♪ >>> TODAY IS A GREAT DAY.

TODAY IS OBVIOUSLY A GREAT DAY FOR OUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

IT'S GREAT FOR OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.

I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR OUR UNIVERSITY AND IT'S REALLY GREAT FOR ALL OF OUR ALUMNI.

AND THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TODAY OF INTRODUCING THE 31st COACH IN THE HISTORY OF NEBRASKA FOOTBALL.

ONE OF THE BEST OUT THERE IN MR. MATT RHULE.

>> I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE AS I TALK TO TREV, THE PASSION FOR FOOTBALL WAS REBORN INSIDE ME.

THE PASSION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WAS REBORN INSIDE ME.

WHEN WE CAME TO LINCOLN AND WE SNUCK INTO LINCOLN AND WE DROVE AROUND, WE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS IS A PLACE THAT'S COMMITTED TO GREATNESS.

THIS IS A PLACE THAT'S COMMITTED.

LOOK AT THIS FACILITY THAT IS COMMITTED TO PLAYER DEVELOPMENT.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT LOVE THEIR UNIVERSITY.

THAT OF LOVE THEIR STATE AND LOVE THEIR FOOTBALL TEAM.

SO AS PEOPLE ASK ME WHY I'M HERE, BECAUSE THIS IS THE RIGHT FIT.

IT'S THE RIGHT TIME.

IF I HAVE ONE MESSAGE FOR YOU, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO IT.

WE CAN ABSOLUTELY GET THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AND UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOOTBALL EXACTLY WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

IT WILL BE HARD.

IT MAY TAKE TIME.

BUT IT WILL BE DONE.

SO THANK YOU, TREV.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CARTER FOR SETTING A VISION FOR US AND MADE US DECIDE TO CALL THIS HOME.

♪ >> HI, EVERYONE.

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

NEBRASKA WINS IT'S FIRST GAME AGAINST IOWA IN ALMOST 3,000 DAYS AND HIRES A NEW FOOTBALL COACH IN THE SAME WEEKEND.

WE'RE GOING TO BREAK IT DOWN TONIGHT.

JOINING ME FORMER HUSKER JAY MOORE.

I KNOW IT WAS A --A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING.

BUT LET'S START WITH MATT RHULE.

YOUR INITIAL FEELINGS WHEN YOU HEARD HE IS THE 31st PERMANENT HEAD COACH.

>> YEAH, INITIALLY WE HEARD MURMURINGS, RUMORS, CHATTER.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU GO BACK EARLY NOVEMBER, YOU HEARD -- .

>> THAT HE WAS IN TOWN.

>> HE WAS THE GUY THAT YOU KIND OF HEAR ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE UNDERCOVER TRIP THAT THEY KIND OF DID ON DURING GAME DAY.

SO OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO THAT.

BUT I LOVE MATT RHULE FROM THE GET GO.

HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN MY FIRST CHOICE.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT I THOUGHT, GOSH, THE GUY THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST GOT DONE COACHING THE NFL, MAYBE WANTS TO TAKE A YEAR OFF.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT OBVIOUSLY, HE COULD HAVE DONE THAT.

BUT ONCE YOU GOT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIM, YOU KNEW HIS SUCCESS.

YOU KNEW HIS BACKGROUND, WHAT HE DID AT TEMPLE, BUILT THAT THING.

WHAT HE DID AT BAYLOR, TAKING OVER ART BRILES AND LOSING 50 PLAYERS.

>> AT LEAST.

>> AT LEAST 50 PLAYERS.

>> AND LESS THAN 40 PLAYERS ON SCHOLARSHIP.

>> SO THAT TRANSFERRED OUT OF THAT PROGRAM.

AND WHAT HE'S ABLE TO DO, AND DO YOUR THREE OR TEN WINS THERE, SO I'M LIKE, OKAY.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT HAD, YOU KNOW, VERY -- THAT WAS -- THAT WEIGHED VERY HEAVILY ON NFL TEAMS.

AND THE CAROLINA PANTHERS.

SO I'M LIKE OKAY.

OBVIOUSLY HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.

AND SO THEN YOU HEAR HIM TALK AND HOW HE'S ABLE TO HANDLE HIMSELF IN FRONT OF THAT PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY.

I WAS LIKE, MAN, I WISH I COULD GO BACK AND PLAY AGAIN.

YOU KNOW?

I'D LOVE TO PLAY FOR A COACH LIKE THAT.

AND SO VERY EXCITED.

VERY, VERY EXCITED.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE FIT IS PERFECT FOR HIS MENTALITY.

EVERYTHING HE'S ABOUT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TWO WAY STREET.

A GOOD FIT FOR US AND A GOOD FIT FOR HIM.

YOU KNOW, APPARENTLY THERE WERE 13 GUYS THAT WERE PART OF THIS PROCESS.

AND MATT RHULE IS 1-A.

SO I'M GLAD HE'S HERE.

I'M HAPPY FOR HIM AND EXCITED TO SEE HIM.

HIS TWEET CAME OUT THIS MORNING THAT SAID HE WAS ABOUT 5:30 THIS MORNING, LET'S GET TO WORK.

I LOVE THAT.

HE'S THE GUY WHO IS A GRINDER.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE PROCESS.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE HIM PUT HIS STAFF TOGETHER.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW, EXCITED TO GET TO SPRING BALL JUST KIND OF SEE THE PROCESS OF GETTING GOING.

AND THAT DAY BY DAY PROCESS HE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

BECAUSE IT'S A -- I DON'T THINK IT'S AS BIG OF A TASK AS PEOPLE THINK.

I DON'T -- THIS IS NOT A TEMPLE REBUILD.

FEWER, BECAUSE I SAID LESS THAN.

ENGLISH TEACHERS.

FEWER THAN 40 PEOPLE ON THE ROSTER WHEN HE TOOK OVER THAT JOB.

AND SOMETHING YOU SAID.

THINGS HE WAS SAYING.

PUNISHMENT AND HARD WORK.

HARD WORK IS NOT PUNISHMENT.

I LOVE THAT LINE.

BECAUSE YOU GOT TO WORK HARD.

NOT JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS YELLING AT YOU, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO WORK HARD.

LOOK AT HIS RESUME REAL QUICK.

BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED A BUNCH OF PARTS OF IT.

THE TEMPLE JOB HE TOOK OVER WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST JOBS IN THE COUNTRY EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T A DIVISION ONE JOB.

ONLY ONE TIME DID THEY WIN TEN GAMES IN A SEASON.

HE DID IT TWICE, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

HE TOOK OVER BAYLOR, AS YOU MENTIONED.

COMING OFF A SCANDAL.

PEOPLE WERE WRITING BOOKS ABOUT THE SCANDAL.

WHAT HE DID AT BAYLOR, TURNING THEM AROUND, THIRD YEAR, GETTING THEM TO TEN WINS WAS AN AMAZING TURN AROUND.

AND HERE'S THE THING ABOUT HIM.

DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT.

IN 2022, THIS LAST DRAFT.

SIX PLAYERS THAT HE MENTORED, THAT HE DEVELOPED WERE DRAFTED BY BAYLOR.

YOU GO BACK TO TEMPLE, 11 GUYS THAT HE BROUGHT IN GET DRAFTED.

THAT'S WHAT NEBRASKA DOES.

IF HE CAN DEVELOP LIKE THAT, MAYBE IT IS AN EASIER JOB THAN I'M THINKING.

>> WELL I THINK THE BIGGEST THING TO REALIZE IS, IT WASN'T LIKE HE'S GETTING FOUR AND FIVE STAR TALENT.

>> NO.

>> HE WAS GETTING TWO TO THREE STAR TALENT.

>> OR NO STARS.

>> OR NO STARS.

AND TURNING THEM INTO DRAFTABLE PLAYERS.

OR EVEN IF THEY WERE UNDRAFTED, GUY WHO'S STILL CAN STICK AROUND AND PLAY AND HAVE A CAREER IN THE NFL.

SO THOSE THINGS -- THOSE STATS ARE, YOU KNOW, IT'S CRAZY WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN SUCH SHORT OF TIME AT BOTH PLACES.

I THINK A LOT OF THE PEOPLE HE'S HIRED THE STAT THAT CAME OUT IS 0-11 AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS.

THAT IS ONE THING.

I WOULD SAY WHAT, THE FIRST SEVEN OR EIGHT GAMES WERE IN YEAR ONE, YEAR TWO AT EITHER TEMPLE OR BAYLOR.

SO I WOULD SAY I'M MORE OF A GLASS HALF FULL GUY.

I'M MORE OF AN OPTIMISTIC.

I LOOK AT THOSE LOSSES.

BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE WHOLE ONE LOSS SITUATION AT NEBRASKA.

WHETHER IT'S FIRST RANKED OPPONENTS OR NOT.

WE HAD PLENTY OF THEM.

AND I SAY WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE GAMES, HE'S BUILT UP SOME SCAR TISSUE.

I THINK HE'S LEARNED FROM THOSE SITUATIONS.

NOT WINNING THOSE GAMES.

AND THOSE THREE AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS WHEN HE WAS AT BAYLOR.

YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I KNOW HE LOST A GOOD NOTRE DAME TEAM THAT YEAR.

WHEN HE WAS AT TEMPLE, IT WAS LAST YEAR.

>> DO YOU REMEMBER THE LAST TIME NEBRASKA BEAT A RANKED TEAM?

>> PROBABLY OREGON.

>> 2016.

THEY FINISHED FOURTH.

>> YEAH.

>> IS IT THAT A GREAT WIN?

>> IT WAS A GREAT WIN AT THE TIME.

>> AT THE TIME.

>> BUT OVERALL, NO.

>> BUT WHEN YOU SAY RANKED WINS, YOU KNOW THAT WASN'T A GOOD TEAM IN THE END.

SO IT IS HARD TO JUDGE SOMETIMES WITH THOSE RANKED WINS.

WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

BUT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT, OF COURSE, TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW HEAD COACH.

AS WELL AS A WIN TO FINISH OUT THE SEASON.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP THE CONVERSATIONS GOING.

YOU CAN DO IT BY CALLING TONIGHT TO OUR CALL CENTER.

OUR FRIENDS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATIONS ARE HERE MANNING PHONES AWAITING YOUR CALLS.

WHILE THEY WAIT, OF COURSE, THEY'RE ENJOYING SOME VALENTINO'S PIZZA.

THEY'LL BE HARD AT WORK TAKING YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.

OUR SPORTS INTERN -- WAVE, SAM.

IS ALSO HERE, MANAGING THE TEAM.

THERE HE IS.

YOU CAN TEXT OR E-MAIL YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

ALSO, YOU CAN ALWAYS JUST GO TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND POST QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

AND WE'LL TRY TO GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.

HERE IS THIS WEEK'S ALL NEW SIDELINE SURVEY.

WHAT ARE THE REACTIONS TO THE HIRING OF MATT RHULE?

GREAT HIRE?

