♪ >>> NEBRASKA LOOKED TO EXORCISE DEMONS ON BLACK FRIDAY AGAINST IOWA, BUT AS IT SO OFTEN DOES, MISCUES DOOMED THE TEAM LATE AS THE HAWKEYES RALLIED BACK TO WIN 28-21.

IT TRULY WAS THE 2021 SEASON IN A NUTSHELL.

AS IT COMES TO A CLOSE AND COACHES HIT THE RECRUITING TRAIL, WE'LL BREAK DOWN FRIDAY'S GAME AS WELL AS START TO UNPACK ALL OF 2021 WITH OUR GUEST, 10-11 SPORTS DIRECTOR KEVIN SJUTS.

SEAN CALLAHAN WILL JOIN US TO TALK 2022 RECRUITING AND TRANSFER PORTAL AS WELL.

IT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT ON BIG RED WRAP-UP!

"” CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION SOLUTIONS LLC www.captionsolutions.com >>> HI, EVERYONE.

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

NEBRASKA FINISHES 3 AND 9, BUT THE SEASON IS NOT TRULY OVER.

THERE IS RECRUITING AND THE TRANSFER PORTAL TO TALK ABOUT.

WITH ME TONIGHT, FORMER HUSKERS JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING.

3 AND 9.

3 AND 9.

JUST GOING TO THROW THAT TO YOU.

>> THAT SOUNDS -- UGH -- THAT SOUNDS TERRIBLE.

WE KNEW THE SCHEDULE WAS TOUGH, WE KNEW THAT, BUT YOU COULD HAVE FOUND -- YOU COULD FIND SIX WINS IN THERE, RIGHT, EVEN WITHOUT THE SPECIAL TEAMS MISCUES WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE STARTING TAPING, THERE'S FIVE SIX GAMES RIGHT THERE, AGAINST TEAMS WE EASILY COULD HAVE BEATEN.

BUT WHEN THEY LOST TO PURDUE, AT THAT MOMENT OF TIME, 3 AND 9 WAS ON THE WALL, LIKE I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO OVERCOME THIS HURDLE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE OHIO STATE, WISCONSIN, AND IOWA, AND YOU HAVEN'T BEATEN THESE TEAMS IN A LONG TIME.

IT WAS THE SAME OLD STUFF.

A LOT OF GOOD, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, TOO MUCH BAD AT KEY TIMES, AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO CAPITALIZE, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

THEY'RE A 3 AND 9 FOOTBALL TEAM.

YOU MIGHT SAY THEY'RE THE BEST 3 AND 9 FOOTBALL TEAM IN THE NATION, BUT YOU'RE HOME AGAIN, NOO GAME, NO TIME TO DEVELOP, YOU KNOW, WITH THOSE 15 EXTRA PRACTICES, OR WHATEVER YOU GET FOR A BOWL GAME, AND NOW YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIRING FOUR MORE COACHES AND KEEPING KIDS HERE, AND YOU'VE GOT GUYS LEAVING, AND YOU'VE GOT TO RECRUIT, AND GET THIS WHOLE MESS FIXED.

>> WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT THEM BEING CLOSE ANYMORE.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

THEY PLAY FROM A GOOD 48 TO 55 MINUTES ALMOST EVERY GAME, RIGHT?

AND THERE WOULD BE THAT FIVE TO 12 MINUTES WHERE IT WOULD SEEMINGLY JUST GET AWAY FROM THEM, THAT WOULD SUMMARIZE THE GAME IN A NUTSHELL.

WE SAW THAT AGAINST IOWA.

FOR AS POOR AS THAT SECOND HALF WENT FOR NEBRASKA, YOU COULD STILL KIND OF ULATE THAT WHOLE GAME IN ABOUT A SIX-MINUTE STRETCH WHERE YOU FELT LIKE IT GOT AWAY FROM NEBRASKA AFTER PLAYING THREE QUARTERS OF A GOOD FOOTBALL GAME.

THAT WAS THE TALE OF THE SEASON, THEY COULDN'T QUITE STRING IT TOGETHER FOR FOUR QUARTERS.

THERE WERE ALWAYS THESE SPURTS WHERE THEY DIDN'T PLAY NEBRASKA-STYLE FOOTBALL.

>> I KNOW YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN LUCK, BUT THE BAD-LUCK BUNCH.

SIX STRAIGHT LOSSES BY AN AVERAGE OF 6.3 POINTS.

CONFERENCE, ZERO SCORING MARGIN BECAUSE OF HOW THEY BEAT NORTHWESTERN.

IT'S NOT BAD LUCK.

>> WE WERE TALKING BEFORE WE WENT ON: DETAILS.

ATTENTION TO DETAILS.

MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT DOOMED NEBRASKA.

>> YEAH, YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE THOSE THINGS.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE MUSCLE MEMORY.

IF YOU GO OVER THIRD-AND-SHORTS OR THIRD-AND-LONGS, WHATEVER YOUR PET PLAYS ARE, OR SECOND TO, PUNT SITUATION FROM THIS HASH -- WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, WHEN YOU REP IT ENOUGH, GAMES JUST BECOME, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE DO.

IT'S PRACTICE.

SO THOSE DETAILS HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED KIND OF MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SO YOU'RE NOT SURPRISED BY THEM WHEN THEY HAPPEN ON SATURDAYS, BECAUSE WE HAVE YET TO REALLY HEAR, WELL, WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS ON SATURDAY, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING IN PRACTICE, WE KIND OF EXPECTED THAT.

WHEN THAT BECOMES THE ANSWER, YOU CAN REST ON, OH, OKAY.

BUT WHEN IT BECOMES A SURPRISE, YOU CAN GO BACK AND ADDRESS IT.

>>> SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT AS WE UNPACK NOT ONLY THE IOWA LOSS BUT ALSO THE COMPLETE 2021 SEASON.

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP OUR CONVERSATIONS GOING TONIGHT!

THE GUYS FROM PHI KAPPA THETA ARE HERE AND READY TO TAKE YOUR CALLS.

OUR INTERN ALEK IS HERE RUNNING THE SHOW, AND YOU CAN SEE THE VALENTINO'S PIZZA.

LET'S GET THEM TO WORK TONIGHT!

YOU CAN ALSO REACH US BY EMAILING OR TEXTING TO BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.

ORG.

WE'VE GOT OUR EYES PEELED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL THIS EVENING.

CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AS WELL WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS!

WE'LL GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN!

HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF LAST WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY: DO YOU THINK ADRIAN MARTINEZ WILL BE BACK IN 2022?

THIS ONE FLIPPED FROM WHEN WE LEFT LAST TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY: 44% SAID YES, AND 56% THINK ADRIAN WON'T BE BACK NEXT SEASON.

IT WAS THE OPPOSITE LAST WEDNESDAY.

HERE IS THIS WEEK'S ALL-NEW SIDELINE SURVEY: WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSISTANT COACH HIRING FOR YOU?

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, OFFENSIVE LINE COACH, OR SPECIAL TEAMS COACH?

NOT SURPRISING -- IT'S REALLY CLOSE, OFFENSIVE LINE COACH, 36%, SPECIAL TEAMS COACH 35%, OFFENSIVE LINE COACH, 29%.

HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE NOW TO ND HEAD BACK EACH WEEK FOR A BRAND NEW SURVEY.

>>> NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE PLAY OF THE GAME.

WHAT REALLY CHANGED THE MOMENTUM IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AND ALLOWED IOWA TO MOUNT THEIR COMEBACK -- YES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BLOCKED PUNT RETURNED FOR A TOUCHDOWN.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE PUNT SHIELD WAS TO THE RIGHT, HAD A LEFT-FOOTED PUNTER, AND IT WASN'TD FOR IOWA.

