♪ >>> AN HOUR-LONG LIGHTING DELAY COULD NOT KEEP THE HUSKERS DOWN AS THEY CAME OUT VICTORIOUS AGAINST LOUISIANA TECH 28-14 ON SATURDAY.

HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THOUGH THIS WIN WAS JUST THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM AS NEBRASKA FACES SECOND-RANKED MICHIGAN AT HOME THIS WEEKEND.

WHAT DOES THIS HUSKER TEAM NEED TO DO TO STAY COMPETITIVE AS THEY GO INTO CONFERENCE PLAY?

WE WILL RECAP THE WIN WITH OUR SPECIAL GUEST HUSKER ONLINE SENIOR WRITER ROBIN WASHUT AND WE'LL TOUCH BASE WITH SEAN CALLAHAN WITH RECRUITING.

ALL THIS AND MUCH MORE NEXT ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

♪ ♪ >>> HI, EVERYONE.

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

NEBRASKA WINS ITS SECOND IN A ROW.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, "THAT'S A WINNING STREAK."

JOINING ME TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IS FORMER HUSKERS JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING.

NAME THAT MOVIE.

>> "MAJOR LEAGUE."

>> YEAH.

SEE THAT?

THAT'S WHY I WORK WITH JAY.

>> THAT WAS EASY.

>> THAT WAS AN EASY ONE.

>> THAT WAS A LAY-UP.

THAT'S MY FAVORITE.

>> HE'S GOT A LITTLE LOU BROWN TO HIM.

>> HE DOES.

>> DO I?

>> VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

>> THAT IS VERY TRUE.

>> TELLING IT LIKE IT IS.

>> JUST DON'T DO IT TO THAT GUY'S CONTRACT, EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

>> YEAH.

>> LET'S GO BACK TO WHAT HAPPENED AGAINST LOUISIANA TECH AT HALFTIME AT 7-7.

YOUR THOUGHTS AT THE TIME.

>> SLIGHTLY CONCERNED.

NOT SLIGHTLY, VERY CONCERNED.

YEAH, I THINK JUST THE FEEL OF IT.

IT WENT IN YOUR HEAD.

NEBRASKA COULD DEFINITELY LOSE THIS FOOTBALL GAME.

IT STARTED OFF SLUGGISH, YOU KNOW THAT FIRST PLAY OF THE OFFENSIVE SERIES HAARBERG STEPS BACK ON THE PLAY ACTION PASS.

GET SACKED FOR A 3 OR 4 YARD LOSS.

YOU'RE JUST LIKE -- IT HAD A WEIRD KIND OF FLOW TO IT.

AND, YOU KNOW THE BIG PLAYS.

LOUISIANA TECH HAS A KICK-OFF RETURN THAT GETS CALLED BACK.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAD SOME BIG PLAYS GET CALLED BACK TOO.

SO IT'S JUST -- IT HAD BAD FLOW.

IT JUST NEVER FELT LIKE NEBRASKA COULD QUITE GRASP IT AND LOUISIANA TECH WAS THERE TO -- IF THEY COULD HAVE SEIZE MOMENTUM I THINK THEY HAD A CHANCE.

BUT AGAIN, I'M HAPPY WITH OBVIOUSLY THE WAY IT TURNED OUT.

BUT IT JUST NEVER -- IT WAS A VERY, VERY WEIRD GAME.

OBVIOUSLY WITH THE THUNDERSTORM THAT COMES THROUGH AND THEN THE DELAYS.

BUT IN THE PAST I THINK THAT'S THE FOOTBALL GAME THAT NEBRASKA LOSES.

>> THIS IS NOT THE SAME HUSKER TEAM FROM THE LAST FOUR YEARS BECAUSE THAT -- THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK THAT'S A GAME THAT THEY POSSIBLY COULD HAVE LOST.

>> YEAH, I JUST FELT LIKE GOING IN AT THE HALF, THEY DIDN'T CAPITALIZE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS -- THIS IS THE COACH IN ME TOO.

WHENEVER I FEEL LIKE IT'S MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DIDN'T DO VERSUS WHAT THEY DID, I ALWAYS FEEL THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW I FELT AT HALF.

THE THING ABOUT IT IS NEBRASKA, A LOT OF TIME IS THEIR OWN WORST ENEMY.

WHETHER IT'S YOU KNOW ONE BACK VERSUS TWO BACK, WHETHER IT'S THE SITUATIONAL PLAY CALLING OR THE UNTIMELY PENALTIES.

AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN CONTROL, I FEEL LIKE THEY ALWAYS HAD A CHANCE.

SO I FELT LIKE AT THE HALF, I JUST WANTED THEM TO GET THEIR COMPOSURE.

>> YEAH.

>> BECAUSE WHAT THEY HAVE SHOWN QUIETLY AS THEY PLAY A LOT BETTER IN THE THIRD QUARTER THAN THEY DO THE FIRST QUARTER WHICH LETS ME KNOW PREPARATION AND ADJUSTMENTS ARE ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

>> AND BOTH OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSIVELY.

>> YEAH.

>> THEY'VE NOT GIVEN UP THE FIRST SCORE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME OR IT WILL BE IN THE THIRD QUARTER TOO.

>> AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE MIDDLE THIRD.

THAT EIGHT MINUTES.

>> YUP.

>> LAST OUR MINUTES OF THE SECOND QUARTER, THE FIRST MINUTES OF THE THIRD QUARTER BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME OF THE FOOTBALL GAME AND NEBRASKA HAS SURPRISINGLY EXCELLED THERE THIS YEAR.

>> IMAGINE IF THEY GET THAT RIGHT?

THAT'S BEEN YOU STAT SINCE A LONG TIME.

THE LAST FIVE, SIX YEARS.

IF THEY GET BETTER AT THE END OF THE SECOND HALVES, THE SECOND QUARTER, THAT WOULD REALLY BE SOMETHING BECAUSE THEIR THIRD QUARTERS ARE TYPICALLY -- HAVE BEEN PRETTY GOOD THUS FAR >> THAT COULD BE A 14-POINT SWING, NO DOUBT.

AS WE HEAD TO A COMPETITIVE BIG TEN SCHEDULE THERE'S SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.

CONNECT WITH US, HELP US GUIDE THE CONVERSATION.

OUR CALL ROOM IS UP AND RUNNING MANNED BY OUR SPORTS INTERN HANNAH AND STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA COLLEGE JOURNALISM.

PUT YOUR HANDS UP IN THE AIR, FOLKS.

THEY JOIN US THROUGHOUT THE SEASON ENJOYING VALENTINO'S PIZZA AND TAKING YOUR CALLS.

YOU CAN TEXT AND EMAIL US YOUR QUESTIONS TO "BIG RED" AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AS WELL.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP" ACCOUNTS AND WE'LL ANSWER AS MANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS AS WE CAN TONIGHT.

OVER THE WEEKEND WE ASKED YOU TO VOTE ON THE TOP PLAY FROM SATURDAY'S GAME.

NOW IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT THE RESULTS.

IN THEIR PLACE WE HAVE HEINRICH HAARBERG'S 72 YARD RUSHING TOUCHDOWN.

GOT 24 PERCENT OF THE VOTES.

YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT -- IT'S NOT SNEAKY SPEED.

HE'S VERY FAST.

HE IS A HECK OF AN ATHLETE.

>> HE WAS VERY DECISIVE.

WASN'T A GREAT DECISION BUT HE GOT AWAY WITH IT.

>> YEAH.

>> BECAUSE HE WAS PROBABLY COMMITTED, RIGHT?

>> THEY MADE FUN OF ME IN THE PRESS BOX.

SECOND SPOT.

LOOK AT THE TRICKY HUSKERS.

TIMMY BLEEKRODE, YOUR BACKUP HOLDER COMES IN.

29% OF THE VOTES.

IF HE SCORES, HE WINS THIS.

>> THAT'S JUST GOOD OLD-FASHIONED COUNTER.

THAT WAS FANTASTIC.

>> HE TRIPS OVER PIPER'S FOOT.

>> TOP PLAY THOUGH.

47% OF THE VOTES, THOMAS FIDONE'S 29-YARD TOUCHDOWN CATCH IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.

IT WAS A LITTLE HIGH BUT HE'S A VERY TALL GUY SO YOU YOU CAN THROW IT HIGH TO HIM.

IF YOU MISSED OUT ON THIS POLL, BE SURE TO GO TO THE WEBSITE NOW AND VOTE ON OUR NEW SIDELINE SURVEY WHICH ASKS YOU WHICH GAME ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST AS WE HEAD INTO BIG TEN PLAY?

MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN?

AND YOU KNOW IT'LL BE IOWA.

I MEAN EVERYBODY IS ALWAYS LOOKING TOWARDS IOWA.

YOU KNOW THAT.

WITH THAT --- LOUISIANA TECH GAME, WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THAN TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE GAME HIGHLIGHTS.

IT WAS A PRETTY NICE DAY IN NEBRASKA.

AT LEAST EARLY ON BEFORE THE RAIN CAME.

IT WAS PACKED AND DAMON, WHO DO THEY HAVE LEADING THEM OUT OF THE TUNNEL?

THE BIGGEST, MEATIEST CAT.

HE GETS OFF THE BUS EVERY TIME FOR US.

I LOVE THAT.

>> THAT'S A LONG WALK TOO TO HAVE TO HAVE TO STARE AT THAT GUY.

>> IT IS I KNOW.

IT WOULD HAVE SCARED THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING GUY.

IT WAS PACKED AS ALWAYS.

ANOTHER SELLOUT.

LET'S GET TO THE HIGHLIGHTS THOUGH.

ALL DAY LONG, NEBRASKA HAD SUCCESS WITH THIS PLAY.

THAT'S A 43 YARD RUN.

ACTUALLY, NEBRASKA AVERAGED 22.8 YARDS ON THE OPTION KEEPERS.

LISTEN TO THAT.

ALMOST 23 YARDS A PLAY ON THE OPTION KEEPER.

THAT WILL BE IN THE -- I HOPE SO, IN PLAYBOOK FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.

AND HERE'S ANTHONY GRANT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE WAY HE RAN?

>> YEAH, I THINK HE'S FANTASTIC.

HE'S TAKING BETTER CARE OF THE FOOTBALL AND HE'S THE BEST NATURAL RUNNER THEY HAVE.

HE'S A DOWNHILL GUY AND THEY'RE STARTING TO GET DOWNHILL.

>> TIMMY BLEEKRODE, WE MENTIONED THIS A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

YOU HAVE A TRICK PLAY.

WHEN YOU KNOW THEY'RE PUTTING THIS IN DURING THE WEEK OR THE WEEKS, ARE YOU ANTICIPATING THIS OUT OF PRACTICE?

>> YES.

OH, FOR SURE.

THAT'S AN ALERT IN SPECIAL TEAMS.

YOU KNOW IF YOU'VE GOT THEM, THE WAY THEY LINE UP.

I'M GONNA BREAK THIS PLAY DOWN IN THE HUDDLE.

I'VE SEE IT.

SO I JUST KNOW WHEN THEY WAY THEIR GUY OVER -- YOU KNOW, TOWARDS THE CENTER SIDE HOW THEY OPERATE.

SO THEY HAD A OPPORTUNITY THERE.

>> IF YOU COUNT TO FIVE YOU COULD RUN THAT PLAY.

>> YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH THAT WAS BILLY KEMP'S FIRST RUSHING TOUCHDOWN OF HIS CAREER.

HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY AT VIRGINIA.

OF COURSE AS THE FIRST NEBRASKA, SMOKE HARRIS, OUR KEY FROM LAST WEEK.