OKAY HIRE?

ASK ME IN THREE YEARS?

OR I WANTED MICKEY.

49% OF PEOPLE, ALMOST 50% OF PEOPLE SAY GREAT HIRE.

HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE NOW AND CAST YOUR VOTE.

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT START BY THANKING COACH MICKEY JOSEPH.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, MICKEY JOSEPH AND OUR STAFF AND OUR PLAYERS DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

YOU KNOW, MANY OF YOU HERE RECOGNIZE NINE GAMES AGO WHEN WE MADE A CHANGE AND MICKEY JOSEPH WAS THE HEAD COACH.

MICKEY DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

I HAD A LOT OF RESPECT FOR COACH JOSEPH PRIOR TO HIM BECOMING OUR INTERIM COACH.

I HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR HIM NOW.

>> THERE IS ONE COACH THAT CONSISTENTLY STOOD OUT FROM EVERYBODY ELSE.

ONE COACH WHO WENT DOWN TO MULTIPLE PLACES AT MULTIPLE LEVELS AND HAD THE STRATEGIC VISION TO CREATE THE STRUCTURE AROUND WHAT IT TOOK TO WIN AT THAT PLACE.

LET'S BE HONEST.

WE'RE AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE IN OUR HISTORY AS A FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

AND HAVING SOMEBODY THAT HAD A TRACK RECORD OF UNDERSTANDING HOW TO BUILD A PROGRAM AT MULTIPLE LEVELS AND IN MULTIPLE LOCALES WITH MULTIPLE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

>> I EXPECT OUR GUYS TO BE TOUGH.

I EXPECT THEM TO WORK HARD.

AND I EXPECT THEM TO COMPETE.

AND I EXPECT THAT BECAUSE I AND MY STAFF WILL DO THE SAME THING EVERY DAY.

THAT'S SORT OF OUR VISION FOR HOW WE ARE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE A NEW SPREAD TEAM AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE LIKE THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE OF AN OLD SCHOOL TYPE OF A TEAM.

WE'RE GOING TO BE A PHYSICAL TEAM.

WE'LL BE BALANCED AND I KNOW YOU ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

WE'LL ALWAYS TRY TO DO WHAT THE PLAYERS DO WELL.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T BELIEVE YOU CAN WIN IF YOU CAN'T WIN THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

>> SO I WILL DO MY UTMOST BEST.

I WILL DO MY UTMOST BEST TO RESPECT THE TRADITION.

RESPECT THAT HONOR.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WILL TRUST ME TO TAKE US TO ANOTHER PLACE.

TAKE US INTO THE FUTURE.

BECAUSE IT CAN HAPPEN.

AND AS TREV SAID, THE TIME IS NOW.

THE TIME IS NOW.

AND IT'S NOT REALLY JUST ABOUT ME.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT ALL OF US.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE ALL IN.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING FAIL, HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE STAND AROUND AND WAIT AND SEE IT FAIL.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING SUCCEED, EVERYBODY -- EVEN WHEN YOU DISAGREE -- JUST MOVE AHEAD AND PUSH AHEAD.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYBODY.

EVERYBODY WHO BLEEDS RED TO GET THE NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS TO WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.

>> "PULP FICTION."

ONE OF THE GREAT SOUNDTRACKS OF OUR LIFETIME.

"SON OF A PREACHER MAN" IS ON THERE.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO GREW UP THE SON OF A PREACHER, YOU CAN TELL THE WAY HE DELIVERS THINGS.

HE HAD A LOT OF CLICHES.

BUT THEY WERE TURNED TO WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT MICKEY FIRST THOUGH.

BECAUSE ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT I HEAR ON TWITTER, ON FACEBOOK, PEOPLE ASK ME IN THE STORE.

WILL MICKEY STAY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> MY FEEL -- WELL IT'S INTERESTING.

BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF NON-POWER FIVE JOBS THAT ARE ALREADY STARTING TO OPEN UP.

YOU HAVE TULSA.

THERE'S SOME JOBS DOWN IN FLORIDA THAT WILL BE COMING UP.

AND THERE MIGHT BE A FEW MORE TRICKLE DOWN.

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU KIND OF GET THROUGH THIS LAST WEEKEND.

SO IT'S INTERESTING.

BECAUSE I THINK HE'S A GOOD FIT FOR A LOT OF THOSE PLACES.

IT'S JUST WHETHER OR NOT HE WANTS TO TAKE OWN THAT, YOU KNOW?

AND I IMAGINE THE MOVEMENT OF THE FAMILY AGAIN, YOU KNOW.

IS THERE ENOUGH ZEROS IN IT FOR HIM?

TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF MOVES.

AND WHAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP WITH MATT RHULE GOING FORWARD?

IS IT A GOOD FIT TO WORK WITH MATT?

IT IS A GOOD FIT TO HAVE A PREVIOUS INTERIM HEAD COACH ON THE STAFF?

HE'S NOT VIEWED IN THAT SAME ROLE.

CAN THAT CAUSE SOME ANIMOSITY AMONGST THE STAFF?

>> PEOPLE TAKE SIDES.

>> YES.

WHAT THE CURRENT PLAYERS AND TEAM.

SO THERE IS INTERESTING DYNAMICS THAT'S GO ON.

NOW I HOPE, YOU KNOW, COOLER HEADS CAN PREVAIL OUT OF ALL OF THIS AND THE REAL DISCUSSIONS.

I'M SURE THEY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED, TALKED ABOUT SO ON AND SO FORTH.

AND I HOPE, YOU KNOW, ENOUGH MONEY IS AVAILABLE OUT OF THAT $7 MILLION POOL THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE TEN ASSISTANTS THAT COULD GO TO MICKEY TO ENTICE HIM TO STAY.

BECAUSE I THINK HE IS A VERY INTEGRAL PART OF THIS PROGRAM, OBVIOUSLY BEING A PLAYER.

THE CONNECTIONS RECRUITING.

AND JUST THE ABILITY TO CAPTURE THE GUY'S ATTENTION AND ENERGY WHEN THERE IS REALLY NOTHING TO FIGHT FOR.

>> RIGHT.

>> I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING TO THAT.

>> THE BIG THING FOR IT IS -- FIRST OF ALL, IF I'M MICKEY OR HIS AGENT, I'M ASKING FOR THE MOON.

EVERYBODY WANTS ME TO STAY HERE.

A BUNCH OF GUY WHO'S HAVE COMMITTED ALREADY ARE COMMITTED TO ME.

THERE ARE GUYS WHO ARE ON THE TEAM WHO ARE COMMITTED TO ME AS WELL.

SO YOU NEED ME HERE.

SO I ASK FOR AS MUCH HELP.

ASK FOR $2 MILLION.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHATEVER, ASK FOR WHATEVER.

IT'S A $7 MILLION POOL AS YOU MENTIONED.

PLUS THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH.

THAT'S 11 GUYS.

11 PEOPLE.

AND SO I WOULD ASK FOR IT ALL.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT.

YOU MOVE A LOT.

YOUR KIDS ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING.

YOUR WIFE IS SETTLED HERE, PRETTY WELL.

SHE'S GOT A RADIO SHOW SHE WAS DOING IN LINCOLN LAST YEAR.

A LOT OF REASONS TO STAY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AN ASSISTANT, BE GIVEN THE HEAD JOB, AND THEN HAVE TO BE AN ASSISTANT AGAIN.

ITS NOT EASY IN ANY PROFESSION.

COACHING'S PROBABLY THE HARDEST.

>> OH VERY MUCH SO, I AGREE.

AND I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.

I'VE NEVER BEEN IN THAT SITUATION.

BUT I DO THINK THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HE LOVES THIS PLACE.

I MEAN, HE PLAYED HERE.

>> YOU CAN YOU TELL.

>> AND BEING A LOUISIANA KID THAT TRUSTS TOM OSBORNE AND TURNER GILL TO COME UP HERE AND PLAY QUARTERBACK IN THIS OFFENSE.

SO OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HIS HEART FOR THIS.

I THINK THAT IS GOING TO WEIGH HEAVILY ON THE DECISION AS WELL.

BECAUSE, YEAH, MAYBE YOU DO YOU WANT TO GO TO A LOWER NON-POWER FIVE CONFERENCE TEAM AND TRY TO BUILD THAT, SURE.

OR DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE HELPED BUILD AS A PLAYER AND NOW AS AN INTERIM HEAD COACH.

AND MAYBE HELP MATT RHULE BUILD THIS THING GET BACK TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

AND BE A PART OF THAT.

AND MAKE MAYBE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU MIGHT HAVE MADE AS A HEAD COACH AT A FLORIDA, ATLANTA, OR WHATEVER.

THESE TYPE OF SCHOOLS LIKE TULSA.

WHATEVER THAT IS.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE $1.5 MILLION, $2 MILLION.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TULSA AND THOSE SCHOOLS PAY THE HEAD COACHES.

I IMAGINE IT'S PROBABLY CLOSE TO THAT $1.5 MILLION, $2 MILLION A YEAR.

SO INTERESTING.

THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME -- HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH IT.

I THINK MATT RHULE IS A FOOL NOT TO TRY TO KEEP HIM ON THE STAFF.

>> SURE.

>> AS LONG AS IT WORKS DYNAMICALLY.

YOU KNOW, WITH EVERYTHING INVOLVED.

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, GUYS ARE COMING.

I MEAN, MATT'S MADE ALL THE PHONE CALLS TO HIS FORMER STAFF AND PRETTY MUCH ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN WITH HIM AT CAROLINA.

OR IS COMING OVER HERE AS WELL.

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY CAROLINA -- .

>> OR THE GUYS FROM TEMPLE.

>> YES.

>> I MEAN, CAROLINA IS IN A CLEAN HOUSE, OBVIOUSLY WHEN THEY GET THEIR NEW HEAD COACH AFTER THIS SEASON.

SO THOSE GUYS ARE ALREADY JUMPING SHIP TO COME OVER HERE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

I WANT MICKEY TO BE HERE.

I DO.

>> AND THE MAJORITY OF THE FAN BASE DOES.

>> YES.

IF YOU CAN YOU WORK IT OUT MONETARILY AND JUST DYNAMICALLY WITH THE EMOTIONS AND JUST RELATIONSHIPS AMONGST THE STAFF.

BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO.

MATT HAS TO TRUST HIS GUYS.

HE KNOWS HIS GUYS.

HE WORKED WITH THE BUILD TEMPLE AND BAYLOR.

>> SURE.

>> HE KNOWS THOSE GUYS AND WHAT THE CAN DO.

DOES MICKEY FIT INTO THAT?

INTO THAT DYNAMICS OF EVERYTHING?

I'D BE PRETTY POSITIVE HE WOULD.

>> HERE'S A LOOK AT WHO ALREADY HAS SAID THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMING AND JOINING MATT RHULE ON HIS STAFF.

HE HAS A COUPLE PEOPLE.

TERRANCE KNIGHTON.