NOW JAY MOORE WILL HELP US BREAK DOWN WHAT WENT WRONG HERE.

LET'S JOIN HIM IN THE HUDL.

>> OKAY, LET'S TAKE -- WE HAD A GOOD END-ZONE SHOT OF THIS PLAY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, IT'S A BASIC PUNT LOOK, OUR EIGHT GUYS, THEIR EIGHT GUYS, THE PUNT RETURNER BACK THERE.

YOU CAN SEE AS WE START THIS PLAYOFF, YOU'RE GOINGO HAVE INSIDE BY THE LEFT GUYS OUTSIDE, ATTENTION TO DETAIL, THIS IS A DIRECTIONAL KICK, YOU'RE GOING TO KICK IT OVER HERE, TO THE BOUNDARY SIDE, THE RETURNER IS EXPECTING THAT.

I WILL GIVE THIS -- THE OPERATION TIME IS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD, TWO SECONDS IS A REALLY GOOD, AVERAGE IN THE NFL IS 2.2, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

AS WE RUN THIS PLAY HERE, AND I'VE GOT EVERYTHING HIGHLIGHTED WITH THE GUNNER'S RELEASE, AND, BOOM.

HERE'S THE PROBLEM NOW.

YOU HAVE A FREE RELEASE FROM THE END MAN FROM IOWA, ONE OF THE GUYS ON THE PROTECTION UNIT ON THE FRONT HERE.

HE SLIDES DOWN.

BUT, AS WE TALK ABOUT ATTENTION TO DETAIL, YOU HAVE A LEFT-FOOTED KICKER, ALL RIGHT?

NOW, HE HAS A DIRECT LINE TO THE PUNTER.

HE IS NOT GOING TO GET A HAND ON HIM.

HE'S NEVER BEEN TOUCHED, RIGHT?

IF HE WAS A RIGHT-FOOTED PUNTER, THERE MIGHT BE A BETTER DIRECTION, BUT HE'S LEFT-FOOTED, TWO-SECOND OPERATION TIME, WHICH IS NOT BAD, BUT THIS IS THE PLAY THAT SWITCHED THE GAME.

BIG SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYS LIKE THIS, A PUNT RETURN, KICKOFF RETURN -- THOSE GAMES CHANGE THE TOTAL MOMENTUM IN FOOTBALL GAMES.

WE TALK ABOUT ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

YOU HAVE A GUY THAT SLIDES RIGHT -- YOU HAVE A LEFT-FOOTED KICKER, AND, BOOM, ONE GUY THAT RUNS IN AND TOUCHED FOR A BLOCK, AND IT CHANGES THE SCENE OF THE BLOCK.

>> ANY CHANCE THEY THOUGHT DANIEL DANIEL CERTAINY DANIEL SESEY WAS IN THE GAME?

>> YOU HAVE A POST -- >> I MEAN, HE SEES IMMEDIATE LEAK INSIDE.

>> I HATE, YOU KNOW -- >> I'M NOT A S SELD -- >> NO ONE SEEMS TO LIKE THE SHIELD.

>> I MEAN, I'D LOVE FOR COLLEGE TO ADOPT THE SAME RULES AS NFL, WHERE YOU CAN'T RUN DOWN THE FIELD RIGHT AWAY, BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE AN ILLEGAL MAN DOWNFIELD -- >> ONLY THE CENTER CAN GO.

>> IN COLLEGE, YOU CAN GO IMMEDIATELY.

SO -- I MEAN, WHEN I WAS -- I STARTED FOR PUNTING FOR TWO YEARS AT NEBRASKA.

WE HAD THE SAME KIND OF LOOK, PROTECTOR, KICK, SLIDE, KICK, SLIDE, BOOM.

>> DID YOU LIKE THE SHIELD?

>> SOMETIMES YOU GET THEM ALMOST TO WHERE THEY'RE SIDELINE TO SIDELINE.

YOU CAN'T TELL WHO'S A GUNNER AND -- IT'S AN INTERESTING SITUATION, BUT JUST CHALK IT UP TO SPECIAL TEAMS TEAMS.

>> SPECIAL TEAMS IN 2021, GAVE UP 27 PUNT-RETURN YARDS, GAVE UP A SAFETY, BLOCKED P.A.T.

FOR TWO POINTS, IT HAPPENED AGAINST OKLAHOMA, PUNT RETURN FOR TOUCHDOWN, BLOCKED PUNT RETURN FOR A TOUCHDOWN.

DAMON, WE TALKED ABOUT THISS A LITTLE BIT ON THE SHOW.

YOU TAKE ALL THOSE POINTS AWAY, THE DEFENSE WOULD LOOK BETTER, BECAUSE THEY GET THE CREDIT OR THE BLAME FOR THOSE POINTS, BUT A BUNCH OF THEM AREN'T EVEN THEIRS.

>> AND LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT NEBRASKA -- MULTIPLE SAFETIES.

>> RIGHT.

SO STATISTICALLY, THERE WERE A LOT OF ANOMALIES.

I'M WITH YOU.

WHILE THE DEFENSE HAD SOME AREAS IN WHICH THEY COULD IMPROVE, FOR THE MOST PART, THEIR POINTS HER GAME -- BECAUSE IT DOES GET TACKED ON POINTS SCORED, WERE EVEN BETTER THAN SNAPS INDICATE.

>> WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THEMES.

ONE YEAR YOU HAD A THEME OF FINISHING.

IF NEBRASKA DID, NEBRASKA WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE WINS.

>> THERE IS THE THEME OF "START FAST, FINISH STRONGER."

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO GETTING THE JOB DONE, IT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT.

THE EXECUTION HAS TO BE BETTER.

YOU CAN GET ALONG WITH SOME THINGS EARLY ON, BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TIME.

ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GET TO THE FOURTH QUARTER, AND TIME'S NOT NECESSARILY ON YOUR SIDE, HOW DO YOU HANDLE TIME-OUTS?

IT MATTERS.

YOUR PLAY CALLS MATTERS.

YOUR SITUATIONAL FOOTBALL MATTERS THAT MUCH MORE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TIME ON YOUR SIDE ANYMORE.

IT'S EASY WHEN YOU'RE UP 56-7 AGAINST NORTHWESTERN WITH FIVE MINUTES TO GO.

ANYONE COULD CALLL THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE BACKED UP AT 10, WHEN YOU HAVE A THREE-POINT LEAD OVER MICHIGAN, AND YOU HAVE TO GET SPACE SO YOU CAN FLIP THE FIELD, AND THE CALLS YOU MAKE, HOW ARE YOU USING YOUR TIME-OUTS, COACHING -- IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THEY'RE DISORGANIZED, AND IT CATCHES UP WITH THEM WHEN IT MATTERS MOST, LIKE I SAID, YOU CAN GET BY SOME OF THOSE THINGS EARLY IN THE GAME.

BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO CRUNCH TIME, THAT'S WHEN YOUR ORGANIZATION, THAT'S WHEN YOUR COMMUNICATION, THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING MATTERS THE MOST.

THAT'S A TELLTALE SIGN TO ME THEY AREN'T QUITE THERE WITH ORGANIZATION.

>> AND THE OTHER TEAM HAS LIGHT BOARDS, TOO.

>> THEY HAVE SCHOLARSHIP, QUALITY FROM ASSISTANTS TO HEAD COACH.

