♪ ♪ >>> NEBRASKA KNOTS THE FIRST WIN AGAINST AN FBC IN 364 DAYS AFTER DEFEATING INDIANA IN FRONT OF A SOLD OUT CROWD ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

IMPROVED DEFENSE AND HELP FROM THE SPECIAL TEAMS, LIFTING THE HUSKERS OVER THE HOOSIERS ON HOMECOMING.

CAN BIG RED BUILD MOMENTUM OFF THE VICTORY?

WE'LL BREAK DOWN THE W AND REVIEW RUTGERS WITH OUR SPECIAL GUEST GREG SMITH INSIDE NEBRASKA.

SEAN CALLAHAN WILL ALSO HELPS US WITH UPDATES ON BIG RED RECRUITING.

IT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT ON "BIG RED WRAP UP."

♪ ♪ >>> HELLO I AM MIKE'L SEVERE.

WELCOME TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP" ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

COACH JOSEPH GETS HIS FIRST WIN AS INTERIM COACH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH EXCITEMENT.

JOINING ME, FORMER HUSKER JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING.

THE LOCKER ROOM -- WE'RE GONNA PLAY IT LATER.

BUT, I GET CHILLS, MAN.

JUST WATCHING THAT AND HOW MUCH TREV WAS INVOLVED IN IT.

THAT WAS JUST REALLY COOL TO SEE.

>> IT IS BECAUSE THOSE KIDS HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

>> OH YEAH.

>> I MEAN, WHAT THEY'VE -- WITH YOU GET YOUR THE HEAD COACH FIRED JUST A FEW WEEKS PRIOR.

YOUR DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR GETS FIRED.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A LOT TO HANG YOUR HAT ON SO FAR IN THIS FOOTBALL SEASON.

AND FOR THEM TO FIGHT, COMMIT TO CHANGES.

YOU KNOW, AND REALLY APPROACH IT WITH AN OPEN MIND.

AND NOT THROW IN THE TOWEL.

'CAUSE I THINK, AT THIS POINT OF THE SEASON, IT COULD EASILY BEEN DONE TO SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS JUST AIN'T IN THE CARDS THIS YEAR."

AND YOU DO YOUR THING.

IT IS EASY TO THINK ABOUT LIFE, YOU KNOW, YOUR MOVE AFTER FOOTBALL.

SOME GUYS WANT TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE THAT MOVE PROFESSIONALLY OR WHATEVER IT IS.

AND FOR THEM TO COMMIT TO IT, YOU KNOW, TAKE WHAT HAS HAPPENED THOSE FIRST FOUR GAMES AND PUT IT OVER HERE.

AND SAY, ,"OKAY, THIS IS OUR EIGHT GAME SEASON RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE GOING TO COMMIT TO THIS.

WE'RE GONNA COMMIT TO PRACTICING BETTER, PLAY MORE PHYSICAL.

WE'RE GONNA CLEAN SOME STUFF UP SCHEMATICALLY."

THE BEST THING -- PART ABOUT IT IS TO GET A WIN SO IT HELPS VALIDATE THINGS.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING I TAKE AWAY FROM IT IS THEY CHANGED SOME THINGS, PRACTICE BETTER, PRACTICE SMARTER, PRACTICE MORE PHYSICALLY AND THEY GET A WIN TO VALIDATE ALL.

SO NOW IT MAKES IT MORE -- YOU KNOW, IT MAKES ALL THOSE CHANGES.

YOU CAN COMMIT TO MORE OF THAT.

YOU CAN COMMIT TO PRACTICING THAT MUCH BETTER EVERY WEEK AND TRY TO GET THAT MUCH BETTER AND SEE HOW THE REST -- THESE NEXT SEVEN GAMES SHAKEOUT.

>> NOW MICKY SAID, IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT AFTER CHURCH.

>> YEAH, HISTORICALLY, YOU KNOW THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, NEBRASKA WOULD HAVE LOST THAT GAME.

>> YEAH.

>> 12 PENALTIES.

YOUR MINUS ONE IN TURNOVERS -- >> YUP.

>> -- AGAIN.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE WON BEING MINUS IN TURNOVERS IN I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOUR ABILITY TO OVERCOME.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, AND THEY PULLED A COUPLE OF GUYS THAT WEREN'T PLAYING WELL TOO.

SO IT KIND OF BLENDS IN WITH THE THEME THAT THE NEXT MAN UP MENTALITY AND THEY'RE GONNA COMPETE AND DO THINGS RIGHT WHERE THERE'S CONSEQUENCES SO.

>> ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> I LIKE THE WHOLE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE AND THE CLARITY OF MESSAGE.

THAT IS THE BIG THING THAT I TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ONE.

>> OF COURSE, YOU'RE ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE SHOW.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

OUR FRIENDS ARE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA'S COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMM -- WHOOHOO -- ARE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

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

LET'S GET THEM TO WORK.

OUR SPORTS INTERN SAM IS HERE MANAGING THE CALL CENTER.

HEY, SAM.

IF EMAILING OR TEXTING IS YOUR THING, YOU CAN DO IT.

IT'S REAL EASY.

GO TO BIGRED@PUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

OF COURSE, OUR EYES ARE ALSO ON SOCIAL MEDIA TONIGHT.

SO SEND US YOUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

WE'RE WATCHING IT ALL.

OUR SIDELINE SURVEY IS UPDATED AND READY FOR VOTE TONIGHT.

"WHAT WILL NEBRASKA'S RECORD BE OVER THE NEXT THREE GAMES AGAINST RUTGERS, PURDUE, OR ILLINOIS?"

I WANT TO FIRST SAY, TAKE ONE GAME AT A TIME.

THIS IS TOO MUCH HERE.

3-0, 2-1, 1,2 OR 0-3.

YOU SEE THE NUMBERS.

2-1 HAS 46% RIGHT NOW.

JOIN US EACH WEEK ON OUR WEBSITE AND VOTE FOR A BRAND NEW SURVEY.

HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA OVER THE WEEKEND.

BRETT OVER AT TWITTER POSTED WHAT WE ALL ASSUME WWE CHAIRMAN VINCE MCMAHON'S THOUGHTS ON A WILD DAY IN THE BIG TEN WEST ON SATURDAY.

VINCE IS JUICED FOR BETTER OR WORST.

AND NEXT, THE CELEBRATION, I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL SEEN.

WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THIS IS THE LOCKER ROOM POSTGAME ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM OF YOU.

I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HOW HARD YOU'VE WORKED.

FOR GOING THROUGH A LOT AND ALL THIS ADVERSITY.

AND I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING US SO WELL.

BUT TONIGHT IS ABOUT ANOTHER GUY.

HIS FIRST WIN.

>> THIS IS OBVIOUSLY ABOUT THE GAME AND WIN EVERYTHING.

BUT I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME TO YOU.

TREB MAKES DECISIONS AND EVERY DECISION HE MAKES IS PRETTY MUCH SPOT ON.

>> YEAH, HE -- >> LIKE HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.

>> HE JUST A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND HE'S SO SAVVY, RIGHT?

LIKE, HE DOESN'T MAKE KNEE-JERK REACTIONS.

HE'S VERY THOUGHTFUL.

AND HE'S INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE OUTCOMES HE WANTS AND SO WHEN YOU'RE AS PROCESSED ORIENTED AS HE IS, HE'S GONNA WEIGH THE PERCENTAGES AND TYPICALLY HE COMES OUT AHEAD.

>> WE WERE CHATTING ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE GAME.

>> A&M GAME, YOU GUYS BEAT THEM TO GO TO THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME CELEBRATION.

VERY, VERY SIMILAR.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE SITUATION WHEREAS FIRST TIME NEBRASKA, WE MADE THE TITLE GAMES IN 1999.

>> MM-HMM.

>> IN THE FASHION WE DID, WE WERE UP -- I THINK WE'RE UP 21-7 ON A&M AT HALF.

THEY COME BACK, TIE IT UP.

WE BLOCK A FIELD GOAL LATE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THEN THEY HAD THE BALL WITH ABOUT 45 SECONDS LEFT.

NO TIMEOUT.

ZAC TAYLOR WAS JUST DEALING.

>> HE'S DEALING.

AND THEN THE HIT -- IN THE CORNER -- IN THE FADE ROUTE.

AND THEN WE COME ON THE FIELD AGAIN, WE HAD TO OUR PLAYS DEFENSIVELY.

AND WE SACKED HIM.

AND WE SEALED THE DEAL.

SO IT WAS A PRETTY COOL EXPERIENCE.

OBVIOUSLY, I WISH IT WOULD HAVE ENDED BETTER AGAINST OKLAHOMA BUT VERY SIMILAR CELEBRATION IN THE LOCKER IN THE COLLEGE STATION OF US.

IT WAS A COOL MOMENT.

>> WE CHAT A LOT ABOUT WHAT THEY COULD DO DEFENSIVELY OVER TWO WEEKS.

WHAT COULD DO BILL BUSCH DO.

WHAT DID YOU SEE IMPROVEMENT-WISE?

>> A LOT MORE ONE GAP RESPONSIBILITY.

RIGHT?

>> SIMPLE IT?

MADE IT MORE SIMPLE?

>> YEAH, YOU ARE NOT SO MUCH WORRIED ABOUT HEAD PLACEMENT IN VIA THE NECK AND YOU'RE FITTING IN GAPS.

IT'S A LOT EASIER TO PLAY THAT WAY.

YOU KNOW, ONE LEVEL CAN STACK ON THE NEXT.

YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO MAKE THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT.

I THINK NEBRASKA CAN PLAY FASTER THAT WAY.

AND SAW A LOT MORE MAN, RIGHT?

>> MM-HMM.

>> THE PRESS COVERAGE, WHERE YOU KNOW, THEY LIKE TO MUG GUYS AND GET THEIR HANDS ON THEM AND BE DISRUPTIVE IN THE PASSING GAME.

YOU KNOW BAZELAK HAD TO HOLD THE BALL A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IT COST THEM.

>> YEAH.

>> IT ALLOWED A LITTLE MISCOMMUNICATION.

IF YOU'RE THE PASS RUSHERS, YOU KNOW, TY ROBINSON WILL NEVER GET AN EASIER SACK.

