♪ ♪ >>> IT WAS A QUIET WEEKEND AS NEBRASKA SAILED THROUGH THE BYE WEEK LOOKING TO REST AND RECHARGE BEFORE ENTERING THE GAUNTLET THAT IS THEIR FINAL FIVE GAMES.

AS THEY GET READY TO HOST ILLINOIS, IS A BOWL BERTH STILL IN THE HUSKERS' FUTURE?

WE WILL DISCUSS THAT AND WHAT NEBRASKA NEEDS TO DO FOR THE FINAL STRETCH WITH OUR GUEST AMIE JUST FROM THE LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR AND ROBIN WASHUT FROM HUSKER ONLINE.

SEAN CALLAHAN WILL ALSO HAVE THE LATEST ON AN EVENTFUL WEEK OF RECRUITING.

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

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

WE ARE GETTING READY FOR THE DRIVE FOR THE LAST FIVE.

JOINING ME NOW, FORMER HUSKER JAY MOORE AND SEAN CALLAHAN.

YOU LIKE IT?

YOU WANT T-SHIRTS?

>> DRIVE FOR THE FIVE?

>> DRIVE FOR THE LAST FIVE.

YEAH, I MEAN, IT IS ALSO THE CHANCE TO GET TO A BOWL GAME.

IT'S A CHANCE TO GET MICKEY JOSEPH HIRED AS THE HEAD COACH.

THERE'S A LOT ON THE LINE.

>> LOT OF DYNAMICS GOING ON.

>> THERE IS.

AND THEY STARTED OFF PLAYING THE BEST TEAM -- THE SECOND BEST TEAM LEFT ON THEIR SCHEDULE.

>> I'M LIKE "UH, MICHIGAN?"

>> I ALMOST FORGOT MICHIGAN FOR A SECOND.

ACTUALLY THE NUMBERS THOUGH.

ILLINOIS' GOT BETTER NUMBERS IN SOME PLACES.

>> YEAH, YOU LOOK AT THIS GAME, IT'S -- ON PAPER, NUMBER ONE DEFENSE IN THE COUNTRY, NUMBER ONE SCORING DEFENSE IN THE COUNTRY.

NATION'S NUMBER ONE RUNNING BACK RUSHER.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING THERE ABOUT ILLINOIS IS DIFFERENT THAN ANY TEAM NEBRASKA'S PLAYED THIS YEAR.

>> THEY'RE NOT GREAT IN THE RED ZONE.

>> OTHER THAN THAT.

>> YES, OTHER THAN THAT.

>> YEAH, YOU LOOK AT WHAT ILLINOIS DOES VERY, VERY WELL.

AND IT DOES NOT COMPLEMENT WHAT NEBRASKA -- YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T THINK NEBRASKA MATCHES UP VERY WELL ON THIS ONE.

CHASE BROWN, THE RUNNING GAME, THE PHYSICALITY THAT BIELEMA HAS BROUGHT TO THIS PROGRAM.

THEN DEFENSIVELY THEY ARE ABLE TO GET OFF THE PASSER.

WHAT DID YOU SAY, SEAN?

WE WERE DOING THE SEGMENT BEFORE -- 21 PRESSURES?

>> 21 QUARTERBACK PRESSURES PER GAME.

>> PER GAME.

>> SO OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW THE STRUGGLES THAT THE FRONT FIVE HAVE PROTECTING CASEY.

SO THAT DOES NOT SUIT UP WELL.

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS WHY YOU PLAY 60 MINUTES OF FOOTBALL.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT NEBRASKA IS PROBABLY THE BEST OFFENSE, THE MOST EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE, THAT THEY'VE FACED SO FAR THIS YEAR.

SO THERE'S SOMETHING TO THAT.

BUT I THINK NEBRASKA OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSIVELY IS GONNA HAVE TO MANUFACTURE SOMETHING.

THEY JUST CAN'T LINE UP AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME.

>> YEAH.

>> THEY CAN'T LINE UP AND JUST SAY, "HEY, WE'RE GONNA RUN THE FOOTBALL" OR "WE'RE GONNA GET AFTER YOU AT FOUR."

THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEND FIVE, SIX GUYS TO GET AFTER THE QUARTERBACK TO STOP THE RUN AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE ABLE TO STRETCH THE FIELD, I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET TREY PALMER IN THE BIG GAME.

I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET SOME INTERMEDIATE STUFF GOING AND HOPEFULLY TREY'S ABLE TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN ON THE BACK END.

>> YOU'VE GOTTA HOPE FOR TURNOVERS, OF COURSE.

AS ALWAYS, WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.

OUR FRIENDS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA'S COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMM.

THEY ARE HERE MANNING THE PHONES, AWAITING YOUR CALLS.

OF COURSE, THE MAN IN CHARGE, SPORTS INTERN SAM.

HEY, SAM.

THERE HE IS!

THERE'S SAM.

TEXT OR EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS RIGHT TO US, BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

YOU CAN ALSO REACH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SHAVE YOUR THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS.

WE ARE WATCHING FACEBOOK AND TWITTER TO MAKE SURE YOU WILL REACH OUT TO US TONIGHT AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION.

WE ALSO HAVE A NEW SIDELINE SURVEY FOR YOU THIS WEEK.

WILL NEBRASKA MAKE A BOWL GAME?

PROBABLE?

POSSIBLE?

OR UNLIKELY AT THIS POINT?

9% SAY PROBABLE, 52% SAY POSSIBLE, AND 32% SAY UNLIKELY.

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

GIVE ME A GUY THAT YOU COULD REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE PLAYING, RUNNING BACK LIKE CHASE BROWN.

A GUY WHO EVERY TIME YOU HIT HIM, HE GOES FORWARD.

ANY TIME YOU THINK YOU HAVE HIM, HE BREAKS TACKLES.

WHO IS A GUY LIKE THAT?

>> OH MY GOSH.

I KNOW HE'S NOT QUITE TO THE -- I MEAN, ONE OF THE BEST RUNNING BACKS I PLAYED.

ADRIAN PETERSON, WAS THAT WHAT YOU WERE GOING WITH?

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S AN APPLES TO APPLES.

THAT MIGHT BE AN APPLES TO ORANGES COMPARISON.

>> WHO IS THE GUY THAT OKLAHOMA STATE HAVE?

>> OH, HUNTER?

KENYON HUNTER?

>> NO, THE SMALLER BACK.

SAVAGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> OH, YES.

>> THE GUY RUNS LOW TO THE GROUND, HARD TO TACKLE, ALWAYS GOES FORWARD.

>> YEAH, THOSE ARE TOUGH.

THOSE GUYS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR HEAD ACROSS, YOU'VE GOTTA WRAP UP, YOU GOTTA TO COME WITH SOME BAD INTENTIONS.

HE HAS GOT OUR NUMBER NOW FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

HE FEELS LIKE HE'S BEEN THE RUNNING BACK FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

YOU HAVE TO COME WITH BAD INTENTIONS TO GET HIM DOWN.

OBVIOUSLY WITH HENDRICH NOW BEING OUT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, THAT LINEBACKER CREW IS GOING TO BE CALLED ON A LOT, HOPEFULLY.

THEY MIGHT HAVE TO BRING A SAFETY DOWN AND HELP OUT IN THE RUN GAME OBVIOUSLY.

AND HOPEFULLY THE FRONT FOUR CAN PLAY WELL AND STOP THAT RUN JUST TO GET ILLINOIS IN SOME THIRD PREDICTABLE, THIRD AND LONG.

LIKE I SAID, MANUFACTURE SOMETHING TO GET AFTER THE QUARTERBACK.

BUT IF NOT, IF CHASE BROWN IS ABLE TO DO IT, HE'S BEEN DOING IT TO THE MAJORITY OF THE TEAMS THIS YEAR, IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG DAY FOR THE BIG RED.

>> CAN THEY CONTAIN HIM, YOU THINK?

I MEAN, WE CAN'T STOP HIM.

BUT, HOLD HIM UNDER 100?

>> I THINK IF YOU CAN KEEP THEM UNDER 150 I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD.

I MEAN, THE 10 PLUS YARD RUNS ARE WHAT WORRY YOU.

HE HAS 33 OF THOSE ON THE YEAR.

HE TYPICALLY IS GOING TO POP MULTIPLE 10 PLUS YARD RUNS A GAME.

HOW MANY OF THOSE CAN YOU LIMIT?

HOW MANY TIMES CAN YOU KEEP THEM IN THE SECOND LEVEL?

ONCE HE GETS TO GET TO THE THIRD LEVEL, THAT IS WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE AND IF NEBRASKA MAKES IT TOO EASY, THAT'S WHEN IT COULD BE A LONG SATURDAY.

NEBRASKA NEEDS TO JUMP ON ILLINOIS, GET THEM A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THEIR GAME.

YOU KNOW, THAT OPENING DRIVE, IF THEY GET THE BALL FIRST, THEY HAVE GOT TO BE REALLY, REALLY GOOD OUT OF THE GATES.

IF THEY CAN JUMP ON THEM, PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THEM, GET THE CROWD IN THE GAME, I THINK THAT IS THE BEST RECIPE ON SATURDAY.

>> TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW GOOD HE IS, HERE'S THE LIST OF THE TOP RUNNING BACKS.

YOU SEE THE NUMBERS HE'S PUT UP.

151 YARDS RUSHING A GAME.

THERE'S MO IBRAHIM WHO'S HAD SOME BANGED UP -- HE HAS BEEN INJURED A LITTLE BIT.

BLAKE CORUM IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST BACKS.

NEBRASKA WILL SEE HIM, OF COURSE.

BRAELON ALLEN, NEBRASKA WE'LL SEE HIM, OF COURSE.

AND THEN THERE'S ANTHONY GRANT.

>> FOUR STRAIGHT WEEKS.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S TOUGH.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S THE BIG TEN, THOUGH.

EVERY TIME YOU GET IN THE BIG TEN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THAT.

HERE IS THE BIG QUESTION ABOUT ILLINOIS.

I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN PRETTY MUCH MISTAKE-FREE, BUT THEY ARE DUE FOR A GAME WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO TURN OVER.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY NEED?

THEY NEED A START TO THE GAME LIKE NEBRASKA HAD WHERE YOU FUMBLED A PUNT, THE BALL GOES INTO THE END ZONE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO START OFF TO GIVE NEBRASKA A LITTLE MOMENTUM.

>> IT WOULD BE NICE.

IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY TURNED THE BALL OVER, MAKE SOME MISTAKES, GET SOME PENALTIES.

MAYBE NEBRASKA CAN BREAK SOMETHING OFF SPECIAL TEAMS-WISE.

BLOCKED PUNT FOR A TOUCHDOWN.

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

PUNT RETURN.

TOMMY HILL, WE SAW HIM CLOSE TO GETTING LOOSE AGAINST PURDUE.

MAYBE THEY CAN BREAK SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN LIKE THAT WITH NEBRASKA JUST TO -- NEBRASKA HAS TO BE SO GOOD IN ALL THREE PHASES TO COME OUT IN THIS GAME.

OTHERWISE, I JUST -- ILLINOIS IS TOO GOOD OF A FOOTBALL TEAM.

I JUST LOVE WHAT BIELEMA WAS ABLE TO DO AND INSTALL IN THIS PROGRAM IN YEAR TWO.

