♪ ♪ ♪ >>> THIS IS A HUNGRY TEAM, AND I'M SEEING A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS.

WE GOT A SCHEDULE WHERE THE KIDS ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE KIDS AS FRESH AS WE CAN KEEP THEM AND I THINK THEY'VE RESPONDED TO THAT.

>> WE GOT PHYSICAL GUYS.

I THINK REALLY WHAT I'VE SEEN IS THE DEFENSE HAS REALLY TAKEN A NOTCH UP ON A DEFENSIVE LINE SO REALLY COMPETITIVE BATTLES IN THE INSIDE RUNS AND OUTSIDE RUNS, THOSE THINGS.

>> THE OFFENSE DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB TRANSITIONING FROM SPRING TO THE FALL.

THEY'VE GIVEN US SOME REALLY TOUGH LOOKS IN THE PASS GAME AND THE RUN GAME, FORMATIONALLY, MOTION STUFF.

THEY GOT A TON OF PLAYMAKERS OVER THERE, TOO.

I'M EXCITED TO WATCH THE GUYS PUT THE BALL IN THE HANDS AND RUN AROUND WHEN IT'S NOT US TRYING TO TACKLE THEM, IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> OUR EFFORT HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS ON SPECIAL TEAMS IN ALL PHASES AND OBVIOUSLY YOU ALWAYS WANT A BUNCH OF GUYS, WE'RE TRYING TO TELL THEM "WHOA THEN GO."

WHICH MEANS THAT SOMETIMES WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN RATHER THAN SPEED UP AND WE'RE SPENDING MORE TIME ON THAT.

THERE IS NO ISSUES WITH GETTING A VERY INTERESTED AND INVESTED GROUP OUT THERE FOR EVERY DRILL, EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING.

>> I FEEL GOOD RIGHT NOW THAT WE COULD GO INTO A GAME AND OPERATE IN A WAY THAT WE COULD WIN A GAME.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WE COULD GO PLAY RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY STUFF WE STILL NEED TO CLEAN UP BUT WE'RE READY TO GO.

>> MAN, WE'RE JUST HUNGRY.

WE'RE READY TO PLAY A GAME.

NEXT WEEK GETS HERE, I CAN'T WAIT.

>> I'VE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT.

I'M A PERFECTIONIST, I WANT US TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP AS A TEAM.

WE HAVE TO GET BETTER AS AN OFFENSE, AS A TEAM AND I HAVE TO GET BETTER AS A QUARTERBACK.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY HERE AND WE KNOW THAT.

WE ALL KNOW THAT.

WE CAME IN KNOWING THAT.

AND ONE THING WE ALL WANTED TO DO COMING IN HERE IS JUST TO BRING BACK THAT CULTURE AND BRING IT BACK INTO ITS PRIME.

>> I THINK FIRST GAMES AT ANY LEVEL OF FOOTBALL ARE LOST MORE THAN THEY'RE WON.

SO TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL, UNDERSTAND WE GOT A GOOD TEAM, WE GOT A GOOD DEFENSE, WE GOT A GOOD KICKING GAME.

>> WE'RE CLEANING STUFF UP LITTLE BY LITTLE.

THEN IT'S ABOUT GETTING A TEAM READY TO FLY OVERSEAS AND PLAY.

♪ >>> HI, EVERYONE.

HI I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER SEASON OF "BIG RED WRAP-UP" ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

THE SEASON STARTS A WEEK EARLY BUT IT WAS A LONG OFFSEASON.

WE'LL BREAK THAT DOWN FOR YOU WITH JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING.

DID IT FEEL LIKE THAT TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE OF THE NEW NAMES AND FACES THAT IT WAS A REALLY LONG OFFSEASON?

>> IT WAS A LONG ONE TO ME.

YOU GET THE CHANGING OF THE STAFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAST SEASONS, YOU KNOW THOSE CHANGES WILL COME AND YOU GET 17 NEWCOMERS ADDED VIA THE TRANSFER PORTAL AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

IT WAS VERY EXTENDED.

BUT I'VE DONE MY BEST TO ALMOST TAKE IT A LITTLE MORE OF A BACK SEAT VIEW, JUST DEFINITELY MORE IN WAIT-AND-SEE MODE THIS YEAR MORE THAN ANY OTHER SEASONS COMING INTO IT.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BRING BUT I'M ALSO JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN TOO MUCH TALKING IN PREVIOUS SEASONS GOING FORWARD.

SO I'M JUST LIKE OKAY, LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GUYS GOT NOW.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT, RIGHT?

WE ONLY HEARD FROM THE COACH DIRECTLY AFTER SPRING AND THEN YOU KNOW, IT WAS BASICALLY UNTIL FALL CAMP AND SO IT SEEMED LIKE A LONG TIME AND I THINK WITH THIS FOOTBALL TEAM, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE GOT A LOT TO PROVE.

AND WHEN YOU'RE EDGY LIKE THAT, AND YOU HAVE A BAD TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH IN THE PREVIOUS SEASON, YOU MADE A TON OF CHANGES.

IT CAN SEEM LIKE AN ETERNITY TO GET THAT FIRST ONE EVEN THOUGH IT'S WEEK ZERO.

>> I ALWAYS PUT YOU ON THE HOT SEAT.

THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO DO.

BIGGER NEWCOMERS, THE COACHES OR THE PLAYERS?

>> DEFINITELY THE COACHES.

I MEAN, THOSE GUYS HAVE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO GRAB COMMON LANGUAGE, TEACH COMMON LANGUAGE, BE ON THE SAME PAGE IN CRUNCH TIME AND TRUST ONE ANOTHER.

PLAYERS WANT TO BE LED, RIGHT?

I DON'T SO MUCH WORRY ABOUT THOSE GUYS.

I THINK DEEP DOWN MOST PEOPLE WANT TO BE LED.

SOMETIMES IT'S THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM THAT KIND OF GET IN THE WAY.

BUT I THINK IT'S WITHOUT QUESTION, IT'S ON THE COACHES.

>> I ASKED YOU THE SAME QUESTION BEFORE.

WE WANT TO REMIND YOU WE'VE GOT A LOT TO GET TO TONIGHT.

SO WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, CALL CENTER IS UP AND RUNNING AS ALWAYS.

READY FOR YOUR CALLS.

WE'RE JOINED TONIGHT BY STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA'S COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMM, WOO-HOO!

THEY'LL BE WITH US THROUGHOUT THE SEASON ENJOYING VALENTINO'S PIZZA AND TAKING YOUR CALLS.

LET'S GET THEM TO WORK.

YOU CAN ALSO TEXT AND EMAIL US YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS, THEBIGRED@NEBRASKAMEDIA.ORG AND WE'RE ALSO MONITORING SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE "BIG RED WRAP-UP" FACEBOOK PAGE AND TWITTER ACCOUNT AND WE'LL ANSWER AS MANY OF THE QUESTIONS AS WE CAN TONIGHT.

AND OF COURSE DON'T FORGET TO HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE AND DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THE 2022 NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE POSTER.

YOU CAN PRINT IT OUT FOR YOUR HOME OR OFFICE TO KEEP UP TO DATE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON THE HUSKER FOOTBALL SCORES.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PUTTING MORE Ws IN THIS YEAR.

OF COURSE OUR SIDELINE SURVEY IS BACK AND READY FOR YOUR VOTE TONIGHT AS WELL.

WHICH WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THIS SEASON FOR NEBRASKA?

WILL IT BE THE OFFENSE, THE DEFENSE OR SPECIAL TEAMS?

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

I THROW THAT QUESTION TO YOU.

IS IT GONNA BE THE NEWCOMERS IN THE COACHING STAFF OR THE PLAYERS THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT?

>> I SIDE WITH DAMON.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE MATHIS, BECAUSE BEING A DEFENSIVE END, HEDGE PASS RUSHER I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HE DOES.

BUT I HAVE TO SIDE WITH DAMON.

I THINK THE STAFF -- THE ONE THING, HE ALLUDED TO THIS ALREADY, IS DEALING WITH THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM, DEALING WITH SCOTT FROST.

I THINK OBVIOUSLY SCOTT BRINGS THE SAME STAFF WITH HIM FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA.

I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE IN, AND THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, A LOT OF "YES" MEN IN THAT ROOM.

AND I DON'T THINK MICKEY JOSEPH AND THESE GUYS, MARK WHIPPLE, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE "YES" MEN.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO CHALLENGE SCOTT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT SCOTT NEEDS IS TO BE CHALLENGED AND GET HIM OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE A LITTLE BIT.

OBVIOUSLY HE HAS BEEN OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE THE LAST FOUR YEARS BECAUSE HE WASN'T WON FOOTBALL GAMES.

SO I THINK THOSE NEWCOMERS ARE GONNA BRING FORTH.

IF THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT'S BEING DONE, THEY'LL STEP UP AND SAY SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE PREVIOUS STAFF.

>> I THINK THIS IS RIGHT, THE BEST COACH YOU EVER HAD WAS FRANK ZOLICH, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF HIS DETAIL?

HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE DOES A RUNNING BACK COACH MAKE, CAN HE MAKE WITH THIS GROUP?

>> YEAH, I THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, A TON.

YOU KNOW, I WAS DRAWN TO COACH APPLEWHITE FROM THE GET-GO RIGHT AFTER JUNIOR DAYS AND GETTING A CHANCE TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM AND KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE RUNNING BACK ROOM.

