>>> THREE DOWN AND THREE TO GO.

WILL THE PLAY CALLER CHANGE TO DANA HOLGORSEN BOWL OVER UFC TO GET MAGIC WIN NUMBER SIX?

AD TROY DANNEN AND ERIC CROUCH ARE ON THE SHOW TONIGHT FOR THEIR PERSPECTIVE ALONG WITH JAY AND SEAN.

IT IS TIME FOR "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

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

WITH AN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR CHANGE, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK.

SO LOTS TO COVER TONIGHT, WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL.

PHONES ARE STANDING BY.

READY FOR YOUR CALLS.

IF YOU PREFER, YOU CAN ALSO TEXT AND EMAIL US YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AT BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

WE'RE ALSO MONITORING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TONIGHT AS WELL.

SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE "BIG RED WRAP-UP" PAGE X ACCOUNT AND WE WILL ANSWER AS MANY QUESTIONS AS WE CAN.

>>> TIME FOR OUR SIDELINE SURVEY.

LAST WEEK, WE ASKED YOU HOW WILL NEBRASKA FINISH THE SEASON.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE NEGATIVE.

O AND 3, 46%.

33%, 1 AND 2.

17%, 2 AND 1.

AND ONLY FOUR PERCENT SAID THREE AND O.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION, WHAT'S YOUR GRADE ON THE HIRING OF DANA HOLGORSEN AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR?

YOU CAN GO A THROUGH F AS YOU SEE.

EARLY ON, A SOLID B AT 49 PERCENT.

WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP US WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

JOINING ME AND JAY MOORE AND SEAN CALLAHAN AS THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, TROY DANNEN.

SO WHAT YOU THINK OF THOSE GRADES?

>> I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE PICKED O AND THREE, AND I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE GUY THAT SAID F ON THAT SURVEY.

BUT HEY, THE JURY IS OUT ON EVERYTHING, RIGHT.

ON PAPER, I HAVE KNOWN DANA FOR A WHILE, NOT IN THE SAME CAPACITY THAT MATT HAS.

I LOVE DANA.

WE PLAYED AGAINST HIM WHEN I WAS IN TULANE.

HE WAS IN HOUSTON.

AND I KNOW THE REGARD MY COACH HAD FOR GOING UP AGAINST HIS OFFENSE.

I SPENT A LITTLE TIME WITH HIM PERSONALLY AND I LIKE HIM A LOT PERSONALLY.

SO I WAS THRILLED WHEN MATT DECIDED TO MAKE THE MOVE AND IT SURE FEELS LIKE WE GOT THE RIGHT GUY.

>> TROY, HOW UNIQUE IS THIS SITUATION TO DO IT THOUGH AT THIS TIME?

BUT AT THE SAME POINT, THE RULES CHANGE THIS YEAR THAT YOU CAN DO THIS A LOT EASIER THAN EVEN A YEAR AGO.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I WAS TALKING TO A FEW PEOPLE THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS AND NO ONE CAN RECITE A TIME WHEN A COORDINATOR ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BALL GOT LET GO, AND WAS REPLACED BY SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE IN SEASON PARTICULARLY IN WEEK NINE OR WEEK TEN.

SO IT'S UNUSUAL.

HOWEVER, I THINK THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A GUY WHO'S BEEN A HEAD COACH MULTIPLE PLACES AND BEEN AROUND THE GAME, AND A GUY LIKE MATT WHO HAS EXPERIENCED, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING ALIGNS FOR WHY IT CAN HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T SAY IT CAN HAPPEN EVERY PLACE.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY WILL LOOK AT THIS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF COORDINATOR JOBS OPEN RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOOKING WITH A CLOSE EYE ON WHAT HAPPENED TO NEBRASKA TO SEE HOW THAT EXACTLY WORKS OUT.

>> TROY, OBVIOUSLY, SEAN ALREADY SAID A LOT OF CHANGES COMING WITHIN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF CHANGES NEXT YEAR AS WELL WITH REVENUE SHARING.

HOW IS NEBRASKA SITUATING THEMSELVES TO HANDLE THE REVENUE-SHARING HEADING INTO 2025 AND POSITIONING THEMSELVES TO BE AT THE TOP OF EVERYTHING GOING FORWARD IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS?

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TALKED SINCE THE SETTLEMENT WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED.

YOU KNOW, HOW THE BIG RED END GOT TO BE THE BIG RED END.

AND IT REALLY CAME FROM BEING INNOVATIVE AND BEING A LEADER ALONG THE WAY.

YOU KNOW, FROM THE STRENGTH PROGRAM TO THE NUTRITION PROGRAM TO HAVING THE 100 SWEETS BEFORE ANYBODY UNDERSTOOD YOU NEEDED 100 SWEETS TO MONETIZE YOUR FOOTBALL STADIUM.

THIS IS THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US NOW IS TO USE THIS RULE CHANGE, USE THIS EVOLUTION OF THE GAME, TO REALLY JUMP AHEAD, BE INNOVATORS AND BE LEADERS.

AND I THINK THE ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED INTERNALLY IS THE GREAT WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY MY PREDECESSORS TO MAKE THIS A FINANCIALLY SOUND, AND NOT JUST SOUND MAYBE BUT A FINANCIAL BEHEMOTH.

THAT WE CAN WITHSTAND AND INVEST INTO WHAT IS HAPPENING RATHER THAN HAVE TO CUT OUR WAY TO IT AND REALLY GIVES US A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

YOU KNOW THE ONE THING ABOUT ANY OF THESE COACHES, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS ABOUT WHERE IS OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

AND I THINK WE FOUND IT.

WE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE.

THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF CHANGES AND A LOT OF THINGS WILL BE HARD FOR PEOPLE TO ACCEPT.

THE IDEA OF PAYING PLAYERS IS HARD.

WHEN YOU GREW UP IN AN ERA WHEN IT WAS REMOTE.

THE IDEA FROM A PLAYER STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, THE ROSTERS ARE GOING TO CONSTRICT A LITTLE BIT AND IT IS GOING TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

THERE ARE THINGS WE ARE GOING TO GET USED TO, BUT IT'S JUST PART OF NATURAL EVOLUTION, OR MAYBE IT'S A REVOLUTION.

BUT AS THINGS EVOLVE, IF YOU DON'T ACCEPT THEM, YOU'LL GET RUN OVER.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO ACCEPT AND EMBRACE, AND BE THE ONE THAT RUNS OTHERS OVER.

>> TROY, NOT ONLY IS SEAN CALLAHAN A SOUTH OMAHA GUY, HE'S ALSO A SOUTH STADIUM GUY.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE RENOVATIONS.

STARTING WITH SOUTH, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO DO?

>> WELL, WE CAN KEEP THE SEAT FOR SEAN.

>> THROW 88 IF YOU REALLY WANT.

>> JUST GIVE IT TO HIM TO TAKE HOME.

>> MY DAD'S SEAT STILL.

>> NO, I THINK THE PLAN RIGHT NOW, AND OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE GOT TO GET APPROVALS, MY PRESIDENT, THE BOARD.

BUT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD WHAT I THINK WILL BE A POST '26, POST '27, REALLY THOROUGH RENOVATION OF THE STADIUM.

SOUTH HAS TO COME DOWN.

JUST TO TIE EVERYTHING ELSE TOGETHER, THERE IS NO KEEP A LITTLE BIT OF IT.

IT HAS TO COME DOWN.

I THINK WE CAN REBUILD HALF OF IT, AND PUT SOME TEMPORARIES IN TO REALLY PROTECT OUR CAPACITY FOR '27 BEFORE THAT IS FINALIZED IN '28.

AND THEN THE EAST AND THE WEST, MAYBE EAST CHAIRBACKS WEST, ANYWHERE FROM DOING CHAIRBACKS, TO REALLY TAKING INSIDE THE TOWER DOWN AND RECONSTRUCTING IT, THERE'S A LOT OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE UNDERNEATH OF THERE.

AND WHETHER IF WE JUST COVER IT UP, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE DON'T JUST BUY OURSELVES SOME MORE PROBLEMS DOWN THE LINE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT THE ARCHITECTS RIGHT NOW AND THE ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON AND BUILDING A SOUND FINANCIAL MODEL.

YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD, THE STADIUM ONE HAS TO PROVIDE THE AMENITIES OF THE DAY.

YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THE SELLOUT STREAK A LOT, AND PART OF IT, THERE'S A LOT OF ALTERNATIVES FOR PEOPLE NOW THAN TO GO TO MEMORIAL STADIUM.

AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE COMFORTABLE AND ENJOY WHEN TO GET THERE.

THE QUALITY OF PLAY HAS GOT TO BE GOOD, RIGHT.

BUT ALSO -- >> AND WI-FI.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ALCOHOL.

WI-FI WILL BE THERE WHEN THE STADIUM IS DONE.

SO MAKE IT AS GOOD OF AN EXPERIENCE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SCOREBOARD IN THERE THAT HOPEFULLY WILL DWARF ALMOST ANY OTHER SCOREBOARD IN THE COUNTRY TO MAKE IT FEEL AWESOME WHEN YOU GET IN THERE, SO THAT'S ALL PART OF IT.

BUT AT ITS CORE, BESIDES DOING THAT FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, THE FINANCIAL MODEL IN ATHLETICS IS CHANGING.

AND THE IDEA THAT THE STADIUM COULD HELP GENERATE NEW MONEY TO FUND -- YOU KNOW, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY PLAYERS, AND THE REVENUE SHARING WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

AND I SAID THIS BEFORE, I THINK I SAID THIS LAST WEEK TO SEAN, WE CAN'T JUST KEEP RAISING TICKET PRICES IN AN EFFORT TO TAKE ON THE NEW FINANCIAL INITIATIVES THAT LIE AHEAD.

SO MORE PREMIUM, MORE OPTIONS, MORE WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE OUTSIDE OF JUST CHARGING MORE FOR THE TICKETS IN THE STADIUM, THAT'S THE LONG-TERM RECIPE TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS.

>> WE'VE SEEN THE CAPACITY OVER THE LAST 25, 30 YEARS GO FROM 72 TO 93 BACK TO ABOUT 86 WHERE WE ARE AT NOW.