>> TWO YEARS.

>> TO SEE THE PHYSICALITY.

I MEAN, WHAT HE'S DONE IS JUST -- I KNOW HE IS AN IOWA GUY.

HE COACHED AT WISCONSIN AND BEAT UP ON US WHEN HE WAS AT WISCONSIN.

BUT WHAT HE IS ABLE TO INSTILL IS LIKE, THAT IS WHAT I WANT IN THE FUTURE OF NEBRASKA FOOTBALL.

TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE BALL, PHYSICALITY, FAST PHYSICAL DEFENSE AND THE COMMITMENT TO THE RUN GAME.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT NEBRASKA TO BE IN THE FUTURE.

>> QUITE BYE WEEK.

THE BIGGEST NEWS WITH MALACH COLEMAN?

WAS THAT THE BIGGEST BYE WEEK NEWS?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, JUST THE RECRUITING AND THE APPROACH IN GENERAL.

NEBRASKA SENT OUT EVERYBODY BUT THE COORDINATORS TO RECRUIT.

THAT INCLUDED MICKEY JOSEPH.

AND HONESTLY, THESE TWO BYE WEEKS IN GENERAL, IT WAS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE I HAVE SEEN NEBRASKA ON A BYE.

THEY MADE SEVEN JUCO OFFERS, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE IN THE RECRUITING SEGMENT BUT JUST THE PRESENCE THAT MICKEY HAD ON THE ROAD AGAIN.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN A HEAD COACH OF NEBRASKA GO OUT LIKE THAT, LET ALONE FOR TWO BYE WEEKS WHERE YOU MAXIMIZE ALL THAT TIME OUT THERE.

REALLY CREATING A PRESENCE OF "HEY, I WANT TO BE AT NEBRASKA."

THAT IS THE BIGGEST THING I TOOK AWAY.

BECAUSE THE TEAM CAN ONLY PRACTICE TWO DAYS THIS WEEK -- OR LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF THE RULES.

>> MY POINT WAS UNLIKE SOME OTHER BYE WEEKS IN THE PAST, THE DIFFERENT HEAD COACH, THERE WAS NO DRAMA.

THERE WAS NONE OF THAT.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF RECRUITING, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT WAS QUIET WHICH IS A GOOD THING IN A BYE WEEK.

>> YEAH, YOU WANTED TO GET RESTED UP.

YOU WANTED TO GET SOME RECRUITING DONE, IF POSSIBLE, AND JUST KIND OF QUIET YOUR MIND A LITTLE BIT AND GET READY FOR THE NEXT WEEK.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET DONE.

>> OH, THEY ARE STUDENTS, YEP.

>> YEP.

>> SCHOOL, FORGOT ABOUT THAT.

SCHOOL.

>> THIS IS THE SECOND ONE, RIGHT?

THIS IS UNCHARACTERISTIC FROM YEARS PAST TO GET TWO BYE WEEKS BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE THINGS, GET HEALTHY AND JUST GET YOUR MIND FOCUSED TO THIS FIVE GAME STRETCH THEY HAVE HERE TO FINISH THE YEAR.

LIKE WE SAID, POSSIBLY MAKING A BOWL GAME.

WE WILL SEE.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO CLEAN SOME STUFF UP.

THAT'S A GOOD TIME TO KIND OF NOW SHIFT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FIVE-GAME SEASON AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN GET SOME MOMENTUM GOING SOMEHOW, SOME WAY TO FINISH OUT THIS THING STRONG.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT -- AND THIS IS THE FINAL FIVE GAMES IN THE SCHEDULE?

ILLINOIS.

MINNESOTA WHO IS REALLY ON A STRUGGLE BUS RIGHT NOW.

MICHIGAN, MAYBE THE FIFTH OR SIXTH BEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY.

WISCONSIN, WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

AND IOWA LITERALLY CAN'T SCORE ON OFFENSE.

SEAN, WHAT ABOUT THE DEFENSE?

KOLAREVIC MOVES BACK TO THE MIDDLE WHERE HE SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE DEFENSIVE MOVE?

>> I STILL THINK THEY'RE GONNA NEED MORE THERE THAN KOLAREVIC.

CAN CLEMENTS, MAUGA-CLEMENTS, COME IN THERE AND PROVIDE QUALITY SNAPS?

CAN ERNEST HAUSMANN GET HIMSELF BACK UP THERE?

I MEAN, THAT, TO ME, IS ALMOST THE BIGGER STORY.

THAT ERNEST STARTED GAMES EARLIER AND HE HAD FALLEN OFF THE DEPTH CHART AS FAR AS BEING LISTED ON THERE.

HE IS BACK ON THERE NOW, BUT CAN THEY GET HIM MAYBE TO GET 10 TO 15 QUALITY SNAPS A GAME?

BECAUSE IT CAN'T JUST BE KOLAREVIC FOR 70 SNAPS.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET MORE GUYS OUT THERE.

>> WELL, HE DIDN'T MISS A TACKLE, REMEMBER, AGAINST PURDUE.

THAT IS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT, YOU KNOW.

>> IT'S HARD, MAN.

I CAN'T IMAGINE -- IF I WOULD'VE GOT PUT IN THAT SCENARIO AS AN 18-YEAR-OLD FRESHMAN, YOU KNOW?

HE'D LOOK -- >> AGAINST OKLAHOMA.

>> RIGHT?

HE'D LOOK -- IT'S IMPRESSIVE.

BUT IT'S A LOT TO ASK FOR A KID TO BE PUT IN THE COMPLICATED -- THE SCHEMES THAT ARE VERY COMPLICATED, COMING FROM A GUY THAT HAS PLAYED CLASS-A FOOTBALL AT COLUMBUS HIGH.

IT'S SO VASTLY DIFFERENT.

IT'S HARD.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BEAT UP ON HIM TOO HARD.

'CAUSE I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUT IN THAT SITUATION.

AND OBVIOUSLY I WASN'T, I DIDN'T.

BUT HAVING HIM, YOU CLEMENTS.

YOU KNOW, HE'S ABLE TO FILL-IN WHEN RAHMIR'S GOT -- EXCUSE ME, DINGED UP, AGAINST RUTGERS.

HE DID SOME GOOD THINGS.

HOPEFULLY WE'RE ABLE TO RELY ON HIM.

BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GAME WHERE I THINK FARMER CAN PLAY BIG.

>> YEAH.

>> BUFORD.

GOT YOUR SAFETIES COME DOWN AND PLAY HEAVY IN THIS RUNNING GAME.

>> NOW HE -- I LIKE HIM, CLEMENTS, OUTSIDE PASS RUSHING.

I THINK THAT'S HIS STRENGTH.

THAT'S WHAT HE DID BEFORE HE GOT HERE.

THE THING ABOUT HAUSMANN IS, HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A DOG.

I WENT AND I SAW HIM AGAINST BELLEVUE WEST, AND THAT WAS A TEAM THAT HAD ALL THAT TALENT IN THERE.

AND HE WAS EVERYWHERE.

AND I THINK HE WAS ONLY, MAYBE, A SOPHOMORE OR A JUNIOR WHEN HE DID THAT.

SO YOU KNOW HE'S GOT IT IN HIM TO BE THAT GUY AND STEP UP.

WE'LL SEE.

BUT I THINK HE CERTAINLY FIXED SOME STUFF AGAINST PURDUE.

>> WELL, EARLY IN HIS CAREER HAVING -- EVEN IN THE GEORGIA SOUTHERN GAME, THAT WAS A BAD GAME FOR A YOUNG GUY TO GO OUT AND HAVE TO PLAY AS MUCH -- >> WHERE THEY SPREAD EVERYBODY OUT.

>> AND SO THIS TYPE OF FOOTBALL SHOULD BE BETTER FOR HIM IF HE GETS OUT THERE.

BUT I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO REALLY RELY ON KOLAREVIC.

>> YEAH.

WIDE RECEIVER-WISE, WE KNOW WHAT NEBRASKA IS ABLE TO DO WITH TREY PALMER.

MICKEY SAID IT TODAY, EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TO GET INVOLVED, BECAUSE YOU KNOW ILLINOIS IS GOING TO SAY STOP HIM.

>> YEP.

EVERYBODY -- WASHINGTON, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY VOKOLEK, AND THE TIGHT END GAME.

>> ALANTE BROWN.

>> YEP, EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE ALL INVOLVED.

BECAUSE I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF THEY ALLOW TREY PALMER TO GO ONE ON ONE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TWO GUYS ON HIM AT ALL TIMES.

YOU KNOW, EVEN A GUY OVER TOP, JUST SHADING HIS WAY.

JUST TO MAKE YOU SAY, ALRIGHT, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS ON, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIT IT INTO A TIGHT WINDOW.

>> PUT HIM IN THE SLOT.

>> YEAH.

>> MOVE HIM.

FORCE THEM TO DO SOME THINGS.

>> VERY MUCH SO.

>> KEEP THEIR EYES WANDERING.

>> DO SOME MOTION.

WE'VE TALKED -- >> LINE 'EM UP IN THE BACKFIELD.

>> A TON THIS YEAR ABOUT HIM OPERATING BETWEEN THE HASHES.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN MOTION HIM, GET SOME STUFF.

GET HIM INTO SOME JET MOTION STUFF.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WHIPPLE CAN DO WITH HIM WITH HIS CAPABILITIES.

BUT IT'S A BIG GAME FOR EVERYONE ELSE TO STEP UP.

AND IT'S A GOOD GAME FOR ANTHONY GRANT TO MAYBE CATCH SOME BALLS OUT OF THE BACKFIELD AS WELL.

IF THEY DON'T NEED HIM TO CHIP ON SOME OF THOSE D-ENDS THAT ARE COMING OFF THE EDGE.

>> IT'S A BILL CALLAHAN GAME, YOU KNOW?

HOW ABOUT RUNNING A RUNNING BACK PASS?

>> MM-HMM.

>> OR YOU'RE RUNNING A LOT OF GHOST MOTION, AND YOU RUN SOME STUFF OFF OF THAT.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PULL OUT SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T SEEN, AND YOU HAD A WHOLE BYE WEEK TO GET READY FOR IT.

>> AND THEY KEPT 'EM HOME.

THE COORDINATORS STAYED BACK, DIDN'T RECRUIT.

SO, HOPEFULLY BILL BUSH AND MARK WHIPPLE WERE ABLE TO DRAW UP A LOT OF NEW CONCEPTS.

THEY'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STUDY ILLINOIS.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE SURPRISED BY THE DEFENSIVE FRONT THIS TIME AROUND LIKE A YEAR AGO IN WEEK ZERO, WHEN RYAN WALTERS EVIDENTLY SURPRISED SCOTT FROST WITH A FRONT THEY WEREN'T READY FOR IT.

>> 70% OF THE OFFENSE HAD TO GO.

[ CHUCKLES ] THAT'S BAD MEMORIES RIGHT THERE.

WHY WOULD YOU GO BACK TO THAT?

THAT'S HORRIBLE, SEAN.

>> WELL, SAME STAFF, YOU KNOW?

>> I KNOW, I KNOW.

>> I MEAN, THAT GAME WAS SUCH A DOWNWARD SPIRAL TO THE SEASON.

