♪ >>> NEBRASKA'S SEASON GOT OFF TO THE WRONG FOOT IN A DEMORALIZING LOSS TO ILLINOIS IN FRONT OF A NATIONAL AUDIENCE.

PENALTIES, TURNOVERS, AND SPECIAL TEAM WOES RETURNED IN 2021.

HOW WILL THE HUSKERS REGROUP?

WE'LL BREAK DOWN THE GAME AND ANALYZE EVERYTHING FROM WEEK ZERO WITH OUR SPECIAL GUEST, FORMER HUSKER JEREMIAH SIRLES.

JOHN CALLAHAN FROM HUSKER ONLINE WILL JOIN US TO TALK RECRUITING AS WELL, ALL COMING UP NEXT ON "BIG RED WRAP UP."

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

ANOTHER SEASON STARTS OFF JUST LIKE THE ONES PREVIOUS TO THIS, WITH A BAD LOSS.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW.

JAY MOORE.

DAMON BENNING.

DAMON, IT FEELS LIKE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A WEEK ALREADY.

IT'S ONLY BEEN TWO DAYS.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START, OTHER THAN I WAS SURPRISED, I'M ASSUMING YOU GUYS WERE SURPRISED.

>> I WAS 100% SURPRISED.

NOT PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.

IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING.

DISAPPOINTINGLY SURPRISED.

>> YEAH, IT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD A LITTLE BIT.

I FELT LIKE ALL ALONG, THOUGH, AS WE TALKED ALL WEEK THAT THE GAME WOULD BE CLOSE, BUT I DIDN'T THINK THAT THE SAME OLD NEMESIS WOULD CONTINUE TO TAP NEBRASKA ON THE SHOULDER THE WAY THAT THEY DID.

JUST THEIR INABILITY TO OVERCOME A NEGATIVE PLAY, THE SPECIAL TEAMS WOES, AND THE OFFENSIVE LINE, I THINK, IS PROBABLY THE THING THAT SURPRISED ME THE MOST.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE STOUT UP FRONT BASED ON KIND OF WHAT WE HAD SEEN AND HEARD.

SO YEAH, PLENTY TO WORK ON FROM WEEK ONE TO WEEK TWO.

>> I THINK IF WE MADE A LIST OF THE THINGS THAT SHOULD GO RIGHT THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF EMPHASIS ON SPECIAL TEAMS WOULD GO BETTER, OFFENSIVE LINE BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE AND THEY HAVE MORE DEPTH.

WE THOUGHT THE RUNNING GAME WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT WOULD BE BETTER WASN'T.

THE ONE THING THAT WAS BETTER, PASS RUSH.

THE DEFENSIVE LINE AND THOSE OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS REALLY GOT AFTER IT EARLY.

>> YEAH, THEY WERE AGGRESSIVE UP FRONT.

I LOVED THE WAY THEY CAME OUT THAT FIRST QUARTER.

I'LL BREAK DOWN A COUPLE SACKS HERE IN THE HUDL BREAKDOWN IN A FEW MINUTES, BUT THEY WERE PLAYING WELL HAT IN HANDS, PHYSICAL, GETTING OFF BLOCKS, GETTING OFF THE BALL.

IT WAS GOOD.

THE ONLY KIND OF LULL THEY HAD WAS COMING OUT IN THE THIRD QUARTER SITUATION.

THEY WERE A LITTLE SLUGGISH COMING OUT.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU GET THE EXTREME MOMENTUM CHANGE WITH THE FUMBLE AND SCOOP AND SCORE THERE RIGHT BEFORE HALF, BUT THEY PLAYED WELL ENOUGH TO WIN THAT FOOTBALL GAME.

AGAIN, SAME DISCUSSION WE HAD LAST YEAR.

THE OFFENSE HAS TO PICK UP THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN AND THEY JUST-- THEY CAN'T SEEM TO GET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT AND GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE KIND OF CAREFUL WITH SPECIAL TEAMS, TOO, WHERE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A SCHEMATICS THING OR, YOU KNOW, A PHILOSOPHY.

IT'S A COUPLE INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS THAT YOU THINK YOU NEED TO BE BETTER.

CONNER CULP IS ALL-CONFERENCE CALIBER KICKER.

>> YOUR PUNTER STRUGGLED.

>> HE'S GOT TO BE ABLE TO CONVERT EXTRA POINTS AND YOU'RE NOT COACHING 19-YARD PUNTS, EITHER.

I THINK, YOU KNOW MAYBE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE MOMENT GOT TO CERNI A LITTLE BIT.

CAM TAYLOR-BRITT IS ONE OF YOUR BEST PLAYERS, SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT KIND OF JUST LUMPING OVER -- LUMPING THE PROGRESS OF SPECIAL TEAMS VERSUS THE INDIVIDUAL PLAY WITHIN THAT IS SO CRITICAL, I.E., A KICKER OR A RETURNER, BECAUSE THAT YOU SEE RIGHT AWAY AND YOU KNOW SOME OF THAT STUFF ISN'T COACHED.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW THEY WERE MISSING.

HE'S NOT MISSING PROBABLY ANY EXTRA POINTS IN PRACTICE.

CAM TAYLOR-BRITT IS NOT CATCHING PUNTS ON THE ONE-YARD LINE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE COACHING TO DO THAT.

IT'S JUST CRAZY STUFF THAT HAPPENS WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON, AND LIGHT BULBS ARE GOING -- PEOPLE MAKE SOME SILLY MISTAKES.

>> THERE IS A LOT MORE, OF COURSE, TO DISCUSS TONIGHT, WHERE THE HUSKERS ARE STARTING OFF HERE IN 2021 BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOUR HELP.

WE'VE GOT TO GET YOUR CALL CENTER BACK GOING THIS YEAR, AND THERE YOU SEE THE FOLKS RIGHT THERE FROM PHI KAPPA THETA, THEY'RE READY AND THEY'RE CHARGED UP WITH VALENTINO'S PIZZA.

YOU CAN ALSO TEXT AND E-MAIL YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TO BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

REACH OUT TO US VIA SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WELL.

SEND THOSE COMMENTS ON THE "BIG RED WRAP UP" FACEBOOK PAGE OR SEND IT TO OUR TWITTER ACCOUNT AND WE'LL GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN TONIGHT.

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

THESE ARE PERFECT FOR PRINTING OFF AT HOME AND KEEPING TRACK OF THE HUSKER FOOTBALL SCORES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

HERE IS THE RESULTS OF LAST WEEK'S SIDELINES SURVEY.

IT WAS A BLOWOUT LAST WEEK.

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

89% OF YOU SAID "YES," 11% OF COURSE SAID "NO."

HOPEFULLY, NEBRASKA CAN STILL HAVE SUCCESS THIS SEASON BUT THINGS CERTAINLY ARE HARDER NOW AFTER THAT LOSS.

HERE'S THIS WEEK'S ALL NEW "SIDELINE SURVEY."

"WITH THE HUSKERS 0-1 ON THE SEASON, DO YOU THINK NEBRASKA FINISHES WITH A WINNING RECORD?"

"YES," "NO," OR "IT WAS JUST THE FIRST GAME.

WE'RE GOING TO CHECK BACK ON IT."

RIGHT NOW, 61% OF THE PEOPLE ARE ON "NO."

HEAD TO THE WEBSITE NOW AND VOTE AND HEAD BACK TO EACH WEEK FOR THE BRAND-NEW SURVEY.

LET'S GET TO OUR PLAYER OF THE GAME NOW.

WE'LL GET RIGHT INTO IT, AND, IT WAS WHAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, JAY, IT REALLY WAS THE GAME THAT -- THE PLAY THAT TURNED EVERYTHING.

WHAT DID YOU SEE FROM WHAT CALEB TANNOR DID HERE?

>> IT WAS NICE.

I MEAN, LOOK AT THE MOVEMENT EXPOSING GOOD GAME.

I MEAN, HE DID EVERYTHING RIGHT AND IN THIS DAY AND AGE, YOU CAN'T PICK UP THE QUARTERBACK AND DROP -- I MEAN, THIS IS A GOOD GAME.

YOU GOT WES TILLEY RIGHT HERE -- I MEAN, CLEAN HIT THAT WASN'T A LATE HIT, WASN'T A HIGH HIT.

IT'S JUST HE DROVE HIM TO THE GROUND.

YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT ANY MORE IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

IT SHOWS IT WAS A WELL EXECUTED GAME.

IT FORCED THE QB PETERS TO THROW HIGH AND A GREAT CATCH BY CAM TAYLOR-BRITT THERE.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS -- ENDED UP BEING A 30-YARD PENALTY.

THEY GET THE BALL BACK.

THEY GET POINTS OFF OF THAT MISTAKE AND REALLY FLIPPED IT.

I MEAN, BECAUSE THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NEBRASKA TO GO UP, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY 13-2 JUST BEFORE THAT, AND THEY -- THIS WOULD BE A 9-2.

THEY MISS A FIELD GOAL.

BUT THAT GAME, RIGHT THERE THEY GET THAT PICK, THEY GO BACK IN, AND THIS -- I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A DONE DEAL, BUT -- >> THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO GET OVER, RIGHT?

YOU GOT TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE IT EVERY GAME.

>> THERE IS JUST SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT THIS CULTURE THAT ALLOWS MINOR SETBACKS TO BE MAJOR PROBLEMS.

I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE THING WHEN -- BECAUSE YOU CAN'T REALLY FALL INTO THE LORE OF "HEY, WE JUST NEED SOMETHING GOOD TO HAPPEN, WE JUST NEED SOMETHING GOOD TO HAPPEN," BECAUSE IT KIND OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF WHAT THE MANTRA IS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY IN TERMS OF YOU PUTTING IN THE WORK.

BECAUSE, YOU DON'T WANT TO UNDERMINE YOUR PHILOSOPHY.

YOU WANT TO WORK MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

YOU CAN'T THEN BOIL IT DOWN TO NEEDING TO CATCH A COUPLE OF BREAKS ON SATURDAY BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE REINFORCED.

SO, IT'S A REAL FINE LINE PSYCHOLOGICALLY FOR NEBRASKA.

>> WE'RE GOING OVER SOME OF THE ERRORS RIGHT NOW.

THEY SHOW CAM TAYLOR-BRITT AND THE CATCH.

THIS WAS THE OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE THEY CALLED ON THAT NICE WHEEL ROUTE THEY RAN.

THEY HAD SAMORI TOURE-- WE HAD -- I THINK AT THE 19-YARD LINE IS WHERE NEBRASKA WOULD HAVE BEEN, INSTEAD, COMES ALL THE WAY BACK.

THEY END UP GETTING STALLED ON THAT DRIVE AND, OF COURSE, TWO MISSED EXTRA POINTS FROM THE GUY THAT WAS THE BIG TEN KICKER OF THE YEAR, SO A LOT OF THOSE ERRORS THAT WE ALREADY WENT OVER.

>> YEAH, IT'S JUST PUZZLING.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE YOUR BEST CAPTAIN, ARGUABLY ONE OF YOUR BEST PLAYERS ON THE TEAM MAKING A MISTAKE LIKE THAT.

TO ME, THAT'S A -- THAT'S A -- I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO SAY A SELFISH MOVE BUT THAT'S A VERY INDEPENDENT -- THAT'S SAYING, WELL, THAT'S ALMOST TO ME IT'S -- HE'S TRYING TOO HARD, YOU KNOW.

THERE IS THAT -- YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE A FACTOR.

YOU KNOW -- YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THIS -- IS OUR SUPER BOWL -- THIS GAME IS SO IMPORTANT AND YOU CAN'T COME OUT AND TRY TO DO TOO MUCH.

I MEAN, JUST REALIZE, MAN, IT'S EARLY IN THE GAME.

LIKE I'M -- I ALWAYS MAKE A LOT OF GOLF ANALOGIES, RIGHT?