I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA, A MAGIC NUMBER OF WHAT IS THE RIGHT CAPACITY WHEN YOU DO ALL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS?

>> MY GUESS IS THE NUMBER IS GOING TO BE RIGHT AROUND 80, MAYBE A TENTH UNDERNEATH OF IT.

I HADN'T SEEN FINAL PLANS YET.

WE HAVE 19 SEATS THROUGHOUT THE STADIUM.

AND NO ONE IS 19 INCHES ANY LONGER.

AND WHEN YOU PUT CHAIRBACKS, YOU CAN'T PUT A 19 INCH CHAIRBACK IN.

SO JUST THE CHAIRBACKS ALONE AT 21, IT IS GOING TO START TO CONSUME SOME SPACE.

SO THERE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT LESS.

YOU KNOW, MY GUESS IS WHEN THE STADIUM IS ALL DONE, WE'LL START LOOKING AT NORTH AND FIGURE OUT THE WAYS TO DO SOMETHING WITH NORTH AND MAYBE GET THOSE SEATS BACK.

I DO KNOW THAT THE DEMAND CURVE HAS TRAILED OFF IN A LOT OF PLACES.

IT HAS NOT IN NEBRASKA.

AND I THINK THE ONE THING WE HAVE TO GUARD AGAINST IS CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY CAN'T GET IN.

BECAUSE I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANOTHER EIGHT YEAR RUN WITHOUT GOING TO A BOWL GAME OR A SEVEN YEAR RUN WITHOUT GOING TO A BOWL GAME.

AND THE ONE THING I'VE BEEN -- I THOUGHT IT WAS THIS WAY, BUT IN THE FACE OF SUCCESS, WHAT HUSKERS FANS CAN DO, AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND HOW THEY WANT TO EMBRACE THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE TO BUILD A STADIUM THAT IS GOING TO ACCOUNT FOR THE SUCCESS THAT WE EXPECT TO HAVE LONG-TERM.

>> TROY, I THINK IT'S FUNNY.

WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE STADIUM RENOVATIONS.

SOUTH STADIUM, ALL THESE THINGS.

BUT SOMETHING THAT HAS FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS IS THE TRANSITION TO GRASS INSIDE THE STADIUM.

SO WHAT'S THAT PROCESS BEEN LIKE FOR NEBRASKA?

IT HAS BEEN TURF FOR 50+ YEARS NOW TO GO TO A NATURAL SURFACE?

>> IT HAS, SO FIRST, BEFORE WE GET THERE, WE WILL HAVE NEW TURF IN THE STADIUM NEXT YEAR.

>> OH WOW.

>> AND WE ARE GOING TO PUT NEW TURF IN HAWKS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS SEASON.

SO HOPEFULLY BY THE TIME SECOND SEMESTER STARTS FOR THE SPORTS THAT USE HAWKS INDOOR, THERE WILL BE NEW TURF IN THERE.

AND THEN, AFTER SPRING, AFTER SPRING BALL, WE WILL PUT NEW TURF IN THE STADIUM.

THE REASON FOR IT IS THAT THE TURF -- WHEN I SAY IT'S FAILING, IT IS NOT THE BEST TURF.

IT IS NOT STATE-OF-THE-ART TURF.

AND I WAS HERE FOR THE SPRING GAME EARLY ON.

WE HAD TWO KNEE INJURIES.

GUYS ARE NOT BACK YET.

AND YOU JUST CAN'T HAVE THAT.

SO WE WANT TO GET THE BEST TURF.

AND KNOWING THOUGH THAT GRASS IS ULTIMATELY THE SAFEST SURFACE THAT WE CAN HAVE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION, AND A LOT OF THE CONSTRUCTION WILL HAVE TO BE DONE INSIDE OUT.

WE'LL JUST TEAR THE FIELD TO BITS.

SO WITH THE TURF, WITH WHAT WE'RE PUTTING, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY ROLL THE TURF IN THE OFF-SEASON, DO WORK, AND THEN PUT THE TURF BACK DOWN.

ULTIMATELY, WHEN WE GO TO GRASS, ONCE THE STADIUM IS ALL DONE, WHICH I WOULD EXPECT IS PROBABLY THE '28 SEASON WHEN EVERYTHING IS DONE, GO TO GRASS THAT TURF, WE'LL JUST MOVE OUTSIDE THE STADIUM, WE WILL REPURPOSE IT.

HAVE A PLACE FOR THE BAND PRACTICE.

BECAUSE WHEN THAT BABY'S GRASS, THERE'S NOBODY GOING ON IT.

IT IS GOING TO BE PRISTINE AND PROTECTED.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOU DON'T FORESEE ANOTHER BOWL DROUGHT.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT GETTING THIS WIN OVER THESE NEXT THREE TO GET THAT BOWL?

>> YOU KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

ONE, I'M ABOUT READY TO GO OUT AND TRY TO RAISE $100 MILLION TO DO A STADIUM RENOVATION.

I WANT PEOPLE TO --.

I FEEL IT.

BUT PEOPLE AREN'T WALKING AROUND THE SAME HALLS AND I'M WALKING AROUND -- AND UNDERSTAND IT.

IN THE BURDEN OF THE BAD RUN OVER THE LAST DECADE OR SO, I DON'T TO BEAR IT.

>> SURE.

>> I WEAR IT.

BECAUSE OF THE JOB.

BUT I HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT A LOT OF OUR FANS HAVE EXPERIENCED.

COACH HASN'T EXPERIENCED IT.

SO WHILE WE FEEL IT'S GOOD.

I THINK OUR FANS NEED IT.

THAT IS THE DEMARCATION OF PROGRESS I THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

SO YOU CAN SAY THAT THERE IS EXTRA PRESSURE THERE OR NOT, BUT WHEN I GOT HERE, I WENT AROUND ALL THE COACHES AND SPORTS.

YOU ASK WHY, AND WHY NOT.

WHY, JOHN COOK, ARE YOU DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING?

AND WHY NOT IN PLACES THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IT DONE?

ONLY THING I CAN TELL YOU IS THIS.

I THINK WITH A LOT OF RESPECT TO THE PAST HERE, WE QUIT ADAPTING A LITTLE BIT INTERNALLY.

OPERATIONALLY, FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

AFTER THE THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE ‘90s.

AS A RESULT, WE ARE NOW PLAYING CATCH UP A LITTLE BIT AS WE MOVE INTO THE BIG 10.

WE HAVE TO GET OUR OPERATION RIGHT.

THIS IS BIGGER THAN FOOTBALL.

A LOT OF SPORTS, CAN WIN IN ISOLATION.

FOOTBALL CAN'T WIN UNLESS EVERYTHING IN THE DEPARTMENT IS RUNNING FULL STEAM.

AND I'M NOT SURE WE'RE ALL THERE.

TRYING TO GET ALL THE SUPPORT MECHANISMS FROM ACADEMICS, TO DEVELOPMENT TO MARKETING -- TO EVERYTHING, UP TO A SPEED THAT SUPPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL FOOTBALL, THE COACHES AND THE PLAYERS HAVE TO HAVE THAT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE WHAT THEY WANT.

>> TROY, SOMETHING ELSE YOU TALK ABOUT WAS FINDING NEW REVENUE STREAMS, PUTTING MORE EVENTS IN MEMORIAL STADIUM.

YOU DISCUSSED POSSIBILITIES OF A BUD CRAWDFORD FIGHT, A CONCERT TOUR SERIES.

JUST HOW FAR AWAY ARE WE FROM SOME OF THOSE THINGS?

COULD WE SEE EVENTS IN THE STADIUM THIS SUMMER?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL SEE IT -- I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS TOURING.

WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH PROMOTERS.

WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THIRD PARTIES WHO WORK WITH THE PROMOTERS.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT NECESSARILY.

THAT EXPERTISE.

BUT YOU KNOW IS IT UFC?

IS IT WWE?

WHAT GOES INTO THE STADIUMS?

LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY.

LET'S JUST TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN GET IN THERE.

NOW I'VE MENTIONED THIS, I HAVE A PLACEHOLDER IN THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

WHICH IS JULY TO JUNE OF 25-26.

TWO SHOWS, TWO EVENTS IN THERE.

YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IT HAPPENS.

THERE IS NOTHING BOOKED IN THERE JUST YET.

BUT THAT IS A PURSUE.

WE HAVE TO USE THE STADIUM.

WE ARE GOING TO INVEST TENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RENOVATING THE STADIUM.

IT NEEDS TO BE USED MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS PER YEAR.

>> TROY YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT ADAPTING TO THE CHANGES AND OBVIOUSLY GOING FORWARD -- HOW IMPORTANT IS 1890 PLAYING IN WITH THIS RELATIONSHIP?

WITH THE PEET FAMILY AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE STEPPED UP AND SAID, WE'RE WILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY AND FASHION.

HOW IMPORTANT HAVE THEY BEEN TO GETTING THESE NEW CHANGES AND NEW COLLEGE ATHLETICS?

>> I WOULD SAY AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS OVERSTATING IT.

HAD THEY NOT STEPPED UP THE WAY AND WHEN THEY STEPPED UP, WE WOULD HAVE FALLEN FURTHER TO OUR KNEES, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN BACK UP.

THE N.I.L.

WHETHER YOU LIKED IT OR NOT HAD TO HAD TO BE EMBRACED.

THOSE BEHIND THE COLLECTIVE -- BUT THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE GIVEN LOTS OF MONEY TO THAT COLLECTIVE.

THEY EMBRACED IT MAYBE WHEN WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY INTERNALLY.

BUT THEY EMBRACED IT.

AND NOW I THINK WE HAVE CAUGHT UP TO THEM.

WE ARE WORKING IN GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.

THIS YEAR WE -- WHEN I SAY "WE" COLLECTIVELY -- BECAUSE OUR FUNDRAISERS OUR DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS ARE RAISING MONEY FOR THE COLLECTIVE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID.

I THINK WE WERE THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY THAT SAID THAT MONEY CAN COUNT TOWARD YOUR HUSKERS ATHLETICS POINTS.

NOW EVERYONE IS DOING THAT.

AGAIN WE TOOK AN INITIATIVE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY THINKS THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.