THERE NEEDED TO BE A LITTLE MORE MATURITY, A LITTLE GROWING UP, SOME ROLES WERE DEFINED.

GUYS NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND AND EMBRACE WHERE THEY WERE AND WHAT THEY WERE AND HE'S ALL BUSINESS.

HE'S VERY DIRECT.

HE LOVES YOU HARD.

HE COACHES HARD.

AND I THINK HE GOT RID OF A LOT OF THE EXTRACURRICULAR THAT WAS GOING ON IN THAT ROOM AND HE'S GOT A LOT OF TALENT.

IT'S AS DEEP A ROOM AS THEY'VE HAD IN QUITE SOME TIME.

YOU GOT TO GO BACK TO HEARD, AARON GREENE, REX BURKHEAD AND AMEER ABDULLAH, IN MY OPINION.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAD THAT KIND OF UPSIDE.

RIGHT?

I MEAN, THOSE GUYS WERE REALLY GOOD BUT ON THE SURFACE AT FIRST BLUSH THE RUNNING BACK ROOM IN MY OPINION OUTSIDE OF THE LINEBACKING CORPS IS THE DEEPEST POSITION ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM.

>> IT'S NOT A CHANGE IN COACHES BUT IT'S A CHANGE IN RESPONSIBILITY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MIKE DAWSON HAVING BOTH THE D-LINE AND THOSE OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS OR EDGE GUYS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK WELL, IN MY OPINION.

BECAUSE THOSE GUYS -- IT'S MORE THE OUTSIDE GUYS WORKING WITH, YOU WANT TO COME ON THREE TECHNIQUE, AND FIVE TECHNIQUE.

THE DEFENSIVE TACKLES, I THINK THERE IS SOME COHESIVENESS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE.

BUT I DO LIKE -- >> THE SAME LANGUAGE.

>> THE SAME LANGUAGE.

BECAUSE YOU GUYS, WHETHER IT'S A FOUR MAN FRONT, A FIVE-MAN FRONT OR EVEN A POTENTIALLY A SIX-MAN FRONT JUST IN SOME SITUATIONS, THEY ALL, YOU GUYS, ALL THOSE PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK ON THE SAME PAGE.

YOU HAVE TO BE ALL IN UNISON.

YOU GOTTA KNOW, HEY, IF YOU'RE FEELING THIS, YOU KNOW, LIKE, JUST THE STUNTS, A T.E.

STUNT, A E.T.

STUNT, SWITCHING GAPS OR JUST PLAYING OFF OF EACH OTHER, HAVING THE FEEL TO PLAY OFF EACH OTHER.

NATURAL -- WE ALWAYS CALLED THEM NATURAL PASS RUSH MOVES.

NOTHING'S CALLED.

A LOT OF TIME THE NATURAL ONE JUST WORK THE BEST BECAUSE SOMEHOW THE GUARD OVERSETS REAL QUICK AND THEN, BOOM, HE TAKES IT.

SOMETIMES THOSE NATURAL PASS RUSH MOVES WORK BETTER.

BUT JUST HAVING THAT SAME COMMUNICATION ACROSS THE BOARD HEARING IT, I THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK WELL AND DAWSON, I GOT TO KNOW HIM A LITTLE BIT BETTER THIS OFFSEASON.

I REALLY LIKE WHAT HE'S ABOUT.

I REALLY LIKE WHAT HE'S TEACHING AND WHAT HE'S BRINGING, JUST, YOU KNOW, BEING HERE INITIALLY, BEING WITH THE GIANTS, GETTING SOME OF THAT NFL -- I KNOW HE'S BEEN AT OTHER PLACES AS WELL, BUT COMING BACK AND BRINGING THAT KNOWLEDGE AND REALLY JUST STRESSING TO THOSE GUYS EFFORT, ASSIGNMENT, ALIGNMENT, PHYSICAL, HAND PLACEMENT, ALL THAT STUFF.

SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD MATCHUP.

>> CASEY THOMPSON TAKES OVER AT QUARTERBACK, MOVING BACK TO OFFENSE.

YOU MENTIONED HOW DEEP THE RUNNING BACK ROOM IS, IT'S A PRETTY DEEP QUARTERBACK ROOM, SOME GUYS WITH EXPERIENCE, TALENTED GUYS?

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE ROOM?

>> I DO.

AND I THINK THE TUTELAGE HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD.

WE SAW IN THE SPRING GAME, AND IT WASN'T IN-DEPTH AND REAL FANCY, BUT THE GUYS LOOK THE SAME.

THE MECHANICS, THE PLAY FAKES, THE RUN ACTION.

I FELT LIKE, OKAY, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, THEY WERE BEING COACHED UP PRETTY WELL.

CASEY THOMPSON OBVIOUSLY NAMED THE STARTER LAST WEEK.

HE'S THE VETERAN.

HE'S THE SAVVY GUY OF THE BUNCH WHO'S MADE THE FEWEST MISTAKES.

I DON'T KNOW, IT'S KIND OF ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU TELL SOMEBODY, HEY, KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF VERSUS DON'T TOUCH.

I PREFER HE SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU SAY, HE'S TAKING THE BEST CARE OF THE FOOTBALL AS OPPOSED TO HE'S MADE FEWER MISTAKES.

RIGHT?

>> SURE.

>> BUT THAT'S JUST ME BEING PARTICULAR.

BUT I THINK WITH CASEY THOMPSON, HE TOLD YOU EXACTLY WHO HE IS.

HE IS A PERFECTIONIST.

HE'S LIKE THAT IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCES.

HE'S LIKE THAT IN HIS SCOUTING DETAIL.

HE WANTS TO GET IT RIGHT.

HE OBSESSES OVER BEING A PROFESSIONAL, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO SERVE NEBRASKA'S OFFENSE WELL ESPECIALLY UNDER DURESS.

>> ARE YOU WORRIED AT ALL ABOUT RUN/PASS RATIO BEING THAT MARK WHIPPLE HAS GENERALLY BEEN A COORDINATOR THAT CALLED MORE PASSES THAN RUNS?

>> YEAH.

A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO LEARN.

HE'S GONNA HAVE TO ADAPT.

>> TO WHAT THE BIG TEN DOES.

>> TO WHAT THE BIG TEN DOES.

ACC IS VASTLY DIFFERENT, OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU HAD PICKETT AS HIS QUARTERBACK LAST YEAR, YOU'RE GONNA THROW THAT THING ALL OVER THE FIELD.

BUT YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO, WITH WEATHER, YOU DEAL WITH A LITTLE MORE WEATHER HERE.

BUT I HOPE THERE IS SOME MORE COMMITMENT TO THE RUN AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S WHERE HIS MIND, AND SCOTT'S OFFENSIVE MIND, THEY CAN COME TOGETHER AND FIND THAT HAPPY MEDIUM.

BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S WHIP'S CALL, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, ON THE MAJORITY OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS OFFENSE.

IT MAY BE UNTIL IT HITS THE FAN AT SOME POINT, AS IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON.

>> YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE THOSE STRESS TESTS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

SO I HOPE IT'S, YOU KNOW, 60/40, 50/50, I HOPE THEY KIND OF MEET THERE IN THE MIDDLE.

BECAUSE YOU JUST HAVE TO BE, IN MY OPINION, TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE BIG TEN.

>> ONE OF THE BIG THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT GOING INTO LAST YEAR WAS, THE VOCALESE WERE ALL ON DEFENSE.

THAT SECONDARY WAS KIND OF LEADING THE TALK.

NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE, ACCORDING TO SCOTT AT LEAST, YOU'VE GOT SOME VOCAL LEADERS ON THE OFFENSE.

DO YOU THINK THAT COULD HELP?

>> YEAH, AND I WAS CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE CAPTAINS.

YOU HAD THREE DEFENSIVE GUYS AND ONE OFFENSIVE GUY.

AND THE OFFENSIVE GUY ISN'T WHAT I WOULD NECESSARILY CALL A TALKER.

VOKOLEK IS A TREMENDOUS LEADER BECAUSE HE'S A "BEEN THERE, DONE THAT" GUY.

HE'S JUST KIND OF UNFLAPPABLE.

HE'S NOT GAUDY AND STATISTIC.

IT'S MORE ABOUT HOW HE GOES TO WORK.

CASEY THOMPSON ISN'T REALLY A BARKER OUT THERE.

HE'S GOT GOOD POISE AND GOOD PRESENCE.

BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR GUYS THAT WILL KIND OF CLAP BACK A LITTLE BIT, THERE'S A TREY PALMER OUT THERE.

>> SURE.

>> MARCUS WASHINGTON IS A GUY THAT IS GOING TO STEP UP BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT IS STILL KIND OF A DEFENSIVE PERSONALITY ON THIS FOOTBALL TEAM WHEN IT COMES TO PLANS.

>> IS THAT A PROBLEM?

DOES THE QUARTERBACK HAVE TO BE A VOCAL LEADER DO YOU THINK, TO BE GOOD, FOR YOUR TEAM TO BE GOOD?

>> IN MY OPINION, I'VE BEEN ASKED THIS A FEW TIMES.

I DON'T THINK IT DOES.

I LOOK AT ZAC TAYLOR, HEAD COACH OF THE CINCINNATI BENGALS.

NOT A VOCAL -- HE WASN'T A VOCAL GUY.

HE WAS A COMMUNICATOR.

HE WAS NOT A RAH-RAH, HE WAS NOT A GUY THAT'S GONNA GET INTO YOUR FACE.