I'LL BE YOU A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW HIM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GUY WHO PLAYED IN THE NFL.

HAD AN OUTSTANDING NICKNAME.

RIGHT?

SO I THINK PEOPLE KNOW WHO HE IS.

>> POT ROAST, RIGHT?

>> POT ROACH, YEAH.

>> COREY CAMPBELL.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE KNOW COREY CAMPBELL.

AND THEN, EARLIER TODAY, THERE WAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE UCONN RUNNING BACKS COACH COMING HERE AS WELL.

WHO REALLY DID A LOT OF THINGS FOR UCONN AS WELL.

SO PROBABLY FOUR COACHES ALREADY.

ALONG WITH THREE COACHES AND A STRAIGHT -- CONDITIONING COACH.

IT'S REALLY COMING ALONG.

THE QUESTION IS WHEN DO YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU SAY YES OR NO TO MICKEY, OR MICKEY SAYS YES OR NO?

>> WHAT TITLE DO YOU GIVE TO MICKEY?

>> ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH.

RECRUITING COORDINATOR, WIDE RECEIVER COACH.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

YOU'VE HEARD THE OC COMING OVER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

>> YES.

>> HAD A GREAT SEASON THIS YEAR.

>> YES.

DEFINITELY.

>> SO YOU HAVE THAT SCENARIO.

IS MICKEY THE ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH?

>> YEAH.

>> IS HE ASSOCIATE COACH WIDE RECEIVERS COACH?

IS HE RECRUITING COORDINATOR?

OR, IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE DEFENSE BACK COACH HAD THE COORDINATOR TITLE BEFORE.

SO VERY -- YEAH, THERE IS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS THAT THEY HAVE TO GET FIGURED OUT.

I THINK -- YOU KNOW, I HOPE -- I THINK -- I WOULD LIKE TO THINK MICKEY WOULD LIKE TO STAY HERE.

BUT IT HAS TO WORK FOR EVERYONE.

IT'S A TWO-WAY STREET.

>> RIGHT.

>> IT HAS TO BE A GOOD FIT FOR EVERYONE.

AND IF IT'S NOT -- MICKEY IS ONLY ON HIS FEET, NO PROBLEM.

>> HE SAID THAT.

HE'S GOT A GREAT RESUME.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM GETTING HIM A JOB.

AND HE HAS TO WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR HIMSELF.

BUT ALSO, WHAT IS BEST FOR THIS FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

THAT HE CARES DEEPLY ABOUT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF TEAM IT IS UNDER MATT RHULE.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT HE'S CONSISTENT AT, IT'S DEVELOPING TALENT AND ITS DEFENSE.

TEMPLE, THEY WERE A TOP 20 DEFENSE, WHICH IS NOT EASY TO DO.

WHEN HE WAS AT BAYLOR AT THE END, THEY LED THE COUNTRY IN TURNOVERS.

THEY LED THE COUNTRY IN INTERCEPTIONS.

SO TURNOVER MARGIN IN INTERCEPTIONS.

DEFENSE.

DEFENSE.

DEFENSE.

THAT'S WHAT HE IS KNOWN FOR, RIGHT.

>> YEAH, VERY MUCH SO.

YOU WATCH THE DEFENSES.

AND IT CAN BE -- YOU KNOW, HE'S EVEN GOOD AS FIRST YEAR WITH NORTH CAROLINA THERE.

>> YES.

>> I THINK NUMBER TWO.

>> SO THEY CAN DO MULTIPLE DIFFERENT LOOKS.

THEY ALSO -- BUT I THINK IT'S PHYSICAL, AND THEY HAVE SPEED.

>> YEP.

>> I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING NEBRASKA JUST AS A TEAM IN GENERAL, WE'VE LACKED TEAM SPEED.

>> YES.

>> AND IT MAKES SO MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE ON DEFENSE.

THAT'S WHAT WE CALL THE ERASERS.

YOU CAN MESS UP.

LAVONTE DAVID MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN -- WHEN HE WAS HERE, HE MAY NOT PLAYED AT A HIGH MENTAL LEVEL.

BUT HE WAS SO FAST AND PHYSICAL, HE COULD ERASE A MISSTEP, A BUST BECAUSE HE HAD THE ATHLETIC ABILITY TO DO IT.

AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK BACK TO GUYS LIKE TERRELL FARLEY.

HE WAS HERE AT NEBRASKA.

IT WAS THE SAME WAY.

>> A GAMER.

HE WAS A GAMER.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO -- YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PLAY PERFECT EVERY PLAY.

BUT IF YOU HAVE THE ATHLETIC ABILITY AND THE SPEED AND THE FOOT QUICKNESS AND THE GOOD USE OF HANDS AND TECHNIQUE, YOU CAN OVERCOME A LOT OF MISTAKES.

>> WE'LL ALSO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NIL AND TRANSFER PORTAL BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF IT.

IT WASN'T IN PLACE, OF COURSE.

WHEN HE WAS THE HEAD COACH AT TEMPLE AND BAYLOR, SO HE GOT TO LEARN THAT AS WELL.

AND THEN THERE'S SOME PLAYER REACTION.

WE'LL GET TO ALL THAT.

OF COURSE, COMING UP, WE'LL TALK RECRUITING A LITTLE BIT LATER AS WELL.

OH, THAT'S A BIG PART.

BUT NEXT UP, WE DIVE INTO THE HIGHLIGHTS FRIDAY SEASON ENDING WIN AGAINST IOWA AND CHAT WITH MITCH SHERMAN FROM THE ATHLETIC.

BUT FIRST, LEARN HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT PROGRAMMING LIKE OURS ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

>> HEY, EVERYONE.

I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH THE "BIG RED WRAP-UP TEAM" ON THIS GIVING TUESDAY.

NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA IS NEBRASKA'S HOME FOR SPORTS AND THIS PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WHY.

ANOTHER SEASON FOR THE HUSKERS HAS COME TO A CLOSE AND WHILE MANY OF THE GAME RESULTS MAYBE WEREN'T QUITE WHAT WE WANTED, THIS PAST WEEKEND SURE WAS, AND IT'S BEEN A VERY EVENTFUL AND NEWSWORTHY SEASON.

IT'S NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO WATCH BIG RED WRAP-UP TO STAY INFORMED ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH OUR FAVORITE FOOTBALL TEAM.

AND DURING OUR FALL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE, RIGHT NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR WHAT YOU'VE GAINED FROM BIG RED WRAP-UP THIS YEAR.

THOSE WHO SUPPORT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA WITH FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAKE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ONE HAPPEN.

SO THANK YOU FOR BECOMING A MEMBER OR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN DO THAT BY CALLING 800-989-8236 OR GIVE ONLINE AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, WE HAVE SOME FANTASTIC THANK YOU GIFTS.

LOOK RIGHT THERE.

IT IS A FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBORNE.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT TOM LED THE NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TEAM AS HEAD COACH FOR 25 SEASONS WINNING THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

AND RIGHT THERE, YOU CAN HAVE AS YOUR DONATION GIFT AT $25 A MONTH, A FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBORNE.

HIS LEGACY EXTENDS BEYOND FOOTBALL OF COURSE, BUT HE'S SO WELL KNOWN FOR FOOTBALL THAT WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A FUN GIFT.

AND HERE'S ANOTHER OPTION.

DONATE $5 A MONTH OR $60 ALL AT ONCE AND WE'LL SEND YOU THIS REALLY FUN PRINT.

IT'S 11 INCHES BY 17 INCHES AND IT'S THE EVOLUTION OF HERBIE HUSKER FROM 1940 TO THE PRESENT DAY.

NOW THIS IS A COLLECTOR'S PRINT.

IT IS AUTOGRAPHED BY HERBIE AND THESE ARE NUMBERED PRINTS.

SO CALL RIGHT NOW TO CLAIM THIS AS YOUR THANK YOU GIFT AT $5 A MONTH.

THE NUMBER IS 800-989-8236 OR PLEDGE ONLINE, NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

NOW, NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER THROUGH EXCITING SPORTS COVERAGE, QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT AND BY DELIVERING LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEWS THAT KEEPS US INFORMED ABOUT THE LATEST EVENTS THAT ARE SHAPING OUR LIVES.

YOUR SUPPORT OF QUALITY PROGRAMMING ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA ALSO GIVES YOU ACCESS TO AN INCREDIBLE MEMBERS ONLY LIBRARY.

IT'S CALLED PBS PASSPORT.

THERE CAN YOU WATCH "NATURE" AND "NOVA" AND "FINDING YOUR ROOTS" AND LOCALLY-PRODUCED PROGRAMS TOO INCLUDING OUR DOCUMENTARY WE DID THIS YEAR, EXPLORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE NINE.

MAKE YOUR DONATION OF $5 A MONTH OR MORE RIGHT NOW.

TAKE ONE OF THOSE THANK YOU GIFTS THAT I DESCRIBED AND YOU'LL ALSO AUTOMATICALLY GET PBS PASSPORT.

GO TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG TO MAKE YOUR PLEDGE OR CALL 800-989-8236.

THOSE THANK YOU GIFTS AGAIN, THE NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBORNE TAKES A GIFT OF $25 A MONTH OR A ONE TIME PLEDGE OF $300.

TOM OSBORNE, OF COURSE, LED THE PROGRAM FOR 25 SEASONS WINNING THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE THOSE AUTOGRAPHED FOOTBALLS TO OFFER TO YOU.

AND $5 A MONTH, OUR GIFT IS THE HERBIE EVOLUTION PRINT.

NOW THIS PRINT IS A COLLECTOR'S ITEM.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE HAVING.

MAYBE FRAME IT AND HANG IT RIGHT THERE IN YOUR REC ROOM.

IT'S A PLEDGE OF $60 OR $5 A MONTH TO GET ONE OF THESE.

CALL US NOW FROM OMAHA OR OVERTON OR WHEREVER YOU CALL HOME HERE IN NEBRASKA.

NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU RIGHT NOW.

AT 800-989-8236 OR MAKE YOUR PLEDGE AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

YOU CAN BE PART OF THE NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SPORTS PARTNERS CLUB.

YOU'LL BE SUPPORTING OUR COVERAGE OF HUSKERS SPORTS AND HIGH SCHOOL ACTION LIKE THE RECENT VOLLEYBALL AND FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND OF COURSE, BIG RED WRAP-UP.

CALL 800-989-8236.

MAKE YOUR PLEDGE ONLINE AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

ALL OF THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE DO IS BECAUSE OF VIEWER SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU.

SO THANKS FOR CALLING 800-989-8236.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO THE HIGHLIGHTS NOW.

IT WAS A WIN.

FIRST ONE OVER IOWA IN 2,919 DAYS.

IT WAS A ROCKING STADIUM EARLY ON.

BUT NEBRASKA QUIETED THEM PRETTY QUICKLY.

I LOVE WHEN YOU GET WIDE RECEIVER SCREEN AND EVERYBODY GETS THEIR BLOCK.