A GUY THAT NEBRASKA NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN.

HE GOT HIS YARDS BUT IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO GET HIM THE BALL.

THEY HAD SUCCESS WITH OTHER GUYS AS WELL.

HERE'S JACOB FIELDS.

19 YARDS.

HAD A GOOD DAY AS WELL.

AND THEN TURNER WHO CAN ACTUALLY THROW A PRETTY GOOD BALL.

HERE'S A GOOD ONE TO CYRUS.

THIS IS A NICE THROW.

HE LED THEM WITH SIX CATCHES FOR 102 YARDS.

>> YEAH, FELL IN COVERAGE AND CAME UP AND ON THE CORNER ROUTE.

KIND OF A NATURAL PICK.

IT WAS STEALING.

>> BEST RUN ALL DAY FOR LOUISIANA TECH.

14 YARDS.

THEIR FIRST TOUCHDOWN.

A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CHANCES TO TACKLE HIM BUT HE ENDED UP BREAKING SOME OF THOSE.

I MENTIONED HAARBERG.

HERE WE GO AGAIN.

DOESN'T PITCH IT.

KEEPS IT.

GETS A GOOD 7, 8 YARDS ON THAT ONE.

HE HAD 19 CARRIES FOR 157 YARDS AND A COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY OVER 200 -- IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CALLED BACK.

THIS IS A NICE PLAY HERE.

NICE CONTACT HOLDING ONTO THE BALL.

>> REALLY GOOD WHOLE THROW TOO.

THREW IT ON TIME.

>> DO YOU THINK THIS IS A CONFIDENCE THING RIGHT NOW FOR TRISTAN?

>> I DON'T.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT BEING COMFORTABLE, RIGHT?

YOU KNOW, HE'S THINKING A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH ABOUT BEING EXACT.

DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.

JUST BE HIM.

>> THIS REMINDS ME OF WISCONSIN.

NEBRASKA CAME OUT IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

FULLBACK, 22 PERSONAL AND THEN RAN BALL NINE STRAIGHT TIMES.

AND SO LOUSIANA TECH STOPPED US.

AND LOUISIANA TECH COULD NOT DO IT.

>> YEAH, A LITTLE BLAST THERE WITH A LITTLE BACKSIDE GUARD PULLING.

IT'S JUST WHO E.J.

IS.

HE'S A DOWNHILL RUNNER AND HE'S ABLE TO GET IN AND OUT OF CREASES IN A HURRY.

>> NEBRASKA GOT 85 YARDS ON THOSE NINE CARRIES TO START THE THIRD QUARTER.

GETS DOWN TO THE 2-YARD LINE.

AGAIN, LINES UP I-FORMATION AND RUNS RIGHT AT LOUISIANA TECH.

>> THAT'S WEIRD.

THE FIRST GUY ALMOST NEVER GETS HIM.

DOESN'T MATTER HOW POORLY OR WELL EXECUTED THE PLAY IS.

THE FIRST GUY NEVER GETS E.J.

>> I'D STILL LIKE TO SEE HIM IN THAT SHOTGUN STUFF OR THE PISTOL FIND SOME HOLES OCCASIONALLY.

BUT HE DID PLAY OBVIOUSLY VERY WELL.

>> YEAH, NOT HIS THING, RIGHT?

I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE WITH THE ZONE SCHEME AND ONE BACK VERSUS THE DOWNHILL BASE BLOCKING AT A TWO BACK.

>> TOUCHDOWN FOR FIDONE RIGHT THERE.

THREE TOUCHDOWNS NOW ON THE SEASON.

HE IS QUIETLY LIGHTING IT UP FOR THEM.

HERE'S ANTHONY GRANT AGAIN PICKING THE HOLES, FINDING HIS SPOT, GETTING OUTSIDE.

GOOD RUN THERE FOR SEVEN YARDS.

>> YEAH JUST DECISIVE.

LINDENMEYER WHIFFED AT THE POINT OF ATTACK.

AND IT DIDN'T MATTER.

>> YEAH, GOING BACK AND FOURTH WITH LINDENMEYER AND LIEBENTRITT BOTH PLAYING THAT FULLBACK SPOT.

TWO BIG GUYS FOR THAT SPOT.

>> YEAH, I REALLY LIKE LUKE.

HE'S BEEN A GREAT FIND.

>> YEAH, BIG TIME.

>> AND HERE'S ANOTHER TIME.

DOESN'T PITCH IT.

KEEPS IT.

GO 72 YARDS.

I YELLED PITCH.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

>> I THINK EVERYBODY DID THOUGH.

>> BUT YEAH.

>> HE'S SO DECISIVE.

HE'S ON YOU IN A HURRY.

>> HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE HOLDS IT WAY UPTIGHT.

HE'S NOT FUMBLING.

>> NO.

>> HE'S GOT IT WAY UP THERE NEW YORK GIANTS STYLE.

NO DOUBT.

WE HAD THE WEATHER DELAY.

EVERYONE AS TREV ALBERTS SAID DID A GREAT JOB.

THEY LEFT THE STANDS WENT INTO THE CONCOURSE.

58 MINUTES OR SO, ALL CAME BACK.

I KNOW THE RADIO CREW WENT TO SOME HIGHLIGHTS OR SOMETHING.

THEY WERE JUST -- >> YEAH, IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

>> THIS IS AGAIN, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF NEBRASKA UP BIG 28-7.

AND A TEAM GETTING SOME LATE SCORES.

YOU KIND OF WANT TO STOP THEM, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT YOU ALSO WANT TO BURN A LOT OF CLOCK.

>> YEAH AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT JACK -- CAPTAIN JACK ACTUALLY RAN THE BALL WITH A SCRAMBLE GAME.

IT WAS THERE EARLY, BUT HE KIND OF SHOWED IT COMING OUT OF THE HALF.

>> YEAH, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

AND AGAIN, HE THROWS A GOOD BALL.

HE IS A MUCH BETTER STARTING QUARTERBACK THAN THE GUY WHO ENDED UP GETTING HURT FROM BOISE STATE.

BROCK MEYER, WHOEVER TRANSFERRED IN.

HE'S MUCH BETTER.

HERE'S A TOUCHDOWN RIGHT THERE TO MAKE IT 28-14.

THAT WAS TO ALAN FOR 20 YARDS.

AND THEN HERE WE GO AGAIN.

THIS GETS YOU A LITTE NERVOUS HERE BECAUSE NEBRASKA DIDN'T BURN AS MUCH CLOCK AS THEY THOUGHT.

THAT WE THOUGHT THEY SHOULD HAVE.

THIS GIVES LOUISIANA A CHANCE KIND OF TO RALLY A LITTLE BIT.

>> YEAH, NOT GETTING A TON OF PRESSURE ON THE QUARTERBACK.

JUST ABLE TO PLAY CATCH HERE.

>> SMOKE HARRIS KEPT HER FOR 73 YARDS.

TURNER AGAIN, AS YOU MENTIONED, CAPTAIN JACK TURNER TO NATE JONES.

ACROSS THE MIDDLE.

THAT ONE'S FOR 15 YARDS.

STARTING A LITTLE NERVOUS HERE, BUT THEY THROW THE BALL TO DECOLDEST CRAWFORD.

BOUNCES OFF HIS HELMET AND SHOULDER.

INTERCEPTED BY ISAAC GIFFORD, RETURNS IT FOR THREE YARDS AND PRETTY MUCH IT OUT FOR EVERYBODY.

GAME IS OVER.

LET'S GO TO THE STATS AND SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE ON THE FINAL STATS.

NEBRASKA RUSHING YARDS, 312 YARDS ON THE DAY TO 46.

THAT'S WHAT NEBRASKA WAS GIVING UP ON AVERAGE COMING INTO THE GAME.

AND KEPT TO THE SAME PLACE AT 46.

AND NEBRASKA WON THE TURNOVER BATTLE.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?

THEY WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE, THEY WIN THE GAME.

IT'S A GREAT JOB BY NEBRASKA THERE AND THOSE FINAL STATS AS WELL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OFFENSE OVERALL.

I HAD THOSE NUMBERS.

THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THEY DID.

SO, ON THE OPTION KEEPERS, THEY HAD 7 OF THOSE THEY WENT FOR 160 YARDS.

ON THE I-FORMATION PLAYS THAT START IN THE THIRD QUARTER, 14 PLAYS FOR ANOTHER 110 YARDS.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY FOUND SOMETHING AGAINST LOUISIANA TECH.

>> YEAH, WHEN YOU MOVE UP FRONT AS MUCH AS LOUISIANA TECH DOES, YOU KIND OF STEM AND THEY JUMP TO IT AND THEY WANT TO BE A HAVE IT KIND OF TEAM.

THE MORE DIRECT THE FLOW IS IN TERMS OF THE RUNNING GAME, THE MORE LIMITED YOU ARE ON DEFENSE.

AND THEY REALLY FOUND A WAY.

NOW THE OPTION CAME TO THE TWO BY SIDES, THAT'S JUST A NUMBERS GAME.

NEBRASKA'S WIDE RECEIVERS FOUND A WAY TO WIN ON THE PERIMETER AND REALLY MADE LOUISIANA TECH FIT IN THE RUN GAME.

THE OPEN -- WHEN I SAY TO THE TWO BY SET.

I MEAN THE TWO RECEIVER SIDE.

ANYTHING TO THE FIELD WITH THE WAY THAT THEY WOULD DEFEND THE BACKSIDE WAS GOING TO BE A NUMBERS GAME AND NEBRASKA FOUND IT.

>> YOU WERE A BIG GUY OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING.

RIGHT?

>> MM-HMM.

>> STILL A BIG GUY.

THEY BRING IN AN EXTRA OFFENSIVE LINEMAN AND HAVE TWO TIGHT ENDS.

I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE.

HOLDING THE POINT OF ATTACK HAS TO BE DIFFICULT.

>> IT IS.

YOU WORK ON THAT.

YOU PRACTICE THAT.

YOU GOT TO DRILL IT.

YOU JUST GOT TO BE GAP SOUND.

AND JUST KNOW WHERE YOUR HELP IS.

MAKE SURE YOU GOT A GOOD STRONG GAP HAND TO KEEP THAT THING.

OTHER THINGS ARE GETTING TOO FAR WASHED DOWN TOO IN SHORT OF THAT CORNER.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING.

SO YOU GOT TO FIGHT PRESSURE WITH PRESSURE IN THAT TYPE OF SITUATION.

>> YEAH, BUT I LOVE TEDDY PROCHAZKA AS THAT EXTRA OFFENSIVE LINE -- UNBALANCED LINE.

YOU CAN EITHER GO THE OPPOSITE WHERE THEY HAVE FEWER NUMBERS OR YOU'RE JUST SAY WE'RE GONNA RUN OVER YOU.

IN 12 OR 22 PERSONNEL IF THEY'RE IN 2-BACK, YOU'RE JUST GETTING HAT ON HAT TOO.

THAT'S ABOUT MOVEMENT.

TAKEN WHERE THEY WANT TO GO.

AND GRANT IS SUCH A GOOD FIELD RUNNER.

ONCE HE GETS IN A RHYTHM AND GETS A CHANCE TO GET DOWNHILL, YOU'RE REALLY PLAYING TO HIS STRENGTHS.

HE'S BETTER IN HALLWAYS THAN HE IS OUT IN LIKE LET'S SAY THE LIVING ROOM.

RIGHT?

THE QUICKER HE CAN GET HIS SHOULDERS NORTH AND SOUTH, THE BETTER HE IS.

>> I SAID HE DRIVES BETTER WITH THIS GPS ON.