HE WANTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIS GUYS, AND JUST SAY, HEY, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

AND NO -- THERE WAS NO PROBLEM TELLING A GUY IF HE WAS WRONG.

HE JUST DID IT IN A CALM DEMEANOR.

THERE WAS NO YELLING.

THERE WAS NO GETTING INTO ANYONE'S FACE.

JUST A VERY CALM -- JUST HAVING A GROWN UP CONVERSATION, REALLY, THAT'S WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO.

YOU WERE AROUND TOMMIE FRAZIER, A WAY DIFFERENT OF A VOCAL, VASTLY DIFFERENT.

OTHER QUARTERBACKS, JAMMAL LORD, VASTLY DIFFERENT.

JAMMAL WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY QUIET.

>> YEAH.

>> HE WASN'T A BIG RAH-RAH GUY.

SO I'VE BEEN AROUND MULTIPLE GUYS BUT I JUST LOOK AT ZACH.

HE'S THE SAME WAY AS A HEAD COACH, YOU KNOW.

HE DOESN'T GET TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES A REALLY GOOD QUARTERBACK.

>> DEFENSIVE SIDE, MORE CONCERN ABOUT REPLACING THE GUYS ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE OR THE GUYS ON THE SECONDARY?

>> OH WOW, GREAT QUESTION.

UM.

OOH.

THEY HAVE MORE BODIES IN THE SECONDARY, BUT THEY'RE REPLACING MORE LEADERSHIP WITH DISMUKE AND DEONTAI WILLIAMS.

THEY DON'T HAVE NEAR AS MANY OPTIONS ALONG THAT DEFENSIVE LINE.

I THINK IT'S THIN.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET OUT OF DREW THIS SATURDAY IN IRELAND, MAYBE 10, 12, 15 PLAYS.

BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH THEIR DEPTH ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE.

AT LEAST IN THE SECONDARY THEY HAVE BODY TYPES.

YOU'VE GOT OMAR BROWN, YOU'VE GOT SINGLETON.

YOU'VE GOT FARMER.

>> TOMMI HILL.

>> YEAH, BUT HE'S GOING TO BE THE OPPOSITE CORNER.

HE'S FANTASTIC.

AND HE'S GOT A CHANCE TO BE BIG-TIME.

THEY HAVE ONE OF THE BETTER TANDEMS AT CORNERBACK, AT LEAST EARLY, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF HOW THEY MOVE AND WATCHING NEWSOME PLAY LAST YEAR.

THEY POTENTIALLY HAVE A VERY EXPLOSIVE TANDEM AT CORNER.

>> D-LINE'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT THIS WEEK.

EVERYBODY BELIEVES NORTHWESTERN IS GOING TO TRY TO ESTABLISH THE RUN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE GUYS THEY HAVE?

A FEW COMING BACK BUT ALL THESE NEW FACES.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT STEPHON WYNN THAT TRANSFERRED HERE FROM ALABAMA, WE ALREADY REFERENCED THE GUY FROM TEXAS TECH COMING IN.

>> DEVIN DREW.

>> THAT CAME IN LATE, SEE WHAT HE'S ABLE TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING A TON OF CAMP, A COUPLE WEEKS OF CAMP IN HIM.

BUT I LOOK AT A GUY LIKE TY ROBINSON, THIS IS A BIG YEAR FOR HIM.

>> HE CAN MAKE SOME MONEY, ACTUALLY.

>> A LOT.

BUT HE HAS TO BE MORE CONSISTENT.

HE MAKES A TON OF FLASH PLAYS.

HE PLAYED VERY, VERY WELL AGAINST MICHIGAN LAST YEAR.

BUT THEN HE SHOWS UP AGAINST A TEAM LIKE WISCONSIN.

DOESN'T PLAY VERY WELL LAST YEAR.

HE HAS TO MATURE, FIND THAT CONSISTENCY.

BUT ANOTHER THING, I MENTIONED OCHAUN MATHIS, HAVING THAT PRESENCE OUT THERE, IF HE LIVES UP TO THE HYPE, THAT GUY CAN HELP OUT THOSE INTERIOR GUYS AS WELL, JUST BECAUSE IF HE'S AS GOOD AS HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE, JUST THE WAY THEY'RE SLIDING PROTECTIONS, THE WAY THEY HAVE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS WITH CHIPPING, KEEPING TIGHT ENDS WITHIN THE FORMATION, THAT WILL HELP OUT EVERYONE ELSE.

HE WILL HELP THE D-LINE.

BUT I LOOK AT THE NEW GUYS COMING UP, THE TRANSFERS, BUT TY ROBINSON NEEDS TO STEP UP HIS PLAY AND BECOME WAY MORE CONSISTENT.

>> I AGREE.

I SAID THIS EARLIER, OUTSIDE OF RUNNING BACK ROOM, THE OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS, THAT WHOLE STRING, IF YOU TALK MAUGA-CLEMENTS, HAUSMANN, REIMER, HENRICH, THOSE GUYS CAN ALL PLAY.

YOU LOOK AT OUTSIDE, CALEB TANNOR, GARRETT NELSON, OCHAUN MATHIS AND JIMARI BUTLER.

>> EVEN JIMARI BUTLER, BLAISE GUNNERSON.

>> I MEAN, GUNNERSON'S PLAYING ON A LOT OF OTHER TEAMS, RIGHT?

THAT IS A DEEP UNIT AND I THINK SEEING BOTH NELSON AND TANNOR, CAPTAINS, EVEN THOUGH TANNOR MAY NOT BE A STARTER, KIND OF HARKENS ME BACK TO UNFORTUNATELY MY DAYS AS A CAPTAIN, NOT ALWAYS A FULL-TIME STARTER WHERE HE'S COME SUCH A LONG WAY IN TERMS OF HIS BEHAVIOR AND WHAT THE PROGRAM MEANS TO HIM AND WHAT HE WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROGRAM.

THAT'S A REALLY GOOD STORY WITH A REALLY GOOD GROUP.

THEY'RE CALLING THEM EDGE GUYS NOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE USING THEM LIKE D-LINEMEN, ESPECIALLY TO, I CALL, THE CLOSE SIDE OR TO THE TIGHT END SIDE AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP OUT THE TWO INTERIOR GUYS.

'CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A TON OF DEPTH.

>> REIMER'S GONNA HAVE A HUGE SEASON.

COULDN'T HE?

YOU JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT HE'S DONE THESE FIRST COUPLE YEARS.

IF HE'S FULY HEALTHY?

>> HE'S A LOT LIKE JAY WAS DESCRIBING, KIND OF BOOM OR BUST.

HE'S BEEN A FEAST OR FAMINE GUY.

CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY FOR HIM.

HE GOT HIS PARTNER IN CRIME TO STAY HEALTHY LAST YEAR.

IF LUKE CAN THIS YEAR, THAT'S A HECK OF A TANDEM, BECAUSE HE'S AN EXPLOSIVE GUY.

I THOUGHT EARLY ON, I MEAN, SOME PEOPLE MAY CHUCKLE, HE'S GOT SUNDAY-TYPE TALENT -- >> SURE.

>> SOMEWHERE, FITTING IN.

AND IF HE JUST STAYS HEALTHY.

HE'S A BIG-TIME TALENT.

>> WITH THE SEASON OPENER IN IRELAND, THE HUSKERS SPOKE ON SUNDAY TO THE MEDIA REGARDING THEIR UPCOMING GAME.

>> WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO OUR PLAYERS A LOT ABOUT HANDLING THIS THE RIGHT WAY AND MAKING SURE IT'S A BUSINESS TRIP.

BUT IF WE HAVE ENOUGH WORK DONE AND FEEL CONFIDENT ENOUGH WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING GOING OVER THERE, I THINK THE MORE CONFIDENT WE ARE ABOUT THAT, THE MORE WE CAN JUST ENJOY ANOTHER COUNTRY.

WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND LET IT RIP.

AND I'M GOING TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT IT.

THEY'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE CONFIDENT.

I'M SURE NORTHWESTERN IS, TOO.

I THINK THEY'RE GONNA BE A REALLY GOOD TEAM THIS YEAR.

I DON'T WANT THE GUYS TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO OUT AND PLAY THE BEST FOOTBALL WE CAN AND TRY TO MAKE GREAT PLAYS.

>> I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN THE GAME PLAN AND THE OFFENSE AND COACHING STAFF AND JUST TRYING TO KEEP EVERYBODY POSITIVE AND RELAXED.

WE HAD A REALLY GOOD PRACTICE TODAY, ALMOST NO MISTAKES ON THE WHOLE DAY.

WHETHER THAT WAS AGAINST THE DEFENSE OR THE SCOUTS, THE GAME PLAN'S GOOD AND SOLID RIGHT NOW.

>> WE'RE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON GAME WEEK, BUT BEING MORE UBER FOCUSED ON WHAT WE CAN DO AS PLAYERS AND AS LEADERS TO KIND OF BRING EVERYBODY IN AND FOCUS ON WHAT THEY NEED TO FOCUS ON INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT ALL OF THIS.

>> I KNOW HOW HUNGRY OUR TEAM IS.

THERE'S BEEN SOME THINGS WRITTEN ABOUT OUR TEAM THAT I THINK PROVIDED US A LITTLE EXTRA MOTIVATION AND COULDN'T -- COULD HELP US.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE TWO TEAMS THAT ARE HUNGRY OVER THERE.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T GO INTO THE GAME WITH THE EXACT SAME GAME PLAN EXPECTING IT TO WORK THE SAME.

