>>> AFTER A BYE WEEK, THE HUSKERS ARE BACK AND READY TO ATTACK THE SECOND HALF OF THE 2023 SEASON.

WITH NO GAME THIS PAST WEEKEND, WAS THE TEAM ABLE TO USE THAT TIME TO RESET AND RECHARGE BEFORE THE FINAL STRETCH OF BIG TEN OPPONENTS?

WILL THE YOUNG PLAYERS GET THE REPS THEY NEEDED TO STEP IN WITH SO MANY KEY PLAYERS INJURED?

WE WILL RECAP THE FIRST SIX WEEKS OF THE SEASON AND LOOK AHEAD TO THE NEXT SIX.

WITH OUR SPECIAL GUESTS MATT VRZAL AND MIKE BABCOCK.

WE WILL ALSO CHECK IN WITH RECRUITING AND EVEN TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE TO COMMEMORATE 100 YEARS OF MEMORIAL STADIUM.

ALL THAT AND MORE NEXT ON BIG RED WRAP-UP.

>> HI EVERYONE.

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE AND WELCOME TO BIG RED WRAP-UP, ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

THE GOOD NEWS IS NEBRASKA DID NOT LOSE A GAME THIS WEEK.

THEY DIDN'T WIN ONE, BUT THEY GOT SOME REST.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, FORMER HUSKER, JAY MOORE AND SEAN CALLAHAN.

MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR YOU WHEN YOU WERE A PLAYER DURING A BYE WEEK TO GET DONE?

>> STAY SHARP.

I THINK, UH >> OH, SO KEEP PRACTICING.

>> KEEP PRACTICING.

YEAH.

WELL OBVIOUSLY, THERES -- YOU GOT TO, UH KIND OF FEEL IT OUT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY GUYS ARE BANGED UP.

THERES SIX GAMES IN THE SEASON.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET SOME REST AND RECOVER AND SHUT YOUR MIND OFF FOR A MINUTE.

BUT I ALSO THINK, UH, YOU NEED TO STAY SHARP.

I THINK, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR EYES AND HAND PLACEMENT FOR A DEFENSIVE LINEMAN AND OFFENSIVE LINEMAN.

I'D SAY MORE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN, LINEBACKERS, PLAYING WITH YOUR EYES IS VERY, VERY KEY.

AND I THINK, WHEN YOU'RE AWAY FROM PRACTICE, JUST FOR THREE DAYS, I'M TELLIN' YOU WHAT.

IT CAN LEAVE YOU IN A HEARTBEAT.

SO, I THINK BEING UP TO THAT, I KNOW THEY GOT A FEW DAYS OF GOOD WORK IN.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT YOU'VE GOT TO STAY SHARP AND YOU CAN'T GET, I GUESS YOU STILL GOT TO STAY ON TOP OF IT.

THERE IS A LOT TO PLAY FOR YET THIS YEAR.

>> YOU NAILED IT.

EACH OF THESE TEAMS, THE WEEK AFTER A BYE, ALWAYS PLAYED POORLY BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T STAY SHARP.

SO, YOU NAILED IT WITH THAT.

AS A PUBLISHER AND A REPORTER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON A BYE WEEK?

[ LAUGHS ] HOW DO YOU STAY SHARP?

>> YOU GOT TO WATCH A LOT OF FOOTBALL.

I MEAN THAT'S THE ONE THING ABOUT DOING THE JOB WE DO.

YOU DON'T GET TO SEE AS MUCH FOOTBALL BECAUSE YOU GOT TO WATCH THIS ONE GAME, LOCK IN ON IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN NEBRASKA PLAYS AT 2:30 YOU -- >> AH, WHOLE DAY.

>>-- YOU PRETTY MUCH MISS THE 11s AND THE NIGHT GAMES, SO IT IS NICE TO BE ABLE TO ZONE IN AND WATCH A LOT OF BIG TEN FOOTBALL.

AND TO SEE NEBRASKA'S NEXT SIX OPPONENTS, FIVE OF THE SIX PLAYED.

ILLINOIS BEATS MARYLAND.

I MEAN, THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT GOT YOUR ATTENTION.

THEY DIDN'T PLAY A GAME ON THE BYE WEEK, BUT IT FELT LIKE NEBRASKA WON SOMETHING WHEN YOU JUST SAW HOW THINGS SET UP FOR THEM HERE DOWN THE STRETCH.

>> YEAH.

AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE GOT TO GET HEALTHY IF YOU'RE BANGED UP.

BUT HOW MUCH ARE YOU, LIKE YOU GUYS, YOU WANT TO HIT?

YOU WANT THREE TO FOUR DAYS HITTING?

AND THEN HAVE THREE TO FOUR DAYS OFF?

OR HOW DO YOU WANT TO BREAK IT UP?

>> THAT'S THE NICE THING ABOUT THE BYE WEEK IS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY PLAY ON FRIDAY.

YOU'LL GET ESSENTIALLY AN EXTRA DAY.

I WOULD IMAGINE YOU WOULD COME BACK ON SATURDAY, HAVE THEM COME IN, REVIEW THE TAPE.

MAYBE GET A RUN.

SHAKE SOME OF THAT LACTIC ACID OUT, THE BRUISES OUT.

PROBABLY GET SUNDAY OFF.

HOP BACK IN ON MONDAY, TUESDAY.

YOU KNOW, LIGHT PRACTICE TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND MAYBE THURSDAY.

USUALLY, YOU'LL GET FRIDAY AND SATURDAY OFF.

I'M GUESSING THAT IS WHAT THEY DID.

COACHES ARE OUT RECRUITING.

SO IT IS ALWAYS TOUGH TOO AS YOU HAVE THAT HODGEPODGE OF THE COACHING STAFF 'CAUSE SOME GUYS ARE HERE AND SOME GUYS ARE THERE.

A LOT OF TIMES, YOU'RE WORKING WITH OTHERS POSITION GROUPS 'CAUSE GUYS ARE OUT RECRUITING.

BUT AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT TO REST UP, STAY SHARP, STAY MENTALLY SHARP.

AND THIS TEAM IS NOWHERE.

THEY CAN'T BE FEELING THEMSELVES YET.

THEY HAD ONE GOOD ROAD WIN AT ILLINOIS.

THERE IS A LOT TO PLAY FOR, THERE'S A LOT OF WINNABLE FOOTBALL GAMES IN THE FUTURE SO I HOPE THEY STAY MOTIVATED AND AGAIN, JUST MENTALLY SHARP, WANTING TO GET BETTER BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT TO IMPROVE ON AND A LOT TO PLAY FOR STILL.

>> ARE YOU WHERE YOU THOUGHT WOULD BE THROUGH SIX GAMES?

>> YOU KNOW I THINK 3-3 IS ABOUT RIGHT.

I MEAN, 4-2 IS POSSIBLE.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT MINNESOTA WAS A GAME THAT MOST EXPECTED THEM TO LOSE.

COLORADO IS ONE PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WOULD WIN AND COLORADO CHANGED QUITE A BIT WITH DEION SANDERS.

THE MICHIGAN GAME, I THINK MOST PEOPLE EXPECTED THEM TO LOSE.

THE ILLINOIS GAME WAS A TOSS UP.

AND I THINK ON PAPER, HEADING INTO THE YEAR, I'M A VOTER IN THE BIG TEN THING AND I PICKED ILLINOIS OVER NEBRASKA.

ILLINOIS WITH WHERE THEY ARE AT UNDER BRETT BIELEMA, YOU THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE THE LEG UP ON A SHORT WEEK IN CHAMPAIGN.

SO, YEAH 3-3 MAYBE 4-2 IS POSSIBLE.

I THINK THE BACK END THOUGH HAS CHANGED SO MUCH NOW WHEN YOU START TO LOOK AT IOWA AND WISCONSIN AND SOME OF THESE GAMES.

IT LOOKS MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE THAN IT DID EVEN TWO WEEKS AGO.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT FOR YOU?

>> ABOUT THE SAME.

I DID NOT EXPECT NEBRASKA TO BE IN PRESEASON, I THOUGHT THEY WOULD LOSE AT ILLINOIS.

JUST BASED OFF OF WHAT ILLINOIS DID IN THE PAST.

>> AND COMING OFF OF MICHIGAN TOO?

>> CORRECT, YEAH.

AND JUST KNOWING, AGAIN, ONCE I SAW WHAT ILLINOIS AND WHAT THEY STRUGGLED WITH AGAINST TOLEDO THAT VERY FIRST GAME, LIKE, THIS IS A DIFFERENT ILLINOIS TEAM THAN WHAT WE SAW LAST YEAR.

I THOUGHT THEY WOULD LOSE AT MINNESOTA.

GET THE FIRST COUPLE OF NON-CONFERENCE WINS, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WOULDN'T BEAT COLORADO.

I REALLY DID.

I DID NOT EXPECT COLORADO TO BE WHO THEY WERE EARLY IN THE YEAR AND I KNEW THEY WOULD STRUGGLE AGAINST MICHIGAN.

AND THEN YOU GET ONE AGAINST, YOU KNOW, ILLINOIS ON THE SHORT WEEK ON A FRIDAY NIGHT.

LIKE SEAN SAID, YOU WOULD LOOK AHEAD AT SCHEDULE.

NORTHWESTERN HAS ISSUES.

PERDU WITH THE NEW HEAD COACH AND MICHIGAN STATE FIRED THEIR COACH.

AND SO MARYLAND LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, MIGHT BE ONE OF TOUGHEST ONES ON THE SCHEDULE.

THEY JUST GOT BEAT BY THE TEAM NEBRASKA JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST KNOCKED OFF.

WISCONSIN, MORDECAI COULD POTENTIALLY BE OUT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR WITH BROKEN HAND.

IOWA IS ALREADY ON THAT BACKUP QUARTERBACK SITUATION.

SO I HATE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SCHEDULE, BUT AGAIN, 3-3.

IT IS WHAT IT IS, AND I LIKE THE FACT THEY BOUNCED BACK WELL AFTER THEY GOT BEAT UP AGAINST MICHIGAN.

LIKE I SAID, THERE IS A LOT TO PLAY FOR.

AGAIN YOU GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THE TASK.