WE NEED TO DO WHAT NEBRASKA DOES.

THAT MENTALITY, I DON'T WANT TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT OHIO STATE'S DOING OR WHAT PENN STATE'S DOING.

I WANT OHIO STATE AND PENN STATE TO START WORRYING ABOUT WHAT NEBRASKA'S DOING.

AND I THINK WHERE WE ARE GOING RIGHT NOW WITH THE COLLECTIVE, REALLY IN FULL PARTNERSHIP WITH EVERYBODY AT 1890, HAS ALLOWED US TO GET IN A POSITION.

IT'S WHY WE HAVE A QUARTERBACK.

IT'S WHY THE RECRUITING CLASS, IS HIGHLY RATED AS IT IS -- >> THE BIG ONES ARE COMING.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

BUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE WORKING TOGETHER.

AND I THINK WE ARE IN A GREAT PLACE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE 12 TEAM PLAYOFF?

WE HAD ANOTHER POLL THAT CAME OUT TODAY.

WHAT IS YOUR FEEL ON THAT?

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT LAST BEFORE YOU EXPAND IT?

WHAT'S YOUR FEEL ON IT?

>> I DO THINK IT WILL EXPAND.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL GO 16, BUT I CAN SEE 14 COMING.

WHEN I SAY I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT BECAUSE IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 20 SCHOOLS FIGHTING FOR A SHOT.

THINKING THAT THEY HAVE A CHANCE.

INSTEAD OF LAST YEAR THIS TIME, THERE WERE SIX.

YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE A DEBATE AND DISCUSSION POINT ABOUT THE LAST TWO AT-LARGE'S.

RIGHT?

AND HOW THE SEATING WORKS.

>> YEP.

>> BUT THERE'S GREAT DEBATE AND THAT'S THE ENTERTAINMENT VALUE IN IT.

BUT THE ONE THING I THINK YOU'RE SEEING AND WHY THE 12 TEAM PLAY OFFS ARE PARTICULARLY VALID RIGHT NOW, THE TRANSFER PORTAL IF NOTHING ELSE, HAS DISTRIBUTED TALENT ACROSS.

THERE WAS A FEAR, RIGHT?

WHEN THE TRANSFER PORTAL AND N.IL.

CAME, THAT ALL TALENT WOULD CONSOLIDATE IN FIVE PLACES.

IN FACT JUST THE OPPOSITE HAS HAPPENED.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THIS LOGJAM IN BIG 10 OF EVERYBODY BEING ANYWHERE FROM 6-4 TO 4-6.

YOU KNOW OUTSIDE OF MAYBE TOP FOUR -- THE TALENT IS SPREAD.

THINGS HAPPEN IN A WEEKEND THAT MAY BE SURPRISE US, BUT IT SHOULDN'T.

BECAUSE THERE'S MORE TALENT AT MORE SCHOOLS.

I THINK THAT IS GOOD FOR THE GAME.

I AM WORRIED ABOUT TV RATINGS.

THAT $200 MILLION BUDGET NEBRASKA CARRIES A THIRD OF IT COMES FROM TELEVISION VIEWERS.

SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US THAT PEOPLE STAY ENGAGED IN THE GAME.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE SEC AND BIG 10 -- EIGHT OF THE 12 SPOTS IN THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR COULD BE FROM THOSE TWO LEAGUES.

YOU WERE IN NASHVILLE ABOUT A MONTH AGO WITH THE LEADERS FROM BIG 10 AND S.E.C., YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT A FUTURE COLLABORATION.

IS THERE ANYTHING MORE THAT YOU COULD DISCUSS?

JUST WHERE THIS COULD ALL HEAD WITH THE TWO LEAGUES WORKING TOGETHER?

>> NO, I DON'T KNOW.

I MIGHT HAVE STOPPED SHORT OF WHETHER THERE WAS A LOT OF COLLABORATION.

WE'RE SIMILARLY SITUATED IN THIS ERA.

A LOT OF CHANGES IN OUR STRUCTURE AND HOW WE ARE OPERATIONALIZE THOSE CHANGES IN THE FACE OF THE HOUSE ANTITRUST CASE.

YOU KNOW HOW THE PLAYOFF WORKS, YOU KNOW THE ONE THING I DO KNOW ABOUT ANTITRUST BECAUSE I DID PASS ECON THAT ONE YEAR THAT I TOOK IT WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE IS -- IS THAT A LOT OF COLLABORATION LEADS TO A LOT OF ANTITRUST VIOLATION.

I THINK UNDERSTANDING WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT -- YOU KNOW, THE S.E.C.

IS GOING TO OPERATE IN ITS WAY, THE BIG 10 IS GOING TO OPERATE IN ITS WAY.

BUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE GAME, FOR THE GOOD OF FOOTBALL, ALL FOUR LEAGUES.

THE GROUP OF FIVE LEAGUES, FCS, DIVISION TWO, DIVISION THREE, WE ALL HAVE TO PROTECT THE GAME OF FOOTBALL.

I HOPE THAT WHATEVER POINT IN TIME, THE S.E.C.

AND THE BIG 10, HAVE A BIG VOICE RIGHT NOW.

MAYBE A LOT OF MUSCLE.

THERE IS RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES THROUGH THAT VOICE AND MUSCLE.

THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT ALL LEVELS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PROTECTS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

IF YOU BELIEVE LIKE I DO, FOOTBALL IS A GREAT GAME WITH GREAT LESSONS THAT COME FROM IT.

THIS ISN'T THE NFL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT MAYBE LOOK LIKE THE NFL, AND START TO FEEL LIKE THE NFL.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FOOTBALL, I THINK IS CORE TO THE CULTURE OF THE COUNTRY.

I HOPE WE PROTECT THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE HAVE.

>> SUCH A WHIRLWIND FOR YOU.

FROM TWO LANE, TO WASHINGTON TO HERE, ARE YOU HAVING FUN?

HAVE YOU SETTLED DOWN FIRST OF ALL?

>> NO, I AM NOT SETTLED DOWN.

I AM HAVING A BALL.

YOU COME TO NEBRASKA BECAUSE YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BE MAD WHEN YOU ARE 5-4.

I HAVE HEARD FROM THEM THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

YOU COME TO NEBRASKA BECAUSE PEOPLE CARE.

THEY ARE ENGAGED.

THE GIVE A DARN FACTOR IS SO HIGH HERE.

GREAT THINGS HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE THAT GIVE A DARN FACTOR.

SO LOVING THAT, LOVING -- OUR COACHING STAFF IS ABSURD.

THE QUALITY OF COACHES THAT WE HAVE.

THE STAFF IS LOYAL, AND CARING.

HAS THE RIGHT INTEREST AT HEART.

THE STAFF HAS TO WORK TO PUT THE COACHES AND ATHLETES IN A POSITION TO SUCCEED.

I DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT HERE.

SO YOU TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE IN PLACE.

I AM TIRED WHEN I GO HOME, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.

IT IS A GREAT PLACE.

I'VE PROBABLY SPOKEN 75 TIMES AROUND THE STATE.

YOU KNOW GROWING UP IN IOWA -- I KNOW IOWA AND NEBRASKA HAVE THIS THING CULTURALLY.

I THINK WE ARE VERY SIMILAR PEOPLE THAT CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

WE PUT A LOT OF PASSION, AND A LOT OF WORK ETHIC, EVERY PLACE YOU GO.

SO FOR ME AND MY WIFE, IT HAS BEEN FUN TO GET BACK IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

RIGHT AT HOME.

>> SEAN, LAST ONE?

WANT TO JUMP ON IT?

>> STUMPED ME HERE -- >> OH I AM SORRY.

>> BOWL GAME STUFF I GUESS.

WE DON'T WANT TO JINX ANYTHING.

WHAT KIND OF INTEREST DO YOU THINK BOWL PARTNERS WOULD HAVE IN NEBRASKA IF THEY GOT TO BOWL ELIGIBILITY?

>> WELL, I'LL SAY THIS, WE HAVE HAD PERFECT WEATHER FOR OUR FIRST SIX GAMES.

THE CROWDS HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC.

THE ATMOSPHERE, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE NINE GAMES, WAS A SPECIAL.

AND THERE WERE A LOT OF BOWL REPS IN THROUGH THOSE GAMES.

I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO ALL OF THEM.

YOU KNOW THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO NEBRASKA BACK IN THE BOWL SYSTEM MORE THAN NEBRASKA, ARE THE BOWL RATS.

>> OH YEAH.

>> AND SO THERE WILL BE A LONG LIST OF PEOPLE FIGHTING TO GET US BACK.

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE.

THEY KNOW OUR FANS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING SOMEPLACE.

AND SO, HOPEFULLY WE GET TO THAT POINT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE FANBASE HERE CARRIES A REPUTATION AND A BRAND BIGGER THAN ANYBODY THINKS IT IS.

AND I KNOW WHEN YOU LIVE HERE YOU THINK IT'S SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT, THIS BRAND, THIS FANBASE MEANS MORE NATIONALLY THAN I THINK ANYBODY UNDERSTANDS.

AND SO, WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF FRIENDS OUT THERE WAITING FOR US TO COME, WHEREVER IT IS.

>> NO DOUBT.

>> GET IT DONE.

>> WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME.

>> I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION.

IT'S GOOD TO TALK.

>> IT WAS GREAT TALKING TO YOU.

COMING UP NEXT, WE'LL BE JOINED BY HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER ERIC CROUCH.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT A BUNCH OF THINGS WITH HIM INCLUDING THOUGHTS ON DYLAN RAIOLA AND THE HUSKERS OVERALL.

THANKS TO HURRDAT FOR THE PICTURES THEY PROVIDE ALL SEASON.

WE'RE BACK IN TWO MINUTES ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

♪ WRAPUP.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >>> IT IS THE PRESTIGIOUS AWARD IN SPORTS.

IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR TO ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR'S WINNER OF THE 2001 HEISMAN MEMORIAL TROPHY.

AND THE WINNER IS ERIC CROUCH, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >>> AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I AM SO EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS ELITE GROUP OF PLAYERS.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >>> IT WAS ONE OF THE CLOSEST VOTES IN HEISMAN HISTORY.