AND HE GOT ON THE SCREEN GAME.

HELPED OUT BY OCHAUN MATHIS KINDA OF GETTING HIS HANDS IN THE SCREEN OF THE THROWING LANES.

IT'S SUBTLE BUT IT'S EFFECTIVE.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT DAMON SAID ABOUT THAT MAN COVERAGE, THEY HAD EIGHT PBUs.

A COUPLE WERE AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

BUT THE OTHER ONES WERE ALL DEFENSIVE BACKS.

THAT'S PART OF THAT PRESS COVERAGE.

>> YOU ARE ABLE TO PLAY WITHIN YOURSELF.

THE ZONE, YOU KIND OF KNOW, "OKAY THIS IS MY GUY."

THIS IS WHAT I GOT.

YOU UNDERSTAND YOU MIGHT HAVE A MAN FREE.

YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR HELP IS.

IT JUST CLEANS IT UP.

I THINK THE SIMPLIFICATION OF THE DEFENSE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE -- YOU KNOW, WHAT EXACTLY THE Xs AND Os WERE FOR.

THE TERMINOLOGY WAS FOR.

BUT IT WAS OBVIOUSLY MUDDY.

BECAUSE I -- THEY WERE JUST -- GUYS LOOKED COMFORTABLE.

THEY LOOKED THAT THEY WERE IN THE RIGHT SPOT.

THE TACKLING WAS BETTER.

YOU KNOW, THEY WERE ONLY OUT THERE FOR 60 SOME SNAPS I THINK.

>> WE HAD SEVEN THREE AND OUTS.

>> YEAH THAT HELPED PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE SECOND HALF.

BUT JUST THAT SIMPLIFICATION OF IT AND JUST KNOWING THIS IS YOUR ROLE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AFTER CHINANDER WAS FIRED WAS DEFINING EVERYONE'S ROLE AND FINDING WHAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO REALLY WELL.

WHAT'S THIS GUY DO WELL?

SO LET'S TRY TO INCORPORATE EVERYTHING INTO THE DEFENSE AND YOU CAPITALIZE ON THIS.

AND THEY JUST LOOKED -- THEY LOOKED BETTER.

IT DID.

I MEAN, INDIANA ISN'T YOU KNOW THE BEST TEAM IN THE BIG TEN BUT THEY ARE NOT THE WORST OFFENSIVELY.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL TIP MY CAP TO CHANGES AND TO BILL BUSCH.

AND I LIKE THE EFFORT.

I LIKE THE ENTHUSIASM.

I LIKED THE TACKLING.

IT WAS A CLEAN -- IT WAS -- EXECUTION WAS MUCH, MUCH BETTER AS WELL.

>> IT'S GREAT TO GO FAST.

BUT YOU HAVE THOSE THREE AND OUTS.

23 23 SECOND POSSESSIONS, THAT'S GOING TO WEAR ON THE DEFENSE.

>> YEAH, DON'T MISTAKE ACTIVITY FOR ACHIEVEMENT.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THEY WERE JUST BUSY BEING BUSY -- >> RIGHT.

>> -- AND GETTING THEMSELVES OFF THE FIELD SO I THINK NEBRASKA'S ABILITY TO KIND OF FOCUS.

AND INDIANA HAD BEEN A GOOD SECOND HALF TEAM UP TO THIS POINT.

AND NEBRASKA FOUND A WAY TO KIND OF CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER THE HALF AND REALLY PUT THEIR FOOT ON THE GAS.

BUT WHEN YOU ONLY GIVE UP 67 YARDS RUSHING, YOU GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE TO WIN A LOT OF FOOTBALL GAMES.

>> COACH JOSEPH SAID THE REFEREE KNEW HIS NAME, BUT HE STILL CALLED A LOT OF PENALTIES AGAINST HIM.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE TYPES OF PENALTIES NEBRASKA HAD ON THEM?

>> SOME WERE VERY TICKY TACK IN MY OPINION.

I THINK THE HOLDING ON -- HELP ME OUT, 49, THE TIGHT-END.

>> BOERKIRCHER.

>> YEAH, THAT ONE.

I'VE BEEN HELD WAY WORSE AND THAT'S NEVER BEEN CALLED.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW THE PENALTY ON CORCORAN AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE COMING ON SET.

IT WASN'T EVEN HIM THAT THREW HIM OFF THE GUY.

IT WAS TREY PALMER.

YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO GET INTO THE PUNCH, I MEAN THAT WAS JUST -- I GET IT.

I DON'T MIND THE NASTINESS.

YOU PROBABLY HAD TO CALL THAT - I DON'T KNOW IT'S A PUNCH.

IT'S PROBABLY, YOU KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD PHRASE IT.

BUT LITTLE BIT WAS OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE TICKY TACK.

A LOT OF GROUNDING PENALTIES.

YOU KNOW.

>> 23 TOTAL.

PART OF THAT IS THE CREW.

>> TOTALLY.

>> THAT CREW THROWS A LOT OF FLAGS.

>> YEAH >> THEY HAD HIM AGAINST MICHIGAN STATE.

AND NEBRASKA DID TOO ONCE BEFORE.

>> 12'S A TON.

YOU KNOW, 11 IS A LOT AS WELL.

I THINK NEBRASKA -- YOU GOT TO CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THAT THEY'LL WORK ON THIS WEEK BEFORE THEY HEAD TO PISCATAWAY IS, YOU KNOW, HAND PLACEMENT.

KEEPING CONTROL OF EMOTIONS.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S CONTROLLING THE CONTROLLABLES.

>> THERE WERE THREE MAJOR TURNING POINTS IN THE GAME.

OBVIOUSLY, THE PUNT RETURN, TREY PALMER'S CATCH.

BUT ALSO, CHUBBA PURDY COMING DOWN THAT END OF THE FIELD, TAKING THAT SAFETY.

BALL COMES OUT, THEN IT'S A TOUCHDOWN.

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT BRINGING HIM IN WHEN THEY DID?

>> YEAH, I FELT LIKE, SO THERE'S SOME GOOD WITH SOME BAD, RIGHT?

YOU WANT CONSEQUENCES FOR STANDARDS THAT YOU HAVE SET FOR PLAYING.

CASEY THOMPSON WASN'T MEETING THOSE STANDARDS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, YOU ARE ON THE FIELD AND YOUR SHOULDER'S AILING YOU A LITTLE BIT.

AND FOR YOUR TROUBLES, YOU GET CHEWED WHEN YOU GET TO THE SIDELINE BECAUSE I THINK THEY FELT LIKE HE HELD THE BALL TOO LONG.

THAT'S A TOUGH PLACE FOR PURDY TO COME IN AND PLAY.

BUT HE'S GOT TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE AWARENESS THAN THAT AND THAT'S CLOCK'S TICKING.

IT IS NOT IDEAL TO COME IN UNDER THE SHADOWS OF YOUR OWN GOALPOST BUT I DO LIKE THE FACT THAT NEBRASKA HELD FIRM TO KEEPING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

AND LISTEN, OFFENSIVE LINE, YOU GOT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AT ON THE FIELD.

>> YEAH.

>> AND IT'S A LITTLE TOO CIVIE FOR ME AND SOME PEOPLE LIKE CALENDARS.

SOME LIKE STRAINERS.

THAT'S A LITTLE TOO CIV-LIKE RIGHT THERE.

>> WE HAD GRANT AND BENHART THERE AND NOBODY TOUCHED HIM.

>> IT IS THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME THIS YEAR THAT THOSE TWO HAVE NOT BEEN ON THAT SAME PAGE WITH INSIDE/OUTSIDE CHIP HELP.

WHATEVER IT IS, THEY HAVE TO GET THAT SHORT UP.

>> YEAH, IT WAS JUST NUMBER 4 YOU SAW THERE, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY, WE CALL THAT A PRESSURE RUSH.

HE KNEW GRANT WASN'T COMING OUT.

PROBABLY HAD A MAN TO MAN SITUATION.

SO WE SAW HIM STOPPING IN PASS PROTECTION.

IT WAS DELAYED.

BOOM, HE STEPPED UP TO HELP BENHART.

AND THEN 4 COMES UP AND THEY BOTH YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WHIF.

BENHART STRUGGLED, OBVIOUSLY GET'S BENCHED FROM THAT.

DID NOT LIKE THE CALL IN THAT SITUATION.

I WAS WATCHING AT HOME.

I GO, "YOU KICK -- YOU PUNT THIS BALL."

YOU RUN IT.

YOU GET THE FIRST DOWN, GREAT.

IF NOT, YOU PUNT FLIP THE FIELD.

YOU KNOW, AS YOU BACKUP QUARTERBACK.

AND ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, LUCKILY, IT DIDN'T HURT THEM IN THE LONG RUN.

NEBRASKA WAS IN FIRM CONTROL OF THE GAME 7-0 EARLY.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU GET 7-7, YOU'RE LIKE, "OKAY, HERE WE GO.

NOW WE'RE OFF AND IT'S GONNA BE A TIGHT GAME.

>> IF YOU WERE GONNA GIVE GRADES, THIS MAY BE THE BEST SPECIAL TEAMS GRADE IN A LONG TIME.

YOU HAD A COUPLE OF PUNT RETURNS.

YOU ALSO HAD THE BLOCKED PUNT.

IT WAS PRETTY SOLID.

>> I THOUGHT BUSCHINI, THIS WAS ABOUT AS, I WOULDN'T SAY ERRATIC BUT HE IS VERY HIT OR MISS.

RIGHT?

HE HAD THE FOUR REALLY GOOD ONES.

HE HAD THE FOUR KIND OF SUB PAR.

HE WOULD LIKE A BIT MORE CONSISTENCY 'CAUSE HE'D BEEN REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

>> PUNTING SOUTH WAS TOUGH.

>> SO MAYBE HE WAS DUE.

BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, I THINK IT WAS THE MOST COMPLETE THAT THE SPECIALS TEAMS HAVE BEEN.

>> YEAH, AND WHEN YOU GET A BLOCKED PUNT, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GONNA MOMENTUM.

BUT IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE MALCOLM HARTZOG GET'S THE START AS A FRESHMAN.

HE'S THE ONE THAT'S IN.