YOU GOT TO TAKE CARE OF WHEN TUESDAY'S PRACTICE IN TAKING CARE OF NORTHWESTERN THIS WEEK.

>> AND NEBRASKA DID A GOOD JOB OF GETTING ON THE ROAD AND TALKING TO SOME OF THOSE PLAYERS THAT ARE GETTING A LOT OF OFFERS FROM OTHER TEAMS?

>> YEAH, THEY MANAGE THE WEEK WELL.

PHIL SIMPSON WENT OUT ON THE ROAD.

TONY WHITE DID NOT GO OUT THIS WEEK SO THAT THEY ACTIVATED PHIL SIMPSON TO GO TO MIAMI FOR MOST OF THE WEEK.

BUT THEN YOU SAW A SWARM OF COACHES GO OUT THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

MATT RHULE WAS AT A GAME IN PAPILLION VS CREIGHTON PREP THURSDAY NIGHT.

THEN HE WAS IN LOGAN-MAGNOLIA TO SEE GRANT BRIX ON FRIDAY.

THEN HE FLEW OUT TO AINSWORTH TO SEE CARTER NELSON.

SO MATT RHULE, THOSE WERE HIS THREE STOPS AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE COMMITS.

I THINK THATS THE KEY.

YOU WANT TO GO AND SEE YOUR COMMITS.

WE'VE SEEN SOME NEW JUCO OFFERS MADE.

SO, YOU WONDER IF NEBRASKA WOULD HIT SOME OF THE JUCO'S THIS WEEK AS WELL.

BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THEY CAN GET OUT.

I MEAN, YOU WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WEEK BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET OUT ON THE ROAD AGAIN UNTIL AFTER THANKSGIVING.

>> YEAH, HE SAW A FEW BLOWOUTS WHILE HE WAS ON THE ROAD.

HE DIDN'T SE A LOT OF GOOD GAMES.

WITH MORE BIG TEN MATCHUPS AHEAD, MEMORIAL STADIUM CELEBRATING IT'S 100th YEAR.

THERES PLENTY TO DISCUSS TONIGHT AND WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT YOU.

CONNECT WITH US.

HELP GUIDE OUR CONVERSATION.

OUR CALL ROOM IS UP AND RUNNING MANNED BY OUR SPORTS INTERN.

AND AT LEAST ONE MEMBER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA'S JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT.

THEY ARE JOINING US THROUGH THE SEASON.

ENJOYING VALENTINOS PIZZA AND TAKING YOUR PHONE CALLS.

YOU CAN ALSO TEXT OR E-MAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS TO BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

WE ARE KEEPING OUR EYES PEELED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL SO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND WE WILL GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN TONIGHT, WE PROMISE.

AND LAST WEEKS SIDELINE SURVEY, WE ASKED YOU WHICH AREA OF THE DEFENSE WERE YOU MOST IMPRESSED WITH IN THE WIN AGAINST ILLINOIS?

A LOT OF YOU WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE LINEBACKER AND THOSE DEFENSIVE LINES PERFORMANCE.

BUT THE MAJORITY WERE JUST IMPRESSED OVERALL BY THE DEFENSE WITH 64% OF THE PEOPLE JUST TAKING IT OUT AND GOING WITH ALL THE ABOVE.

COME ON, MAKE A PICK.

IF YOU DIDN'T CATCH LAST WEEKS SURVEY, MAKE SURE YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE NOW AND VOTE ON THE NEW ONE.

IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

IT STEMS FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE 100 YEARS OF MEMORIAL STADIUM.

WHAT STICKS OUT IN YOUR MEMORY?

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF RESPONSES AND THERE WERE SEVERAL THAT KEPT COMING UP.

SO TONIGHT, WE WANT TO KNOW WHICH ONE OF THESE IS MOST MEMORABLE FOR YOU.

1978 NEBRASKA-OKLAHOMA GAME.

THE NUMBER 4 HUSKERS BEAT TOP RANKED OKLAHOMA AFTER LOSING THEM OF COURSE, IN SIX STRAIGHT SEASONS.

1992 HALLOWEEN GAME WHERE BOTH NEBRASKA AND COLORADO ARE RANKED NUMBER 8.

BUT THE HUSKERS DOMINATED AND CAME OUT VICTORIOUS 52-7.

THE 2001 GAME AGAINST RICE WHERE NEBRASKA WON.

MEMORIES, OF COURSE, REVOLVING AROUND 9/11 AND RETURNING BACK TO THE NCA FOOTBALL AFTER THE FIRST GAME AFTER THOSE ATTACKS.

OR NEBRASKA'S BIG TEN HOME OPENER WHEN THEY BEAT OHIO STATE 34-27 IN 2011.

PICK WHATEVER YOU WANT.

BEFORE WE WELCOME OUR SPECIAL GUEST IN, FORMER HUSKER MATT VRZAL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE COACHES AND PLAYERS HAD TO SAY FOLLOWING THE BYE WEEK.

>> I THINK WE HAD THE BYE WEEKS WAY DIFFERENT THAN ANYWHERE THAT I HAVE EVER BEEN.

WHEN I'M AWAY FROM COACH RHULE, WE COMPETE IN EVERYTHING THAT WE WOULD TALK ABOUT AND JUST IRON, SHARPENING IRON.

OUR GUYS WENT OUT EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT WE PRACTICED.

SOMETIMES THERE CAN BE A LULL IN THE OFF WEEK BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST OFF WEEKS THAT I HAVE BEEN A PART OF AS FAR AS THE DETAIL, THE PRACTICE, THE COMPETITION, THE GUYS BEING LOCKED INTO.

IT WAS REALLY NEAT THIS WAS A GOOD WEEK.

>> OUR TEAM HAS GOT TO ELIMINATE THE LOOKING PAST JUST WHAT'S IMPORTANT THIS WEEK.

WHEN WE GOT EMBARRASSED AT MICHIGAN, WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN FRIDAY NIGHT.

AND WE WERE LOCKED IN.

AND WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT ABOUT MYSELF AS A HEAD COACH AND OUR COACHES, OUR PLAYERS, AND OUR STAFF, YOU KNOW, CAN WE HAVE THAT SAME FOCUS THIS WEEK?

WE BETTER.

WE BETTER.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, LIKE I WANT MY SHOT, I WANT MY OPPORTUNITY.

SO, IF I GET LACKADAISICAL ON A TUESDAY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE OH, I NEED TO PROTECT MYSELF FOR SATURDAY.

AND I THINK I'M DOING A REALLY BIG DISSERVICE TO MY TEAM.

>> I GO BACK AND I JUST LOOK AT HISTORY.

YOU LOOK AT NEBRASKA FOOTBALL OVER THE LAST EIGHT TO TEN YEARS IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON.

IT'S ABYSMA, OKAY.

IT IS NOT A KNOCK ON ANYONE, I RESPECT THE HECK OUT OF THOSE, THOSE ARE GOOD COACHES.

BUT LIKE WE CAN'T BE THAT TYPE OF TEAM THAT "OH, WE LOSE."

WE LOST TO COLORADO AND WE ARE EMBARRASSED, WE COME BACK AND WIN.

WE PLAY OKAY, NOT VERY GREAT AGAINST LA TECH.

THEN WE GO OUT AND GET EMBARRASSED AGAINST MICHIGAN.

NOW WERE EMBARRASSED.

NOW WERE GOING TO PLAY GREAT AGAINST ILLINOIS.

WE JUST CAN'T BE THAT TEAM.

I DON'T WANT TO COACH THAT TEAM AND OUR PLAYERS DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT TEAM.

SO THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

>> THINK ABOUT COACH BRAUN, THE JOB THAT HE'S DONE.

HE COMES FROM NORTH DAKOTA STATE, HE TAKES THIS JOB WITH NORTHWESTERN.

WHERE HE'S THE DC.

COACH FITZGERALD, A GREAT FRIEND OF MINE AND A MAN I RESPECT, GETS LET GO AND HE STEPS IN AS THE INTERIM HEAD COACH, HE'S ON A ONE-YEAR DEAL AND HE'S GOT THIS TEAM JUST BATTLING, MAN.

THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE LIKE.

WE'LL FIND OUT ON SATURDAY.

>> JOINING US NOW IS THE FORMER HUSKER AND PIZZA MAN HIMSELF, MATT VRZAL JOINING US.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> GOOD.

I'M DOING WELL.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I ASK THEM A QUESTION, THAT IM GOING TO ASK BACK TO YOU.

IS THIS WHAT YOU EXPECTED THROUGH SIX GAMES?

MORE WINS, LESS WINS, SAME AMOUNT OF WINS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I DON'T THINK NEBRASKA COULD BE IN A BETTER SPOT.

YOU'RE 3-3.

I THINK A DOSE OF REALITY FOR EVERYBODY IS GOOD MEDICINE.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU START THE SEASON, YOU LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES.

YOU COULD HAVE WON THE MINNESOTA GAME, BUT YOU DIDN'T.

MAYBE YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT EXPOSED AS FAR AS YOUR DEPTH GOES IN THE COLORADO GAME BECAUSE YOU WERE IN IT FOR A LONG TIME AND THEN YOU GOT TIRED.

IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

YOU WIN THE TWO YOU SHOULD.

YOU REALLY REALIZE WHERE YOU ARE WHEN YOU PLAY MICHIGAN AND THAT IS FAIR.

BECAUSE IF WE LOOK AT IT, MICHIGAN GOT TIRED OF HARBAUGH IN YEAR THREE BECAUSE IT WASN'T REALLY WORKING.

YEAR FOUR IT CLICKED.

YEAR FIVE IT CLICKED.

AND NOW THEY HAVE NO PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD, RIGHT?

AND YOU GO ON THE ROAD AND YOU BEAT ILLINOIS, WHO I DID NOT THINK THEY WOULD BEAT.

SO IT'S WHERE YOU ARE.

YOU HAVE DONE SOME THINGS GOOD.

YOU'VE DONE SOME THINGS BAD.

BUT YOU'RE 3-3, YOU GET THREE OF THESE LAST ONES AND YOU GO TO THE BOWL GAME, AND THAT WAS MY GOAL FOR THEM FOR THE YEAR, SO THEY'RE ON PACE.