TO LOSE THAT WEEK ZERO GAME, IT FELT LIKE THE SEASON WAS NOT OVER AT THAT POINT, BUT IT HAD A TERRIBLE FEELING.

YOU GOTTA GET THAT ONE BACK NOW.

>> YEAH.

I REMEMBER THAT DRIVE HOME, IT WAS NOT FUN.

IT'S TIME TO UPDATE AS NEBRASKA HEADS INTO ILLINOIS WEEK WITH OUR LATEST "BIG RED REPORT."

>> WELL, WE'RE BEAT UP.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEAT UP UP FRONT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEAT UP, WE'RE DOWN A COUPLE OF STARTERS.

BUT I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.

I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE BYE WEEK THEY HAD.

AND I FELT GOOD ABOUT THE PRACTICE THIS MORNING.

THEY'RE STILL GIVING US REALLY GOOD EFFORT AND THEY'RE REALLY PRACTICING REALLY HARD.

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF THE HALFWAY-ISH POINT.

AND HAVING THAT REST RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE TO KIND OF GET YOUR BODY BACK, GET YOUR MIND RIGHT IS HUGE.

ESPECIALLY YOU KNOW HOW PHYSICAL THIS CONFERENCE IS.

SO, ESPECIALLY THEM BEING THE DOWN GUY, GETTING HIT EVERY PLAY.

SO IT'S A NICE REST FOR YOUR BODY.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO PLAY THE NUMBER ONE TEAM IN THE WEST THIS WEEK.

SO THEY STILL CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THEIR CONFIDENCE IS THERE, RIGHT NOW.

THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN WIN.

>> SO IT'S FIVE GUYS UP FRONT, SO THEY'RE REALLY JUST FACING THEIR BEST FIVE GUYS AGAINST WHOEVER THEY PLAY'S BEST FIVE GUYS UP FRONT.

SO, YOU KNOW, ON THEIR EDGE GUYS, THEY'RE BIG GUYS.

THEY'RE QUICK GUYS.

ON THE INTERIOR, THEY'RE PHYSICAL.

YOU KNOW, THEY LIKE TO DO A LOT OF POWER MOVES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO, YOU NOW, WE GOTTA BE REALLY KEYED IN ON OUR PASS TECHNIQUE AND OUR RUN TECHNIQUE ALL WEEK THIS WEEK.

>> THEY DO A GOOD JOB CREATING A LOT OF PRESSURE AND MOVEMENT UP FRONT, IN THE FRONT SEVEN.

THEY DO A GOOD JOB ON THE BACK END.

I KNOW SOME OF THEIR DBs HAVE RECOGNITION.

I WOULD SAY THAT THEY HAVE GOOD SIZE, GOOD SPEED, GOOD ATHLETICISM.

I AM SURE THEY'RE FEELING GOOD, BUT WE LIKE WHAT WE HAVE AS WELL AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE MATCHUP.

>> I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT IT'S NOT GOING THE WAY THAT WE EXPECTED OR EVEN WANT IT TO.

BUT IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO TURN THE SEASON AROUND.

SO THAT'S ALL I'M LOOKING FOR.

I'M MORE OF A LOOK FORWARD GUY.

HOW CAN WE FIX THIS?

NOT LOOKING AT THE PAST AND WHAT WE DID WRONG.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN FIX AND HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS SEASON BETTER.

AND TRY TO STILL COMPLETE WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

>> THIS FOOTBALL TEAM IS A REALLY GOOD FOOTBALL TEAM WHEN WE EXECUTE ON ALL THREE PHASES.

SO WE'RE PREACHING TO THEM THAT WE NEED TO EXECUTE.

WE NEED TO EXECUTE THE GAME PLAN.

>> WELCOME BACK.

AMIE JUST JOINING US FROM "LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR."

AMIE, APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

HOW YOU DOING?

>> I'M GOOD.

I'M GOOD.

THE BYE WEEK WAS RESTFUL, MOSTLY.

RAN THE HALFSIE ON SUNDAY.

SO STILL A LITTLE SORE FORM THAT.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, GREAT.

>> RAN THE HALFSIE AND MADE GUMBO.

WHICH ONE WAS BETTER?

>> I MEAN -- IT WAS SO HOT ON SUNDAY.

GUMBO.

GUMBO ALWAYS.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS ROUGH.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

SO, BYE WEEK LIKE THAT, WHAT WAS THE THING YOU THINK NEBRASKA NEEDED TO CONCENTRATE ON MOST DURING THE BYE WEEK, IN TERMS OF GAME PLANNING OF GAME PLANNING FOR ILLINOIS.

>> HONESTLY, GETTING HEALTHY.

>> YEAH.

>> CASEY THOMPSON, I MEAN HIS -- I WROTE THIS IN A COLUMN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

HIS INJURY LIST IS LONGER THAN MY GROCERY LIST.

IT JUST -- THE OFFENSIVE LINE ISN'T DOING HIM MANY FAVORS AT ALL.

IT'S NOT COMPLETELY ON THEM, IT'S A LITTLE ON HIM TOO.

BUT JUST GETTING EVERYBODY HEALTHY IS IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK, AT LEAST FOR CASEY, HE'S FEELING A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

I ASKED HIM ABOUT THAT EARLIER TODAY, AND THE REST WAS BENEFICIAL FOR HIM.

>> AMY, YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY FROM NEBRASKA, BUT YOU CAME BACK IN TO COVER NEBRASKA.

>> MM-HMM.

>> FIRST TIME REALLY THE AROUND THE PROGRAM IN THIS FASHION.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR VIEWS, TAKES JUST BEING AROUND THE PROGRAM, BEING AROUND NEBRASKA JUST FROM AFAR COMING INTO IT NOW?

>> I MEAN, WHAT A FIRST YEAR ON THE BEAT.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> WELCOME.

>> NOTHING'S HAPPENED.

>> YEAH, I KNOW.

NOTHING.

IT'S BEEN SLOW.

NO NEWS, RIGHT?

SO THAT'S BEEN REALLY INTERESTING.

JUST DIVING IN, NOT GETTING A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TO UNDERSTAND SCOTT FROST.

'CAUSE HE WAS GONE IN AN INSTANT, BASICALLY.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I HAD ONLY TALKED TO HIM ONE TIME OUTSIDE OF THE PODIUM STUFF.

I DIDN'T REALLY GET A CHANCE TO KNOW WHO HE WAS AS A PERSON AND KIND OF LEARN HOW HE GOES ABOUT THINGS.

AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO DO WITH NEW HEAD COACHES THAT I AM WORKING WITH.

SO DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO DO THAT.

YOU USUALLY GET SOME TIME TO INTERACT WITH THE PLAYERS MORE AND LEARN WHO THEY ARE AS PEOPLE.

AND WITH EVERYTHING HAPPENING SO QUICKLY AFTER GETTING HERE, IN TERMS OF ALL OF THE CHANGES.

THERE WERE SEVERAL WEEKS WHERE WE DIDN'T TALK TO PLAYERS, JUST WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON.

SO I FELT LIKE THE RUG HAD BEEN PULLED OUT FROM UNDER ME AT THE VERY BEGINNING.

NOT THAT I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT, I JUST DIDN'T EXPECT THAT IN SEPTEMBER.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AMY, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT WHAT ILLINOIS DOES VERY, VERY WELL.

AND IT DOESN'T REALLY COMPLEMENT WHAT NEBRASKA -- YOU KNOW WHAT THEY STRUGGLE WITH.

DO YOU SEE A SCENARIO WHERE NEBRASKA CAN GET TO -- CAN ATTACK ILLINOIS FROM OFFENSIVE TO DEFENSIVE IN THIS GAME?

>> OFFENSIVELY, I THINK NEBRASKA IS ONE OF THE BETTER TEAMS THAT ILLINOIS' DEFENSE HAS FACED THIS SEASON.

DEFENSIVELY, FOR NEBRASKA, I WORRY ABOUT -- THERE'S NO STOPPING THAT RUN GAME.

IT'S JUST CAN YOU LIMIT HOW PRODUCTIVE THEY ARE?

THAT IS A BIG WORRY FOR ME.

IF NEBRASKA HAS A CHANCE, IN MY OPINION, TO WIN THIS GAME, SOMETHING REALLY WEIRD IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN.

WHETHER THAT BE A PICK SIX OR, YOU KNOW, BLOCKED PUNT RETURN.

SOMETHING STRANGE IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN FOR THEM TO PULL THIS OFF, I THINK.

>> HOW MUCH DID YOU COVER LSU WHEN YOU WERE IN LOUISIANA?

>> BRIEFLY.

SO I COVERED THE 2018 SEASON, PART OF IT.

MY FIRST GAME IN TIGER STADIUM WAS LSU'S UPSET OF GEORGIA WHERE THEY RUSHED THE FIELD.

THAT WAS MY INDOCTRINATION INTO LOUISIANA FOOTBALL.

AND THAT WAS A VERY STRANGE SEASON.

THE SEVEN OVERTIME GAME AGAINST TEXAS A&M.

THE FIESTA BOWL WIN OVER UCF.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE EXTENT OF IT.

I GOT THROUGH BASKETBALL SEASON.

I WAS A BASKETBALL REPORTER THERE.

COVERED THEIR GYMNASTICS TEAM.

AND THEN I WAS LAID OFF AND THEN COVERED THE SAINTS THE NEXT SEASON.

>> YOU'RE AROUND MICKEY A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES HIM SO ATTRACTIVE TO FANS?

BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING, HEY, WE WANT HIM AS OUR HEAD COACH.

IT WASN'T LIKE THAT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AGO, I DON'T THINK.

>> HE'S CAPTIVATING.

AND HIS PERSONALITY IS JUST INFECTIOUS.

IT DOESN'T JUST RUB OFF ON PEOPLE, YOU FEEL IT.

LIKE ALL THE WAY THROUGH YOUR SOUL.

AND I FEEL LIKE THAT IS A PART OF WHAT MAKES HIM SUCH A GREAT RECRUITER TOO.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET WHAT YOU GET WITH MICKEY.

AND IF YOU LOVE IT, YOU LOVE IT.

AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, YOU DON'T LIKE IT.

THERE'S REALLY NO IN BETWEEN.

I JUST FEEL THAT NEBRASKA FANS CAN FEEL HIS ENERGY AND THEY BELIEVE IT, BECAUSE IT IS GENUINE AND SINCERE.

>> AMY, DO YOU THINK THERE IS A WIN NUMBER HE HAS GOT TO GET TO?

DO THESE NEXT TWO WEEKS KIND OF TELL US WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH MICKEY JOSEPH, AS FAR AS IF HE'S THE HEAD COACH OR GONNA BE JUST RETAINED AS AN ASSISTANT?

WHAT'S YOUR FEEL ON THAT WHOLE SITUATION RIGHT NOW?

>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF THAT UNTIL THE FROST METRICS CAME OUT, WHICH -- YOU KNOW, SIX WINS AND A BOWL, BUT THAT WASN'T THE BARE MINIMUM.

THAT WAS SIX AND A BOWL WAS SO SCOTT COULD GET BACK UP TO $5 MILLION.

THAT WASN'T, OH, IF YOU DON'T GET TO SIX WINS WE'RE GONNA FIRE YOU.

THE BAR FOR THAT WAS LOWER.

SO IF MICKEY CAN GET BOWL ELIGIBLE, DOES THAT MAKE HIM A CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB?

