDAMUKONG SUH HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR.
>> OH.
>> HE HAD TO GO HAVE SURGERY.
>> HALFWAY THROUGH HIS JUNIOR YEAR.
>> AND THEN HE COMES BACK.
>> WE WERE READY TO CALL HIM A BUST.
>> BUT THEN YOU REALLY START TALKING.
ABOUT HIM.
>> WHAT ABOUT TY ROBINSON?
>> TY ROBINSON'S GREAT EXAMPLE.
TOOK HIM THREE FULL YEARS BEFORE YOU REALLY SAW HIM.
>> GOT TO BE PATIENT.
>> DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
>> NO, 100% YOU HAVE TO BE SO PATIENT AT THAT POSITION BECAUSE IT'S NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
AND YOU HAVE TO GO TO SOME DARK AND BAD PLACES MENTALLY.
>> EVERY DAY.
>> EVERY DAY TO PRODUCE AND TO GET YOURSELF BETTER EACH AND EVERY DAY.
AND THAT COMES WITH AGE, COMES WITH MATURITY.
THAT COMES WITH ABILITY TO ATTACK, PRACTICE EVERY DAY WITH THE RIGHT MENTAL, FORTITUDE TO SAY, HEY, I'M GONNA GET BETTER DAY BECAUSE IT'S YOU CAN YOU CAN KIND OF THROW YOUR YOU CAN KIND OF IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO ABOUT IT THE RIGHT WAY, YOU CAN MAKE IT THROUGH.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOUR PRODUCTION FALLS.
THAT'S WHERE YOU DON'T DEVELOP THE RIGHT WAY.
BUT IF YOU CAN ATTACK IT THE RIGHT WAY, YOU CAN GET REALLY GOOD, REALLY, REALLY QUICK.
AND I JUST.
HE'S A GUY THAT WHOEVER HE LANDS, IF HE THEY GET ALL THAT OUT THERE, THEY'RE GOING TO GET A HELL OF A FOOTBALL PLAYER.
>> ONE OF THE CRAZIEST GUYS IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL ARE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN.
(LAUGHING) WERE JUST FIRED UP.
>> YOU JUST HAVE TO BE.
IT'S JUST THAT ONE POSITION WHERE YOU JUST GOT TO BE WILLING TO GO THROUGH EVERY DAY, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'LL CLICK.
>> LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, HAVE THE ABILITY TO EMBRACE THE SUCK.
>> YES, YES.
SEAN, A GUY THAT I REALLY LIKED WAS KA'AHA'AINA-TORRES.
HOUSTON KA'AHA'AINA-TORRES I LIKED HIM AS AN INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN.
BASED ON HIS TAPE.
HE JUST DIDN'T GET A CHANCE.
>> YEAH, I'M JUST KIND OF A RAIOLA TYPE MARRIAGE.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY DONOVAN, HIS WIFE, LIVED ON THE ISLAND, SO HE RECRUITED THE ISLANDS AND, YOU KNOW, HAD THE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS OVER THERE.
SO A LOT OF THAT IS JUST GONNA GO AWAY.
AND IN ALL REALITY BESIDES, YOU KNOW THAT ERA WITH RAIOLA AND FONOTI, HOW MANY HAWAIIAN LINEMEN HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT NEBRASKA?
IT'S A TOUGH FIT TO ADJUST A GUY INTO THIS CULTURE FROM HAWAII.
AND I'M SURE YOU KNOW, HE'S GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE OUT WEST, SOMEWHERE CLOSER TO HOME.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, Ka'aha'aina-Torres YOU KNOW, HAD POTENTIAL.
>> HOW ABOUT I CHANGE HIS BODY TYPE.
HIS OFFSEASON WAS INCREDIBLE.
>> TAUMUA IS ANOTHER ONE, TO KIND OF WATCH.
HE'S STILL HERE.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT HE WAS A HIGH PRICED ACQUISITION, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
>> THEY TALKED ABOUT HIM IN SOME OF THE PRESS CONFERENCES.
>> HE'S GOOD ON THE BUS RIDES OVER.