>> CAN WE LOOK BACK REAL QUICK?

THAT MICHIGAN GAME AND THAT SUNDAY PRACTICE MAY DEFINE THAT WHOLE SEASON.

DO YOU FEEL THAT WAY, SEAN?

>> I THINK IT WILL -- >> SHOWING THEM WHERE THEY WERE?

>> THIS SEASON GETS TO LIKE A 7-8 WIN TYPE MARK OR YOU KNOW, LIKE FINISHES OUT STRONG.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK AT THAT SUNDAY.

AND MATT YOU'VE PLAYED A LOT OF FOOTBALL.

YOU'VE COACHED A LOT OF FOOTBALL.

HOW RARE IS IT TO SAY WE JUST GOT DONE PLAYING ON FOX ON SATURDAY AND WE ARE COMING OUT ON SUNDAY WITH THE HARDEST PRACTICE THAT WE HAVE HAD ALL YEAR?

>> THERE IS A REASON WHY I'M AN ASSISTANT AND NOT A HEAD COACH BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAPPEN A LOT IF I WAS A HEAD COACH.

IF WE DIDN'T PLAY UP TO OUR EXPECTATION THERE WOULD BE SOME SUNDAY PADDED PRACTICES, BUT IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT WHAT YOU DID THAT DAY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND IT IS NOT PUNISHMENT, IT'S GETTING BETTER.

YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCEMENT EVERYDAY.

#NICKDANZY THAT'S MY GUY I'LL SAY THAT EVERY DAY.

YOU WILL HAVE THAT CHANCE.

SO GO OUT AND PROVE IT.

>> AND THE BEST THING ABOUT THAT IS CAUSE BEING A PLAYER YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL, YOU HAVE THE FEEL OF WHEN THE STUFF IS ABOUT TO HIT THE FAN, RIGHT?

AND THAT TRIGGERS IN YOUR BRAIN AS YOU GET TO GO INSIDE.

LISTEN, LET'S GET THIS FIGURED OUT BECAUSE I WILL BE DAMNED IF I HAVE TO PUT THOSE PADS ON AGAIN AFTER A GAME.

AND YOU'LL GET IT FIGURED OUT.

IT IS AMAZING WHAT A LITTLE -- SOMETHING LIKE THAT WILL GET GUYS THINKING LIKE -- >> GET ALL THE BOYS UP LIKE "HEY MAN, LET'S NOT DO THAT AGAIN, LET'S PLAY A LOT BETTER THAN WE DID.

LET'S NOT DO THAT" >> IT DIDN'T SURPRISE ME AT ALL THAT ILLINOIS CAME OUT AND PLAYED THE WAY THEY DID AGAINST MARYLAND.

BECAUSE BIELEMA TOOK OVER THE PRACTICES AND THEY'RE LIKE THOSE GUYS DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH BRET BEING THE GUY.

>> HE FIRED THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR?

>> YEAH.

HE TOOK OVER EVERYTHING.

HE'S LIKE "WE'RE RUNNING THE BALL".

>> AS HE SHOULD.

I MEAN IF YOU LOOK WHAT THEY DID RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE WHEN HE GOT THERE, IT'S IMPRESSIVE.

I TRIED TO GET INTO THE ILLINOIS STATE COACHES CLINIC, BECAUSE I WANTED TO WATCH THEIR OFFENSIVE LINE, HOW THEY DID THINGS.

BUT I GOT BOOTED, I DIDN'T GET IN.

THEY TOLD ME "NO" I COULDN'T GO IN.

I WAS LIKE "WHY NOT"?

IM COACHING NEBRASKA.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT IT WAS WHAT THEY DID RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE WITH WHAT THEY HAD.

AGAIN, FORMER HUSKER, GESKY HAS A KID, JOEL PLAYED WITH US, HIS SON STARTED FOR THEM.

THEY DO THINGS ROUGH UP FRONT AND IT'S FUN TO WATCH.

>> YEAH.

>> AND IT'S MEAN AND IT'S NASTY.

AND IT'S PORTABLE.

YOU CAN TAKE IT ANYWHERE.

>> YEAH THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED THE MOST WHEN YOU LOOK OVERALL AT THE TEAM?

>> TONY WHITE NEEDS A RAISE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I AGREE.

YEAH, YEAH.

>> LIKE A KEEP YOU HERE RAISE, I'M AINT' EVEN JOKING.

>> NO I AGREE WITH YOU.

>> HE WANTS TO GO THREE MILL, I AM IN.

WE COULD PROBABLY MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

YOUR ASSISTANT HEAD COACH, WHATEVER YOU NEED -- >> YEAH.

>> TO KEEP DOING THIS.

I THINK JUST IF YOU CLEAN UP A LITTLE.

THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND YOU DO THOSE SMALL THINGS AND TRUST YOURSELF.

I THINK AT TIMES, THERE'S STILL DOUBT ABOUT WHAT THEY COULD GET DONE.

A LOT OF THAT OFFENSIVE LINE STUFF CAN GET CLEANED UP, REAL EASY.

BUT THERE IS JUST SOMETHING IN THEIR BRAIN THAT SAYS, I'M GOING TO MISS.

I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING WRONG.

THEY'VE GOT TO GET AFTER IT.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT IS -- >> GO AHEAD, SEAN.

>> WELL BACK TO THE THREE, THREE, FIVE ON TONY WHITE.

WHAT HAS MADE THAT DEFENSIVE TRANSITION WORK?

I KNOW THERE WERE A LOT OF SKEPTICS WHEN THEY RAN THE THREE, THREE, FIVE AT NEBRASKA.

WHAT HAS MADE THIS TRANSITION SO SUCCEESSFUL, FROM WHAT YOU'VE SEEN?

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN WHAT'S PERCEIVED AS DEPTH WITH VERY FEW PLAYERS.

OKAY?

BUT THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEVERAGE -- WHERE THEIR HELP IS COMING FROM.

IS PROBABLY AN EASIER WAY TO SAY IT.

AND HOW WELL THEY TACKLE IN OPEN SPACE.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THEM TACKLE LIKE THIS ONE ON ONE SOMETIMES IN OPEN SPACE AND GUY GOES DOWN.

DID WE COMPLAIN ABOUT, OH ANOTHER MISSED TACKLE.

ANOTHER MISSED TACKLE.

>> THEY'RE NOT PRACTICING RIGHT.

THEY KNOW WHERE TO FORCE SOMEBODY, WHERE THEIR HELP IS COMING FROM.

IT'S COOL TO WATCH.

IT IS CLINICAL AND IT IS PRECISE.

>> THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED, IT'S FINISHING DRIVES.

THEY CROSS THE 50 SOMETHING LIKE 25 TIMES AND ONLY SCORED NINE.

THREE OF THOSE WERE FIELD GOALS.

IN EIGHT TURNOVERS, CROSSING THE 50.

YOU'VE GOT TO FINISH DRIVES.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO FINISH THE DRIVES.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO PUT POINTS ON THE BOARD.

AND YOUR YOUNG KICKER, WHO STRUGGLED A LITTLE BIT -- HOPEFULLY THE OFF WEEK HE CAN KIND OF SETTLE DOWN AND GET THINGS.

BUT THREE, THREE IS GOOD.

JUST SCORE.

>> YEAH, ANY KIND OF POINTS.

>> SO BYE WEEK GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF SCOUT.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU RECOGNIZE THINGS YOU'VE DONE WELL.

AND OBVIOUSLY YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAVE WE NOT DONE WELL AND DONE WELL.

I THINK WE KNOW WHAT THE OFFENSE HAS STRUGGLED WITH, RIGHT?

THROUGH THE FIRST SIX GAMES.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE THAT THEY HAVE DONE SO FAR IN THESE FIRST SIX GAMES?

EVEN WITH HAARBERG HAVING TO COME IN TO REPLACE SIMS?

>> SO BRINGING HAARBERG IN, I THINK WHEN THEY CALL THOSE PLAYS, YOU'RE CALLING THEM TO ACCENTUATE YOUR PLAYERS SKILLSET BETTER THAN YOU HAVE IN A WHILE.

OKAY?

YOU CAN'T MAKE A KID THAT'S A RUNNER INTO A GREAT THROWER UNLESS HE ALREADY POSSESSES THAT.

HEINRICH DOES A FINE JOB OF THROWING THE BALL.

OKAY?

BUT HIS SKILL SET IS RUNNING THE OPTION.

OR JUST THE ZONE READ.

HE DOES REALLY WELL.

I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE LATERAL SHAKE FROM HIM WHEN HE GETS OUT IN THE OPEN SPACE, BUT THEY TAILOR THAT REALLY WELL TO WHAT HE DOES.

AND I LIKE THAT.

AND IT KIND OF SETTLES THE LINEMEN DOWN.

IT GETS THEM INVOLVED, IT GETS THEM RELAXED.

THEY LOOK CLEAN WITH IT.

AND THEN HE'S GOT THE SPEED TO TAKE OFF AROUND THE CORNER SCORE, TO GET IT UP THE MIDDLE AND SCORE.

SO IT IS FUN TO SEE.

>> A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HAARBERG AND SIMS AND WILL SIMS PLAY?

OVER HALF OF -- 52% OF THE BIG PLAYS NEBRASKA'S HAD ARE HEINRICH HAARBERG.

IT'S HARD TO KEEP AND STAY HEALTHY WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING AS MUCH AS HE HAS.

WE MAY SEE SIMS, RIGHT?

HE'S GOT TO STAY READY.

>> I'M GOOD WITH THAT.

YOU CAN STRAIN A DEFENSE.

WE'RE NOT A FINISHED PRODUCT.

WE'RE A WORK IN PROGRESS.

SO IF WE CAN GET -- EARLY IN THE YEAR THEY RAN A REVERSE WITH HAARBERG.

>> YEAH.

>> GOT SOME YARDS.

THEY WENT BACK TO THAT WELL ONE TIME, DIDN'T WORK AS WELL A SEOND TIME.

BUT YOU PUT THEM BOTH ON THE FIELD.

BUT IF HE RUNS ZONE READ, QUARTERBACK CATCHES IT, QUARTERBACK ZONE READS.

I MEAN LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH GOOD RUNNERS OVER THE FOOTBALL.