I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE A LEAK, THEY'LL FIND IT, AND THAT'S WHAT TAPE IS FOR, AND WHEN GUYS GET IN THE LAB AND REALLY TRY TO SCHEME AND FIGURE OUT WHERE TEAMS CAN BE HAD, I THINK PSYCHOLOGICALLY, TEAMS THINK YOU KEEP IT CLOSE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, AND NEBRASKA WILL FIND A WAY TO LET YOU BACK IN GAMES, YOU KNOW?

AND I THINK THEY PLAY THAT WAY WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CONFIDENCE JUST TO GET THIS THING INTO DEEP WATERS.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK LOGAN SMOTHERS PLAYED, FIRST START AT HOME?

>> I THINK HE PLAYED WELL, THE GAME WAS PRETTY SUBDUED, THEY DIDN'T ASK TOO MUCH.

WHEN YOU HAVE A GUY WITH ADRIAN, AND HE'S THE THIRD-, FOURTH-YEAR STARTER, YOU KNOW HE CAN DO SO MUCH -- IT'S LIKE CHEESECAKE FACTORY, YOU HAVE THIS HUGE MENU, THAT LOOKS GOOD, THAT LOOKS GOOD.

BUT WITH A SIMPLER MENU, HE'S GOOD WITH THESE 10, 11, 12 PLAYS, YOU STREAMLINE IT, GO FASTER, A LOT OF SIMPLE THROWS FOR HIM, I THOUGHT HE RUN THE OPTION -- >> PRETTY WELL.

>> -- PRETTY WELL.

AND, LISTEN, THIS WAS -- IS THE ANSWER -- IS HE THE FUTURE QUARTERBACK FOR NEBRASKA?

PROBABLYLYNOT.

BUT THE WAY HE EXECUTED IN THIS GAME EARLY ON, AND GOT THE JOB DONE FOR THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS, I MEAN, I THOUGHT WAS A PRETTY DARN GOOD PERFORMANCE.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT GAME PLAN IS SUSTAINABLE.

>> 23 TIMES?

>> 4, 24 TIMES.

>> I KNOW THEY'RE NOT ALL DESIGN RUNS, BUT THERE IS NO WAY NEBRASKA WOULD CALL THAT TYPE OF OFFENSIVE GAME WITH ADRIAN MARTINEZ, RIGHT?

AND WHETHER HE'S HEALTHY OR NOT.

BECAUSE YOU WOULD MAYBE WANT TO PROTECT HIM A LITTLE BIT MORE.

IF YOU FELT THAT CONFIDENT IN LOGOGOGSMOTHERS, WOULD YOU RUN ADRIAN MARTINEZ LIKE THAT AND MAYBE THROW A LITTLE BIT LESS CAUTION TO THE WIND AND RUN HIM, WITH ONE GAME TO PLAY AND NO GAMES AFTER, IT WAS EASIER TO ACCUMULATE 20-SOME CARRIES.

>> GOES ON THE PORTAL TODAY, AND MARTIN GOES ON THE PORTAL.

>> THE WAY MICHIGAN WAS ABLE TO RUN THE BALL ON OHIO STATE, ESPECIALLY THE LAST -- THAT LAST DRIVE OF THE FOURTH QUARTER, THAT WAS A THING OFBEAUTY.

BUT THOSE GUYS ARE REALLY GOOD, NFL TYPE GUYS.

I'M NOT SAYING NEBRASKA CAN'T EVENTUALLY GET THERE, BUT THERE'S NOT A NASTINESS, A PHYSICALITY THAT PRESENTS TO NEBRASKA'S OFFENSIVE LINE.

I THINK THERE IS A SOFTNESS, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO PUNCH, THEY DON'T ESTABLISH LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, AND THEY JUST PLAY SLOPPY, TOO MANY HOLDING CALLS, SLOPPY TECHNIQUE.

I THINK INITIALLY, THE RUNNING BACK ISSUE IS, TO ME, OFFENSIVE-LINE RELATED, BUT YOU'VE SEEN -- FORGET THE KID'S NAME THAT GOT HURT AGAINST OKLAHOMA.

>> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> GABE URBAN.

IF HE COULD STAY HEALTHY, HAVE HIM DEVELOP, GO OUT, RAMIR STEPS UP, YANT KIND OF STEPS UP, BUT IT WAS UP AND DOWN -- IT WAS TOUGH.

THERE WERE SOME INCONSISTENCIES INCONSISTENCIES.

BUT I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO NOT ENOUGH LINE PLAY.

>> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> THAT GUY, TOO.

IN LOVE WITH OFFENSIVE LINE PLAY, SO I ALWAYS PUT THE ONUS ON THE RUNNING BACKS.

I THINK, SOMEWHERE, AT SOME POINT, THERE'S CREASES TO BE HAD, AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PLAYING RUNNING BACK IS THERE'S ALWAYS PHYSICAL TALENTS.

YOU CAN SEE GIFTED RUNNERS.

BUT IF I LOOK AT A GUY -- YOU KNOW, YOU BROUGHT UP HASKINS, NOT GOING TO BE A BLAZER -- THERE'S A CERTAIN MENTALITY THAT HE RUN THE FOOTBALL WITH, AND YOU SEE THAT A LOT FROM RUNNING BACKS THAT LIKE TO SHOULDER THE LOAD.

THERE IS JUST A WAY IN WHICH THEY RUN, WHETHER IT WAS IB IBRAHAM -- TALENT IS IMPORTANANANUT SOMETIMES JUST -- WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE 25 COUNTING ONYOU, IT CHANGES YOUR STYLE.

WHEN IT'S BEEN HIT-AND-MISS AND SPORADIC, SO DOES YOUR ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

THERE'S THIS TENDENCY TO WANT TO HIT HOMERUNS, RIGHT?

BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU ARE MAYBE GOING TO GET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.

SO INSTEAD OF SNAPPING THE BALL AGAIN AT 2ND AND 6, YOU MAYBE BOUNCE A PLAY, THEN IT'S 2ND AND 9, AND THEN YOU DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF.

TAKING WHAT YOU GET AND NOT THROWING A FIT IS MORE OF A MIND-SET THAN A TALENT.

>> YOU CAN TELL THE PARTS WE PLAYED.

WE'LL SHOULDER THE BLAME.

>> I MEAN, YOU CAN REALLY HELP THOSE GUYS OUT BY BEING A BETTER PLAYER.

>>> TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE IOWA GAME.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'LL SHOW ALL FOUR QUARTERS.

BUT LOGAN SMOTHERS CAME OUT, GOOD PLAN EARLY ON, LOGAN SMOTHERS COMPLETES TO SAMARI TOURE.

THIS WAS A GREAT PICKUP IN THE PORTAL.

>> AGAINST ALL THE COMPETITION, THERE WAS A LITTLE LULL IN THE MIDDLE WHERE PEOPLE WONDERED IF HE COULD GET SEPARATION.

HE WAS JUST FINE.

[ LAUGHS ] >> THERE GOES LOGAN SMOTHERS, SOMETHING NEBRASKA QUARTERBACKS DID A LOT THIS YEAR INSIDE THE FIVE-YARD LINE, SCORING RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS.

PADILLA AT QUARTERBACK.

HE WENT TO SAM LaPORTA, PROBABLY THE BEST, HE HAD A COUPLE OF CATCHES IN THE GAME, THAT WAS A 30-YARD, THEN GOODSON DOWN TO THE THREE-YARD LINE.

DID YOU THINK INITIALLY THAT WASN'T A CATCH?

>> YOU KNOW, THOSE RULES ARE INTERESTING, FROM COLLEGE TO SCHOOL, MAINTAINING THE CATCH, TWO FEET DOWN, AND ESTABLISHING IT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A CATAT ORIGINALLY WHEN I SAW IT REALTIME.