I HOPE HE STAYS.
>> OH REALLY.
HE'S GOOD FOR THAT.
LET'S GO OVER TO, WHAT NEBRASKA NEEDS IN THE PORTAL.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE A QUARTERBACK NOW.
THEY HAD A QUARTERBACK THEN.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A QUARTERBACK.
NOW THEY GOT A QUARTERBACK.
LET'S TALK ABOUT ANTHONY COLANDREA A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT HIM?
WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT HIM?
>> YEAH I THINK HIS ABILITY, DUAL THREAT I THINK THAT'S WHAT I LIKE.
AND I KNOW IT'S WHAT NEBRASKA WANTS TO GET TO.
I'VE ALWAYS SAID IT I'VE SAID, DB'S SAID IT, I'VE SAID IT NUMEROUS TIMES.
PLAYING 11 ON 11 FOOTBALL IS IMPORTANT FOR ME AS A DEFENSIVE PLAYER.
WHEN YOU HAVE A QUARTERBACK THAT AS A THREAT TO KEEP IT, IF YOU'RE NOT, IF YOU DO NOT PLAY STRONG, DISCIPLINED DEFENSE, ATTACK THE RUSH LANES THE RIGHT WAY, COMMUNICATE THE RIGHT WAY AMONGST D-LINE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO RUSH THE QUARTERBACK IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.
EYE DISCIPLINE IS HUGE WHEN YOU PLAY A MOBILE, QUARTERBACK.
I THINK NEBRASKA'S OFFENSE GOING FORWARD JUST HAS TO HAVE THAT DYNAMIC, AND HE PRESENTS THAT.
AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT HE HAS PRODUCED AND BEEN WITH SOME GOOD COACHES.
I MEAN, DAN MULLEN, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED BEFORE.
HE'S THE HEAD COACH NOW AT UNLV.
THAT'S A GOOD FOOTBALL COACH.
THAT'S A GOOD OFFENSIVE FOOTBALL COACH.
AND HAVING THAT GUY IN YOUR EAR EACH EVERY DAY not COME OVER AND HAVING THOSE REPS THAT HE'S PRODUCED, THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THAT.
>> AND IT'S NOT SLEEP ON HOW WHITE HIS TEETH ARE.
I MEAN THAT KID GETS INTO THE BRUSH.
>> I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT ROOM NEEDS AN INJECTION OF CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP, AND I'M AN ACC HAWK.
I'VE WATCHED VIRGINIA.
I WATCHED HIM AT UNLV.
YEAH, HIS MATURITY AND CONFIDENCE DON'T SELL THAT SHORT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO BE WILLING TO GO THERE, RIGHT?
GRONOWSKI WAS A WINNER.
I WATCHED HIM A TON AT SDSU.
I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO HELP IOWA JUST BECAUSE IT MAY NOT ALWAYS LOOK THE WAY YOU WANT IT TO, BUT HE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE AND HE DOESN'T NEED A BABYSITTER.
AND HE GIVES ME A LOT OF THOSE VIBES BECAUSE IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN RAINBOWS AND BUTTERFLIES FOR HIM.
AND HE'S FOUND A WAY TO COME OUT OF THE BACK END.
>> IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT HIM GO ON THE NEW MEXICO GAME JUST GO IN AND GO TO YOUTUBE.
>> THAT'S A GOOD FOOTBALL TEAM.
>> THAT'S A REALLY.
>> JASON ECK IS A GOOD FOOTBALL COACH.
>> AND HE EVENTUALLY TOOK THEM OUT.
NEED ANOTHER QUARTERBACK THOUGH.
>> YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUT AND GET SOMEBODY.
THE CHALLENGE IS LIKE IT'S SOMEBODY THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
YOU KNOW IT HAS TO BE A GUY THAT FITS THE PUZZLE AND THE BUDGET.
>> LIKE DAVILA WAS.
>> YEAH, JUST A THIRD GUY THAT YOU CAN BRING.
I MEAN, JALYN GRAMSTAD KIND OF WAS THE PERFECT THIRD GUY IN THAT MARRIAGE, BUT YOU NEED SOMEBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, AND BODE SOUKUP IS A WELL-LIKED GUY ON THE TEAM.