YOU'VE GOT A TOUGH PIN ON YOUR FIRST OR SECOND HOLE, AND YOU GOT WATER THERE, I'M HITTING THAT THING 20 FEET WHERE I CAN GET MY PAR AND GET OUT OF DODGE, RIGHT?

I DON'T NEED TO HIT IT IN THE WATER, AND KIND OF DISRUPT THE WHOLE MOMENTUM OF YOUR ROUND.

LET'S FAIR CATCH THAT THING, LET'S LET IT BOUNCE INTO THE END ZONE, OR WHATEVER IT IS, AND LET'S GO ABOUT OUR BUSINESS AND KEEP -- KEEP FIGHTING, BUT IT'S -- IT IS PUZZLING HOW, YOU KNOW, SENSITIVE THIS TEAM IS TO THE MISTAKES AND HOW THEY CAN'T JUST GET OVER THOSE, BECAUSE YOU'RE ALWAYS -- YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO PLAY A PERFECT GAME.

AND, SOME MISTAKES ARE GREATER THAN THE OTHERS, RIGHT?

A HOLD -- ONE HOLDING CALL OR INTERCEPTION OR A FUMBLE IS MIGHT NOT BE GREAT, DEPENDS ON THE TIMING OF THAT -- OF THAT PLAY, OR OF THAT PENALTY.

SO IT'S JUST -- THEY GOT TO BE ABLE TO FORGET IT AND MOVE ON, BUT IT'S HARD.

IT'S VERY, VERY HARD AND I'VE BEEN IN THERE IN SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU CAN FEEL IT SLIPPING AWAY FROM YOU AND YOU HAVE THAT "HERE WE GO AGAIN" MOMENT AND HOPE -- AND IT'S JUST THE -- YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO LEARN AND GROW FROM THAT.

>> I THINK THAT'S KEY, RIGHT?

PEOPLE KIND OF ROLL THEIR EYES A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CULTURE OR WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WORK ON THAT YOU BELIEVE IN BEING OTHER CENTERED.

AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT KEEP YOU IN CHECK WHEN IT COMES TIME TO MAKE A SELFISH DECISION.

"HEY, I GOT TO MAKE A PLAY.

HEY, I GOT TO MAKE A PLAY."

THE CULTURE THAT YOU'RE IN HAS BUILT-IN CHECKS AND BALANCES.

HEY, YOUR INDIVIDUAL WANTS AND NEEDS AREN'T GREATER THAN THE GREATER GOOD.

LET'S STAY WITHIN THE GREATER GOOD.

THIS IS WHAT WE DO.

THE MORE YOU CAN PLUG INTO THAT, THE LESS APT YOU ARE TO MAKE INDIVIDUAL FREE-WHEELING DECISIONS, BECAUSE THE CULTURE KEEPS YOU IN CHECK, WHERE YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO MAKE A PLAY BECAUSE YOU DON'T TRUST THE ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU'RE IN.

>> YOU BUILD A TRUST.

TRUST IS, AS I WAS GOING TO SAY, YEAH, IT'S ALMOST LIKE HAVING TRUST ISSUES.

YOU DON'T TRUST THE OFFENSE THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO MOVE THE BALL TO MAKE A POINT.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT.

YOU KNOW, IF I'M GOING TO START FREELANCING ON MY OWN AS DEFENSIVE END OR OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS, I DON'T TRUST MY DEFENSIVE TACKLE OR THE GUY WHO IS PLAYING BEHIND ME HE CAN GET THE JOB DONE.

WELL, NOW YOU'RE PUTTING THE OTHER TEN GUYS -- >> IN A BIND.

>> IN A HUGE BIND.

AND IT'S SELFISH.

THAT'S -- AND IT'S -- YOU PROBABLY -- HE WAS JUST BEING TOO AGGRESSIVE-- >> IT'S NOT A CONSCIOUS THING "I'M WANT TO BE SELFISH."

>> HE'S JUST -- HE'S TRYING TOO HARD SOMETIMES.

>> I -- I DON'T -- "I'M NOT COMFORTABLE ENOUGH WHERE I AM IN THIS SETTING TO SETTLE IN TO WHAT I'VE BEEN TAUGHT."

>> SO, YOU DON'T THINK PART OF IT WAS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PUNT BEFORE?

MAYBE IN THE BACK OF HIS MIND HE DIDN'T WANT NEBRASKA TO BE AT THE HALF YARD LINE AGAIN?

AND HE'S THINKING "I NEED TO GO GET THIS BALL SO AS NOT TO HAVE YARD LINE."

>> PART OF BEING THE RETURNER, THOUGH IS JUDGMENT.

>> JUDGMENT, SURE.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S 50% OF BEING A GOOD RETURNER.

THE OTHER PART, COINCIDENTALLY, IS PROBABLY JUST YOUR NATURAL INNATE INSTINCTS, RIGHT?

SO, KIND OF THOSE TWO WORLDS DON'T REALLY COMBINE, OR COLLIDE, BUT BEING A GOOD RETURN MAN IS A LOT ABOUT NATURAL RUNNING, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOU ARE AT ALL TIMES THAT ALLOW FOLKS TO TRUST IN YOUR JUDGMENT.

>> LET'S GO OVER SOME OF THE NARRATIVES.

ONE OF THE NARRATIVES IS ADRIAN MARTINEZ HAD A REALLY BAD GAME -- THAT HE MISSED OPEN RECEIVERS, THAT HE HELD ON IT TOO LONG.

WE'VE WATCHED A LOT OF THOSE PLAYS OVER THE LAST COUPLE DAYS.

>> TOGETHER.

>> WHAT'S YOUR TAKE-AWAY ON HOW HE PLAYED?

>> YEAH, SEE, I'M -- I'M A LITTLE TORN.

THERE ARE A FEW PLAYS WHERE, LISTEN, YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE BETTER THROWS, WHERE I THINK HIS MECHANICS GOT AWAY FROM HIM.

HE'LL ADMIT THAT.

BUT A LOT OF THE MAN BEATERS, THE MAN-TO-MAN PRINCIPLES, THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF GUYS WINNING.

AND I THINK THE ONE THING THAT ADRIAN MARTINEZ HAS TO DO IF YOU DO HAVE A CRITICISM, HE HAS TO FREE HIMSELF UP TO BE ALLOWED TO MAKE A FEW MISTAKES, WHERE HE LETS IT GO.

THE KEY TO MAN-TO-MAN PASSING PRINCIPLES IS, "HEY, LISTEN, IF I SEE YOUR NUMBERS, THAT MEANS YOU'RE OPEN.

I HAVE TO THROW YOU OPEN."

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY LIKE PICKING SPOTS IN ANTICIPATION AND THROWING AGAINST ZONE.

YOU'D THINK CONVENTIONAL WISDOM SAYS MAN-TO-MAN IS EASIER TO THROW AGAINST BUT YOU DON'T GET NEAR THE SEPARATION AND SO SOME OF THE CONCEPTS, YOU HAVE TO ANTICIPATE GUYS COMING -- >> THAT COMES BACK TO TRUST.

>> I DON'T THINK HE WAS NEAR AS POOR AS THE CRITICISMS BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE A TON OF GUYS RUNNING WIDE OPEN.

A LOT OF PEOPLE POINT TO THIRD AND TWO, RIGHT, THE FUMBLE.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU RUN QUADS, IT'S TO THE BOTTOM OF NUMBERS.

HE'S ON THE FAR HASH.

IT'S TO HIS LEFT.

THE SIDELINE VIEW LOOKS FANTASTIC, OH, HEY, LISTEN, OLIVER MARTIN IS WIDE OPEN.

REALITY IS YOU'VE GOT TO GET IN THE END ZONE VIEW AND SEE WHAT HE SEES.

AT THE LEFT TACKLE GETS COLLAPSED AND HE'S GOT TO STEP UP INTO THE POCKET.

IT'S A BANG-BANG-THROW WHEN OLIVER MARTIN IS OPEN, BUT YOU HAVE TO TRUST THAT THAT'S THE WAY THAT THAT PLAY IS GOING TO WORK.

AND ON THIRD AND TWO, THE FIRST TIME YOU ROLL OUT QUADS, I JUST DON'T THINK YOU DID HIM ANY FAVORS.

>> ANOTHER BIG PART OF THAT IS ALL THE PRESSURE.

OVER HALF THE DRAFT BACKS, HE HAD PRESSURE ON THEM.

HOW DID THAT OFFENSIVE LINE HANDLE WHAT ILLINOIS WAS DOING?

>> NOT VERY WELL.

WHEN THEY BROUGHT ANY TYPE OF PRESSURE -- GAINS, STUNTS, ET, TE-TYPE STUNTS, DID A POOR JOB PASSING THEM OFF.

VERY SOFT CATCHING.

NOT VERY GOOD PUNCH.

IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO ASK JIM, YOU KNOW, WHAT HIS THOUGHTS, AND HOW TO, YOU KNOW, IMPROVE ON THAT AND GET BETTER, BUT JUST -- HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THE TRUST.

I MEAN, YOU SAW THE BACK FOOT THROWS.

HE HAD PLENTY OF TIME.

JUST GOT TO GET RID OF THE BALL.

>> AND, THAT'S SOMEBODY OPEN.

>> YEAH, SOME GIVE AND TAKE.

>> RIGHT, HE'S GOT TO GET RID OF THE BALL, HERE.

I MEAN, CHUCK THAT THING, YOU KNOW -- >> IT WAS INTO THE HALF.

THERE WAS NO TIME LEFT ON THE CLOCK.

>> CORRECT.

BUT IT JUST THE FEEL -- I MEAN, THERE -- NOT A TON OF TIME, SO HE STARTS TO THROW OFF OF THE BACK FOOT, YOU DON'T TRUST YOUR OFFENSIVE LINE.

THE TIMING'S A LITTLE BIT -- YOU'RE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THAT.

WE DO HAVE THE ONE POOR SNAP, YOU KNOW, IN THE -- LATE IN THE THIRD QUARTER, MAYBE EARLY IN THE FOURTH, I CAN'T REMEMBER IT CORRECTLY, BUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE, MAN, IT'S JUST -- THAT'S -- IT WAS PUZZLING.

I WAS EXPECTING THEM TO PLAY VERY AGGRESSIVE, VERY CLEAN.

YOU HAD A LOT OF GUYS PLAY A LOT OF SNAPS AMD I JUST -- I DIDN'T SEE THE PHYSICALITY.

YOU SAW SOME GOOD THINGS IN THE RUN GAME, BUT THE ABILITY TO PASS OFF AND PASS PROTECT, AND GIVE ADRIAN ENOUGH TIME CONSISTENTLY IS NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE FOR A TEAM THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO THROUGH AND GUYS WHO PLAYED, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF GOOD FOOTBALL AND A LOT OF FOOTBALL, SO THAT'S GOT TO GET BETTER.

>> YEAH, WHEN YOU SEE A TEAM PLAY AS MUCH, THEY'VE REALLY GAPPED NEBRASKA OUT.

THEY PLAYED A LOT OF MAN FREE.

THEY PLAYED DOWNHILL, REAL "HIT-IT-AND-SPLIT-IT" PHILOSOPHY WITH THOSE LINEBACKERS.

YOU COULD TELL THE DESIGN WAS TO BE PHYSICAL AND PLAY A LOT OF PLAYERS.

THEY PLAYED SEVEN DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, AND THEY WERE BOTH -- THEY WERE TWO TIRED TEAMS AT THE TAIL END OF THAT ONE ON SATURDAY.

>> GIVE YOU A HEADS-UP, THESE ARE PG RATED HIGHLIGHTS, SO THIS IS NOT A G STUFF.

LET'S GET TO THE TAPE AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.

IT WAS AN EQUAL NUMBER OF NEBRASKA AND ILLINOIS FANS THERE.