>> WHEN YOU SAW IT IN SLOW MO AND SAW IT WASN'T REIMER.

7-3 NEBRASKA, CLUTCH KICKING AGAINST NEBRASKA.

LOGAN SMOTHERS RUSHING FOR 11 YARDS.

HERE'S WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLY ON, CALLING GOOD PLAYS FOR HIM.

>> IT WAS SIMPLE.

SIMILAR STUFF YOU SEE WITH ADRIAN, THIS TRIPLE OPTION -- >> THEY DREW THAT UP IN THE CAFETERIA.

>> IT WAS -- IT WAS NICE, IT WAS SIMPLIFIED, AND I -- HE OPTION BETTER THAN ADRIAN, IN MY OPINION.

>> YOU SEE THE KIDS EARLY FROM IOWA, THEY REALLY ADJUSTED IN THE SECOND HALF.

>> DAMON BENNING IMPERSONATION FROM UCLA.

PADILLA COMES BACK AGAIN AGAINST SAM LaPORTA.

THIS SURPRISED ME.

AND THE FIRST SACK OF THE GAME, CASEY ROGERS AND BEN STILLE, AND ANOTHER FIELD GOAL, THAT ONE FROM 48 YARDS.

>>.

>> IT'S A PEACE OF MIND.

IT GIVES YOU COMFORT AS AN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AS WELL.

>> WE DON'T TALK ABOUT FULLBACKS, BUT START OF THE THIRD QUARTER, THIRD DOWN AND ONE, THEY GO TO [ INDISCERNIBLE ] WHO GOES 26 YARDS, BRINGS THEM INTO SCORING RANGE, BUT ONE OF THE BIG PLAYS FOR NEBRASKA, GOODSON RUSHING, BALL COMES OUT, RECOVERED BY GANTRY THOMAS, RIGHT THERE RUNNING INTO -- I THINK THAT WAS HIS OFFENSIVE TACKLE.

>> THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY.

>> THE BALL IS RECOVERED, TURNING EVERYTHING AROUND FOR NEBRASKA, AND NEBRASKA GOES ON ONE OF THE DRIVES OF THE YEAR, COMING BACK THE OTHER DIRECTION.

LOOK WHO THAT IS, AUSTIN ALLEN, FIRST CATCH OF THE GAME, 55 YARDS, SETS THE RECORD FOR THE MOST YARDS FOR A NEBRASKA TIGHT END RIGHT THERE, THEN A GOOD PLAY BY OMAR MANNING COMING BACK ON A TOUGH THROW.

>> I WONDER IF THE D.B.

LOST TRACK OF THAT.

>> LOGAN SMOTHERS, A VERY GOOD RUSHING TOUCHDOWN, 24 CARRIES, JUST 64 YARDS WITH THE LOST-YARDAGE PLAYS, AND THE TWO TOUCHDOWNS ON THE GAME.

IOWA MAKES THE SWITCH BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL STARTER, VINCENT PETRAS, LATCHY TO THE 48-YARD LINE.

PETRAS, TO A GUY WHO HAS FELT LIKE HE HAS BEEN THERE FOREVER, SHUDAK COMES IN AGAIN, 36 YARDS FOR THIS FIELD GOAL TO MAKE IT 21-9.

AT THIS POINT, YOU STILL FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT NEBRASKA'S CHANCES.

>> ESPECIALLY EMOTIONALLY, LIKE WE HAD SOME WINS THERE.

>> THEN HERE'S THE PLAY YOU POINTED OUT, THE BLOCKED PUNT, OUT OF THE AIR, BRINGS IT DOWN.

ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S 21-16.

LOGAN SMOTHERS, THE DROP INTO THE END ZONE -- WHAT WAS THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, JUST SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, RIGHT?

ONCE THAT FIRST QUICK SET HITS, IT'S BANG-BANG, YOU GOTTA LET THAT THING GO.

>> AND IF HE HAD STEPPED UP, HE HAD TONS OF SPACE.

>> HE COULD HAVE RUN.

PETRAS ON THE DAY: THE THROW TO HIS VERY SURE-HANDED TIGHT END.

SHUDAK, 44 YARDS.

NOW IT'S 21 TO 21.

NEBRASKA STILL HAS A CHANCE IN THIS GAME, AND HERE'S THE BIG RUN.

TYLER GOODSON.

>> I DID NOT LIKE THE LOOK FROM THE SAFETY.

HE'S GOT TO BE D-GAP OUT, INSTEAD HE PLAYS PEEK-A-BOO, CHANGES HIS ANGLE IN WHICH HE'S GOT TO MAKE THAT PLAY, AND GOODSON WAS OUT OF PLAY.

>> PETRAS, GOODSON HAD 156 YARDS ON THE DAY.

LOGAN SMOTHERS, ANOTHER NICE THROW HERE, LOOKS LIKE NEBRASKA WAS GOING TO START MOVING.

THIS WAS REVIEWED, REALLY GOOD CATCH BY SAMARI TOURE.

MISCOMMUNICATION HERE?

>> YES, COACH ROSS TALKED ABOUT THAT IN THE PRESSER, SET IT DOWN, RUN THE POST, MISCOMMUNICATION MAKES IT LOOK LIKE IT'S POOR READ BY A QUARTERBACK, BUT HE AND THE WIDE RECEIVER HAVAV TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE THERE.

>> HERE ARE THE FINAL STATS.

GOT OUTRUSHED, THE THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS.

NEBRASKA OVERALL, TWO TURNOVERS, AND THAT SEVEN POINTS, OF COURSE, OFF THE BLOCKED PUNT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE GAME.

WE'RE BACK WITH BIG RED WRAP-UP.

10-11 SPORTS DIRECTOR KEVIN SJUTS WILL JOIN US TO DISCUSS THE GAME AND THE ENTIRE SEASON.

BEFORE WE GO TO BREAK, IMAGES FROM GORGEOUS BLACK FRIDAY AFTERNOON, COURTESY OF HAIL VARSITY.

WE'RE BACK SOON.

>>> HERE ARE OUR PLAYERS OF THE GAME AGAINST IOWA.

LOGAN SMOTHERS IN HIS FIRST START, AND LUECK LUKE REIMER.

HERE ARE THE STATS.

WELCOME BACK TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP".

WE'RE PLEASED TO BE JOINED -- NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE -- THE BEST SPORTS DIRECTOR IN THE STATE.

YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL.

HOW DO YOU KEEP IT FRESH?

>> YOU COULD BASICALLY TAKE A SOUND BITE FROM ANY GAME FROM THE SEASON AND DO A "WHICH GAME DID THIS COME FROM?"

BECAUSE THE BITES WE GOT WERE SIMILARLY LATHERED IN TERMS OF THE TONE AND DESCRIPTION, AND SPECIAL TEAMS, AND BEING SO CLOSE, BUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OVER THE HUMP -- IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR, FOR THE TEAM FIRST AND FOREMOST.

BUT TO TALK ABOUT THE TEAM 24/7, IT'S TESTED SOME CREATIVITY THIS YEAR.

>> ON THIS SET, TOO, AND TO FIND ANY POSITIVITY EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT.

BUT YOU'RE COVERING THIS, YOU'RE DOING THE SPORTS PRE-GAME, POST-GAME EVERY NIGHT.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING FOR YOU TO DISCUSS ABOUT THIS FOOTBALL TEAM THIS YEAR?

HOW MUCH TIME HAVE YOU GOT, RIGHT?

>> TO FIND A PERSPECTIVE ON A RECURRING RESULT.