I'M SURE THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THOSE THINGS AND I'M EXPECTING A REALLY GOOD GAME.

>> WE'RE PLEASED TO WELCOME FROM DUBLIN, SEAN CALLAHAN WHO IS TRAVELING, OF COURSE, COVERING THE TEAM.

HOW'S THE TRIP BEEN, SEAN?

HOW ARE YOU DOING, MAN?

>>HEY, I AM HANGING IN THERE.

JET LAG.

I'M KIND OF THERE BUT WE HAD AN EVENING FLIGHT.

LEFT CHICAGO ABOUT 9:30 SO I WAS ABLE TO SLEEP ON THE PLANE AS MUCH AS I COULD, BEEN RUNNING AROUND.

AS WE KNOW, IT'S PAST MIDNIGHT NOW ALMOST HERE LOCALLY, SO IT IS -- DOING MY BEST BUT DAY ONE IS ALWAYS THE TOUGHEST WHEN YOU GO OVER TO EUROPE.

>> WE HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEIR FLIGHTS WERE FULL OF HUSKER FANS.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOUR FLIGHT?

HOW MANY HUSKER FANS HAVE YOU SEEN?

>> YEAH, 95% OF MY PLANE -- I WAS ON A UNITED FLIGHT OF CHICAGO, WAS FULL OF HUSKER FANS.

I MEAN, IT WAS JUST WALL-TO-WALL.

WHEN WE LANDED IN THE DUBLIN AIRPORT, THERE WAS A FULL AER LINGUS PLANE, THE TEAM CHARTER PLANE, AN AMERICAN FLIGHT AND UNITED FLIGHT ALL THAT LANDED AT THE SAME TIME, SO OVER A THOUSAND NEBRASKA FANS LANDED AROUND 11:00 IN THE AIRPORT WHEN THE TEAM LANDED.

SO IT WAS A SCENE STRAIGHT OUT OF A MOVIE JUST WITH THE NUMBER OF FANS KIND OF HANGING OUT AROUND CUSTOMS IN THE BAG AREA, JUST WAITING FOR THEIR BAGS AND THE HUSKER TEAM JUST KIND OF POURED RIGHT THROUGH THE AREA.

IT WAS VERY COOL TO SEE.

>> WE SAW VIDEO OF THE HUSKER TEAM GOING THROUGH THE AIRPORT AFTER THEY LANDED.

WHAT IS THEIR SCHEDULE LIKE?

WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOW?

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO TOMORROW?

>> WELL, TUESDAY THE SCHEDULE WAS PRETTY LAID BACK.

THEY GOT IN AROUND 11:00.

THE FIRST THING THEY DID WAS THEY WENT OVER TO AVIVA STADIUM, CHECKED OUT THE STADIUM.

THE PRACTICE FIELD IS ACTUALLY A RUGBY FIELD NEXT DOOR.

IT IS FIELD TURF WHICH I FOUND INTERESTING THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICE ON GRASS THE NEXT THREE DAYS.

BUT IT IS LITERALLY RIGHT -- AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE PICTURE, RIGHT NEXT TO THE STADIUM.

THEY'RE 45 MINUTES AWAY, THOUGH, AT THE POWERSCOURT HOTEL.

IT'S A LUXURIOUS FIVE-STAR AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION HOTEL, WAS ONCE A RITZ-CARLTON.

THEY'RE STAYING OUT THERE.

AND SO THEY WENT OUT THERE, CHECKED IN AND THEY WENT BACK TO A DINNER HERE ON TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE MANSION HOUSE, SO IT'S BEEN A BUSY DAY ONE SCHEDULE.

THEY'RE GOING TO PRACTICE LOCALLY AROUND 1:00 ON WEDNESDAY.

SO GUYS WILL GET SOME REST.

I THINK THAT'S THE KEY.

YOU WANT PLAYERS TONIGHT TO GET AS MUCH REST AS POSSIBLE TO FEEL LIKE WHEN THEY GET UP ON WEDNESDAY, THAT HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M BACK TO NORMAL.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS TRIP COMPARED TO WHAT NORTHWESTERN'S DOING.

THIS IS A BUSINESS TRIP FOR NEBRASKA, RIGHT?

IT'S NOT ABOUT GOING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME AND SEEING STUFF.

IT'S ABOUT GOING THERE TO WIN THIS GAME.

>> AND THEY'RE 45 MINUTES AWAY FROM DUBLIN CITY CENTER.

I MEAN, THEY ARE OUT ON AN ISOLATED COMPOUND, A 1,200-ACRE TWO-GOLF COURSE RESORT.

NOTRE DAME ACTUALLY STAYS WHERE THEY'RE STAYING WHEN NOTRE DAME PLAYS IN IRELAND AS WELL.

SO IT IS A VERY, VERY NICE PROPERTY.

IN FACT, THE TEAMS THAT STAYED IN POWERSCOURT ARE UNDEFEATED IN IRELAND IF THAT MEANS ANYTHING.

BUT NORTHWESTERN IS STAYING AT THE CLAYTON HOUSE IN BURLINGTON RIGHT NEAR THE STADIUM.

I STAYED AT THE HOTEL IN DECEMBER WHEN I WAS OUT HERE.

YOU COULD WALK TO THE STADIUM COMPARED TO WHERE NEBRASKA'S AT.

SO IT IS A DIFFERENT LAYOUT.

THE WILDCATS WILL NOT GET IN UNTIL WEDNESDAY.

THEY'LL PRACTICE ON THURSDAY.

SO NEBRASKA WILL DO ONE MORE DAY ON THE FRONT END.

NORTHWESTERN, ON THE OTHER HAND, WILL STAY ANOTHER DAY ON THE BACK END, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BYE WEEK THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

>> I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE HAVING A GOOD TIME.

WE HAVE A PICTURE DEMONSTRATING WHAT KIND OF TIME YOU'RE HAVING.

ANDY KINDY THERE, ROB McCARTNEY.

IS THAT SOME GUINNESS?

>> THAT WAS JUST FOR PROPS, THOUGH, RIGHT?

I KNOW WE HAD A PICTURE BUT WE WERE AT BUSKERS, THE OFFICIAL BAR FOR THE HUSKERS.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE PUBS THAT'S REALLY KIND OF TAKEN ON RIGHT IN THE TEMPLE BAR DISTRICT.

AND LITERALLY THIS SIGN WAS RIGHT OUTSIDE THERE AND I'M LIKE, WELL, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF NEBRASKA FANS IN THIS BAR THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

WHILE THE NEBRASKA FANS, MIKE'L, ARE NOT -- THE ONES THAT CAME IN, THEY'RE NOT IN DUBLIN YET.

I THINK IF YOU GET IN THIS EARLY, YOU'RE EXPLORING THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

THEN YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE YOUR WAY BACK INTO DUBLIN ON THURSDAY FOR THE GAME.

SO THE FOLKS THAT WE SAW TODAY, A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE ON LONGER SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE-DAY TRIPS AND THEY'RE GOING TO EXPLORE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY BEFORE GETTING BACK TO DUBLIN HERE LATER IN THE WEEK.

>> SEAN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

GET SOME REST, MAN.

>> I WILL.

HEY, THANK YOU GUYS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING SOME COLLEGE FOOTBALL ON SATURDAY.

>> WE APPRECIATE IT, SEAN.

WE'LL CHECK BACK LATER IN THE SHOW WITH YOU AS WELL.

>> ALRIGHT, THANKS.

>> OF COURSE ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS IS THE HOT SEAT QUESTION.

HOW MANY WINS DO THEY HAVE TO HAVE?

HOW DOES IT HAVE TO HAPPEN?

DO YOU FEEL IT IS A TRUE HOT SEAT AND HOW MANY GAMES DO THEY HAVE TO WIN?

NOT TO PUT ANY PRESSURE ON YOU.

>> THE SEAT'S RATHER WARM.

>> YES.

IT'S RATHER WARM UNFORTUNATELY.

>> I KNOW HIM AND TREV HAD SOME TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AND SOME BIG BOY CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE I MEAN FRANKLY IT JUST NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PUT THE FACTS ABOVE THE FEELINGS IN THE SITUATION AND THE FACTS ARE, HE HAS NOT PERFORMED, HAD THIS TEAM PERFORMED WHERE HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

THERE'S ONLY, YOU KNOW, CLOSE LOSSES TO MY KNOWLEDGE HORSESHOES AND HAND GRENADES ARE THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS WHEN YOU'RE BEING CLOSE, RIGHT?

AND HE HAS TO GET IT DONE.

I DON'T KNOW, YOU'VE HEARD THE HE NEEDS TO BE 5-1 THROUGH THE FIRST SIX GAMES.

LISTEN, YOU BETTER BE BETTER THAN 7-5 IN MY OPINION.

OTHERWISE IT'S GOING TO BE I SHOULD SAY, LET ME CLARIFY -- 7-5 OR BETTER TO -- I DON'T FORESEE TREV BRINGING THEM BACK.

I THINK YOU HAVE SOME OTHER OPTIONS THAT MAY BE ON THE STAFF, HE COULD LOOK AT THAT POTENTIALLY.

I HATE FORECASTS.

WE'RE NOT EVEN INTO THE FIRST GAME YET, BUT IT'S A REALISTIC CONVERSATION YOU HAVE TO HAVE BECAUSE GOING TO YEAR FIVE AND THE GUY HASN'T SNIFFED SIX WINS.

>> AESTHETICS MATTER, THOUGH?