AND THAT WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE THERE.

>> WASHINGTON, KNOCKED OUT ONE OF THEIR BEST DB'S FOR THE GAME.

YEAH, AND HERE'S ONE OF THOSE PLAYS WHERE YOU MISSED THE FIELD GOAL AND A LOT OF PEOPLE KIND OF THINK, "OH, NO, HERE WE GO AGAIN."

BUT NEBRASKA GETS A STOP.

COME RIGHT BACK.

AND THEY TRADE PALMER ON THIS.

KIND OF A SWITCH ROUTE.

>> YEAH, I LOVE THIS ROUTE.

YOU GOT TO DIG THAT.

KIND OF HELD THE SAFETIES THERE IN CORNER'S COVERAGE.

I LOVE THE PULLING OF CENTER.

MOVE THE POCKET.

AND THE DIG ROUTE BY -- HOLDS THE SAFETIES AND THEY HAVE TO KIND OF SWITCH IT OFF.

WHICH ESSENTIALLY YOU HAVE MAN-TO-MAN COVERAGE ON THE OTHER DB.

AND IT WAS BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.

>> IN THE END, 14.7 YARDS OF RECEPTION ON THE SEASON.

YOU GET A SACK HERE BY NEWSOME.

FUMBLE.

RECOVER.

AGAIN, THIS IS A BALL THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS BOUNCE NEBRASKA'S WAY, BUT, A GUY WHO'S BEEN JOHNNY ON THE SPOT FOR MOST OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON MAKES THE PLAY.

AND ERNEST HAUSMANN.

NEBRASKA'S BALL.

GOT TO GET SOME POINTS.

IT WAS NICE TO GET A TOUCHDOWN.

BUT GETTING THREE WAS IMPORTANT.

EXACTLY, AND WE KNEW YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO SCORE 35, 40 POINTS TO BEAT IOWA.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, WE LET THEM HAVE SOME POINTS LATER.

BUT YOU FIGURE NEBRASKA GETS 17 POINTS, UP 17-0, THEY HAVE A GOOD CHANCE TO WIN THIS FOOTBALL GAME.

>> A NICE RUN THERE.

12 FOR 52 ON THE DAY FOR JOHNSON.

HE WAS REALLY THE ONLY RUNNING GAME THAT'S GOING ON.

GET ANOTHER SACK.

THIS TIME -- I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO SCORE WHEN HE PICKED IT UP.

I REALLY DID.

>> YEAH, YOU SAW THAT WIDE RECEIVER THOUGH HAD A LITTLE MOMENTUM ON THEM.

AND THAT'S A GOOD JOB BY HIM.

HE OBVIOUSLY, AS A DEFENSIVE END, YOU LIKE TO SCOOP AND SCORE THIS THING.

BUT HE HAD A FEW STEPS ON HIM.

>> SEAN CALLAHAN WITH US AS WELL.

WHAT A GREAT FIRST HALF, WASN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

HE STEPPED IN.

THINK ABOUT IT, NO RIMER, NO HEINRICH AND THEY STOOD UP TO IOWA.

>> AND YOU LOOK AT THAT TOUCHDOWN PASS RIGHT THERE.

TREY PALMER ENDS THE SEASON WITH NINE TOUCHDOWN CATCHES AND SETS THE ALL TIME SEASON RECORD FOR YARDAGE AS A RECEIVER.

AND THEN YOU GET THE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY.

SOMETHING THAT NEBRASKA NECESSARILY HASN'T HAD OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>> SOMETHING THAT IOWA RARELY MESSES UP ON THE SPECIAL TEAMS.

THEY DON'T USUALLY REALLY MISS A BEAT.

THEY GAVE ONE AWAY TO US.

WE'LL TAKE IT.

>> THEY DID.

AND THEN WASHINGTON COMES IN HERE, A GUY WHO REALLY HAS STEPPED UP OVER THE LAST FEW GAMES.

>> YEAH, MARCUS CAME IN.

AND TREY PALMER.

THINK ABOUT THE TRANSFER PORTAL.

CASEY THOMPSON, MARCUS WASHINGTON, TREY PALMER.

REALLY ALL MICKEY JOSEPH GUYS THAT CAME TO NEBRASKA AND SCORED ALL THE POINTS IN TERMS OF THE TOUCHDOWNS IN THIS GAME.

>> HERE'S WHERE THE COME BACK STARTED.

UP 24-0.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL SPLIT ZONE RUN HERE.

GOING TO THE HOUSE, 44 YARDS.

THIS IS THE KIND OF THING IOWA'S DONE.

A COUPLE BIG PLAYS EACH GAME.

NOT GREAT YARDS.

NEBRASKA HELD THE RUN GAME.

3.8 YARDS A CARRY, WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG RUN LIKE THAT.

BUT GOOD DEFENSE OVERALL FOR NEBRASKA.

HERE WE GO AGAIN.

THIS IS -- YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION.

YOU SHOOT FOR THE TACKLE.

BUT YOU END UP GIVING UP A BIG PLAY.

>> NEBRASKA DID THIS A COUPLE TIMES.

YOU KNOW, THESE FLAT ROUTES.

YOU OVERRUN THEM.

THE GUY CUTS BACK INSIDE.

AND NEBRASKA PLAYS A LOT OF MAN-TO-MAN COVERAGE.

A LOT OF TIMES THERE IS NOT HELP COMING BACK TO GET THE GUY DOWN.

>> BACKUP QUARTERBACK PADILLA PLAYED PRETTY WELL.

AND LOOK, OF COURSE, ANOTHER STAR TIGHT-END IN THE MAKING FOR IOWA.

BUT NOT SURPRISING THEY HAVE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE.

A 14-YARD TOUCHDOWN RIGHT THERE TO BRING THEM WITHIN 24-14.

RAHMIR JOHNSON, THIS IS TOUGH FOR HIM.

I THOUGHT FORWARD PROGRESS HAD BEEN STOPPED.

AND I UNDERSTAND THEY DIDN'T CALL THAT.

BUT THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME.

>> IT DEFINITELY LOOKED LIKE IT.

EVEN ON THE TV COPY, DURING THE GAME YOU'RE TRYING TO LISTEN FOR THE WHISTLE.

THERE WAS NONE AND OBVIOUSLY THE BALL DID COME OUT EARLY RIGHT INTO THE IOWA GUY'S LAP.

>> FIELD GOAL HERE TO MAKE IT A ONE-SCORE GAME.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE A LITTLE AFRAID RIGHT HERE.

BUT NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE STEPS UP.

THEY CONTINUE TO GET PRESSURE.

SIX TOTAL PRESSURES, THREE SACKS ON PADILLA.

ALSO JUST PUT UP A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THEM.

THEY GET A FOURTH DOWN PLAY HERE.

>> THIS GAME COULD HAVE BEEN OVER MULTIPLE TIMES.

NEWSOM COULD HAVE CAUGHT A COUPLE PICKS.

THEY HELD UP, MAN.

I WAS A NERVOUS WRECK.

FOR A TEAM THAT WAS 3-8 GOING INTO THIS I HATE THAT I CARE SO MUCH AS I SAY.

AND ALMOST WAS LIKE I COULDN'T SIT AND WATCH THE LAST DRIVE OF THIS GAME.

>> GREAT TO SEE KOLAREVIC, TOO, AN IOWA GUY.

>> YEAH.

BIG TIME PLAY.

>> WE GO TO FINAL STATS.

A TIME WE'VE GONE TO FINAL STATS WHERE NEBRASKA ACTUALLY LEADS IN A LOT OF THE STATS.

SOMETHING WE'VE NOT SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

YOU SEE THAT ONE TIME POSSESSION.

MORE YARDAGE AS WELL.

AND THE BIG ONE WAS FORCING THOSE TURNOVERS AND GETTING 17 POINTS OFF THE TURNOVER.

LET'S GO TO PLAYERS OF THE GAME NOW.

NOT A BIG SURPRISE.

TREY PALMER.

WHAT A HECK OF A SEASON FOR HIM.

SEAN MENTIONED IT, HE'S A TRANSFER.

COMES IN.

SETS THAT SEASON RECORD FOR YARDS.

HAS ANOTHER BIG GAME TO END THE SEASON AGAINST IOWA.

AND MAGUA-CLEMENTS.

THE FIRST HALF, FIVE SOLO TACKLES.

HE HAD A SACK, ANOTHER TACKLE FOR LOSS.

JUST A GREAT JOB BY HIM.

SEAN CALLAHAN JOINING US.

YOU MENTION TRANSFERS, GUYS COMING IN.

THE THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT NEBRASKA CAN DO TO TURN THE TEAM AROUND.

>> YEAH, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BUILD YOUR TEAM ON THE LINES VERY WELL WITH THE TRANSFER PORTAL, BUT YOU CAN FIND RECEIVERS.

YOU CAN FIND RUNNING BACKS, QUARTERBACKS, DEFENSIVE BACKS.

PASS RUSHERS.

BY THE WAY, OCHAUN MATHIS, EIGHT QUARTERBACK PRESSURES IN THAT GAME.

HURRIES AND HITS ON THE QUARTERBACK.

SO THAT WAS HIS BEST GAME.

HE FINISHED WITH 34 PRESSURES ON THE YEAR.

TWEETED TODAY, LEANING TOWARDS GOING TO THE NFL.

WAS TOLD HE HAS A SENIOR BOWL INVITE POTENTIALLY COMING HIS WAY.

I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A DECIDING FACTOR.

>> GO TO THE SENIOR BOWL, PLAY WELL, AND GET AN INVITATION TO THE COMBINE.

HAVE A CHANCE TO GET DRAFTED.

WE'RE PLEASED TO BE JOINED NOW BY "THE ATHLETIC'S" MITCH SHERMAN.

MITCH, WE APPRECIATE IT.

HOW YOU DOING, MAN?

>> I'M WELL.

SORRY I'M NOT THERE IN THE STUDIO WITH YOU GUYS BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO.

IT'S BEEN REALLY BUSY WEEK, OF COURSE.

I WANT TO START WITH THE IOWA GAME.

BECAUSE ALMOST 3,000 DAYS SINCE NEBRASKA BEAT THAT TEAM.

THE FEEL OF, AS YOU'RE WATCHING THAT GAME, NEBRASKA LETTING THEM COME BACK.

ALL OF THAT.

WHAT WERE THE INITIAL REACTIONS ON SEEING NEBRASKA BEAT IOWA THE FIRST TIME IN EIGHT SEASONS?

>> WELL, AS NEBRASKA GOT OFF TO A LEAD IN THE FIRST HALF IT FELT LIKE THE GAME FROM A YEAR AGO.

AND REALLY, IT FELT LIKE SOME OF THE GAMES THAT'S WE'VE SEEN THAT NEBRASKA'S LOST LEADS IN DATING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2015 WHEN THAT STREAK BEGAN.

THEY HAVEN'T ALL BEEN CLOSE.