YOU CAN'T SAY THE SAME THING EVERY TIME, OR YOU'LL DRIVE PEOPLE CRAZY.

AND AS THE INTERVIEWEE, TO FIND OUT -- PHRASING THE QUESTION CORRECTLY, I GUESS IS THE RIGHT WAY, AND PEEL BACK THE ONION A LITTLE BIT MORE EVERY INGSINGLE TIME, "WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET OVER THE HUMP" OR HOW TO GET THROUGH THE CLUTCH NEXTT TIME, FOR MORE CONTEXT.

>> LET'S GO BACK TO IOWA, 21-6, NEBRASKA'S PLAYING WELL.

DID YOU HAVE A FEELING IT WAS NOT GOING TO GO WELL, OR IS IS THE TIME THEY WERE GOING TOO IOWA?

>> I HONESTLY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO LOSE THE GAME..D I'VE SAID THROUGH THE YEAR, AS THEY'VE SHOWN IMPROVEMENT, AS THEY'VE PLAYED RANKED TEAMS, YOU CAN'T TRUST THEM YET.

YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY THEY'RE GOING TO COME OUT WITH THE VICTORY.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO END WELL FOR NEBRASKA, AND I WAS, UNFORTUNATELY, JUST WAITING FOR THE MOMENT IN WHICH THE TIDE TURNED.

YOU CAN POINT TO TWO MOMENTS IN PARTICULAR, YOU SHOWED IN THE HIGHLIGHTS: THE BLOCKED PUNT WAS A BIG ONE, AND I WOULD EVEN ARGUE THAT THE SAFETY WAS EVEN A BIGGER MOMENT, BECAUSE THAT MADE IT A THREE-POINT GAME, AS OPPOSED TO A FIVE-POINT GAME.

>> I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB AGAINST TYLER GOODSON, HE GETS THE 55-YARD RUN, PUTS THEM IN THE LEAD, THAT TOOK THE WIND OUT OF THE SAILS OF THE TEAM OVERALL.

>> IT TOOK ENERGY OUT OF MEMORIAL STADIUM.

IT WAS HOPPED UP, DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, NATE ROHR, THE P.A.

ANNOUNCER, GOT INTO THE GAME -- >> HE GOT INTO TROUBLE FOR A LITTLE BIT.

>> IT WAS FUN FOR THE FANS THAT WERE IN THE STANDS, AND THE ENERGY WASAINTAINED IN THE FIRST HALF.

BUT, BOY, WHEN THE BLOCKED PUNT HAPPENED, BOY, IT WAS THE BALLOON GOT POPPED, AND THEN THERE WAS AN ELEMENT OF PANIC, NOT JUST ON THE SIDELINE BUT IN MEMORIAL STADIUM.

>> ADRIAN MARTINEZ, ROBERT FROM SCOTTSBLUFF ASKS IF NEBRASKA WILL GO TO THE TRANSFER PORTAL, DO YOU THINK SMOTHERS, TORRES, TORBERG, WHO IS GOING TO START THIS GAME IN IRELAND?

>> MY GUT TELLS ME ADRIAN MARTINEZ WILL NOT BE BACK, AND PERHAPS IT'S A TRANSFER-PORTAL ADDITION THAT NEBRASKA WILL GO AFTER, YOU KNOW.

THE PORTAL RIGHT NOW -- IT IS JUST SPINNING AT AN INSANELY RAPID RATE.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A WEALTH OF PLAYERS TO PICK FROM.

MAYBE THERE IS HESITATION BECAUSE THE STAFF HAS TO BE FULLY ASSEMBLED, THE FOUR ASSISTANT COACHES NEED TO BE PICKED FIRST.

IT MIGHT BE A PORTAL GUY.

THEN AGAIN, IF IT'S LOGAN SMOTHERS, I THINK HE PROVED AGAINST IOWA HE HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL AND A PRETTY BIG UPSIDE.

>> THE BREAKING NEWS IS THEY WOULD BE UNDER CENTER.

I THINK A LOT OF NEBRASKA FANS WOULD LIKE THAT, IF THEY WERE, AS OPPOSED TO SHOTGUN.

COULD YOU SEE LOGAN SMOTHERS DOWN THE ROAD BEING A STARTING QUARTERBACK IN THE BIG TEN?

>> OF COURSE.

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE RIGHT OFFENSE.

HE'S FAST.

FASTER THAN I EXPECTED WHEN THE BULLETS WERE FLYING, AND HE PLAYED WITH A LOT OF CONFIDENCE, AND THIS COACHING STAFF SHOWED HIM A LOT OF TRUST, CARRYING THE BALL 24 TIMES?

THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.

I EXPECTED THE OFFENSE TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE VANILLA.

THEY DIDN'T REINVENT THE WHEEL OR GET TOO CREATIVE AGAINST THE HAWKEYES, BUT NO.

8 OPERATED THE OFFENSE PRETTY EFFECTIVE.

>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO BEAT THESE TEAMS, THAT HAS TO COME FROM THE RUNNING BACKS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE BEATING THE TEAMS IN THE WEST.

>> YOU HAVE TO.

IT'S NICE TO HAVE AN OPTION TO THE QUARTERBACK, YOU GET MORE 11/11, YOU STRESS OUT THE DEFENSE A LITTLE BIT IN THE NUMBERS GAME, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT WHAT IOWA WAS ABLE TO DO, WISCONSIN -- IT'S A PRO-STYLE, PRO-STYLE STRETCH TYPE OF GAME, THEY RUN YOUR BOOTS OFF AND EVERYTHING, IT'S NOTHING TOO CRAZY, IT'S PRETTY VANILLA, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AN OFFENSIVE LINE THAT WORKS COHESIVELY, AND A RUNNING BACK, AN ALLEN, OR GOODSON.

>> OR MINNESOTA -- >> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A DAMON BENNING BACK THERE BY ANY MEANS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT ONE-TWO PUNCH.

I WOULD EXPECT IT WOULD GET THERE.

>> AGAIN THIS YEAR, ADRIAN MARTINEZ LEADSDSM IN RUSHING, WHICH I THINK THEY WERE HOPING WOULDN'T HAPPEN.

HERE'S A TRAFFIC, 2018, OZIGBO, MILLS COMES IN AS A TRANSFER, ADRIAN MARTINEZ.

2020, ADRIAN MARTINEZ IS AHEAD OF DEDRICK MILLS, THEN RAHMIR JOHNSON LOST TO INJURIES, AND THEY LEAD IN CARRIES PER GAME.

DID IT SURPRISE YOU?

>> A LITTLE BIT.

IN FALL CAMP, IT WAS AN OPEN COMPETITION, I BELIEVE WE TALKED TO THREE GUYS, NONE OF WHICH WERE RAHMIR JOHNSON, BY THE WAY.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> THE FACT THAT IT WAS JOHNHNHN LEADING THE WAY IN THE RUNNING BACK ROOM WAS A LITTLE BIT IRONIC.

NEBRASKA WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THE RUNNING GAME, AS YOU TALKED ABOUT, JAY.

BUT AS THE SEASON UNFOLDED, MAYBE THEY FELT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH ADRIAN WITH THE BALLS IN HIS HANDS.

AND A LOT OF THE RUSHES -- LET'S NOT FOOL OURSELVES -- IT WAS ESCAPING THE POCKET BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO THROW THE FOOTBALL.

>> GREAT QUOTE AFTER THE GAME BY AUSTIN ALLEN.

THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT HIS FUTURE AND THE WAY HE FELT ABOUT PLAYING IN THIS GAME.