WE MENTION 7-5 BUT IT KIND OF MATTERS HOW IT HAPPENS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IDEALLY IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS AS A HUSKER FAN AND OPTIMISTIC, YOU'RE THINKING WHAT AILED NEBRASKA LAST YEAR?

SPECIAL TEAMS?

YOU GOT A NEW SPECIAL TEAMS COACH.

YOU WANTED SOME CONSISTENCY IN THE RUNNING BACK ROOM.

ALRIGHT, YOU GOT A NEW QUARTERBACK.

YOU'D SEEN ENOUGH OF ADRIAN MARTINEZ.

YOU GOT A NEW OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR.

>> UM-HUM.

>> YOU KIND OF FILLED ALL THE HOLES THAT YOU THINK WERE AILING YOU.

YOU GOT A FANTASTIC WIDE RECEIVER COACH AND A TOP NOTCH RECRUITER.

SO YOU FEEL PRETTY GOOD.

YOU'RE NOT RUNNING IT BACK WITH 39 GUYS.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU HAVE 30 NEW GUYS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING.

LOOK AT THE STARTING LINE-UP.

SO I THINK NEBRASKA FANS FEEL LIKE THE ONLY KEY COMMON COMPONENT IS COACH FROST, AND SO THEY BUILT IT IN SUCH A WAY WHERE I THINK IT'S GOING TO REVEAL ITSELF.

RIGHT?

I MEAN, THINK THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN LOOK AT IT.

>> THE ONE THING I KNOW IS IF YOU'RE A FAN, PRINT OUT A ROSTER.

BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA NEED IT ON SATURDAY, LOOKING UP NUMBERS.

YOU GOT TO PULL UP A ROSTER.

>> I WAS STUDYING IT IN DEPTH BEFORE WE GOT ON HERE TO GET MYSELF FAMILIAR.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF NEW GUYS.

>>> NEXT UP ON THE SHOW AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NEBRASKA'S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TREV ALBERTS.

BUT FIRST, SOME SIGHTS FROM THE HUSKERS' FALL PRACTICES COURTESY OF HAIL VARSITY.

STAY WITH US, WE'RE BACK SOON!

L PRACTICES COURTESY HAIL VARSITY.

STAY WITH US, WE'RE BACK SOON!

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "THE WRAP-UP."

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, TREV ALBERTS.

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> HOW WAS YOUR SUMMER?

DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO DO ANYTHING FUN, GET AWAY?

>> YEAH, NORMALLY IN THE SUMMER WE RECHARGE AND GET READY FOR THE FALL.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS SUMMER.

IT WAS FULL BORE WORKING WITH THE BIG TEN AND ON OUR MEDIA RIGHTS DEAL AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS.

BUT WE'RE EXCITED, GETTING BACK TO COMPETITION, GETTING BACK TO ATTENDING GAMES.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN IT.

WE LOVE COMPETITION.

SO, A GOOD SUMMER BUT A FAST SUMMER AND IT'S TIME TO GO TO WORK.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT MEDIA RIGHTS.

IT'S A BIG NUMBER OBVIOUSLY.

SOME CHANGES, NO LONGER ESPN INVOLVED.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S GREAT.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE EXPOSURE.

I DON'T THINK WE FULLY GRASPED YET WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN ESSENCE, OUR EFFORT WAS TO TRY TO OWN SATURDAY FOR THE BIG TEN AND ITS MEMBER INSTITUTIONS AND TO START OUT WITH -- FOX HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH CREATING THAT BIG NOON KICKOFF AND THAT WINDOW AND THEN YOU GO INTO THAT CBS WINDOW, 2:30 CENTRAL AND THEN PRIME TIME ON NBC.

I THINK THE CROSS-PROMOTIONAL STUFF IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE NFL AND THEIR ABILITY THEN TO PROMOTE COLLEGE FOOTBALL, I THINK IT WILL BE GREAT.

WHAT WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO DO, MIKE'L, IS RECOGNIZING THE CHANGE IN HOW PEOPLE ARE CONSUMING LIVE TELEVISION AND GENERATIONALLY HOW DIFFERENT IT IS.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE HERE, IS THAT CERTAIN FANS THINK HAVING A PAPER TICKET IS ABSURD.

WE HAVE MOBILE TICKETING NOW.

WE HAVE OTHER FANS THAT THINK NOT HAVING A PAPER TICKET ISN'T RIGHT.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO MEET ALL OF OUR ALUMNI, OUR FANS FOR WHEREVER THEY ARE.

HOW DO YOU CONSUME LIVE SPORTS?

IS IT LINEAR?

IS IT DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER?

STREAMING?

IS IT THROUGH TWITCH?

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT GOING TO SIT DOWN FOR THREE AND A HALF HOURS AND WATCH A GAME ON CBS OR NBC.

THEY'RE GOING TO CONSUME EIGHT MINUTES OF CONTENT.

HOW DO WE MEET THAT AND HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR BRAND?

AND THEN IN AN ERA OF N.I.L.

AND OUR STUDENT ATHLETES BUILDING THEIR PERSONAL BRANDS, I THINK HAVING THESE PLATFORMS FOR THEM IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO IT'S A PRETTY EXCITING TIME.

BUT A LOT TO STILL WORK THROUGH AND LEARN.

>> I THINK FOOTBALL'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE COVERED BY THIS DEAL BUT WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER SPORTS?

ANY CONCERN NOT BEING ASSOCIATED WITH ESPN, BEING THAT WORLDWIDE LEADER KIND OF THING?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY TO STILL BE PART OF ESPN IS THERE.

I MEAN, WE MAY NOT HAVE AN AGREEMENT BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO APPEAR ON THEIR PLATFORMS.

WE PLAY NON-CONFERENCE GAMES.

WE DO THAT STUFF AND THERE'S ONGOING CONVERSATIONS.

I THINK THE BIG TEN IS WELL AWARE OF HOW IMPORTANT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ABC AND ESPN HAS BEEN OVER THE YEARS.

YOU THINK ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP AND OFTEN TIMES A SINGULAR RELATIONSHIP HELPED EACH OTHER BUILD ULTIMATELY WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

>> RIGHT.

>> I RESPECTFULLY THINK THAT THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE HELPED TO BUILD ABC AND ESPN AND THEY DID THE SAME THING FOR US.

SO THERE'S A LONG HISTORY THERE.

MUTUAL RESPECT.

AND I KNOW KEVIN AND OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM ARE LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL WAYS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE GROWING AND MAINTAINING THAT RELATIONSHIP.

IT WILL JUST LOOK DIFFERENT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HUSKER SEASON.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS YOU WANTED TO SEE GET DONE.

SCOTT KIND OF MOVING TO A CEO ROLE, BRINGING IN MAYBE SOME NEW COACHES.

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE CHANGES THAT THEY HAD A CHANCE TO BRING IN TRANSFER PORTAL-WISE, COACHING CHANGES?

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH IT SO FAR?

>> WELL, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE.

THE DISCOMFORT IS I THINK AT THE VOLUME OF CHANGE.

IT'S NOT THE ACTUAL CHANGE ITSELF, BUT YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY THAT TYPE OF CHANGE, THAT MUCH CHANGE IN TERMS OF COACHING STAFF AND YEAH, AND WITH THE PLAYERS, IT'S A LOT.

BUT AM I PLEASED?

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT SCOTT DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.

I STAYED OUT OF THE WAY.

I TEND TO ASK QUESTIONS, BUT HE HAD A VERY CLEAR VISION ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF COACHES HE WANTED AND HE WENT OUT AND HE WAS ABLE TO GET THEM TO COME, AND I THINK THEY'VE MADE A REMARKABLE DIFFERENCE.

I THINK COACH APPLEWHITE HAS -- YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT RUNNING BACK ROOM AND PART OF THAT IS THE TALENT THAT WE BROUGHT IN ADDITIONALLY BUT I THINK SOME OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUST HIS ABILITY, YOU KNOW, MICKEY'S MICKEY.

MY BUDDY FROM WHEN WE PLAYED TOGETHER.

>> YEAH.

>> HE HASN'T CHANGED AT ALL.

>> NOT A BIT.

>> INFECTIOUS PERSONALITY AND THE PLAYERS REALLY RESPOND TO HIM AND HE AND BILL BUSH HAD BROUGHT A LOT.

I THINK SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'VE COACHED FOR OTHER ELITE COACHES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU PICK SOMETHING UP EVERYWHERE ALONG THE LINE.

THE TWO OF THEM WORKED FOR SOME -- PARTICULARLY BILL BUSH HAS WORKED FOR HIGH-QUALITY HEAD COACHES WHO HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS.

THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING THOSE EXPERIENCES.

OF COURSE COACH WHIPPLE HAS BEEN A HEAD COACH BEFORE, BEEN IN THE NFL.

I THINK SCOTT HAS DONE A GOOD JOB.

IT CAN'T BE TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU'RE THE GUY SITTING THERE IN CHARGE AND ALL THESE OTHER FOLKS ARE COMING IN.

THEY'LL WORK THROUGH WHAT THE STRUCTURE LOOKS LIKE BUT I THINK IT'S GOING REALLY WELL AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TEAM.

THEY DON'T SAY MUCH, MIKE'L.

THEY JUST, THEY DON'T COMPLAIN.

THEY JUST WORK AND I REALLY HOPE THAT IT TRANSLATES FOR THEM ON THE FIELD EARLY, SO THEY CAN GAIN SOME CONFIDENCE, BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING THE PRICE.

THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS AND GOOD THINGS HAPPEN, SO THAT THEY CONTINUE GROWING IN THAT WAY.

>> THE EXPRESS WAS MUTUALLY AGREED METRICS AND THAT WENT EVERYWHERE.

YOU GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE METRICS IS A NUMBER.

AND SOME PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW A NUMBER DO YOU REGRET THAT PHRASE GETTING OUT THERE OR ARE YOU LOOKING AT IT AND YOU SAY LOOK THAT'S THE QUESTIONS I'M GETTING FROM A MEDIA THAT IS REALLY INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING INVOLVING OUR COACH?

>> YEAH.

NO, I DON'T REGRET, NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY, EITHER AS THE HEAD COACH OF THE A.D., YOUR WORDS ARE GOING TO BE PARSED THROUGH.

THAT'S FINE.

I THINK IT'S PART OF THE PRIVILEGE OF THIS PLACE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE MUCH SCARIER IN MY ROLE IF THE HEAD COACH OR COORDINATORS OR ADMINISTRATORS OR PRESIDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITIES SPOKE AND NOBODY CARED WHAT THEY SAID.

SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT REMINDER OF HOW MUCH PEOPLE CARE AND HOW MUCH THEY'RE PAYING ATTENTION.

SO LISTEN, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE BOARD, IT ISN'T JUST FOOTBALL PROGRAM, ALL OF US, TRYING TO CREATE A SENSE OF URGENCY AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE FIGHTING LIKE HECK LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

WE ALWAYS REMIND OURSELVES OUR OWN SCHOLARSHIP, TOO.

GETTING PAID TO WIN GAMES, TOO.

THE MORE WE CAN ORIENT OURSELVES IN OUR MINDS AROUND COMPETITION, AROUND GRIT, AROUND PERSEVERANCE, AROUND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT LEAD TO SUCCESS THE BETTER OFF WE'LL BE.

YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY PLEASED WITH HOW THAT PROCESS UNFOLDED WITH SCOTT, AND WITH FRED, BUT SCOTT IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE IT WAS FIRST, AND JUST WORKING TOGETHER ON MUTUALLY SORT OF MUTUAL VISIONING IF YOU WILL ON MAKING SURE WE'RE ALIGNED ABOUT WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO HERE?

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS?

AND SO I THINK YOU FIRST HAVE TO DEFINE WHERE YOU CURRENTLY RESIDE AND THEN YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING FROM THERE.

>> YOU SAID EXPECTATIONS TWICE IN THAT ANSWER.

YEAR FIVE, WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION?

WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOR SCOTT FROST IN YEAR FIVE?

>> THE EXPECTATIONS INVOLVE A LOT OF THINGS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, JUST IMMEDIATELY GO TO THE WINS AND LOSSES EXPECTATIONS.

>> SURE.

>> I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF, A LOT THAT GOES BEHIND THAT.

WINS AND LOSSES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT.

THEY JUST HAVE TO BE.

WE'RE IN THE TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT'S DEFINED IMMEDIATELY BY RESULTS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, BEYOND THAT, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PART OF THE EXPECTATIONS, IT'S ABOUT HOW WE OPERATE, YOU KNOW?

IT'S ABOUT THE WILLINGNESS TO ADJUST AND ADAPT AND PART OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE CHANGING -- WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT ALL THE CHANGES IN THE RECRUITING AREA AND OUR RECRUITING APPROACH.

I THINK THOSE ALL GO INTO THE EXPECTATIONS AND ULTIMATELY, AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR GROWTH, FOR ALL OF US, INCLUDING ME, YOU KNOW, I HOPE I'M NOT A FINISHED PRODUCT, AND I KNOW SCOTT FEELS THE SAME WAY.

WE JUST NEED TO BE TOTALLY COMMITTED TO GROWTH, GETTING BETTER, BEING RECEPTIVE TO, YOU KNOW, THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT CAN HELP US AND I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS ADD INTO THE EXPECTATIONS ABOUT, THAT WILL LEAD TO THE NECESSARY WINS THAT WE WANT TO GO.

BUT IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A PERFECT SCHEDULE AND A PERFECT SCENARIO NOW SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS TO HELP US EXPEDITE THAT.

WE HAVE TO SHOW A NICE MARGINAL JUMP HERE AND I THINK, I'M CONFIDENT WE'LL SEE THAT.

>> NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL, NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY PRESEASON POLLS.

YOU WERE PART OF A PROGRAM THAT HAD SUSTAINED SUCCESS.

ARE YOU EVER SURPRISED WHAT JOHN COOK HAS DONE, THINGS CHANGED IN VOLLEYBALL, HE CONTINUES TO HAVE THAT SUCCESS?

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURPRISED AFTER GETTING TO KNOW JOHN BUT I'M WELL AWARE OF HOW HARD IT IS TO DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

I THINK THE AVERAGE FAN, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH SOME OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS AND THINK ABOUT HOW FAR IT SEEMS TO, GOSH IF WE WERE WINNING A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND HOW HARD THAT IS.

I DON'T THINK THE AVERAGE FAN UNDERSTANDS.

I THINK IT'S HARDER TO STAY THERE THAN TO GET THERE.

THAT ONLY SPEAKS MORE TO THE REMARKABLE NATURE OF WHAT JOHN HAS DONE AND YOU KNOW, WHAT I LOVE ABOUT JOHN IS YOU LOOK AT WHAT COACH PETTITTE DID.

JOHN WAS HUMBLE ENOUGH TO LOOK AT WHAT TERRY DID AND TRY TO KEEP BUILDING.

YOU KNOW WHAT I LOVE ABOUT JOHN IS JOHN IS NEVER SATISFIED OR COMFORTABLE.

HE'S SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW YOU NEVER STAY THE SAME.

YOU EITHER ARE GETTING BETTER IN ATHLETICS OR YOU'RE SLIDING AND SO JOHN IS WILLING TO TAKE CALCULATED RISKS.

HE'S WILLING TO THINK DIFFERENTLY.

HE'S WILLING TO ADJUST AND ADAPT.

HE'S THE TYPE OF GUY THAT THE HIGHER THE EXPECTATIONS ARE, THE MORE IT MOTIVATES HIM AND THE MORE HE LIKES IT.

HE LOVES THAT.

WHILE HE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE TOLD ME IT'S THE LAST THING WE NEEDED TO BE RANKED NUMBER ONE, I THINK THAT'S IN ESSENCE WHAT DRIVES JOHN COOK.

>> OBVIOUSLY WHEN IT WAS FIRST MENTIONED PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT'S JUST FOOTBALL.

MAYBE BASKETBALL.

VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM DRAWS A LOT OF MONEY AND DRAWS A LOT OF EYES AS WELL.

IT'S REALLY BEEN A PRO FOR WOMEN'S SPORTS AS WELL.

HASN'T IT?

>> IT REALLY HAS.

THE REALITY IS I'M PROUD WHAT HAVE WE'VE DONE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AND OUR TEAM.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE HELD TO THE SAME TITLE IX STANDARD IN THE N.I.L.

SPACE AS WE ARE IN THE OTHER SPACES AND SO WE ADMINISTRATIVELY HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL MAKING SURE WE ARE CREATING THE PLATFORMS AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT NOT JUST OUR FOOTBALL PLAYERS OR MALE STUDENT ATHLETES BUT ALL OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE CAN'T DICTATE WHICH COMPANIES ARE CHOOSING TO ENGAGE IN THOSE BUT I THINK IT'S NEVER BEEN MORE EVIDENT ABOUT THE POWER OF YOUR PERSONAL BRAND AS A YOUNG PERSON.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE YOUNG WOMEN ON THE VOLLEYBALL TEAM BECAUSE OF THEIR STYLE OF PLAY, HOW THEY CARRY THEMSELVES.

THEY HAPPEN TO BE BRILLIANT STUDENTS AS WELL.

PEOPLE WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE BRANDS.

THERE'S LESS RISK TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE BRANDS SO IT'S JUST BEEN REALLY PLEASING TO ME TO SEE OUR FAN BASE, COMPANIES ENGAGE IN N.I.L.

DEALS WITH OUR STUDENT ATHLETES, AND TO SEE THEM SEE THE BENEFIT BECAUSE IT HELPS THEM ALONG THE WAY TO THINK ABOUT THEIR FUTURE, TOO.

LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM.

WE CONTINUE TO WORK IN THIS SPACE AND CONTINUE TO BE AGGRESSIVE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

I SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF RULES RIGHT NOW.

>> RIGHT.

>> I FEEL LIKE THE BEST POSITION FOR US IS TO NEVER BE FIRST BUT NEVER BE LAST.

AND SO MAKING SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THE STUDENTS, GIVE OUR COACHES EVERY TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX BUT THEN MY JOB IS TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND HOW DO WE BALANCE THAT AND THREAD THAT NEEDLE.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND VOLLEYBALL HAS CERTAINLY BEEN THE BENEFICIARY OF IT.

>> BEFORE WE KNOW IT BASKETBALL WILL BE HERE.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM FRED AND AMY?

>> WELL, I THINK THEY'RE EXCITED.

AMY HAS A GREAT TEAM COMING BACK AND GREAT CULTURE.

SHE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO I THINK BUILDING ON THAT.

SHE'S JUST GETTING STARTED.

SHE'S A YOUNG COACH WITH GREAT ABILITY.

SHE'S GOT A GREAT VISION.