>> YEAH HE WAS LIKE DEREK JETER AT SHORT STOP WITH THAT BALL JUST BOUNCING TO HIM AND HE PICKED IT CLEAN.

I'LL BREAK THIS PLAY DOWN LATER IN THE HUDDLE.

BUT A GREAT PLACE TO CALL IT BECAUSE AS A PUNT TEAM, THAT'S NOT A HIGH ALERT SITUATION THERE.

A LOT OF TIMES, YOU MIGHT BE IN A SAFE - -YOU KNOW, A DEFENSE YOU ARE MORE HIGH ALERT IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.

BUT I LOVE THE CALL.

THEY BROUGHT TOO MANY GUYS.

AND I'M GONNA BREAK IT DOWN, BUT THAT WING -- GETTING IT DOWN ENOUGH -- MDM, MOST DANGEROUS MAN, YOU HAD TO PROTECT INSIDE AND HE DIDN'T DO IT.

KOLAREVIC COMES THROUGH AND GETS IN HARD SPOT PICKING IT OFF HIS FOOT.

>> THAT'S TEXTBOOK.

>> YUP.

>> THAT'S ABOUT HOW YOU TEACH FROM A FUNDAMENTAL STANDPOINT.

>> HOW ABOUT HOW HARTZOG PLAYED AS CORNER?

WHAT'D YOU THINK?

>> I LIKE HIS ENERGY AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT HE COMPETES.

YOU KNOW, HE FIGHTS FOR BALLS AND HE FIGHTS FOR POSITIONING.

CORNER IS A POSITION WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SHORT MEMORY.

YOU'RE GONNA GIVE UP SOME.

YOU GOT TO MAKE SOME PLAY.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP KEEPING ON.

AND I KIND OF LIKE HIS MOJO A LITTLE BIT.

>> I BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE A REFLECTION OF YOUR PARENTS.

I MET HIS PARENTS AT POPEYES AFTER ONE OF THE GAME.

SOME TOUGH PEOPLE.

I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW.

HE COMES FROM TOUGH STOCK.

>> MISSISSIPPI KID.

>> YEAH, MISSISSIPPI KID.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS A LOT LATELY.

SO LET'S GET INTO HIGHLIGHTS AND RELIVE A WIN.

IT WAS A REALLY COOL NIGHT IN MEMORIAL STADIUM.

THAT'S OF COURSE YOU'RE SEEING BETWEEN THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTER WITH FLAMES.

BUT NEBRASKA CAME OUT WITH BIG PLAYS.

GOT 4 YARDS ON THE FIRST RUN IN AND THEN 34 YARDS DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD TO TREY PALMER.

AND LET'S WRAP IT UP WITH ANOTHER 34-YARD PASS.

OLIVER MARTIN IN THE CORNER.

YOU LIKE THE WAY HE WENT UP AND GOT IT?

>> YEAH, THAT WAS A DOT TWO.

THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE MARTIN CAN GO GET THAT.

HE HIGH POINTED.

THAT WAS WAS A BEAUTIFUL PITCH AND CATCH.

>> SIMILAR PLAY TO THE OPENING TOUCHDOWN AGAINST NORTHWESTERN.

>> YEAH, WHEN CASTANEDA WENT UP AND GOT IT.

YEAH.

>> I LIKE THAT HE WENT UP AND GOT IT OUT THERE.

AND THAT'S AGAINST A GUY, TIAWAN MULLEN THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO NEBRASKA.

>> YEAH.

HE'S THE REAL DEAL.

>> HERE IS YOUR SACK RIGHT HERE.

AGAIN GARRETT NELSON WITH TWO SACKS ON THE DAY.

I THINK HE HAD THREE TOTAL PRESSURES DURING THE GAME AS WELL.

SO HE HAD A NICE DAY.

GOING IN THE SECOND QUARTER, THIS IS THE PLAY WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PICK UP WITH THAT RUSHER?

>> IT'S INSIDE OUT, RIGHT?

DO YOU STAY BIG ON BIG?

I'D LIKE TO HAVE SEEN BENHART STAY INSIDE, LET GRANT PICKUP THE BLITZ TO THE OUTSIDE.

THEY HAD MISCOMMUNICATION.

THEY BOTH COME FREE.

>> AND THEN YOU HAVE -- HERE IS THE REPLAY AGAIN.

JUST -- I DON'T KNOW.

HOLD ONTO THE BALL.

TAKE THE SAFETY.

>> BIG ON BIG, RIGHT?

YOU GOT STAY BY AND PROTECT HIM.

>> WELL, INSIDE OUT RIGHT?

I MEAN, YOU GOT TO KNOW THE QUICKEST POINT FROM, YOU KNOW, ONE POINT TO THE OTHER.

YOU KNOW, POINT A TO POINT B, YOU KNOW, THAT STRAIGHT LINE.

YOU KNOW?

>> GOT TO MAKE THE OUTSIDE GUY GO FARTHER.

>> BAZELAK DROPPING BACK TO PASS AND ONE OF THOSE PBU I WAS TALKING ABOUT, MALCOLM HARTZOG MAKES THE PLAY HERE.

HE'S A REAL AGGRESSIVE GUY.

AND HE'S THE PUNT BLOCK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

JUST A REALLY GOOD STRATEGY THE WAY THEY DID IT.

>> YEAH, IT WAS JUST -- I MEAN THEY JUST BROUGHT MORE GUYS.

WHAT?

THEY HAD FOUR.

THEY SLIPPED ONE OF THE PERSONAL PROTECTORS OVER TO THE LEFT AND THAT FREED UP A STRAIGHT LANE FOR KOLAREVIC.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WAS THE CORRECT PROTECTION.

>> NO, HE SHOULD HAVE STAYED RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY WERE SHORT A GUY.

>> AND HE WENT LEFT AND THEY PAID THE PRICE.

>> NUMBERS.

IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE NUMBERS.

>> AND THAT'S HUGE FOR NEBRASKA TO GO 14-7 THERE.

AND THEN ANTHONY GRANT, HIS BEST RUN OF THE DAY, 32 CARRIES, DB.

YOU HAVE 32 CARRIES IN A GAME?

NO, NOT IN COLLEGE.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING.

HE'S GOT TO BE A LOT MORE PATIENT IN THE HOLE.

HE'S DOING TOO MUCH.

HE'S WORKING WAY TOO HARD.

>> YEAH, AND THEY KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THAT RIGHT AT HALFTIME.

THEY HAD TO FIX IT.

HE JUST WASN'T SEEING IT AS COACH JOSEPH SAID.

THERE IS YOUR TOUCHDOWN RIGHT THERE.

JAQ YANT GETS THE TOUCHDOWN.

NEBRASKA GOES UP 21-7 AND YOU'RE FEELING REALLY GOOD RIGHT NOW.

AND WITH ABOUT SIX MINUTES LEFT, THIS WAS THE ONE TIME I THOUGHT THE DEFENSE JUST COULDN'T GET LINED UP VERY WELL.

>> A LITTLE TEMPO ISSUES.

THEY GO HIGH-SPEED AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THIS.

THEY ARE ON SCHOLARSHIP TOO.

THEY'RE GONNA MAKE SOME PLAY.

BUT I LOVE THE ADJUSTMENTS THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE IN THE SECOND HALF.

THIS IS -- BY FAR, THIS IS THE WORST THE DEFENSE LOOKED ALL GAME LATE IN THE SECOND HALF.

BUT THEY GET TO HALFTIME, MAKE SOME CHANGES AND CLEAN IT UP.

>> THAT WAS THE PAST THE 28, 15, THEN 13 TO MAKE IT 21-14.

AND THEN THEY GIVE UP ONE OF THE BIGGEST RUNS OF THE DAY.

ONLY 67 TOTAL YARDS RUSHING AFTER TAKING THE SACK YARDS OFF FOR INDIANA, BUT THAT WAS THE BIGGEST RUN RIGHT THERE.

AND THEN BAZELAK AGAIN MAKING THE PLAY HERE ON THE SLANT AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE AT THE END OF THE HALF, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO ABLE TO GET THIS STOP OR AT LEAST FORCE A FIELD GOAL.

>> RIGHT.

YOU GOT TO BULL YOUR NECK HERE A LITTLE BIT.

THESE ARE THE KIND OF -- BEND YOUR FEELINGS A LITTLE BIT.

BUT YOU GOT A CHANCE, GET A STOP, MAKE THEM SNAP AGAIN.

>> NOT A LOT HAPPENED IN THE THIRD QUARTER IN THIS GAME.

AT ONE POINT, WE WERE KIND OF STANDING AROUND GOING, "SOMETHING HAPPENED."

AND CASEY THOMPSON MAKES IT HAPPEN WITH THIS THROW TO TREY PALMER.

>> YEAH, A REALLY GOOD BALL.

HE BROUGHT HIM A LITTLE INSIDER, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, PALMER JUST WENT AND MADE A PLAY.

HE IS MAKING A LIVING RUNNING ALONG THE HASH, RUNNING THOSE LITTLE SKINNY POSTS.

AND HE KNOWS HOW TO GO GET IT.

>> I THINK DB, HE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE'S AS FAST AS HE -- >> NO.

>> -- HE'S A GLIDER.

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE.

HE'S A GLIDER.

A VERY SMOOTH RUNNER.

>> YEAH, I THINK THOSE GUYS, THEY GET UP ON THEIR HEELS.

ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE LIKE, "WAIT, HE JUST RAN BY ME."

AND NOT EXPECTING THAT.

WE MENTIONED EARLIER, CASEY THOMPSON, GOOD ON THE DAY.

18-27, 270 HAD THE TWO TOUCHDOWNS.

OF COURSE THE INTERCEPTION DOWN THE GOAL LINE AFTER NEBRASKA GOT THAT INTERCEPTION.

BUT THEN THEY RAN THE CLOCK UP.

THIS WAS GREAT.

NICE FOURTH QUARTER, THIS DRIVE.

PUTTING THEM AWAY.

>> YEAH, THEY WERE REALLY GRINDING ON THEM EARLY.

QB RUN GAME, NEVER FAILS, RIGHT?

WHEN THEY SPRINKLE IT IN, IT SEEMS TO BE HITTING AT A HIGH-HIGH SUCCESS RATE.

>> YEAH, LOVE THAT FOLLOW PLAY RIGHT THERE.