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU WANTED FROST TO DO.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE THINKING THAT ALBERTS HAS.

I WISH I KNEW, RIGHT?

>> MM-HMM.

>> BUT THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, I THINK, ARE GONNA BE IMPORTANT.

I DON'T THINK THEY BEAT ILLINOIS THIS WEEKEND.

BUT IF THEY'RE COMPETITIVE, LIKE THEY WERE TWO WEEKS AGO AGAINST PURDUE, MAYBE.

IS IT POSSIBLE THEY CAN MAKE IT TO A BOWL GAME?

I THINK SO.

BUT POSSIBLE, RIGHT?

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THERE ARE THREE WINNABLE GAMES LEFT.

>> WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT COACH JOSEPH SAID TODAY?

WHERE HE SAID, "YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST GO BACK TO BATON ROUGE.

I HAVE A HOUSE THERE."

>> MM-HMM.

>> IT MADE IT SOUND LIKE, IF HE DIDN'T GET THE JOB.

DO YOU THINK THAT WAS MORE, IF I DON'T GET RETAINED, IF IT DON'T GET THE JOB?

WHICH ONE DO YOU THINK IT WAS MORE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I DIDN'T READ INTO IT THAT DEEP.

>> OKAY, BECAUSE IT WAS STRANGE THAT HE -- >> I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT DEEP.

>> OH, OKAY.

>> BUT MAYBE, MAYBE I JUST WASN'T READING INTO IT.

>> YOU THOUGHT HE WAS JUST PLAYING?

KIND OF JUST JOKING AROUND?

>> HE CAN BE.

HE CAN DO THAT SOMETIMES.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT YEAH, NO.

I THINK THAT HE WANTS THIS JOB.

AND I THINK HE'D BE GOOD AT IT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE THE JUMP TO DO IT.

BUT WE'LL FIND OUT.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CASEY THOMPSON, BY THE WAY JUST -- AND TREY PALMER?

SOME THE GUYS THEY HAVE BROUGHT IN TO THIS TEAM AND HOW THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SOME OF THESE PIECES WORK AS JUST NEWCOMERS TO THIS WHOLE OPERATION.

>> YEAH, I STRUGGLE TO WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS OFFENSE WOULD LOOK LIKE WITHOUT THOSE TWO.

>> MAYBE LIKE IOWA?

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> NO.

PLEASE NO.

>> SAM WROTE A PRETTY GOOD TAKE ON LIKE THAT.

IOWA IS BASICALLY NEBRASKA WITHOUT CASEY THOMPSON, AND TREY PALMER, AND ANTHONY GRANT.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, WHAT A BENEFIT THOSE THREE HAVE BEEN.

IT'S THEIR ENTIRE OFFENSE, BASICALLY.

I REALLY LIKE WATCHING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CASEY AND TREY, ESPECIALLY AGAINST PURDUE.

IT WAS SO ELECTRIFYING.

YOU KNEW THAT ANY TIME CASEY PUT THE BALL UP, TREY WAS GOING TO GET IT.

YOU WONDER IF THE DEFENSES ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY STOP HIM.

THEY ARE GOING TO TRY.

BUT HE HAS PLAYED WELL ALL SEASON AND NO ONE HAS DEFENDED HIM.

SO, YOU WOULD IMAGINE THAT ILLINOIS IS GOING TO TRY TO AT LEAST BRACKET HIM THIS WEEK.

>> YEAH.

>> WILL IT WORK?

I GUESS WE WILL FIND OUT.

>> IF IT WASN'T CASEY THOMPSON, I ASSUME THEY WOULD HAVE TO MOVE THE OFFENSE AROUND AND MAKE IT MORE OF A MOBILE QUARTERBACK.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN THE OFFENSE?

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING AGAINST ILLINOIS THAT THEY REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN THIS YEAR IF YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE THE BALL.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S BEEN -- IT'S JUST NOT WORKING, FROM A BLOCKING STANDPOINT, OR GIVING HIM A FEW MORE TOUCHES.

WE NEED MORE OUT OF THAT.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE -- LAST QUESTION.

THE SURVEY TODAY IS, WILL THEY MAKE A BOWL?

POSSIBLE, PROBABLE, UNLIKELY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> PROBABLE IS WHAT I'M THINKING.

THERE ARE THREE WINNABLE GAMES, IN MY OPINION, LEFT ON THERE.

AND WE'LL SEE.

BUT YEAH, THAT IOWA GAME -- WOOF.

THAT'S -- >> IT'LL COME DOWN TO THAT.

YEAH.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, RIGHT?

IT IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING THANKSGIVING WEEKEND FOR ALL OF US.

>> NO DOUBT.

AIME, WE APPRECIATE IT.

WELCOME BACK HOME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS TO HER.

NEXT UP ON THE SHOW, KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING, ROBIN WASHUT JOINS US FROM HUSKER ONLINE.

AS WE GO TO BREAK, IMAGES FROM THE WINNING ROAD TRIP, COURTESY OF HAIL VARSITY.

STAY WITH US.

WE'RE BACK.

♪ ♪ >>> IT'S TIME FOR A TASTE OF SOCIAL MEDIA DURING THE BYE WEEK.

FIRST UP HUSKER CORNER ON TWITTER SHOWCASES, THE LATEST VICTIM OF THE HUSKER'S HEX.

THIS SEASON PURDUE THIS TIME.

YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS, PLAY NEBRASKA, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THE NEXT WEEK.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPEN.

NO TEAM HAS WON THIS SEASON THE WEEK AFTER BEATING NEBRASKA.

NEXT UP OF COURSE IS KEVIN, WHO JUST FELT LOST WITHOUT ANY HUSKER FOOTBALL THIS WEEKEND.

HIGHLIGHTING HIS DILEMMA WITH A CLASSIC RICKY BOBBY MEME.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY HANDS."

WELCOME BACK TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP" AND WELCOME OUR NEXT GUEST, ROBIN WASHUT HUSKER ONLINE.

THANKS FOR BEING ON THE SHOW AND THANKS FOR WEARING THE BOOTS.

ONLY YOU AND SIP FOR THE BOOTS.

>> WELL, I TRY TO DO MY BEST FOR MY DEBUT ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP" SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND I'M GLAD MY OUTFIT IS APPROVED BY MIKE'L SEVERE.

>> AND NOW WHAT HE HAVE IS THE TWO STRONGEST MEN IN HUSKER MEDIA.

YOU'RE ONE, YOU'RE TWO.

PRETTY COOL.

NICE TO HAVE YOU GUYS ON THE SAME SET.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I APPRECIATE I'M CONSIDERED HUSKER MEDIA.

>> YOU'RE HERE EVERY WEEK, MAN.

>> TRUE, TRUE.

>> IT'S A DISTANT SECOND.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> HOW MUCH OF THE BYE WEEK DID YOU SPEND THINKING ABOUT NEBRASKA FOOTBALL?

AND HOW MUCH BASKETBALL, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THINGS ARE GETTING STARTED.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

NO WEEKS OFF FOR US HOOPS GUYS.

THE EXHIBITION OPENER ON SUNDAY.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE GAMES YOU TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT IS.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY A DIVISION TWO OPPONENT AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO READ TOO MUCH INTO IT.

ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT FRED WEBBER SAID HE HAD TWO ACTIONS IN THE ENTIRE GAME.

ONE PERIMETER PLAY, ONE POST PLAY.

>> WOW.

>> YOU TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT IS.

BUT YOU KNOW IT WAS A GOOD FIRST CHANCE TO SEE THIS GROUP TOGETHER ON THE COURT, WITH FANS IN THE STANDS AGAINST A LIVE OPPONENT.

SO THERE WAS SOME VALUE THAT YOU CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THAT.

BUT NOW YOU LOOK AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK, WHEN THEY GO OUT TO COLORADO FOR THAT CHARITY GAME REMATCH OUT IN BOULDER.

I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GAUGE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THIS TEAM IS ALL ABOUT.

NOW GO BACK TO LAST YEAR, TAKE THOSE EXHIBITIONS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, CAUSE THEY LOOKED LIKE THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS THERE IN THAT FIRST GAME AGAINST BUFFALO.

YOU'LL TAKE IT AS THE NEXT LAYER OF EVALUATING WHAT THIS GROUP IS.

BECAUSE IT IS SO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT FRED HAS HAD NOW IN HIS FOURTH SEASON HERE IN LINCOLN.

SO VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS, OFFENSIVE ESPECIALLY.

BUT I THINK THE CHADRON GAME AND THEN LOOKING AHEAD TO COLORADO, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A MUCH BETTER SENSE WHAT THESE GUYS ARE ALL ABOUT.

WHAT THEIR STRENGTHS ARE, WHAT THEIR WEAKNESSES ARE, THAN EVEN IF YOU DID A WEEK AGO.

>> NOW ROBERT, WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THIS TEAM?

THEY'RE 14th IN THE PRESEASON POLL.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST QUESTION?

WHY ARE PEOPLE PICKING THEM 14th?

IS A LOT OF IT THE UNKNOWNS?

WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THIS ROSTER?

>> YEAH THE UNKNOWNS IS A BIG PART OF IT.

AND AGAIN WHO IS GOING TO SCORE?

THEIR SHOOTING LEFT A LOT TO BE DESIRED AGAINST CHADRON STATE.

THEY SHOT 23% BEHIND THE ARC.

THAT'S CLEARLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH, BUT WHAT YOU DO LIKE ABOUT THIS GROUP IS THE EFFORT.

THEIR COMMITMENT TO DEFENSE AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO REBOUND.

I DON'T KNOW MY TWITTER MENTIONS ARE A MESSAGE BOARD ON THE RED SEA SCROLLS, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WERE VERY UPSET WERE LACKING OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

SO I THINK THAT THIS GROUP, IF NOTHING ELSE, THE TRY FACTOR -- THE WANT TO.

IN ALL THE DIRTY WORK ELEMENTS OF BASKETBALL THAT ARE SO CRITICAL ESPECIALLY IN THE BIG 10 CONFERENCE.

THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THERE.

NOW YOU GOT TO WONDER FROM A SKILLS STANDPOINT, FROM A SHOOTING STANDPOINT, WHO IS GOING TO GET THE BALL WHEN THE SHOT CLOCK'S WINDING DOWN AND YOU NEED A BUCKET.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE DON'T KNOW.

BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO GIVE MAX EFFORT EVERY TIME THEY GO DOWN THE FLOOR -- ON BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR.

AND THAT STARTS WITH SOME OF THE GUYS THEY BROUGHT IN SAM GRIESEL, THERE'S NOT A PLAYER THAT HAS PLAYED FOR FRED HOIBERG THAT CARES MORE ABOUT BASKETBALL THAN SAM GRIESEL.

EMANUEL PLAYED ON FOUR STRAIGHT SUCCESSFUL TEAMS AT SMUS, HE'S AN OLDER GUY THAT KNOWS HOW TO WIN.

DEREK WALKER, HE'S A 24-YEAR-OLD MAN.

HE CAME BACK FOR THIS SEASON, NOT TO WIN EIGHT GAMES.

SO THERE'S A PRIDE FACTOR WITH HIM.

JUWAN GARY WAS A FAN FAVORITE AT ALABAMA.