CULTURE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HER.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT FRED.

A LITTLE BIT SIMILAR TO SCOTT.

REALLY PLEASED WITH HIS WILLINGNESS TO DIVE IN AND MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AND MAKE SOME CHANGES.

THE TEAM WILL BE DIFFERENT.

IT WILL LOOK DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK WHAT FRED IS, LIKE SCOTT, PROBABLY UNDERSTANDING A LITTLE BIT BETTER, AS YOU GET MULTIPLE TREKS THROUGH THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE, UNDERSTANDING WHAT STYLE, WHAT TYPE OF ATHLETES NECESSARY IS REALLY IMPORTANT, SO I LOVE HIS STAFF ADDITIONS, RECENT HIRE OF AN ASSISTANT COACH.

I'M EXCITED FOR HIM.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE A DIFFERENT TEAM, A DIFFERENT FOCUS, DIFFERENT EFFORT, AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PROGRESS.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN, MICHAEL, IS PROGRESS.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR FANS, THEY'RE INCREDIBLE.

THEY NEVER, EVER REACH OUT TO ME AND DEMAND WE WIN, OR WHAT IS THE WIN/LOSS RECORD.

THEY JUST WANT TO SEE QUALITY PLAY.

THEY WANT TO SEE EFFORT.

THEY WANT TO SEE A PLAN.

THEY WANT TO SEE PROGRESS.

SO YOU ASKED ME ABOUT EXPECTATIONS?

PUT THAT INTO SOMEHOW A LITTLE NUTSHELL OF EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS.

LET'S HAVE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA THAT ARE REFLECTIVE OF NEBRASKIANS.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE THAT FAR OFF.

MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE DOING THAT.

SOME OF OUR HIGH-PROFILE IN THE PUBLIC EYE HAVEN'T BEEN THAT WAY.

I FEEL GOOD WE'RE MAKING THE NECESSARY PROGRESS TO GET MUCH CLOSER TO THAT.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND COME BACK WITH A WIN FROM IRELAND.

THAT WOULD BE NICE.

>> WE'LL DO THAT.

>> WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE OF "THE WRAP-UP" WHEN WE COME BACK.

STICK WITH US.

♪ WE'LL DO THAT.

>> WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE OF "THE WRAP-UP" WHEN WE COME BACK.

STICK WITH US.

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

"I'M MIKE SEVERE JOINED BY SEAN CALLAHAN.

TIME TO TALK SOME RECRUITING.

SEAN WE'RE EXPECTING A POSSIBLE COMMITMENT THIS WEEKEND, THIS WEEK.

>> YEP, NEBRASKA IS ON WAIT RIGHT NOW FOR CAM LENDHARDT.

HE'S AN EDGE OUT OF OUT OF IMG ACADEMY.

ONE OF THE CAPTAINS FOR IMG ACADEMY THIS YEAR GOING INTO THE SEASON.

HE'LL ANNOUNCE, MIKE'L, ON THURSDAY.

NEBRASKA HAS BEEN A LONG LEADER ON THIS ONE.

IN FACT, ASHLEY WILLIAMS HAS A COMMIT THAT DECOMMITTED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT WAS BECAUSE OF CAM LENHARDT.

THIS IS WHO NEBRASKA ALWAYS WANTED IN THE SPOT, FOUR-STAR GUY, GIVES MIKE DAWSON A PLAYER HE'S BEEN TARGETING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> ALMOST ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN RECRUITING THE EDGE POSITION, THE WAY NEBRASKA IS PLAYING THE DEFENSE NOW.

THE TWO EDGE GUYS WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> JUST THE EVOLUTION OF THE EDGE, THE NICKEL, BUT THE EDGE, THAT'S THE MONEY POSITION.

THOSE ARE THE GUYS THAT CAN GET TO QUARTERBACKS WITH FOUR-MAN RUSHES.

THIS YEAR WITH NELSON AND MATHIS, AND TANNER AND GUNNARSON, WHO VALUABLE THAT POSITION CAN BE.

NEBRASKA COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE THREE OF THE GUYS THIS YEAR, GARRETT, O'SEAN AND CALEB.

NEBRASKA NEEDS TO GET AT LEAST TWO.

THEY HAVE MAVERICK, NOONAN AND KM LENHARDT AND PROBABLY GO BACK TO THE PORTAL FOR ANOTHER EDGE IF THEY POTENTIALLY LOSE ALL THREE.

>> IF YOU WANT TO SEE GUYS THAT NEBRASKA HAS THEIR EYES ON, GOOD CHANCE THIS WEEK IN LINCOLN BETWEEN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY HIGH SCHOOL GAMES?

>> YEAH, WE GOT A GREAT OPENING GAME WITH BELLEVUE WEST AND CREIGHTON PREP THIS PAST WEEK.

THIS WEEKEND IN THE CITY OF LINCOLN, YOU COULD GO THREE GAMES ON THURSDAY/FRIDAY AND SEE ALMOST ALL OF THE TOP DIVISION ONE TALENT IN THE STATE.

THURSDAY NIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO GET MALACHI COLEMAN PLAYING A GAME IN LINCOLN AGAINST CARNEY, AND THEN ON FRIDAY, YOU'LL GET A DOUBLE-HEADER, ELKHORN SOUTH IS PLAYING ON FRIDAY, IN A GAME AGAINST LINCOLN SOUTHEAST, AND THEN YOU'LL ALSO GET A GAME WITH LINCOLN PIOUS PLAYING SCOTT'S BLUFF, SO A LOT OF THE TOP TALENT WILL BE IN THOSE THREE GAMES, ALL TAKING PLACE REALLY ON THAT 84th AND "A" AREA IN LINCOLN.

>> DO THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE 2023 CLASS IN YOUR OPINION AND WHAT DO THEY NEED TO ADD, IF ANYTHING?

>> THE NUMBERS ARE ABOUT WHERE THEY WANT.

IF THEY GET LENHARDT ON THURSDAY THEY'LL BE 14.

THAT'S ABOUT WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

DEFENSIVE BACK REMAINS A PRIORITY TO GET AT LEAST ONE MORE DEFENSIVE BACK, MAYBE ANOTHER LINEBACKER, A TACKLE, TOO.

THEY'D REALLY LIKE A PREMIUM OFFENSIVE TACKLE, LANCE HURD, THE FIVE-STAR OUT OF LOUISIANA, IS HIGH ON THEIR LIST, BUT I THINK LSU IS PROBABLY STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT, BUT WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

I THINK THEY'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

THAT NUMBER TO ME PROBABLY WILL BE AROUND 18 HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS, IN THIS CLASS, AND THEN YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE ROOM FOR TRANSFER PORTAL GUYS, NOT A BIG SENIOR CLASS AS WELL, BUT WITH THE PORTAL AND THE WAY GUYS COME AND GO, NUMBERS ARE SO HARD TO PROJECT ANYMORE IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

>> YOU PRETTY MUCH WANT TO SAVE AT LEAST FIVE FOR THE TRANSFER PORTAL, RIGHT?

>> YES, I FEEL LIKE IT STARTED OUT HOLD THREE TO FIVE, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S FIVE TO SEVEN.

MAYBE SEVEN TO TEN.

OR 15 LIKE THIS YEAR.

SO THE TRANSFER PORTAL IS ADDICTIVE.

IF YOU GET ON IT AND FIND GUYS THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL, IF THIS YEAR GOES WELL FOR NEBRASKA, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE LIKE HEY, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK TO DO THIS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

WE WANT GOOD HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS BUT IF TREY PALMER AND GUYS LIKE THAT CAN BE IMPACTFUL PLAYERS FROM THE PORTAL, YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MANY SPOTS PER YEAR ON AVERAGE NEBRASKA IS GOING TO TAKE, SAY, OVER A THREE, FOUR YEAR PERIOD.

>> SEAN, DO WE KNOW WHAT THE VISITOR WILL BE NEXT WEEK FOR THE FIRST HOME GAME, BIG ONE?

LITTLE GAME?

>> NO OFFICIAL VISITORS.

I THINK THERE'S WORRY TO GET HOME FROM DUBLIN FIRST, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE MOSTLY LOCAL COMMITS THAT ARE ON THEIR UNOFFICIALS.

GOT TO REMEMBER, ALMOST EVERYBODY HAS TAKEN THEIR OFFICIALS ALREADY.

SO THE RECRUITS THAT WOULD COME IN, MORE ARE GOING TO BE UNDERCLASSMEN PLAYERS THAT WOULD BE ON UNOFFICIAL VISITS.

>> TAKE IT EASY, MAN.

>> ENJOY THE GAME.

THANKS, GUYS.

>> BE SURE TO VOTE ON THIS WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY QUESTION, WHICH WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THIS SEASON FOR NEBRASKA?

DEFENSE, OFFENSE OR SPECIAL TEAMS.

52% DEFENSE.

THEY WERE BETTER LAST YEAR.

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

OUR GAME DAY PHOTO CONTEST IS BACK THIS YEAR.

WE WANT TO SEE HOW YOU SPEND YOUR GAME DAYS.

SEND US YOUR BEST GAME DAY PICS FOR CHANCES TO WIN GREAT PRIZES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AND TO SEE YOUR PHOTO ON THAT WEEK'S SHOW.

LOTS OF PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL WHO ARE TRAVELLING THIS WEEK.

MAKE SURE YOU SEND US YOUR GAME DAYS FROM OVERSEAS.

ALL RIGHT NORTHWESTERN, THEY TRY TO RUN THE BALL.