BUT A LOT OF THE GAMES HAVE BEEN CLOSE.

AND AS MUCH AS NEBRASKA GOT AHEAD, EVEN WHEN IT WAS 24-0, MY THOUGHT IS IOWA IS GOING TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE THIS THING INTERESTING IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.

OF COURSE THAT DID HAPPEN.

>> MITCH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IOWA RIGHT NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK THEIR FAN BASE IS THINKING WHEN NEBRASKA'S BRINGING IN A MATT RHULE NOW, OBVIOUSLY LUKE FICKELL COMING IN TO WISCONSIN.

THE WAY THIS LEAGUE HAS EVOLVED EVEN WHEN YOU START TO THINK OF USC AND UCLA.

IF YOU'RE A HAWKEYE FAN, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH, SEAN.

YOU KNOW, THE IMAGE IN MY HEAD IS OF KIRK FERENTZ OR GARY BARTA, THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT IOWA PEEKING AROUND THE CORNER WITH SOME KIND OF A MENACING FIGURE IN THE ROOM, OR MULTIPLE MENACING FIGURES.

BUT IT'S NO TO THE SAY THAT MATT RHULE AND LUKE FICKELL HAVE WON ANYTHING YET AT NEBRASKA AND IOWA.

THESE ARE ACCOMPLISHED COACHES.

CLEARLY THE GAME HAS BEEN UPPED IN THE BIG 10 WEST.

WHAT'S LEFT OF THE BIG TEN WEST.

WE HAVE ONE MORE YEAR OF BIG TEN WEST PLAY BEFORE DIVISION GOES AWAY.

AT LEAST IN THE FORM THAT WE KNOW THEM NOW.

SO ALL OF THIS HAS GOT TO BE A LITTLE HARROWING FOR IOWA.

I THINK IF THE HAWKEYES HAD FOUND A WAY TO BEAT NEBRASKA AND THEY WERE OFF TO INDIANAPOLIS THIS WEEK AGAINST MICHIGAN, THEY COULD PROBABLY TAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER BY SAYING, LOOK, WE'RE THE BACK TO BACK CHAMPIONS OF THIS DIVISION.

YOU GUYS CAN HIRE WHOEVER YOU WANT TO HIRE AND IT'S NOT GOING TO PHASE US.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

THE REALITY IS THAT IOWA SITTING AT 7-5.

IT'S A DISAPPOINTING YEAR.

THEY HAVE MAJOR ISSUES TO ADDRESS WITH THAT OFFENSE IN THE OFF-SEASON.

AND THEY HAVEN'T HAD A -- THEY HAD ONE COACHING SEARCH IN THE LAST 42 YEARS.

GENERALLY THAT KIND OF STABILITY IS GOOD.

I DON'T KNOW THAT'S THE CASE IN IOWA CITY RIGHT NOW.

>> TREY PALMER HAS BEST SEASON OF ANY WIDE RECEIVER IN NEBRASKA HISTORY.

THE REASON HE'S HERE IS BECAUSE MICKEY JOSEPH IS HERE.

WILL MICKEY JOSEPH CONTINUE TO BE HERE IN YOUR OPINION?

>> WELL, THAT'S UP TO MICKEY JOSEPH AND MATT RHULE.

>> YEP.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

IN MY OPINION PROBABLY NOT.

THE WAY THIS COACHING STAFF IS TRENDING FOR MATT RHULE IS SUCH THAT HE'S BRINGING IN HIS GUYS.

A LOT OF GUYS WITH NFL EXPERIENCE AND POWER FIVE EXPERIENCE.

MICKEY JOSEPH HAS PLENTY OF POWER FIVE EXPERIENCE.

HE'S WON A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

YOU CAN'T DO BETTER THAN THAT AS FAR AS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT THE POWER 5 LEVEL AS AN ASSISTANT COACH.

CLEARLY HE IS AN ATTRACTIVE GUY.

IF NOT AT NEBRASKA, THEN SOMEWHERE MAYBE AS A HEAD COACH AT A GROUP OF FIVE SCHOOL.

MAYBE AS AN ASSISTANT COACH AT A BIG TIME PROGRAM.

IF THERE IS A WAY THAT MATT RHULE AND MICKEY JOSEPH CAN GET ON THE SAME PAGE, EVEN IF IT'S JUST TO KEEP HIM HERE FOR A YEAR TO CREATE SOME STABILITY, TO, YOU KNOW, DO SOME THINGS IN RECRUITING THAT ARE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THIS NEW COACHING STAFF.

THAT WOULD BE A HUGE PLUS FOR NEBRASKA.

BUT AGAIN, I JUST DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND MY GUT IS LEANING TOWARDS NOT BELIEVING THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE.

>> YEAH, I'M GONNA HAVE MY FINGERS CROSSED AS WELL TO SEE IF MICKEY'S ABLE TO STAY ON STAFF, MITCH, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HERE IN THE NEXT COMING DAYS.

BUT YOU ALREADY ALLUDED TO MATT'S TRYING TO FIND HIS GUYS.

WHETHER THAT'S COACHING, RECRUITING.

YOU KNOW, HE'S ALREADY -- YOU'RE SEEING MULTIPLE OFFERS GOING OUT TO NEW RECRUITS.

BUT ONE THING HE HAS TO DO IS RECRUIT GUYS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE TEAM.

IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT CASEY THOMPSON IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RECRUIT HE HAS TO TRY TO KEEP ON THIS TEAM GOING INTO NEXT YEAR?

>> YEAH, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF HIS POSITION.

BECAUSE HE'S A QUARTERBACK.

BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERIENCE.

HE'LL BE 25 YEARS OLD NEXT SEASON WHEN NEBRASKA'S PLAYING FOOTBALL.

THE SAVVY HE'S SHOWN AND ABILITY TO BE TOUGH TO PLAY THROUGH INJURIES.

HE'S DONE IT MULTIPLE SEASONS NOW AS A STARTER.

I THINK HE'S A GUY WHO WOULD BE A LEADER IN THE LOCKER ROOM.

HE'S SOMEBODY THAT MATT RHULE WOULD BE ABLE TO RELY ON.

THAT NEBRASKA'S OFFENSIVE COACHES WOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT THEY HAD.

WHO COULD HELP INSTILL THE CULTURE, WHATEVER THAT CULTURE MIGHT BE.

YOU KNOW, CASEY HAS HAD BEEN, I WOULD SAY, EVERYTHING THAT NEBRASKA FANS AND THE NEBRASKA PROGRAM HOPE HE WOULD BE IN THIS 2022 YEAR.

OF COURSE, ONLY FOUR VICTORIES FOR THIS TEAM.

HE MISSED THE TWO GAMES WITH INJURY.

BUT ALL THAT YOU WANT IN A LEADER AND A QUARTERBACK AND A GUY WHO IS TOUGH, HE HAS SHOWN THAT AND MORE.

THERE IS PLENTY OF OTHER GUYS WHO ARE YOUNGER AND HAVE A TON OF TALENT.

I LOOK AT SOME OF THE TRUE FRESHMAN LIKE AJAY ALLEN.

LIKE ERNEST HAUSMANN.

LIKE MALCOLM HARTZOG.

THEY SAY, YEAH, HEY, THOSE GUYS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR MATT RHULE TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT.

AND THEY HAVE MULTIPLE YEARS LEFT.

CASEY, AS FAR AS WHAT CAN YOU GIVE THIS TEAM IN 2023, HE IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

>> HEY, MITCH, HOW INTRIGUED ARE YOU FOR MONDAY.

NOT JUST WHAT HAPPENS AT NEBRASKA.

THE TRANSFER PORTAL ENTRIES.

BUT JUST THIS DAY IN GENERAL.

THE OPENING DECEMBER 5th DAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TRY THIS YEAR.

JUST HOW CHAOTIC THIS DAY IS GOING TO BE KIND OF IN THE HISTORY OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

>> YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIZARRE.

WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON AT NEBRASKA OVER THE LAST 80 DAYS, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY IN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO WITH THE FINAL DAYS OF THIS COACHING SEARCH AND THEN THIS WEEK, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S ONLY TUESDAY THIS WEEK.

AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT'S HAPPENED IN LINCOLN ALREADY.

I HAVEN'T SPENT A TON OF TIME THINKING WHAT DECEMBER 5th IS GOING TO BE LIKE.

YOU BROUGHT IT UP AND IT'S GREAT POINT.

THIS IS A NEW FRONTIER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

WE'VE HAD THE TRANSFER PORTAL.

BUT WE NOT HAD THIS OPENING BELL, SO TO SPEAK, THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET NEXT WEEK.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WONDER, IS IT GOING TO TAKE ON THE FIELD THAT WE HAVE ON NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNING DAY?

WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE GOING IN OR COMING OUT.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE GOING IN.

THIS JUST THE WAY THAT THE PORTAL WORKS.

IT'S OPEN NOW.

PLAYERS CAN MOVE INTO THE PORTAL.

AND THEN THAT WILL BE SPREAD OUT OVER THE WEEKS TO COME WHEN THEY BEGIN TO COMMIT TO THEIR FUTURE SCHOOLS.

>> MITCH SHERMAN JOINING US FROM THE ATHLETIC.

TREV ALBERTS SAYS THAT MATT RHULE WAS 1-A ON THE LIST.

ANY GUESS ON MAYBE WHO 1-B WAS?

IF THREE'S A 1-A, THERE SHOULD BE A 1-B, RIGHT?

>> WELL, I THIS THAT CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEARCH.

THERE WERE TIMES IN THE SEARCH WHERE IT MAY HAVE BEEN LANCE LEIPOLD.

I THINK THERE MAYBE AT THE END.

YOU SEE HOW SERIOUS LUKE FICKELL AND CINCINNATI WAS ABOUT MAKING A JUMP INTO THE BIG TEN.

AND ABOUT LEAVING CINCINNATI, PERIOD.

THERE WAS QUESTIONS WHEN HIS NAME SURFACED IN SOME REPORTS AND SOME SPECULATION AS WE GOT INTO NOVEMBER, I THINK THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS NATIONALLY IN OHIO.

EVEN IN THE BIG TEN AND IN PLACES WHERE LUKE FICKELL WAS MENTIONED AS A CANDIDATE ABOUT WHETHER THAT WAS SERIOUS.

AND IT PROVED TO BE VERY SERIOUS.

HE TOOK A JOB THE DAY AFTER MATT RHULE DID.

I THINK AT THE END IT MAY HAVE BEEN HIM.

I THINK IF CHRIS KLIEMAN HAD BEEN RECEPTIVE TO MAKING A MOVE AND NOT STICKING IT OUT AT KANSAS STATE WITH GENE TAYLOR AS HIS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR THAT HE IS SOMEBODY WHO WOULD HAVE FIT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT TREV ALBERTS WAS LOOKING FOR.

BUT THAT IS ALL WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE RIGHT NOW.

HE'S GOT HIS GUY.