>> MATT, WE'VE HEARD COACH RHULE SAY THIS, THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO DO JUST WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

THEY'VE KIND OF PUT DOWN THINGS THEY WANT TO BE OFFENSE TO LEARN HOW TO WIN.

AS A COACH, HOW HARD IS THAT TO SAY HEY, WE NEED TO GET RID OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WIN GAMES?

>> COACHING IS A VERY HUMBLING THING, BUT IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR JOB AND KEEP THOSE BIG FAT PAYCHECKS, YOU'LL FIND OUT WHAT YOUR GUYS CAN DO WELL AND YOU WILL PRACTICE THAT AND YOU WILL BE GREAT AT IT AGAINST ANY DEFENSE.

>> YEAH, THE ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT YOU AS A COACH -- YOU'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES, THERE'S NO EXCUSES.

RIGHT?

ALL THESE INJURIES, A LOT OF THEM.

YOU'RE DOWN TO YOUR THIRD STRING RUNNING BACK, WHO'S GOT FUMBLE ISSUES.

THREE OR FOUR OF YOUR WIDE RECEIVERS ARE GONE.

YOUR QUARTERBACK IS OUT.

ALL THESE INJURIES, BUT HOW DO YOU SEE THEM HANDLING THAT WITH THE LOSSES THEY HAVE HAD?

>> THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL OR THE POT OF GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW.

IF YOU GET TO THAT FOURTH GAME FROM THE END OF THE SEASON WITH THE LAST FOUR, ALL THE FRESHMEN COULD PLAY AND ALL YOUR RED SHIRT FRESHMEN.

SO YOU COULD THROW THEM IN.

SO YOU MAY SEE A SAMMY SLEDGE, YOU MAY SEE THE KNUTSONS -- >> YEAH.

>> YOU MAY SEE SOME OF THESE YOUNGER RUNNING BACKS THAT ARE AWESOME.

GIVE THEM A SHOT.

SEE HOW IT GOES THOSE FOUR GAMES.

WORSE THING THAT HAPPENS IS THAT THEY'RE GOOD, RIGHT?

PUT THEM IN AND NOW YOU GOT SOME DEPTH.

YOU'VE GOT BUILT-IN DEPTH COMING POSSIBLY IN A COUPLE OF GAMES AGAINST THE TWO TEAMS.

BRILLIANT STATEMENT BY RHULE.

WE CAN WIN EVERY GAME WE PLAY, BUT WE CAN ALSO LOSE EVERY GAME THAT WE PLAY.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> SO DON'T SHOOT OURSELF IN THE FOOT, PLAY WELL, AND WE COULD BE ALMOST BOWL ELIGIBLE.

AND WE CAN DUMP SOME OF THESE NEW BODIES IN THERE TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> DO YOU FEEL YOU WERE READY TO GO BY THE END OF YOUR RED SHIRT FRESHMAN YEAR?

>> MY RED SHIRT FRESHMAN YEAR?

NO, I WASN'T.

I NEEDED A FULL TWO YEARS TO GET READY.

JUST UNDERSTAND, I WAS A RUNNING BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I WAS AN STAND ABOUT LINEBACKER, RIGHT?

I JUST NEVER PLAYED WITH MY HAND IN THE DIRT AND IT'S JUST DIFFERENT.

LIKE UNDERSTANDING.

AND JUST THE PHYSICALITY THAT COMES WITH IT.

I NEEDED TO DEVELOP STRENGTH.

I NEEDED TO BE TOUGHER -- >> WHEN YOU PUT HIM AT RUNNINGBACK, YOU GAVE HIM THE BALL 48 TIMES AT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

[ LAUGHTER ] JAY MOORE RUN RIGHT -- [ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT WAS A "“W"” JUST GIVE ME MY TITLE.

>> I HAD TO BECOME MENTALLY TOUGH.

I JUST WASN'T READY.

I HAD TO GET MY HEAD KICKED IN FOR TWO YEARS TO GET READY.

>> THAT'S THE POINT THAT I TELL ANY KID THAT'S GETTING READY TO GO TO COLLEGE.

PHYISCALLY THEY LIKE YOU ENOUGH TO BRING YOU IN.

THE REST OF IT FROM HERE ON OUT IS MENTAL.

IT'S ALL MENTAL.

IT'S WARFARE AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAZE YOU, I KNOW THAT'S NOT A P.C.

THING TO SAY, IT HAPPENS.

THEY WANT TO FIND OUT IF YOU'RE PUMPING BLOOD OR IF YOU'RE PUMPING KOOL-AID.

AND YOU'LL FIND IT OUT.

>> YEAH, GOT TO PAY YOUR DUES.

>> AND THEN YOU GET TO PLAY.

>> WELL YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE RHULE'S MENTIONED THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES, RIGHT?

HE'S TALKED ABOUT HOW GUYS GET IN THEIR HEADS.

THEY START THINKING ABOUT PFF GRADES, OR THEY THEY START THINKING ABOUT IT, AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING?

I DON'T WANT TO MAKE MISTAKES.

YOU JUST GOT TO PLAY.

PLAY SPEED.

>> GOOD PIECE OF INFORMATION TOM OSMOND GAVE US ALL, HE SAID DON'T READ THE PAPER.

BECAUSE THAT'S THERE TO GENERATE REVENUE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE MONEY.

>> YEAH.

AND WITH TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM AND TIKTOK AND ALL OF IT, THAT YOU GOT TO TAKE THAT AS ENTERTAINMENT.

WHEN I LOOK AT THAT IT'S ENTERTAINMENT.

THAT'S IT.

AND THEN YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT STUFF PERSONAL.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE.

THE PEOPLE THAT MATTER TO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE.

THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.

>> I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT BRYCE BENHART.

BECAUSE YOU'RE AN O-LINE GUY.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN FROM HIM?

BECAUSE HE'S GRADE OUT THE HIGHEST GUY ON THEIR LINE RIGHT NOW.

AND PFF, THE EVIL -- >> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> BUT YOU KNOW I THINK THE GAINS HAVE BEEN NOTICEABLE.

HAS HE IMPROVED IN YOUR EYES AND HOW?

>> THE BIG THING FOR ME WAS HIS ATTITUDE.

OKAY.

SO I GOT THE CHANCE, THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME IN A LONG TIME I WENT DO AND WATCHED THE SPRING PRACTICE.

LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT.

IT WAS FAST AND THEY ARE MOVING AROUND.

HE CHANGED HIS BODY, HE TRIMMED UP QUITE A BIT.

HIS HIP FLEXIBILITY BECAME A LOT BETTER.

SO HE COULD ACTUALLY GET IN A FUNCTIONAL STANCE.

HE MOVES PRETTY WELL.

STARTED A COUPLE OF FIGHTS, THE DAY I WAS THERE WITH HIM.

I'M ALWAYS GAME FOR THAT.

BUT EFFORT, ATTITUDE, AND KIND OF JUST DEDICATION TO CRAFT.

HIS FEET ARE A LOT BETTER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE.

STILL THINGS THAT COULD GET BETTER.

HOPEFULLY THEY COULD BUMP THAT TO THE REST OF THE LINE.

THEY ALL KIND OF HAVE THE SAME GRADE AFTER A WHILE.

>> FOR A WHILE, NEBRASKA WAS LOOKING AT BIG GUYS.

>> YEAH.

>> HAVING ATHLETIC GUYS, THAT'S THE KEY?

>> THAT'S IT.

YOU WANT ATHLETICISM.

IF YOU GET THE 6'8"” ATHLETE, FANTASTIC.

AND THERE'S A TON OF THEM OF ROLLING AROUND THE STATE.

YOU GOT A KID IN ALBANY, COUPLE IT PLATSMITH.

YOU COULD GO GET SOME OF THOSE GUYS, BUT THE ATHLETICISM OF THEM IS WHAT'S MISSING.

YOU DON'T WANT STIFF GUYS.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE WITH AAU AND ALL THESE THINGS THAT COME ABOUT.

THE BIG GUY DOESN'T REALLY PLAY ANY OTHER SPORTS.

THEN THEY'RE SEDENTARTY, THEY SIT AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES.

WHICH IS FINE YOU CAN PLAY VIDEO GAMES.

BUT THAT KIND OF RAQUETBALL PLAYER, THAT LATERAL AGILITY KID, THAT WHATEVER IT IS.

THEY'VE GOT TO GET OUT MOVE MORE.

AND THEN ONCE YOU GET THEM TO MOVE AND YOU SEE THAT ATHLETICISM, NOW YOU CAN FIND THOSE.

ALL THOSE PLAYS WERE YOU WANT TO PULL.

ALL THOSE PLAY WHERE YOU REALLY PIN DOWN AND BLOCK SOMEBODY.

DOUBLE TEAMS BECOME EASIER WHEN YOU HAVE ATHLETIC BIG GUYS.

>> YEAH AND THEY HAVEN'T WRESTLED AS WELL.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST MEMORY?

WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST MEMORY OF MEMORIAL STADIUM?

100th YEAR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT THIS SHOW YEAR.

YOUR BEST MEMORY?

>> SELFISHLY IT WOULD BE THE 1992 SHRINE BOWL.

>> OKAY.

>> WE WERE THE FIRST TEAM TO PLAY ON THE NEW TURF.

>> NICE.

>> WHICH IS BASICALLY JUST THE GREEN RAZOR BLADES.

>> WHAT DID YOU WEIGH IN THAT GAME?

>> I WEIGHED -- >> YOU WERE A BIG FELLA.

>> 320 POUNDS AT THAT TIME.

>> YOU WEIGHED THAT MUCH IN HIGH SCHOOL?

>> YEAH, YOU LOOK AT THAT PICTURE.

>> I PLAYED AT 315.

YEAH.

AND THE WISH BONE.

PULLING GUARD IN THE WISHBONE IS AWESOME.

>> AND NOW ABOUT 235?

>> NO, NO, NO STILL 250.

THERE IS A LOT OF ARSE DOWN THERE STILL.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> BLACK IS A SLIMMING COLOR.

>> THERE YOU GO.

GOOD CHOICE BY THAT.