YOU LOOK AT THE REACTION FROM ALABAMA SOCIAL MEDIA WHEN HE TRANSFERRED TO NEBRASKA, THEY SAID YOU ARE GETTING AN ABSOLUTE DOG.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> HE'S ONE OF THOSE GUYS NEBRASKA JUST HASN'T HAD.

THE GUYS, THE GUYS THAT DON'T CARE ABOUT SCORING.

THEY CARE ABOUT DEFENSE, THEY CARE ABOUT REBOUNDING, THEY CARE ABOUT DIVING FOR LOSE BALLS AND WINNING.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW ALL THAT ALL COMES TOGETHER, BUT I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THIS GROUP, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE STUFF THE STANDS OUT THE MOST FOR NEBRASKA FANS.

JUST BECAUSE THOSE INTANGIBLES HAVE BEEN LACKING A LOT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

>> ONE MORE BASKETBALL QUESTION FROM THE FOOTBALL GUY.

THE WAY THEY FINISHED LAST YEAR WINNING AT WISCONSIN, OBVIOUSLY THE TEAM WITHOUT McGOWANS AND -- YOU BASICALLY HIGHLIGHTED ALL THE NEW PLAYERS -- IS THAT MORE AN ANOMALY OR IS THAT SOMETHING THEY CAN BUILD ON TO CARRY INTO THIS SEASON?

>> YEAH I THINK THAT'S THE BLUEPRINT OF WHAT THEY WANT TO BE.

TO WHERE THAT PICTURE OVER THE LAST FEW GAMES, IS WHAT THEY THOUGHT THAT TEAM WAS GOING TO BE ALL ALONG.

AND CLEARLY THEY WERE HIT ADVERSITY RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.

LOSING TO WESTERN ILLINOIS AND THEY DID NOT HAVE THE RESOLVE TO PULL THEMSELVES TOGETHER.

THAT KIND OF PICTURE WERE IT'S JUST SCRAPPY.

YOU KNOW, GUYS ARE FIGHTING.

PLAYING REALLY AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE.

AND JUST NOT QUITTING WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO TRY TO CARRY OVER.

NOW THE ISSUE IS THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GROUP -- OUTSIDE OF A HANDFUL OF PLAYERS THAT ARE COMING BACK.

THE HOPE IS THAT WITH THE INFLUX OF VETERAN TRANSFERS, LIKE I SAID GRIESEL, JUWAN GARY AND THE LIKE, THAT THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE TYPES OF GUYS TO EMBODY ALL OF THOSE TRAITS YOU SAW.

GIVE NEBRASKA ITS BEST CHANCE TO WIN IN THE BIG 10 LAST SEASON, THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF AN ENTIRE YEAR THIS YEAR.

>> TRANSITION BACK TO FOOTBALL, WE DID SEE AGAINST INDIANA AND RUTGERS DEFENSE PLAY REALLY WELL IN THE SECOND HALF.

SAW THAT AGAINST PURDUE.

YOU THINK THEY CAN GET WHATEVER THEY DID IN THOSE TWO GAMES THIS UPCOMING SATURDAY?

>> YEAH I THINK SO.

IT'S A TOUGH MATCHUP IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE ALL TALKED ABOUT HOW GOOD ILLINOIS IS DEFENSIVELY AND HOW GOOD THEIR RUNNING GAME IS.

BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S AN ELEMENT OF WHAT NEBRASKA'S GOING TO SHOW ILLINOIS.

OR THAT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN.

ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER.

IT'S NOT JUST TREY PALMER.

THEY'VE GOT WEAPONS ALL OVER THE FIELD.

IT'S A MATTER OF CAN THAT OFFENSIVE LINE DO ENOUGH?

JUST TO ALLOW THOSE WEAPONS TO GO TO WORK.

'‘CAUSE I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE PLAYS, ESPECIALLY DOWNFIELD.

NOT JUST TREY, BUT I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE GUYS THAT ARE GOING TO GET ONE ON ONE MATCH UPS.

IF THEY CAN WIN THOSE MATCHUPS, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE DIFFERENCE, I THINK.

ESPECIALLY AT HOME IN A GAME THAT -- YOU KNOW IF SOMEHOW NEBRASKA IS ABLE TO PULL THIS OFF YOU HAVE TO REEVALUATE WHAT THE REST OF THIS SEASON COULD BE.

SO THERE'S A LOT ON THE LINE HERE.

FOR ME IT STARTS WITH BEING ABLE TO SLOW DOWN ILLINOIS.

THAT RUNNING GAME, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY CAN THAT OFFENSIVE LINE SLOWDOWN ONE OF THE BEST DEFENSIVE FRONT SEVENS THEY'RE GOING TO SEE ALL SEASON?

>> ROBIN WHEN SCOTT FROST WAS FIRED ON SEPTEMBER 11th, DID YOU EVEN ENVISION AT ALL THAT WE'D BE IN THIS SPOT OCTOBER 29th OR MICKEY JOSEPH WOULD BE A LEGITIMATE CANDIDATE TO GET THE JOB.

HAS THAT SURPRISED YOU THAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE THE MOMENTUM HE HAS OVER THIS PERIOD.

>> YEAH ABSOLUTELY.

ESPECIALLY EVEN AFTER THE OKLAHOMA GAME AND THAT WAS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER AND YOU JUST WANTED TO CALL THE SEASON.

JUST HOPE THAT WE COULD WASH OUR HANDS OF IT, BUT FOR THEM TO MAKE WHAT THEY'VE MADE OUT OF THIS OPPORTUNITY, THAT IS AN ULTIMATE CREDIT JOSEPH, TO BILL BUSH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THAT COACHING STAFF FOR KEEPING THIS TOGETHER.

AND THEN THE PLAYERS, THE PLAYER LEADERSHIP -- FROM TAKING WHAT LOOKED TO BE A COMPLETE MELTDOWN AND TURNING THIS INTO A SITUATION -- THEY'RE IN PRIME POSITION TO COMPETE FOR THE DIVISION THIS FAR ALONG INTO THE SEASON.

THEY'RE GOING INTO THE END OF OCTOBER PLAYING MEANINGFUL FOOTBALL GAMES.

I DID NOT EXPECT THAT TO BE HONEST.

ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT WE SAW AGAINST GEORGIA SOUTHERN, THE FIRING AND AGAINST OKLAHOMA.

>> IF NOT MICKEY, ROBIN, DO YOU HAVE FAVORITE?

DO YOU HAVE A PULSE ON A GUY?

BECAUSE THINGS ARE GETTING A LITTLE CLEARER NOW.

YOU KNOW ARANDA KIND OF NOT HAVING THE YEAR YOU THOUGHT HE'D HAVE AT BAYLOR.

MATT CAMPBELL, IOWA STATE, I DON'T THINK HAS WON BIG 12 CONFERENCE GAME YET THIS YEAR.

SO JUST THINGS ARE KIND OF GETTING CLEARER.

IS THERE A GUY YOU LIKE, IF MICKEY ISN'T GUY, WHO KIND OF CHECKS ALL THOSE BOXES FOR YOU.

>> YEAH THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT THERE.

GUYS LIKE MARK STOOPS, BILL BRIAN BUT I AM NOT GOING TO PRETENDING I HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TREV'S THINKING, AND I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW IF HE KNOWS WHERE HE IS GOING TO GO WITH THIS DEAL.

IT'S ALL SPECULATION AT THIS POINT, BUT I THINK THOSE THREE GUYS IN PARTICULAR, FOR ME, DO CHECK A LOT OF THOSE BOXES TO WHERE YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM BUILDERS.

GUYS THAT KNOW THE AREA.

KNOW THE BIG 10 FOOTPRINT.

KNOW THE NEBRASKA 500 MILE RADIUS AND HOW TO RECRUIT IT.

AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT.

PARTICULARLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

WHICH IN MY OPINION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST DOWNFALLS FOR NEBRASKA FOR FAR TOO LONG -- IS THE INABILITY TO NOT ONLY RECRUIT HIGH LEVEL OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, AND DEFENSIVE LINEMEN TO AN EXTENT -- BUT GET THEM BETTER.

THERE'S BEEN SO MANY HIGH PROFILE RECRUITS, FOUR STAR GUYS, NATIONALLY RECRUITED GUYS THAT GET WORSE BY THE TIME THEY'RE HERE.

AND SO THAT HAS TO STOP, FIRST AND FOREMOST.

WHOEVER THE COACH IS, YOU HAVE TO EMPHASIZE NOT JUST RECRUITING AND BUILDING UP AN OFFENSIVE LINE, BUT DEVELOPING IT TO WHERE YOU ARE AT THE STANDARD OF MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, IOWA, AND THE LIKE.

>> AND THEN SOMETIMES, WHEN YOU GET TO THE NFL, ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY ARE BETTER.

>> ALL OF A SUDDEN.

>> THEY OBVIOUSLY HAD THE POTENTIAL.

>> GOT TO WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM IN THE NFL.

>> HE'S GOOD ON THE LINE, YEAH.

>> GIVE ME -- IF IT IS NOT TREY PALMER, WHO IS YOU PICK TO CLICK ON OFFENSE?

WHO HAS THE -- WHO STEPS UP?

>> I LIKE MARCUS WASHINGTON.

>> OKAY.

>> I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT GAME FOR HIM.

HE TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WHERE, YOU KNOW, HE KNOWS A LOT OF THE GUYS ON THE COACHING STAFF AND ON THE ROSTER.

HE HAS RECRUITED TWICE BY ILLINOIS OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN WHEN HE LEFT TEXAS.

AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PERSONAL GAMES FOR HIM WHERE I THINK HE IS GONNA BE MOTIVATED.

AND YOU TALKED ALL ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT'S GONNA BE THERE WITH THE ATTENTION BEING PAID TO TREY PALMER.

I THINK MARCUS WASHINGTON IS GOING TO HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE PLAYS DOWNFIELD AND MAKE ILLINOIS PAY FOR OVERCOMMITTING TO STOPPING TREY PALMER.

>> HOW CREATIVE DO YOU THINK WHIPPLE IS GOING TO BE WITH TREY PALMER?

I MEAN, THIS GUY HAD TWO WEEKS NOW TO KIND OF FIGURE THINGS OUT.

HE KNOWS PROBABLY HOW THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO GO AT HIM.

SO AT THAT POINT, HOW DOES WHIPPLE SPIN OFF THAT?

>> I THINK YOU LOOK BACK, YOU KNOW, MARK WHIPPLE HAD A GUY NAMED JORDAN ADDISON WHO WAS ON THE TOP ON EVERYBODY ELSE'S SCOUTING REPORT ALL SEASON AND HE WAS THE NATION'S LEADING RECEIVER.

SO I THINK THAT THEY -- MARK WHIPPLE HAS ALL OF THE CAPABILITY TO FIND DIFFERENT, CREATIVE WAYS OF DOING MOTIONS AND GETTING STUFF WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO CREATE DIFFERENT MATCHUPS, ESPECIALLY, LIKE YOU SAID, BETWEEN THE HASHES.

I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT.

'CAUSE IF YOU JUST LINE THEM UP ON THE PERIMETER, ILLINOIS IS GONNA TAKE THEM AWAY.

AND HE'S TOO GOOD OF A PLAYER TO JUST COMPLETELY WRITE OFF.