>> SUPER WELL LIKED.
GOOD CALL.
>> AND I DO THINK HE'S GOT POTENTIAL.
THEY LOVE HIM IN THE PROGRAM.
AND YOU HOPE BODE MAKES A JUMP AND KIND OF BECOMES THE NEXT GRAMSTAD IN THAT ROOM LONG TERM.
>> I'D LOVE TO SEE FLORES JUST SIT SOMEWHERE FOR A WHILE.
>> I KNOW.
>> HE HAD MOMENTS.
I'M TELLING YOU, THIS SEASON I WATCHED 2 OR 3 GAMES WHERE HE MADE THROWS.
HE LOOKED REALLY GOOD.
THAT TEAM WAS JUST HORRIBLE.
>> AND I GET IT.
>> NOT A BAD TEAM AT OKLAHOMA.
>> I GET IT WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN 2025 AND A RECORD SETTING HIGH SCHOOL IN OMAHA.
BUT FLORES IS STILL THE BEST PURE PASSER.
>> PURE PASSER.
>> THAT I'VE SEEN COME OUT OF.
OUT OF THE STATE.
BUT TO YOUR POINT ABOUT SOUKUP.
TREMENDOUSLY WELL LIKED.
I WAS JUST I WAS JUST HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH CALEB ON THE WAY DOWN HERE AND FOR AN EVENT, AND BODE'S NAME CAME UP AND HE SAID, IT'S LIKE, THAT'S MY BOY.
I LOVE HIM.
LIKE, EVERYBODY ENJOYS HIM IN THE LOCKER ROOM, AND HE HAS THAT PRESENCE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY THEY NEED ANOTHER QUARTERBACK, BUT THEY DEFINITELY WOULD TAKE ONE.
>> THEY NEED TO THE RUNNING BACK.
WE MENTIONED THIS EARLIER.
NELSON, MOZEE, IVES, RULE, BOOTH, KENNETH WILLIAMS, THAT'S YOUR ROOM RIGHT NOW.
DO THEY NEED SOMEBODY ELSE?
>> YOU KNOW I NO ONE HAS EMERGED AS A VISITOR AND THAT'S THE FIRST CLUE.
SO IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T KNOW.
>> MAYBE THEY'RE IN THE FINAL FOUR.
>> WELL THEY ONLY BROUGHT ONE IN LAST YEAR.
AND THAT WAS CHARMAR BROWN.
>> COULD THAT BE THE GUY THIS YEAR.
>> IT'S NOT A POSITION THAT THEY BRING GUYS IN ON CAMPUS FOR WHATEVER THE REASON.
THAT'S I MEAN THEY HAVE 1 IN 2 YEARS.
>> SO JUST ONE WIDE RECEIVER MOSTLY THE UCLA KID RIGHT.
>> IF THEY CAN GET HIM.
YOU KNOW, HE'S THE NUMBER ONE RECEIVER.
HE HAD TEN CATCHES IN THE USC GAME THAT CLOSED THE THE YEAR OUT.
>> YEAH, END OF SEASON.
FOR JUST 70 YARDS.
>> 14 TARGETS I MEAN SO HE WOULD BE A NICE REPLACEMENT FOR DANE KEY.
I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE COULD BRING TO THE TABLE.
>> CAUGHT HIS FIRST TOUCHDOWN PASS OF HIS CAREER AGAINST NEBRASKA LAST YEAR.
SO THEY'VE SEEN HIM PLAY.
THEY KNOW WHAT HE CAN DO.
>> BUT I THINK WHEN YOU LOSE DANE KEY THIS WOULD BE A GREAT GUY.
TO ADD.
I DON'T THINK YOU NEED GUYS LIKE LAST YEAR THEY WENT CRAZY ON WIDE RECEIVER.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT RAIOLA REALLY WANTED.
AND THEY DON'T NEED TO GO AS GREAT.