I'D SAY PROBABLY 10,000 NEBRASKA FANS MADE THE TRIP TO CHAMPAIGN.

IT STARTED OFF VERY WELL, AS WE MENTIONED.

NEBRASKA'S PASS RUSH GETTING AFTER BRANDON PETERS EARLY.

THERE IS PHELDARIUS PAYNE GETTING A SACK.

IT WAS THE DEFENSIVE LINE AND OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS MAKING BIG PLAYS.

IN THE FIRST QUARTER ALONE, SEVEN NEGATIVE PLAYS.

SPEAKING OF NEGATIVE PLAYS, THIS IS THE ONE WE'VE TALKED OVER AND OVER ABOUT CAM TAYLOR-BRITT, WHERE HE FIELDED IT.

THEY INITIALLY CALLED HIM AND SAID ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS, BUT HIS KNEE ACTUALLY WAS DOWN IN THE END ZONE WITH THE BALL BEHIND THE GOAL LINE, AND SO IT WAS A SAFETY, SO THAT MAKES IT 2-0 FOR ILLINOIS.

BUT AGAIN, DEFENSE CAME BACK, GOING AFTER BRANDON PETERS AGAIN.

THIS WAS THE BIG HIT THAT KNOCKS HIM OUT OF THE GAME, GET DEONTRE THOMAS AND THEN HE GETS FINISHED OFF BY GARRETT NELSON AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE'S OUT OF THE GAME.

THEY'RE DESCRIBING IT AS A SHOULDER INJURY.

THEY'RE SAYING HE'S QUESTIONABLE FOR THIS WEEK.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS MUCH WORSE WHEN IT HAPPENED.

AND THEN ARTUR SITKOWSKI COMES IN, THE TRANSFER FROM RUTGERS, AND HE GETS IN THE PARTY, AS WELL.

PHELDARIUS PAYNE GETS HIS SECOND SACK.

REMEMBER, LAST YEAR THE LEADING SACKER HAD THREE ON THE YEAR.

ALREADY PHELDARIUS PAYNE HAS TWO.

MISSED FIELD GOAL RIGHT THERE FOR ILLINOIS TO KEEP IT WHERE IT IS AT 2-0.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PLAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT, DAMON -- THIS WHEEL ROUTE?

>> YEAH, THE WHEEL ROUTE WAS NICE, WELL DONE CONCEPT.

AGAIN, KIND OF OFF HIS BACK, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES I THINK THE MECHANICS GOT AWAY FROM HIM IN TRYING TO PLAY THE WIN, BUT A WELL-CONCEIVED PLAY IN TERMS OF EXECUTION.

>> NICE POWER RUN.

THIS WAS PART OF ABOUT A FOUR OR FIVE PLAY THAT WE WATCHED, JUST TODAY.

WE WERE ON THE AIR AND IT WAS SOME REALLY GOOD POWER RUNS BY NEBRASKA, ENDING WITH STEPP GETTING IN.

>> YEAH, FANTASTIC JOB BY USING CHRIS HICKMAN AT KIND OF THE INSERT, ALMOST LIKE A SECOND BACK.

HE COMES IN, STEALS BACK SIDE AND EVERYBODY JUST ZONE STEPS LEFT TO FIND THE CREASE.

>> AND, THAT WAS ONE OF THE MISSED EXTRA POINTS, THERE.

ANOTHER BACK FOOT, SIDE ARM THROW, BUT OLIVER MARTIN DID A GREAT JOB OF JUDGING THE BALL IN THE AIR.

NOT EASY TO DO AND HERE IS THE PLAY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

THIS IS PROBABLY -- THIS SHOULD BE A TOUCHDOWN.

THIS SHOULD BE 13-2.

>> YEAH, I ACTUALLY PUT THIS ONE ON WYATT.

I LIKE HIM A TON BUT YOU CAN'T KIND OF GATHER AND COLLECT YOURSELF.

YOU GOT RUN THROUGH THE CATCH.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY CATCH -- PITCH AND CATCH.

>> CONNOR CULP MAKES THE FIELD GOAL, MAKING IT 9-2, AND THEN HERE IS THE BIG PLAY WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

CALEB TANNOR WITH HE PRESSURE.

THEY CALLED THE PENALTY.

THIS IS A CHANCE, TOO FOR CAM TAYOR-BRITT TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE SAFETY, YOU KNOW?

WHAT A TURNAROUND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR HIM.

>> I KNOW, GETS HIS HAND ON ONE, AND CAN MAKE UP FOR IT BUT BOOM.

TOUGH STUFF.

>> YEAH, THEY MAKE THIS PLAY, YOU FEEL LIKE ILLINOIS IS ON LIFE SUPPORT.

>> AND THEN THERE IS THE GUY WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOR 17 YEARS NOW, AND EPSTEIN GETTING A ONE-YARD CARRY TO TIE IT UP AT 9-9.

SIXTEEN CARRIES FOR 75 YARDS FOR EPSTEIN.

SITKOWSKI COMES IN, MADE SOME NICE THROWS.

HE WAS REALLY GOOD IN THE DAY, OF 15 ON THE DAY.

BUT, THIS IS A GREAT PLAY BY LUKE REIMER.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

HE'S A FANTASTIC PLAYER.

YOU TALK ABOUT A GUY THAT THROWS CAUTION TO THE WIND AND PLAYS WITH RECKLESS ABANDON.

SEE, THAT'S A TAKEAWAY.

THAT'S NOT A TURNOVER.

THAT'S A GUY GOING TO GET IT AND NOT HOPING THAT SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN.

>> ADRIAN MARTINEZ WAS SACKED FIVE TIMES ON THE DAY.

THIS IS THE BIG ONE -- SCOOP AND SCORE, NEARLY TO THE HALF, IF NOTHING ELSE YOU'RE GOING IN AT NINES.

IT'S NOT GREAT -- IT'S A LOT BETTER THAN 16-9 OF COURSE.

GETTING SACKED THERE, TURNING THE GAME AROUND DEFINITELY MOMENTUM-WISE.

YOU GO INTO HALFTIME AND YOU GOT TO BE THINKING TO YOURSELF, "OH, NO, HERE WE GO AGAIN."

>> AN INTERESTING THING, MARTINEZ LOOKING TO THE RIGHT, WHEN THE BULK OF THE FORMATION WAS TO HIS LEFT.

>> LEFT, YEAH.

>> THIS IS ONE OF FEW RUNS THAT CHASE BROWN HAD.

HE ONLY HAD FIVE CARRIES FOR 24 YARDS, A GUY WHO REALLY GASHED NEBRASKA LAST YEAR.

THIS WAS SOME GOOD PLAYS.

ISAIAH WILLIAMS, JUICE JUNIOR, A COUPLE TIMES IN THE SECOND HALF GETTING THE PUSH PASS OR THE END AROUND KIND OF STUFF, MAKING PLAYS.

THROW TO THE GEORGIA TRANSFER RIGHT HERE AND LUKE FORD FOR THE TOUCHDOWN.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S 22-9 AND I'M SURE AT THIS POINT NEBRASKA IS THINKING "HERE WE GO AGAIN."

ADRIAN MARTINEZ IS SACKED AGAIN, AS WE MENTIONED, FIVE TIMES ON THE DAY, TAKEN DOWN HERE FOR A SEVEN-YARD LOSS.

SITKOWSKI COMES BACK AND MAKES THE THROW OF THE DAY.

CAN YOU MAKE A BETTER THROW THAN THIS?

>> YEAH, JUST DROPPING IT IN THE BUCKET.

FANTASTIC COVERAGE, ZERO ROOM, USED THE SIDELINES AS YOUR FRIEND.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOT TO TIP YOUR CAP.

>> YEP, THEY'VE GOT SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS, TOO.

>> YES, DEUCE SPANN'S ONLY CATCH OF THE DAY.

HERE'S JUICE JUNIOR AGAIN GETTING IN, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S 30-9 RIGHT NOW.

A 49 TOTAL YARDS FOR ISAIAH WILLIAMS ON THE DAY, BOTH CATCHING AND RUNNING IT.

ADRIAN MARTINEZ, THOUGH, LOOKING LIKE TAYLOR MARTINEZ ON THIS, BREAKING AND OPENING AND GOING FOR 75 YARDS.

>> YEAH, OUT THE BACK GATE, DECISIVE.

YOU GOT TO SEE THE CREASE, BE THE CREASE.

GIVE ME ALL SIX OF THOSE.

>> YEAH, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU START THINKING TO YOURSELF, NEBRASKA'S ONLY DOWN TWO SCORES.

>> AND THEY HADN'T PLAYED VERY WELL UP TO THAT POINT TOO AND YOU START BELIEVING A LITTLE BIT.

>> DID CONVERT THE EXTRA POINT THERE.

ADRIAN MARTINEZ COMES BACK.

THESE LAST TWO DRIVES FELT LIKE IT WAS ABOUT 40 PLAYS WORTH OF PLAYS, BUT KEPT, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE FOOT.

THIS IS A SECOND AND 24.

>> YEAH.

A FANTASTIC RUN AGAIN, BEING DECISIVE.

GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHEN TO GET DOWN, THOUGH.

THEN A LITTLE HAPHAZARD HERE.

THEY GOT THIS TO FOURTH DOWN.

HE HAD THE QUARTERBACK SNEAK.

I THINK THEY THOUGHT IT WAS FOURTH DOWN.

YOU HAVE THEM COMING BACK WITH THE RUN, AN EXTRA MINUTE-15 COMES OFF THE CLOCK, PUTS THEM IN A BIND.

>> AND MARTIN HAS NOW CAUGHT TOUCHDOWN PASSES FROM MICHIGAN, IOWA, AND NEBRASKA.

>> YEAH, NOT BAD.

>> PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY PLAYER TO EVER DO THAT.

ANOTHER MISSED EXTRA POINT THERE LEAVING NEBRASKA DOWN EIGHT.

THEY DO GET THE STOP WITH THREE TIME OUTS REMAINING, GETTING THE BALL BACK TO ADRIAN MARTINEZ AND THE OFFENSE WITH ABOUT A MINUTE TO GO.

DOES MAKE A NICE COMPLETION HERE TO SAMORI TOURE, WHO HAD THREE CATCHES FOR 37 YARDS AND TWO CARRIES FOR NINE YARDS ON THE DAY BUT IT WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH.

ADRIAN MARTINEZ, WHO HAD OVER 100 YARDS RUSHING ON THE DAY MAKES ONE LAST FINAL THROW TO OLIVER MARTIN.

BALL GETS KNOCKED AWAY.

NEBRASKA FALLS, STARTING THE SEASON AGAIN WITH A LOSS.

FALLS TO ILLINOIS 30-22, ANOTHER ONE-SCORE LOSS.

YOU LOOK AT THE STATS, NEBRASKA REALLY LED IN A LOT OF THE STATS.

THE ONE THEY DIDN'T, TIME OF POSSESSION.

>> YEAH.

AGAIN, ONLY THE FIFTH TIME THAT WE COULD FIND STATISTICALLY THAT A TEAM HAD FEWER PLAYS AND ALMOST TEN MINUTES MORE TIME OF POSSESSION.

IT'S AN ANOMALY.

NEBRASKA FINDS THEMSELF ON THE BAD END OF THAT ONE.

>> ILLINOIS, INCREDIBLY DELIBERATE ALL DAY LONG.

ALL RIGHT, TIME FOR THE BREAKDOWN.

WE GO INTO THE HUDL WITH JAY MORE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO, YOU SAW A FEW OF THESE PLAYS EARLIER IN THE HIGHLIGHTS WITH MIKE'L.

I'M GOING TO BREAK DOWN TWO SACKS.

IF I HAD ENOUGH TIME, I SAW ON THE HIGHLIGHTS EARLIER, CALEB TANNOR HAD A PHENOMENAL RUSH.