BRUCE, WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANKS FOR FOR HAVING ME >> WE APPRECIATE HIM, IT'S ALWAYS GREAT HAVING HIM HERE.

WE WILL TAKE A QUICK BREAK NOW.

THE SECOND GUESS OF THE NIGHT, HAIL VARSITY, MIKE BABCOCK WILL JOIN US.

EASY FOR ME TO SAY.

BUT FIRST, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST PHOTOS OF THE SEASON SO FAR.

COURTESY OF HURRDAT SPORTS.

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

"” JOINING US ON THE PANEL IS HAIL VARSITY WRITER, MIKE BABCOCK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US, MIKE.

MIKE, YOU'RE THE DEAN OF WRITERS HERE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME.

IS IT WEIRD THIS SEASON, 100 YEARS, ALL THE TALK ABOUT IT, YOU HAVE SO MANY MEMORIES ABOUT IT.

WHAT'S KIND OF FEELING YOU HAVE FOR -- I KNOW YOU WERE THERE AT THE FIRST GAME IN '‘23.

>> YEAH.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT'S A BAD JOKE THAT'S BEEN USED ALL YEAR AROUND.

>> WHEN THEY USED THOSE BLUE JERSEYS AGAINST OKLAHOMA.

>> YOU REMEMBER THAT?

>> OH YEAH.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WHAT'S THE FEELING THOUGH?

I MEAN IT'S REALLY BEEN COOL LOOKING BACK AT THE STADIUM.

>> YEAH, IT IS.

AND YOUR LIST OF GAMES THERE, I WOULD EASILY PICK THE 1978 OKLAHOMA GAME.

>> IT HAD TO HAPPEN, RIGHT?

>> YES, IT HAD TO HAPPEN.

>> COACH OSBORNE NEEDED THAT GAME.

>> BUT ONE GAME I WOULD ADD TO THAT LIST IS THE 1959 OKLAHOMA GAME, WHEN NEBRASKA ENDED THAT 74-GAME CONFERENCE UNBEATEN STREAK.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT WAS A --THEY CALLED OFF CLASSES THE NEXT MONDAY.

AND THE GOAL POST CAME DOWN.

IT WAS A REALLY BIG THING FOR PEOPLE.

NEBRASKA HAD LOST 16 IN A ROW TO OKLAHOMA AT THAT POINT.

>> WOW.

>> SO YEAH, THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT.

BUT FOR ME, BECAUSE I WAS AT THE '78 OKLAHOMA GAME, THAT WAS PROBABLY THE ONE THAT STANDS OUT.

THE NINE FUMBLES.

SIX RECOVERED.

>> IT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> THE LAST ONE I THINK WITH ABOUT WITH THREE MINUTES, 23 SECONDS TO GO.

>> WAS IT BILLY SIMS WITH THE FINAL FUMBLE?

>> YEP, BILLY SIMS.

YOU KNOW, COACH SWITZER WROTE THE BOOK BOOTLEGGER'S BOY.

AND IN THAT BOOK HE SAID, HE THOUGHT THE '74 -- THE '78 TEAM MIGHT HAD BEEN THE BEST TEAM THAT HE HAD.

NEBRASKA HAD TO PLAY THEM AGAIN AND THEY WEREN'T -- >> YEAH, EXACTLY.

>> THAT ONE WAS UNFORTUNATE.

>> MIKE, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE SELLOUT STREAK.

YOU KNOW YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF A LOT OF THESE SELLOUTS OVER THE YEARS.

WHEN IT WAS HAPPENING IN THE EARLY DAYS OF IT, DID ANYONE THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE AT THIS POINT?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T THINK THEY EVEN STARTED ACKNOWLEDGING IT, YOU KNOW, AS A STREAK UNTIL A CERTAIN POINT.

I DON'T THINK THEY COULD HAVE IMAGINED IT WOULD REACH THAT POINT THAT IT HAS.

YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GET TO 400 AT LEAST.

>> SURE.

>> AND THEN TEAR DOWN ALL THE SEATS.

>> YEAH.

WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BOB ALWAYS SAID.

HE SAID YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE MORE DEMAND THAN YOU HAVE TICKETS AVAILABLE.

YOU KNOW THAT WAS HIS BELIEF.

AND I THINK THERE IS A CERTAIN TRUTH TO THAT, PROBABLY.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY THE STADIUM HAS DEVELOPED.

I MEAN I THINK IT HAS BEEN AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE MORE SEATS TO MAKE THEM MORE AVAILABLE TO FANS.

>> SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GAME, LIKE THE MICHIGAN GAME THIS YEAR, WHERE IT PUT NEBRASKA -- KNEW WHERE THEY WERE.

THE END OF THAT '‘68 YEAR.

THAT'S THE YEAR THEY LOST TO KANSAS STATE AND OKLAHOMA.

AT THE END OF THE YEAR RIGHT?

ALL THE CHANGES WERE MADE.

SOMETIMES YOU NEED A GAME LIKE JUST TO KIND OF PUT YOU IN THAT RIGHT DIRECTION?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

BUT THE INTERESTING THING WAS IN '67, THEY WERE ALSO 6-4.

>> RIGHT.

>> THEY LED THE NATION IN TOTAL DEFENSE.

>> WOW.

>> I MEAN WAYNE WAS THE MIDDLE GUARD.

HE FINISHED NINTH AND VOTED FOR THE HEISMAN TROPHY.

HE'S NOT A GUY THAT -- YOU DON'T IMMEDIATELY THINK ABOUT HIM, BUT HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING MIDDLE GUARD.

HE STARTED OUT -- HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR, HE WAS THE OFFENSIVE GUARD.

AND THEY WERE PLAYING TWO PLATOONS IN THAT POINT AND THEY MOVED THAT MIDDLE GUARD.

NINTH AND VOTING FOR THE HEISMAN, THAT'S NOT TOO BAD, YOU KNOW?

RICH GLOVER WAS I THINK THIRD OF THE YEAR THAT JOHNNY WON IT.

>> YES.

>> YEAH, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU PROBABLY NEED SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

NEBRASKA IN '67, I THINK.

NEBRASKA HAD A BOWL BID AND TURNED IT DOWN.

DIDN'T THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE REALLY WANTING TO DO THAT.

AND THEN IN '68, YOU WOULD GO 6-4 AGAIN AND THE STORY WAS BOB DEVANEY SAID HIS SECRETARY TOOK CARE OF ALL THE MAIL AND THERE WAS A PETITION CIRCULATED IN OMAHA TO GET RID OF HIM BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T GET RID OF ASSISTANT COACHES.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND DEVANEY SAID THAT LETTER GOT THROWN IN THAT TRASH, SO HE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PETITION.

BUT HAD HE KNOWN IT, HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE SIGNED IT HIMSELF.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> SO HE HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR.

>> RIGHT, NO DOUBT.

>> THEY GOT THINGS REBOUNDED THERE.

>> MIKE, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE 100-YEAR HISTORY OF MEMORIAL STADIUM AND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE HAD THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE TOTAL REDESIGN OF THE STADIUM -- THE STADIUM WILL LOOK VASTLY DIFFERENT HERE IN THREE YEARS.

WHAT IS ONE THING THAT MIKE BABCOCK WANTS TO SEE THAT WILL BE DONE IN THIS NEW STADIUM REDESIGN?

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COMFORT LEVEL FOR FANS IN THE STADIUM TO BE INCREASED.

HOWEVER THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED.

THAT'S A THING TO ME IF YOU ARE JAMMED IN THERE.

THE NEBRASKA FANS ARE SO LOYAL.

YOU KNOW, YOU WILL MAKE IT A COMFORTABLE KIND OF SITUATION FOR THEM.

IN THIS ADJUSTMENT.

I THINK THAT'S THE THING TO ME, LOOK AT IT FROM THAT FAN STANDPOINT AND HOW CAN YOU MAKE IT BETTER FOR THEM?

>> BEFORE WE GET TO THIS SEASON, I WAS INTERVIEWING JOHNNY HAD AND JEFF KINNEY LAST WEEK.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KEPT COMING UP, A LOT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN PLAYERS NAMES AND THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AROUND THE COUNTRY.

BOB DEVANEY WAS SO FAR AHEAD WITH THAT WASN'T HE?

HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE DID THAT MAKE BUILDING NEBRASKA INTO WHAT IT WAS?

>> I THINK IT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT, YOU KNOW, BOB DIDN'T LOOK AT IT AS, YOU KNOW, LET'S GO AFTER AFRICAN AMERICANS, HE JUST DID.

THAT WAS JUST THE WAY HE -- >> HE NEEDED THE BEST PLAYERS.

>> YEAH, HE WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR AND A VERY GOOD AMATEUR BOXER.

HE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A FREE SPIRIT.

>> OH YEAH.

HE AND HIS BUDDY HOPPED A TRAIN AT ONE POINT.

AND QUICKLY WENT BACK.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

BUT YEAH, I THINK IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF COURSE THAT HE DID THAT.

I THINK IT WAS OBVIOUSLY AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT NEBRASKA'S SUCCESS WAS UNDER BOB.

YOU KNOW, UNDER TOM AS WELL.

I MEAN THAT'S A PRETTY REMARKABLE THING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

WHEN BOB WON 101 GAMES IN HIS TEN YEARS AS COACH AND TOM WON 255.

255-49-3.

AND IT IS REMARKABLE WHAT THEY DID BACK TO BACK.

>> YOU WERE ACCOUNTING FOR ONE OF THEM, RIGHT?

>> AND IT WILL BE SOMETHING UP THERE.

THE FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB AS I WAS TOLD, YOU KNOW, THAT I WENT OUT TO PRACTICE AND TOM CALLED EVERYBODY AND IT IS THE FINAL SCRIMMAGE, TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE ALABAMA GAME.

TOM CALLED EVERYBODY TO THE SOUTH END ZONE, AND HE SAID TO THE DEFENSE, IF YOU GUYS PLAY DEFENSE, THE WAY THAT YOU DID, THEN ALABAMA WILL BE LUCKY TO SCORE MORE THAN SIX OR SEVEN POINTS.

AND SO I PUT THAT IN THE PAPER.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD QUOTE.

>> IT WAS GREAT STUFF.