I THINK THEY HAVE SOME GOOD PLAYERS IN THE PROGRAM THAT THEY CAN DEVELOP THAT THEY'LL PLAY NEXT YEAR.
>> HOW MANY DEFENSIVE LINEMEN THEY NEED?
>> FOUR.
>> YOU SAYING FOUR, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY A 4-2-5.
YOU NEED FOUR.
NICE.
>> WELL YOU LOSE, KEONA.
YOU LOSE JEUDY.
>> JAYLEN GEORGE.
>> JAYLEN GEORGE.
GIVE ME FOUR.
>> ZERO HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITS, BY THE WAY.
>> RIGHT.
>> YEAH.
BUT NWANERI COMING BACK.
>> YOU GOT NWANERI.
>> VAN POPPEL COMING BACK.
>> YOU GOT PIETRZAK.
BUT YOU NEED A D-LINE COACH, TOO.
>> WELL HE'S COMING.
>> MAYBE I KNOW.
>> MAYBE THEY COULD.
>> BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT I JUST.
>> WHO HE IS.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
I HOPE SO BECAUSE, BUT YEAH I THINK GIVE ME GIVE ME FOUR.
WE'VE GOTTEN WHAT, 3 TO 2 O-LINE IN THE TRANSFER.
>> TWO O-LINE, TWO LINEBACKERS.
>> YEAH.
GIVE ME A THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POSITION THAT DEFENSE IS GOING TO GO.
AS THE D-LINE GOES.
YOU GOT TO GET SOME.
YOU GOT TO GET SOME DOGS UP THERE.
TO REPLACE >> I THINK YOU NEED THREE AND YOU GOT TO GET MALCOLM SIMPSON AND TYSON TERRY HEALTHY.
READY TO GO BY HALFWAY THROUGH NEXT SEASON.
>> YEAH.
YEAH, I THINK MALCOLM SIMPSON IS A GUY THAT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT DURING THE OFF SEASON, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE HE WAS INJURED DURING THE SEASON.
I MEAN, BUT WHEN YOU JUST WATCH HIM.
>> YEAH, HE'S.
>> YOU COULD TELL.
>> HE'S AN ATHLETE.
>> HE'S A REALLY GOOD ATHLETE.
>> HAVE YOU SEEN HIS BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS.
>> LIKE HE'S A DANCING BEAR.
>> LIKE I LOVE THE BASKETBALL.
O-LINEMAN, D-LINE THAT PLAY BASKETBALL.
LET'S, THEY USUALLY EQUATE REALLY WELL.
>> HE REMINDS ME OF RAY SEALS.
>> OH REALLY.
BOLD STATEMENT.
ALL RIGHT.
SO LET'S GO.
LINEBACKER.
>> WELL THEY GOT TWO.
AND YOU KNOW YOU HAVE SHAVERS BACK.
YOU HAVE DAWSON MERRITT BACK.
SO YOU HAVE A GOOD GROUP THERE.
AND SOME OTHER YOUNGER PLAYERS LIKE CHRISTIAN JONES AND PIERCE MOOBERRY.
>> MOOBERRY'S GOING TO BE GOOD.
>> SO THEY I THINK THEY'RE DONE IN THE PORTAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED TO GO ANY MORE THAN TWO AT THAT POSITION RIGHT NOW.
>> I'M NOT WEIGHT SHAMING ANYBODY, BUT >> I GET.
>> VINCENT SHAVERS HAS GOT TO DROP DOWN.
>> I UNDERSTAND >> HE'S A LITTLE.
>> SO THERE'S TWO.
SHAVERS HAS GOT TO DROP SOME LBS AND AS DOES CHRISTIAN JONES.
>> YES, UNLESS HE'S GOING TO PLAY SOMETHING BIGGER.
>> AND HAWTHORNE'S GOING TO LIVE WITH CALEB AND DONOVAN AND THOSE GUYS.
SO HE'S READY TO GO.
>> COMING IN READY TO PLAY.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
HE HAD 51 TACKLES LAST YEAR.
>> WILL IS COMING IN LOOKING FOR A JOB.
>> AND FOUR PICKS AS WELL.