ERIC CROUCH DOMINATED THE FIRST PLACE VOTING AND NOW HE JOINS US ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

LET ME FIRST SAY EARLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> SATURDAY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THANK YOU.

>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

>> YOU'RE GETTING OLD, MAN.

>> 29, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, 29.

>> 29 YEARS OLD.

SO, YOU'RE SITTING THERE, YOU'RE WATCHING NEBRASKA PLAY.

AND YOU GOT A FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK OUT THERE AND THEY CHANGE HIS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR WITH THREE GAMES LEFT.

PUT YOURSELF IN THAT POSITION.

HOW WOULD YOU BE FEELING?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE LIKE A HUGE -- THEY'RE NOT GONNA TRY TO CHANGE IT ALL UP ON HIM.

I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE REALLY TOUGH.

SO, I DON'T KNOW.

I WOULD BE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE THINGS MIGHT BE DIFFERENT, EXCITING THAT MAYBE HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO.

AND THERE'S BEEN SOME STRUGGLES THAT I THINK HE WANTS TO IMPROVE ON.

SO, HONESTLY I THINK YOU JUST GOT TO KEEP POSITIVE.

I MEAN, I KNOW THIS IS KIND OF STRANGE THING GOING RIGHT NOW.

BUT, YOU KNOW HONESTLY JUST TAKE THE BEST OF IT AND ROLL IT.

KIND OF FUN.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OFFENSE ERIC, AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE WELL AT TIMES THIS YEAR AND THEN WHAT'S HAPPENED THE LAST MONTH, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF FROM THIS GROUP ON OFFENSE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST KIND OF BEEN LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A MISSING IDENTITY, YOU KNOW?

KIND OF USE THAT TERM A LITTLE BIT.

YOU'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE SUCCESS RUNNING THE FOOTBALL.

I THINK IT'S GONNA HELP THEM THROWING THE FOOTBALL.

THE BIG PLAYS.

YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE A FEW MORE BIG PLAYS AND INTERMEDIATE THROWS.

IT'S EITHER KIND OF THEY'RE TRYING FOR A DEEP BALL OR IT'S KIND OF A SHORT PASS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE INTERMEDIATE PASS IS IMPORTANT.

BUT YEAH, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST GOTTA FIND SOMETHING THAT WORKS AND YOU GOT TO PRACTICE IT.

AND I THINK YOU JUST GOTTA FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GOOD AT AND YOU'RE WILLING TO REPLICATE AND BE CONSISTENT.

SO, JUST HAVEN'T SEEN THAT CONSISTENCY OUT OF THE OFFENSE THIS YEAR.

>> PUT YOURSELF IN DYLAN'S SHOES COMING IN HERE IN THIS SITUATION.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS, PLAYING AS A TRUE FRESHMAN.

YOUR DAD -- HIS DAD BEING, YOU KNOW, PLAYED SO WELL.

LONG NFL CAREER.

JUST THE PRESSURE THAT COMES WITH NOT ONLY PLAYING QUARTERBACK AT NEBRASKA.

YOU KNOW THAT VERY WELL.

BUT, COMING IN AS A TRUE FRESHMAN WITH SUCH HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND WANTING TO DELIVER ON THAT.

AND SEEING SOME STRUGGLES NOW THROUGH, YOU KNOW, NINE GAMES OF THE YEAR.

>> I THINK WE ALL FORGET HE'S A FRESHMAN.

>> YEP.

>> I MEAN, HE'S COMING IN AS A TRUE FRESHMAN, NOT SOMEBODY THAT SAT LIKE I DID AND LEARNED THE SYSTEM.

SO, HE'S COME IN FROM HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL LAST YEAR TO PLAY AT THIS LEVEL WHICH I THINK IS TOUGH TO DO.

AND HE'S DOING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS.

I MEAN, LEADING A LOT OF CATEGORIES FOR FRESHMAN QUARTERBACKS.

SO, I REALLY GOT A LOT OF FAITH IN DYLAN RAIOLA.

LOVE THE FAMILY.

I THINK HE'S IN A PLACE HE REALLY WANTS TO BE.

HE'S A HARD WORKER.

GOT A HECK OF AN ARM.

HE'S SMART.

I THINK HE'S GOT ALL OF THE THINGS THERE THAT YOU WANT OUT OF A QUARTERBACK THAT CAN REALLY SUCCEED HERE AT NEBRASKA.

>> YOU SAID SOMETHING GREAT EARLIER.

YOU SAID JUST HAVE FUN.

>> YEAH.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY IN IT NOW.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S PRESSURE TO GET NEBRASKA BACK TO A BOWL GAME AND BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE.

HOW HARD IS IT JUST TO HAVE FUN?

>> WELL, I MEAN AS THE SEASON HAS KIND OF GONE ALONG, I'VE SEEN A LITTLE LESS OF THAT FUN OUT OF DYLAN.

AND HE'S GOT A PERSONALITY.

YOU KNOW HE -- WELL, I KNOW HIS DAD.

>> YEAH.

>> I KNOW HIS DAD'S BROTHER.

WAS A QUARTERBACK FOR BOTH OF THEM, BUT, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT COME OUT OF HIM A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT WHERE HE'S REALLY ENJOYING THIS GAME AND NOT FEELING LIKE THE PRESSURE.

YOU KNOW?

NOT FEELING LIKE I GOTTA PERFORM WELL.

BUT, JUST GOING OUT PLAYING THE GAME, HAVING FUN.

AND JUST, YOU KNOW, DOING WHAT YOU DO.

I MEAN, JUST GOING OUT BEING AN ATHLETE AND BE THAT PLAYER WE KNOW HE CAN BE.

I THINK HE'S GONNA GET THERE.

HE'S HAD A PRETTY SOLID FRESHMAN YEAR.

AND I'M HOPING THAT PROGRESSION FROM YOUR FRESHMAN TO YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR, IT REALLY WILL TAKE HOLD FOR HIM.

>> ERIC, DONOVAN WAS YOUR CENTER.

"THE NIGHTHAWK."

>> YEAH.

EXACTLY.

>> ERIC, HOW MUCH WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NIL AND WHAT NOT, AND GUYS FROM YOUR ERA, HOW MUCH DO YOU GUYS JOKE AROUND HOW MUCH MONEY YOUR ROSE BOWL TEAM WOULD HAVE HAD?

[ LAUGHTER ] YOU'RE THE HEISMAN WINNER.

>> WE TALK A LOT ABOUT IT.

>> YOU GOT NAILED FOR A HAM SANDWICH.

>> A HAM SANDWICH, YEAH.

>> I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING.

>> WHERE WAS THE HAM SANDWICH FROM?

>> I'M LOOKING FOR A HAM SANDWICH THESE DAYS.

YOU KNOW?

NO, I MEAN IT'S JUST THE WAY THE GAME HAS CHANGED A LOT.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ME AT THAT TIME I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AWESOME TO HAVE ALL THIS MONEY.

BUT, I, YOU KNOW, I WAS EXCITED TO BE ON THE TEAM, NUMBER ONE.

PLAYING THE GAME THAT I LOVED.

GETTING A FREE EDUCATION.

SO, THERE WERE JUST THINGS -- YOU KNOW, WOULD IT HAVE BEEN NICE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A NICE CAR AND HAVE A LITTLE FANCIER PLACE TO LIVE, OR GO OUT TO EAT, AND DO ALL THAT STUFF?

YEAH, I THINK SO.

I HOPE THOSE GUYS GET TO ENJOY THAT AND NOT FORGET ABOUT WHAT THEIR JOB IS WITH SCHOOL AND WITH SPORTS.

LIKE, YOU KNOW LIKE TROY MENTIONED, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF THAT GREATNESS OUT OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL, AND HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL THAT YOU KNOW CAN STILL BE THERE AND HOPEFULLY THAT NEVER GOES AWAY AT THIS LEVEL.

>> ERIC, DYLAN GOT BANGED UP LAST GAME.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, HE'S DEALING WITH THE BACK INJURY.

YOU PLAYED PLENTY OF TIMES HURT, INJURED.

TALK ABOUT JUST NOT BEING 100% AND PLAYING THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION ON THE FIELD WHEN YOU'RE NOT A FULL 100% HEALTHY.

>> YEAH, I REMEMBER PLAYING A LOT OF GAMES, YOU KNOW, HURT.

AND THAT'S JUST PART OF IT.

YOU UNDERSTAND IT.

AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT GOES.

IT'S REALLY A MENTAL TOUGHNESS THING.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S A PHYSICAL TOUGHNESS THAT YOU JUST CAN'T GET PAST.

LIKE THE INJURY'S TOO MUCH.

THAT'S BEEN THE CASE TOO.

I REMEMBER GAMES WHERE I COULDN'T PLAY.

AS A FRESHMAN, OKLAHOMA STATE, HAD A HIP POINTER IN THAT GAME.

COULDN'T GO OUT AGAINST A&M THE NEXT WEEK.

SO, THERE'S JUST THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN THAT WILL KEEP YOU FROM PLAYING THE GAME.

BUT, I KNOW HE'S TOUGH.

IF HE CAN DO IT, HE'S GONNA DO IT.

>> IT ALMOST BE LIKE -- JUST A QUICK FOLLOW-UP.

YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT GUYS -- "THE FLU GAME," RIGHT?

KIND OF LOWER EXPECTATIONS WITH THINGS THAT KIND OF HAPPEN, CAN ALMOST BENEFIT A YOUNGER PLAYER.

>> YEAH.

>> KIND OF SLOWS YOU DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

>> YEAH.

>> BECAUSE YOU ARE BANGED UP.

>> SURE.

>> AND JUST KIND OF QUIET THE MIND.

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THIS LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR HIM AND HIS HEAD.

AND ESPECIALLY WITH BRINGING A NEW COACH IN MID-SEASON.

SO, I HOPE THAT AGAIN, THAT THEY CAN JUST CONNECT.

THE TEAM CAN DO A NICE JOB OF JUST, AGAIN, JUST "HEY, LET'S GO OUT AND HAVE FUN.

LET'S MAKE SOME PLAYS, HAVE SOME FUN, LEAD THIS TEAM, AND DO WHAT YOU CAME TO NEBRASKA TO DO."