>> BUT NEXT MONDAY, I WENT TO THE EXTRA POINT CLUB.

AND THEN GEORGE DARLINGTON SAID HE WASN'T GOING TO SHOW THE FILM UNTIL A CERTAIN SPORTS WRITER LEFT BECAUSE HE HAD COST THEM THE ALABAMA GAME.

AND I WAS THE AT THE TABLE.

SO I THOUGHT MY JOB WAS, MY DREAM JOB WAS DONE AFTER ONE MONTH.

>> WOW.

>> BECAUSE I DID SOMETHING OKLAHOMA STATE, KANSAS STATE, KANSAS NEVER DID.

I BEAT TOM TWO WEEKS ON THE JOB.

AND YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

>> AND THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT WAS TOM SAID THAT NEXT MONDAY AFTER PRACTICE, HE SAID HEY, I WANT YOU TO TALK.

HE PULLED ME OFF TO THE SIDE AND I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BE DOWN.

HE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NEW ON THE JOB.

YOU DIDN'T REALIZE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN WATCH PRACTICE IT, BUT YOU CAN'T PRINT ANYTHING THAT YOU SEE OR HEAR AT PRACTICE.

YOU CAN ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT AND I WILL EITHER ANSWER THEM OR I WON'T.

THAT'S THE WAY WE NEED TO DO IT GOING FORWARD.

I THOUGHT THAT SHOWED THE CLASS HE HAD.

AND THE NEXT DAY THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR WHO WAS A WANT YOU TO COME TO MY OFFICE AFTER THE PRACTICE IS OVER WITH.

I THOUGHT WELL, HERE WE GO AGAIN.

SO I GO IN THERE.

I SAT DOWN.

SOMEBODY OPENS THE DOOR AND SAYS SHUT THE DOOR.

SIT DOWN.

SO I'M SITTING THERE, AND THEN HE SAYS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NEW ON THE JOB.

YOU JUST NEED TO DO WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT.

IF YOU DO, YOU WILL BE FINE.

THAT'S ALL HE SAID.

>> NICE.

>> SO I THOUGHT TWO CLASS GUYS.

AND I THINK THAT REFLECTED THE PROGRAM AND WHY THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL.

>> WELL THOUGHTS OF THE SEASON UNDER MATT RHULE IN HIS FIRST YEAR?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M BUYING ON IT.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND YOU KNOW, I LIKE HIS OPENNESS WITH THE MEDIA, AND I KNOW, I THINK HE USES THE MEDIA SOMETIMES TO TELL HIS PLAYERS CERTAIN THINGS, WHAT HE TELLS US.

BUT HE'S VERY ENGAGING.

HE SEEMS VERY OPEN ABOUT THINGS.

QUESTIONS EVENTUALLY WITH THE NEWS CONFERENCES BEFORE THEY ARE EVEN ASKED.

AND HE WILL TALK ABOUT INJURIES AND SO FORTH.

I LIKE THAT.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF DEVELOPMENT.

THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS, AND THIS DAY IN AGE WITH NIL AND THE TRANSFER PORTAL.

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO DEVELOP PLAYERS?

YOU KNOW, IF YOU BRING IN A REALLY TALENTED GUY AND YOU WANT HIM TO DEVELOP, BUT HE DOESN'T GET THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY EXCEPT MAYBE IN THOSE LAST FOUR GAMES HIS FRESHMAN YEAR.

IS HE GOING TO STICK AROUND?

AND IF HE IS, I THINK MATT RHULE IS IN A SYSTEM THAT WILL PRODUCE.

BUT CAN YOU HOLD HIM HERE?

THAT'S THE THING THAT IS A BIG CONCERN.

>> MIKE, HOW MUCH MORE CHALLENGING IS THE PATH FOR NEBRASKA FOOTBALL MOVING FORWARD IN THE NEW BIG TEN WHEN THEY GET TO EIGHT?

WHAT IS IT WITH THE BIG EIGHT?

AND MAYBE ONE OR TWO TOUGH GAMES A YEAR AND A BIG 12 WAS THAT WAY.

NOW YOU COULD HAVE FOUR, FIVE, SIX TYPES OF THOSE GAMES EVERY YEAR ON THE SCHEDULE.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT IS JUST MAGNIFYING WHAT HAPPENED WHEN NEBRASKA LEFT THE BIG 12 AND JOINED THE BIG TEN, WHEN THEY BECAME THE BIG 12.

I MEAN THE MORE TEAMS YOU HAVE, THE LESS CONTROL YOU HAVE ON WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THOSE TEAMS BECAUSE YOU DON'T PLAY THEM EVERY YEAR.

AND THAT IS LIKE WHAT YOU SAID.

THERE WERE ALWAYS A COUPLE OF GAMES WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE THAT YOU WERE GOING TO LOSE THAT GAME IF YOU WERE NEBRASKA OR IF YOU WERE OKLAHOMA.

BUT YOU ALWAYS FOCUSED.

THEY DID THE SAME THING.

IT WAS ONE GAME.

YOU WOULD GO 1-0, PAY ATTENTION THE NEXT TIME.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TOM OSBORNE WAS.

I THINK THIS WAS 1980, THE COLORADO GAME, AND I WAS GOING FROM THE NEWSPAPER TO THE STADIUM TO DO AN INTERVIEW.

AND I WAS CROSSING THE STREET THERE, Q STREET.

AND SOMEBODY SAID HEY, YOU WANT TO RIDE DOWN TO THE STADIUM?

AND IT WAS TOM.

HE WAS IN THE CAR.

IT WAS A ONE-WAY STREET AND THERE WERE CARS BEHIND HIM.

I CUT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND SLID AND FELL DOWN IN FRONT OF HIS CAR.

YOU KNOW AT THAT POINT, I THOUGHT JUST RUN OVER ME.

GOOD, BUT I PULLED MYSELF UP.

I GOT IN THAT CAR AND I'M TRYING NOT TO BLEED ON THE CAR.

I'M LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.

THE ONLY THING THAT TOM SAID WHEN WE GOT READY TO TURN IN TO THE SOUTH STADIUM LOT WAS MIKE, I DON'T THINK THE FANS ARE TAKING COLORADO VERY SERIOUSLY ENOUGH.

DO YOU?

>> NICE.

>> AND THEY BEAT COLORADO REALLY BAD.

SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE KNEW THAT I DISAPPEARED, YOU KNOW, HE WAS SO FOCUSED.

BUT NEBRASKA, THEY WON THAT GAME 40-7 OR I MEAN SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT IT WAS LIKE THAT WAS HIS FOCUS.

IT WAS COLORADO.

IT WASN'T HOW BAD.

THAT WAS FAIR BANKS, I THINK.

I CAN'T REMEMBER.

MAYBE IT WAS ONE OF HIS TEAMS AND NEBRASKA JUST HAMMERED HIM.

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MCCARTNEY'S FIRST.

>> MIKE, WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> ALWAYS GREAT TO TALK TO YOU.

WITH SATURDAY BEING THE CELEBRATION OF THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF MEMORIAL STADIUM.

WE WANT TO REVISIT SOME OF THE MOST MEMORABLE GAMES PLAYED THERE.

BOTH LOSSES CAME AGAINST THE CORNHUSKERS.

IN 1963, NEBRASKA HOSTED OREGON.

WHILE THE OUTCOME WAS A THE GAME ITSELF WAS THE FIRST FOOTBALL CONTEST TELEVISED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NCAA.

THE MATCHUP WAS BROADCAST TO 80 MILLION VIEWERS ON NBC.

NEBRASKA'S ONGOING NCAA RECORD SELLOUT STREAK BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 3, 1962.

IN THE FIRST YEAR OF COACH BOB DEVANEY'S TENURE.

IT BEGAN THE TRADITION OF FILLING THE STADIUM EACH SATURDAY IN THE FALL THAT CONTINUES TODAY.

THE HUSKERS NOTCHED THEIR FIRST WIN AGAINST OKLAHOMA UNDER A HALL OF FAME COACH, TOM OSBORNE IF 1978.

AFTER ENDURING SEVEN STRAIGHT LOSSES IN THIS SERIES, NEBRASKA UPSET THE NO.

1 SOONERS AT HOME FOR A SIGNATURE VICTORY.

MEMORIAL STADIUM HOSTED A UNIQUE PAIRING OF NO.

8 COLORADO VERSES NO.

8 NEBRASKA ON HALLOWEEN IN 1992.

AS THE HUSKERS TREATED THEMSELVES TO A 52-7 WIN IN THE RAIN.

IN 2001 AS THE NATION MOURNED THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, NEBRASKA HOSTED RICE FOR A THURSDAY EVENING HOME GAME.

WHILE THE HUSKERS GOT THE WIN, THAT GAME ARE ABOUT MORE THAN JUST THE GAME INSIDE MEMORIAL STADIUM.

COLORADO AND NEBRASKA FACED OFF IN 2008 AT THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON.

LATE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER BEHIND THE LEG OF ALEX HENRY AND A SCHOOL RECORD KICK OF 57 YARDS, THE HUSKERS WOULD TAKE THE LEAD.

THE FAN JUBILATION FOLLOWING THE KICK HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE LOUDEST THE STADIUM HAS EVER BEEN.

AND THE FIRST SEASON IN THE BIG TEN, THE HOME TEAM HOSTED THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES IN THE FIRST CONFERENCE MATCHUP INSIDE THE STADIUM.

AND IN A COMEBACK FOR THE AGES, NEBRASKA SCORED 28 UNANSWERED POINTS TO DEFEAT THE BUCKEYES.

AS THE STADIUM CELEBRATES ITS 100th YEAR, MORE MEMORABLE MOMENTS ARE CERTAINLY ON THE HORIZON.

WE CERTAINLY LOVE LOOKING BACK AT THOSE MOMENTS.

BEFORE WE GO TO BREAK, AND WE GET TO THESE NEW PHOTOS, THERE IT IS, DIAL 1-800-CALL-MATT.

THAT IS NOT A REAL NUMBER.

CALL THE REAL NUMBER.

AND LEAVE US SOME PIZZA, MATT.

BEFORE WE GO TO BREAK, MORE PHOTOS THIS SEASON SO FAR, COURTESY OF EXPORTS.