AND WE MENTIONED DEFENSIVE BACKS AND WHO THEY'VE LOST WHAT THEY NEED TO BRING IN.
THEY GOT THE ONE SAFETY AS YOU MENTIONED COMING IN.
WHAT DO YOU.
>> YEAH YOU'D LIKE TO SPRINKLE ON A 1 TO 2 MORE.
BUT THAT'S A THERE'S STILL A LOT OF YOUNG PLAYERS.
>> YES TONS.
>> IN THAT BACK END.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S IT'S A NECESSARY NEED UNLESS YOU NEED SOMEONE TO FILL IN AT A CERTAIN ROLE, A NICKEL SPOT OR SOMETHING.
YOU WANT TO GET A LITTLE MORE CREATIVE AND, YOU KNOW, SOME THIRD AND LONG SITUATIONS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD YOUNG TALENT IN THAT BACK END.
I THINK YOU'D LIKE TO TRUST THAT THEY CAN EXECUTE WHAT THIS NEW DEFENSE IS GOING TO BE RUN IN THE FALL.
>> AND SO PEOPLE KNOW THE FOUR TEAMS, THE TWO TEAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, THEY HAVE AN EXTENDED WINDOW RIGHT, 20TH THROUGH THE 24TH, I BELIEVE.
>> YEAH, THEY GET EXTRA DAYS.
NOW CLASSES AT NEBRASKA BEGIN ON MONDAY, BUT YOU GET A WHOLE WEEK AFTER THAT TO ENROLL SOMEBODY.
SO THERE WILL BE TIME.
EVEN IF SOMEBODY THAT'S PLAYING IN THE SEMIS OR THE CHAMPIONSHIP, YOU CAN STILL GET THEM HERE.
LIKE ROCCO SPINDLER LAST YEAR WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT, AS LATE AS WE'VE EVER SEEN A GUY GET HERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THOUGH, THERE IS I MEAN, THIS WINDOW WILL CLOSE AFTER 14 DAYS, BUT IT WILL.
IT'LL STILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO GRAB GUYS ALL THE WAY.
>> LET'S GO TO THE VIEWER QUESTIONS.
YOU KNOW, MATT RHULE SAID, WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING WE NEED.
WE HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THINGS SAME TIMES, HAVE A BUDGET.
RIGHT.
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS AND A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON HERE IS SHOULD THEY HAVE BROKE THE BANK FOR A GUY LIKE SAM LEAVITT, SHOULD THEY'VE SPENT A TON OF MONEY, BASICALLY WHAT THEY SPENT FOR RAIOLA WITH THE 3.5 MILLION.
>> NO, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
NO ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I THINK, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY SMART IN HOW YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY.
I THINK PAT STEWART BEING WITH THE PATRIOTS FOR A LONG TIME, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL.
KNOWING WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND YOUR MONEY AND YOU'RE ON YOUR RESOURCES, THE QUARTERBACK POSITION, IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT IT CAN'T BE.
YOU CAN'T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET.
YOU GOT TO GET OFFENSIVE LINEMEN.
YOU GOT TO GET DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, AND THEN YOU CAN UTILIZE THE REST.
I MEAN, IF RAIOLA WAS GETTING $3 MILLION, THERE'S NOW $3 MILLION TO GO GET SOME BETTER OFFENSIVE LINEMEN.
OR NOT BETTER.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT SUPPLEMENT THE OFFENSIVE LINE, D-LINE A GOOD SERVICEABLE QUARTERBACK.
I DO NOT.
NO.
YOU DON'T WANT TO.
$5 MILLION LIKE SORSBY GOT AT TEXAS TECH.
>> YEAH.
>> GOT THAT ALLEGEDLY GOT THAT KIND OF MONEY.
BUT THAT'S >> I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE DOING THEIR BUDGET BECAUSE AS WE HEARD EARLIER.
RIGHT.
IT'S NOT LIKE IT WAS LAST YEAR.
IT'S NOW.
YEAH.
YOU CAN GET SOME MONEY FROM YOUR TV CONTRACT.