HELENSKI HAS HIS SHARE OF PROBLEMS.

WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT MOST NORTHWESTERN PLANNING AGAINST NEBRASKA FROM THAT SIDE OF IT?

>> LOOKING AT IT, FITZGERALD'S TEAM OF THE PAST THEY DO A GOOD JOB OF SHORTENING THE GAMES, MONEYING IT UP.

TIME OF POSSESSION IS KEY.

IF THEY'RE ABLE TO RUN THE FOOTBALL.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE D LINE WILL PLAY OUT WITH NEBRASKA.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEW FACES.

DEPTH CONCERN WITH THE D-LINE.

THAT COULD BE A DEFINITE ISSUE IN MY OPINION, CAN COME AGAINST A TEAM THAT REALLY WANTS TO PIN THEIR EARS BACK AND RUN THE BALL 30, 35 TIMES AND MAYBE IN 40 TIMES IN A GAME LIKE THIS.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A TALL TEST FOR NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE EARLY ON.

>> I WENT BACK AND WATCHED THIS PRESSER THE OTHER DAY.

>> ME, TOO.

>> ONLY HAD TWO MEDIA AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES.

IT'S WEIRD.

I TOOK HIM AT FACE VALUE WHEN HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW OR DIDN'T WANT TO SAY WHO HIS STARTING QUARTERBACK WAS.

THAT LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT HALL AND PORTER, THE RUNNING BACKS SPOT ARE GOING TO GET THEIR FAIR SHARE OF CARRIES.

NEBRASKA WILL BE TESTED.

IF THERE'S AN AREA OF CONCERN AND IT'S NOT THE EXPERIENCE ON THE BACK END, IT'S GOT TO BE THE DEFENSIVE LINE AND SO YOU KNOW, I'M SURE COACH FITZGERALD WILL TAKE HIS SHOTS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, RUN ACTION DOWN THE FIELD PASS PLAYS.

BUT LOOK FOR A STEADY DIET OF THEM TRYING TO RUN THE FOOTBALL.

>> WE SAID LAST YEAR THEY ONLY HAD ONE THREAT ON THE OUTSIDE, THE WASHINGTON KID WAS FOUR AND MADE THE ONE TOUCHDOWN.

HE'S BACK SO THERE IS THREAT.

THEIR STRENGTH IS THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

>> THERE'S A CHANCE NEBRASKA MAY NOT GET A PASS RUSH LIKE THEY THINK THEY WILL THE REST OF THE SEASON.

>> YOU GOT TO ASSUME THEY'LL BE LEFT-HANDED.

>> LEFT TACKLE, VERY GOOD AT THE GUARD SPOT OVER THERE.

SEE HOW NEBRASKA ADJUST.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WAY THE DEFENSE IS SET UP THIS WAY, THE WAY NEBRASKA IS AND THE WAY IT'S SCHEMED.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT I THINK THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

IS IT 3-4 OR 4-3 TYPE OF DEAL?

I'VE TALKED WITH CHINS BEFORE ABOUT IT AND ASKED HIM QUESTIONS.

HE'S LIKE IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT.

LISTEN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE 4-3ISH IN MY OPINION, BACK TO WHAT WE'RE KIND OF USED TO.

YOU'LL GET NELSON AND MATHIS.

YOU PROBABLY GET TY ROBINSON AND I DON'T KNOW WHO THE INTERIOR GUY MIGHT BE.

>> UNDERFRONT TO HELP THEM AGAINST WEAK SIDE RUN.

>> GET ME UNDER AND GET THAT BUBBLE TOWARDS THE STRENGTH AND TY ROBINSON PLAYING THE FIVE AND MAYBE ANOTHER OUTSIDE GUY, GARRETT NELSON PLAY A STANDUP IN THAT SITUATION.

>> HE CAN PLAY THAT AS LONG AS HE'S NOT PEEKING.

GETTING HIS HEAD INSIDE.

>> THE BIGGEST THING IN THAT SITUATION, WHO IS PLAYING YOUR SHADE, YOUR NOSE, THAT ONE, TOWARDS THAT BUBBLE SIDE.

>> SO I THINK THEY CAN PLAY SOME UNDER FRONT IF YOU DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE THE DEPTH OF YOUR D LINE AND YOU HAVE A PLUGGER.

>> YEP.

>> LIKE A WEN, A HUTMACHER.

BECAUSE HE'S THE PROTOTYPICAL SHADE.

HE'S JUST GOT TO PUSH.

>> IF YOU WERE GOING TO PICK, THIS IS A QUESTION FROM MARK IN GRAND ISLAND.

WHO WOULD YOU START?

>> I'M GOING WITH GRANT AND ALLEN.

THE TRUE FRESHMAN.

>> A.J.

ALLEN, IT MAY BE UNTIL OKLAHOMA, MIGHT NOT TAKE HIM THAT LONG.

I LOVE HIM.

GABE IRVIN IS THE EASIEST TO CHEER FOR.

I LIKE WHAT HE'S DONE WITH HIS BODY.

HE'S COME BACK CONFIDENT.

HE'S GOING TO REALLY PUSH.

RAMIREZ IS SO UNSELFISH.

HE CAN PLAY OUTSIDE IN THE SLOT, HE DOESN'T CARE.

GRANT, IRVIN, RAMIREZ THE FIRST THREE.

KEEP AN EYE ON A.J.

ALLEN.

HE'S PRETTY GOOD.

>> SUSPICIOUSLY YANT WAS NOT MENTIONED IN CASE PEOPLE AT HOME WERE WONDERING.

WHAT IMPORTANT IS CHEMISTRY CULTURE?

WE HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT ABOUT THAT THIS YEAR.

>> I THINK THAT'S ON PURPOSE, TROLLING US.

>> NOT SAY THE WORDS?

IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

BILL ASKED THE QUESTION.

>> IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

IT GETS TOUGHER AND TOUGHER BRINGING IN 30 NEW GUYS IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL AND GUYS COMING AND LEAVING, BECOMES MORE OF AN ISSUE IN MY OPINION.

THAT'S WHERE IT GETS, YOUR CULTURAL FOUNDATION, THAT'S WHERE IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S JUST LIKE OKAY, THIS IS WHAT IT IS.

IT'S NOT A WEEK-TO-WEEK THING, NOT A DAY-TO-DAY THING OR MONTH-TO-MONTH THING.

THIS IS 365, 52 WEEKS A YEAR, HOW IT IS MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

>> I AGREE THE CULTURE AND CHEMISTRY IS MORE IMPORTANT WITH THE STAFF THAN THE PLAYERS.

>> ARE YOU DRINKING THE KOOL-AID, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FROM JOHN EBELLEVUE.

>> I'M NOT.

I LIKE SPARKLING WATER.

I THINK THEY'RE AROUND THE SEVEN-WIN MARK.

I WANT TO BE ALL IN IN TERMS OF WHERE I THINK THEY'VE GOTTEN BETTER BECAUSE THEY'VE SIGNIFICANTLY UPGRADED THEIR COACHING STAFF.

>> YES.

>> I CAN SAY THAT WITH 100% CERTAINTY OUTSIDE OF OFFENSIVE LINE.

OFFENSIVE LINE, I DON'T KNOW.

>> FIRST TIME OFFENSIVE LINE COACH.

>> YOU GOT TWO GUYS COMING OFF OF INJURY THAT HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF REPS, HAVING A LOT OF STOCK IN COR CRON AND PEROSKIN, YOU'RE COMING OFF A MAJOR KNEE INJURY, CONFIDENCE IS OF THE YOU THEEST MO.

>> NOT A LOT OF CONFIDENCE WITH BILL BUSH AND SPECIAL TEAMS.

IF WE HAD THE VOTE THE SPECIAL TEAMS WOULD BE IMPROVED THE MOST.

>> YOU HOPED IT WOULD BE.

>> I DON'T THINK IT COULD GET WORSE FROM LAST YEAR.

>> TWO BURNING QUESTIONS REAL QUICK.

>> WHAT HAPPENS IN CRUNCH TIME IF THIS GAME IS CLOSE GOING INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER?

>> WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU PUNCH THEM OUT?

>> SPECIAL TEAMS.

I WANT TO SEE THE IMPROVEMENT, THE KICKING GAME, KICKING, PUNTING, KICK COVERAGE.

THAT'S A HUGE IMPORTANT THING GOING INTO GAME ONE.

>> KICK THE BALL IN THE END ZONE, DON'T LET THEM ON THE RETURNS AND CHEAP YARDAGE.

JAY, DAMON AND I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT ON SATURDAY.

NEBRASKA KICKS OFF THE 2022 SEASON WITH THEIR WEEK ZERO MATCHUP AGAINST NORTHWESTERN AND IRELAND.

KICKOFF 11:30 CENTRAL ON BIG FOX.

NEXT TUESDAY, BREAKDOWN MODE TO RECAP THE GAME WITH FOX SPORTS AND BIRTHDAY BOY KEVIN KUGLER.

ALSO WE HAVE VOLLEYBALL AS WELL, FRIDAY TUNE IN INTO NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

THEY TAKE ON TULSA IN THE BOB DEVANEY CENTER, SEE THAT GAME 6:30 CENTRAL RIGHT HERE.

SPECIAL THANKS TO SEAN CALLAHAN FOR JOINING US FROM DUBLIN.

FOR TOWER STUDENT VOLUNTEERS AND THE CALL CENTER, JAY MOORE, DAMON BENNING, I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

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

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