>>> THAT MIKE BABCOCK WAS TALKING ABOUT NEBRASKA BEATING OKLAHOMA.

57% OF THE FOLKS SAID THAT ONE WITH THE SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE FUMBLES.

WITH THAT WE'LL TURN TO YOUR RECRUITING.

AND THAT IS A GOOD THING THIS WEEK.

WE WILL TAKE ON WHOEVER COMES.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT AND WHAT THEY DID TO ENSURE SOME OVATORS GUYS THAT ARE COMMITTED, STAY COMMITTED.

>> THEY WENT AROUND AND SPENT TWO HARD DAYS ON THE ROAD, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

MATT RHULE WOULD CHECK OUT THE LOCAL GAME.

IT'S ONE OF THE NEWEST THINGS, THE BEST THING IN PREP.

BUT THEN I THINK FOR HIM, THE PRIORITY WAS NO.

1, GRANT BRICKS AT IOWA.

AND GRANT BRICKS, STILL UNDECIDED BETWEEN OKLAHOMA, K STATE, NEBRASKA.

SPENT A FEW HOURS THERE.

AND THEN TOOK THAT PLANE OUT TO AMESWORTH, AND SPENT MOST OF THE DAY WATCHING CARTER NELSON PLAY AND SPENDING TIME THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND EVEN STOPPING THE LOCAL STORE.

THEY TO BUY A FEW COAT.

BECAUSE HE ONLY BROUGHT A WINDBREAKER.

FRIDAY NIGHT WAS COLD.

A WET, COLD NIGHT FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AROUND THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

AND I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER PRIORITY, LANE GRIFFIN WAS IN SCHOOL IT WEEK.

AND ALABAMA WAS TALKING TO THEM.

E.J.

WAS DOWN IN TEXAS TO CHECK HIM OUT.

IT'S THE BIGGEST PRIORITY FOR THE STAFF.

IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

>> AND YEAH, TANNER, YOU WOULD LOOK AT THE PLAYERS IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

I'M NOT SURE THAT WE HAVE EVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF LEVEL OF D1 PLAYERS.

AND THEY ARE COMMITTED TO ILLINOIS.

I GOT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAYING THIS IS A GUY THAT NEBRASKA, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD HATE TO SEE HIM LEAVE AS HE IS A TALENTED ATHLETIC, TIGHT END.

HE'LL PLAY FOR BRENT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY WERE ALSO COMMITTED TO GO AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A WINNER FOR NEBRASKA AND THE ILLINOIS PROGRAM AND OVER 100 YEARS.

BUT TANNER, HIS FATHER IS A SUPERINTENDENT THERE AND HE HAS A REAL GOOD BACKGROUND, YOU KNOW, GREAT FRAME TO BUILD ON.

IT'S ONE OF THE BEST EIGHT MAN YEARS THAT WE HAVE EVER SEEN IN TERMS OF THE DIVISION I TALENT WITH THEM WALKING ON AND NEBRASKA AS WELL AS THE FULLBACK.

>> THE COUGARS, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> I HAVE THE SWEATSHIRT.

>> HE'S ON THE TEAM AND A WALK ON WITH NEBRASKA WHERE THEY ARE A FULLBACK.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TANNER.

SO THEY ARE LOADED RIGHT NOW FOR AN EIGHT-MAN LEVEL TEAM.

THEY WILL HAVE TWO DIVISION I ATHLETES ON OUR TEAM.

>> LET'S GO TO THE PHONE.

ASHLEY MURPHY JOINING US ON THE PHONE NOW.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR SEASON SO FAR.

HOW HAVE THINGS BEEN GOING ABOUT?

>> OH, THEY HAVE BEEN GOING GREAT WHERE THEY ARE 7-1, GETTING BETTER EVERY WEEK.

HONESTLY OUR SEASON HASN'T BEEN GREAT SO FAR.

>> WHAT IS YOUR TIMELINE?

ARE YOU GOING TO GRADUATE EARLY OR DO YOU PLAY A ROLE ON NEBRASKA OR DO YOU PLAN TO FINISH OUT YOUR ENTIRE SENIOR YEAR AT ELK HORN SOUTH?

>> I'M PLANNING ON GRADUATING EARLY, THEN GETTING DOWN TO NEBRASKA AS FAST AS I CAN.

>> WHAT IS THE PRIORITY FOR YOU?

AND WEIGHT AT TODAY?

>> THE PRIORITY OF JUST GETTING DOWN THERE, LEARNING EVERYTHING THAT I CAN LIKE RIGHT AWAY.

WEIGHT WISE, I'M AT 230 RIGHT NOW, 6'5."

>> AND OBVIOUSLY THE GUYS THAT PLAYED WITH YOU LAST YEAR.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THOSE KINDS OF GUYS AND WHAT NEBRASKA WILL BE LIKE WHEN YOU GET DOWN THERE?

>> THE FIRST THING THEY TOLD ME, IT'S TOUGH.

YEAH, I KNOW.

THAT IT IS GOING TO BE A BIG PLAY AND IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THROUGH THAT.

>> AS A YOUNG GUY COMING INTO THE PROGRAM, HOW ENCOURAGING IS IT TO SEE SO MANY TRUE FRESHMEN ALREADY ON THE FIELD AND RILEY DOWN AND A NUMBER OF THESE GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PLAY EARLY AND ALL OF THEM WERE ALSO EARLY ENROLLEES FOR THE MOST PART?

>> ACTUALLY IT'S REALLY EXCITING FOR ME.

IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M REALLY GOING TO GET MY CHANCE TO PROVE MYSELF AND TO GET A CHANCE TO PLAY.

>> TELL US ABOUT YOUR HISTORY AS A HUSKERS FAN, AS A KID.

DID YOU GO TO GAMES?

WHERE YOU WERE GOING TO GO?

WHAT IS YOUR HISTORY WITH THE PROGRAM?

>> TO BE HONEST, I NEVER WATCHED HUSKERS FOOTBALL BEFORE LAST YEAR WHEN I GOT OFFERED.

>> AND SO WHO DID YOU WATCH?

WHO DID YOU WATCH GROWING UP?

>> YOU'LL NEVER GUESS.

I DON'T REALLY WATCH SPORTS.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF PLAYERS NOWADAYS THAT DON'T WATCH.

DO YOU WATCH PRO AT ALL?

>> NO.

I DON'T REALLY WATCH ANY FOOTBALL OR ANY SPORTS.

>> THAT IS AWESOME.

>> THE ONLY FOOTBALL IS FILM.

THAT'S ABOUT IT.

>> IT SOUNDS GREAT.

YOU'RE FRESH.

WE APPRECIATE IT, MAN.

CONGRATULATIONS.

STAY HEALTHY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS.

WE APPRECIATE THE RECRUITING UPDATE.

AND AFTER THIS BREAK, THE WEEKEND IS COLD AND IT IS EVEN WILDER THAN BEFORE.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIG TEN NOW TO CHECK OUT SOME OF THOSE SCORES.

THERE IT IS.

THE SPARTANS WILL SQUEEZE PAST RUTGERS.

WHAT A GREAT COMEBACK FOR RUTGERS IN THAT ONE.

ACTUALLY RUTGERS AND YOU WILL HAVE MARYLAND AS THEY WOULD TALK ABOUT THAT GAME EARLIER, GETTING UPSET BY ILLINOIS.

AND IOWA, A HUGE UPSET AGAINST WISCONSIN.

I BELIEVE THEY HAD SIX COMPLETIONS IN THAT GAME BY THEIR QUARTERBACK, THE BACKUP QUARTERBACK.

BUT SOMEHOW THEY WILL MANAGE AND IOWA KEEPS ON WINNING.

IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF POINTS THAT BRIAN HAS TO SCORE.

>> IT IS NOT HAPPENING.

>> WE'RE IN THE BIG TEN WEST AND ONLY ONE OFFENSE ON TRACK TO SCORE MORE POINTS.

AND THAT IS WISCONSIN WHO JUST LOST THEIR STARTING QUARTERBACK.

SO THAT WHOLE SITUATION.

IOWA, THE METRICS RIGHT NOW, SAYING THEY COULD GO 11-1.

>> SURE.

>> IT IS REALLY REMARKABLE.

BECAUSE THEY ARE RANKED 130th IN TOTAL OFFENSE.

OUT OF 133 IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

>> 133 CURRENTLY.

130 ARE SITTING THERE.

ALMOST EVERY SINGLE OFFENSIVE STAT, THEY'RE IN THE BOTTOM FOUR.

WHETHER IT IS FIRST DOWNS OR POINTS.

THEY PLAYED MORE GAMES, SEVEN GAMES.

SO IT IS CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT IT.

ANOTHER TEAM THAT HAS STRUGGLED ON OFFENSE AS WE DON'T REMEMBER THEY WILL RUN THAT BALL AND THEN THROW THAT BALL.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT, SEAN?

>> THEY ARE COMING OFF THE BYE, SO THEY WILL KEEP IT PRETTY CLOSE TO THE VEST AS THEY CAN.

THEY'RE A LOT LIKE NEBRASKA WAS LAST YEAR.

THEY HAVE AN INTERIM HEAD COACH RUNNING THEIR TEAM.

THEY ARE KIND OF PLAYING WITH FIGHT AND PASSION.

WE SAW WHAT THEY DID AGAINST MINNESOTA.

THEY PLAYED PENN STATE.

THEN THEY ALMOST GOT BEAT BY HOWARD.

IF YOU'RE NEBRASKA THIS WEEK, YOU'VE GOT TO ESTABLISH YOURSELF EARLY AND NOT LET THEM GET THE MOMENTUM THAT WE SAW THEM KNOCK OFF MINNESOTA WITH A FEW WEEKS AGO.

>> THAT COMEBACK WAS REMARKABLE.

IT FELT LIKE THEY WERE OUT OF THE GAME, GRANTING FOUR TOUCHDOWNS IN THAT GAME.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT A TEAM LIKE NORTHWESTERN, IT IS ALMOST DESTINED AT TIMES THAT THEY WILL BE CLOSE, RIGHT?

>> YES.

IT DOES.

IT JUST FEELS LIKE A WEIRD GAME.