LIKE HIS GPS IS THAT FULLBACK.

KIND OF LIKE YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

>> RIGHT?

YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE IN THE PICTURE.

IF THERE'S A CAMERA IN THAT FULLBACK'S BACKSIDE, YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE IN THE PICTURE.

AND THERE HE IS IN THE PICTURE.

>> YEAH.

YOU SEE ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE, EARLY ON YOU MENTION THE FIRST SACK AND I DON'T THINK THAT WAS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

YOU HAD A BLITZ.

AND MAYBE GRANT AND PICK THAT UP.

BUT WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT HOW THE OFFENSIVE LINE PLAYED?

>> OKAY.

IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.

I THINK -- STILL IS STRUGGLING THE MOST OUT OF THE GROUP.

I THINK HE'S GOTTEN BETTER.

I THINK HE'S IMPROVED.

I THOUGH BENHART IS IMPROVED.

NOUILI HAS IMPROVED.

PIPER HAS IMPROVED.

LISTEN, YOU ARE ABLE TO RUN THE BALL THAT WELL YOU'RE DOING SOME GOOD THINGS UP FRONT.

JUST NOT -- AGAIN, THEY JUST GOT TO CREATE A LITTLE MORE TIME IN THE POCKET FOR THE QB BECAUSE I KNOW THEY NEED MORE TIME.

THEY DON'T HAVE GUYS WHO CAN JUST BURN BY GUYS AND GET OPEN QUICK.

SO HE NEEDED PROVIDED MORE TIME.

BUT OVERALL, I THINK THEY HAVE IMPROVED THROUGH FOUR GAMES.

OVERALL, YOU KNOW B- TYPE OF GRADE IN THIS GAME.

STILL A LOT TO IMPROVE ON BUT I LOVE THE ABILITY TO COME OUT IN THE THIRD QUARTER AND RUN THE FOOTBALL AS WELL AS THEY DID.

>> I THINK IF THE BALL COMES OUT ON TIME, THAT WOULD REALLY HELP THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

I'M WITH JAY A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF WE NEED TO BE MORE STOUT ON THE EDGE PASS PROTECTION BUT GUYS ARE OPEN AND BALLS ARE JUST A LITTLE LATE.

AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL HOLD AN DOUBLE CLUTCH.

AND THAT'S REALLY SOMETIMES ALL YOU NEED.

IF HE GETS A LITTLE CONFIDENT WITH THE INTERMEDIATE PASSING GAME AND GETS BALLS OUT ON TIME, I THINK THEY GOT A CHANCE TO BE OKAY.

>> GIVE BRYCE BENHART A LOT OF CREDIT, I MEAN WHAT HE WAS LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE THAT AND WHAT HE'S PLAYING NOW.

I THINK NOUILI IS PLAYING VERY WELL.

>> BEN SCOTT, WHO I FELT LIKE, MAYBE IN FALL CAMP, I MEAN, JUSTIN EVANS-JENKINS WAS COMING.

>> REALLY?

>> AND I, YOU KNOW, BEN SCOTT HELD HIM OFF, AND HE'S PLAYING WELL.

AND JUSTIN EVANS-JENKINS IS A GUY THAT THEY FIND WAYS TO GET ON THE FIELD.

I MEAN, GOOD ON BEN SCOTT GETTING IT IN GEAR.

>> OUR PRODUCER WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE QUARTERBACK DEBATE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ONE.

I THINK -- THE WAY HEINRICH HAARBERG IS PLAYING, CAN -- IS THERE A DEBATE?

HE'S THE STARTER RIGHT NOW, ISN'T HE?

♪ >> GO AHEAD, DB.

>> WELL, I -- I THINK IT'S RELATIVELY EASY.

YOU'RE -- YOU'RE SAYING TO YOURSELF, "IT'S NOT WHO GIVES US THE BEST CHANCE TO WIN.

IT'S WHO NEEDS THE FEWEST THINGS TO GO RIGHT IN ORDER TO SUCCEED."

>> SURE.

>> AND RIGHT NOW, THAT'S BEEN -- IT'S BEEN HAARBERG.

WHILE I THINK SIMS HAS THE BETTER PASSING ABILITY, UNTIL THEY COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH THAT, IT'S -- IT'S BEST CASE SCENARIO.

WE'RE JUST -- WE'RE TRYING TO -- WE'RE TRYING TO ENVISION WHAT WOULD BE BEST.

FOR RIGHT NOW, WITH WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, I THINK HAARBERG'S THE GUY.

I IMAGINE HE GETS THE START AGAINST MICHIGAN.

AND YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NOT HAVING SUCH A LOW FLOOR VERSUS HOW HIGH YOUR CEILING IS.

CLEARLY, I THINK SIMS IS THE HIGHER CEILING GUY.

I'M JUST NOT SURE IT'S ENOUGH RIGHT NOW TO ROLL THE DICE ON THE LOW FLOOR IF YOU'RE GONNA TURN THE BALL OVER.

>> IS THIS A JUICE WORTH THE SQUEEZE KIND OF THING?

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> IT KIND OF IS.

>> A LITTLE BIT.

>> I MEAN, THAT'S A -- THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD ANALOGY, RIGHT?

>> I THINK THE INTERESTING THING IS, IS COACH RHULE'S TONE HAS SLIGHTLY CHANGED.

HE'S COME OUT AND SAID JEFF SIMS IS OUR STARTING QUARTERBACK.

BUT NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, A WEEK LATER, IT'S "I'VE PLAYED TWO QUARTERBACKS BEFORE.

THIS IS -- THIS IS NOT ABNORMAL TO ME.

SO, I THINK HIS TONE HAS KIND OF CHANGED IN THIS WHOLE SCENARIO WITH SIMS OBVIOUSLY STILL BEING BANGED UP.

>> AND REMEMBER BREWER OR P.J.

WALKER WEREN'T HIS ORIGINAL CHOICES.

>> YEP.

>> THOSE WERE GUYS THAT OVER TIME GOT THIS THING.

AND I THINK -- I THINK THE THING -- I KIND OF LIKE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT IT'S NOT NEC -- THE TONE HAS CHANGED A LITTLE, BUT I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS COACHES HAVE TO KIND OF ADMIT AND COME TO GRIPS WITH MAYBE THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WE THOUGHT.

AND WITH QUARTERBACKS, YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW UNTIL THEY TAKE SNAPS.

>> BULLETS ARE FLYING.

>> UNTIL YOU'RE IN LIVE GAMES, QUARTERBACKS ARE HARD TO NEGOTIATE.

>> YOU WERE ON A PRETTY GOOD DEFENSE IN 2006.

>> MM-HM.

>> WHEN YOU SEE 1.8 YARDS A CARRY, YOU SEE GUYS SWARMING, HAD SOME MISSED TACKLES IN FIRST HALF, BUT MUCH BETTER IN THE SECOND HALF.

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT -- THINK OF IT?

>> AGAIN, A VERY SOLID EFFORT.

THERE WAS SOME -- A LITTLE BIT OF SLOPPINESS THAT I THINK, JUST THE WAY THEY SPREAD THEM OUT, UP-TEMPO -- >> MM-HM.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SOME MISSED TACKLES.

THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

BUT, OVERALL, IT WAS -- IT WAS STILL A VERY CLEAN, NICE EFFORT.

THE ONLY THING I DIDN'T LIKE, WAS THEIR INABILITY TO GET TO THE QUARTERBACK.

>> YEAH.

>> I KNOW THEY DID NOT BRING A TON OF PRESSURES.

AND THAT'S ONE THING.

THEY DID DROP EIGHT A LOT.

>> AND HE GETS RID OF IT PRETTY QUICKLY.

HE DID.

>> THAT TOO.

>> BUT AT TIMES, IT'S LIKE GOSH DANG.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S -- YOU'RE RUSHING THREE AGAINST FIVE AND MAYBE EVEN SIX, IF THEY KEEP A BACK IN PROTECTION.

SO, A TOUGH ASK FOR THOSE GUYS.

BUT AGAIN, NEBRASKA HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF GETTING HOME WITH THREE, SO FAR, EARLY IN THE YEAR.

BUT OVERALL, AGAIN, IT'S A GREAT EFFORT.

BUT, THE TEST IS OBVIOUSLY COMING UP THIS WEEK, AND I THINK THEY'RE GONNA BE UP FOR THAT CHALLENGE.

>> SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER ON THIRD DOWN TOO.

>> JUST THREE OF TWELVE FOR LOUISIANA TECH.

>> YEAH, TWO WEEKS IN A ROW WITH THAT -- >> THAT DOG WILL HUNT.

>> YEAH.

WHAT DO THEY NEED TO IMPROVE ON THE MOST TO BE ABLE CHALLENGE MICHIGAN?

>> SO, I THINK, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT THEY CAN BUILD ON.

NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE TO KEEP THIS THING IN A PHONE BOOTH.

MICHIGAN ISN'T A TEAM THAT WANTS TO GET OUT AND -- AND DEAL ON THE PERIMETER.

THEY WANT TO PLAY THIS THING IN A HALLWAY, 3-D STYLE.

SO, NEBRASKA HAS GOT TO BE VERY, VERY GOOD AT THE POINT OF ATTACK.

>> MM-HM.

>> THE OTHER THING IS, IS PAY ATTENTION TO THE LEAKEY YARDS, WHERE YOU LET GUYS, YOU KNOW QUORUM, FALL FORWARD.

YOU THINK YOU FIT IT CORRECTLY AND HE FALLS FORWARD FOR ANOTHER TWO YARDS, INSTEAD OF SECOND AND EIGHT, IT'S SECOND AND SIX.

THEN THEY REPEAT THE SAME THING ON THIRD DOWN.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, INSTEAD OF THIRD AND FIVE, IT'S THIRD AND TWO.

YOU GOT TO STAY AWAY FROM THE HIDDEN LEAKEY YARDAGE.

WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE CONTACT AND FIT IN THE RUN GAME, YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE GUYS EITHER FALL SIDEWAYS, OR FALL BACK, YOU CAN'T ALLOW THE LITTLE LOOSE HIDDEN YARDAGE.

>> BACKSIDE CONTAIN.

J.J. McCARTHY LOVES TO COME OFF AND BOOT, LOVES TO GO OFF THE OTHER SIDE.

>> YEP.T >> THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'VE GOT TO STAY HOME, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, WHETHER IT'S THAT DEFENSIVE TACKLE, OR THAT JACK, OR THAT OUTSIDE GUY, IT'S KNOWING YOUR ROLE, AND IT'S MAKING SURE YOUR FEET, YOUR SHOULDERS STAY PARALLEL TO THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU CANNOT GET THAT HIP TURNED OR THAT OUTSIDE SHOULDER TURNED UP FIELD, BECAUSE THEN IT'S HARDER TO COME OUT IF HE DOES BOOT.

YOU GOT TO PLAY WITH GOOD VISION ON THE MESH POINT.

IT'S A LOT.

IS A VERY DISCIPLINED ROLE.

YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH GOOD EYE DISCIPLINE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND, I THINK -- WE'VE SEEN IT SO FAR THIS YEAR, THAT THEY'VE DONE SO -- YOU KNOW NEBRASKA'S PLAYED WITH REALLY CLEAN EYES SO FAR THIS YEAR, AND I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO DO THE SAME.

BUT, AGAIN, IT'S -- IT'S -- YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT.

YOU CAN'T BE -- YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE.

LIKE THAT TOSS IS AWAY, OR SOMETHING'S GOING AWAY, THAT'S NOT YOUR PLAY.

>> YEAH.