AND THERE IS NO THINKING ABOUT WHO THEY DIDN'T GET.

>> MITCH, ONE BIG PART IS, YOU KNOW, RHULE TALKED ABOUT A LOT AS A DEVELOPER.

HE PRODUCED A LOT OF NFL TALENT.

BUT HE ALSO LEADS WITH DEFENSE.

HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IT WAS TO TREV ALBERTS TO HAVE A GUY THAT EVERY LEVEL HE'S BEEN AT HE ALWAYS HAS A DOMINANT DEFENSE?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, SO MANY COACHES THAT -- AND YOU SEE THEM WITH THE HISTORY OF NEBRASKA COACHES.

AND THEN YOU SEE IT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

MOST COACHES HAVE AN OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE IDENTITY.

AND THEN THERE ARE A SELECT KEY NUMBER OF COACHES THAT YOU MIGHT JUST CALL FOOTBALL GUYS.

AND THAT'S THE WORD THAT BILL BELICHICK, WHO IS A FRIEND, IS THE RIGHT WAY TO PUT IT, OF MATT RHULE.

HE HAS FRIENDS.

THEN MATT RHULE IS ONE OF THEM.

THEY COACHED, OF COURSE IN, THE NFL TOGETHER FOR THE LAST TWO PLUS SEASONS.

AND THEY GO BACK TO SOME CORRESPONDENCE THAT THE TWO OF THEM HAD WHEN RHULE WAS AT TEMPLE AND, OF COURSE, BELICHICK HAS BEEN WITH THE PATRIOTS WINNING FIVE SUPER BOWLS.

HE CALLS HIM A FOOTBALL GUY.

I THINK THAT IS A GREAT DESCRIPTION.

BECAUSE HE'S NOT OFFENSIVE.

HE'S NOT DEFENSIVE.

MATT RHULE PLAYED LINEBACKER AT PENN STATE.

HE STARTED HIS CAREER AS A DEFENSIVE ASSISTANT.

THEN WHEN HE WAS WITH THE NEW YORK GIANTS AND TOM COUGHLIN.

HE SWITCHED OVER.

HE WAS MORE OF AN OFFENSIVE LINE GUY.

SINCE THEN I THINK HE'S BEEN GEARED MORE TOWARDS OFFENSE.

BUT CLEARLY THIS IS A GUY THAT DOES EVERYTHING AND HAS EXPERTISE IN ALL AREAS OF FOOTBALL.

THAT'S A HUGE PLUS FOR TREV ALBERTS AND NEBRASKA.

>> MITCH, IF I TOLD YOU TWO YEARS AGO NEBRASKA WOULD BE PAYING A FOOTBALL COACH OVER $9 MILLION WITH OVER $70 MILLION IN GUARANTEED MONEY IN THE NEW CONTRACT, HOW SURPRISED WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN?

BUT THE REALITY IS, ARE YOU NOT SURPRISED BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE MULTIMEDIA RIGHTS DEALS ARE STARTING TO BRING IN FOR LEAGUES LIKE THE BIG TEN?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

I WOULD HAVE ASKED YOU IF IF THE BIG TEN SIGNED A BILLION DOLLAR MULTIMILLION DOLLAR RIGHTS DEAL.

YOUR ANSWER WOULD HAVE BEEN YES, YOU KNOW.

WE'RE TALKING IN TODAY'S TERMS.

SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

AND YOU SEE THE WAY THAT CONTRACT IS STRUCTURED.

THE NUMBERS ESCALATE AS THE YEARS GO ON.

AND MAYBE IF THIS WORKS OUT AS NEBRASKA HOPES WITH MATT RHULE AND YOU GET TO 2029 AND 2030 AND HE'S UP THERE IN THE SEVEN FIGURE STRATOSPHERE, 12 1/2 MILLION IS HIS SALARY FOR 2030.

MAYBE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE NORM.

MAYBE HE WON'T EVEN BE A TOP TEN COACH.

MAYBE NEBRASKA WILL NEED TO RESTRUCTURE HIS DEAL FOR THE LAST YEARS ON HIS CONTRACT TO MAKE HIM ON PAR WITH WHAT COACHES ARE MAKING AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IT'S AMAZING TO THINK ABOUT.

BUT WITH THE WAY THAT IT'S GONE UP AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S COMING IN FROM THE TV NETWORKS AND THEN ALSO FROM THE IN-HOUSE MULTIMEDIA RIGHTS DEALS THAT YOU HAVE SEEN POP-UP.

AND OF COURSE, NEBRASKA HAS THE BIG ONE THAT IT ANNOUNCED THIS FALL WITH PLAYFLY.

SO ALL KINDS OF MONEY COMING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS THAT NO, IT'S NOT REALLY SURPRISING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT FROM A BIG PICTURE VIEW THAT THERE IS A $74 MILLION CONTRACT NOW ON THE BOOKS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

>> MITCH, I THINK WE LOOK AT THE PAST WITH SCOTT FROST, HOW WE ALL THOUGHT THAT WAS A HOME-RUN HIRE'.

I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER SAY THAT THERE'S A HOME-RUN HIRE TO FOR NEBRASKA AGAIN.

I SAY THE RHULE HIRE MAY BE A STANDUP DOUBLE OR EVEN A TRIPLE.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE SOME THINGS THAT MAKE YOU -- I THINK WE'RE ALL A LITTLE WAIT AND SEE MODE.

ARE THERE THINGS THAT STAND OUT WITH YOU MATT CURRENTLY THAT MAKE YOU SAY OKAY, LET'S SEE WHAT HE CAN DO.

HE CAN PROVE, I KNOW THE 0-11 AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS.

ANYTHING STAND OUT TO YOU THAT MAKES YOU THING, LET'S SEE -- THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE TO SEE WHAT MATT RHULE CAN DO HERE AT NEBRASKA?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW DID HE AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS, WHERE HE WAS IN THE PROGRAMS THAT HE TOOK OVER.

HE WAS COMPETITIVE IN A LOT OF THOSE GAMES.

AND THEY WERE PLAYING TOP TEN TEAMS.

THOSE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT I KNOW PEOPLE DON'T REALLY WANT TO HEAR WHEN THEY'VE LIVED THROUGH THE NUMBER OF CLOSE LOSSES THAT NEBRASKA HAS IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

IF I'M LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT I'M REALLY IN WAIT AND SEE MODE ON, IT'S THAT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE TRANSFER PORTAL.

BECAUSE HE HAS NOT WORKED IN A COLLEGE FOOTBALL WORLD WHERE THE TRANSFER PORTAL EXISTS.

AND NIL IS ANOTHER BIG PART OF THAT.

THIS IS NEW FOR HIM.

YOU HEARD HIM A LITTLE BIT UNSURE ABOUT SOME OF THE WORDING AND SOME OF THE THINGS AS HE TALKED ABOUT NIL ON MONDAY AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

I DON'T EXPECT MATT RHULE TO BE ENTIRELY UP TO SPED ON HIS FIRST DAY IN PUBLIC VIEW AS THE NEBRASKA COACH ON EVERYTHING THAT CHANGES IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

BUT THERE IS A BIT OF A LEARNING CURVE FOR SOMEBODY WHO HASN'T BEEN IN IT SINCE THE 2019 SEASON.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT HE'LL HAVE TO GET CAUGHT UP TO SPEED ON.

THAT'S WHERE HE CAN BENEFIT FROM SURROUNDING HIMSELF WITH SOME COACHES WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE COLLEGE GAME WHILE HE WAS OUT IN THE NFL.

>> I THINK THIS IS THE SIXTH COACHING SEARCH THAT YOU'VE COVERED HERE AT NEBRASKA, OBVIOUSLY SINCE TOM OSBORNE LEFT.

BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT TREV ALBERTS DID AND HOW HE HANDLED IT.

HOW A LOT OF NAMES DIDN'T GET OUT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE JOB THAT THE A.D. DID IN THE COACHING SEARCH?

>> IT WAS SO HARD, THE TASK THAT HE HAD.

BECAUSE YOU KNEW THIS SEARCH WAS GOING TO BE 11 WEEKS.

76 DAYS WAS THE FINAL TALLY.

AND HE WAS THE FIRST COACH IN MAJOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL TO MAKE A HIRE IN THIS CYCLE.

AND YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER.

WISCONSIN MAKES A HIRE THE NEXT DAY.

STANFORD LOSES DAVID SHAW.

OTHER OPENINGS BEGIN TO COME ABOUT.

THAT IS NOT THE POTION TREV ALBERTS WANTED TO BE IN, TO LET THIS THING GO ONE DAY OR TWO DAYS LONGER THAN IT DID.

BECAUSE WHEN OTHER JOBS OPEN, THEN CONSIDERATIONS OCCUR FOR THE COACHES YOU MAY BE TARGETING.

EVERYTHING CAN CHANGE IF ONE JOB OPENS.

SO THE FACT THAT HE WAS ABLE TO LOCK HIS GUY UP IN THE HOURS AFTER NEBRASKA ENDED THE REGULAR SEASON, IT SPEAKS TO THE JOB HE DID IN KEEPING THIS THING LOCKED DOWN.

KEEPING IT ON HIS TIME TABLE.

IT WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE EYES ON HIM AND THE STRESS THAT HE HAD AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT TREV ALBERTS HAD.

HE HAD TO DO THIS RIGHT.

HE HAD TO GET HIS GUY.

HE COULDN'T GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE IT SPUN OUT OF CONTROL ON HIM.

AND IT'S EASY TO HAPPEN IN A COACHING SEARCH.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'VE NEVER BEEN THROUGH IT BEFORE.

HE'S NEVER HIRED A POWER FIVE FOOTBALL COACH BEFORE.

NEVER HIRED A FOOTBALL COACH BEFORE.

SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY JUST THE SEARCH.

WE'RE GOING TO GRADE THE COACH WAY DOWN THE ROAD.

WAY LATER ON.

TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS FROM NOW.

BUT JUST THE SEARCH AND THE WORK THAT TREV ALBERTS DID, IT'S GOT TO GET AN A.

>> FINAL QUESTION HERE, MITCH.

YOU LOOK AT JUST HIRES IN GENERAL.

YOU TEND TO GO ON THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU HAD BEFORE.

JUST MORE OF YOUR THOUGHTS OF HOW OPPOSITE THIS WAS.

YOU HAD MATT RHULE WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY COME UP FRONT.

YOU HAD MATT RHULE TALKING ABOUT JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

MY WIFE IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A COMPLETE 180 WITH THE STYLE AND HOW HE WANTS TO BE THE NEBRASKA HEAD FOOTBALL COACH.

>> YEAH.

I DON'T REMEMBER SCOTT FROST TWEETING PICTURES FROM 5:00 A.M. AT MEMORIAL STADIUM WHEN HE GOT TO WORK IN THE MORNING LIKE WE SAW HERE THIS WEEK ON HIS FIRST FULL DAY IN LINCOLN.