THIS IS A GAME WHERE JUST GIVING NORTHWESTERN THE SITUATION, THE COACH TO COME OFF THE BYE WEEK.

IT'S GOING TO BE ON HIGH ALERT FOR TRICK PLAYS, THE ON-SIDE KICKS, FAKE PUNTS, WHATEVER IT IS.

THEY'VE GOT NOTHING TO LOSE AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON.

I'M SURPRISED THAT THEY GOT THREE WINS SO FAR AND THIS IS A GAME WHERE THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ON-SIDE KICKS AND THAT YOU'RE TAKING SHOTS AND THOSE TRICK PLAYS AROUND THE 50 YARD LINE.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE ON ALERT FOR THEM ON SATURDAY.

>> AND LET'S TELL YOU, NORTHWESTERN, IN THAT TOUCHBACK PERCENTAGE.

THEY ONLY HAD SEVEN TOUCHBACKS.

NEBRASKA'S OPPONENTS, THE SECOND HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF THE TOUCHBACKS.

SO SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE AND THEY WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO RETURN TOMMY HILL.

>> AND THEY TALKED ABOUT IT AS THEY ARE THAT CLOSE IN POPPING ONE OF THOSE AND THAT IS A HUGE TOMMI HILL GUY.

>> THEY WALK OUT TOGETHER AS YOU SEE THEM GOING OUT.

SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SEE IT.

IT IS PROBABLY HAPPENING IN PRACTICE.

SOMETIMES A GUY DOES MAKE A BUNCH OF PLAYS IN PRACTICE AND EVENTUALLY THEY WILL POP.

>> HE MADE THOSE PLAYS IN THE >> AND SANFORD WITH THE GREAT HIT.

>> AND AGAIN, WE PRAISE HIM FOR THE BALL POSITION, YOU KNOW, IT HAS TAKEN CARE OF THE BALL, GOING OUT OF BOUNDS THERE.

AND YEAH, IT'S A GUY THAT LAST YEAR STRUGGLED AT TIMES.

HAS BEEN THE RECEIVER, THE QUARTERBACK.

BUT HE MUST HAVE THE MENTAL TOUGHNESS AND THE FORTITUDE TO WORK THROUGH SOME THINGS.

I LIKE A KID, I WANT A KID THAT CAN BATTLE THROUGH SOME SCENARIOS WHERE HE HAS BEEN ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE FIGHT.

AND HE'S COME BACK, MAN.

HE PLAYED BOTH POSITIONS.

AND YOU WANT THOSE TYPE OF GUYS ON YOUR SQUAD.

>> REMINDS ME OF LAMAR JACKSON.

THE GUY THAT GOT BENCHED AND CAME BACK.

FROM FACEBOOK, BOB ASKED A QUESTION AS IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE.

ARE YOU SURPRISED TO HAVE THIS FULLBACK AND IN TERMS OF GETTING THE BALL?

WERE YOU LED TO BELIEVE THERE WOULD BE A FULLBACK TRAP?

>> BARRET LIEBENTRITT GOT HURT.

YOU SAW HIM IN THAT LOUISIANA, TECH GAME WITH HIS ARM IN A SLING.

SO HE'S BEEN OUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE WILL BE BACK.

BONNER IS A FULLBACK.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

AND THEY GAVE THEM THE LOOK THAT THE OTHERS DIDN'T GIVE, BUT HE'S BEEN OUT THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

>> HOW SURPRISED, AND MAYBE NOT, ABOUT THE TRIPLINGS O.

AND VIRGIL KIND OF BROUGHT IT UP.

IF THAT IS WHAT'S WORKING, YOU STICK WITH IT, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.

HAARBERG HAS WORKED VERY WELL.

HE IS OBVIOUSLY A BETTER RUNNER THAN A THROWER CURRENTLY.

I THINK HE COULD BECOME A BETTER THROWER.

BUT OVER TIME, HE NEEDS TO USE THAT SIZE AND SPEED AND ATHLETICISM TO HIS BENEFIT.

WHEN YOU'RE NOT THAT GOOD UPFRONT, AND I HAVE SAID THIS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS WHEN YOU GET THAT PLUS ONE IN THE RUN GAME AGAINST THE DEFENSE.

SO YOU NEED TO BRING THAT SAFETY UP, TO PLAY MORE TRUE.

AND IT HELPS YOU OUT WITH THAT PASS GAME ESSENTIALLY ON THE BACK END.

YOU NEED TO UTILIZE THAT.

IF THEY HAVE THAT FULLBACK BACK THERE, IT WOULD BE NICE.

BUT WE'VE SEEN IT.

IT'S BEEN THE RPOs, THE ZONE READ, THE SPREAD OPTION PREDOMINANTLY SO FAR THIS YEAR.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO UTILIZE IT.

IT IS A WEAPON.

HE'S TOUGH TO BRING DOWN.

BUT HE'S STARTING TO PITCH THE BALL TOO.

>> WE SAW THEM PITCH IT TOO.

IT'S LIKE OH THANK YOU.

BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME BIG PLAYS THERE THAT YOU THINK THAT THEY COULD TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL.

THERE IS SOME BIG THINGS TOO.

>> AND WHY ARE THE DEFENSIVE BACKS TURNING, LOOKING FOR THE BALL?

I ANSWER THIS QUESTION ALL THE TIME.

IF YOU ARE IN PHASE.

THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO GET YOUR HANDS AND THEIR HANDS INTO THE BASKET.

MANY TIMES YOU WILL LOSE THE WIDE RECEIVER.

STAY IN CONTACT, GET YOUR HAND THROUGH THE BASKET AS YOU CAN SEE THAT BALL GET THROWN AND YOU ALWAYS PLAY YOUR HAND AND THE ROUTE TREE CUTTING INVOLVED AS YOU WILL SEE THEM IN BETWEEN.

I KNOW IT DRIVES PEOPLE NUTS.

THE REALLY GOOD ONES ON SUNDAY, THEY COULD DO THAT AND JUST PLAY THE HANDS, GET IN THERE SOMEHOW TO FORCE THAT INCOMPLETE.

>> EYES AND HANDS.

FAVORITE MEMORY FROM GOING TO A GAME AT MEMORIAL STADIUM?

>> I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OBVIOUSLY.

AND THE NEBRASKA, COLORADO GAME, IT WAS THE 200th CONSECUTIVE SELLOUT AT MEMORIAL STADIUM.

TWO VERSES THREE GAME.

AND COLLEGE GAME DAY WAS THERE.

LEADING NEBRASKA TO ONE OF THE BIGGEST VICTORIES IN THE STADIUM.

SO FOR ME, THAT GAME IS STILL PROBABLY NUMBER ONE.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT THE FIRST GAME, WHERE IT WAS IN 1993, OKLAHOMA GAME AT HOME.

IT WAS A RAINY DAY.

IT WAS STILL WHEN WE PLAYED OKLAHOMA AFTER THANKSGIVING.

JONES HAD A BIG GAME.

BUT THE NEXT ONE IS 2001, OKLAHOMA.

THAT WAS A BIG ONE.

I WAS THERE AS A RECRUIT.

>> AND IN 2014, MIAMI.

IT'S NOT A CLASSIC GAME.

BUT IT'S JUST AS LOUD AS I REMEMBER IT AND LATE AND THERE WERE FIGHTS.

IT WAS CRAZY.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE GAME AND THAT IS MINE AGAINST MIAMI.

WHAT'S YOUR TURNING QUESTION?

>> CAN THIS TEAM LOCK IN AND KEEP THE LEVEL OF FOCUS THAT IT TAKES TO WIN BIG TEN FOOTBALL GAME?

>> NORTHWESTERN WILL TRY TO MAKE IT A SLOPPY FOOTBALL GAME.

CLEAN FOOTBALL TO GET OFF OF A WIN.

>> CAN NEBRASKA MAKE PLAYS ON THE SPECIAL TEAMS?

THE ONE PLACE WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF PLAYS.

DON'T FORGET TO HEAD TO THE WEBSITE AND CLICK ON THE PREDICTION.

WE WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE GAME ON SATURDAY.

WHEN NEBRASKA WELCOMES IN NORTHWESTERN, THAT KICK OFF IS 2:30 ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK.

BE SURE TO JOIN US WITH PLENTY OF PICTURES, AND SEND US YOUR BEST ONES, AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN BIG PRIZES LIKE THESE ON NEXT WEEK'S SHOW.

WE WANT TO SEE YOUR GAME DAY BEST, SO MAKE SURE YOU SEND IN THE PHOTOS.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S FROM YOUR TAILGATE, INSIDE THE STADIUM, OR YOUR WATCH PARTY IN YOUR MAN CAVE DOWNSTAIRS OR WOMAN CAVE.

HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT.

AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE 100-YEAR CELEBRATION AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA HAS CREATED THE ORIGIN FALL TOUR.

THE MODEL CREATED IN THE PROGRAM WITH THE GLORY AT MEMORIAL STADIUM THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO WALK THROUGH THE ENTIRE STADIUM AND SEE WHAT IT WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE TO BE IN THE STANDS 100 YEARS AGO.

IT INCLUDES THE FIRST EXPANSION OF THE STADIUM.

HEAD OVER TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/MEMORIAL STADIUM TO TAKE THE TOUR TODAY.

OF COURSE, WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK ON TUESDAY TO RECAP THE NORTHWESTERN GAME.

MY FRIENDS, SPORTS EDITOR OF THE OMAHA HERALD.

OUR THANKS TO MATT.

AND THE FEELING OVERALL HEADING INTO THIS GAME, DO YOU THINK BECAUSE IT'S COMING OFF A BYE WEEK AND BECAUSE THEY BEAT ILLINOIS THEY'RE FEELING REALLY GOOD IN THIS GAME?

>> AND I THINK THE MICHIGAN MEMORY IS STILL NEAR SIDED.

LISTEN, WE ARE NOT WHO WE WANT THEY'VE GOT SOME ROI, BUT THEY WILL NEED TO CREATE THAT MOMENTUM AND YOU CAN'T GET CAUGHT SLIPPING.

DO NOT LOOK FORWARD AND TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.

>> THANKS TO MATT.

AND OUR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CALL CENTER FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

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

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON BIG WEEK WRAP-UP.