HE JUST TOOK A DUDE AND PUT HIM RIGHT INTO THE GROUND.

WOULD LOVE TO BREAK THAT ONE DOWN.

NOT QUITE ENOUGH TIME, BUT BREAKING THIS FIRST SACK WHERE PHELDARIUS PAYNE COMES, BUT NEBRASKA IS SO LOW PRESSURE -- THEY GOT FIVE GUYS UP FRONT.

A NICE LITTLE TRICK HERE JUST TO -- HEINRICH CAN EAT UP THAT GUARD FROM THE BLOCK FROM THE GUARD THERE TO GET REIMER.

ONE-ON-ONE FROM THE BACK -- I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THIS.

WHAT I LOVE, FIRST, ADDITIONALLY, AS I'M WATCHING THIS, AS A FORMER DEFENSIVE END, THAT GET-OFF.

GARRETT NELSON'S GET-OFF IS SUPER GOOD.

HE'S A FULL HALF-YARD AHEAD OF EVERYONE ELSE ON THE D LINE.

SO, GOOD JOB BY NELSON THERE.

BUT THEN, WHAT I LIKE TO SEE HERE.

NOW, WE'RE IN A BLITZ SITUATION -- IN A ONE-ON-ONE SITUATION CAN YOU WIN ONE-ON-ONE?

SO, NEBRASKA DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB BY THREE GUYS HERE, ONE-ON-ONE-ON-ONE.

PHELDARIUS PAYNE BEAT HIS TACKLE UP TOP.

ONE-ON-ONE-ON-ONE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE, WHAT I LOVE, IS YOU HAVE LUKE REIMER HERE, HE IS BEATING THE RUNNING BACK.

HE WAS RUNNING WITH HIM, BEATING HIM ONE-ON-ONE.

AND THEN, GARRETT NELSON DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF, ALL DAY, OF TURNING HIS HIPS AND REALLY GETTING DOWNHILL.

THEN YOU HAVE WHAT FORCES PHELDARIUS PAYNE FORCES THE QUARTERBACK UP UNTO THE POCKET, INTO REIMER, BUT THEN THEY CAN'T QUITE GET THERE.

YOU KEEP RUNNING THAT -- TURNING -- RUNNING THAT HOOP AND PHELDARIUS PAYNE GETS HIS FIRST SACK OF THE SEASON.

SO, NEXT PLAY.

YOU GET KIND OF YOUR BASE LOOK, HERE -- BASE DEFENSE FOR NEBRASKA, YOU GET A LITTLE PLAY-ACTION PASS.

I HIGHLIGHTED NELSON HERE INITIALLY.

HE'S MAKING KIND OF A SPLIT LOOK HERE FROM A TACKLE TIGHT END.

KIND OF A TOUGH LOOK BECAUSE INITIALLY YOUR EYES HAVE TO COME DOWN TO SEE IF THERE'S A PULLING GUARD.

THEY DO PULL IN HERE, BUT HE DOES A GREAT JOB OF READING AND RECOGNIZING.

AND THEN, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LITTLE STUNT BETWEEN DANIELS AND THOMAS, AND THEN WHAT I REALLY LOVE HERE IS JUST THE READ RECOGNITIONS FROM GARRETT NELSON -- BOOM.

WHEN I TALK ABOUT FLIPPING YOUR HIPS -- REALLY GOOD JOB OF WORKING HALF THE MAN, FLIPPING THOSE HIPS, GET YOUR NUMBERS TOWARDS THE QUARTERBACK AS YOU START WORKING DOWNHILL TOWARDS PETERS, AND THEN THOMAS COMES FREE HERE AND, BOOM, NOW YOU'RE JUST KIND OF MEETING AT THE QUARTERBACK.

YOU GET HIM HURT, AND THIS IS GOOD, A GOOD INITIAL FIRST GAME BY THE D LINE, AND PRESSURE FROM OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS, AND DEFENSIVE LINE, SO LET'S SEE IF WE CAN KEEP IT UP THE REST OF THE SEASON.

>> JAY, IF IT HAD BEEN ONE THING, MAYBE PHELDARIUS PAYNE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER.

HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE BALL RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM -- MAYBE TO SWAT AT THE BALL AND TRY TO KNOCK THAT AWAY AND CREATE A PLAY.

HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY BUT HE WAS OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO GET THE SACK, BUT MAYBE HE COULD HAVE DONE THAT.

>> YEAH, HE COULD HAVE.

THAT'S -- I'M SURE THEY HIGHLIGHTED THAT IN HIS -- IN HIS, YOU KNOW, YOUR PLAY CHART THERE, GREAT PLAY, TRY TO SWIPE THE BALL OUT OF THERE.

BUT, THAT'S DEFINITELY A PLUS FOR HIM IN THE WIN CATEGORY, GETTING YOUR PLAY SHEETS AFTER THE GAME.

BUT, I LOVED IT, MAN -- THE EFFORT, THE AGGRESSIVENESS.

GARRETT NELSON, YOU KNOW -- HE -- I'VE BEEN PRETTY TOUGH ON HIM.

HE IMPRESSED ME BEING ABLE TO GET OFF THE BALL AND FLIPPING THOSE HIPS, WORKING HALF A MAN, AND THE GUYS ONE-ON-ONE BATTLES.

THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE BRINGING PRESSURE AND RUSHING THE PASSER.

>> YEAH, YOU JUST GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET HIM TO SET THE EDGE.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS ONE TIME THERE, I KNOW.

>> RUNS ON THE BACK END.

>> I MEAN, A HIGH-MOTOR GUY, JUST STILL GETTING TO LEARN THE FINITE TECHNICALITIES, NOW.

>> WELL, YOU GOT TO SAY YOU HAVE TRUST, RIGHT?

YOU CAN'T MAKE ALL THE PLAYS.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO DO WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

NEXT UP, WE'LL BE JOINED BY FORMER HUSKER AND SIDELINE REPORTER FOR THE HUSKER RADIO NETWORK, JEREMIAH SIRLES.

BEFORE WE GO TO BREAK, IMAGES FROM THE START OF THE 2021 SEASON FROM "HAIL VARSITY."

WE'LL BE BACK SOON.

♪ >>> I THOU ♪ >> I THOUGHT THE EFFORT WAS OUTSTANDING.

YOU CAN'T FIND ANYBODY LOAFING.

THE GUYS PLAYED REALLY HARD.

WE GOT TO DO A FEW THINGS BETTER AND THEN WE HAD JUST A FEW KIND OF CATASTROPHIC PLAYS THAT CHANGED THE WHOLE GAME.

>> WE PLAYED HARD.

IT WAS A LOT OF MISTAKES, A LOT OF MENTAL ERRORS, A LOT OF UNDISCIPLINED PLAYS THAT WE'VE GOT TO GET CORRECTED DURING THIS WEEK.

BUT BESIDES THAT, I MEAN, YOU CAN SEE THE POTENTIAL OF WHAT WE CAN DO.

>> OUR TEAM HAS A CHANCE TO WIN A LOT OF GAMES IF WE PLAY WELL.

THE SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS CAN'T HAPPEN.

EVERY TIME WE GET A CHANCE TO GET ON THE FIELD AND EXECUTE AT A HIGHER LEVEL AND GET A LITTLE BETTER, IT'S GOING TO MAKE US A BETTER TEAM DOWN THE STRETCH.

>> THIS GAME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME OF THE SEASON.

THIS GAME RIGHT HERE VERSUS FORDHAM -- THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME OF THE SEASON, AND WE NEED TO APPROACH IT LIKE THAT.

AND, I WANT TO SEE THOSE GUYS PLAY A NAMELESS, FACELESS OPPONENT EVERY TIME.

THIS GAME'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, THE FORMATIONS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT IT'S ABOUT US AND WE NEED TO GET READY TO PLAY HUSKER FOOTBALL, BLACK SHIRT DEFENSE, AND THAT'S IT.

>> WE'RE GETTING BETTER AND WE'RE GIVING IT EVERYTHING WE HAVE.

EVERYTHING WE HAVE.

THERE IS A LOT OF INVESTMENT HERE ON THIS END, AND WE ARE GOING TO GET THINGS RIGHT.

SO, STICK WITH US.

WE'RE GOING TO PLAY OUR TAILS OFF EVERY WEEK AND I SINCERELY HOPE YOU ENJOY WATCHING THAT.

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

WE ARE PLEASED TO JOIN JUST THE SECOND -- THAT WAS POWERFUL WORDS BY ADRIAN MARTINEZ, BY THE WAY.

WE SHOULDN'T LET THAT GO BY.

HE -- I THINK HE SAID WHAT A LOT OF PLAYERS ARE SAYING.

"LOOK, WE'RE WORKING.

WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN."

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A PRETTY GOOD ANSWER.

>> TOUGH QUESTION, SHOWED SOME MATURITY.

IN TERMS OF WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL THE FANS?

IT'S HARD BECAUSE IN THE MOMENT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT AS A PLAYER, AND REALLY SHOWED HIS MATURITY.

HE'S AN EASY KID TO CHEER FOR.

>> I THOUGHT THE SAME THING.

JOINING US VIA THE ZOOM, FORMER HUSKER JEREMIAH SIRLES, JOINING US HERE ON THE "WRAP-UP."

HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU LOSE ON THE SIDELINE, JEREMIAH?

IT WAS HOT DOWN THERE, MAN.

IT WAS HOT.

>> IT WAS WARM.

IT WAS DEFINITELY WARM.

WE DID THE PRE-GAME ON THE TOP AND I WENT DOWN ON THE SIDELINE, AND I WAS LIKE, "OOH, I DIDN'T HYDRATE ENOUGH," DEFINITELY DID NOT.

SO, I MEAN, I WAS LIKE THE 11 OR 12-POUND SWEATER, LIKE, WHEN I PLAYED, SO I DEFINITELY -- I DEFINITELY PROBABLY LOST FOUR OR FIVE POUNDS DOWN THERE JUST STANDING.

IT WAS -- IT WAS DEFINITELY TOASTY.

>> WHAT WAS YOUR OVERALL REACTION WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THIS GAME, YOUR FEELINGS ON THE LOSS, THE WAY NEBRASKA PLAYED?

>> YEAH, SO I'VE ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH THE TAPE THREE TIMES NOW BECAUSE I'M A GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT, AND WHEN I WATCH IT, THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT REALLY STAND OUT.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME THAT REALLY STANDS OUT IS THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF OUR DEFENSE WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE AND THE LACK OF PUSH IN THE RUN GAME FROM THE OFFENSIVE LINE WAS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVE.

I THINK THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO HANG OUR HATS ON THIS YEAR WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A DEFENSE THAT WAS OLDER, MORE VETERAN, AND YOU COULD DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS WITH, BUT I THINK WE ALSO WANTED TO HAVE THE IDENTITY OF A DOWNHILL PHYSICAL FOOTBALL RUNNING TEAM AND WE JUST DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THAT, AND IT WAS NOT BECAUSE IT WAS ALL FIVE GUYS NOT DOING IT, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS ONE GUY HERE OR THERE, ONE GUY MISSED A BLOCK, TIGHT END, RECEIVER, CENTER, GUARD, EVERYONE TOOK THEIR TURN BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE A SUCCESSFUL RUNNING GAME UNLESS YOU HAVE GUYS DOING THE RIGHT THING EVERY SINGLE PLAY.

>> JEREMIAH, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES UP FRONT WHEN YOU RUN BLOCK AND WITH ZONE PRINCIPLES AND YOU GET A TEAM LIKE ILLINOIS THAT'S KIND OF A "HIT IT AND SPLIT IT."

THEY PLAYED DOWNHILL.

THEY'RE LOOKING TO SEEK AND DESTROY AND GAP YOU OUT.

WHAT KIND OF -- HOW DIFFICULT IS THAT WHEN THOSE TWO WORLDS COLLIDE OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSIVELY?

>> YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME IS AS I WATCHED THE TAPE, IS IT SEEMS THAT OUR OFFENSIVE RUN SCHEME IS VERY MUCH MAN-BASED, MEANING HEY, RIGHT GUARD, RIGHT TACKLE IS DOUBLE-TEAMING THE DEFENSIVE TACKLE TO THE WILL, OR THE SAND.

THE CENTER AND LEFT GUARD ARE DOUBLE-TEAMED TO THIS LINEBACKER.

AND, WHEN YOU HAVE A REALLY ATTACK DEFENSE LIKE ILLINOIS HAD, IT'S REALLY HARD SOMETIMES BECAUSE SOMETIMES THOSE LINEBACKERS ARE ROCKING BACK, SOMETIMES THEY'RE PUSHING FRONT SIDE, AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO IN GAMES LIKE THAT WHERE WE AREN'T 100% SURE -- I MEAN, EVEN SCOTT SAID THEY CAME OUT AND THEY HAD A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DEFENSE THAN WE WERE USED TO OR WE PRACTICED AGAINST, WAS TO JUST IMPLEMENT A LITTLE MORE TRACK BLOCKING.

HEY, YOU HAVE THE A GAP, YOU HAVE THE B GAP, YOU HAVE THE C GAP, YOU HAVE THE D GAP.

TAKE YOUR ZONE STEP.

IF SOMEONE SHOWS UP IN YOUR GAP, BLOCK THEM.

AND, I THINK THAT THAT COULD HAVE REALLY HELPED US VERSUS A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE RUN, BECAUSE IT'S OPTION AND BECAUSE IT'S READ, YOU HAVE TO BE MAN.

BUT, YOU CAN FIX A LOT OF THAT STUFF AND A LOT OF THE UNCERTAINTY WITH JUST THE ZONE PRINCIPLES, AND I THINK THAT GOT US OFF GUARD A LITTLE BIT ON SATURDAY WITH WE'D BE IDENTIFYING A SAFETY OR A LINEBACKER AND THEY WOULD SHIFT OR MOVE AND THEN OUR COUNT WOULD BE OFF AND WE WOULD LEAVE A GUY IN THE HOLE, OR WE WOULD HAVE SOME SOMEONE THAT WAS COMPLETELY UNACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BLOCKING SCHEME, WHICH SHOULD -- I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY HARD TO OVERCOME WHEN YOU GOT ESPECIALLY A COUPLE YOUNG RUNNING BACKS THAT ARE STILL TRYING TO MAKE GUYS MISS IN THE HOLE.

>> JEREMIAH, STICKING WITH THE OFFENSIVE LINE, NEBRASKA HAS KIND OF STRUGGLED PASSING OFF GAMES, WHETHER IT'S TE GAME, NT, ET GAMES, TWISTS, STUNTS UP FRONT.

WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, IS THAT A TECHNIQUE OR IS IT A COMMUNICATION THING FIRST, OR MAYBE LITTLE BIT OF MIX OF BOTH?

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY A MIX OF BOTH.

I SAW THAT RIGHT AWAY.

I TALKED TO GREG SHARP, AND MATT UP IN THE BOOTH.

I WAS LIKE, MAN, THEY'RE GOING TO GAME US TO DEATH BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T PICKED ONE UP YET.

AND SO, THE BIGGEST THING IS UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOUR HELP IS WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A TWIST DONE.

IF YOU KNOW THAT IT'S A PASSING SITUATION, AND YOU'RE THE GUARD ON THE TACKLE AND YOU KNOW THE CENTER IS SLIDING AWAY FROM YOU, YOU GUYS HAVE TO REALLY BE ON THE SAME PAGE AS FAR AS HOW YOU COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.

IN-IN-IN, OUT-OUT-OUT, SWITCH-SWITCH-SWITCH.

BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS WHEN YOU'RE ON THE CENTER SLIDE SIDE, YOU'VE GOT TO GET SOME DEPTH.

AS A CENTER, YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE -- IT'S A WEIRD THING, IT'S A VERY FOREIGN THING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE A NOSE GUARD ON TOP OF YOU BUT THE THING YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS GET AWAY FROM THAT NOSE GUARD AND BACK STRAIGHT UP, ALMOST, AND GET ON THE SAME LEVEL AS YOUR GUARD, BECAUSE IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES WHERE THEY WOULD RUN DOWN, DOWN AROUND IS WHAT I CALL IT.

YOU HAVE THE TACKLE PICKS, THE END PICKS AND THE LINEBACKER WOULD THEN LOOP AROUND, AND BECAUSE JURGENS AND PIPER, OR JURGENS AND SICHTERMAN WERE ON DIFFERENT LEVELS, THEY WOULD GET PICKED AND THEN THEY CAN'T BUMP OFF THOSE THINGS TO GET AROUND.

AND AS YOU GUYS KNOW, ONCE YOU PUT SOMETHING ON TAPE, THE FOLLOWING TEAMS DOWN THE ROAD ARE GOING TO DO IT AND TEST YOU AND SEE IF YOU FIXED THAT.

SO WE OPEN A LITTLE BIT OF PANDORA'S BOX IN THAT RESPECT OF WE GOT GAMED ON PASSING SITUATIONS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND JUST UNDERSTAND IT'S A COMMUNICATION, BUT IT'S ALSO VERY MUCH A TECHNIQUE THING OF WORKING TOGETHER, OF THREE-ON-THREE, TWO-ON-TWO, OR HOWEVER IT WORKS TO GET THAT PASSED OFF SO YOU CAN PUT IT AND REALLY HIT IT IN THE MOUTH BECAUSE WITH A QUARTERBACK LIKE ADRIAN, IF YOU CAN GAME UP THOSE GAMES AND YOU CAN GUM THEM UP AND PEOPLE GET OUT OF GAPS, ADRIAN CAN REALLY TAKE OFF AND MAKE SOME GOOD THINGS HAPPEN.

>> JEREMIAH, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MAGIC HAPPENS OFFENSIVELY ALONG THE OFFENSIVE LINE WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM WITH STUNTS AND PASSING THINGS OFF VERSUS STAYING WITH THE RUN GAME EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE YIELDING THE RESULTS YOU WANT IT TO EARLY?

WHAT HAPPENS PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY UPFRONT TO KIND OF COUNTER-BALANCE SUCH A DOWNHILL ATTACKING STYLE DEFENSIVELY?

>> YOU KNOW, ANYTIME YOU FALL BEHIND IT'S REALLY HARD TO STAY COMMITTED TO THE RUN.

SCOTT'S MENTIONED IT.

I KNOW AS A PLAYER I'VE LIVED IT.

AND, YOU JUST KNOW THAT ONCE YOU'RE DOWN TWO SCORES REALLY AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE DOWN TWO SCORES IN THE SECOND HALF, IT REALLY STARTS BECOMING JUST A PASS -- A PASSFEST AND THESE GUYS JUST PIN THEIR EARS BACK AND GO.

AND, I THINK THE BIGGEST THING FOR THE HUSKERS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RUNNING THE FOOTBALL AND COMMITTING TO RUNNING THE FOOTBALL IS YOU HAVE TO GIVE LUBICK AND FROST CONFIDENCE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO RUN THE FOOTBALL EARLY IN THE GAME BECAUSE I'VE BEEN AROUND A LOT OF OFFENSIVE COORDINATORS COLLEGE AND IN THE NFL THAT THEY SAY THEY'RE COMMITTED TO THE RUN, BUT AS SOON AS THE RUN GAME IS NOT REALLY GETTING GOING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME, THEY START TO PANIC A LITTLE BIT AND NOW STARTING TO THROW THE BALL OVER THE YARD OR CHANGE UP YOUR SCHEME, OR NOT JUST STAYING COMMITTED WITH IT AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO, BUT YOU NEED RESULTS.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET DOWN THE FIELD.

YOU NEED TO HAVE THREE-YARD, FOUR-YARD CONSISTENT RUNS, AND WE JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT EARLY IN THE GAME AND SO MY BIGGEST THING FOR THE OFFENSIVE LINE, AND IF I'M GREG AUSTIN, I'M CHALLENGING THEM, "HEY, EARLY IN THE GAME, PRODUCTIVE, EFFICIENT FOUR-PLUS YARD RUNS.

BECAUSE THAT GIVES EVERYONE AROUND US CONFIDENCE, IT GIVES ADRIAN, IT GIVES MARKESE STEPP, IT GIVES SAVION MORRISON, GABE ERVIN, RAHMIR JOHNSON, WHOEVER IS BACK THERE, IT GIVES THEM CONFIDENCE AND THAT JUST REALLY ALLOWS US TO OPEN UP OUR PLAYBOOK AND REALLY JUST GET TO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN THE RUN GAME, WHICH, IF I'M WATCHING THE TAPE, WE WANT TO BE A PHYSICAL DOWNHILL RUN GAME WITH THE ZONE READ, LIKE, SPRINKLED IN."

>> FORMER HUSKER JEREMIAH SIRLES JOINING US ON HERE ON THE "WRAP-UP."

AS A FORMER PLAYER, AS AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN, DO YOU WANT YOUR COACH SAYING THEY HAD TO SCRAP HALF THE PLAYBOOK BECAUSE THERE WAS A DIFFERENT FRONT THAN YOU PREPARED FOR?

DO YOU WANT THAT?

OR, DO YOU JUST WANT TO SAY, "LOOK, WE DIDN'T GET IT DONE, WE JUST GOT TO GET IT DONE" OPPOSED TO ADMITTING TO NOT BEING PREPARED FOR WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS SCOTT TAKING A LOT OF ONUS ON HIMSELF AND A LOT OF ONUS ON HE'S GOING TO STAND IN FRONT AND TAKE THE ARROWS FOR HIS TEAM.

AS AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN, YOU WOULD -- LET'S BE REALISTIC, IN '95 THEY KNEW WHAT WE WERE RUNNING AND IT DIDN'T MATTER.

WHEN THERE WAS TIMES WHEN I WAS PLAYING BETWEEN '09 AND '13, THEY KNEW WE WERE RUNNING AND IT DOESN'T MATTER, AND IT SHOULDN'T.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK UP AS AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN AND GO, "HEY WE'RE RUNNING POWER RIGHT HERE," OR "WE'RE RUNNING ZONE RIGHT HERE."

I DON'T CARE WHO IS STANDING HERE, I DON'T CARE WHO IS IN THE WAY, STOP IT.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT A HAT ON A HAT AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT WORK.

AND SO AS AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN, YEAH, THAT KIND OF STICKS IN MY CRAW A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR HEAD COACH THE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU DON'T CARE WHAT HE CALLS AGAINST WHAT FRONT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO PHYSICALLY GO BEAT THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND, THAT'S REALLY WHAT FOOTBALL IS.

FOOTBALL IS ABOUT A PHYSICAL AGGRESSION, A PHYSICAL DOMINANT SPORT.

SO WHETHER IT'S A 3-4, 4-3, YELLOW, GREEN, POLKA DOT, I DON'T CARE.

I WANT TO SEE US BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND JUST PHYSICALLY IMPOSE OUR WILL ON THE GUY AND WIN YOUR ONE-ON-ONE MATCHUPS IN THE RUN GAME BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU REALLY HAVE THE SUCCESS, SO HEARING SCOTT SAY THAT I THINK IS A WAY FOR HIM TO SHOULDER THE LOAD AS THE HEAD COACH AS ALL GOOD HEAD COACHES DO BUT AS OFFENSIVE LINEMAN I WANT TO PROVE MY HEAD COACH RIGHT THAT I DON'T CARE WHAT HE CALLS, WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTE IT.

>> YOU'RE AROUND THIS TEAM A LOT, JEREMIAH.