AND HE FLIPPED IT, TALKING ABOUT PLAYING BLACK FRIDAY, AND THE FANS FOR CONTINUING TO COME OUT.

>> I BELIEVE IT WAS 85,000+ FOR -- >> AND LOUD, LIKE YOU SAID.

>> I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE, AND THE SELLOUT STREAK CONTINUED THIS YEAR, AND WE DON'T NEED TO GET TOO IN DEPTH WITH THAT CONVERSATION, BUT THERE IS NOTHING LIKE HUSKER NATION, RIGHT?

AND THEY WILL SUPPORT THIS TEAM.

NOW, GRANTED, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WENT TO MEMORIAL STADIUM HAD SOME DIFFERING OPINIONS, ABOUT THE TEAM, ABOUT THE COACH, ABOUT THE QUARTERBACK, BUT ALTOGETHER, THEY WANTED TO SEE THIS TEAM PLAY FOOTBALL, AND AS MUCH AS SOME FOLKS MIGHT BE GLAD THAT THE SEASON IS DONE, BECAUSE IT'S, QUITE FRANKLY, BEEN INSANELY EXHAUSTING, I THINK IN A FEW WEEKS THEY MAY MISS IT, BECAUSE ALL THETRADITIONS, ROUTINES, AND FUNS THAT CAN BE HAVE, NOT JUST INSIDE MEMORIAL STADIUM BUT TAILGATING AND THINGS THAT HAPPEN ON GAME DAY, AND LAST YEAR GAMES WERE PLAYED AND NO ONE WAS IN THE STADIUM.

THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GO BACK, EVEN DESPITE THE RECORD, THERE WAS A LOT OF FUN.

>> FOUR OFFENSIVE COACHES GOING TO BE HIRED.

DO YOU THINK THEY'RE WAITING TO HAVE EVERYONE SIGNED BEFORE THEY MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT WHO THEY ARE, INSTEAD OF HAVING THEM PIECEMEAL?

>> I THINK THEY ARE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO PRIORITIZE ONE GUY OVER THE OTHER THREE.

SO EVEN IF A SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR OR AN OFFENSIVE LINE COACH HAS BEEN SIGNED, NEBRASKA DOESN'T WANT ONE GUY TO HAVE A HIGHER RANKING THAN ANOTHER, SO PERHAPS THEY'LL SAY "THESE ARE OUR FOUR, THEY'RE ALL SIGNED."

KNOW SOME OF THOSE MEDIA FOLKS LIKE TO GET THE CARTD OF THE HORSE, BUT IN TERMS OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT, I WOULD SAY THE SAFE THING IS TO GIVE ALL FOUR NAMES AT THE SAMAM TIME.

>> IF IT'S A SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR, LIKE KEVIN SAID, THERE IS SOME ADJUSTING.

CAN YOU STILL HAVE TWO COACHES?

HOW DO YOU MAKE THE MOVES TO GET A SPECIAL-TEAMS COORDINATOR IN THE TEN THAT YOU HAVE?

>> I WOULD LEAN NOT HAVING A Q.B.

COACH.

>> SURE.

>> I WOULD LEAN THAT WAY BECAUSE -- I KNOW SCOTT IS TAKING MORE OF A CEO ROLE, BURR YOUR O.C.

COULD KIND OF OVERSEE THAT.

ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE, IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BARRETT RUUD, YOU HAVE DAWSON, TUIOTI, YOU HAVE THOSE GUYS, ONE'S OUTSIDE GUY, AND -- >> AND CHINANDER HELPS OUT WITH -- >> YEAH, YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH A LITTLE BIT.

YOU HAVE TO PULL SOME PUZZLE PIECES AND MOVE THEM AROUND A LITTLE BIT.

BUT, LISTEN, YOU BETTER FIND SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO WORK IN YOUR FIVE.

WHATEVER HAS TO GET DONE TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE AND GET SOME MORE WINS AND PLAY BETTER FOOTBALL, YOU BETTER FIND WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT WORK.

>> THEY HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR NEXT YEAR, DON'T THEY?

>> BUT YOU HAVE TO MOVE THINGS AROUND, WITH THE O.C., YOU HAVE TO -- OR ELSE YOU HAVE A WIDE RECEIVER COACHING WHO ISN'T AN O.C.

>> THE SPECIAL TEAMS BINGO CARD FILLED UP THIS YEAR!

EVERY SINGLE THING THAT COULD GO WRONG, EVEN THE P.A.T.

AGAINST OKLAHOMA AND RUN BACK TWO POINTS -- IF THERE WAS SOMETHING OR SOMEONE TRYING TO KNOCK THE COACH UPSIDE THE HEAD -- >> IS THAT FOUR?

>>URE HAD THE MINNESOTA.

>> TWO SACKS IN THE END ZONE.

>> MINNESOTA, IOWA, THAT PUNT AGAINST ILLINOIS.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> AND NEBRASKA'S THE ONLY BIG-10 TEAM WITHOUT A SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR, AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY UNDER SCOTT FROST FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

>> YOU WANT BRUCE REED BACK.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE NAME.

SOMEONE TO HAVE THE FINGERPRINTS ON ALL ASPECTS OF SPECIAL TEAMS.

>> ANALYSIS WITH BILL BUSH.

>> WHO HAS COACHED SPECIAL TEAMS BEFORE.

>> BILL, AT LSU, A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT I WOULD THINK WOULD BE PRETTY -- WOULD PROVIDE A LOT OF HELP FOR THE STAFF.

>> AND HE WAS ON THE SIDELINES, BILL BUSH.

IT'S NOT LIKE HE WAS UPSTAIRS AND HAD A LACK OF COMMUNICATION.

>> COULDN'T WEAR A HEADSET, BUT -- THE METRICS, THE BIG ONE IS WINS.

THEY HAVE TO WIN MORE GAMES THAN THEY LOSE IN ORDER FOR SCOTT FROST TO BE BACK NEXT YEAR?

>> WHAT ELSE IS THERE?

CLOSE GAMES?

THAT WAS THIS YEAR.

YOU WOULD THINK THE METRIC WOULD BE A NUMBER ON WINS AND MAYBE A RANK IN TERMS OF THE BIG 10 WEST.

THERE COULD BE A QUOTE OF, YES, WE WANT TO SEE X NUMBER OF WINS, BUT WE NEED A FEW OF THOSE TO BE IN THE DIVISION.

>> YOU MEAN FINISH THIRD OR FOURTH.

>> I WOULDN'T EVEN SAY -- MAYBE JUST NOT AT THE BOTTOM.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS SO -- SO CRAZY TO ME, YOU KNOW, OUT OF MY 18 YEARS, BY RECORD, THIS IS THE WORST TEAM THAT I'VE SEEN.

>> SURE.

>> IT'S NOT THE WORST TEAM THAT I'VE SEEN!

I WOULD CONTEND THIS TEAM EAT MAYBE E, FOUR OTHER TEAMS THAT HAVE TAKEN THE FIELD AT MEMORIAL STADIUM OVER THE PAST 15 TO 20 YEARS, SO THAT'S WHAT'S JUST SO BIZARRE ABOUT THIS YEAR, IS, BY RECORD, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE FOREVER LINKED TO THE '20-'21 NEBRASKA TEAM, EVEN WHEN THEY COULD HAVE BACKED IT IN, IF THEY SAID WE'RE OUT OF BOWL CONTENTION, BE COACHING CHANGES -- >> THEY NEVER QUIT.

>> NEVER QUIT.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOU.

>>> NOW, A QUICK LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

FIRST UP, MEGAN SENT IN THIS IMAGE FROM A GORGEOUS DAY AT MEMORIAL STADIUM FOR THE IOWA GAME SAYING BETTER THAN BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING.