YOU KNOW, LOOK, THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE DIFFERENT.

I DON'T THINK NECESSARILY THAT'S WHAT TREV ALBERTS SET OUT TO DO, WAS HIRE A GUY THAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF SCOTT FROST.

I THINK HE HAD CHARACTERISTICS THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR.

AND SOME OF THOSE CHARACTERISTICS WERE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT SCOTT FROST BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

AND THEN THERE WERE OTHER CHARACTERISTICS THAT MATT RHULE HAS THAT I THINK YOU'LL FIND MAYBE SIMILAR TO SCOTT FROST IN WHAT HE DOES AND CARES FOR HIS PLAYERS.

AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN ON THE INSIDE THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY SEE ON THE OUTSIDE.

ON THE OUTSIDE, THERE'S BIG DIFFERENCE.

YOU KNOW, MATT RHULE EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE IN FRONT OF A MICROPHONE, IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

HE'S THE SON OF A PREACHER.

AND HE TALKS LIKE HE'S A PREACHER.

HE IS A GREAT COMMUNICATOR.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S BEEN A STRENGTH.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS AFTER RHULE'S PRESS CONFERENCE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IS A REAL STRENGTH OF A NEBRASKA HEAD COACH IN MY LIFETIME.

YOU MAY HAVE TO GO BACK TO BOB DEVANEY TO FIND A COACH WHO WAS AS STRONG A COMMUNICATOR AND WHO'S COMMUNICATION SKILLS WERE RIGHT THERE AT THE TOP OF THEIR STRENGTHS.

IT'S BEEN THAT LONG.

THE COACHES COMING THROUGH NEBRASKA HAVE HAD A LOT STRENGTHS.

BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF THEM COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE AS WELL AS MATT RHULE HAS DONE SINCE THE 1970s.

>> MITCH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR THE TIME.

>> YEAH.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> COMING UP NEXT, SEAN CALLAHAN JOINS US AGAIN TO UPDATE US ON THE WORLD OF RECRUITING AFTER THE NEW COACH HIRE.

BUT FIRST, NANCY AGAIN TELLS YOU MORE ABOUT WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT PUBLIC MEDIA IN NEBRASKA.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT ON THIS EPISODE OF "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

SO GIVE US A CALL RIGHT NOW TO KEEP "BIG RED WRAP-UP" AND ALL THE SPORTS COVERAGE THAT WE PROVIDE ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA GOING ALL YEAR LONG.

WE'RE IN OUR FALL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE WHICH MEANS IT'S TIME TO REMIND YOU THAT MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WHAT MAKE ALL THE PROGRAMS YOU LOVE RIGHT HERE POSSIBLE.

YOU'RE WATCHING.

WE KNOW YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT HUSKER FOOTBALL.

BUT THERE'S MUCH MORE SPORTS DOCUMENTARIES, JOURNALISM, HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, UP-CLOSE PROFILES OF SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS AND PROGRAMS.

CALL RIGHT NOW TO KEEP ALL OF THIS GOING.

THE NUMBER, 800-989-8236 OR GIVE ONLINE AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

WE HAVE TERRIFIC THANK YOU GIFTS.

HERE'S ONE.

AT THE $300 LEVEL, OR $25 A MONTH, YOU CHOOSE AS YOUR THANK YOU GIFT, AN AUTOGRAPHED FOOTBALL.

TOM OSBORNE LED THE NEBRASKA FOOTBALL PROGRAM AS HEAD COACH FOR 25 SEASONS, WINNING THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU THAT.

YOU KNOW THAT ALREADY.

WHAT A LEGACY HE HAD.

BOTH IN FOOTBALL AND IN OTHER AREAS THAT WERE INFLUENTIAL ACROSS OUR STATE.

SO NOW WHEN YOU PLEDGE $25 A MONTH, YOU CAN CHOOSE AS YOUR THANK YOU GIFT A NEBRASKA FOOTBALL AUTOGRAPHED BY THE LEGENDARY TOM OSBORNE.

OR IF $60 OR $5 A MONTH FITS YOUR BUDGET, HOW ABOUT THE HERBIE EVOLUTION PRINT.

IT'S A 11 BY 17 INCHES AND SHOWS THE EVOLUTION OF YOUR FAVORITE HERBIE HUSKER FROM 1940 TO THE PRESENT.

THIS IS A LIMITED EDITION, COMMEMORATIVE PRINT FEATURING HERBIE HUSKER THROUGH THE AGES.

NOW, THESE ARE NUMBERED AND AUTOGRAPHED BY HERBIE.

SO GET TO YOURS RIGHT NOW AS YOUR THANK YOU GIFT WHEN YOU PLEDGE $5 A MONTH AT 800-989-8236 OR GIVE ONLINE AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU KNOW, WE COVER SPORTS IN NEBRASKA.

WE HAVE LOCAL SERIES TOO LIKE WHAT IF, NEBRASKA STORIES, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WATCH ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA ARE HERE TO ENLIGHTEN AND ENTERTAIN AND EDUCATE YOU.

AND WE DO IT WITH MEMBER DOLLARS.

I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT NOW TO MARK IN OMAHA AND DOT IN ANSELMO, AND KAY AND MATTHEW IN OMAHA, AND ROGER IN ORD.

WHY?

BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN CALLING 800-989-8236 MAKING PLEDGES OF SUPPORT.

WON'T YOU JOIN THEM?

WHAT PART OF "BIG RED WRAP-UP" IS YOUR FAVORITE?

WELL, CERTAINLY HEARING ALL THE INSIGHTS ABOUT THE NEW COACH WAS INTERESTING, WASN'T IT?

A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR TOP RECRUITS.

I LOVE THAT PART OF THE SHOW, TOO.

THE IN-DEPTH CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PLAYS FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK.

WELL, THOSE ALL COME YOU TO BECAUSE MEMBERS HAVE CALLED IN AND MADE BIG RED WRAP-UP POSSIBLE.

AND NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.

PLEASE CALL 800-989-8326 AS WITH YOUR PLEDGE OF SUPPORT.

WHEN YOU PLEDGE $25 A MONTH YOU CAN CHOOSE AS YOUR THANK YOU GIFT THAT TOM OSBORNE FOOTBALL.

HE SIGNED IT ESPECIALLY FOR YOU.

TOM, OF COURSE, LED THE PROGRAM FOR 25 YEARS.

HAD THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

YOU'D LOVE TO HAVE THAT FOOTBALL.

OR AT $5 A MONTH, HOW ABOUT THE HERBIE EVOLUTION PRINT?

THERE HE IS.

FROM 1940 TO THE PRESENT DAY.

THE EVOLUTION OF HERBIE HUSKER.

WE'LL SEND THAT YOUR WAY AS A THANK YOU GIFT AT $60 OR $5 A MONTH.

ROGER IN ORD, THANK YOU.

DALE IN LINCOLN, THANK YOU.

PATRICIA IN OMAHA, THANK YOU.

BRETT IN LINCOLN.

ALL CALLING TONIGHT.

WON'T YOU JOIN THEM AS A SUSTAINING STAR BY PLEDGING $5 A MONTH, $25 A MONTH, $100 A MONTH.

WHATEVER FITS YOUR BUDGET.

YOU'RE DOING AN IMPORTANT THING ON THIS GIVING TUESDAY.

AND SAYING, YES, I WANT TO BE A MEMBER AT 800-989-8236 OR ONLINE, NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

IT'S REALLY EASY TO SET UP THAT DONATION.

IT CAN COME RIGHT OUT OF YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT IF YOU PREFER.

BECOME A SUSTAINING STAR, $5 A MONTH OR $25 A MONTH.

CALL 800-989-8326.

LET US KNOW THAT "BIG RED WRAP-UP" AND OUR COVERAGE OF SPORT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOU WANT TO KEEP IT COMING.

800-989-8236.

AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU.

>> THANK YOU, NANCY.

TIME NOW FOR BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

FIRST UP, GBR HOMER TWEETED OUT THE PROMO FROM AA REALLY COOL BE PICTURE FROM MICKEY SAVES CHRISTMAS BECAUSE MICKEY DID SAVE CHRISTMAS.

BEATING IOWA FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2014.

NEXT UP ROBIN WASHUT, OUR FRIEND FROM HUSKER ONLINE POINTS OUT, THREE DOGS, GERMAN SHEPARD, BLACK LAB AND RAT TERRIER.

GBR, ANYONE?

PERFECT.

AND FINALLY, THE NEW COACH HIMSELF TWEETING OUT THIS TUESDAY MORNING ALREADY GRINDING.

GOOD MORNING #GBR WITH THE FIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SIGNS IN THE STADIUM.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

HOW ARE CURRENT RECRUITS REACTING TO THE NEWS?

ARE THEY STILL WAITING ON WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH MICKEY?

>> A LOT OF GUYS TALKED TO MATT RHULE.

THERE'S BEEN CONTACT MADE WITH ALL THE CURRENT COMMITS.

AND FOR THE MOST PART, ALL OF THE CONTACT IS SOLID.

YOU KNOW, DOSS HAS BEEN ON SHOW HERE.

STANDOUT RECEIVER FROM KANSAS CITY JUST TWEETED AND THANKED BILL BUSH.

BILL BUSH CALLED HIM AND KIND OF WISHED HIM BEST OF LUCK MORE OR LESS.

HE SAID I'M GOING TO DO YOU PROUD.

THE DIALOGUE HAS BEEN GOOD.

EVEN GUYS THAT WON'T BE KEPT ON.

YOU KNOW, YOU SAW THE RUNNING BACKS COACH BRIAN APPLEWHITE.

A LOT OF THE GUYS CAME OUT AND MADE STATEMENTS TODAY AS WELL.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE.

THAT BUT YEAH, MICKEY REMAINS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

I THINK WE ALL BELIEVE HE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAY.

BUT WILL HE AGREE TO THE TERMS?

WHAT TERMS ARE HE LOOK FOR TO STAY AT NEBRASKA.

THAT'S THE WILDCARD IN ALL THIS.

WHICH RECRUITS, DUE TO BARNES RUNNING BACK.

JUST BASED ON HIS ACTIVITY.

I THINK HE WANTS TO STAY AT NEBRASKA.

HE ACTUALLY ALREADY TWEETED AT THE NEW RUNNING BACKS COACH TODAY.

SO MILLER, YOU KNOW, LOUISIANA KID.

THAT IS ONE YOU WORRY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MALACHI COLEMAN IMMEDIATELY INTERACTED WITH MATT RHULE.

YOU DON'T REALLY WORRY ABOUT THAT.

BUT THE QUARTERBACK ONE IS INTERESTING TO ME.

WILLIAM WATSON.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH WILLIAM WATSON?

WE SAW NEBRASKA FOLLOW A COUPLE NEW QUARTERBACKS WITH THE NEW STAFF.

ONE IN FLORIDA AND THEN LINCOLN FROM SOUTH DAKOTA WHO IS A WASHINGTON COMMIT.