HOW DO YOU THINK THEY BOUNCE BACK FROM A GAME THEY ADMITTEDLY SAID WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO START THE SEASON?

>> YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT IT ALL SINCE THE GAME, AND EVERYONE'S BEEN TELLING ME, MAN, HERE WE GO AGAIN.

IT'S THE SAME THING WE SAW LAST YEAR, THE SAME MOVIE -- DUH-DUH-DUH.

FOR ME, I'M GIVING THIS TEAM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

IT'S A NEW TEAM.

THIS IS NOT THE SAME TEAM.

THERE'S NEW PLAYERS.

THERE'S NEW PIECES INVOLVED.

I BELIEVE THIS TEAM WILL BOUNCE BACK.

I BELIEVE THIS TEAM WILL LOOK AT THIS FROM A WEEK ONE PERSPECTIVE AND SAY, "HEY, WE WERE PROBABLY THE MORE TALENTED TEAM, BUT WE LOST BECAUSE WE SHOT OURSELVES IN THE FOOT."

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

WE NEED TO CLEAN THOSE THINGS UP -- THE PENALTIES, THE TURNOVERS, THE DUMB DECISIONS ON SPECIAL TEAMS, THE MISSED EXTRA POINTS, THE PUNT.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS WE NEED TO GET CLEANED UP, AND UNTIL THIS TEAM PROVES TO ME THEY CAN'T DO THAT, I'M GOING TO GIVE THIS TEAM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND SAY THAT THEY BOUNCE BACK AND THEY'RE ABLE TO CLEAN THOSE THINGS UP, AND LEARN HERE IN NEXT TWO GAMES AND REALLY HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE WORKING INTO NORMAN.

LET'S BE REAL, THE NEXT THREE WEEKS I THINK ARE GOING TO GO EXACTLY HOW WE ALL THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GO.

WIN, WIN, TOUGH PLAY GAME, HOPEFULLY MAYBE PULL OUT A WIN BUT LET'S BE REAL.

OKLAHOMA IS A VERY GOOD FOOTBALL TEAM.

MAYBE LOOKING AT 2-2 AS WE HEAD INTO MICHIGAN STATE.

I'LL TAKE THAT RIGHT NOW.

I'LL TAKE 2-2 HEADING INTO MICHIGAN STATE, AS LONG AS I SEE THAT THE SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT GO WRONG ARE GETTING CLEANED UP FROM THE EXECUTION SIDE -- NOT AS MUCH AS THE X'S AND O'S SIDE BUT JUST THE OVERALL EXECUTION SIDE OF NOT BEATING OURSELVES.

>> DO YOU THINK IT WAS HARDER FOR YOU TO PREPARE IN A WEEK WHERE YOU'RE PLAYING AN FCS TEAM.

I KNOW THERE WAS THAT FAMOUS BO QUOTE, "FBS, FCS," -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT DO YOU THINK IT'S HARDER FOR THE GUYS?

OR, COMING OFF THIS LOSS THEY'LL BE ABLE TO JUST TURN IT AROUND AND BE READY FOR A TEAM LIKE FORDHAM?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK COMING OFF A LOSS LIKE THIS THEY'LL BE READY TO ROLL.

I THINK A BIG PART OF IT, TOO IS HUSKER NATION'S GOING TO BE THERE IN FULL FORCE.

I BELIEVE I DID SEE TODAY THAT 376 CONSECUTIVE SELLOUTS WILL BE A REAL THING.

AND FOR ME, A LOT OF THESE YOUNG GUYS, THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG GUYS NEVER HAVE EXPERIENCED HUSKER NATION IN FULL FORCE.

THEY WEREN'T THERE LAST YEAR.

IT WAS VERY SAD.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE FAKE FOOTBALL WHEN I WAS THERE COVERING THE GAMES AND SO HAVING A FULL HUSKER NATION THERE SUPPORTING OUR GUYS, SUPPORTING OUR BOYS, AND SOME OF THESE GUYS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE PROBABLY THEIR RECRUITING VISIT SEEING A FULL MEMORIAL STADIUM, I THINK IS GOING TO BRING A LOT OF JUICE AND LOT OF ENERGY.

AND IT REALLY IS AN FCS TEAM AND IT'S A TEAM THAT WE SHOULD BEAT UP ON.

I MEAN, I'M HOPING THAT AT HALFTIME I'M ASKING SCOTT ABOUT WHAT QUARTERBACK IS STARTING BECAUSE ADRIAN SHOULD HAVE HIS PADS OFF.

IT SHOULD BE THAT KIND OF GAME.

AND, WE NEED THOSE KIND OF GAMES BECAUSE THOSE ARE MEANINGFUL MINUTES FOR EVALUATION OF WHO YOU HAVE ON YOUR ROSTER AS DEPTH.

YOU CAN LOOK AT PRACTICE ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND THROUGHOUT OUT OF WHO'S GOOD, WHO'S BAD, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY UNTIL YOU REALLY SEE GUYS IN LIVE BULLETS FLYING AND YOU REALLY SEE THE EVALUATION OF REAL LIFE CONSEQUENCES OF IF YOU GET YOUR HEAD IN THE WRONG SPOT AS DB, YOU'RE GOING TO GET BURNED.

YOU GIVE UP A SACK AS AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN, IT'S NOT FUN IN FRONT OF 90,000, THOSE ARE WHEN YOU CAN REALLY START EVALUATING SOME OF THE DEPTH AND WE NEED TO REALLY SEE WHO COULD STEP IN AT SOME POINTS IN THE SEASON IF WE NEED THEM TO.

>> JEREMIAH, LAST QUESTION, WHERE DO YOU SEE THE OFFENSIVE IDENTITY BEING AS THE SEASON GOES ALONG?

WHAT SHOULD IT BE?

>> YOU KNOW, AFTER WATCHING THIS GAME A FEW TIMES, I HONESTLY THINK THE OFFENSIVE IDENTITY MIGHT BE QUICK PASSES TO OUR RECEIVERS.

I THINK THE RECEIVERS ACTUALLY PLAYED FAIRLY WELL.

OMAR MANNING, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE HIM TO SHOW UP A LITTLE MORE, BUT SAMORI TOURE I THOUGHT HAD AN EXCELLENT SHOWING.

I THINK AUSTIN ALLEN HAD A COUPLE TARGETS THAT WE DIDN'T PROTECT WELL BUT HE WAS OPEN.

OLIVER MARTIN HAD A 100-PLUS YARD GAME.

ZAVIER BETTS IS A GUY WE CAN GO THROUGH.

I THINK THE TALENT LEVEL IN THE WIDE RECEIVER ROOM IS BIG.

I WANT TO SEE ADRIAN NOT FEEL LIKE HE HAS TO PUSH IT DOWN THE FIELD EVERY TIME, BUT LET HIM TURN A 10-YARD PLAY TURN INTO A 15, BECAUSE YOUR BIG-BODIED SKILL GUYS CAN GO UP AND GET IT AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT BUT WE'RE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO WANT TO BE A PHYSICAL RUN GAME.

AND SO, I THINK THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO THROW THE BALL TO OPEN UP THE RUN GAME A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE EVERYONE I'VE SEEN HAS PUT NINE GUYS IN THE BOX AGAINST US AND PLAYED COVER ONE AND DARED US TO THROW THE FOOTBALL.

SO I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH, "HEY, LET'S THROW THE FOOTBALL AROUND AND GET THESE SAFETIES TO BACK OFF, GET BACK TO TOO HIGH A LITTLE BIT," MAKE THE LINEBACKERS LOOK OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF STARING AT THE RUNNING BACK, AND OPEN THINGS UP, AND THEN LET'S GET DIALED INTO THIS HEAVY RUN GAME THAT WE CAN SPRINKLE IN, AS WELL.

>> JEREMIAH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE SEASON.

>> ABSOLUTELY, GUYS.

I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME ON.

GO BIG RED.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT SOME "BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA" COMING UP TO SHARE FOR YOU.

FIRST UP, ONE OF DAMON BENNING'S FAVORITE MEMES, IT'S THE CRYING WILL SMITH, NOT THE CRYING JORDAN.

WILL COMPTON ACTUALLY TWEETED US ABOUT SUMMING UP -- SUMMING UP THE HUSKERS FAN'S EMOTIONS, FOLLOWING THE GAME, WITH A NEBRASKA SPECIFIC CRYING WILL SMITH MEME.

WE THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE FEELING JUST LIKE THIS ON CERTAIN POINTS ON SATURDAY.

NEXT UP, IT'S DANI SHARING WHAT SHE THINKS ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS AT NEBRASKA WITH RALPH WIGGIN DECLARING HE TRULY IS SPECIAL.

CAN YOU DO IT, JAY?

CAN YOU DO HIS VOICE?

>> I CAN'T -- >> YOU GOT TO DO IT, OKAY.

FINALLY, HOTMESSHUSKER, SAYS THAT IN THIS LAST SEVEN SEASONS, NEBRASKA IS 4-3 VERSUS ILLINOIS AND BLAMES IT ALL ON THIS YOUNG KID WHO HAD THE "NEBRASNOIS" SHIRT ON A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.

IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH NEBRASKA IS STRUGGLING WITH SOME LACK OF DISCIPLINE, OFFENSIVE IDENTITY -- IT'S ALL ON THIS KID.

SORRY, BUDDY, FOR BEING THE BLAME.

WE'LL TAKE A BREAK.

WHEN WE COME BACK, SEAN CALLAHAN WILL JOIN US TO TAKE A LOOK AT BIG RED RECRUITING.

BUT FIRST, ANOTHER LOOK FOR CHAMPAIGN FROM THIS SATURDAY, COURTESY OF "HAIL, VARSITY."

STAY WITH US.

♪ ♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO THE "WRAP-UP."

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE, JOINED, HUSKER ONLINE IS SEAN CALLAHAN.

ALL RIGHT, SO ONLY NINE GUYS IN THE CLASS.

WE KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

WE KNOW WHERE THE RANKING IS.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH VISITS THIS WEEKEND?

>> YEAH, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME, MIKE'L, NEBRASKA WILL HAVE HOME GAME VISITORS SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2019.

ONE OFFICIAL VISITOR THAT WE KNOW OF RIGHT NOW, VICTOR JONES, THE WIDE RECEIVER COMMIT.

11:00 A.M. GAME, OBVIOUSLY VERY HARD TO GET GUYS.

THEY'RE EXPECTING ANYWHERE FROM TO 30, THE LOCAL, UNOFFICIAL VISITORS, THAT WILL BE HERE.

SO, YOU'LL GET A LOT OF LOCAL AREA TOP GUYS, BUT JUST ONE OUT-OF-STATE OFFICIAL.

>> ROOM FOR FOUR MORE.

HOW MANY OF THOSE WILL BE DEFENSIVE BACKS?

>> YEAH, I THINK DEFENSIVE BACK RIGHT NOW IS THE PRIORITY AND THEY NEED AT LEAST THREE OF THOSE FOUR, PROBABLY, IN THE SECONDARY.

THAT'S KIND OF BEEN AN AREA WHERE THEY'VE MISSED OUT ON SOME GUYS THEY BROUGHT IN.

MARKEITH WILLIAMS, OUT OF ORLANDO WAS A KEY TARGET THEY MISSED ON.

HE WENT TO MIAMI SO THAT'S A POSITION YOU STILL WANT TO KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO AND I THINK BETWEEN THE BUFFALO AND THE NORTHWESTERN GAMES, IDEALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OFFICIAL VISITORS COME IN.

>> WE WERE HOPING TO TALK TO RICHARD TORRES, BUT WE DIDN'T GET HIM THIS WEEK.

BUT, HE HAD A HECK OF A FIRST GAME.

>> YEAH, RICHARD TORRES.

NEBRASKA'S QUARTERBACK COMMIT.

SIX-FIVE, 206.