THE FINAL STATS, NEBRASKA DOMINATED TIME OF POSSESSION IN THE GAME.

WE MENTIONED THE AMOUNT OF PLAY DIFFERENCE AS WELL.

AND DIDN'T RUSH FOR A GREAT YARDS PER, BUT PUT UP YARDS OVERALL.

AND WITH THE PENALTIES OUT, THOSE 23 PENALTIES.

>> THAT TYPICALLY GETS YOU BEAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE ONLY RUNNING THE BALL FOR LESS THAN 4 PER.

>> YUP.

>> BUT NEBRASKA AGAIN FINDS A WAY TO WIN A GAME THAT THEY NORMALLY WOULDN'T HAVE WON.

>> NOW IT IS TIME TO BREAK DOWN A FEW PLAYS FROM SATURDAY'S GAME.

LET'S JOIN JAY MOORE WHO'S INSIDE THE HUDL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE DISSECT, WE TALKED ABOUT THE PUNT PLAY -- IS A BLOCKED PUNT BY KOLAREVIC EARLIER.

I'M GONNA KIND OF BREAK THIS ONE DOWN HERE FOR YOU GUY.

I'VE BEEN ON THE PUNT TEAM.

DID IT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

SO YOU ALWAYS HAVE A GUY.

YOU ALWAYS BLOCK INSIDE OUT.

YOU DON'T WANT THAT STRAIGHT LINE, POINT A TO POINT B.

YOU DON'T WANT THAT.

BUT THIS IS SIMPLE NUMBERS ISSUE WE DISCUSSED.

AS THIS WOULD BE A GUARD, HE SHOULD HAVE BLOCKED DOWN.

THEY CALL THAT THE TACKLE.

HE SHOULD HAVE BLOCKED DOWN.

AND HIS WING SHOULD HAVE BLOCKED ON KOLAREVIC BUT HE DOESN'T.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE PERSONAL PROTECTOR HERE.

NOW THIS IS ODD BECAUSE USUALLY WITH A RIGHT-FOOTED KICKER, YOU WANT TO YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE RIGHT FOOT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

HE'S GONNA SLIDE DOWN HERE.

THEY'RE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS SITUATION, THEY'RE ALREADY FIND.

THEY ONLY GOT THREE OVER HERE.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RUSH WAS, BUT HEY, WE'LL TAKE IT IN THIS SITUATION.

AS WE GO, YOU SEE HE STAYS HERE, HE SLIDES OVER.

KOLAREVIC HAS A STRAIGHT LINE RIGHT TO THE PUNTER.

GETS A GREAT TECHNIQUE.

AND HART'S ON HIS RIGHT THERE FOR THE SCOOP AND SCORE.

GREAT COMPOSURE.

A LOT OF FRESHMAN MIGHT HAVE FUMBLED THIS.

THEY MIGHT HAVE FELL ON IT.

BUT HE IS ABLE TO SCOOP AND SCORE AND TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE FOR THE FIRST BLOCKED PUNT SINCE 2009 FOR NEBRASKA.

NOW NEXT, LET'S LOOK AT THE PLAY THAT WE HIT FOR TREY PALMER.

AS WE SEE, THEY'RE BRINGING THE MOTION.

WATCHING INTO A TWINS A LITTLE 2 BY 2 LOOK.

AND WE HAVE PALMER IN THE SLOT.

AND AS DB SAYING, HE'S MAKING A KILLING INSIDE THE HASH.

SO HIT PLAY HERE.

HE'S GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE, ALMOST A DOUBLE MOVE LIKE LOOKING INSIDE LIKE HE MIGHT TRY TO HIT A DRAG OR SETTLE DOWN HERE INSIDE THE ZONE.

A GOOD POCKET FINALLY FOR KC.

>> LIKE MICKEY JOSEPH SAID IN THE POSTGAME, YOU JUST TAKE YOUR BACK FOOT AND TRY TO THROW IT AS FAR AS YOU CAN.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE DOES HE THROWS THIS THING FROM ABOUT THE 20.

AND YOU ALWAYS HEAR THE PHRASE, "IF YOU'RE EVEN, I'M LEAVIN'."

HE HAD SOME STEPS ON HIM, TOO.

BUT TREY, SNEAKY.

NOW IT CAN GO AND JUST ON THE MONEY CATCHES IT IN STRIDE.

MOMENTUM BACK TO NEBRASKA.

IT HELPED SEAL THIS WIN.

>> THE PERSONAL PROTECTOR MAKES THAT CALL.

IT IS JUST RULES.

REALLY MISCOMMUNICATION.

>> WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT TOP PLAYS AGAINST INDIANA.

AND KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING WITH OUR SPECIAL GUEST.

AS WE GO TO BREAK, IMAGES FROM HOMECOMING MATCH-UP.

STAY WITH US.

WE'LL BE BACK SOON.

♪ ♪ US.

♪ >>> HERE ARE OUR TOP PLAYS FROM THE INDIANA GAME.

FIRST ONE IS INCREDIBLE.

HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

HE GRABS IT FOR THE INTERCEPTION.

GREAT INSTINCTS.

HE HAS GREAT INSTINCTS.

CASEY THOMPSON 71 YARD BOMB.

A PRETTY BIG PLAY THERE TO PUT NEBRASKA UP AND TURN THE GAME AROUND.

ALSO THE BLOCKED PUNT, SCOOP AND SCORE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT MICKEY JOSEPH SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES, WANTING TO SEE THE PLAYS HAPPEN ON SPECIAL-TEAMS.

HE GETS THE TOUCHDOWN ON SPECIAL-TEAMS.

WE ARE PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY OUR GUEST, GREG SMITH FROM "INSIDE NEBRASKA."

GREG, WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

HOW YOU DOING?

>> THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME.

DOING WELL.

TALKING AFTER A WIN, RIGHT?

YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT.

>> THERE'S NOT A LOT OF THOSE.

YOU PICKED A GOOD WEEK TO BE ON.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

>> I HAVE BEEN INFORMED SEVERAL TIMES THAT I LUCKED OUT.

>> YOU DID LUCK OUT.

SO WHAT WAS THAT FEELING AFTER THE GAME?

DID YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH YOURSELF WHEN YOU WERE WRITING THE STORY ON A WIN?

>> IT WAS A LITTLE STRANGE.

IT WAS, TO BE HONEST.

BECAUSE YOU DO THINK ABOUT IT.

THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY OF, ESPECIALLY OF THESE CLOSE, TOUGH LOSSES, THAT YOU THEN REALIZE, I HAVEN'T BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS VERY OFTEN.

BUT ONCE YOU'RE DOWN THERE ON THE FIELD IN THE POSTGAME AND YOU SEE THE SCENE -- YOU SAW THAT GREAT MOMENT WITH BILL BUSCH AND HIS FAMILY.

TRAVIS FISHER AND HIS FAMILY WERE DOWN THERE AS WELL.

YOU SEE STUFF LIKE THAT AND IT SNAPS YOU BACK INTO ALL THE JOY THAT COMES WITH A WIN.

>> GREG, LOOKING AT THIS GAME, THE CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE WITH FROST AND THEN OBVIOUSLY CHINANDER.

WHAT WAS THE MOST NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE FROM OKLAHOMA NOW TO THIS --BESIDES THE WIN AND SCORING MORE POINTS THAN THE OPPONENT.

BUT WHAT WAS THE MOST NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU SAW IN THIS FOOTBALL TEAM THAN THE FOUR GAMES PRIOR?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE JOY, NUMBER ONE.

YOU SAW IT.

AND IT WASN'T JUST THE PLAYERS AFTER THE GAME IN THE LOCKER ROOM.

IT WAS DURING THE GAME.

IT WAS PLAYER TO COACH, COACH TO COACH.

AND THEN ALSO, JUST THAT LEVEL OF AGGRESSION THAT THE DEFENSE PLAYED WITH.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS DEFINITELY NOTICEABLE.

SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY IS PORTABLE GOING FORWARD.

>> I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT NEBRASKA HAD 12 PENALTIES.

THEY WERE MINUS ONE IN TURNOVERS AND STILL WON BY DOUBLE DIGITS.

THAT'S A GAME, HISTORICALLY, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE WON.

>> YEAH, BIG LEVEL OF SURPRISE ON THAT ONE.

BECAUSE IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, YOUR ODDS CAN'T BE GOOD -- >> YEAH.

>> --OF WINNING A GAME LIKE THAT.

LUCKILY THEY ARE PENALIZED HEAVILY ON THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL.

YOU HIT A COUPLE OF BIG PLAYS INCLUDING THAT PUNT BLOCK TO REALLY FLIP THINGS.

THAT ENDS UP HELPING YOU OUT ON THAT SIDE.

BUT BIG LEVEL OF SURPRISE ON THAT.

>> YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE TEAM RALLYING AROUND THE ASSISTANT COACHES.

YOU MENTIONED THE BUSCH SITUATION.

YOU MENTIONED MICKEY JOSEPH IN THE LOCKER ROOM.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THE PREVIOUS PEOPLE THAT WERE IN PLACE BUT IT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PRETTY HAPPY WITH THE NEW GUYS.

>> YEAH, IT DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE THAT.

BUT IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S A LEVEL OF TRUST.

I FEEL LIKE THAT IS A WORD THAT GETS OVERLOOKED WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING A COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THERE BETWEEN THE PLAYERS AND THESE COACHES THAT ARE LEADING THEM AT THIS POINT.

BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE A TRUST FACTOR.

AND YOU SAW THAT WITH WHIPPLE GETTING AFTER CASEY THOMPSON WITH THE GAME ON THE SIDELINE.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT, RIGHT?

THAT COULD'VE BEEN MADE A MUCH BIGGER DEAL.

CASEY THOMPSON COMES OUT AND SAYS, "NO, I LIKE BEING COACHED HARD.

THAT'S OKAY.

I'M USED TO IT."

I THINK THAT KIND OF STUFF HELPS.

>> IT'S CRAZY.

BECAUSE YOU HEARD TODAY IN COACH WHIPPLE'S PRESS CONFERENCE, HE FEELS LIKE THE PLAYERS APPARENTLY RESPOND BETTER TO HIM.

>> MAYBE YOU GOT A POINT.