MEGAN, I'M NOT ON YOUR SIDE WITH THAT.

NEXT UP, "THE SOUP STAN" SENT IN THIS ACCURATE LOOK AT NEBRASKA'S WIN PROBABILITY CHART.

IS THAT THE STATE OF NEBRASKA?

IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT LIKE THAT.

THANKS, HOT SOUP BAR STAN!

UP NEXT ON THE WRAP-UP, SEAN WILL HAVE THE LATEST UPDATES FROM RECRUITING.

BUT FIRST, ANOTHER LOOK AT THE LOSS FROM SATURDAY, COURTESY OF HAIL VARSITY.

STAY WITH US.

>> WELCOME BACK, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT ON THE "WRAP-UP."

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

I KNOW BARRETT RUUD WAS VISITING 2023-2024, IMPORTANT TO SEAL THAT, ESPECIALLY IN OMAHA.

YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD TALENT.

YOU ALWAYS WORK AHEAD, SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS, CLEANUP WORK ON YOUR SENIORS, TYPICALLY YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE, YOU MIGHT HAVE THOSE GUYS LOCKED UP.

MINNESOTA, MISSOURI -- A LOT OF PROGRAMS.

THE COMPETITION FOR THIS LOCAL TALENT IS GOING TO BE INTENSE, IT WAS LAST YEAR, IT PROBABLY WILL BE NEXT YEAR.

>> WHAT ABOUT COACHES SEEING OTHER GUYS?

>> TONY TUIOTI HAS BEEN OUT ON THE WEST COAST, TRAVIS FISHER HAS BEEN SOUTH, ERIK CHINANDER HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE UTH.

YOU ONLY GET TWO WEEKS, AND THIS IS THE ONLY TWO WEEKS NEBRASKA HAS BEEN ABLE TO GO INTO LIVING ROOMS SINCE JANUARY OF 2020.

>> DO YOU THINK THE PORTAL COULD BE SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE ADDED TO THE TEAM?

>> I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PORTAL, I THINK IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM SEVEN TO TEN.

A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON WHO THE GUYS ARE.

YOU'RE NOT JUST GOING TO TAKE PORTAL PEOPLE.

IF YOU'RE SCOTT FROST, YOU AREN'T GOING TO SOLVE IT IF YOU TAKE FRESHMEN.

>> YOU NEED SAMARI TOURE.

>> TALK ABOUT MALACHI COLEMAN.

>> I THINK HE HAS A CHANCE TO BE THE NO.

1 PLAYER IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE A COUPLE GUYS RANKED HIGHER IN OUR STATE RANKINGS, BUT AS WE LEARN ABOUT 2023, HE REALLY ELEVATED HIS NAME, PLAYS WIDE RECEIVER, DIDN'T DO MUCH AS A SOPHOMORE, UNDER-THE-RADAR GUY, NOT A GUY THAT GOT A LOT OF EVERYTHING HE DID HAPPENED THIS YEAR, HIS JUNIOR YEAR.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK HE'S MORE OF A DEFENSIVE-EDGE PLAYER, WHETHER AN O. L. B., PLAYS WIDE RECEIVER, BUT I THINK HIS PROJECTION IS MAYBE THAT EDGE ON DEFENSE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT BENI FROM LINCOLN HIGH.

HOW DO YOU SAY HIS LAST NAME?

>> NGOYI.

HE HAS AN EARLY OFFER FROM PITT.

>> NOT FROM NEBRASKA.

>> NOT YET.

>> THEY HAVE NOT HAD A POWER PLAYER FROM LINCOLN HIGH IN A LONG TIME.

>> SINCE KEVIN KUGLER.

>> SETH SHARP, A LONG-TIME LINCOLN HIGH PERSON RAVED ABOUT HIM, PUT IT TOGETHER THIS YEAR, HAD A GREAT JUNIOR YEAR, HE'S GOING TO RUN IN THE 4.4s, 4.5s, HIS BROAD JUMP IS GOING TO BE OVER 10 FEET.

SO WHEN HE GOES AND TEST -- LIKE HE WENT TO WAYNE STATE AND JUST TESTED OUT OF THE WATER, WHERE THE COACH WENT IN AND OFFERED RIGHT AWAY, JOE GANZ IN NORTHERN IOWA OFFERED RIGHT AWAY, AND A BUNCH OF OTHERS.

ONCE YOU SEE HIM, ONCE YOU SEE HIS UPSIDE, HIS TESTING NUMBER, AND THE FILM, I THINK THE OFFERS ARE REALLY GOING TO ROLL IN.

YOU'VE GOT TWO POWER FIVE GUYS IN THE CLASS RIGHT HERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY.

>> WHO ELSE?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME HIGH SCHOOL GUYS, BUT BRODY -- HE WAS LISTED AT 6'4", 240.

>> MADE TUIOTI LOOK LITTLE.

>> HE'S BRINGING HIS MOM, HIS DAD, HIS TWO SISTERS, I THINK THAT FAMILY FEEL IN THE POLYNESIAN WORLD IS GOING TO HELP.

AND THIS ONE CAME OUT OF NOWHERE LAST NIGHT: MALCOLM HARTZOG OUT OF MISSISSIPPI, HE WILL PLAY ON FRIDAY IN HATTIESBURG, FLY IN, AND PROBABLY BE A 3A PLAYER IN MISSISSIPPI.

A LOT OF PEOPLE QUESTIONED HIS SIZE.

ERIK CHINANDER SAW HIM ON THE NEBRASKA BYE WEEK, AND OFFERED.

HE WILL PLAY IN THE MISSISSIPPI/ALABAMA GAME THE NEXT WEEK.

HIS OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE VISITS BEFORE SIGNING DAY -- THIS MIGHT BE HIS ONLY TRIP.

BOTH GENTLEMEN YOU JUST SAW, VERY HIGHLY LIKELY THEY COULD END UP COMMITS.

>> ONE FROM CORNELL, ONE FROM ABILENE CHRISTION CHRISTIAN?

>> THEY NEED THAT MATT SICKERMAN SPOT, FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN AND POTENTIALLY WIN THAT SPOT.

SYRACUSE AND PURDUE OFFERED HIM TODAY.

>> I THINK 3,000 IS THE ESTIMATION OF GUYS GOING ON THE TRANSFER PORTAL?

>> THAT FIRST MONDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, BLACK MONDAY, THE PORTAL JUST EXPLODED.

>> COACHES GETTING AND LOSING JOBS, AND THE TRANSFER PORTAL.

THANKS, SEAN.

>>> BE SURE TO VOTE ON THIS WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY QUESTION: WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSISTANT COACH HIRING FOR YOU?

RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE 38% SAY OFFENSIVE LINE COACH FOR THAT ONE.

MAKE SURE TO VISIT THE WRAP-UP WEBSITE AND CAST YOUR VOTE.

>>> AND NOW A QUICK LOOK AROUND THE BIG TEN AS THE REGULAR SEASON FINISHED UP.

MICHIGAN SNAPS AN 8-GAME SKID AGAINST OHIO STATE, WINNING 42-27.

MINNESOTA UPSETS WISCONSIN FOR THE AXE, WINNING 23-13.

AND MICHIGAN STATE OUTLASTS PENN STATE IN THE SNOW, 30-27.

AND, OF COURSE, WITH IOWA'S WIN AGAINST NEBRASKA, THE HAWKEYES WILL MEET MICHIGAN IN THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE SURVEY QUESTION: MOST IMPORTANT HIRE?