HIS FIRST GAME, MIKE'L, HE THREW EIGHT TOUCHDOWN PASSES.

I MEAN -- >> AND, I BELIEVE SIX IN ONE QUARTER IS WHAT I SAW IN THE STAT LINE.

>> AND YOU TALK ABOUT TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL -- I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS NOT REGARDED AS LIKE A TOP AREA FOOTBALL.

BUT, I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, AROUND THE COUNTRY, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER QUARTERBACK WEEK ONE THAT THREW EIGHT TOUCHDOWN PASSES AT A HIGH LEVEL OF BALL LIKE WHAT RICHARD TORRES PLAYS.

>> YOU CAN FIND SOME VIDEO OF HIM PLAYING BASKETBALL ONLINE, TOO.

HE'S A GOOD ATHLETE.

>> YEAH, HE IS.

I MEAN, AND THEY WANTED HIM RIGHT WAY.

I MEAN, THIS WAS THE GUY THEY BROUGHT IN THE FIRST WEEKEND OF JUNE.

THEY IDENTIFIED HIM RIGHT AWAY.

AND, KANSAS STATE WAS THE OTHER PLACE HE REALLY TOOK A LIKING TO WITH THAT STAFF THERE, AND NEBRASKA WAS ABLE TO GET HIM LOCKED UP AND COMMITTED AFTER THAT VISIT IN JUNE, AND YOU KNOW HE -- HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE HIM HERE.

I KNOW HE'S HOPING TO GET TO ONE OF THESE EARLY HOME GAMES.

>> OUR IN-STATE RECRUIT IS A LEGACY IN MAVERICK NOONAN.

HE'S GROWING INTO A BODY MUCH LIKE HIS DAD'S.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHERE DOES HE END UP PLAYING?

>> YEAH, MAVERICK NOONAN RIGHT NOW PROBABLY AN OUTSIDE LINEBACKER, MORE LIKE A GARRETT NELSON TYPE.

YOU KNOW, HE HAD THE ABILITY TO BE A D END BUT IN THE 3-4 THAT'S NOT REALLY HIS -- HIS SPOT.

>> HE'D HAVE TO GAIN LIKE POUNDS.

>> HE'S MORE OF THAT PHELDARIUS PAYNE, CALEB TANNOR EVEN, HE'S A PASS RUSHER.

HE'S GOT A HIGH MOTOR.

ELKHORN SOUTH DOESN'T PLAY A LOT OF SOPHOMORES AND HE WASN'T EVEN A STARTER AT THE START OF HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR AND WORKED HIS WAY TO BEING AN ALL-STATE PLAYER LAST YEAR WHEN THEY WENT TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

OBVIOUSLY, HIS DAD, DANNY NOONAN, FORMER FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK, HANDED OUT BLACK SHIRTS AT NEBRASKA LAST WEEK WITH ONE OF THE FORMER GUYS THAT CAME BACK.

BUT NEBRASKA, MICHIGAN STATE -- HE'S GOT A NUMBER OF MAJOR OFFERS.

HE'S BEEN IN NEBRASKA A FEW TIMES, SO YOU LIKE THE HUSKERS' CHANCES RIGHT NOW REALLY WITH ALL OF THE 2023 IN-STATE KIDS.

THEY'VE GOT TWO OF THEM ALREADY COMMITTED, YOU KNOW, BRAHMER FROM PIERCE, AND GOTTULA FROM SOUTHEAST, TWO COACHES' KIDS, BUT YOU'VE GOT MAVERICK NOONAN HERE.

WHO YOU REALLY LIKE WE'RE THEY'RE AT AND THEN EVAN TUIOTI WITH HIS DAD BEING ON THE CURRENT STAFF.

>> WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THIS MUCH, WHAT ABOUT THE KID FROM NORTH PLATTE, THE WRESTLER/TRACK/FOOTBALL PLAYER, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT HIM?

>> NO, VINCE GENATONE.

I THINK WHAT'S HURT HIM IS HIS SIZE.

HE'S JUST UNDER SIX-FOOT TALL.

HE'S KIND OF IN THAT NO-MAN'S LAND, KIND OF REMAINS YOU OF, HONESTLY, OF AN ISAAC GIFFORD, JOJO DOMANN-TYPE, THAT YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW IF HE'S A LINEBACKER, OR IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF HE'S MORE OF LIKE THE NICKEL TYPE.

>> HE'S ONE OF THE BEST ATHLETES IN THE STATE.

>> AND, YEAH, 52-3 AS A WRESTLER, WON STATE RUNS A 10 8 AND I KNOW ON A NORMAL YEAR, NEBRASKA WOULD OFFER THIS GUY.

I MEAN, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT.

AND THEY STILL CONTACT VINCE, SO SOMETHING COULD SHAKE OUT.

I MEAN, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WITH ATTRITION, THE NUMBERS, WHERE IT'S ALL GOING TO GO.

IF THAT 13 ALL OF A SUDDEN GROWS, I THINK THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VINCE GENATONE.

>> APPRECIATE IT, SEAN.

>> THANKS, MIKE'L.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO OUR SIDELINE SURVEY NOW.

HERE IS THE QUESTION.

"FOR THE HUSKERS AT 0-1, TO START THE SEASON, DO YOU THINK NEBRASKA WILL FINISH WITH A WINNING RECORD?"

ANSWER "YES," "NO," OR "WAS ONLY FIRST GAME, WAIT AND SEE, CALM DOWN."

53% OF THE PEOPLE SAYING "NO" AT THIS POINT IN TERMS OF NEBRASKA BEING ABLE TO FINISH WITH A WINNING RECORD.

OF COURSE, GO TO THE WEBSITE AND CAST YOUR VOTE, RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDER PREVIEWS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO ALL SEASON LONG.

FORDHAM, WHO PLAYED THREE GAMES LAST YEAR.

THEY HAVE BOTH THE OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR COMING BACK FROM THE PATRIOT LEAGUE.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT FORDHAM?

>> I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO THROW IT AROUND THE YARD, SO REALLY CONTROLLED PASSING GAME.

THEY USE IT AS EXTENSIONS OF THE HAND-OFF RUN GAME.

AND SO I THINK FOR NEBRASKA, THIS IS GOING TO SOUND FUNNY, BUT I'M CURIOUS TO SEE THEM PLAY OUT IN SPACE.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RALLY.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TACKLE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE ISOLATED.

A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE FLAT DEFENDERS.

I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE KIND OF WONDERING WHERE JOJO DOMANN WAS A WEEK AGO.

HE'LL BE IN COVERAGE AGAIN THIS WEEK, BECAUSE THEY WILL WORK THOSE LITTLE COMBO GAMES, A LOT OF MIRROR CONCEPTS, SO I THINK IT'LL BE INTERESTING.

I THINK FORDHAM IS GOING TO COME IN HERE PLAYING WITH HOUSE MONEY AND NEBRASKA IS GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER THE DINNER BELL EMOTIONALLY, BUT COMING OFF A GAME LIKE THAT, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, JAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO I'M PLAYING.

I GOT A PRETTY BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH.

I WOULD LIKE TO JUST RUN IT BACK AND PLAY ASAP, SO I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NEBRASKA BEING MOTIVATED.

>> THEIR QUARTERBACK AT OVER A THOUSAND YARDS PASSING, JUST THREE GAMES LAST YEAR, AND THEY HAVE A TWO-HEADED ATTACK AT RUNNING BACK COMBINED FOR OVER 1500 IN THE LAST FULL SEASON.

SO THEY HAVE SOME OFFENSE.

QUESTIONS, COMING FROM TWITTER AND FACEBOOK, SAME ONE, THREE DIFFERENT TIMES: WHAT THEY QUARTERBACK.

IF ADRIAN STRUGGLES DO YOU WANT TO SEE SOMEBODY ELSE PLAY?

>> NO.

>> PRETTY SIMPLE.

PAUL ASKED THAT, ROD ASKED THAT.

ONE OF THE CALLERS ASKED THAT AND YOU'RE, LIKE, NO.

>> NO, HE'S THE GUY.

LISTEN, IF THERE WAS A BETTER -- IF THERE WAS A GUY, I THINK YOU WOULD KNOW -- IT'S JUST NOT -- WE WENT THROUGH THAT SITUATION LAST YEAR.

I HAVE ZERO INTEREST IN -- I HAVE INTEREST IN SEEING WHO THE BACKUP IS AGAINST FORDHAM, HOPEFULLY IN ABOUT THE START OF THE THIRD QUARTER BUT UNTIL THEN, I TRUST THOSE COACHES DOWN THERE THAT THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW THAT ADRIAN IS THE BEST PLAYER.

I MEAN, I THINK HE'S ARGUABLY THE BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER ON THE TEAM AND LET'S -- I'M NOT READY TO DIVE INTO THAT CONVERSATION YET.

>> YEAH, WHAT DID BRET BIELEMA SAY?

>> WE JUST WANT TO STOP NUMBER TWO, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

WANT TO STOP NUMBER TWO.

>> I MEAN, CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR.

OFFENSE LOOK DIFFERENT WITHOUT HIM.

>> YEAH, AND WE SAW THAT AGAIN LAST YEAR.

DO YOU THINK IT WAS AN ANOMALY WITH CONNOR CULP MISSING THE TWO EXTRA POINTS?

>> I DO.

I DON'T THINK HE WENT INTO THAT ONE EXTREMELY HEALTHY.

I THINK HIS RHYTHM AND TIMING WAS A LITTLE BIT OFF.

I THINK HE'LL FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

REMEMBER HE'S AN ALL-CONFERENCE CALIBER KICKER.

AGAIN, ONLY IN NEBRASKA WILL YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH TWO OF YOUR BETTER PLAYERS MAKING THE PLAYS THAT THEY DID A WEEK AGO.

HE'LL BOUNCE BACK AND BOUNCE BACK IN A BIG WAY.

>> YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY BEEN PART OF A LOT OF COACHING STAFFS.

HOW MUCH DOES IT MATTER FOR MATT LUBICK TO BE ON THE FIELD, IN THE BOX?

WHAT ABOUT THE SWITCHES OF MOVING GUYS DOWN?

HOW MUCH DOES THAT MATTER WHERE GUYS ARE IN TERMS OF THE COACHING STAFF?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR VOICE IS, RIGHT, BECAUSE CERTAIN PLAYERS AND COACHES PLAY DIFFERENT ROLES.

SOME GUYS ARE REALLY GOOD ON THE FLY.

SCHEMATICALLY, THEY CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE FLY.

SOME GUYS OR GALS ARE MORE OF A CALMING PRESENCE ON THE SIDELINES, AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE VERY, VERY ADVANTAGEOUS.

IF YOU GET A GOOD GUY THAT'S GOOD WITH A DRY ERASE BOARD AND VERY GOOD ON THE FLY, A LOT OF TIMES YOU WANT THOSE GUYS CLOSE TO YOU AS KIND OF A CALMING PRESENCE TO LET YOU KNOW.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY FOR PLAYERS TO TAKE WORDS THAT THEY HEAR AUDIBLY AND CAST A VISION REAL TIME, REAL LIFE TANGIBLY OUT THERE ON THE FIELD.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS THE KIND OF THE GIVE-AND-TAKE FOR ME.

>> YOU WANT YOUR POSITION COACH ON THE FIELD?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK BACK, AT TIMES, DC WAS ALWAYS ON FIELD.

I'VE HAD POSITION COACHES UP IN THE BOOTH AND I DIDN'T LIKE -- I HATED TALKING ON PHONE, I HATED IT.

AT NEBRASKA, COACH COSGROVE AND COACH BLAKE WERE BOTH ON THE FIELD, THAT WAS GREAT.

JUST BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE FACE-TO-FACE.

I MEAN, THE NICE THING ABOUT THE NFL YOU CAN GET THE TABLETS AND PRINTOUTS, RIGHT, AND YOU CAN PULL IT UP AND, BOOM, YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT YOU SEE, BUT THAT'S THE GREATEST.