BUT HE'S RELATED TO THE FOOTBALL TEAM RIGHT NOW.

SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF NEW QB FOLLOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAVE YOUR RECRUITING RADAR ON.

IT LETS YOU KNOW AND FRIDAY THEY CAN GO ON THE ROAD.

>> YEAH.

>> FOLLOWS BUT OFFERS BEING MADE AS WELL.

WHEN WE WERE FIRST HEARING ABOUT MATT RHULE BECOMING THE HEAD COACH ALREADY, OFFERS WERE GOING OUT.

>> YEAH.

A.J.

NEWBERRY IS A NEW OFFER MADE THIS WEEK.

YOU START TO SEE 15 OR 20 NEW FOLLOWS RIGHT AWAY.

DANTE LOVETT IS THE FIRST PHONE CALL MADE WHEN YOU LOOK AT KIND OF THE ACTIVITY.

HE'S A VA TECH COMMIT.

I TALKED TO DANTE.

I'M LOSING TRACK OF DAYS.

I THINK SATURDAY NIGHT.

HE GOT THE CALL.

MUCH HE WAS COMMITTED FOR A FEW HOURS.

JAYLEN LLOYD.

>> SPEED.

>> OMAHA WEST SIDE, WAS AT CENTRAL.

BUT SPEED.

THEY HAVE A VERY ANALYTICAL MODEL OF RECRUITING.

THEY LIKE TRACK.

>> YES.

AND LONG TRACK ATHLETES.

>> AND A.J.

NEWBERRY.

A RUNNING BACK OFFER.

THEY'RE EXPECTING RUNNING BACK ATTRITION.

IT'S HARD TO SAY.

SOME OF THE OTHER PLAYERS ON THIS TEAM, WHAT IS THE FUTURE?

AND MATT RHULE DID SAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TELL ANYBODY THEY HAVE TO LEAVE.

IF YOU WANT TO BE HERE, CAN YOU BE HERE.

HE IS GOING TO RESPECT EVERY PLAYER'S WISHES.

HOW THEY WANT TO GO ABOUT IT.

BUT AS I TALKED TO MITCH, BY MONDAY WE'RE REALLY GOING TO KNOW WHAT THIS ROSTER'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

>> A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE BUSY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WE WERE DOING A SHOW LAST WEEK.

IT FEELS LIKE A MONTH AGO.

>> IT DOES IT GOES BY QUICKLY.

THANKS, SEAN.

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

WHAT ARE YOUR REACTIONS TO HIRING MATT RHULE?

YOU LOVE IT?

DO YOU LOVE IT?

YOU CAN ALSO SAY THAT I'LL WAIT, YOU KNOW, THREE YEARS TO GET BACK YOU TO.

DON'T LIKE IT.

OR I WANTED TO KEEP MICKEY.

RIGHT NOW 51% ARE SAYING GREAT HIRE.

34% SAY ASK ME IN THREE YEARS.

THEN YOU HAVE THE 10% I WANT MICKEY WITH 5% WITH OKAY HIRE.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT THE WRAP-UP WEBSITE AND CAST YOUR VOTE RIGHT NOW.

WE WENT OVER RECRUITING.

THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT N TERMS OF PUTTING THIS STAFF TOGETHER, HOW QUICKLY, SEAN, DO YOU THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SOLIDIFIED?

YOU HAVE ABOUT FOUR PARTS OF IT ALREADY IN PLACE.

YOU HAVE ANOTHER SEVEN GUYS.

>> YEAH.

FOUR COACHES OF THE TEN ARE IN.

BUT YOU FIGURE ONE OR TWO ARE GOING TO GET RETAINED.

THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR IS THE BIG ONE.

IS IT PHIL SNOW?

IS IT JEFF COLLINS -- >> WHO'S BEEN WITH HIM FOR YEARS AND PEOPLE SAY MAY BE RETIRING.

>> COULD SNOW KIND OF BE THE SENIOR ANALYST THAT MAKES 200,000 BEHIND THE SCENES?

>> GOTCHA.

>> AND JEFF COLLINS WHO'S GETTING GETTING 10 1/2 MILLION FROM GEORGIA TECH.

THERE IS A LOT OF THOUGHTS THERE.

HOW THEY WANT TO GO ABOUT IT.

BUT HE HAS SEVEN MILLION.

YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY FOR HIS STAFF.

AND THAT'S SCOTT FROST HAD 5.15 MILLION.

WHERE DOES SEVEN MILLION RANK, GUYS?

>> OHIO STATE HAD 8.6 LAST YEAR.

>> YEAH.

THERE ARE ONLY FIVE OR SIX HIGHER THAN NEBRASKA RIGHT NOW.

THE NUMBERS ARE FLUID ON THAT STUFF.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR IS PART OF IT.

HAVING A HEAD COACH THAT IS KIND OF DEFENSIVE ORIENTED, DO DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS WANT TO WORK THAT WAY WITH THE HEAD COACH THAT IS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR?

WOULD THEY RATHER WORK WITH SOMEBODY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BALL, LEAVES THEM ALONE?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, BILL CALLAHAN OBVIOUSLY OFFENSIVE MINDED COACH.

>> SURE.

>> BUT THEN YOU BO PELINI COME IN HERE, DEFENSIVE MINDED COACH.

HE HAS HIS BROTHER ON STAFF.

MANY OTHER GUYS.

SO I THINK A DEFENSIVE MINDED COACH, WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THIS NEW WE WERE GOING HAVE TO MAKE A HIRE.

I THINK THAT SUITS NEBRASKA WELL.

I THINK THAT FITS THE BIG 10 VERY WELL.

ESPECIALLY THE BIG 10 WEST.

LISTEN, YOU PLAY GOOD SPECIAL TEAMS.

YOU PLAY OUTSTANDING DEFENSE.

YOU PLAY COMPARABLE OFFENSE.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE OKAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE OKAY IN THIS CONFERENCE.

AND SO I THINK GETTING THAT HIRE AND JUST FIGURING OUT WHO THAT IS GUY GOING TO BE?

YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT OKAY, WHO IS ON THE ROSTER NOW THAT FITS THE STYLE OF DEFENSE WE WANT?

WHATEVER IT IS, WHO DO WE HAVE TO GO GET?

OBVIOUSLY THE DEPTH OF THE DEFENSIVE LINE IS HUGE ISSUE.

IT WAS HUGE ISSUE COMING INTO THIS YEAR.

YOU SAW THE TRANSFER PORTAL STUFF.

YOU GET A COUPLE GUYS COMING OFF THERE.

THEY NEED TO GET SOME D-LINEMEN.

VERY YOUNG.

I THINK THAT LINE BACKING ROOM IS VERY GOOD.

OBVIOUSLY WE'VE SEEN WITH HOUSEMAN, YOU GET REIMERS BACK, CORRECT?

YOU GET THEM BACK, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> SO THAT ROOM IS GOING TO BE OKAY.

SECONDARY, THINK IS STILL YOUNG.

YOU HAVE TO GET DOGS FOR THE DEFENSIVE LINE AND DEVELOP AND GET GOING THERE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WHO IS HERE NOW AND CAN FIT YOUR SCHEME.

AND THEN YOU FIND OTHER GUYS THAT CAN REPLACE THEM.

WHETHER IT IS TRANSFER PORTAL OR START THROWING UP OFFERS AND RECRUITS.

>> WE KIND OF GAVE OUR FEEL ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT MICKEY WOULD BE BACK.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE'LL STAY ON THE STAFF?

>> WELL I THINK WE AGREE HE'LL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO.

BUT WHAT ARE MICKEY'S TERMS?

OBVIOUSLY HE WANTS ANOTHER TWO YEAR DEAL.

I'VE BEEN TOLD HE MIGHT EVEN WANT WANT ANOTHER THREE YEAR OPPORTUNITY.

HE WAS MAKING 600.

HE GOT 100,000 MORE AS THE INTERIM HEAD COACH.

>> WHICH WAS A STEAL.

>> OH, YEAH.

PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN OVER 1 MILLION FOR THIS PAST YEAR'S WORK.

HE MADE 700.

I THINK MICKEY'S EYES HE BELIEVES HE IS A MILLION DOLLAR COACH.

BUT HOW MUCH MORE OVER THAT IS HE?

WHAT DOES MATT RHULE HAVE IN MIND?

VINCE MARROW IS A MILLION DOLLAR COACH.

IT'S NOT A COORDINATOR.

THE HIRES THEY ARE MAKING.

THESE DON'T STRIKE ME AS REAL HIGH DOLLAR HIRES.

THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE GOOD MONEY.

THESE ARE NOT $800,000, $700,000 ASSISTANTS.

NOW ELIJAH, THE GUY AT TEXAS A&M -- HE IS 800,000 SOMETHING D LINE COACH.

THIRD HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

WILSON, I BELIEVE.

>> HE MAY NEED A RAISE.

>> A GUY LIKE THAT WOULD BE OVER A MILLION.

SO THAT SEVEN MILLION CAN GO QUICK.

>> SURE.

>> '‘CAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR CENTER FIELD IS GOING TO GET OVER A MILLION.

>> YEAH.

AND WE ALREADY KNOW THE CONDITIONING, OF COURSE.

IF IT IS MICKEY, MILLION IS EASY IN TERMS OF -- BUT IT IS ALSO THE TITLE GOING TO BE, RIGHT?

>> SO YOU'D HAVE TO BE LIKE A RECEIVERS COACH OR ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH.

>> RIGHT, TOGETHER.

>> YOU HAVE TO KIND OF JUSTIFY THAT KIND OF PAY.

IN THE STRUCTURE OF TITLES YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> BURNING QUESTION, SEAN?

>> BURNING QUESTION, WHAT WILL THINGS LOOK LIKE BY MONDAY?

AND ACTUALLY TUESDAY'S SHOW WHEN WE COME BACK ON THIS SET NEXT WEEK.

BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO KNOW A NEW COACHING STAFF BY THAT POINT.

OBVIOUSLY, THE TRANSFER PORTAL WILL BE FULLY BOOTED.

>> WILL MICKEY JOSEPH BE ON THE STAFF?

>> THAT'S THE QUESTION RIGHT?

>> THAT IS THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION RIGHT NOW.

>> KIND OF HARD TO SAY THAT WILL MICKEY JOSEPH BE ON THE STAFF?

THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT AS WELL.

GIVE HIM ALL THE MONEY HE WANTS, I THINK.

JOIN US NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT.

ONE FINAL TIME THIS YEAR AS WE PUT A BOW ON THE SEASON AND BEGIN TO LOOK AHEAD AT THE FIRST YEAR OF MATT RHULE ERA AT NEBRASKA.

THE OUR THANKS TO MITCH SHERMAN, SEAN CALLAHAN AND OUR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CALL CENTER FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

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

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON BY "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

JAY MOORE AND SEAN CALLAHAN, I'M MICHAEL SEVERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON BY BIG RED WRAP-UP."