DO YOUR JOB.

>> YEAH, YOU GOT TO -- IT'S BACKSIDE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S -- YOU GOT TO PLAY THAT TRIANGLE, WE ALWAYS CALL IT.

YOU KNOW IT'S THE HANDOFF BOOT REVERSE TYPE OF -- >> CBR.

>> YEP.

>> I LIKE THEIR GUYS ON THE OUTSIDE.

I DON'T LOVE THEM.

ROMAN WILSON IS OBVIOUSLY THEIR LEADING GUY AND LOVELAND IS THE GUY THEY'VE GOT TO FIND AT THE TIGHT END SPOT.

>> YEP.

>> HIS COMING OUT PARTY WAS AGAINST NEBRASKA LAST YEAR IN ANN ARBOR.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND 18 CAN PLAY.

>> YEAH.

>> HE'S A GOOD INLINE BLOCKER.

THEY'LL USE HIM AS A DISPLACE GUY AND HE'LL GO GET THAT THING, SO GOT TO FIND OUT WHERE NUMBER 18 IS IN THE PASSING GAME.

'CAUSE HE'S A QUAL -- HE'S THEIR NEXT NFL READY TIGHT END.

>> AND BROTHER CORNELIUS JOHNSON TOO, DON'T FORGET ABOUT HIM.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE BANDS GROWING UP IN THE 70s.

AS WE COMMENT ON SATURDAY'S PERFORMANCE, WE ALSO WANT TO SHARE YOU THE COACHES AND PLAYERS HAD TO SAY FOLLOWING THIS WEEKS BIG RED REPORT.

>> OBVIOUSLY EXCITED THIS WEEK TO COME OFF A WIN.

PROUD OF THE GUYS FOR WHAT THEY DID.

EXCITED TO GET READY TO PLAY MICHIGAN.

PLAY A BIG 10 TEAM AT HOME.

EXCELLENT TEAM, NUMBER TWO TEAM IN THE COUNTRY FOR A REASON.

SO GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US, EXPERIENCE FOR US.

>> WE WANT TO SET A STANDARD OF HOW WE PLAY, HOW PHYSICAL WE ARE, REGARDLESS OF WHO -- WHO SHOWS UP, RIGHT?

AND -- AND I THINK IF WE HOLD OURSELVES TO THAT STANDARD IT -- IT'LL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

THE GAME WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

>> WE JUST WORK WELL TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, WE COMMUNICATE, WE'RE TOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS SAY RDV, AND WE JUST -- YOU KNOW, WE PLAY HARD.

YOU KNOW, AT PRACTICE COACH IS HARD ON US ABOUT GETTING TO THE FOOTBALL AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY HELPS US, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, MAKE PLAYS, STOP THE RUNNING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> OH, I LOVE IT.

WE'RE GETTING A WHOLE BUNCH OF RUNS.

LOT OF GUARD PULLS.

COACH SATTS USING THE TOOLS ON THE R OFFENSE VERY WELL I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW.

>> IT'S A TEST OF I THINK -- WHAT WE SAY WE ARE, WE ARE.

LIKE I DON'T CARE ABOUT STATS, I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN WINNING.

>> WE'RE JUST GOING TO PLAY EVERY WEEK AND BATTLE.

SO, WELL, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAVE GOOD PLAYERS.

WE EXPECT OUR PLAYERS TO PLAY WELL.

THIS GAME WILL BE ABOUT BLOCKING AND TACKLING, COVERING, GETTING OPEN AND MAKING THROWS, SO WE'LL JUST -- WE'LL JUST PLAY IT AND DO THAT FOR EVERY WEEK FOR EIGHT WEEKS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> I'M NOW JOINED BY OUR NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SPORTS INTERN, HANNAH.

DID YOU ENJOY THE GAME?

>> YEAH, IT WAS A GREAT GAME.

>> IT WAS.

IT WAS NOT BAD, RIGHT?

A WIN IS ALWAYS GOOD.

>> A WIN IS GOOD.

>> YEAH.

WHAT'D YOU FIND ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS WEEK?

>> SO THIS WEEK, OUR FIRST POST SAYS, "THINGS TO AVOID AT THE DINNER TABLE: POLITICS, RELIGION, AND NEBRASKA'S QUARTERBACK SITUATION.

"” AND THAT IS IN REFERENCE IN WHETHER OR NOT WE PLAY JEFF OR WE PLAY HEINRICH.

>> YEAH, THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD TIP.

YOU DON'T WANT TO START FIGHTS AT THE DINNER TABLE.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.

>> JUST EAT AND HAVE FUN.

NO DOUBT.

WHAT'S YOUR SECOND ONE?

>> OUR SECOND ONE IS FROM A HUSKER PLAYER THEMSELVES, TIMMY BLEEKRODE.

"WORKING THIS DRILL TOMORROW AT PRACTICE.

"” AND THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO SOME CRITICISM HE GOT ABOUT THAT TRICK PLAY -- >> HIGH KNEES.

>> YEP.

>> GOT TO HAVE HIGH KNEES.

>> YES.

>> IF HE HAS HIGH KNEES, HE PROBABLY SCORES.

>> YES.

>> HAVE YOU RUN THE TIRES BEFORE?

>> I HAVE NOT.

>> YEAH, IT'S NOTHING FUN.

>> NO.

>> IT'S NOT FUN AT ALL.

AT ALL.

HANNAH, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YES, THANK YOU.

>> THANKS A LOT.

WE'LL TALK SOCIAL MEDIA AGAIN WITH YOU NEXT WEEK.

AFTER THE BREAK, WE'RE JOINED BY ROBIN WASHUT OF HUSKER ONLINE AND THEN WE BREAK DOWN A COUPLE OF PLAYS WITH JAY MOORE IN THE HUDDLE.

BEFORE WE GO THOUGH, SOME SIGHTS FROM SATURDAY'S GAME IN MEMORIAL STADIUM, COURTESY OF HURRDAT SPORTS.

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

WE ARE PLEASED TO BE JOINED NOW BY ROBIN WASHUT, SENIOR EDITOR AT HUSKER ONLINE.

ALSO MY PICK WHENEVER THERE'S A BATTLE ROYAL FIGHT IN THE RING.

THAT'S MY REPORTER, THAT'S MY GUY RIGHT THERE, ROBIN.

I ALWAYS GOT HIS BACK.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW.

THANK YOU FOR -- >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> I'M ALWAYS HONORED TO GRACE THE STAGE WITH YOU GUYS.

YOU LEGENDS.

>> YES, LEGENDS, YES.

OLD PEOPLE, I GET IT.

>> I TOLD THE FUNNIEST NON-FUNNY GUY IS ROBIN WASHUT.

>> YOU THROW SEAN OUT OF THE RING FIRST WHEN WE GET TO THE BATTLE ROYAL.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

OF COURSE.

WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS AT HALFTIME?

I ASKED JAY THAT.

7-7.

THEY HAD SOME ISSUES, PLAYS CALLED BACK.

OF COURSE, YOU HAD THE KICKOFF RETURN CALLED BACK.

WHAT'D YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THAT POINT FAR OR ARE WE REACHING NERVOUSNESS YET?

AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DEALS WHERE YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN EVENTUALLY.

AND THE SECOND -- THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN A SECOND-HALF TEAM.

BUT YOU TOOK LONGER THAN I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED.

ESPECIALLY IN THAT MATCHUP COMING OFF A LITTLE BIT OF MOMENTUM.

YOU FINALLY GOT YOUR FIRST WIN.

AND THEN FOR THEM TO START AS LOW AS THEY DID, YOU KNOW, THE NATURAL REACTION WAS "UH-OH, HERE WE GO AGAIN."

YOU KNOW, GEORGIA SOUTHERN ALL OVER AGAIN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU GUYS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE WAY THEY TOOK THAT GAME OVER IN THE THIRD QUARTER I THOUGHT WAS REALLY REASSURING.

THE FACT THEY DID WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL.

THE SPECIAL TEAMS HAS TO GET A LOT BETTER.

BUT I THOUGHT OFFENSIVELY, FINALLY, THEY KICK IT INTO GEAR.

THE DEFENSE DID WHAT IT NEEDED TO THROUGH OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, JOB COMPLETED.

>> THEY'RE USUALLY PRETTY MEASURED.

CAN YOU FEEL THE ANXIETY THAT WAS IN THE STADIUM?

LIKE, I FELT LIKE IT WAS KIND OF PALPABLE.

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

'CAUSE YOU STAY PRETTY EVEN KEELED.

>> OH, YEAH, I MEAN, I DON'T BLAME PEOPLE FOR WHAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED IN THOSE TYPES OF GAMES.

I MEAN, IN RECENT HISTORY, THEY'VE LOST THOSE.

AND THEY'VE LOST TOO MANY OF THEM.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, FOR A NEBRASKA TEAM THAT'S STILL VERY MUCH FIGURING ITSELF OUT ON OFFENSE TO BE IN THAT TIGHT OF A GAME AGAINST A TEAM THAT WAS PRETTY FEARLESS, LOUISIANA TECH, YOU'D UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WERE GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS THERE.

AND SO, AGAIN, FOR THEM TO START THE THIRD QUARTER THE WAY THAT THEY DID WAS SO IMPERATIVE JUST TO KIND OF TAKE THAT BREATH.

YOU KNOW, GET THE RELIEF FEELING BACK IN THE STADIUM AND TAKE THINGS AND CONTROL THEM FROM THERE.

>> ROBIN, THROUGH FOUR GAMES, WE NEVER GET, TO ME, THE BIG 10 PLAY.

BUT NOW, WE'VE SEEN WHO NEBRASKA IS.

I GUESS WE HAD THE ONE BIG 10 GAME, BUT GETTING THROUGH THE NON-CONFERENCE, WHAT ARE YOU MOST CONFIDENT ABOUT WITH THIS TEAM SO FAR THROUGH FOUR GAMES?

>> FAR AND AWAY DEFENSE.

I MEAN, THAT FRONT SEVEN, ESPECIALLY -- AND THE SECONDARY.

YOU KNOW, THE SECONDARY HASN'T BEEN TESTED ALL THAT MUCH OUTSIDE OF COLORADO.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR 3 1/2 QUARTERS, DID PRETTY WELL IN THAT REGARD.

SO, JUST THE WAY THAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO PLAY THE RUN.

AND YOU KNOW, COLORADO DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO RUN IT.

LOUISIANA TECH BARELY TRY TO RUN IT ON THEM.

BUT MINNESOTA WANTED TO AND THEY COULDN'T.

AND THEY HAD TO THROW THE BALL MORE TIMES THEN THEY'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, MAYBE UNDER P.J.

FLECK IN A LONG TIME.

SO, THAT GIVES YOU A LOT OF REASON FOR ENCOURAGEMENT GOING INTO BIG 10 PLAY.

WE'RE STARTING ON SATURDAY WITH MICHIGAN.

YOU KNOW WHAT MICHIGAN'S GOING TO TRY TO DO.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO IMPOSE THEIR WILL PHYSICALLY.

AND I THINK WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THAT FRONT SEVEN FROM NEBRASKA, YOU FEEL MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT THAT GROUP THEN WE HAVE IN A LONG TIME.

I MEAN, JUST WITH THEIR ABILITY TO HOLD UP.

AND A LOT OF THAT IS NOT ONLY THE PLAY OF THE FRONT-LINE GUYS, BUT THE DEPTH, AND THE WAY THAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO ROTATE.

AND THE HOCKEY LINES THAT COME IN ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE AND LINEBACKER UNIT.

AND THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH DROP OFF.