YOU HAVE THE MONEY THAT'S COMING FROM THE REV SHARE.
THEY'RE SPENDING ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THE NUMBERS.
BUT THAT'S JUST ME.
>> AND THEY JUST KEEP ADDING GUYS TO EVERY TIME YOU LOOK UP THEY'RE ADDING ANOTHER GUY WHO'S SUPPOSEDLY A HIGH PROFILE GUY.
WE'LL SEE WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING WITH THAT.
MAYBE THEY'LL GET LOOKED AT.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS, DO YOU THINK THAT MAYBE, NEBRASKA MADE OUT BECAUSE THEY ENDED UP GETTING A GUY WHO HAD EXPERIENCE AT QUARTERBACK OPPOSED TO HAVING A GUY MINCHEY WHO HADN'T ANY START.
DIDN'T EVER START.
>> I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A FAIR POINT, BECAUSE I'M GUESSING YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD TO PAY MORE FOR COLANDREA.
BUT IN THE SITUATION THAT NEBRASKA WAS IN, THEY NEEDED HIM.
AND I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT MINCHEY, YEAH, HE'S NEVER STARTED.
SO I DO THINK YOU ARE GETTING A GUY THAT IS A PROVEN THREE YEAR STARTER, MOUNT PLAYER OF THE YEAR AT HIS LEVEL.
SO IN SOME WAYS, YOU COULD ARGUE NEBRASKA CAME OUT AHEAD.
>> YEAH.
>> WHEN ALL SAID AND DONE, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF UNKNOWNS.
MINCHEY'S NEVER PLAYED AN ENTIRE COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME START TO FINISH.
>> RIGHT.
JAKE WANTS TO KNOW.
DAMON, YOUR TOP THREE POSITION GROUPS THAT NEED THE GREATEST INFLUX OF TALENT.
I'M GOING TO START WITH LINEBACKER, THEN D-LINE AND THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
AND QUARTERBACK.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE THE.
>> LINEBACKER, D-LINE, QUARTERBACK.
>> YEAH.
WHY CAN INDIANA DO IT AND WE CAN'T?
I WILL TELL YOU THIS.
WHEN YOU WERE DRIVING UP HERE, DID YOU SEE ANY UNICORNS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD?
BECAUSE THERE'S VERY FEW OF THEM.
RIGHT.
THIS OCCASIONALLY THIS KIND OF THING HAPPENS.
YEAH.
GOOD COACH WHO UNDERSTANDS TALENT, WHO BRINGS IN A BUNCH OF GUYS FROM A GOOD SCHOOL.
>> I HAD PEOPLE ASK ME THAT QUESTION IN VEGAS LAST WEEK.
I SAID, HEY, CIGNETTI'S A COLD BLOODED KILLER, MAN.
IT'S ALL BALL.
THAT'S ALL HE CARES ABOUT.
AND HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
>> I BROKE DOWN ALMOST EVERY AUDIO CLIP I COULD FIND FOR MY U.P.
>> YEP.
>> HE SOUNDS HE'S THE SAME.
>> SAME GUY.
>> HE'S THE EXACT SAME.
>> YOU LISTEN TO HIM.
>> HE OPERATES UNDER NON-NEGOTIABLE.
THAT'S IT.
>> AND SABAN TALKED ABOUT HIM.
HE SAID HE CAME TO ME AND TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO THIS SMALL SCHOOL BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE A HEAD COACH.
AND I WAS LIKE, HE'S CONFIDENT HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT WORK.
SABAN KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT HE'S LIKE.
>> IUP TO ELON?
>> YEP, YEP.
AND NEVER LOST.
>> TO JAMES MADISON.
>> AND NEVER LOST.
WINNING THE SEASON.
>> INDIANA LIKE.
>> EVERYWHERE HE WENT.
>> JUST FIND ME A SIMILAR.
>> SEAN WHERE DO YOU THINK GREG WANTS TO KNOW WHERE RAIOLA MAY END UP?
HE'S GOT OREGON WRITTEN DOWN HERE, BUT I. KNOW, >> I MEAN A LOT OF OREGON.