>> I THINK THEY HAD MAYBE NINE, TEN PEOPLE IN THE DEPTH CHART FOR RUNNING BACK START THE SEASON.

NOW THERE IS WHAT, 2 1/2?

WHO DO YOU THINK IS NUMBER TWO BEHIND ANTHONY GRANT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WITH GABE ERVIN'S TURF TOE INJURY, IT MAKES IT AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC WHERE YOU HAVE JAQUEZ YANT WHO, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE FLASHES OF WHAT HE COULD BE, BUT HE'S LEFT A LOT TO BE DESIRED.

AND THEN IT'S RAHMIR JOHNSON WHO -- WELCOME BACK TO THE TEAM, I GUESS.

HE GETS 1 CARRY FOR HIS FIRST TOUCH OF THE SEASON, GOES FOR 17 YARDS AGAINST PURDUE.

YOU DON'T SEE HIM AGAIN FOR THE REST OF THE GAME.

SO CAN HE FINALLY BE THE TYPE OF PLAYER THAT EVERYBODY EXPECTED HE'D BE WITH ALL THE TALK OF HIM GOING INTO THE SEASON?

SO I'M CURIOUS MORE WITH RAHMIR AND JUST CAN THEY GET HIM MORE INVOLVED?

ESPECIALLY -- WE TALKED ABOUT ILLINOIS' PASS RUSH, NEBRASKA'S OFFENSIVE LINE AND THEIR PASS PROTECTION ISSUES.

WILL WE SEE SCREEN PASSES TO THE RUNNING BACK, AND CAN RAHMIR BE THAT VERSATILE PASS CATCHING BACK THAT CAN ADD THAT ELEMENT OF THE OFFENSE?

>> IT'S GOT TO COME OUT OF HIS HAND QUICK THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> I MEAN, WE WATCHED -- THIS IS THE NFL, I KNOW.

BUT YOU HAD A GAME WITH TUA WHERE NO ONE WANTED HIM TO GET HIT.

THE FIRST, I'D SAY, QUARTER AND A HALF, THE BALL WAS OUT IN LESS THAN A SECOND.

IT WAS JUST QUICK.

THAT'S KINDA WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO ON SATURDAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

QUICK TIMING ROUTS, AND THEN MAYBE MOVE HIM OUT OF THE POCKET A LITTLE BIT.

BUT DON'T JUST HAVE HIM BEING A SITTING DUCK BACK THERE BECAUSE THAT WILL NOT END WELL.

>> MAYBE A LITTLE SHOVEL PASS?

WE HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH OF THOSE THIS YEAR.

>> ANYTHING DELAY-WISE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, MM-HMM.

>> IF THEY ARE GOING TO COME UP THE FIELD THAT WAY -- GET THEM ON A DELAY.

>> MARK WHIPPLE HAS IT IN HIS REPERTOIRE TO COME UP WITH THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

I AM CURIOUS TO SEE HOW FAR THEY GO INTO THAT TO NOT ONLY GET TREY INVOLVED, BUT PROTECT CASEY.

>> WHAT WE DON'T TALK A LOT ABOUT, ON THAT PITT TEAM, YOU HAD A QUARTERBACK WHO WAS WILLING TO GO AND GET EIGHT YARD, GET TEN YARDS.

WE ARE SEEING THAT NOW IN THE NFL WITH THE STEELERS.

THAT IS SOMETHING CASEY THOMPSON HAS GOT TO DO MORE OF, I THINK.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S AN ELEMENT THAT, I MEAN, YOU GO COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S OFFENSE, IS NOT NEARLY THERE THE WAY IT WAS.

HE IS CAPABLE.

HE HAS SHOWN FLASHES OF ESCAPING AND PICKING UP YARDAGE.

BUT AGAIN, HE'S A GUY THAT'S ALREADY TAKEN QUITE A BIT OF A BEATING THIS SEASON.

YOU DON'T WANT HIM TAKING ANY UNNECESSARY SHOTS.

>> UNDERSTANDABLE.

YEAH, HE'S KIND OF BANGED UP.

LAST FIVE PICK, HOW MANY?

WHAT DO YOU GOT, RECORD?

>> LAST FIVE?

I THINK THREE IS ATTAINABLE.

IS IT LIKELY?

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK WHAT WE SEE AGAINST ILLINOIS WILL GO A LONG WAY IN THAT DISCUSSION.

IF THEY GO OUT AND GET HOUSED, THEM MY ODDS OF GETTING TO THREE IS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY BE LOWER.

>> WELL, I WISH YOU A SUCCESSFUL BASKETBALL SEASON 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW THE LAST TIME YOU COVERED ONE OF THOSE.

THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

>> IT HAS BEEN A WHILE.

>> ROBIN WASHUT FROM HUSKER ONLINE.

WE APPRECIATE IT, ROBIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> TIME FOR ANOTHER BREAK.

NEXT UP, SEAN WILL HAVE SOME BIG UPDATES FOR THE 2023 CLASS.

BUT FIRST, MORE SCENES FROM THE SEASON SO FAR COURTESY OF HAIL VARSITY.

BACK IN TWO.

♪ ♪ SOME BIG UPDATES FOR THE 2023 ♪ ♪ >>> WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

MIKE'L SEVERE, HE'S SEAN CALLAHAN.

YOU SAW US OVER THERE EARLIER.

BIG NEWS SATURDAY.

2023 CLASS.

NOT JUST BIG NEWS BUT A GREAT STORY ABOUT A YOUNG MAN WHOSE OVERCOME A LOT OF ADVERSITY.

>> YEAH, MALACHI COLEMAN FROM LINCOLN EAST OFFICIALLY COMMITTED TO NEBRASKA ON SATURDAY EVENING AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL IN LINCOLN EAST.

NUMBER ONE PLAYER IN THE STATE.

REALLY A CONSENSUS TOP 100 OVERALL NATIONAL PROSPECT.

6'5, PUSHES 200 POUNDS.

10-4, A GUY IN THE HUNDRED, 41 INCH VERTICAL.

THIS WAS THE CEREMONY AND THAT'S HIS PARENTS CRAIG AND MIRANDA WHO ADOPTED MALACHI.

AND HIS SISTER.

THEY HAVE THREE ADOPTED CHILDREN.

JUST YOU KNOW, WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW CRAIG AND MIRANDA THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THEY HAPPENED TO JUST GO TO MY GYM AND I REMEMBER WHEN THEY TOLD ME LIKE, "WE'VE GOT A YOUNG BOY, MALACHI, WE THINK HE'S GOING TO BE PRETTY GOOD."

>> YEAH.

>> AND THEY WERE RIGHT.

I MEAN MALACHI IS OBVIOUSLY -- IN TERMS OF ATHLETIC ABILITY -- AS GIFTED OF AN ATHLETE AS WE'VE SEEN COME THROUGH THIS STATE IN A WHILE.

NOW, THAT'S MICKEY JOSEPH'S JOB, OR WHOEVER AT NEBRASKA, TO GET IT OUT OF HIM.

BECAUSE I THINK HE CAN, YOU KNOW -- THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

I'M MALACHI, HE'S GOT THINGS YOU CAN'T COACH.

KIND OF LIKE ZAVIER BETTS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, ZAVIER BETTS IS THE LAST GUY I CAN THINK OF THAT HAD THAT KIND OF VERTICAL AND THAT KIND OF 40.

>> BUT HE'S TALLER THAN ZAVIER, HE'S FASTER.

YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT LEGIT TRACK SPEED.

SO, AND HE JUST MAKES IT LOOK EASY.

EVERYTHING THIS GUY DOES, YOU WATCH HIM DUNK A BASKETBALL, IT'S HIS TWO HANDS.

BOOM.

>> WHAT ABOUT WHAT HE SAID HE WASN'T COMING HERE?

MOST LIKELY.

>> MICKEY GETS THE INTERIM JOB.

NOW HE'S COMING HERE.

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THAT AFFECTS WHAT HAPPENS WITH MICKEY?

>> YEAH, THERE WERE SOME INTERESTING COMMENTS THERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NEBRASKA WAS HIS FIRST OFFER.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT THEN EVERYBODY JUMPED IN LAST YEAR AND THERE WAS THIS WEIRD PERIOD IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, EVEN NOVEMBER, WHERE IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD.

HE WAS GOING TO MICHIGAN, HE WAS GOING TO ALL THESE OTHER GAMES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND THEN THE CONNECTION JUST DIDN'T FEEL STRONG WITH NEBRASKA FOR WHATEVER ODD REASON.

AND THEN MICKEY JOSEPH CAME IN AND LITERALLY ONE VISIT TO LINCOLN EAST KIND OF CHANGED EVERYTHING.

>> RIGHT.

>> ONE CONVERSATION -- KIND OF LIKE MICKEY JOSEPH CALLING TREY PALMER AND SAID, "YOU COMING?"

>> YEAH.

>> AND TREY'S LIKE, "YUP I'M COMING TO NEBRASKA WITH YOU."

>> SURE, LET'S GO.

>> AND THAT'S THE EFFECT MICKEY HAD ON MALACHI AND HIS FAMILY.

YEAH, MALACHI -- I ASKED HIM THE QUESTION AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER HIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

I SAID, "WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT ON THE COACHING SITUATION?"

HE GOES, "MICKEY IS GOING TO BE HERE, I KNOW THAT."

>> NICE.

>> HE'S VERY CONFIDENT THAT MICKEY JOSEPH WILL BE AT NEBRASKA ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER GUYS IN STATE WISE FOR THE RECRUITING PLAN.

>> YEAH, YOU LOOK AT THE THIS GROUP OF IN STATE PROSPECTS FOR NEBRASKA.

THERE'S NOW SIX COMMITTED TO NEBRASKA HERE IN THIS 2023 SIGNING CLASS.

THAT TIES THE NUMBER FOR NEBRASKA IN 2000, IN 2002.

THAT IS THE MOST NEBRASKA'S HAD --.

>> AND FROM ALL OVER THE STATE TOO, IT'S NOT JUST -- .

YEAH, ALL OVER THE STATE.

>> YOU GO AROUND THE STATE, THEY'VE GOT A CHANCE TO GET MASON GOLDMAN WHICH WOULD BE SEVEN.

THAT WOULD BE THE MOST IN THE INTERNET ERA.

AND THE AVERAGE DISTANCE RIGHT NOW PER PROSPECT, AND THE DATABASE TRACKS THAT ON THE COMMIT PAGES NOW.

IT'S A REALLY NICE FEATURE.

IS 467 MILES -- .

>> THAT'S THE REAL 500 MILE RADIUS.

>> SO YOU GET MASON GOLDMAN, GRETNA'S LIKE 45 SO THAT'S GOING TO GO DOWN HERE EVEN MORE.

BUT THAT IS THE LOWEST DISTANCE AND OUR DATA GOES BACK TO 1999.

NOW I'M SURE IN THE 80's AND THE 90's IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO DIG IN THE WEEDS AND DO A FULL -- .

>> WELL '‘91 ALONE, '‘91, '‘92 WITH ALL THOSE GUYS THAT CAME IN.

>> YOU DO A FULL STAT AUDIT ON ALL THOSE CLASSES BUT, YOU KNOW, THE INTERNET ERA IS KIND OF WHEN THINGS STARTED THE COVERAGE LIKE IT IS NOW.

AND IT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE.