I KNOW HE'S GOING TO PUT THE TIME IN.

HE KNOWS THIS GAME.

BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THAT TIME WERE NOW, LET'S FIND THESE THINGS.

GO TO HIM.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ON THIRD DOWN?

WHAT ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH?

THIS IS THE TIME THAT THE COACH AND PLAYER CAN REALLY REACT WITH EACH OTHER.

LIKE WHAT DO I LIKE TO THROW IN THIS COVERAGE?

AND JUST HAVE THOSE THINGS WRITTEN DOWN, HAVE THEM IN A GAME PLAN, AND GO WITH THEM.

>> LAST YEAR YOU WENT DOWN THERE, YOU HELPED OUT A LITTLE BIT, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAY THAT MATT RHULE TRIES TO EMBRACE THE PAST?

I KNOW HE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF BRINGING YOU GUYS DOWN.

>>YEAH RIGHT WHEN I MET MATT HE ASKED ME TO COME TALK TO THE THE TEAM.

AND THAT WAS GREAT, I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

HE HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF MINE.

I'VE GOT FULL SUPPORT HE IS GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB HERE AT NEBRASKA AND IT IS JUST GOOD TO BE PART OF IT.

AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE BY, WALKING INTO CAMPUS TODAY, YOU JUST KIND OF GO BACK TO THOSE TIMES THAT YOU PLAYED AT NEBRASKA HERE AT THE COLLEGE.

AND IT'S LIKE , "WOW, THIS IS AWESOME."

I WISH YOU COULD DO THIS YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

THAT KIND OF THE BEAUTY ABOUT BEING BACK.

YOU GET TO KIND OF TAKE YOUR MIND TO THAT PLACE.

AND THEN SHARE THINGS WITH THE COACHES, AND THE PLAYERS, AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HELP.

SO JUST BEING AROUND I THINK IS AWESOME.

AND YOU KNOW IT IS GOOD FOR ME TOO, JUST TO BE AROUND THE PLAYERS AND THE COACHING STAFF, AND THE PROGRAM, AND COME ON LINCOLN AND BE ON YOUR GUYS SHOW.

IT'S JUST GOOD TO BE AROUND.

IT IS NOT VERY FAR AWAY FROM ME.

SOMETIMES YOU GET IN THAT WORK RUT, WHERE YOU'RE JUST WORKING AND WORKING.

AND YOU KNOW YOUR HEAD IS DOWN.

BUT IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO PEAK UP AND BE PART OF NEBRASKA FOOTBALL.

>>ON THAT TOPIC OF HEAD COACHES, HOW SPECIAL WAS IT FOR YOU TO SEE FRANK SOLICH GET HIS DUE AT NEBRASKA?

I MEAN YOU GUYS WON A LOT OF GAMES.

YOU'RE THE LAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS.

YOU WON A HEISMAN, YOU PLAYED FOR A NATIONAL TITLE, HE WAS ALMOST BANISHED FOR 20 YEARS.

TO HAVE FRANK TO GET THAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK, HOW SPECIAL WAS THAT FOR YOU?

>> IT WAS GREAT.

I ALWAYS LOVE SEEING MY COACH, AND SUPPORTING HIM.

I WILL BE THERE IN LAS VEGAS SUPPORTING HIM AS HE GETS HIS COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION.

THAT IS GOING TO BE REALLY NICE.

AGAIN, JUST BEING PART OF THAT, AND HAVING HIM JOIN THAT GROUP, I AM JUST SO HAPPY FOR HIM, FOR PAM, AND YOU KNOW THERE WAS A TOUGH TIME, WHERE HE HAD TO GO THROUGH IT HERE AND NEBRASKA.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE BACK.

AND SO THE TIMES THAT HE'S COME BACK I THINK THIS IS BEEN GREAT FOR HIM.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT EMOTIONAL, BUT I THINK THE SUPPORT THAT THE FANS, THE PLAYERS, HAVE GIVEN HIM, HAS BEEN WELL WORTH COMING BACK.

>> WE SAW THAT VIDEO OF YOU, A YOUNG ERIC CROUCH GETTING THE HEISMAN, TALK ABOUT YOUR KIDS NOW, HOW IS THAT GOING?

>> A GREAT MAN, I MEAN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT EARLIER.

CARSON, HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB.

JEFF JAMROG IS COACHING HIM AT MIDLAND.

HE'S A JUNIOR, GOT HURT THIS LAST WEEK.

SO HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO SIT OUT THAT LAST GAME.

BUT HE'S PLAYING SAFETY, REALLY ENJOYING IT, AND I JUST LOVE WATCHING HIM PLAY.

HE'S JUST CONTINUING TO GROW AS A FOOTBALL PLAYER AND AS A YOUNG MEN.

AND IT'S JUST KIND OF THAT TIME OF THEIR LIVES.

AND MY DAUGHTER LEXI IS DOING GREAT.

SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US NOW FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS AT THE COMPANY.

WE ARE KIND OF PUTTING HER THROUGH THE RINGER YOU KNOW?

TEACHING HER A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

SO SHE'S STILL GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO.

BUT THAT'S WHAT PARENTS ARE FOR, I KEEP COACHING THEM UP.

>> AND WE SAW THE HEISMAN CEREMONY VIDEO.

ERIC YOU GO BACK TO THAT EVERY YEAR.

HOW FUN IS THAT?

YOU GET TO BE WITH JOHNNY AND ROZIER OBVIOUSLY, CONNECT WITH EVERY HEISMAN WINNER.

WHAT IS THAT WEEKEND LIKE?

HOW MANY DAYS ARE YOU OUT THERE?

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PARTS OF THAT WEEKEND?

>> IT IS CHANGING A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK AS COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS CHANGING THIS WEEKEND GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT SHORTER.

THEY ARE GOING TO DO THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, BUT I'VE REALLY ENJOYED GOING BACK AND BEING PART OF THAT GROUP.

AND GETTING TO KNOW THE YOU KNOW, THE WINNERS, AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND ACTUALLY, DANNY WUERFFEL AND I ARE WORKING ON SOME THINGS WITH THE HEISMAN TRUST.

THAT I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR THE FORMER WINNERS IN THE FUTURE.

SO THAT'S BEEN FUN.

JUST TO BE PART OF THAT GROUP AND GET TO KNOW THOSE GUYS DIFFERENTLY, YOU KNOW FOR ME, I HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

I WASN'T EXPECTING TO WIN THE HEISMAN TROPHY.

I DIDN'T HAVE A SPEECH REPAIRED FOR IT.

OBVIOUSLY FORGOT TO THANK MY TEAM.

WHICH I ALWAYS WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MY COACHES AND MY TEAMMATES, RIGHT?

BUT YEAH, IT'S JUST GOOD TO BE THERE AND SUPPORT THAT WINNER THAT'S COMING IN AND TO BE ABLE TO GIVE HIM THAT HUG, AND WELCOME HIM TO THE CLUB.

>> THIS YEAR'S WINNER COULD BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

COULD BE A GUY THAT PLAYS BOTH WAYS IN TRAVIS HUNTER.

THOUGHTS ON WATCHING HIM PLAY.

I THINK HE PLAYED 170 PLAYS THIS PAST WEEKEND.

>> YOU TURN THE TV ON.

AND YOU'RE LIKE, "THERE'S NO WAY THIS GUY CAN KEEP DOING THIS."

AND YOU KNOW HE JUST KEEPS ON KEEPING ON.

IT'S JUST AMAZING THE PLAYS THAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAKE.

HE'S AN ELECTRIC PLAYER.

HE IS TOUGH.

HE HAS A LOT OF SKILL.

HE HAS PUT HIMSELF IN A POSITION TO POTENTIALLY WIN THE HEISMAN TROPHY.

WHICH IS POTENTIALLY A COOL THING TO HAVE.

>> CAN YOU VOTE FOR A COLORADO GUY?

NO, I MEAN OVER THE YEARS, IT'S FUNNY, YOU GET THAT VOTE.

I NEVER TAKE IT OUT ON THE TEAM THAT TOOK IT OUT ON ME.

IT IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING YEAR.

THIS IS THE TIME THAT I HAVE TUNED IN A LITTLE BIT.

MONTH OF NOVEMBER IS IMPORTANT.

AS PLAYERS AND TEAMS, KIND OF HIT THAT IMPORTANT PART OF THE SEASON.

A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER.

I LOVE WATCHING IT AND BEING PART OF THAT.

THAT IS WHAT KEEPS ME INVOLVED TOO.

BECAUSE I LIKE VOTING FOR THIS, AND MAKING MY VOTE REALLY MEAN SOMETHING.

SO, PAYING ATTENTION WATCHING GAMES, YOU KNOW NOT OVERLY WATCHING GAMES, BUT JUST PAYING ATTENTION.

READING ARTICLES, WATCHING SOME THINGS, JUST KIND OF KNOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE.

THE GUYS THAT START PUTTING THEMSELVES AHEAD OF OTHERS, I REALLY DO WANT TO WATCH THEM PLAY IN GAMES THAT THEY REALLY MEAN SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW THOSE BIG GAMES WERE YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME HEISMAN MOMENT HAPPEN.

>> I TALKED TO MY FATHER-IN- LAW, AND YOU KNOW HE DOES BACK TO THE BIG SIX DAYS, BIG EIGHT, IS IT STRANGE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LOOK AT BIG 10 STANDINGS, AND YOU'RE SEEING USC, UCLA, OREGON AND WASHINGTON IN THERE?

>>YEAH, DIFFERENT.

COAST TO COAST.

YOU KIND OF WONDER HOW HARD THAT IS TRAVELING AND PLAYING TEAMS ALL OVER.

NEBRASKA HAS A NICE SPOT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

SO TRAVELING FOR NEBRASKA IS NOT TOO BAD.

YEAH, IT'S WEIRD.

BECAUSE YOU USED TO WATCH THOSE TEAMS PLAY LATE AT NIGHT.

AND YOU'RE LIKE OKAY, NOW WE ARE WATCHING BIG 12, FORMER BIG 12 TEAMS PLAYING LATE AT NIGHT.

SO IT IS INTERESTING.

BUT IT IS ALSO FUN TO SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING.