AND A PERFECT EXAMPLE, LUKE REIMER IS QUESTIONABLE RIGHT NOW.

AND A YEAR AGO, THAT'S LIKE "OH, MY GOSH.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?"

WELL NOW, YOU KNOW, HE'S NEXT MAN UP AND YOU FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THAT NEXT MAN.

>> I THINK WE LEARNED OUR LESSON IN MINNESOTA.

WE'RE JOKING ABOUT WAS DAVID WRIGHT GOING TO BE THE NEXT INSIDE GUY UP?

AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF SLIM PICKINGS.

AND THEN WE WERE OKAY.

[ TALKING OVER EACH OTHER ] >> ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY ARE THREE OR FOUR DEEP IN THE LINEBACKER SPOT.

AND SO, THAT I THINK GIVES YOU A LOT OF REASON FOR OPTIMISM.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE OFFENSE, A LOT OF WORK TO DO THERE.

SPECIAL TEAMS NEEDS TO BE MORE CONSISTENT.

BUT I THINK WE KNOW WHAT THAT DEFENSE IS.

AND WE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE WEEK IN, WEEK OUT.

AND THAT IS GOING TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE EVERY GAME HERE ON OUT.

>> GOT BILLY KEMP, THOMAS FIDONE, OBVIOUSLY.

MARCUS WASHINGTON HAS SOME STUFF.

BUT WHO ELSE?

EVERYBODY KEEPS WAITING FOR ONE OF THESE YOUNG RECEIVERS TO STEP UP.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, TOMMI HILL.

STARTING WIDE-RECEIVER TOMMI HILL.

>> THIS IS A TOMMI HILL FREE ZONE ON THE SHOW, RIGHT HERE.

NO ARENA, TOMMY.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING WITH THAT ONE.

>> I KNOW -- >> THEY'RE TRYING HARD.

>> THEY KEEP TRYING.

>> AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT, I THINK, KIND OF TELLS YOU THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW, IS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT ALL CORNERS OF THEIR ROSTER TO TRY TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO CAN BE THAT OVER-THE-TOP.

YOU KNOW, SOFTEN UP THE DEFENSE DEEP THREAT.

AND THEY'VE COME CLOSE WITH HILL.

THEY'VE COME CLOSE WITH SOME OF THESE DEEP SHOTS, BUT IT HASN'T QUITE CONNECTED YET.

THAT'S STILL VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS.

AND THAT IS AS CRITICAL OF A COMPONENT FOR THIS OFFENSE AS ANYTHING.

THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP DEFENSES HONEST AND KEEP EIGHT, NINE GUYS OUT OF THE BOX.

LOUISIANA TECH DIDN'T EVEN CARE ABOUT THE DEEP BALL.

THEY WERE DROPPING ONE SAFETY AND BRINGING NINE, TEN GUYS UP TO STOP THE RUN.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK?

MAYBE I'M CRAZY BUT I'M GOING TO SAY THIS AGAIN 'CAUSE IT DRIVES ME UP THE WALL.

GUYS ARE OPEN.

WE MISSED THE TWO POST AGAINST MINNESOTA.

WE MISSED THE SKINNY TO HILL RUNNING ALONG THE SIDELINES.

WE THREW IT UP THE SIDELINES LAST WEEK.

IT'S NOT NEAR AS MUCH THE WIDE RECEIVERS AS MUCH AS QUARTERBACK'S GOT TO PUT IT ON THESE GUYS WHEN THEY ARE OPEN.

WOCHE HAD COLEMAN RUNNING FREE DOWN THE HASH AGAINST MINNESOTA.

THROW HIM THE BALL.

>> HE WAS WIDE OPEN.

>> GET IT TO WHERE THOSE GUYS CAN CATCH IT AND I'D THINK WE'D FEEL A LOT BETTER ABOUT OUR WIDE RECEIVERS.

>> HE WAS OPEN AGAINST COLORADO DOWN THE FIELD AS WELL.

BUT YOU CAN'T FEEL GREAT ABOUT YOUR WIDE RECEIVERS WHEN YOU'RE THIRD WIDE RECEIVER IS A CORNERBACK.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT -- >> HE'S NOT TRAVIS HUNTER.

>> NO, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I WOULDN'T EVEN MAKE THAT COMPARISON TO BE HONEST.

HE PLAYED OFFENSE LAST YEAR, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THIS STAFF, AND THEY HAD THE GREAT TREY PALMER.

>> THEY DID, YES.

>> I MEAN, TOMMY MUST BE DOING SOMETHING ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL THAT'S GARNERED THE ATTENTION OF TWO DIFFERENT STAFFS.

>> BOTH YOU GUYS PLAYED A WHOLE LOT OF FOOTBALL.

A LOT OF PRACTICES.

ARE THERE SOMETIMES GUYS THAT DO REALLY WELL IN PRACTICE THAT JUST DON'T DO GREAT IN THE GAME?

>> OH, 100%.

>> I THINK HE MIGHT BE THAT GUY.

HE'S OBVIOUSLY DOING WELL IN PRACTICE.

>> WE KNOW PRACTICE GUYS VERSUS GUYS THAT -- >> BUT I'VE HAD THIS QUESTION, TOO, BUT I CAN'T THINK OF A WHOLE LOT OF THEM.

USUALLY IF YOU PERFORM VERY WELL IN GAMES -- EXCUSE ME, IN PRACTICES, YOU'RE GONNA PERFORM WELL IN GAMES.

I JUST THINK SOMETIMES THAT GUYS -- >> MOSTLY IT'S QUARTERBACKS.

>> OH, YEAH.

COMFORTABLE IN -- >> THAT -- THAT CAN LOOK GOOD IN PRACTICE AND IT DOESN'T LEND ITSELF TO -- >> CORRECT RIGHT NOW.

LISTEN, THAT'S JUST CALLING A SPADE A SPADE.

>> CHUBBA PURDY WAS THE SAME THING.

>> YEAH, HOW DO YOU REALLY FEEL?

I'M CONFUSED.

[ TALKING OVER EACH OTHER ] >> I DON'T THINK I WAS GOING OUT ON A LIMB WITH THAT COMMENT THERE.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN MAKING THAT DISCUSSION SINCE GAME ONE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS?

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE UNEVEN.

LUCKILY THERE WAS THE HOLDING CALL AND THE KICKOFF RETURN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SPECIAL TEAMS?

>> THEY HAVE TO GET BETTER.

AND YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING AT A HIGHT LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THE MINNESOTA GAME THEY WERE EXCELLENT.

I GAVE NEBRASKA A CHANCE DESPITE ALL THE TURNOVERS.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE DEFENSE PLAYING LIKE THAT WITH THE SPECIAL TEAMS COMPLEMENTING THAT, THAT PUTS YOU IN A REALLY GOOD POSITION WHERE THE OFFENSE JUST HAS TO DO JUST ENOUGH AT THIS POINT.

SO, THEY NEED TO HAVE -- AVOID THE COSTLY ERRORS, LIKE THE FUMBLES, THE SHANKED PUNTS, THE MISSED FIELD GOALS.

BUT THEY ALSO NEED MORE EXPLOSIVE PLAYS OUT OF THAT.

THEY NEED RETURNS.

THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO WIN THE FIELD POSITION BATTLE.

>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A GOOD IDEA WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH ON KICKOFFS?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

>> LIKE, ARE THEY HIGH HANGERS?

ARE THEY SHORT -- I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT THE DESIRED OUTCOME IS.

THE WIND HAS BEEN BLOWING PRETTY HARD.

IT'S TRYING TO KICK TO THE NORTH STADIUM.

I HAVE NOTICED THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES.

BUT I DO NOT -- I DON'T KNOW SOMETIMES.

>> I FELT LIKE -- IF I DON'T GOT THE LAST ONE RIGHT, I THINK HE WANTED A HIGH HANGER BUT IN BETWEEN, THEY SWITCHED OVER TO BLEEKRODE.

>> WENT OUT OF BOUNDS, YEAH.

>> AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TRISTAN HIT ONE OUT OF BOUNDS.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY WANT THE OUTCOME TO BE.

>> ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE ROTATING THREE GUYS AT KICK-OFF SPECIALS.

BUSCHINI'S KICKED OFF AS WELL.

AND SO, I MEAN, LIKE, WHAT IS THE INTENT?

I MEAN, ARE YOU TRYING TO BOOM IT OUT OF THE ENDZONE?

AND IF SO, JUST ROLL WITH THAT.

BUT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO MIX IT UP, I THINK THEN THAT OPENS UP THE CHANCE FOR BAD KICKS.

>> YOU COULD MISS-HIT A BALL.

>> YEAH.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BASKETBALL BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, THE FIRST COUPLE OF PRACTICES, I LOVE THE IDEA OF HAVING A REAL VETERAN TEAM.

ESPECIALLY COMING OFF LAST YEAR WHEN FAU AND SAN DIEGO STATE HAD VETERAN TEAMS AND OBVIOUSLY ADVANCED.

WHAT DID COACH THINK ABOUT HAVING THE VETERANS HE HAS?

>> WELL, THAT WAS A CLEAR DESIGN GOING INTO THIS OFF-SEASON.

AND THE DIFFERENCE NOW, UNLIKE LAST YEAR WHERE YOU'RE GETTING A BUNCH OF OLD GUYS, BUT THEY'RE ALL NEW, SAM GRIESEL, YOU KNOW, JUWAN GARY, AND ALL THOSE TYPES.

NOW, YOU HAVE A CORE NUCLEUS TO BUILD AROUND WHERE YOU ARE BRINGING BACK GARRY, YOU'RE BRINGING BACK JAMARQUES LAWRENCE, KEISEI TOMINAGA, CJ WILCHER, GUYS THAT PLAYED A LOT OF BIG 10 BASKETBALL.

AND YOU'RE SUPPLEMENTING THAT WITH VETERAN PLAYERS LIKE RIENK MAST AND LIKE JOSIAH ALLICK AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES THAT THEY'VE PLAYED A LOT OF BALL IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.

AND SO, THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S EXPECTED.

THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND SO, I THINK, RIGHT AWAY EVEN BEFORE THESE OFFICIAL PRACTICES STARTED THIS WEEK, GOING BACK TO THE OFF-SEASON WORKOUTS, THE THING I KEPT HEARING IS THERE'S A COMPETITIVE SPIRIT WITHIN THIS GROUP TO WHERE, YOU GOT -- THAT'S WHAT YOU GET WITH OLDER GUYS THAT REALIZE THAT THEIR TIME IS NOW.

LIKE, THEY DON'T HAVE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

YOU GOT GUYS HAD A ONE OR TWO YEARS AND THEIR -- THEIR FOCUS IS ALL IN LINE AND THEY UNDERSTAND EACH DAY WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

AND SO FAR, THAT'S BEEN AS WELL AS FRED HOIBERG COULD HAVE HOPED.

>> WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE POINT GUARD SPOT.

YOU BRING LAWRENCE OFF THE BENCH?

DO YOU FIGURE PLAYING MORE A NATURAL POINT HELPS NEBRASKA?

WHAT DO YOU DO AT THE POINT GUARD SPOT?

>> YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE BY COMMITTEE, BUT I THINK JARRON "BOOGIE" COLEMAN'S GONNA BE THE GUY TO START AND WE'LL JUST SEE WHAT THAT PICTURE LOOKS LIKE.

>> IT PROBABLY WAS PLAYING OUT OF POSITION -- >> HE DIDN'T COMMIT 'TIL AUGUST 6th.

OH, YEAH, ESPECIALLY IN MISSOURI.

HE WAS PLAYING WAY TOO MUCH OFF THE BALL AND HE SAID THAT MUCH.