>> AND MICKEY DID THE EXACT SAME THING.

HE REALLY READ HIM THE RIOT ACT.

AND THEN AS HE WAS WALKING OFF, I THINK HE MIGHT'VE SAID SOMETHING LIKE, "IT'LL BE ALRIGHT."

KIND OF LIKE THAT.

YOU LOVE HIM.

>> YOU HAVE TO GIVE A LITTLE SUGAR TO HIM.

>> YOU HAVE TO COACH THEM HARD AND LOVE THEM HARD.

YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO -- COACH McBRYAN ALWAYS SAID, "YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO KICK THEM IN THE BUTT AND ALSO WHEN TO GIVE THEM A HUG."

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES A GOOD COACH.

>> YOU KNOW HOW SOMETIMES IN THE PRESS BOX, SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN AND IT KIND OF JUST SPREADS ACROSS?

WHEN EVERYBODY REALIZED THAT IF NEBRASKA WON, THAT THERE'D BE THIS SIX-WAY TIE, YOU CAN KIND OF FEEL IT.

AND IT'S KIND OF CRAZY TO THINK THE WEST IS STILL WIDE OPEN.

>> YEAH, IT ABSOLUTELY IS.

BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP SAYING IT, AS WEIRD AS IT SOUNDS.

AND COACH WHIPPLE SAID IT TODAY THAT THE TEAM HAS TO HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE TO ACT AS IF THEY ARE TIED FOR FIRST PLACE AND PLAY THAT WAY AND BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES.

AND I THINK THAT GOES BACK TO SOMETHING THAT TREV ALBERTS TALKED ABOUT BACK A FEW WEEKS WHEN HE MADE THE DECISION TO LET GO OF SCOTT FROST, IS THAT THAT CONFIDENCE WAS NEEDED.

>> WHAT DID COACH WHIPPLE SAY?

HE SAID HE IS NOT SURE OF THE QUALITY.

BUT HE DOES KNOW THAT THE BIG TEN WEST IS COMPETITIVE.

>> IT IS VERY COMPETITIVE.

AND AS MICKEY HAS SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES, SO MANY GAMES GO DOWN IN THE END.

YOU GOTTA WIN GAMES IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, OBVIOUSLY.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, A BUNCH OF ONE AND ONES.

AND I GUESS THE BIGGEST SURPRISE WOULD BE WISCONSIN SITTING AT THE BOTTOM AFTER FIRING THEIR COACH ON SUNDAY, WHICH IS STILL --.

>> STAGGERING.

>> IT'S STAGGERING.

YOU CAN'T SAY THAT HE'S DONE OKAY.

HE'S 6-1 in BOWL GAMES.

THEY WENT FOUR TIMES IN ONE DOUBLE-DIGIT GAME.

I AM -- >> 67-26.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

>> OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE A PLAN.

AND THAT'S GOOD FOR THEM.

BUT IF THIS GOES SOUR, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO POINT BACK TO, "THIS IS WHEN WISCONSIN WENT THE OTHER DIRECTION."

>> THAT PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE ONE THAT STANDS OUT IF IT DOES GO SIDEWAYS.

>> YEAH, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

SO WHO'S YOUR OFFENSIVE MVP?

IS IT ANTHONY GRANT OR IS IT TREY PALMER?

OR IS IT SOMEBODY ELSE?

>> NO, I WOULD PROBABLY LEAN ANTHONY GRANT.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT AS YOU GUYS WERE MENTIONING EARLIER, I THINK THAT IT WASN'T A VERY HIGH YARDS PER, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO RUN IT WHEN THEY NEEDED TO.

AND ANTHONY GRANT'S JUST BEEN SO STEADY FOR THEM AND HE WAS AGAIN SATURDAY NIGHT.

>> HE CREATED A LOT OF HIS OWN SO FAR.

THERE WAS A SHAKEUP ON THE LINE IN THE GAME.

TO YOU FOR SEE THAT COMING INTO WRECKERS OR SEE HIM STARTING THIS?

>> HUNTER ANTHONY BACK INTO THE TACKLE.

THAT IS MOVES THAT COULD BE MADE.

>> HE DIDN'T STAND OUT SO MUCH AS BEING BAD WHICH IS ALWAYS JOB NUMBER ONE FOR ME AS AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN.

SO I CAN SEE THAT HAPPENING.

THEY WANTED TO KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH TURNER, RIGHT?

IT MAYBE DEPENDS IF MICKEY GOT THAT TAPE BACK FROM THE BIG TEN OR NOT.

>> HUNTER ANTHONY DIDN'T PLAY REALLY WELL.

BUT HE DIDN'T GIVE UP POINTS.

THE OTHER RIGHT TACKLE GAVE UP POINTS.

>> HERE'S THE DISTINCTION, I THINK, WITH HUNTER ANTHONY.

BECAUSE IN MY OPINION HE DIDN'T PLAY THAT WELL, ESPECIALLY IN THE RUN BLOCKING GAME.

BUT THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT HE GIVES YOU.

AND HE MAY IMPROVE WITH TIME SPENT PLAYING.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE OFFENSE IN TERMS OF TIMING, WHEN TO COME OFF A DOUBLE, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

PLAYING WITH LIKE PLAYERS FOR A WHILE.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS, HE PLAYS THROUGH THE WHISTLE.

AND YOU WATCH HIM.

HE IS A PUSHER, A SHOVER.

HE'S RUNNING HIS FEET THROUGH THE WHISTLE, WHICH IS SOMETHING NEBRASKA HASN'T HAD.

SO MAYBE YOU CAN RALLY AROUND THAT.

BECAUSE HE PLAYS WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TOUGHNESS.

>> YOU KNOW WHO EARNED TIME, WAS BRANT BANKS.

I THINK HE EARNED AT LEAST ANOTHER COUPLE OF DRIVES.

BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE PLAYED PRETTY WELL WHEN HE CAME IN FOR CORCORAN.

>> YEAH.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT.

I THOUGHT HE DID PLAY WELL.

AND HE'S ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN HIM A LOT, EVEN WITH SOME STRUGGLES ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

BUT YOU'RE HAPPY FOR HIM.

AND THAT'S HOW HE GETS A SHOUTOUT FROM CASEY THOMPSON IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> THE GUY THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHEN HE CAME HERE WAS GOING TO BE AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN.

>> EXACTLY.

YEAH.

AND ONE OF THE INTERESTING PARTS IS, YOU LISTEN TO MICKEY JOSEPH GOING TO THE HALFTIME.

AND HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT."

WHEN HE SAYS THAT, YOU ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE, YOU TALKED TO HIM.

TALKED TO THEM, RIGHT?

YOU FEEL LIKE HE REALLY DID.

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEN YOU HEAR THE WAY THAT HE JUST CONTINUES TO TALK ABOUT, "I HOLD THIS GUY ACCOUNTABLE.

WE GOT AFTER CASEY AND WE TOOK HIM OUT OF THE GAME.

BUT WE'LL DO THAT TO ANYBODY.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO COACH HIM JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE."

THAT GOES BACK TO THAT TRUST THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, WHERE I THINK THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS AT THIS POINT THAT THEY'RE ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE TREATED EQUALLY.

>> I KNOW YOU'RE ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME AT WEST SIDE, BUT DO YOU GUYS SCRIPT THE OFFENSIVE PLAYS?

THE FIRST 10 OR 15?

>> NO.

WELL, WE KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO START THE SERIES, RIGHT?

AND OBVIOUSLY THIRD AND LONG VERSUS THIRD AND SHORT VERSUS GETTING THE FIRST DOWN.

MAY TINKER WITH THAT.

BUT WE KNOW THE FIRST HANDFUL OF PLAYS THAT WE WANT TO RUN, AND CERTAINLY WITHIN THAT FIRST SERIES.

>> YOU SEE NEBRASKA.

EACH GAME, THEY ARE GOING OUT THERE AND GETTING THE TOUCHDOWN.

BUT THEN YOU SEE THEM STRUGGLING.

DO THEY NEED TO SCRIPT MORE PLAYS?

>> YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING.

I HAD ASKED A COUPLE GUYS, WE HAVE A STATISTICIAN THAT I USE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ERIC.

AND NEBRASKA HAD SCORED IN THE FIRST.

AND THEY'RE AVERAGING 2.9 MORE POSSESSIONS AFTER THE INITIAL SCORE OF THE GAME OR THE SECOND HALF.

WHICH IS KIND OF ALARMING.

THAT'S ALMOST THREE MORE POSSESSIONS BEFORE YOU SCORE ANY MORE POINTS AFTER YOU SCORE AT THE BEGINNING OF ONE OF THE FIRST TWO HALVES.

I FELT LIKE, THAT LETS ME KNOW THAT NOT ONLY DO OTHER TEAMS HAVE DRY ERASE BOARDS AND MARKERS TOO, THAT NEBRASKA'S GOT TO BE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT AN OFFENSE VERSUS MORE OF JUST PLAYS, RIGHT?

OFFENSIVELY, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE VERSUS JUST BEING ABLE TO SCHEME PLAYS UP.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CASEY THOMPSON TALKED ABOUT WAS, THEY HAVE PLAYS IN THERE FOR THE OTHER QUARTERBACKS, LOGAN SMOTHERS, TO COME IN.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE RUN-BASED STUFF, MAYBE BRINGING IN LOGAN?

>> MAN.

IT'S TOUGH.

I KNOW THE EASY ANSWER IS TO SAY, "YES."

AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE CLAMORING FOR THAT.

I WOULD PREFER THEY DIDN'T, PROVIDED THEY ACTUALLY GET MORE RUNNING BACK RUN GAME GOING CONSISTENTLY.

SO I'LL PUT THE CAVEAT ON THERE.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM GET BETTER AT EXECUTING THAT BASE OFFENSE VERSUS NEEDING SOMETHING ELSE TO SUPPLEMENT THAT GROUP.

>> BUT 32 RUNS CARRIED BY ANTHONY GRANT THOUGH ON SATURDAY.

>> I THOUGHT GABE ERVIN ACTUALLY CAME IN AND GAVE HIM A LITTLE BIT OF A STRIKING.

HE RUNS HARD, IF NOTHING ELSE.

>> HE DOES.