>> ERIC, WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.

GOOD LUCK ON THE BUSINESS AND EVERYTHING YOU'RE GETTING DONE.

>> ALWAYS GLAD TO BE A PART OF IT, THANK YOU GUYS.

>>> COMING UP, WE ARE GOING TO CHAT A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE CHANGE ON TOP OF THE OFFENSE, AND DISCUSS WHAT IT CAN MEAN IN THE CLOSING WEEKS OF BIG 10 PLAY.

THINGS AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE PICTURES THE SEASON IN THE BIG TEN.

MORE TO COME UP NEXT, HERE ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

>>> DYLAN, WILL TRY TO PRACTICE TOMORROW.

WE WILL SEE WHERE HE IS AT.

WE WILL GET BOTH OF HIM AND HEINRICH READY.

OBVIOUSLY, WE MADE THE MOVE WITH DANA LAST WEEK.

HE WILL CALL THE PLAYS THIS WEEK.

AND SERVE AS THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MOVING FORWARD.

CALLED HIM LAST WEEK.

HAD HIM COME IN.

HAD HIM KIND OF LOOK AT EVERYTHING.

I THINK-- YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT A LONG HISTORY OF SUCCESS OFFENSIVELY.

BOTH AS A HEAD COACH BUT CERTAINLY AS A COORDINATOR BEFORE THAT.

I THINK, HE JUST KIND OF GIVES US A FRESH PERSPECTIVE.

I'M LOOKING AT WHAT WE ARE DOING, WHO WE ARE GOING AND DOING IT WITH.

AND WAS SORT OF ABLE TO SAY, "LET'S GO IN THESE DIRECTIONS OVER HERE."

SO I JUST THINK IT GIVES US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ONE OF THE GREAT GREAT OFFENSIVE MINDS.

A GUY THAT I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS WITH BEFORE.

I TRUST.

AND EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HE DOES.

THIS IS ABOUT BRINGING IN COACH HOLGORSEN IS ABOUT HELPING OUR OFFENSE BE BETTER THIS WEEK AGAINST USC.

IT'S ABOUT HELPING OUR OFFENSE BE BETTER NEXT YEAR.

IT'S JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING MOVING FORWARD.

I THINK THAT SO MANY THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING ARE RIGHT, AND ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THIS WAS AN AREA THAT WAS STRUGGLING.

I TRIED TO FIX IT.

I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT, SO I CALLED SOMEONE THAT I KNEW COULD FIX IT.

AND I THINK DANA WILL FIX IT, AND TONY WILL CONTINUE TO DO A GREAT JOB.

SPECIAL TEAMS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND PLAY BETTER.

THE STRENGTH PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE, WE ARE ON THE ROAD RECRUITING.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RECRUIT WELL.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO LEARN HOW THINGS ARE IN THE NEW BIG 10.

>> WELCOME BACK TWO "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

INSIDE THE STUDIO HERE AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

IM MIKE'L SEVERE JOINED BY SEAN CALLAHAN.

BIG FLIP POSSIBLY.

HEARD A LOT ABOUT DAWSON MERRITT OVER THE LAST MONTHS.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> YEAH, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THIS ONE.

MATT RHULE WAS THERE A FEW WEEKS BACK OVER THE FIRST BYE WEEK TO WATCH DAWSON MERRITT PLAY.

THEY CONTINUE TO RECRUIT HIM.

RIGHT NOW, AND ON THREE WE HAVE THE RPM WHERE YOU MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS.

SEVERAL PREDICTIONS HAVE COME IN TONIGHT, FOR DAWSON MERRITT FLIP TO NEBRASKA.

HE WOULD, NO DOUBT, GIVE THEM OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE TOP RECRUITS IN THIS CLASS.

>> POSITION?

>> LINEBACKER.

HIS DAD ACTUALLY WORKS FOR THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS.

YOU HAVE GOT TO GIVE JAMAR MOZEE -- A LOT OF CREDIT IF THIS HAPPENS.

NEBRASKA HAS REALLY EMPHASIZED KANSAS CITY, EMPHASIZED MISSOURI, AND THAT'S OUR NEXT GUY JACKSON CANTWELL.

AS WELL.

THE OTHER RECRUIT THAT MATT RHULE SAW OVER THE BYE WEEK, WAS JACKSON CANTWELL.

TOP FIVE STAR PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY.

2026 OFFENSIVE TACKLE.

ALSO, ONE OF THE TOP SHOT PUT THROWERS IN AMERICA.

I BELIEVE HE HAD THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL MARK LAST YEAR FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES.

JUST A MACHINE.

HE'S ALREADY GOT REPRESENTATION FROM DREW ROSENHAUS AGENCIES.

HE'S A HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR, AND HE HAS SIGNED TO WORK WITH ONE OF THE TOP AGENTS IN THE NFL.

WE HAD JEREMIAH SIRLES ON HERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND HE SAID AS AN AGENT, THEY ARE GETTING DOWN TO THE HIGH SCHOOL RANKS.

AND JACKSON CANTWELL TO SIGN WITH ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN AGENCIES IN THE NFL.

REALLY TELLS YOU WHAT KIND OF IMPACT THE NFL AND N.I.L.

HAVE HAD.

EVEN AT HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITING.

>> WHAT ABOUT OUR FEATURE RECRUIT?

>> YEAH OUR FEATURE RECRUIT TONIGHT IS BRIAN TAPU OUT OF UTAH.

HE'S ACTUALLY AN OVERSEAS PLAYER.

THAT MOVED TO UTAH, AND THE CONNECTION TO NEBRASKA WITH HIM, TONIU FONOTI FORMER HUSKERS, IS COACHING HIM AT HIS FORMER HIGH SCHOOL NOW IN UTAH.

A BIG TACKLE BODY THAT CAN PLAY ON THE PERIMETER.

INTERNATIONAL, KIND OF HIGH UPSIDE GUY.

THAT NEBRASKA WAS ABLE TO GET THIS SUMMER.

COMMITTED TO OREGON STATE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

DIDN'T REALLY QUITE UNDERSTAND THE RECRUITING PROCESS BEING A FOREIGNER.

REALIZED THAT I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO DO THAT.

HE SWITCHED HIS COMMITMENT TO NEBRASKA, TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER POLYNESIAN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN, TO PLAY WITH DYLAN RAIOLA.

>> AND OUR IN STATE RECRUIT IS ONE OF THE MORE DYNAMIC PLAYERS IN THE STATE WITH AMARION JACKSON.

TALK ABOUT HIM A LITTLE BIT.

>> YEAH, AMARION JACKSON, YOU LOOK AT HIM AT MILLARD SOUTH AS SOPHOMORE, HAD ONE OF THE BEST SOPHOMORE SEASONS EVER FOR A RECEIVER IN THE STATE.

PICKED UP MULTIPLE POWER FOUR OFFERS FROM IOWA, KANSAS STATE, MINNESOTA, AMONG OTHERS.

AS A JUNIOR A LOT MORE NAMES JOIN THAT OFFENSE.

DaSHAWN PRINCE TRANSFER FROM OMAHA CENTRAL.

>> BENSON, THEN CENTRAL, THEN HERE.

>> TO GO PLAY AT MILLARD SOUTH.

CHASE LOFTIN LEFT ELKHORN NORTH SO, THE NUMBER OF WEAPONS THIS MILLARD SOUTH TEAM HAS, OMAR JAN JACKSON, DEFINITELY A DIVISION I GUY.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHERE HE FALLS WITH NEBRASKA.

HE LOOKED WITH GOOD RUNNING ROUTES AT CAMP, BUT I THINK THE QUESTION IS TOP END SPEED, KIND OF REMINDS YOU A LITTLE BIT OF XAVIER WATTS.

HE WAS NOT A TOP END SPEED GUY, BUT FOOTBALL PLAYER WITH GREAT INSTINCTS.

NOT A RECEIVER AT THE DIVISION I LEVEL.

NOTRE DAME MADE HIM A SAFETY.

AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK.

PEOPLES IN THE OMAHA CIRCLE, SAY THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER DEFENSIVE BACK.

ALMOST LIKE XAVIER WATTS CURRENTLY IS AT NOTRE DAME.

>> YEAH X1 THE CURRENT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

>>> ALL RIGHT, LET TAKE AN EARLY LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF THIS WEEK'S SURVEY.

WHAT IS YOUR GRADE ON THE HIRING OF DANA HOLGORSEN?

EARLY GRADE?

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SITTING.

THAT IS SOMEBODY JUST MESSING AROUND.

55% SAY "F." 23% SAY "B."

16% SAY "A."

AND THEN YOU GOT ABOUT 6% FOR "C," "D," AND 0%.

I THINK THAT WILL CHANGE AS WE GO ALONG.

PEOPLE PROBABLY MESSING AROUND RIGHT NOW.

THIS WEEK AROUND THE BIG 10, THE INDIANA HOOSIERS, WITH A 10 WIN SEASON FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

AND DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPION MICHIGAN NEEDS A WIN OVER NORTHWESTERN OR OHIO STATE TO BE BOWL ELIGIBLE IN THE COLLEGE BALL RANKINGS RELEASED.

THE BIG 10 HAS DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB SITTING THERE.

YOU KNOW, FOUR OF THE TOP FIVE, SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.

INDIANA IS THE ONE I THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE THEY FIT.

TO ME, EVEN THE GAMES THAT WERE CLOSE, THEY DOMINATED.

>> YEAH, THEY WERE -- I MEAN, THE CLOSEST GAME AGAINST MICHIGAN WAS -- >> YEAH.

>> MICHIGAN COULD HAVE BEAT THEM.

BUT THEY TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THAT DURING THIS SEASON.

THIS IS -- TEAMS ARE ALERT NOW.

THEY KNOW HOW GOOD INDIANA CAN BE.

I KNOW IT'S -- THE KNOCK ON THEM IS THE STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE.

YOU KNOW, HOW MANY WINNING TEAMS HAVE THEY BEATEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?

BUT THIS GAME AGAINST OHIO STATE -- >> IT'S HUGE.

>> -- IT'S HUGE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S AT OHIO STATE AND THE HORSESHOE.

>> IT'S OFF A BYE.