>> OFFENSIVE LINE, THEN OFFENSIVE LINE, THEN OFFENSIVE LINE.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> YEAH, I DON'T THINK IT'S EVEN CLOSE.

JUST -- ANY TEAM I'VE BEEN ON, ANY TEAM I'VE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH, AS A PLAYER, A COACH, I THINK YOUR OFFENSIVE LINE COACH HAS GOT TO BE YOUR NEXT-BEST COACH, AND FOR ME, I THINK IT'S A NO-BRAINER.

CAN'T WIN WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU DO UP FRONT.

TWO GAMES WERE OFFENSIVE-LINE PLAY.

YOU DO THAT, A GOOD OFFENSIVE LINE MAKES AN AVERAGE QUARTERBACK LOOK PRETTY .

A BAD ONE MAKES AN AVERAGE QUARTERBACK LOOK AVERAGE.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE O-LINE FOR ME.

>> KEVIN SJUTS WAS SAYING HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT, AS A FULL-TIME POSITION, IN YOUR OPINION?

>> I DIDN'T NECESSARILY THINK IT WAS A HUGE DEAL UNTIL WHAT WE SAW THIS YEAR, AND REALLY, WHAT WE'VE SEEN THE LAST FEW JUST THE MISHAPS WE'VE HAD WITH THE KICKOFF RETURNS AGAINST US, BUT -- TO ME, THEIR BEST GUY IS ON STAFF RIGHT NOW, IN BILL BUSH, RESPECT BILL BUSH A LOT, HE WAS MY SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR WHEN I WAS AT NEBRASKA, HE IS PASSIONATE, HE TAKES PRIDE IN THE SPECIAL TEAMS, AND HE MAKES A LOT OF STARTERS PLAY SPECIAL TEAMS, BECAUSE HE KNOWS IT'S THAT IMPORTANT.

AND HE KNOWSURE HE KNOWS YOU CAN'T GET LACKADAISICAL ON SPECIAL TEAMS.

I LIKE THE FACT HE HAS BEEN A PLACE LIKE WISCONSIN AND LSU, IN THE BIG 10, YOU CAN PULL EVERYTHING FROM THOSE TWO SCHOOLS AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT THEY DID, THIS IS WHAT WE EXPERIMENTED WITH, JUST TO GET BETTER.

>> JEN SENT THIS EMAIL, I BELIEVE DIRECTLY FOR YOU, DAMON: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SCOTT FROST'S BEHAVIOR ON THE SIDELINE?

>> I'M A HUGE BODY-LANGUAGE GUY.

I GET THE TONGUE-IN-CHEEK, SINCE SHE ADDRESSEDHAT TO ME.

I WOULD LIKE A LITTLE MORE COMPOSURE, IF I LOOK AT THE SIDELINE AND WANT TO BE LED, I WANT THE SENSE OF WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE.

SO I THINK THE MORE EMOTIONAL THAT I SEE WHO I'M TAKING DIRECTION FROM, IT WOULD HAVE A TENDEDEO GET ME MORE EMOTIONAL.

AND I THINK FOR COACH IT JUST KIND OF MAXIMIZING IN THE MOMENT AND SAYING, OKAY, LET'S GET THE NEXT ONE, WOULD REALLY SERVE HIS TEAM WELL, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO CHECK THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

THE MORE YOU STAY IN THE PRESENT, THE LESS THAT HAPPENS.

>> DO PLAYERS STILL RUN STADIUM STEPS?

I THINK THAT WOULD HELP WITH CONDITIONING, RON SAYS.

>> WE RAN STADIUM STEPS.

>> WE TOUCHED THEM ALL.

>> THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE WHOLE OFFENSE, THE WHOLE DEFENSE, ONE TIME THE WHOLE TEAM -- >> AND COACH RAN WHILE YOU WERE THERE.

>> A COUPLE TIMES, I SAID WHICH PADS WERE TOUCHED OR NOT.

>> -- >> AND THE SOUTH STADIUM STAIRS -- >> THE WORST IS WHEN HE SAYS "I'LL COME BACK AND GET YA."

THAT'S NO BUENO.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT MICKEY JOSEPH, IF HE COMES IN AS WIDE RECEIVER COACH OR O.C.

OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO, AND MAYBE EVEN RECRUITING COORDINATOR.

>> I KNOW THAT'S THE HOT RUMOR, RIGHT?

AND MICK HAS BEEN VERY QUIET.

I THINK THE LONGER IT TAKES FOR AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, THE LESS APT I AM TO BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO COME TO FRUITION, SO, HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS, BUT IF IT'S NOT, DON'T BE SURPRISED.

SOME WEIRD THINGS HAPPENED.

WITH LSU, COACH RAYMOND IS GOING TO BE RETAINED.

I THINK HE CAN GET IN COACH JOSEPH'S EAR, SEE IF IT'S WHAT COACH KELLY WANTS TO DO.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH COACH KELLY IS A GAME CHANGER.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO THEIR COACHES, AND THEY WILL TO THEIR ASSISTANTS.

WHAT ABOUT THE FOUR COACHES LET GO, TWO MORE GAMES, DID WE NOTICE IMPROVEMENT, DID WE NOTICE REGRESSION?

WHAT DID WE NOTICE?

>> I'LL THROW YOU AN EASY ONE.

THE ADJUSTMENTS MADE VERSUS IOWA ON THE PERIMETER DEFENSIVELY, IN TERMS OF STOPPING AND SLOWING DOWN AND FORCING QUICK ACTION IN THE RUN GAME, I FELT LIKE NEBRASKA WAS A LITTLE SLOW TO ADJUST TO.

YOU KNOW, IOWA DID A GOOD JOB IN THE SECOND HALF, SCHEMING THAT THING DIFFERENTLY, WITH THE RUN ON THE EDGES, WOULD WAS THE FORCE, THE ALLEY RUNNER, WHO WAS THE CREASE.

>> COULD HAVE HELPED IF CRAIG AUSTIN MIGHT HAVE BEEN THERE.

>> POTENTIALLY, OR C CCH LUBICK WITH PERIMETER BLOCKING, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE IT REALLY WAVERED AS THE GAME WENT ON.

THAT'S JUST THE COACH IN ME, MAYBE IT WAS NIT-PICKY.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED ADRIAN HR SURGERY AS QUICKLY AS HE DID?

>> NO.

HE DIDN'T FEEL GOOD.

>> NO, IF YOU NEED TO DO IT, DO IT QUICKLY SO HE CAN RECOVER, OR IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE A MOVE, GET THIS THING FIXED, SO MAYBE I CAN PLAY SPRING BALL.

>> BURNING QUESTION?

>> HOW QUICK CAN WE GET THIS STAFF ASSEMBLED SO NEBRASKA GETS A SENSE OF DIRECTION SO WE CAN SETTLE DOWN WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE TRANSFER PORTAL.

>> TRANSFER PORTAL FOR ME.

WHERE IS OUR FOCUS?

LINEBACKER IS IMPORTANT.

>> THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SEAL SOME OF THOSE GUYS OUT OF THE TRANSFER PORTAL, OFFENSIVE TACKLES, A QUARTERBACK, A PASS RUSHER -- THE PORTAL IS GOING TO BE HUGE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>>> WE'RE BACK NEXT WEEK TO PUT A BOW ON THE 2021 SEASON AND PREVIEW EARLY SIGNING DAY WITH SPECIAL GUEST SAM MCKEWON FROM THE OMAHA WORLD HERALD.

OUR THANKS TO KEVIN SJUTS AND SEAN CALLAHAN FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING, I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA'S BIG RED WRAP-UP.

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