THE TOUGHEST THING IN COLLEGE IS BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WHAT YOU SEE ON THE FIELD IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY SEEING, YOU'RE NOT SEEING GHOSTS OR SEEING SOMETHING CRAZY, AND HAVING YOUR PLAYERS KIND OF UNDERSTAND, "HEY, I'M GETTING THIS LOOK, WE'RE GETTING POWER, GETTING STRETCHED, GETTING A ZONE LOOK, HIS SPLITS ARE HERE.

WE'RE USED TO SEEING THEM HERE."

AND YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT AND OBVIOUSLY HE CAN -- THE COACH CAN TOUCH BASE WITH THE GUY UP IN THE BOOTH, WHOEVER IS UP THERE AND SAY, "HEY, IS THIS CORRECT TO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING?"

"YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE."

YOU WANT TO BE ABLE -- YOU GOT TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THE KIDS BECAUSE THEY ARE KIDS AND THEY'RE YOUNG, AND NOT A LOT OF THEM PLAYED A LOT OF FOOTBALL AT THIS LEVEL.

YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THE GAME TO YOUR COACHES ON THE SIDELINE.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> IT'S TRICKY, RIGHT?

I'VE DONE IT BOTH WAYS, RIGHT, I'VE HAD COACHES -- YOU KNOW, CAROLINA CHICK, HE WAS UPSTAIRS, AND NEBRASKA COACH SOLICH WAS UPSTAIRS, AS WELL AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER RUNNING BACKS GUY ON THE FIELD.

COACH GILL AND COACH OSBORNE WERE THE TWO GUYS ON THE FIELD.

AND SO, TALKING TO COACH SOLICH ON THE PHONE IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT IF YOU'RE UPSTAIRS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING HAS TO BE THINGS THAT ARE RELATABLE TO WHAT HAPPENED IN PRACTICE.

"HEY, YOU KNOW DAMON, WHEN MIKE GETS OVER THE TOP, WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT WITH 43, DIVE," OR, "HEY LISTEN, WHEN THEY SQUEEZE ON POWER AND I TELL YOU TO GET ON COREY'S INSIDE HIP, LET'S REMEMBER WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN PRACTICE."

THE ABILITY TO MAKE IT PORTABLE WITH WHAT'S HAPPENED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY IS PARAMOUNT IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A GUY UPSTAIRS, IN MY OPINION.

>> ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT HARD KNOCKS IS BEING ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE PRO COACHES TALK TO THE GUYS WHEN THEY'RE ON THE PHONE AND SIDELINES.

YOU GET A LOT OUT OF THAT TO SEE HOW THEY EXCHANGE, HOW THEY ENCOURAGE THEM, HOW THEY CORRECT THEM WITHOUT MAKING ANYBODY FEEL BAD ABOUT THEMSELVES.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY WELL DONE.

>> CAN'T EMBARRASS THEM ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.

>> YEAH, YOU DON'T WANT TO EMBARRASS THEM BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE ON HBO.

>> RIGHT.

>> I'M A BIG -- AND I'VE LEARNED THIS A LOT BEING WITH WEST SIDE, I'M A BIG -- THEY CALL IT "GET ONE," RIGHT?

WHERE INSTEAD OF SAYING "HEY, DON'T TOUCH" OR, YOU KNOW, "HEY, LET'S CATCH THAT NEXT TIME."

LET'S SEE YOU GET THE NEXT ONE, WHERE YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO STAY POSITIVE AND CURRENT IN THE MOMENT, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S MORE POWERFUL.

SO, WHEN GUYS ARE TALKING TO YOU LIKE THAT AND THEY'RE TRYING TO -- HEY, LISTEN, WHEN YOU'RE THE PLUS ONE RELEASE OR YOU WANT TO STEM A GUY, JUST MAKE SURE YOU SNAP HIM OFF, NOT "WHAT WERE YOU DOING?"

OR "WHAT DID YOU SEE?"

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY HAVE THE INVERTED COVER, OR WHATEVER IT IS.

THE ABILITY TO TALK FROM A DISTANCE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN IT IS IN A RELATIONSHIP.

>> AND NOT PUT -- YOU GOT TO -- YOU'VE GOT TO -- YOU KNOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'D HEAR, "YOU'VE YOU GOT TO DO THIS."

YOU'RE ALMOST LIKE -- BOOM.

>> RIGHT.

>> THEN YOU'RE TOO AFRAID TO MAKE A MISTAKE.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING TO IT WHEN YOU TALK FROM DISTANCE.

>> YEAH, YOU GOT TO PHRASE IT THE RIGHT WAY TO MAKE THEM STILL FEEL COMFORTABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND PLAY LOOSE AND MAKE A PLAY BUT NOT FREEZE UP AND THEN ALMOST TOO AFRAID TO MAKE A MISTAKE.

>> JOE FROM FACEBOOK, SOMETHING THAT WE HAD IN PICK ONE THIS WEEK, "WHO DO YOU WANT TO START AT RUNNING BACK?"

>> YEAH, THAT'S TOUGH.

I WOULD PROBABLY GO WITH GABE ERVIN AGAIN JUST BECAUSE HE'S A FRESHMAN, AND I DON'T THINK YOU SAW ENOUGH.

THERE IS A FEW THINGS THAT CONCERN ME ABOUT STEPP.

I DIDN'T LOVE HIM IN PASS PRO.

>> YEP.

>> RIGHT?

BLITZ PICK-UP WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM.

I DO LIKE RAHMIR JOHNSON, THOUGH.

I SAID THAT BEFORE THE WEEK STARTED.

I THINK PEOPLE THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY.

AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH SAVION MORRISON.

A LITTLE ALOOF IN THE PRESSER.

WE JUST SAID, "HEY, LISTEN, HE WAS AVAILABLE, WE DIDN'T PLAY."

AND SOMETIMES COACHES AS YOU KNOW WON'T -- WON'T BUST ROLE A GUY OR SAY WHY WHAT OCCURRED OCCURRED, THEY JUST KEEP IT MOVING.

AS LONG SEVION AND COACH FROST KNOW WHY WHAT HAPPENED HAPPENED, THAT'S NOT FOR US TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

>> I WOULD PROBABLY GO BACK WITH ERVIN.

>> AND HOPEFULLY, ZAVIER BETTS PLAYS A LITTLE BIT, TOO -- FIGURES SOME STUFF OUT AND GETS HIM ON THE FIELD, BECAUSE HE IS A PLAYMAKER.

AND, THEY NEED AS MANY PLAYMAKERS AS THEY CAN GET -- >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AT THE WIDE RIGHT WIDE RECEIVER POSITION.

BOB WANTS EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT VINCE LOMBARDI WENT TO FORDHAM.

WE KNOW THAT.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT JOE MOGLIA, THE FORMER NIGHTHAWKS COACH ALSO WAS A FORDHAM GUY.

SO, WE KNOW -- THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT FORDHAM.

THAT'S YOUR INFORMATION -- AND THE SEVEN BLOCKS OF GRANITE, AS WELL.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WAY OVER MY HEAD.

>> I CAN'T AFFORD GRANITE SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW -- IS IT LIKE FOR COUNTERTOPS, OR -- >> THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FOOTBALL.

>> IS THAT WHAT THEY WROTE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ON?

OR WAS IT ONYX?

>> A LITTLE BIT LIKE THAT.

DEFINITELY.

WHAT ABOUT IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE YOU GET ADRIAN MARTINEZ SOME EASY THROWS EARLY?

SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THEY NEED TO DO A LITTLE MORE.

>> I THINK THAT'S BIG.

I REALLY DO.

AGAIN, IF WE GO BACK TO THE HIGHLIGHTS ON THE THIRD AND TWO, ON THE FUMBLE, HE WAS LOOKING RIGHT THE WHOLE TIME EVEN THOUGH HE HAD QUADS TO HIS LEFT SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A DISCONNECT THERE, SO I THINK A LOT OF WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR HIM IS GETTING HIM IN RHYTHM EARLY.

>> LET'S GET TO BURNING QUESTIONS.

YOU WANT TO GO FIRST, JAY?

>> SURE.

CAN YOU -- I WANT TO JUST KNOW IF -- CAN THEY GET RIGHT, IS THIS A GET RIGHT WEEK FOR THE GUYS?

IT SHOULD BE.

AND CAN WE SEE THE BACKUP QUARTERBACK BY THE MIDDLE OF THE THIRD QUARTER.

IS THE GAME OVER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THIRD QUARTER?

>> IS THERE ANY QUESTION?

>> CAN NEBRASKA ESTABLISH A CONSISTENT GROUND GAME?

IT HAS TO START SOMEWHERE.

IN PRACTICE OBVIOUSLY, IT HASN'T BEEN PORTABLE OR TANGIBLE.

CAN THEY DO IT IN A REAL GAME AGAINST A DIFFERENT COLOR JERSEY?

>> LOVE TO SEE 'EM JUST NOT HAVE ANY MISTAKES.

DON'T ANY MISTAKES.

I KNOW IT'S HARD TO DO BUT PLAY THE GAME PERFECT AS THEY SAY ON "FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS," "BE PERFECT."

>> IT'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

GO GET IT.

>> YEAH, IT'S GOT TO BE OUT THERE.

WELL, YOU TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT, RIGHT?

COACHES ARE ALWAYS SAYING CAN NEVER BE PERFECT BUT WE CAN KEEP GOING FORWARD.

>> AND, THERE'S A PERFECT GAME OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

GO GET IT.

AND GO FIND IT.

AND, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT AGAINST A TEAM LIKE FORDHAM.

>> ABSOLUTELY, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

CORRECT THOSE MISTAKES FROM THE WEEK BEFORE, CLEAN THEM UP, GET THE CONFIDENCE, GET THE BALL ROLLING AND THEN HEY, GO SHOOT YOUR GUN, SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

I THINK IT CERTAINLY FEELS LIKE THE KIND OF GAME THAT NEBRASKA NEEDS AFTER WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, I ALMOST WISH IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BUFFALO AND THEN FORDHAM.

IT JUST FEELS LIKE THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER JUST TO GET THEM FOCUSED.

>> I WOULD AGREE.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD THING.

>> COMING OFF A LOSS LIKE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT FOCUSES YOU?

>> YEAH.

>> THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY.

>> THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY.

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

JAY AND I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO EXPECT FOR SATURDAY.

NEBRASKA IS HOME THIS WEEKEND AND IN FRONT OF THE FANS AT MEMORIAL STADIUM FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019 TO TAKE ON FCS OPPONENT, FORDHAM RAMS.

KICK-OFF IS SCHEDULED AT 11 A.M.

IT'S ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK.

NEXT TUESDAY, WE'LL RECAP THE GAME TO SEE WHAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE FIELD WITH OUR SPECIAL, SPECIAL GUEST, LARRY THE CABLE GUY.

OUR THANKS TO SEAN CALLAHAN AND JEREMIAH SIRLES FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING, AND OF COURSE FOR JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING.

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA'S "BIG RED WRAP UP."

♪ CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION SOLUTIONS, LLC.

WWW.CAPTIONSOLUTIONS.COM "BIG RED WRAP UP."

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION SOLUTIONS, LLC.

WWW.CAPTIONSOLUTIONS.COM RAMS.

NEXT TUESDAY WE'LL RECAP THE GAME TO SEE WHAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE FIELD WITH OUR SPECIAL SPECIAL GUEST LARRY THE CABLE GUY.

OUR THANKS TO SEAN CALLAHAN AND JEREMIAH SIRLES FOR JOINING US AND FOR JAY MOORE I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA "BIG RED WRAP UP."

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION SOLUTIONS, LLC.

WWW.CAPTIONSOLUTIONS.COM