>> BUT I LIKE THE WAY THEY PREPARE, AND I'D LOVE -- I'D LIKE THEM IN THIS SITUATION TO KIND OF STEP UP AND SAY, "HEY, LOOK AT US.

WE'RE THE REAL DEAL."

>> YEAH.

>> AND I THINK INDIANA IS THE REAL DEAL.

>> GAME CONTROL IS SOMETHING THEY'RE LOOKING AT STILL.

GAME CONTROL, PRETTY WELL FOR THEM.

SO WHAT WAS THE FEELING?

DANA, OBVIOUSLY, BACK IN JANUARY OR WHATEVER, YOU KNEW HIS NAME WAS OUT THERE.

BUT WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE THAT HE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THE O.C.

AND CALL PLAYS, WHAT WAS THAT FEELING LIKE?

>> YEAH, IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY.

I MEAN, WHEN DANA WAS HERE IN JANUARY, IT WAS A FEW DAYS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> HE WAS, YOU KNOW, MET WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE, TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

IT LOOKED PROMISING.

AND NOBODY REALLY KNEW IF IT WAS TO BE KIND OF A HIGH-END ANALYST OF EVEN THE POSITION THAT GLENN THOMAS CURRENTLY HAS.

'CAUSE GLENN THOMAS WAS STILL COACHING WITH THE STEELERS, NOT ANNOUNCED YET AT THAT POINT.

SO THERE WAS A QUESTION AT THAT TIME.

BUT I THINK HOLGORSEN WAS ONLY INTERESTED TO COME HERE TO RUN THE OFFENSE, TO BE A PLAY CALLER.

AND THAT OPPORTUNITY DID NOT COME UNTIL THIS WEEK.

IT IS SUCH A UNIQUE -- AS YOU HEARD TROY DANNEN SAY, SUCH A UNIQUE SITUATION TO DO THIS.

I MEAN, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, FLIP OUT CHEFS IN THE KITCHEN WITH THREE GAMES LEFT BUT SAY, "HEY, YOU'RE RUNNING THE SAME MENU AND SAME INGREDIENTS.

AND THE GUY THAT HAD YOUR JOB BEFORE IS GOING GO STILL WORK IN THE KITCHEN FOR YOU NOW."

I MEAN, IT IS SUCH A UNIQUE SITUATION.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS HOW THIS IS GOING TO LOOK THE FINAL THREE WEEKS.

>> YOU KNOW, JAY, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT LOOK AT IT AND GO, "HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY CHANGE STUFF THIS QUICKLY WITH A BYE WEEK?"

I REMEMBER A FIRING HAPPENED.

HE'S GONE.

THEY CAN'T TACKLE.

A WEEK LATER, BILL BUSCH COMES IN, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY'RE A WHOLE DIFFERENT LOOKING DEFENSE.

YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES.

>> OH, 100% YOU CAN, ESPECIALLY DURING A BYE WEEK.

AND IT'S -- I THINK IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, IT'S TO JUST REALLY TRY TO SIMPLIFY THINGS.

I THINK NEBRASKA HAS STRUGGLED OBVIOUSLY TO FIND A GROOVE.

YOU SAW THINGS EXECUTED MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY IN THOSE FIRST FOUR GAMES.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, SOMETHING HAPPENED.

YOU KNOW, YOU GET MORE FILM, DEE HOW DYLAN OPERATES.

YOU SEE WHAT HE'S SUCCESSFUL WITH, WHAT HE STRUGGLES WITH.

TEAMS START BRINGING MORE PRESSURES.

AND HE -- OBVIOUSLY, BEING A YOUNG GUY, THINGS ARE MOVING QUICKLY FOR HIM.

BUT HELP SETTLE HIM DOWN.

GET HIM COMFORTABLE IN SOME EARLY PLAY CALLS AND GET SOME SUCCESS GOING EARLY ON FOR HIM.

GETTING THE RUN GAME GOING.

KEEPING THOSE DEFENSES ON THEIR HEELS A LITTLE BIT EARLY ON.

I MEAN, USC, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE KIND OF LIKE, "WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SEE?

ARE WE GOING TO SEE SOME CONCEPTS?

ARE WE GONNA SEE WHAT NEBRASKA'S BEEN DOING?"

YOU KIND OF DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE DRASTIC CHANGES.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO IMAGINE -- AS USC'S DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, YOU'VE GOT TO BE SCRATCHING YOUR HEAD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO ATTACK YOU ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

BUT I LIKE -- I LOVE THE ABILITY JUST TO SAY, "HEY, LET'S MAKE A CHANGE."

IT IS DRASTIC.

BUT, I MEAN, YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO GET THIS THING GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET TO A BOWL GAME YET THIS YEAR AND TO GET THIS THING MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I APPLAUD MATT RHULE FOR DOING THIS.

BECAUSE THIS IS VERY ABNORMAL.

BUT I THINK THAT SHOWS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS OFFENSIVE COACHES AND HIS STAFF, THAT HE CAN GO TO THEM AND SAY, "HEY, I'M GOING TO MAKE THESE CHANGES."

AND SATT COULD EASILY HAVE SAID -- >> "I'M OUT OF HERE."

>> "I'M TAKING MY BALL AND I'M GOING HOME."

BUT HE'S STAYING HERE AND STILL COACHING.

SO I THINK THAT JUST SHOWS YOU THE CAMARADERIE AND THE TRUST THEY HAVE WITHIN THE STAFF, WHICH IS REALLY UNIQUE.

I WOULD GUESS 95% OF THE COACHES AROUND THE NATION WOULD SAY, "I'M GONE."

>> RIGHT.

>> SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT.

>> YOU LOOK AT A GUY LIKE HOLGORSEN AND WHAT HIS OFFENSE DOES.

GETTING WIDE RECEIVERS OPEN, THAT'S THE JOB OF THAT OFFENSE.

ALWAYS HAS BEEN, GOING BACK TO HAL MUMME.

DO YOU FEEL A BIT BETTER ABOUT THOSE TWO, BIG, WIDE RECEIVERS WE'VE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT GETTING OFF OF PRESS AND EVERYTHING COMING UP?

>> AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT, MIKE'L, LIKE, THE LAST MONTH, SIX WEEKS, JUST THE PRESS COVERAGES AND THE STRUGGLES NEBRASKA HAS HAD TO GET OPEN AGAINST MAN-TO-MAN DEFENSE WITH CAPABLE RECEIVERS WHO HAVE PROVEN DIVISION I PRODUCTION.

>> MM-HMM.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PROJECTS.

I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT BOTH THESE GUYS, NEYOR AND BANKS, THEY HAVE PRODUCTION OVER THEIR CAREERS.

WHY CAN'T THEY GET OPEN?

IS THE QUALITY OF DEFENSE THAT MUCH BETTER?

AND IT'S BETTER THAN PROBABLY WHAT THESE GUYS HAVE PLAYED IN.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO SPACE THESE GUYS OUT, GET THEM OPEN.

AND THE RUNNING GAME, JUST CAN THEY FIGURE OUT HOW TO RUN THE BALL WHERE THE SAFETIES OF THE DEFENSE DON'T PLAY SO FAR BACK?

'CAUSE THAT HAS KILLED THIS OFFENSE.

WHEN YOU WATCH NEBRASKA PLAY RIGHT NOW, THE SAFETIES PLAY SO DEEP BECAUSE THEY DON'T RESPECT THE RUN.

THEN THAT TAKES AWAY THE DEEP BALL.

AND THE RECEIVERS ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE OVER THE TOP, WHICH HAS REALLY LIMITED NEBRASKA THE LAST MONTH.

>> WHAT YOU SEE A LOT HERE, THOUGH, IS A LOT OF CROSSING ROUTES, A LOT OF MESH CONCEPTS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF TWO HIGH.

I THINK YOU'RE GONNA SEE MORE ONE HIGH.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE SEEN FROM THAT OFFENSE AND WHAT YOU EXPECT TO SEE -- WHAT WE HOPE TO EXPECT TO SEE?

>> YEAH, I THINK YOU NAILED IT.

THE RUB ROUTES, MESH CONCEPTS, MOTIONS, GETTING PEOPLE IN BUNCH FORMATIONS AND JUST UTILIZING ABILITY TO JUST NOT GET IN A STATIC FORMATION TO WHERE THEY CAN LINE UP ON YOU, JAM YOU, PRESS YOU.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO GET YOURSELF SOME FREE RELEASES.

UTILIZING YOUR TIGHT END APPROPRIATELY, I THINK THAT'S BEEN ONE AREA YOU'VE SEEN.

I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN FIDONE AGAINST INDIANA.

YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY HIS BEST GAME.

BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM UTILIZED MORE, AND I THINK YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SEE HIM UTILIZED MORE.

BUT WHEN YOU GET IN THESE COVERAGES -- WHETHER, YOU KNOW, AS DEFENSIVELY, AND YOU LOOK IN THESE SITUATIONS, WHETHER YOU'RE PLAYING, YOU KNOW, COVERAGE SIX, QUARTER, QUARTER, HALF, COVER NINE, HALF -- WHATEVER, THREE.

YOU KNOW, YOU GOT ALL THESE IN-DEPTH SCENARIOS.

YOU'VE GOT STRESS OUT YOUR LINEBACKERS.

>> HH-HMM.

>> AND YOU'VE GOT TO GET LINEBACKERS IN SPACE.

AND THIS IS WHAT THESE OFFENSES DO TO WHERE YOU CAN GET THAT LINEBACKER OUT IN THE SLOT FORMATION.

HE'S COVERING A RUNNING BACK, A TIGHT -- WHATEVER IT IS.

THAT'S UNCOMFORTABLE FOR HIM.

AND YOU GOT TO HAVE THE COMMUNICATION, THE PROPER COMMUNICATION WITH THE CORNER, WITH THE SAFETY AND THE OTHER INSIDE LINEBACKERS TO SAY, "HEY, I NEED HELP HERE."

>> MM-HMM.

>> "WE'VE GOT TO KIND OF CHANGE SOME THINGS."

YOU'VE GOT TO PUT THEM IN A TOUGH SITUATION.

I THINK THIS OFFENSE DOES THAT.