I'M PRETTY HAPPY WITH COACH APPLEWHITE.

I THINK HE'S A GUY THAT I WAS A BIG FAN OF WHEN HE FIRST GOT TO CAMPUS.

AND THOSE GUYS DO RUN WITH PURPOSE.

I THINK IT'S JUST -- NEBRASKA IS GOING TO FIND OUT.

I LIKE WHAT JAY SAID, BECAUSE HE'S TALKING ABOUT COMMITMENT.

EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T OVERLY FLASHY OR BIG PLAY-ISH, THEY COMMITTED TO IT.

SO AT SOME POINT, THAT CREEPS FROM YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS TO REAL LIFE AND THEY GRIND ON YOU.

THE OTHER THING IS, THEY'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO OUT OF THE GUN.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE GOODD ENOUGH UP FRONT TO JUST TURN AROUND AND HAND THE BALL OF OUT OF THE GUN.

SO YOU EITHER NEED ANOTHER RUNNING DIMENSION, A LEAD BLOCKER OR A SECOND BACK THAT'S IT IS A NON-QUARTERBACK TO HELP WITH THAT IN MY OPINION.

>> I THE LEAD BACK BEING ONE OF THOSE TIGHT ENDS.

>> YEAH.

BREWINGTON AND VOKOLEK, THEY GET IT DONE.

>> THEY DO.

BOERKIRCHER DOES A GOOD JOB.

AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, HICKMAN IS BACK FAIRLY HEALTHY.

I THINK HE'S ONLY GOT 16, 17 SNAPS IN THE LAST 2 GAMES.

BUT HE'S PLAYING AFTER SPENDING THE MAJORITY OF THE OFFSEASON INJURED.

>> AND THEY LINED HIM UP IN THE SLOT, TOO.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD SPOT FOR HIM.

RECRUITING WISE, WHEN HE FIRE YOUR HEAD COACH, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, HOW ARE THEY HANDLING THIS CLASS?

>> YEAH.

IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

BECAUSE YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE ON THE BRINK OF FALLING OFF A CLIFF.

BUT YOU GOT THE PERFECT GUY RUNNING THE SHOW NOW TO BE ABLE TO SALVAGE THAT, RIGHT?

MICKEY JOSEPH IS GREAT SINCE THAT FIRST SUNDAY HE STARTED MAKING PHONE CALLS.

I'VE TALKED TO SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE SAID THAT THEY HEARD FROM MICKEY JOSEPH, WHETHER IT WAS CURRENT COMMITS, WHETHER IT'S TOP PROSPECTS, THEY ALL HEARD FROM HIM RIGHT AWAY.

HE STAYED IN CONTACT.

THEY HIT THE ROAD HARD DURING THE BIWEEK AS WELL.

BEING PRESENT MATTERS IN THOSE SITUATIONS.

AND HE'S DEFINITELY BEEN PRESENT.

>> ROAD GAME, RUTGERS, FRIDAY NIGHT.

HOW DO YOU THINK NEBRASKA PLAYS?

>> I THINK THEY'LL COME OUT AND PLAY WELL.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH GAME.

I THINK IT'LL BE A CLASSIC BIG TEN, LOW-SCORING KIND OF UGLY GAME.

BUT WE'LL SEE IF THEY CAN COME ON TOP.

I HAVE A FEELING THAT THEY CAN.

>> I KNOW ONE GUY THAT WANTS TO PLAY IN THAT GAME.

>> WHO'S THAT?

>> NOAH VEDRAL.

>> YEAH.

>> BADLY.

>> YES HE DOES.

>> AND IT'S ALWAYS, IT'S PERSONAL.

>> YEAH.

>> AND AS IT SHOULD BE, RIGHT?

AND THAT'S THE WAY YOU WANT IT AT THIS LEVEL IN POWER FIVE FOOTBALL.

BE HIGHLY, HIGHLY COMPETITIVE.

>> YEAH.

OUR QUESTION TODAY IS, THE NEXT THREE GAMES, 3 AND 0, 2 AND 1, 1 AND 2, 0 AND 3, WHAT'S YOUR FEEL?

>> MAN, I AM WITH YOU ON ONE GAME AT A TIME, PLEASE.

WE'LL GO 1 AND 0.

DON'T GET TOO FAR AHEAD OF YOURSELF.

BUT I WOULD SAY I WAS A 2 AND 1 IF I WAS VOTING IN THE POLL.

BECAUSE I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S TOUGH TO SEE THEM CONTINUE AND JUST RUN AT A TABLE IN A LITTLE STRETCH HERE.

SO 2 AND 1 I THINK IS THE SAFE ANSWER ON THAT ONE.

BUT 1 AND 0 IS THE REAL ANSWER.

>> WHAT'S THE ONE LOSS?

IT'S 2 AND 1.

>> BOY, I'M GOING TO GO PURDUE.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH, OKAY.

BECAUSE ILLINOIS ACTUALLY LOOKS TOUGH.

>> THEY DO.

THEY TOOK IT TO WISCONSIN.

>> THEY TOOK IT TO WISCONSIN, EXACTLY.

>> AND FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, THEY TOOK IT TO INDIANA TOO.

BUT INDIANA FOUND A WAY TO WIN THAT GAME.

THAT ONE WAS IN THE OPENER.

SO THERE ISN'T AS MUCH RESOLVE BUILT UP YET.

SO HAD THEY PLAYED THAT GAME AGAIN, I PROBABLY WOULD TAKE ILLINOIS.

>> THAT WAS A WEIRD GAME.

BECAUSE IN THE END, YOU'RE LIKE, "INDIANA WON THAT?"

THINKING BACK, SO.

>> GREG, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR COMING IN.

>> THANK YOU GUYS.

>> HEY, COMING UP NEXT, IT'S TIME TO LOOK BACK AT THE PLAYERS OF THE GAME.

FOR INDIANA, OF COURSE, TREY PALMER AND HIS BIG TIME PLAYMAKING ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL IS OUR FIRST PLAYER.

NOT A SURPRISE.

THE PLAYS THAT HE MADE.

AND THEN ALSO MALCOLM HARTZOG, YOUR BIG TEN FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK IS OUR SECOND PLAYER OF THE GAME.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE YOUNG MEN.

IT IS TIME TO TAKE ANOTHER BREAK.

BUT FIRST, ANOTHER LOOK AT THE IMAGES.

ANOTHER BREAK.

>> LOOKING AT THOSE IMAGES.

>>> I WAS HAPPY FOR THE KIDS AND THE COACHES.

I'M ALWAYS GOING TO BE HAPPY FOR THEM BEFORE ME.

BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT WITHOUT THOSE GUYS, THERE WOULDN'T BE NO ME.

SO, IT WAS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE ENTIRE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, ENTIRE UNIVERSITY, ENTIRE STATE.

SO IT FELT GOOD THAT WE WAS ABLE TO GET THE WIN.

AND PEOPLE CAN WAKE UP SUNDAY MORNING AND GO TO CHURCH AND HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.

>> IT'S HUGE.

NOW THAT WE FINISHED A CLOSE GAME, GUYS CAN SEE THAT IT CAN BE DONE.

SO THAT DEFINITELY GIVES US CONFIDENCE.

>> I LIKE ROAD GAMES.

MY JERSEYS.

I LIKE LIEN RIGHTS.

IT IS JUST ANOTHER GAME.

WE HAVE TO GET THAT BACK UNDERNEATH.

>> WE CAN WIN.

>> THAT IS THE EXPERT TATIAN.

NOT JUST TO GO TO A BOWL GAME.

WE COULD WIN THE WEST.

YOU ARE FIRST-PLACE.

ACT AND PLAY LIKE IT.

>> IT IS THE WILD WEST.

EVERYBODY IS FIGHTING.

THE GAMES ARE COMING DOWN TO THE QUARTER.

YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE ONE OF THE TIME.

WE HAVE RUTGERS AND ARE GOING TO GET READY FOR THAT.

THE WEST IS WILD NOW.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO BIG RED WRAP UP I'M MIKE'L SEVERE, SEAN CALLAHAN.

TIME TO TALK SOME RECRUITING.

LET'S RUN THROUGH WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

THE REAL STORY FOR NEBRASKA HAS BEEN A NEW FLOOD OF INSTATE OFFERS FOR 2024, 2025, AND 2026.

WE'VE SEEN MICKEY JOSEPH GO OUT AND OFFER A SOPHOMORE, A JUNIOR, AND A SENIOR.

THE LATEST OFFER CADEN VERMAAS FROM MILLARD NORTH.

HE IS A SOPHOMORE THAT STARTS TWO WAYS FOR FRED BOTITO.

NEBRASKA HAS NOT HAD A NORTH RECRUIT SINCE SEAN FISHER BACK IN 2008.

I JOKED WITH BOTITO THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I HAD AN OFFICE AT MILLARD NORTH WE WERE OVER THERE SO OFTEN WITH THE TALENT THEY HAD THERE FOR ABOUT THAT 10 OR 15 YEAR RUN.

BUT THE TALENT IS BACK.

THEY HAVE A GREAT SOPHOMORE CLASS.

THEY WENT UNDEFEATED AS FRESHMAN.

THERE'S TEN SOPHOMORES STARTING ON THE VARSITY.

THEY PLAYED A LOT OF PEOPLE TOUGH.

I KNOW THE MAN ON THE SET WILL HAVE A FEW OPINIONS ABOUT THAT TOO AS WELL.

HE IS AN EXPLOSIVE PLAYER.

KIND OF REMINDS YOU OF NATHAN GARY, OR SOMEONE ON FILM, YOU SEE THAT SPEED AND EXPLOSION FOR A YOUNG PLAYER ALREADY ON FILM.

MICKEY JOSEPH CALLED FRED BOTITO AND SAID WE ARE OFFERING YOU.

>> ANY OTHER NEW OFFERS?

>> THE OTHER NEW OFFER, CHAMP DAVIS FROM OMAHA NORTH WAS OFFERED BY NEBRASKA.

HE IS A FRESHMAN, AND THIS IS A DEAL WHERE MICKEY JOSEPH COACHED AT OMAHA NORTH.

MANY YEARS AGO.

>> BUT IT'S A GOOD TEAM RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE FUN TO WATCH.