AND SO, THE HOPE IS WITH FRED'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT TYPE SYSTEM, HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE OF THAT PLAYMAKING ABILITY WITH THE BALL IN HIS HANDS TO WHERE HE'S GOING TO LOOK FOR HIS SHOT BUT HE'S ALSO GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE MORE OF A DISTRIBUTOR THAN HE WAS AT MISSOURI AND EVEN AT BALL STATE.

SO, THAT I THINK IS THE PLAN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, FRED SAID TODAY THAT JAMARQUES LAWRENCE IS VERY MUCH GOING TO BE IN THAT POINT GUARD PICTURE.

>> HE STARTED TO REALLY COME ON.

AND STARTED TO SHOOT REALLY WELL TOO.

>> YEAH, SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BALANCE WITH HIM, THOUGH.

HE'S NOT GOING TO BE A PRIMARY POINT GUARD BECAUSE HE'S TOO MUCH OF A GOOD SHOOTER OFF THE BALL.

SO, I THINK THAT'S WHEN I SAY THAT THE COMMITTEE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE COLEMAN BE YOUR PRIMARY GUY BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE THREE OR FOUR GUYS THAT CAN WORK IN AS BALL HANDLERS.

RIENK MAST CAN BRING THE BALL UP.

LIKE DEREK WALKER A YEAR A GO.

>> HE'S GOING TO BE A NICE ADDITION.

>> YEAH, JOSIAH CAN BRING THE BALL UP.

SO, I MEAN, LIKE, YOU COULD HAVE FIVE GUYS THAT COULD ALL INITIATE THE OFFENSE AND THE HALF COURT WHICH IS KIND OF THE DESIGN OF HOW THEY BUILT THIS ROSTER.

>> SAM HOIBERG'S STILL THERE, RIGHT?

NOBODY'S MENTIONED SAM.

[ TALKING OVER EACH OTHER ] >> ONE OF THE MOST CLUTCH PLAYERS ALL YEAR LAST YEAR.

AND HE CAN DANCE TOO.

LET ME GET THAT GUY.

A COUPLE OF LAST FOOTBALL QUESTIONS.

WHAT ABOUT KWINTEN IVES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HIM?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT EMMETT JOHNSON?

EITHER ONE OF THOSE GUYS GETTING IN THE MIX?

>> THE THING IS THEY'RE STILL SO YOUNG.

AND I'M RELUCTANT TO THROW A TRUE FRESHMAN AND A SECOND YEAR GUY THAT HAS MAYBE ONE OR TWO CARRIES IN HIS WHOLE CAREER OUT THERE AGAINST MICHIGAN.

NOT ONLY JUST THE RUNNING, BUT THE PASS PROTECTION PART OF IT.

THAT -- THAT IS THE BIG WORRY.

WE'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN NEBRASKA CAN'T PROTECT.

AND WITH THIS QUARTERBACK SITUATION, AS GOOD AS HARRBERG HAS BEEN, THEY GOT TO KEEP HIM CLEAN.

AND SO, I LEAN MORE TOWARD VETERANS THAN I DO YOUNGINS.

>> AND YOU MENTION JOSH FLEEKS WAS MOVING TO RUNNING BACK -- >> HOW ABOUT THAT?

THAT'S WHY THE CALL HIM DECK.

WELL, I WATCHED HIM WARM UP LAST WEEK AND I'M LIKE "WAIT, HE'S IN THE WRONG POSITION GROUP.

HE'S WITH THE RUNNING BACKS."

>> YEAH, WHICH HE DID A LITTLE BIT AT BAYLOR OF COURSE.

SCHEDULE WISE, WHAT DO YOU SEE NEBRASKA GOING AGAINST?

BIG 10 WEST, OBVIOUSLY, IS A MESS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE THEM GOING FORWARD IN THE SCHEDULE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THIS GAME, IT KIND OF IS WHAT IT IS.

IT'S A MISMATCH IN A LOT OF WAYS.

BUT I THINK THAT YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE REST OF THE BIG 10 WEST AND IT'S WIDE OPEN.

I MEAN, ILLINOIS IS GOING THROUGH IT.

PURDUE'S GOING THROUGH IT.

IOWA, THEY'RE LICKING THEIR WOUNDS RIGHT NOW AFTER THAT PENN STATE GAME.

SO, YOU KNOW -- NEBRASKA STILL HAS A LOT OF WARTS, AND THEY STILL HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO CLEAN UP BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN IN THE DISCUSSION.

BUT WHAT IS ENCOURAGING IS THAT THEY'RE GETTING BETTER EACH WEEK WHILE THE BIG 10 WEST IS STILL GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUES IN A LOT OF WAYS THAT THEY ARE.

SO, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

>> NOT OUT.

ROBIN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

ROBIN WASHUT, WE APPRECIATE HIM JOINING US.

AS ALWAYS, THERE'S A LOT OF PLAYERS THAT HAD GREAT MOMENTS ON SATURDAY, BUT TWO THAT STOOD OUT TO US, HEINRICH HAARBERG AND DeSHON SINGLETON.

HAARBERG ROCKED THE RUN GAME.

AND SINGLETON ROCKED A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AS WELL AND HAD SOME GOOD PLAYS ON DEFENSE.

BOTH OF THEM ARE OUR PLAYERS OF THE GAME.

AND ANOTHER HUSK WHO HAD A BIG GAME AGAINST THE BULLDOGS AND RECEIVED THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTES FOR THIS WEEK'S TOP PLAY WAS THOMAS FIDONE.

WE SAT DOWN WITH HIM IN THIS WEEK'S "HUSKER UP CLOSE" SEGMENT.

CHECK IT OUT.

♪ >> GROWING UP A NEBRASKA FAN, I WAS PRETTY MUCH BORN IN A HUSKER OUTFIT, HUSKER UNIFORM.

SO, I KNEW THAT THIS IS WHERE I WANTED TO BE.

I KNOW THAT I HAD A HUGE OPPORTUNITY HERE JUST TO, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE MY DREAM COME TRUE AND THE NEBRASKA FAN BASE, AS DREAMS COME TRUE, KIND OF FLIPPING THIS PROGRAM AROUND TO WHERE IT USED TO BE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

AND THAT'S WHY I STAYED TO BE A BIG PART OF THAT.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A TRANSITION FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO PLAY THE GAME TO NOW, KIND OF BEING FULL GO.

IT'S CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS, I THINK THAT I'M A BETTER FOOTBALL PLAYER FROM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SITTING THERE AND BEING ABLE TO LEARN AND GROW AS A PERSON AND A FOOTBALL PLAYER ON THE SIDE.

EXACTLY WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, CREATE MISMATCHES ON THE FIELD AND CREATE IMPACTS ON THE GAME AND MAKE BIG PLAYS TO HELP US DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO WHICH IS WIN.

♪ SOMETHING THE HUSKER FANS MIGHT KNOW ABOUT ME, I AM A TATTOO ARTIST.

I'VE DONE QUITE A FEW TATTOOS ON SOME PEOPLE ON THE TEAM.

I'VE DONE TATTOOS ON MY DAD.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE, YOU KNOW, REACHED OUT TO ME OR MESSAGED ME.

I'VE DONE ABOUT 40 OR 50 TATTOOS.

YEAH, SO, IT'S KIND OF MY LITTLE HOBBY THAT I DO.

EVERYTHING, IF YOU LEAVE EVERYTHING TO ME, I THINK THAT IT IS LIKE A PLACE AWAY FROM KIND OF REALITY FOR ME WHERE I CAN KIND OF JUST GO DO MY THING.

SOMETHING I'VE BEEN DOING SINCE I CAN REMEMBER REALLY.

SO, FOOTBALL MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME AND I THINK IT'S MADE ME A BETTER PERSON TODAY.

♪ >> IT WAS AWESOME TO SIT DOWN WITH THOMAS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HIM.

NOW IT'S TIME TO TOSS IT OVER TO JAY MOORE IN THE HUDL TO BREAK DOWN SOME BIG PLAYS FROM SATURDAY'S GAME.

>> ALL RIGHT, A COUPLE OF PLAYS.

I ALREADY ALLUDED TO THIS EARLIER.

WE'RE IN THE FIRST PLAY, RIGHT, IS A FAKE FIELD GOAL WITH BLEEKRODE.

AND AS A HIGHLIGHT HERE, YOU'RE GOING TO COUNT.

AND DAMON ALREADY MADE THIS.

YOU CAN COUNT TO FIVE AND YOU SEE HOW THIS PLAY IS GOING TO WORK.

THEY HAVE FOUR GUYS TO THE BOUNDARY SIDE.

WE HAVE OUR FOUR GUYS PLUS THE RUNNING BACK.

WE'RE PLUS ONE.

WE'RE GOING TO PULL THE OPPOSITE GUARD HERE FOR A LITTLE COUNTERACTION.

AND HONESTLY, HE SHOULD HAVE SCORED.

HE SAID HE NEEDS TO GET ON THE TIRES, GET THOSE LEGS UP.

BUT IT'S A GOOD PLAY CALL.

THAT IS -- YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT EVERY TIME WHEN THEY SHOW THAT.

AND I'M SURE THE SPECIAL TEAMS STAFF SAW THIS EARLY IN THE WEEK, LOOKING AT LOUISIANA TECH FILM.

THEY GOT THEIR OPPORTUNITY AND THEY DID.

PIPER KICKING OUT.

THE OPPOSITE NOSE GUARD HERE DOES A GOOD JOB FIGHTING ACROSS.

JUST SOMEHOW TO TRIP HIM UP.

GETS A PIECE OF HIM.

LOVE THE PLAY CALL.

LOVE THE HIGH RISK.

THEY GOT SOME HIGH REWARD OUT OF IT.

NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE HAARBERG TOUCH DOWN RUN.

OPTION -- SPRINT OPTION.

I HAD TO VERIFY WITH D.B.

ON THIS ONE.

SO THEY ARE GOING TO RUN A LITTLE CROSS GAME, ETIENNE FIRST, SEND THE TACKLE AROUND.

NUMBER SIX LINEBACKERS WILL COME DOWN AND, REALLY, IN THIS SITUATION, THIS IS A PITCH.

YOU HAVE YOUR ALLY PLAYER, THE SAFETY, STILL BACK HERE.

HE'S FORCING THE PITCH, BUT HE MAKES A QUICK DECISION.

AND THEY DO A GOOD ENOUGH JOB HERE ON THE BACKSIDE.

THEN RUNNING THAT TACKLE OUT OF THE WAY, THAT HE'S ABLE TO -- NUMBER TWO IS IN SPACE.

HE MAKES A GUY MISS.

HE PUTS ON THE JETS.

HIGH AND TIGHT WITH THE FOOTBALL.

SIX POINTS FOR THE BIG RED.

♪ >> LOUISIANA TECH JUST NOT DISCIPLINED, AND YOU'D EXPECT BIG PLAYS.

THEY'RE TOP 10 IN THE COUNTRY IN GIVING UP BIG PLAYS.

SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING.

>> THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE, BUT OBVIOUSLY THOSE WERE CALL BACKED ON TOUCHDOWNS AS WELL.

>> EXACTLY >> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD JOB OF THE BREAKDOWN.

>> YEP.

>> BECAUSE SIX IS POCKET COMMITTED.

HE'S A QB PLAYER, BUT HE WAS SO DECISIVE.

HE'S IN A BIND.

YOU THINK YOU SHOULD MAKE THAT PLAY, BUT THAT'S A FREE DEFENDER VERSUS A FREE GOOD OFFENSIVE PLAYER.