YOU KNOW, NEBRASKA'S GOTTEN SIX AND REALLY THEY COULD'VE HAD MORE THAN THAT.

I MEAN, OTHER GUYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE IN A MINUTE.

ZANE FLORES AND OTHER GUYS, SO.

>> BEFORE WE GET TO HIM, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER COACHES WENT OUT ON THE ROAD.

THE COORDINATORS DIDN'T BUT WHERE'D THEY END UP GOING.

>> ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

MICKEY JOSEPH WAS IN ATLANTA.

HE WAS IN ARIZONA.

SO HE SAW BARRY JACKSON IN ATLANTA.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND THEN HE WENT OVER TO ARIZONA.

SAW ISAIAH NEWCOMBE, RAN INTO BOBBY NEWCOMBE WHO WAS THE COACH OF CASTEEL.

THEN HE WENT BY CHANDLER.

HOME OF DYLAN RAIOLA, SWUNG BY THERE.

BRYAN APPLEWHITE WAS IN CHICAGO, OFFERED A RUNNING BACK.

WAS IN KANSAS, WENT TO THE JUCOS.

MIKE DAWSON WENT WITH HIM TO THE JUCOS IN KANSAS.

THEY MADE SEVEN OFFERS, MIKE'L.

IN THE KANSAS JUCOS.

OVER THE WEEKEND.

MIKE CASSANO WENT OUT TO MASSACHUSETTS TO GO WATCH WILLIAM WATSON PLAY IN HIS GAME.

HE ALSO VISITED A COUPLE MORE NORTHEAST SCHOOLS.

YOU HAD JOEY CONNORS, THE NEW SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR.

HE WENT OUT TO A JUCO IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THEN A FEW HIGH SCHOOLS THERE.

DONOVAN RAIOLA WAS IN ARIZONA.

BARRETT RUUD WAS IN OMAHA.

KEITH WILLIAMS WAS ACTIVATED, WENT OUT TO ST. LOUIS THURSDAY, FRIDAY.

AND THEN TRAVIS FISHER DID GO TO FLORIDA, AS WELL.

SO THEY HAD EVERYBODY OUT AND I'LL TELL YOU -- THAT'S A VERY ACTIVE BYE WEEK.

YOU DON'T SEE WHAT I JUST SHOWED YOU -- VERY FEW TEAMS ARE GOING TO GO OUT AT THE LEVEL NEBRASKA DID ON A BYE WEEK.

AND IT TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT JUST HOW DRIVEN MICKEY JOSEPH IS TO BE THE GUY RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH AND WIN THIS CLASS.

STILL IN STATE, ZANE FLORES, WE'VE SAID -- I'VE SAID EVERYTHING I COULD POSSIBLY SAY ABOUT THE YOUNG MAN.

I'VE NEVER SEEN SOMEBODY AS A FRESHMAN SPIN THE BALL THE WAY HE DID.

HE IS A TALENTED KID.

>> YEAH, ZANE FLORES.

OKLAHOMA STATE, HIGH THREE STAR TYPE PROSPECT.

REALLY ON THE CUSP OF BEING A FOUR IN MY OPINION.

HAD A LOT OF OFFENSE -- .

>> WHAT'S MISSING?

HE'S 6'3, HE CAN RUN, HE THROWS THE BALL AS WELL AS ANYBODY, HE'S ACCURATE.

WHAT'S MISSING?

>> I THINK JUST -- WHEN HE'S BEEN IN THE SHOWCASE EVENTS LIKE AT ELITE 11 -- .

>> ALWAYS GOT SHORTS ON.

>> ON THAT, IN THAT EVENT WHEN ALL THE GUYS ARE TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THEM ALL THROW TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, HE LOOKED MAYBE A NOTCH BELOW SOME OF THE TOP RATED GUYS.

BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT HE'S A BONA FIDE BIG 10, BIG 12 GUY.

K-STATE REALLY WANTED HIM.

OKLAHOMA STATE WANTED HIM.

HE DIDN'T HAVE AN IOWA OFFER, A NEBRASKA OFFER.

AND I THINK THAT'S DEBATABLE.

NOW I CAN TELL YOU THIS, WHEN SCOTT FROST WAS FIRED, MICKEY JOSEPH -- .

>> WENT THERE.

>> DID PUT INFORMAL FEELERS OUT TO GRETNA TO SAY, "HEY, IF THERE WERE SOME INTEREST, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED?."

AND THEY GOT A "NO, THANK YOU."

AND I DON'T BLAME THE FLORES FAMILY.

OKLAHOMA STATE MIKE GUNDY, NUMBER ONE.

>> YEAH, IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

>> PHENOMENAL OFFENSIVE COACH.

>> YEAH.

>> NUBMER TWO, THEY BEEN ON THEM FORM THE GET-GO, SO.

YOU KNOW, ZANE AND HIS FAMILY REALLY REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.

AND OKLAHOMA STATE'S DONE THINGS RIGHT THE WHOLE WAY.

IN FACT, THEY WERE JUST IN STILLWATER THIS WEEKEND, I KNOW THAT, WITH MASON GOLDMAN.

HE WENT DOWN THERE WITH THEM AND SOME OTHER GRETNA TEAMMATES THIS WEEKEND.

>> HUGE WIN THIS WEEK BY OKLAHOMA STATE OVER TEXAS.

BIG TIME.

>> BIG TIME.

>> THANKS SEAN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

WE WANT YOU TO VOTE IN THIS WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY ALWAYS.

WILL NEBRASKA MAKE A BOWL GAME?

YOU'VE GOT "PROBABLE", "POSSIBLE", AND "UNLIKELY."

RIGHT NOW, POSSIBLE.

HEY, SO YOU SAY THERE'S A CHANCE.

43% OF FOLKS SAY "POSSIBLE" FOR NEBRASKA TO MAKE A BOWL GAME WHICH WOULD BE A HUGE WIN, OF COURSE.

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

TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AROUND THE BIG TEN.

PENN STATE PUT IT ON.

THEY ROUTED MINNESOTA WITH OUT THE STARTING QUARTERBACK.

45-17.

WISCONSIN BADGERED PURDUE.

DEFEATED THE BOILERMAKERS 35-24.

AND OHIO STATE CONTINUE TO ROLL IN THE SECOND HALF.

OFFENSIVELY CHALLENGED IOWA, GOT DESTROYED 54-10.

LET'S DIVE INTO ANOTHER COACHING CANDIDATE FOR NEBRAKSA.

THIS WEEK, IT'S A HOMETOWN BOY, KIND OF.

LANE KIFFIN, BORN IN LINCOLN.

OF COURSE, HIS DAD WAS A WELL-KNOWN DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR HERE.

LANE HAS BEEN A HEAD COACH AT FIVE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, INCLUDING THE NFL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, SEAN?

PROS AND CONS.

>> HIS BROTHER COACHED HERE TOO, BY THE WAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> CHRIS KIFFIN HAD MET HIS WIFE WHO WAS A WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ASSISTANT COACH.

>> RIGHT.

>> FOR CONNIE YORI.

AND THEY HAVE SEVERAL CHILDREN WHERE HE'S COACHING, I BELIEVE IN THE NFL.

BUT, YEAH OBVIOUSLY THE CONNECTIONS.

>> THE CONNECTIONS.

>> RUN DEEP.

I'VE BEEN THE LANE'S CAMP IN FLORIDA ATLANTIC TWO OR THREE YEARS IN A ROW.

I'VE TALKED TO MONTY.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE AFFINITY FOR NEBRASKA.

MONTY DOES, ESPECIALLY, GROWING UP IN LEXINGTON.

>> OH YEAH.

>> PLAYING WITH MICK TINGLEHOFF IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL BUT, IT'S A LONG SHOT.

I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL MISSISSIPPI IS A PERFECT PLACE FOR HIM.

AND I THINK THE RULE BOOK AND THE WAY THE S.E.C IS, I THINK IT FITS LANE KIFFIN VERY WELL DOWN THERE.

>> I INTERVIEWED AT THE COMBINE WITH THE RAIDERS.

YOU GOT YOUR FORMAL INTERVIEWS WITH I THINK YOU GET LIKE 20 OR 30 MINUTES AND THAT WAS HIS FIRST YEAR.

AND I INTERVIEWED WITH LANE AND, GOSH, I CAN'T EVENT THINK OF WHO THE -- WAS IT ROB RYAN THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR?

>> OH WOW.

>> BACK IN THE DAY.

>> HAD SOME CHARACTERS.

>> THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING INTERVIEW, TO SAY THE LEAST.

>> YEAH.

>> PULL THE SIX PACK OUT.

>> NO, I COULD'VE BROUGHT WHAT WE NEEDED.

I THINK THOSE INTERVIEWS WILL GO UNTIL ABOUT 11:00, MIDNIGHT.

YOU KNOW, TO TRY AND GET THEM ALL IN.

BUT NO, IT WAS -- NO HE WAS GOOD.

IT WAS A GOOD CHANCE, A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO TALK TO LANE A LITTLE BIT.

>> YEAH YOU KNOW WE DON'T SEE GUYS LEAVING THE S.E.C, REALLY UNLESS IT'S VANDERBILT OR SOMEBODY TO GO SOMEPLACE ELSE.

AND HE IS IN -- LIKE YOU MENTIONED -- OXFORD IS A PERFECT PLACE FOR HIM.

RIGHT?

JUST LAID BACK, HE CAN DO STUFF HE WANTS TO DO.

HE CAN HAVE FUN WITH HIS OFFENSE AND PEOPLE DON'T EXPECT A TON.

IF HE WINS NINE GAMES, HE'S A HERO.

>> WELL, AND THE EXPANSION OF THE PLAYOFFS TO 12 IS BIG.

BECAUSE THE S.E.C'S THINKING THEY'RE GOING TO GET THREE EVERY YEAR, MAYBE FOUR SOME YEARS.

BETWEEN THE BIG TEN AND THE S.E.C, WHEN THE PLAYOFF GOES TO 12, THEY'RE GOING TO GET SIX OF THE BITS.

I MEAN THAT'S KIND OF THE THINKING RIGHT NOW.

THE BIG 12 WILL GET ONE.

WHATEVER IS LEFT OF THE PAC-12 MIGHT GET ONE.

THE ACC IS GOING TO GET ONE.

AND THEN THE OTHERS WILL BE NOTRE DAME AND WHOEVER.

SO I THINK THE S.E.C AND THE BIG TEN, IF YOU ARE TOP THREE OR FOUR YOU'RE THINKING IN THIS NEW 12 TEAM PLAYOFF AND MISSISSIPPI's KIND OF IN THAT CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD AND HE'S GOING TO GET PLAYERS THERE.

HE'S ALSO A VERY ATTRACTIVE COACH FOR TRANSFERS.

I THINK HIS OFFENSIVE STYLE -- .

>> OH YEAH.

>> ATTRACTS QUARTERBACKS, RECEIVERS, RUNNING BACKS.

AND YOU SAW THAT THIS YEAR, THEY GOT A REALLY HIGH PROFILE TRANSFER TO COME IN.

>> LET'S GO TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS FROM FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAY MATHIS HAS PLAYED THIS YEAR?

IS IT HIM UNDERACHIEVING?

IS IT THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THE SACK NUMBER OBVIOUSLY ELEVATED.

>> SURE.