>> HE CALLED UP LARRY MARTIN OR LARRY MARTIN CALLED AND SAID I HAVE A GUY YOU MIGHT WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON, THEY SAID LET'S LOOK AT HIM.

THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW NEBRASKA OFFERED A 2026 PROSPECT, CHAMP DAVIS, WHICH MAKES YOU FEEL OLD.

>> IT DOES MAKE ME FEEL OLD.

>> WHEN YOU START SAYING 2026 THIS FAR OUT.

>> NOW THERE TWO 2026 OFFERS, THEY OFFERED PRINCE AS WELL.

EARLIER IN THE YEAR AT BENSON.

>> FINALLY, THE IN STATE PLAYER TONIGHT THAT WE WILL FEATURE.

CALEB PYFROM OMAHA CENTRAL, SON OF THE FORMER CREIGHTON BASKETBALL PLAYER LAVON PYFROM WHO PLAYED FOR DANA ALTMAN FROM '99 TO '01.

HE IS 6-6 THREE HUNDRED POUNDS.

THE STORY IS HE'S GROWN ABOUT TWO OR THREE INCHES IN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS.

NEBRASKA HAS HAD HIM ON CAMPUS THREE TIMES NOW MARCH, JUNE, AND SEPTEMBER.

THEY'VE MEASURED HIS GROWTH EVERY VISIT AND THEY REALLY LIKE HIS BODY BUILD.

HE IS A GREAT BASKETBALL PLAYER AS WELL.

HE PLAYS FOR OMAHA CENTRAL BASKETBALL TEAM.

SO IT TELLS YOU ABOUT THE FOOTWORK AND HOW HE IS MADE UP.

I WAS WITH LAVON AT A COUPLE OF THE CAMPS, I TALKED WITH HIM AND I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT FOOTBALL BUT HE HAS BETTER FOOT WORK THAN A LOT OF THESE LINEMAN DO.

IT WILL TAKE HIM A LONG WAY.

>> WE TALK ABOUT ARNOLD BARNES BEING A VISITOR LAST WEEK, HOW DID HE LIKE HIS TRIP?

>> SO ARNOLD BARNES AND HE IS A THICK ONE.

>> WELL YOU LOOK AT HIM 5'9 225.

>> HE IS A FIREPLUG.

>> STILL TECHNICALLY COMMITTED TO TULANE.

I THINK HE IS EVALUATING THE SITUATION.

KIND OF THAT WHOLE RECRUITING PROCESS.

IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF OTHER TEAMS GOT INVOLVED.

I LIKE WHERE NEBRASKA STANDS ESPECIALLY IF MICKEY JOSEPH IS A PART OF THIS PROGRAM NEXT YEAR.

>> THE FIRST THING YOU GOT TO FIGURE OUT IS IF THE KID WANTING TO STAY IN LOUISIANA.

OR IF HE'S WILLING TO LEAVE.

>> THAT WAS A GOOD WIN.

>> WE WILL BE QUIETER.

NEBRASKA ON THE ROAD.

NEW OFFERS GOING OUT.

I KNOW OF ANOTHER NAME TO WATCH.

THAN THE OTHER BYWEEK DOWN THE ROAD, THEN PROBABLY GET OUT AND SEE WILLIAM WATSON.

THAN THE RECEIVER AND ATLANTA.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO COMMITS THAT NEBRASKA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE.

>> JOHN, WE APPRECIATE IT, WILL THE RECORD BE OVER THE NEXT THREE GAMES?

46% OF THE PEOPLE SAY SOMEBODY GOT AMIRA MESSED WITH THE MACHINE.

BE SURE TO VISIT THAT WEBSITE AND CAST YOUR VOTE.

PURDUE ROLLED OVER THE GOPHERS, 20-10.

HE RETURNS TO MADISON REALLY WELL.

TAKING DOWN RECORDS, 49-10.

THAT ANOTHER CANDIDATE FOR NEBRASKA THIS WEEK.

THIS IS A GUY THAT HAS CONNECTIONS BOTH TO WISCONSIN AND NEBRASKA.

HE THOUGHT -- >> HE HAS BEEN AROUND.

HE WORKED AS THE GA AT WISCONSIN.

THAT WAS BACK IN THE 2000 WHEN HE LEFT.

THAT HE GOT BACK AND WENT TO WHITEWATER.

HE HAS HAD A SCRAPING CLAW TO GET WHERE HE IS AT.

>> THAT IS NON-SCHOLARSHIP.

>> THAT IS COACH NEBRASKA WESLEYAN.

>> WE HAVE SEEN SUCCESS THAT ARE HAVING BIG-TIME SUCCESS RIGHT NOW.

>> YOU CAN COME FROM THAT.

THE FORMULA IT TAKES TO WIN AT THAT LEVEL OR ANY PROGRAM 'S DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.

YOU RP SMELLING.

YOU BETTER HAVE CONVICTION.

IT IS PARAMOUNT.

>> AS A HEAD COACH, HE HAS BEEN IN THE BIG TEN.

IF YOU COULD WIN AT KANSAS, HE HAD FIVE ANYWAY.

>> HE HAS COLLEGE GAME DAY COMING TO LAWRENCE.

NOT FOR A BASKETBALL GAME.

>> MAYBE THIS IS THE TIME TO MAKE THE MOVE.

IT COULD BE TOUGH FOR HIM.

>> HE IS A GOOD CANDIDATE .

IF THE TEAM GOES 8 AND 4 OR NINE AND 3, HE BECOMES AN AMAZING CANDIDATE.

>> ARE THEY DEAD SET ON LEONARD?

HE IS A MUCH VIABLE CANDIDATE FOR WISCONSIN BEING FROM MAREN COACHING THERE.

WHAT OTHER JOBS, IF PURDUE OPENED , IS HE A CANDIDATE?

HE IS MAKING LIKE $3 MILLION NOW.

HE WILL BE MAKING ABOUT $6 MILLION NEXT YEAR.

WHAT IS THE BETTER JOHN?

>> I LIKE NEBRASKA.

>> NEBRASKA HAS THE MAJORITY OF ADVANTAGES.

THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE MOMENTUM.

>> TO THINK THAT SHOULD'VE GOTTEN HIM.

>> NO.

>> YOU HAVE DONE STUFF.

>> YOU ARE DEFENSIVE LINE MAN NOW.

THAT WAS LIKE A KISS .

THAT WAS NOTHING.

THEY WANTED TO GET TO HIM.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE TOO MUCH OF AN IMPRESSION.

IT WASN'T A FLAG IN MY OPINION.

>> AND HE SPENDS TIME DISCUSSING ABOUT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROGRAM AND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT.

HOW ARE YOU SEEING THAT AS THE SEASON GOES ALONG?

>> IT IS HARD IF YOU ARE NOT THERE EVERY DAY.

SEEING WHAT THEY ARE DOING WILL APPEAR EATING.

YOU CAN QUESTION IT .

THE BOTTOM LINE, NEBRASKA HASN'T DEVELOPED WELL OR HAVEN'T RECRUITED WELL.

>> I DON'T THINK IT IS A STRENGTH CONDITION ISSUE, IT IS A MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ISSUE AND HOW THEY PRACTICE.

>> YOU WILL PRACTICE OFTEN PLAY SOFT.

>> THEY FINALLY SAW A PHYSICAL TEAM.

I THINK DEVOL DOES A GOOD JOB.

IT IS WHAT HE DOES.

IT IS AN NFL.

>> YOU HAVE TO PUT THE PADS ON THREE DAYS PER WEEK.

ALL OF THIS STUFF.

YOU WILL GET SLAPPED AROUND.

>> IF YOU DON'T SEE IT HAPPEN, ARE YOU PREPARED?

>> JOHN FROM FACEBOOK, SEAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF LOGAN SMOTHERS, OPPOSED TO SEEING -- COME INTO THE GAME?

>> I THINK IF LOGAN SMOTHERS, HE HAS A ROLE IT IS MORE OF A WILDCAT GADGET QUARTERBACK.

I DON'T SEE HIM HAVING THE ARM ABILITY TO MAKE THOSE THROWS MARK WHIPPLE WANTS.

I THINK HE'S A WILDCAT GUY AND HE'S REALLY GOOD AT THAT I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF JUST BRINGING IN A GUY TO BRING IN THE GUY.

CASEY IS PRETTY GOOD AND THEY HAVE TO KEEP ROLLING HIM.

HE HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE ALL THE THROWS.

AS LONG AS HE HAS THAT PROTECTION.

AND THAT'S A BIG IF.

THEY NEED ANTHONY GRANT TO RUN LIKE HE HAS LAST FEW WEEKS.

>> ONE OF THE CONCERNS HAS BEEN THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE METRO AND THE FOLKS IN LINCOLN.

YOU THINK IT HAS GOTTEN BETTER?

HAS IT IMPROVED?

>> OH, I ABSOLUTELY THINK SO.

>> HE TALKED ABOUT DAVIS GETTING THE OFFER.

HIS BROTHER P.J.

WAS AT CENTRAL.

HE WAS KIND OF A PRIZED EIGHTH GRADER COMING OUT WITH HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT WAS AT CENTRAL.

THAT -- THAT IS LEGITIMATE.

I THINK THOSE GUYS ARE YOUNG AND IT SHOWS YOU THAT'S THERE'S INTEREST.

THERE WAS INTEREST AT BRYAN AND BENSON.

IT IS NOT JUST THE WEST SIDE.

THEY HAVE MORE THAN MADE STRIDES.

MY KIDDO, HIS SPHERE OF INFLUENCE, THEY ABSOLUTELY THINK NEBRASKA HAD AN IMPACT.

>> WHEN IS THE LAST TIME A NEBRASKA COACH HAS GONE TO BRYAN BENSON GAME -- THAT IS WAY OFF THE PATH OF WHAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY SEE.

>> THEY WERE SENDING POSTCARDS FROM IRELAND.

>>THAT'S SHOWINGS YOU CARE.

>> THAT'S LEGIT.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS KID PLAY IN PERSON, IS HE AN ATHLETE THAT CAN PLAY SOMEWHERE?

IS HE TALL ENOUGH?

>> HE IS STILL GROWING, BUT HE CAN SPIN IT.

>> YEAH HE CAN.