THAT'S ALL YOU CAN ASK YOUR AS AN OC.

>> I THINK HE'S SHOCKED PEOPLE WITH HIS ATHLETICISM TOO.

>> HE'S THE REAL DEAL.

>> BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TAPE OF HIM.

BUT NOW THEY DO.

I DON'T THINK LOUISIANA TECH KNEW WHAT THEY WERE IN FOR.

ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY GOT IN THE OPEN.

>> WE STILL HAVE MORE NEBRASKA FOOTBALL DISCUSSION COMING YOUR WAY.

NEXT UP, SEAN CALLAHAN TALKS RECRUITING.

AND THEN WE PREVIEW THIS WEEKS BIG TIME MATCH UP AGAINST MICHIGAN.

FIRST, MORE SCENES FROM THE WIN, COURTESY OF HUSKER SPORTS.

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

IT'S TIME TO CHECK ON THIS WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY.

WHAT GAME WERE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO AS WE HEAD INTO BIG TEN PLAY?

IT'S NOT A SURPRISE.

IOWA.

THAT IS THE RIVAL FOR NEBRASKA.

I DON'T WANT ANYONE DEBATING IT.

42% OF THE PEOPLE SAY IOWA.

32% WISCONSIN, AND THEN MICHIGAN AND ILLINOIS SPLIT BETWEEN 14 AND 12.

NOW JOINING US, SEAN CALLAHAN JOINING US TO TALK RECRUITING.

SEAN, IS IT A BUSY WEEKEND?

I MEAN, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A MICHIGAN GAME IN TERMS OF VISITS.

>> THEY BRING IN SO MANY YOUNGER GUYS.

YOU WILL HAVE A LOT OF 25'S, 26'S.

THERE'S SO MANY KIDS COMMITTED FOR 2024 THAT A GOOD CHUNK OF THOSE GUYS HAVE BEEN AT EVERY GAME ALREADY.

OR SOME HAVE BEEN TO ONE, OR SOME HAVE BEEN TO THE OTHER.

SO, THEY HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB.

I THINK THE STAFF OF MAKING SURE GUYS GET IN EARLY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE NEBRASKA DIDN'T HAVE A HOME GAME THE FIRST TWO WEEKS.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IN-STATE GOOD PLAYERS.

BIG KID OUT OF PAPILLION LA VISTA, ERIC INGWERSON.

>> YEAH, ERIC INGWERSON, OUT OF PAPILLION LA VISTA, COMMITTED TO PITTSBURGH EARLY BACK IN THE PROCESS, BUT JUST A GROWING BODY AT 6'7", 245.

PHYSICAL GUY.

PAPILLION IS HAVING A GREAT SEASON THIS YEAR.

HE'S PART OF THAT CORE GROUP THAT'S HELPED THE MONARCHS ON THEIR HEAD COACH, TED WILLIAMS GET GOING HERE OVER THE SEASON.

SOME PEOPLE ARE THINKING THIS GUY CAN GROW INTO A TACKLE.

RIGHT NOW, HE'S A VERY PHYSICAL PRESENCE ON THE EDGE.

HE'S A GOOD RECEIVING TIGHT END.

A GOOD DEFENSIVE LINEMAN FOR THE MONARCHS.

HAS SOME HISTORY WITH NEBRASKA.

BOTH HIS UNCLES MIKE AND TIM GREEN WERE HUSKER PLAYERS OUT OF OMAHA WEST SIDE YEARS AGO.

SO, IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING GUY TO FOLLOW IN THE COMING MONTHS AHEAD.

>> IF THERE'S A POSITION, IN STATE-WISE, THAT YOU CAN FILL IN NEBRASKA, IT'S TIGHT END.

>> WE HAVE NEVER SEEN A RUN LIKE THIS.

THERE'S ROUGHLY 10 OR SO PLUS POWER FIVE TIGHT ENDS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE STATE IN THE LAST SIX, SEVEN YEARS.

LET'S GO TO OUR PHONE GUEST.

ISAIAH McMORRIS JOINING US.

THE WIDE RECEIVER FROM BELLEVUE WEST.

ISAIAH, THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME.

>> I'M DOING GREAT.

HOW ABOUT YOURSELF?

>> ISAIAH, FIRST OF ALL, HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I KNOW YOU BATTLED THAT HAMSTRING INJURY.

IT'S KIND OF LIMITED WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO GET YOURSELF CLOSE TO HUNDRED PERCENT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS?

>> YEAH.

EVERY WEEK HAS JUST BEEN A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR ME AND MY HAMSTRING.

I'M NOT ALL THE WAY TO 100 PERCENT, BUT I'M CLOSE ENOUGH.

SO JUST EVERY DAY JUST DOING SOMETHING TO GET BETTER, AND BE CLOSE TO 100 PERCENT.

>> I KNOW IT'S NOT THE SEASON YOU GUYS WANTED, AT LEAST EARLY ON.

DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE THE GUYS, AND CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO ADVANCE AND GET WHAT YOU WANT TO GET THIS SEASON?

>> I DO THINK SO.

WE STILL HAVE A GREAT TEAM.

GREAT COACHES.

PRACTICE EVERY DAY THIS WEEK BEING INTENSE.

AND SO JUST TAKING IT DAY BY DAY, WEEK BY WEEK.

I THINK ONCE THE PLAYOFFS START WE WILL BE A HOT TEAM.

>> NOW, ISAIAH, ARE YOU GOING TO BE AN EARLY ENROLLEE, OR WILL YOU BE BACK AT BELLEVUE WEST FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER?

>> I'LL BE ENROLLING EARLY.

>> OKAY, I WAS GOING TO ASK BECAUSE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO WIN A FOURTH CONSECUTIVE STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT OBVIOUSLY TRACK.

HOW HARD OF A DECISION WAS THAT FOR YOU TO LET GO OF BASKETBALL AND TRACK TO MOVE ON TO YOUR NEXT JOURNEY HERE TO NEBRASKA?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS REALLY THAT HARD, BECAUSE I KNOW MY FUTURE IS IN FOOTBALL.

SO IF THAT MEANS ME GRADUATING EARLY TO GET ON CAMPUS, AND GET FAMILIAR WITH THE PLAYBOOK THEN THAT'S WHAT I WILL DO JUST FOR MY FUTURE BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S IN FOOTBALL.

>> THE LAST THING, ISAIAH.

WHAT WAS THAT FEELING AROUND CAMPUS WHEN DANIEL COMMITS, YOU COMMIT, YOU KNOW JUST THAT FEELING OF HAVING THREE FOLKS FROM YOUR SCHOOL COMMITTING TO NEBRASKA AROUND THE SAME TIME?

>> IT WAS A GREAT FEELING.

WE COMMITTED ON OUR OFFICIAL VISIT, ME AND DeVAUGHN DID, ON INSTAGRAM LIVE AND THEN DANNY COMMITTED A WEEK BEFORE US.

SO JUST DOING IT IN FRONT OF THE COACHES AT NEBRASKA WAS AN AMAZING FEELING THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET FOR SURE.

>> ISAID WE APPRECIATE IT.

GET HEALTHY, MAN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT AND THANK YOU TO ISAIAH McMORRIS AND SEAN AS WELL.

WE HAVE A NEW WINNER IN THIS WEEKS GAME DAY PHOTO CONTEST.

MARIAM SENT IN THIS PHOTO OF HER GRANDSONS, MAVERICK AND MATTIX, THOSE ARE SOLID NAMES, AT THE GAME SATURDAY.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MARIAM, AND THANKS FOR SHARING A GREAT PICTURE WITH US.

DON'T MISS OUT ON YOUR CHANCE TO SEND US YOUR BEST GAME DAY PHOTOS FOR CHANCES AT GREAT PRIZES LIKE THESE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

WE WANT TO SEE YOUR GAME DAY BEST, SO MAKE SURE YOU SEND IN THESE PHOTOS, OR ANY PHOTOS YOU HAVE, WHETHER IT'S A TAILGATE, INSIDE THE STADIUM, OR EVEN FROM YOUR WATCH PARTY AT HOME IN THE BASEMENT.

LET'S DO A QUICK LOOK AROUND THE BIG TEN WITH SOME SCORES.

MICHIGAN TAKES CARE OF RUTGERS 31-7.

THAT LINE WAS 24.

ILLINOIS FIGHTS BACK AGAINST FLORIDA ATLANTIC TO WIN 23-17.

AND THE WILDCATS DOWN 31-10, COME BACK IN OVERTIME VERSUS MINNESOTA TO WIN THAT GAME.

MY FAVORITE STAT FROM THE WEEKEND.

IOWA, 366 YARDS PUNTING.

76 YARDS TOTAL OFFENSE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S EVER BEEN ANY KIND OF RATIO LIKE THAT IN THE GAME.

>> WAS THAT MORE SURPRISING THAN THE SNAP DISPARITY?

'‘CAUSE THAT -- >> YEAH.

>> NINE OUT OF 30.

>> WHAT, THEY HAD 33 SNAPS?

>> I'VE NEVER SEEN 60 MORE SNAPS BY A TEAM REGULATION GAME.

>> IN A RANKED OUT REG GAME LET ALONE.

>> I MEAN THAT'S -- THERE WERE SOME STAGGERING NUMBERS IN THAT ONE.

>> IOWA DIDN'T GIVE UP MORE THAN 20, 24 IN MOST GAMES.

THEY USUALLY GET A FIELD GOAL OR SOMETHING.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN SHUT OUT FIRST TIME SINCE 2000.

>> THEIR INABILITY TO RUN THE FOOTBALL CONSISTENTLY HAS BEEN A HEAD SCRATCHER.. >> LET'S TALK MICHIGAN.

WE MENTIONED THIS WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE PREDICTION A LITTLE BIT.

THE BEGINNING OF THEIR SEASON ALMOST KIND OF LIKE PRESEASON, RIGHT?

TAKING CARE OF THE TEAMS THEY SHOULD.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THEM OVERALL ABOUT THE WAY THEY'RE PLAYING?

>> LISTEN THEY'RE -- JIM HARTWELL IS A REALLY GOOD FOOTBALL COACH.

HE HAS HIS TEAM, THEY'RE PHYSICAL.

THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

METHODICAL.

GOOD SOLID FUNDAMENTAL FOOTBALL.

SPECIAL TEAMS ARE ALWAYS GOOD.

LISTEN, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING FLASHY.

THEY'RE NOT A FLASHY FOOTBALL TEAM.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIG TIME WHEN THE LIGHT IS BRIGHTEST, THAT'S WHEN THEY TURN IT ON.

LIKE I SAID, WHEN YOU PLAY EAST CAROLINA, BOWLING GREEN, RUTGERS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE AT THEIR BEST.

AGAIN, THE SCORES WERE 35-7, 31-10.

NOTHING CRAZY, BUT THAT'S HOW THEY OPERATE.

THEY KNOW THEY CAN OPERATE AND I EXPECT IT'S THE SAME TYPE OF GAME TO PLAY OUT THIS WEEKEND WITH NEBRASKA.

>> THERE WERE FIVE TEAMS IN THE PRESEASON I THOUGHT COULD BE ELITE LEVEL DEFENSIVE TEAMS.

NOTRE DAME, UTAH, MICHIGAN, ALABAMA AND CLEMSON.

WERE I FELT ELITE.

>> YEAH.

>> MICHIGAN IS STILL ON THAT TRACK.

THEY CAN PLAY 5-60 LINEMAN.

THEY GET THEIR TWO STUDS BACK IN SECONDARY.

COLSON IS THE REAL DEAL IN THE LINEBACKING SPOT.