WELL, DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS THERE, BUT MAYBE IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR HIM TO GO THERE AND SIT FOR A YEAR.
AND HE'S GOT A REDSHIRT.
MAYBE HE NEEDS A YEAR TO RECALIBRATE AND KIND OF FIGURE THINGS OUT.
GET HIS MIND RIGHT, HIS BODY RIGHT.
BECAUSE HE WILL BE COMING OFF THAT INJURY.
BUT IT IS EXTREMELY QUIET ON THE RAIOLA FRONT.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, LOUISVILLE WAS RUMORED TO BE A SPOT, BUT THEY GOT A GUY.
OREGON, MISSOURI, YOU HEAR?
>> YOU'VE GOT MORE LEAVES.
>> I STILL THINK MIAMI'S THE DARK HORSE.
>> OKAY.
>> I THINK MIAMI'S A DARK HORSE.
>> AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED A MOBILE QUARTERBACK.
THEY HAVEN'T NECESSARILY HAD ONE, SO THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
LAST QUESTION REALLY QUICKLY, IN TERMS OF RUNNING BACKS, YOU THINK WE'RE GOOD IN TERMS OF THE RUNNING BACKS.
>> I DO.
>> OKAY, THAT WAS FROM TYLER.
DALE TYLER WANTED TO KNOW, ANY MORE RUNNING BACKS GOING INTO THE PORTAL?
LET'S GET THE BURNING QUESTIONS.
WE'LL START WITH YOU, SEAN.
>> HOW WILL NEBRASKA WIN THE OFFSEASON THIS YEAR?
IT'S BEEN KIND OF A THEME EVERY OFFSEASON.
YOU KNOW, THE THE MOMENTUM, THE BUZZ.
THEY'RE IN A TOUGH SPOT.
I THINK GOING IN THIS OFFSEASON JUST WITH THE WAY THE SEASON ENDED.
I THINK THERE'S SOME TOUGH HURDLES AHEAD THAT NEBRASKA'S GOING TO HAVE TO FIGHT, TO KIND OF GET THIS OFFSEASON TO WHERE THE FAN BASE IS READY TO GO FOR THE SEASON.
>> EASY FOR ME.
HOW WILL THEY, NAVIGATE THE SELF-INFLICTED STUFF?
YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO GET BETTER AS A PROGRAM, YOU GOT TO START WITH ELIMINATING THE THINGS THAT ARE WHERE YOU'RE YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY.
HOW WOULD THEY ATTACK THOSE?
>> FOR ME, IT'S IDENTITY.
GET BACK TO BEING A PHYSICAL MINDED, PHYSICAL PRACTICING FOOTBALL TEAM.
ESTABLISH THAT IDENTITY.
THE SCHEDULE IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT, BUT YOU GET THAT IDENTITY ESTABLISHED.
IT WILL START.
THE THINGS WILL START GOING THE WAY THEY NEED TO GO.
>> MY BURNING QUESTION IS THIS COACHING STAFF AND HOW THEY COME TOGETHER TURNED IT OVER.
ALL THREE NEW COORDINATORS, OFFENSIVE LINE COACH, DEFENSIVE COACH, HOW THEY COME IN AND HOW THEY COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A BETTER TEAM BOTH IN PRACTICE AND ON THE FIELD.
BIG RED WRAP-UP WILL BE SEEING YOU BACK AFTER THE SPRING PRACTICE IN APRIL ON NEBRASKA MEDIA.
YOU CAN ALSO TUNE IN ON FACEBOOK LIVE, YOUTUBE LIVE, AND OUR WEBSITE, NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.
AND NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA IS GOING TO HAVE SOME VOLLEYBALL ON FOR YOU THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE OMAHA SUPERNOVAS HOST SAN DIEGO THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7 P.M.. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GUEST, JEREMIAH SIRLES, FOR JAY MOORE, DAMON BENNING, AND SEAN CALLAHAN.
MIKE'L SEVERE, WE'LL SEE YOU AFTER THE SPRING GAME RIGHT HERE ON BIG RED WRAP-UP.
(BAND MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC)
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