>> HE'S GOTTEN AROUND THERE.

I WILL SAY, IT'S NOT THE SEXIEST THING TO TALK ABOUT BUT I THINK HE'S PLAYED REALLY GOOD AGAINST THE RUN AT TIMES.

I KNOW NEBRASKA, DEFENSIVELY, IS STRUGGLING AGAINST THE RUN.

I THINK HE'S DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB THERE.

IT'S NOT LIKE HE'S GOING ZEROS ON THE STAT SHEET.

THE GUY WILL HAVE SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT TACKLES IT JUST DOESN'T GO VERY NOTICED BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEHIND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING.

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE SPLASH PLAYS THAT WE WERE KIND OF HOPING.

I MEAN THIS WAS THE KIND OF THE ONE -- THIS WAS THE GUY THAT THEY WERE LOOKING TO GET OUT OF THE TRANSFER PORTAL THIS LAST YEAR.

>> THE RANDY GREGORY.

>> YEAH, YOU JUST HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

>> COUPLE TIMES.

>> OH MY GOSH, YEAH.

>> JUST A COUPLE TIMES, BREAKING DOWN A PLAY.

IT WAS THE OKLAHOMA GAME WHERE GABRIEL GOES FOR 60 YARDS, YOU KNOW.

HE'S ONE ON ONE WITH THE TACKLE.

HE FALLS DOWN ON THE GROUND, LIKE THAT CAN'T HAPPEN.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FEEL THE RUSH, COME BACK OUT OF IT, SPIN OUT OF IT OR WHATEVER.

AND MAKE THAT TACKLE FIVE YARDS DOWN THE FIELD FOR A SIX YARD GAIN.

BUT HE DOES IT AND OBVIOUSLY IT WAS END OF THE STORY WITH GABRIEL THERE.

WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PRODUCTION BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN A TOTAL LOST YEAR.

I THINK HE'S DONE SOME GOOD THINGS BUT OBVIOUSLY WITH THE RECOGNITION.

AND I'LL TALK COMING IN WITH HIM.

YOU'D LIKE TO SEE MORE PRODUCTION FROM BEHIND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

>> IT WAS SIX PEOPLE ON THAT PLAY, BY THE WAY.

>> HIS PFF GRADE IS STILL LIKE HIGH 70's, PUSHING 80's.

HE'S LIKE 78 SO IT'S NOT LIKE HIS GRADE HAS BEEN LIKE BAD.

>> HIS TACKLE GRADE HAS BEEN GOOD.

AND HE'S GOTTEN SOME PRESSURES THE LAST FOUR GAMES.

>> JUST THE SACKS.

I THINK WE WERE THINKING EIGHT, TEN SACK TYPE GUY AND HE'S GOING TO BE IN MORE LIKE FOUR, FIVE, SIX.

>> YEAH, KHALIL DAIVS IS THE LAST GUY I THINK TO GET CLOSE TO DOUBLE DIGITS.

>> YEAH, TEN.

>> YEAH, TEN.

DOUBLE DIGITS, RIGHT.

SO DOUG FROM TWITTERS ASKS, "WHAT ABOUT BRANT BANKS?"

BECAUSE HE DID GET THAT LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND PLAY BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN HIM AGAIN.

AND HE GIVES A GUY LIKE ALEX CONN, WHO WAS A FOUR STAR, WHERE ARE THE YOUNG GUYS?

>> YEAH, CONN'S IS NOT IN THE CONVERSATION.

I MEAN, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO SAY IT.

HE TRAVELS, SO.

AS FOR BRANT BANKS, I THINK HE'S RIGHT THERE AS THE NEXT TACKLE BUT THEY'RE GOING TO ROLL WITH CORCORAN.

AND THEY LIKE THAT COMBO OF BENHART-ANTHONY ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

THEY'RE GOING TO ROTATE THOSE GUYS.

I THINK THE ONLY WAY YOU'D SEE THE BANKS IS IF CORCORAN HAD TO COME OFF LEFT AND GO INSIDE OR PLAY RIGHT TACKLE.

AND WHO KNOWS?

MAYBE THEY'LL TINKER WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT OVER THE BYE WEEK HERE.

>> HOW LONG DO YOU THINK, LEGITIMATELY, IT SHOULD TAKE?

BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO GET THOSE GUYS IN THE PORTAL FOR OFFENSIVE LINE.

BUT HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD TAKE TO BUILD AN OFFENSIVE LINE?

ILLINOIS DID IT PRETTY QUICKLY.

THEY HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF GUYS WHO LEFT A YEAR BEFORE.

>> BROUGHT SOME GOOD PLAYES THERE.

>> HE DID BUT THEY PLAYED A BUNCH OF FRESHMAN AND THOSE GUYS GOT TO BE SENIORS AND LEFT AND THEN HE KIND OF PUT THIS TOGETHER.

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY TWO YEARS MAX.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK JUST THE WAY YOU PRACTICE.

HOW YOU PRACTICE IN THE SPRING, HOW YOU PRACTICE IN TRAINING CAMP, HOW YOU PRACTICE DURING THE SEASON.

I THINK YOU CAN DEVELOP A OFFENSIVE LINE RATHER QUICKLY.

THEY GOTTA BE -- IT'S ALWAYS AN INTERESTING THING BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICE PHYSICAL WHERE YOU'RE LIKE, "SHOOT, WE DON'T HAVE A TON OF DEPTH SO WE CAN'T GET A TON OF GUYS HURT."

SO YOU MIGHT HAVE TO TINKER SOME -- PULL BACK.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE DYNAMICS AND EVERYTHING GETS A LITTLE TRICKY.

BUT I WOULD THINK TWO YEARS MAX.

BUT I THINK JUST THE WAY YOU PRACTICE AND DEVELOP GUYS, I THINK YOU COULD GET GUYS UP TO SPEED RATHER QUICKLY.

>> SEAN, GREG AND MICHAEL -- BOTH FROM FACEBOOK -- KIND OF THE SAME THING.

WHEN DO YOU THINK WE WILL KNOW?

IS IT THE DAY AFTER THE IOWA GAME?

DO YOU THINK IT HAPPENS EARLIER THAN THAT?

WHEN DO YOU THINK THEY MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF WHO THE NEXT HEAD COACH WILL BE.

>> SO IT'S MICKEY JOSEPH.

I THINK YOU GOT TO KNOW BEFORE THE IOWA GAME.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GO INTO BLACK FRIDAY SAYING, "ALRIGHT, HE'S COACHING FOR IT."

IF HE GETS IT HE -- I THINK YOU GOT TO KNOW THE PLAN.

LIKE IF IT'S NOT MICKEY, YOU GOT TO LET HIM KNOW BEFORE THE IOWA GAME.

BECAUSE SO MUCH IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE ROSTER WITH NIL, WITH TRANSFERS.

ALL THESE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO ROLL FOR.

DECEMBER 5th, IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR OPERATIONS SET FULL, RUNNING.

SO I DO THINK -- IOWA GAME'S FRIDAY.

SOMETIME SATURDAY, EVEN SUNDAY.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF WE'RE BACK THERE SUNDAY FOR LIKE A PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE THAT QUICK.

AND YOU MIGHT HAVE THE OFFER OUT THE WEEK OF THE IOWA GAME WHERE IT'S UNDER LIKE TOP LEVEL SECRECY.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES PUBLIC AFTER THE GAMES ARE OVER ON SATURDAY.

>> OBVIOUSLY IT MATTERS IF IT'S A GUY WHO STILL COACHING.

>> YEAH.

>> OR IF IT'S SOMEONE WHO'S NOT COACHING RIGHT NOW.

>> BECAUSE IF IT'S SOMEBODY STILL COACHING, LIKE SAY IF IT'S BILL O'BRIEN, WILL THEY BE IN S.E.C TITLE GAME?

>> YEAH WELL I MEAN IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO IT, I MEAN THEY POSSIBLY COULD BE.

>> BECAUSE TENNESSEE AND GEORGIA.

>> SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE -- .

>> WELL THEY GOT LSU, ALABAMA DOES.

>> ALABAMA STILL COULD BE PLAYING, YOU KNOW.

WHAT IF IT'S BILL O'BRIEN AT THAT POINT.

YOU KNOW AND WOULD THEY ANNOUNCE IT BEFORE THE S.E.C TITLE GAME?

PROBABLY NOT.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS -- IT'S GOING TO BE WILD NO MATTER WHAT THESE NEXT FIVE WEEKS.

>> ABOUT 30 SECONDS, WHAT'S HOLDING YANT BACK FROM BEING -- GETTING MORE CARRIES, YOU THINK?

>> CONSISTENCY.

I MEAN, YOU'VE SEEN THE SPLASH PLAYS.

YOU SAW THE RUNS AGAINST NORTHWESTERN LAST YEAR.

IT'S JUST WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE CRUNCH TIME, I LEAN ON THE SHORT YARDAGE TRIP -- HE STUMBLES ON HIS FEET AT THE FOURTH AND ONE AT THE GOAL LINE AGAINST MINNESOTA.

GOES THE WRONG WAY AGAINST MICHIGAN LAST YEAR.

SO WHEN IT MATTERS THE MOST HE DOESN'T SHOW UP TO MAKE A PLAY.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THAT'S JUST A CONSISTENCY THING FOR HIM.

>> YOU'RE FIRST UP WITH BURNING QUESTIONS.

>> MY BURNING QUESTION IS CAN MICKEY GET THIS TEAM UP ON A BIG STAGE SATURDAY?

NATIONAL TV, 2:30, ABC, NEBRASKA-ILLINOIS.

CAN'T DRAW IT UP ANY BETTER.

63 DEGREE WEATHER IN THE STADIUM.

IF MICKEY GETS THIS TEAM UP AND THEY PLAY WELL, I MEAN THAT'S A GREAT PR CAMPAIGN FOR MICKEY JOSEPH ON SATURDAY.

>> NO DOUBT.

>> IF IT'S NOT TREY, WHO'S IT GOING TO BE?

IS IT GOING TO BE VOKOLEK, MARCUS WASHINGTON?

IS IT ANTHONY GRANT GOING TO SHOW UP SOMEHOW?

SO IF THOSE -- IF IT'S NOT TREY, THEN WHO ELSE IS IT GOING TO BE.

AND I'LL PROBABLY SAY IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE THREE GUYS.

>> THINK IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE, CAN NEBRASKA WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE?

THEY WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE, ALL BETS ARE OFF WHAT HAPPENS IN ANY GAME IN THE BIG TEN WEST.

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

JAY, SEAN, AND MYSELF WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THE EXPECT ON SATURDAY.

NEBRASKA BEGINS A TWO GAME HOME STAND STARTING THIS SATURDAY AS THEY FACE ILLINOIS IN MEMORIAL STADIUM.

KICKOFF IS SCHEDULED FOR 2:30 ON ABC.

OF COURSE, WE'LL BE BACK HERE NEXT TUESDAY TO RECAP THE GAME WITH A SPECIAL IN GUEST FORMER HUSKER AND ALSO GOOD GOLFER, ZACH POTTER.

ALRIGHT, THANKS TO AMIE JUST, ROBIN WASHUT, AND OUR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CALL CENTER FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

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

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

♪ ♪ SEAN CALLAHAN , I AM MIKE'L SEVERE.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON BIG RED WRAP-UP.