THAT'S AN ELITE LEVEL DEFENSE WHEN THEY GET HUMMING.

>> NOTHING FOR NOTHING, THE BEST TEAM I'VE SEEN ALL YOUR SO FAR THOUGH, WASHINGTON.

YEAH, THEY'RE FANTASTIC -- I JUST DON'T KNOW.

I WORRY ABOUT THEM A LITTLE BIT DEFENSIVELY.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT OFFENSIVELY WE ARE AVERAGING ALMOST 10 YARDS EVERY TIME YOU SNAP THE BALL, THAT'S SOME VIDEO GAME TYPE STUFF.

>> NO DOUBT.

MICHIGAN IS AVERAGING 13 FEWER PLAYS AND THEY HAVE THE LAST TWO YEARS.

DO YOU THINK BECAUSE OF THEIR STYLE AND THE WAY THE CLOCK DOESN'T STOP IS AFFECTING THEM IN TERMS OF GETTING PLAYS?

>> YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THAT CLOCK RULE HAS CHANGED A LOT, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO RUN THE RUN THE BALL.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

THEY HAVE TWO OF THE BEST RUNNING BACKS IN THE COUNTRY.

WITH A VERY ACCOMPLISHED QUARTERBACK IN JJ McCARTHY.

BUT THEIR SCHEDULE HAS BEEN SET UP FOR THEM TO DEVELOP THIS TEAM TO BUILD WHO THEY WANT TO BE.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN STRESSED.

THIS IS A TEAM THAT IS BUILDING FOR NOVEMBER.

THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO WIN THE PLAYOFF IN SEPTEMBER.

THEY KNOW THEIR OPPORTUNITIES ARE GOING TO COME TO GET IN THE PLAYOFF, AND THEY'RE BUILDING THAT TEAM THERE TO GET TO THOSE GAMES LATER IN THE YEAR.

THIS IS REALLY THEIR FIRST TRUE STRESS GAME GOING ON THE ROAD, GOING TO NEBRASKA.

IT'S ONLY THE THIRD TIME PLAYING AND LINCOLN IN THE 13 YEARS THAT THE HUSKERS HAVE BEEN IN THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE.

>> BECAUSE NEBRASKA GOT SO MUCH OHIO STATE.

>> ROBERT FROM SCOTTS BLUFF WANTS TO KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO SEE JOSH FLEEKS THIS WEEK?

THEY SAID THE TRANSFER FROM BAYLOR, SO I ASSUME THAT'S WHO THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> WE COULD.

WE MENTIONED THAT EARLIER.

HE'S GETTING REPS FOR THE RUNNING BACK POSITION.

JUST DEPENDS WITH THE AG AND EMMETT JOHNSON AS THEY WANT TO PLAY IT QUITE NICE.

I WOULD THINK POTENTIALLY.

>> YEAH, I THINK WE SEE FLEEKS -- >> THEY'RE DOWN TYPE GUY MAYBE -- >> YEAH AND LISTEN -- I THINK IT'S A COMPLICATED PASS PROTECTION.

SO YOU NEED GUYS YOU ARE EXPERIENCED AND CAN UNDERSTAND BLITZ PICKUP TOO.

>> YOU'VE BEEN BANGED UP IN YOUR CAREER A LITTLE BIT.

DO YOU THINK YOU COULD EVER COME BACK FROM AN ANKLE SPRAIN AS THE SEASON HAS GONE ALONG?

COULD YOU EVER GET FULLY HEALTHY?

>> I PREFER IT BE A LOWER ANKLE SPRAIN THAN HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN.

HIGH ANKLE SPRAINS CAN REALLY BE A HEADACHE.

ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE PLANNING AND PUSHING.

CAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU WATCH SIMS RUNAROUND AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE SIMPLY CAN'T DO IS DROP BACK.

THAT'S WHERE IT GETS TOUGH.

SOMETIMES THE LATERAL THINGS, YOU CAN FOOL YOURSELF THAT YOU WILL BE OKAY.

BUT THE REPETITIVENESS OF PLANNING AND PUSHING IS ULTIMATELY WHERE THOSE HIGH ANKLE SPRAINS GET YOU.

>> THIS ONE IS FOR YOU SEAN.

A RECRUITING QUESTION.

WITH THE RISE OF LACY, DO YOU THINK NEBRASKA CAN KEEP HIM COMMITTED TO NEBRASKA?

>> SO FAR.

I MEAN OL' MISS MADE A HARD RUN AT KEWAN LACY.

WHO, YOU ARE RIGHT, HAS MOVED UP IN THE FOUR STAR RANKINGS FOR US AND ON THREE.

AND SOME OTHER SERVICES AS WELL.

HAVING AN OUTSTANDING YEAR DOWN IN TEXAS IN THE DALLAS AREA.

YOU HAVE TO THINK MORE AND MORE PEOPLE.

BUT THE GOOD THING ABOUT RECRUITING NOW IS THESE KIDS SIGN IN DECEMBER, SO THE WINDOW TO GRAB THEM IS LIMITED IN DECEMBER.

WHEN YOU HAVE REALLY ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO SNEAK GUYS IN.

WHERE AS IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH JANUARY, JANUARY WAS A NIGHTMARE.

'‘CAUSE YOU'D HAVE FOUR WEEKS OF COACHES TRYING TO STEAL YOUR RECRUITS AND YOU JUST HOPE NOBODY STOLE YOUR GUYS AND THEY WOULD SIGN YOU IN FEBRUARY.

>> THIS ONE'S FROM PATRICK, I AM JUST GOING TO READ THIS THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE O-LINE TO PLAY LEFT TACKLE?

COCHRAN IS GETTING KILLED.

THAT'S WHAT HE WROTE.

ALTHOUGH IT'S CORCORAN.

BUT, YEAH.

>> HE STRUGGLED.

YOU'D LIKE TO THINK PROCHAZKA WOULD COME ALONG, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PUSH HIM ALONG.

HE NEEDS TO BE HEALTHY.

I THINK THEY ARE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY WITH TEDDY.

IMPLEMENTING HIM IN THE TIGHT END POSITION STRATEGICALLY.

THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH NOW UNTIL THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH PROCHAZKA BEING ABLE TO PLAY YOU KNOW, 60-70 SNAPS.

>> JARED ASKED THE QUESTION, IF IT IS HAARBERG, DO YOU SEE A ROLE FOR JEFF SIMS IN THE OFFENSE?

>> PERSONALLY I DO NOT UNLESS HE'S PLAYING QUARTERBACK.

IT'S NOT A DEAL WHERE YOU WILL OUT OF THE RACK AND SAY LET'S PLAY RUNNING BACK -- >> OR WIDE RECEIVER OR SOMETHING.

>> HEY GO OUT THERE AND PLAY WIDE RECEIVER.

I THINK SIMS IS A QUARTERBACK.

I'M JUST TELLING YOU, THEY'LL NEED BOTH OF THEM BEFORE THIS THING IS OVER.

IT WILL BE A LONG SEASON.

SO BEFORE WE SETTLE IN AND GET COMFORTABLE WITH ANYONE.

WHEN YOU CARRY THE BALL THAT MUCH AT QUARTERBACK, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COACH RHULE WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS MENTAL HEALTH AND PREPARING TOUGHNESS.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT ANSWER HE HAD.

WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT COACH RHULE SAID AFTER MONDAY INTO THAT PRESS CONFERENCE?

>> WELL, THESE KIDS GO THROUGH A LOT.

YOU HEARD TAYLOR MARTINEZ THIS WEEK TALK ABOUT THAT AFTER HIS HALL OF FAME INTERVIEW.

THANKED ALL THE FANS AND EVEN THE ONES THAT WERE CRITICAL OF HIM.

TAYLOR MARTINEZ IS ONE OF THE FIRST HUSKERS YOU CAN REMEMBER THAT WAS REALLY POLARIZING.

YOU EITHER LOVE HIM OR DIDN'T LIKE HIM.

I HEARD COACH RHULE EVEN SAY THINGS LIKE PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS, WHEN HE WAS IN THE NFL, THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE MOST STRESSFUL THING THE PRO GUYS FEARED, WERE SEEING BAD GRADES BECAUSE THE GENERAL MANAGERS AND OTHER PEOPLE LOOKED AT THOSE THINGS AND IT AFFECTED THEIR JOBS.

THEY DEALT WITH A LOT OF THAT WITH IN THE CAROLINA PANTHERS.

AND WE POST THEM ON OUR SITE EVERY SUNDAY MORNING.

THE FANS LOVE SEEING THAT STUFF, BUT IT ALSO CREATES A LOT OF DEBATE AND PRESSURE ON GUYS.

BUT THAT COMES WITH THE STAGE AND THE TERRITORY OF PLAYING AT A PLACE LIKE NEBRASKA.

>> GOT TO PREPARE THE KIDS FOR IT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, 100%.

I LOVE THE ANALOGY IF YOU HURT YOUR KNEE, YOU GO SEE THE TRAINER.

IF YOU WANT TO BE CONDITION, GO SEE YOUR REHAB GUYS.

AND EMOTIONALLY, THAT'S WHERE THEY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE SEEN GUYS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO STAY THE COURSE THAT HAVE NEEDED NONESSENTIAL STAFF AS PART OF THE PROCESS OF FAMILY.

REALLY HURT COACH RHULE BECAUSE I THINK HE BELIEVES IN THE STAFF THAT HE HAS PUT AROUND THIS TEAM TO HELP HIS YOUNG PEOPLE DEAL WITH OFF THE FIELD ISSUES.

>> BURNING QUESTIONS?

>> MY BURNING QUESTION IS, IS THIS NEBRASKA DEFENSE REAL?

WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT AS FAR AS THE RUSSIAN DEFENSE GOES WHEN THEY SEE ONE OF THE TOP RUNNING TEAMS IN THE CONFERENCE.

>> CAN THEY EVOLVE IN THE PASSING GAME?

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME PLAYS.

THERE'S ALWAYS FOUR, FIVE AGAINST QUALITY OPPONENTS THAT QUARTERBACK AND RECEIVER HAVE TO MAKE.

CAN NEBRASKA MAY THOSE PLAYS?

>> IF THEY EVOLVE IN THE PASSING GAME, CAN YOU GET TO DOUBLE DIGITS?

MICHIGAN HAS YET TO ALLOW AN OPPONENT GET TO DOUBLE DIGITS THIS YEAR SO FAR.

SO CAN WE AT LEAST GET TO 10?

>> CAN J.J. McCARTHY BE RATTLED BY A NEBRASKA DEFENSE LIKE LAST YEAR?

EIGHT OF 17 STRUGGLED LAST YEAR.

CAN THEY GET TO HIM AND RATTLE HIM DURING THE GAME?

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

JAY, DAMON AND I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT ON SATURDAY WHEN NEBRASKA TAKES ON SECOND-RANKED MICHIGAN INSIDE OF MEMORIAL STADIUM.

KICKOFF IS AT 2:30 CENTRAL ON BIG FOX.

THEN TUNE IN ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA ON SUNDAY FOR SOME CREIGHTON VOLLEYBALL AS THE 16th RANKED BLUEJAYS FACE SETON HALL AT 1:00 P.M. NEXT TUESDAY WE ARE RIGHT BACK HERE TO RECAP THE GAME AGAINST THE WOLVERINES.

AND ERIN SORENSEN FROM COUNTER READ.

OUR THANKS TO ISAIAH McMORRIS AND FOR OUR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CALL CENTER FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

FOR JAY MOORE, DAMON BENNING AND SEAN CALLAHAN WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, RIGHT ON "“BIG RED WRAP-UP.

"” ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