>> HE IS A GOOD NATURAL THROWER OF THE FOOTBALL.

WE WILL SEE HOW BIG HE GETS.

>> I WANT TO SEE HIM IN PERSON.

>> HE IS A GOOD PLAYER.

>> HMM, INTERESTING.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT RUTGERS.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND PREDICTION.

THEY ARE PHYSICAL TEAM.

THEY DID A GOOD JOB OF STOPPING THE RUN.

WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE TEAM HEADING INTO FRIDAY NIGHT?

I THINK NEBRASKA'S GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BLOCK RUTGERS UPFRONT.

THAT 7-7 WILL BE A HANDFUL FOR NEBRASKA.

RUTGERS IS VERY STINGY ON THE GROUND.

AND NEBRASKA IF THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW PATIENCE, AND COMMIT TO THE RUN GAME.

SOMETHING WILL HAVE TO GIVE.

WE WILL SEE IF IT HAPPENS LATE AS OPPOSED TO EARLY.

>> -- THIS MENTALITY.

>> GOOD COACH.

>> HE'S REALLY GOOD.

HIS DEFENSIVE IS HARD-NOSED.

THEY PLAY GOOD DEFENSIVE FOOTBALL.

AFTER THEY GET 49 POINTS AGAINST OHIO STATE, THEIR DEFENSIVE THIS WEEK.

>>THEY ARE STILL REALLY GOOD.

>> I KNOW THE STRENGTH SCHEDULE ISN'T UP THERE YET, THEY ARE A TOUGH, PHYSICAL FOOTBALL TEAM.

THEY'RE A BEAT UP FOOTBALL TEAM AS WELL.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW THEY CAN BOUNCE BACK FROM THOSE PHYSICAL INJURIES.

IN A SHORT WEEK.

>> IT IS ALSO THAT MINDSET COMING OFF A LOSS VERSUS A TEAM COMING OFF OF A WIN.

ARE THEY MORE HUNGRY COMING OFF A LOSS OR ARE THEY FEELING SORRY FOR THEMSELVES.

OR DOES A TEAM LIKE NEBRASKA, FINALLY GETS A WIN, THERE'S A LITTLE COMPLACENCY EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE HAD THEIR STRUGGLE.

SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS SHAKES UP.

IN A MATTER OF FIVE DAYS.

>> YOU'RE FEELING RUTGERS?

>> HAS ARON CRUICKSHANK BY THE WAY PLAYED COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOR 20 YEARS -- >> HE WAS AT WISCONSIN, LIKE, SIX YEARS AGO.

I MEAN, NUMBER ONE, NOAH -- >> HE'S SUSPENDED FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE GAME.

FOR THE PUNTER INCIDENT.

>> YEAH.

>> AND NOAH, THE THING TO WATCH THERE IS HIS THUMB.

HE PLAYED FOUR SNAPS LAST WEEK.

ALL WILDCAT.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE WE WILL SEE HIM IF HE PLAYS.

IN THIS GAME IS A LIMITED RUNNING ROLE.

'CAUSE IT'S HARD FOR HIM TO SPIN THE BALL.

SO FOR HIM THAT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH STORYLINE IF HE CAN'T PLAY.

BECAUSE HE PLAYED, LIKE, 1,200 SNAPS IN THE PREVIOUS 2 YEARS.

NOT BEING ABLE TO GET ANY SNAPS AGAINST NEBRASKA, THAT IS TOUGH.

TO ME THIS IS A WHIPPLE VERSUS SCHIANO GAME.

I LIKE THE MATCH-UP FOR NEBRASKA DEFENSE.

'CAUSE I DON'T THINK RUTGERS HAS A GREAT OFFENSE.

>> RIGHT.

REAL QUICK THEN, COUPLE DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE ASKED THIS QUESTION, BUT WHAT'S THE LATEST WITH THOMAS FIDONE?

>> IF HE COMES BACK, IT WILL BE LATE IN THE YEAR.

BUT THEY'RE WAITING ON THE MEDICAL PEOPLE.

>> I MEAN, THEY CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER SETBACK WITH THIS KID.

I THINK THEY FELT LIKE HE CAME BACK TOO QUICK.

>> RIGHT, BETWEEN FIDONE AND PROCHAZKA, TWO GUYS YOU KNOW CAN CONTRIBUTE, BUT YOU HAVEN'T REALLY HAD THOSE GUYS.

THOSE WERE BIG PICKUPS FOR NEBRASKA.

>> YEAH, THEY WERE.

AND I THINK THEY KIND OF TOOK TEDDY FOR GRANTED.

THINK HE GOT OFF TO A GOOD START, AND I FELT LIKE HE CAME BACK TOO EARLY.

KIND OF IMPLORING PATIENCE WITH HIM AND GETTING HIS CONFIDENCE BACK, AND GETTING TWO BRAND-NEW PLAYERS IN THE RECRUITING CLASS WHEN THOSE GUYS GET HEALTHY.

>> I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT I THINK YOU'VE BEEN KIND OF HARD A LITTLE BIT ON TY ROBINSON IN SOME OF THIS STUFF.

DID YOU SEE HIM PLAY?

[ LAUGHTER ] DID YOU SEE HIM PLAYING A LITTLE MORE, LIKE MICKEY SAID, LOOSER?

>> YEAH.

WELL, I THINK IF THEY SIMPLIFIED THINGS, HE WAS -- THERE WAS SOME HESITATION.

LISTEN, THIS GUYS HAS THE TOOLS TO BE A SUNDAY KIND OF PLAYER.

BUT THE CONSISTENCY, AND I THINK WHEN HE DOESN'T PLAY WELL, I THINK THAT AFFECTS HIM A LITTLE TOO MUCH.

YOU KNOW?

HE HAS A HARD TIME PUTTING IT PAST HIM.

HE CARRIES IT TOO MUCH FORWARD.

BUT HE'S FINALLY MADE SOME PLAYS AND GOT SOME CONFIDENCE GOING AND JUST CLEANING THINGS UP.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S FROM A SIMPLICITY WITHIN THE DEFENSE OR JUST AS WE SAID, FINDING ROLES.

MAKE SURE TY IS DOING WHAT HE CAN DO REALLY WELL.

DON'T ASK HIM TO DO TOO MUCH.

IT'S A LITTLE MIX OF EVERYTHING.

>> SUCH AN UNDERRATED THING.

GOT TO BE ABLE TO FLUSH IT.

GOT TO JUST FLUSH IT.

>> I THINK IT'S HUGE.

I MEAN, I THINK THE ABILITY TO HAVE SUCCESS IN HIGH COMPETITIVE THINGS BOILS DOWN TO STAYING IN THE MOMENT.

I REALLY DO.

I HAD TWO LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE GOING AT IT.

IT'S THE PERSON THAT CAN STAY IN THE MOMENT.

>> I STILL HAVE PLAYS IN COLLEGE THAT EAT ME UP, BUT I STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO FORGET IT IN THE MOMENT.

BUT I STILL REMEMBER PLAYS.

I REMEMBER MY BAD PLAYS MORE THAN MY GOOD PLAYS.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU GUYS ALL REMEMBER THE LOSSES MORE SO THAN THE WINS.

IT'S ALWAYS THAT WAY.

I REMEMBER ASKING ERIC CROUCH ONCE HIS FAVORITE PLAY, AND HE GOES, "I CAN'T REMEMBER MY FAVORITE PLAY, BUT I GUARANTEE THAT FUMBLE HAD AGAINST TEXAS THAT COST US OUR WHOLE WINNING STREAK.

IT'S MY WORST."

HE'S STILL MAD ABOUT THAT YEARS LATER.

LET'S GET INTO OUR BURNING QUESTIONS.

SHAUN, WHY DON'T YOU GO FIRST.

>> CAN NEBRASKA MAKE IT TWO IN A ROW?

WE HAVE SEEN HOW GREAT LINCOLN NEBRASKA ARE ON A WINNING WEEK.

WE HAVEN'T HAD VERY MANY OF THESE WINNING WEEKS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YEAH.

>> IT FEELS LIKE A WHOLE NEW CITY WITH THE WIN.

CAN THE PLAYERS CARRY THAT MOMENTUM AND GET TWO IN A ROW WHICH HASN'T HAPPENED IN THE BIG 10 IN A WHILE.

>> HAS THE INK DRIED?

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE READ THE NEWSPAPER, BUT IF YOU'RE NEBRASKA COMING OFF A WIN, CAN YOU PUT IT BEHIND YOU AND MAKE ONE GAME TO -- PUT THE GOOD STUFF DOWN, GET BACK TO BUSINESS.

CAN YOU?

HAS THE INK DRIED?

>> YEP.

STACK THEM.

CAN YOU STACK CONSECUTIVE PERFORMANCES.

BUT CAN THEY TAKE WHAT THEY DID LAST COUPLE WEEKS?

AND INCREASE IT THAT MUCH?

JUST A LITTLE BIT TO GET A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

I THINK IF THEY CAN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

HE WAS THE FRESHMEN OF THE WEEK IN THE BIG 10, MALCOLM HARTZOG.

WENT OUT THERE AND PLAYED REALLY WELL IN HIS FIRST GAME.

CAN HE BACK IT UP AND PLAY WELL IN THE SECOND GAME?

BECAUSE I THINK HE WAS REALLY CRITICAL OUT THERE.

DON'T FORGET OF COURSE, ALWAYS TO HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND CLICK ON THE PREDICTION.

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

THE HUSKS HIT THE ROAD FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE COMING BACK FROM IRELAND AS THEY TAKE ON RUTGERS.

THE SCARLET KNIGHTS, FRIDAY NIGHT.

KICK OFF IS SCHEDULED FOR SIX P.M. CENTRAL TIME ON THE BIG 10 NETWORK.

NEXT TUESDAY WE'LL BE BACK TO BREAK DOWN THE FRIDAY NIGHT GAME WITH OUR SPECIAL GUEST, FORMER HUSKER LINEMAN, JEREMIAH SIRLES.

SPECIAL THANKS TO SEAN CALLAHAN, GREG SMITH, AND OUR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CALL CENTER FOR JOINING UP TONIGHT.

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

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

L THANKS TO SEAN CALLAHAN, GREG SMITH AND OUR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CALL CENTER JOINING US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.