I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, PLAYING TEXAS TECH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE YEARS WITH MIKE LEACH, VERY SIMILAR CONCEPTS.

THEY'RE GONNA STRESS THAT YOU GUYS -- >> AND THE SPLITS GET WIDER ON THE "O" LINE.

>> YEAH, THEY DID.

>> I DON'T THINK THEY'LL PROBABLY DO THAT.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'LL DO THAT.

I THINK EVEN WHEN HE WAS AT OKLAHOMA STATE, THEY DIDN'T DO THE WIDE SPLITS.

YEAH, TEXAS TECH WITH MIKE LEACH, I MEAN, THEY GOT -- >> IT WAS, LIKE, 12-FOOT SPANS.

>> YEAH, THEY HAD THREE-YARD SPLITS BECAUSE WANTED TO CREATE A WIDER POCKET.

>> RIGHT.

>> FOR THE QB.

AND A LOT OF TEAMS, YOU STILL LINE UP IN YOUR SAME SCENARIO.

BUT WE ALWAYS HAD A -- YOU ALMOST LINED UP HEAD-UP IN A TACKLE.

IT WAS REALLY WEIRD.

BUT YOU HAD TO DO THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU COULDN'T LET THEM, YOU KNOW, EXPAND YOU OUT AND CREATE THAT BIGGER POCKET.

BUT IT'S JUST GETTING -- IT'S A MATCHUP THING.

>> YEAH.

>> WITHIN THIS OFFENSE.

AND TRYING TO EXPOSE THOSE GUYS AND PUTTING THOSE GUYS IN A TOUGH SITUATION WHERE -- >> PUT THEM IN A BIND.

>> YEAH, PUT THEM IN A BIND.

PUT THEM -- STRESS THEM OUT.

>> YEAH.

>> JUST, YOU CAN'T LET THEM SIT THERE IN THE BOX AND JUST BE LIKE, "OH."

YOU GOT TO GET THEM IN SOME MAN-TO-MAN COVERAGE SITUATIONS ON THE LINEBACKERS.

AND YOU GOT TO EXPOSE THEM.

>> PLUS, ANOTHER BIG PART OF THIS IS PACE -- RIGHT -- TOO.

>> YES.

>> YOU WANT TO GO A LITTLE BIT FASTER BECAUSE YOU SEE NEBRASKA TAKING THE TEMPO UP A LITTLE BIT?

>> I THINK THEY'VE LOOKED THEIR BEST AT TIMES WITH TEMPO.

BUT THE KEY WITH TEMPO IS YOU'VE GOT TO GET A FIRST DOWN FIRST.

>> YEP.

>> YOU CAN'T REALLY RUN TEMPO ON THE FIRST COUPLE PLAYS.

YOU GOT TO GET A FIRST DOWN TO ROLL INTO TEMPO.

>> MM-HMM.

>> BECAUSE SECOND AND NINE AND THIRD AND EIGHT, TEMPO DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD IN THOSE SITUATIONS -- >> YEAH.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE TO PUNT IT BACK IN 40 SECONDS.

>> THROW THE DEFENSE BACK OUT THERE.

BOB ON "X" SAYS HE LOVES THE HOLGORSEN HIRE.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS JUST FOR THIS YEAR?

OR IF YOU WERE GOING TO GUESS, IS THIS THE O.C.

FOR NEXT YEAR?

>> I THINK AS LONG AS EVERYTHING GOES TO PLAN, THIS IS THE GUY FOR THE FEATURE.

AND I THINK FOR NEBRASKA, THEY'LL GET THEM AT A GREAT DEAL TOO.

'CAUSE HOUSTON WILL CONTINUE TO PAY DANA HOLGORSEN FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, MEANING NEBRASKA WILL BASICALLY ONLY HAVE TO PAY HIM A MARKET BIG 10 COORDINATOR SALARY, THE LOWEST THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH.

SO IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY IF THIS WORKS OUT AND HE'S THE GUY.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU WORRY ABOUT SATTERFIELD.

SATTERFIELD IS MAKING $1.4 MILLION RIGHT NOW.

HE HAS ONE MORE YEAR ON HIS CONTRACT.

SO, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT ALL PLAYS OUT WITH HIM AFTER THIS SEASON TOO IS SOMETHING VERY NOTABLE AND TO WATCH.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE DEFENSE GOING AGAINST A MORE MOBILE QUARTERBACK?

MILLER MOSS WAS MOBILE, BUT MAIAVA IS MUCH MORE MOBILE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT NEBRASKA'S MATCHUP?

BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THEM AGAINST SOME -- STRUGGLE A LITTLE BIT AGAINST SOME MOBILE QUARTERBACKS.

>> YEAH, IT'S TOUGH.

ANYTIME YOU HAVE A MOBILE QUARTERBACK, IT JUST STRESSES YOU OUT.

YOU -- YOU KNOW, WHY NEBRASKA OFFENSE STRUGGLES AT TIMES BECAUSE RAIOLA IS NOT THE MOBILITY.

>> RIGHT.

>> IT'S 10 ON 11 ESSENTIALLY.

YOU GOT A MOBILE QUARTERBACK -- NOW YOU'RE PLAYING 11 ON 11 TYPE OF FOOTBALL.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST MAKES THAT FREE SAFETY HAVE TO COME DOWN AND FACTORS INTO THE RUN GAME.

SO IT DOES STRESS YOU OUT.

IT JUST MAKES YOU HAVE TO BE THAT MUCH MORE -- YOU KNOW, YOUR RUSH LANES HAVE TO BE CLEANER.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE YOUR CONTAIN HELP IS.

YOU HAVE PAY -- YOU HAVE TO JUST -- EVERYTHING IS JUST -- YOU HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PERFECT.

AND THAT'S HARD TO DO.

AND AT THIS LEVEL OF FOOTBALL SOMETIMES YOU'RE PLAYING SO QUICK AND SO FAST.

SO THEY'RE GONNA GET STRESSED OUT.

I THINK NEBRASKA WILL CONTINUE TO -- NEBRASKA IS A VERY AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE WITHIN THIS 3-3-5.

I FORSEE THEM TO CONTINUE TO BEING PRESSURE.

BUT IT'S -- YOU GOT TO BE CONTROLLED AT TIMES.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND NEBRASKA STRUGGLED AGAINST UCLA A LOT OF TIMES.

A LOT OF FREE RUSHES COMING THROUGH THERE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET GARBERS DOWN.

YOU CANNOT HAVE THAT AGAINST USC'S NEW QUARTERBACK.

HE HAS THE ABILITY TO SCRAMBLE AND RUN.

HE SHOWED THAT AN UNLV LAST YEAR.

YOU GOT TO -- YOU GOT TO BE ON POINT, ESPECIALLY THOSE FRONT SEVEN GUYS IN YOUR RUSH LANES AND GETTING THEM DOWN IN THE POCKET WHEN YOU CAN.

>> REAL QUICK, ONE OF THE BEST RUNNING BACKS, COMPLETE RUNNING BACKS NEBRASKA IS GONNA IN WOODY MARKS THIS YEAR.

>> YEAH, AND THEY'VE DONE GOOD AGAINST RUNNING TEAMS.

I MEAN, WHAT NEBRASKA DID AGAINST OHIO STATE, NO ONE IS GOING TO DO THAT TO THOSE GUYS ALL YEAR.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO CAN THEY GET THIS DEFENSE TO BE LOCKED AT THAT LEVEL?

>> YEAH.

YOUR BURNING QUESTION, SIR?

>> BURNING QUESTION.

WHAT IS THIS GONNA LOOK LIKE?

WHAT ARE WE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT NEXT WEEK?

BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE ALL CURIOUS HOW THIS CHANGE, THIS SUDDEN CHANGE, NEBRASKA HAS MADE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

>> I'M INTERESTED TO SEE THE ENVIRONMENT AT 3:00 IN L.A. >> YEAH.

>> USC, THERE'S A LITTLE APATHY IN THAT FAN BASE GOING ON RIGHT NOW TOO.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE THEIR FANBASE VERSUS NEBRASKA'S FAN BASE.

TRUST ME, NEBRASKA'S FAN BASE IS STILL GONNA TRAVEL OUT THERE.

THERE'S GONNA BE A HEAVY FAN BASE OUT THERE.

JUST EXCITED TO SEE HOW EVERYONE'S -- EACH TEAM'S TEMPERATURE RIGHT NOW GOING INTO THIS GAME.

>> YEAH, CALIFORNIANS FROM NEBRASKA ARE GONNA SHOW UP.

>> OH, YEAH, FOR SURE.

>> AND THE VEGAS PEOPLE, AND THE PHOENIX PEOPLE.

>> AND THE VEGAS, AND THE PHOENIX PEOPLE AS WELL.

MY BURNING QUESTION IS SIMPLE.

I MENTIONED IT BEFORE.

CAN NEBRASKA GET THEIR WIDE RECEIVERS OPEN?

THIS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR THAT.

THEY TARGET THE INSIDE RECEIVERS SEPARATELY FROM THE OUTSIDE RECEIVERS.

IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

AND REMEMBER, USC DOES NOT GET PRESSURE ON THE QUARTERBACK.

THEY HAVEN'T ALL YEAR LONG.

SO HOW WILL DYLAN RAIOLA RESPOND TO THAT AS WELL?

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

JAY, SEAN, AND I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE USC GAME.

THE GAME, OF COURSE, VERSUS THE TROJANS, IS 3:00 ON SATURDAY THE 16th ON FOX.

AND THEN ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP," TUESDAY NIGHT WE WILL RECAP THE USC GAME AND BE JOINED BY SPECIAL GUEST SAM McKEWON, THE EDITOR FROM "THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD."

HE'LL JOIN US AS WELL.

LIVE ON WORLD, FACEBOOK LIVE, AND YOUTUBE LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. AND THEN YOU CAN WATCH THE RE-AIR AT 10:00 P.M. ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE HIGH SCHOOL -- HIGH SCHOOL NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL CLASSICS AS WELL -- AN AMAZING SHOW -- ANYTIME ON YOUTUBE.COM/NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.

OUR THANKS TO THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, TROY DANNEN, HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER ERIC CROUCH FOR BEING ON WITH US.

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

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

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