♪ >>> HI, EVERYONE.

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

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

NEBRASKA RIGHT NOW IS IN THE SITUATION WHERE THEY COULD HAVE THE WORST SIX-YEAR STRETCH THEY'VE EVER HAD AS A PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S HOW WE START TONIGHT.

JOINING US JAY MOORE, DAMON BENNING, AND OUR FRIEND FROM HAIL VARSITY, MIKE BABCOCK.

LET'S JUST START WITH YOU, JAY.

YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT WHERE NEBRASKA IS RIGHT NOW WITH TWO GAMES LEFT.

>> YEAH, THE FEELINGS AREN'T GREAT.

BUT THE FEELINGS WERE -- I CANNOT BE SURPRISED BY THEM WITH THE INJURY TO CASEY THOMPSON AND JUST SEEING WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO OFFENSIVELY.

ONE TOUCHDOWN.

THIS OFFENSE HAS SCORED ONE TOUCHDOWN SINCE CASEY GOT HURT.

SO YOU'VE JUST GOT TO LOOK AT IT FROM A REALISTIC POINT OF VIEW.

I MEAN, LISTEN, WHERE THIS TEAM HAS BEEN, TOTAL ROLE REVERSALS, RIGHT?

FROM OFFENSIVELY TO DEFENSIVELY.

DEFENSIVE HAS GOTTEN BETTER, THEY STRUGGLED MIGHTILY HEAVY EARLY ON.

THEY'VE INCREASINGLY GOTTEN BETTER GAME BY GAME HERE.

AND OBVIOUSLY WITH CASEY'S INJURY, THERE IS NOTHING MUCH THIS OFFENSE CAN DO.

I CAN'T SAY I'M DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE THIS IS KIND OF WHAT I EXPECTED UNFORTUNATELY WITH CASEY'S INJURY AND THE OPPONENTS THEY PLAYED.

I MEAN, THIS IS -- THE BIG TEN IS TOUGH.

AND I KNOW YOU MIGHT SAY THE WEST IS -- IT'S A MESS, IT'S CONFUSING.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO CALL IT DOWN.

BUT TEAMS, THEY STILL KNOW HOW TO WIN AND PLAY TOUGH WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT NO MATTER WHAT THE INJURY SITUATION IS, THE TALENT SITUATION IS.

THEY JUST KNOW THE BIG TEN SO WELL.

THEY CHALLENGE YOU WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT AND NEBRASKA HAS BEEN ON THE SHORT END OF THE STICK.

THEY JUST HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE JOB DONE.

JUST OFFENSIVELY THEY HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL HERE SINCE -- I'VE REITERATED MYSELF NOW FOR THE LAST FOUR TIMES -- WITH CASEY BEING HURT.

BUT THAT IS WHY NEBRASKA IS IN THE SITUATION THEY ARE.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BEAT MICHIGAN WITH CASEY BEING HEALTHY.

BUT THEY SURE AS HECK COULD HAVE BEATEN ILLINOIS, THEY COULD HAVE BEATEN MINNESOTA, AND THEY PROBABLY COULD HAVE WON THE LAST TWO GAMES IF CASEY WAS HEALTHY AND THE DEFENSE CONTINUES ON THE TRAJECTORY THEY'VE BEEN ON./E >> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FROM THE PRESS BOX BEHIND THE MICROPHONE?

>> I'M A LITTLE MORE OPTIMISTIC.

ESPECIALLY FOR THIS ONE, JUST BECAUSE I THINK WISCONSIN IS A TEAM THAT'S VULNERABLE.

THEY'VE GOT THEIR OWN ISSUES I THINK THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH, WHETHER IT'S INTERNAL, COACHING ISSUES, THE TRANSITION FROM CHRIS TO JIM LEONHARD AND HE'S STILL ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THAT CAME ABOUT.

WHETHER THERE'S TAMPERING, NOT TAMPERING.

THEY JUST DON'T LOOK LIKE VINTAGE WISCONSIN.

AND I THINK IF NEBRASKA CAN KEEP THE SCORE DOWN, IT SOUNDS CRAZY TO SAY, BUT BRAELON ALLEN MIGHT BE THE LEAST DYNAMIC BACK THEY'VE SEEN IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS BASED ON HOW HE'S FEELING.

>> RIGHT.

>> I MEAN, LET'S SAY THAT OUT LOUD.

FOR THE 18-YEAR-OLD PHENOM, HE LOOKS THE MOST HUMAN RIGHT NOW OF THE THREE THAT THEY'VE SEEN.

SO I'M A LITTLE ENCOURAGED JUST BECAUSE I THINK THE DEFENSE IS PLAYING BETTER.

NOW, THEY DON'T HAVE A TON OF DEPTH AND THEY'RE GETTING WORN DOWN, RIGHT?

THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEEING 101 SNAPS LIKE THEY SAW AGAINST PURDUE AND SEEING 60-SOME ODD OR 70 SNAPS LIKE THEY DID AGAINST MICHIGAN.

>> PHYSICAL.

>> BUT YOU HAVE THE BALL FOR 40 MINUTES.

THAT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF PHYSICAL THAN JUST THE SHEER VOLUME OF PLAYS.

SO THEY'LL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT BUT I THINK THIS GAME WILL BE CLOSER THAN THE EXPERTS THINK.

>> SECOND-SLOWEST TEAM IN THE BIG TEN LAST WEEK, 30 SECONDS A PLAY.

THAT'S HOW MUCH THEY RUN UP THAT CLOCK.

MIKE, YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF GAMES.

YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF TIMES WHERE NEBRASKA WAS IN GAMES, NOT IN GAMES.

WHAT WAS THAT FEEL WATCHING THE MICHIGAN GAME?

>> WELL, IT DIDN'T GO DIFFERENTLY THAN I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED GIVEN WHAT MICHIGAN HAS DONE DEFENSIVELY IN PARTICULAR.

NO CASEY THOMPSON, NOW NO CHUBBA PURDY.

HE'S OUT.

LOGAN SMOTHERS WAS LESS THAN HEALTHY.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU HAVE A SITUATION LIKE THAT AT QUARTERBACK, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GO IN THE BIG HOUSE AND BE EFFECTIVE, BE SUCCESSFUL?

AND THE WAY THE TIME OF POSSESSION AND THE SNAPS HAVE GONE THE LAST THREE GAMES, NEBRASKA -- LAST FOUR GAMES.

NEBRASKA JUST HAS -- THE DEFENSE HAS BEEN OUT THERE A LOT.

IT STARTS TO WEAR ON YOU, I'M SURE.

BUT I AGREE WITH YOU GUYS, I THINK THAT NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE HAS PLAYED A LITTLE BETTER.

I THINK THAT THIS CONCEPT OF GRIT, YOU KNOW, I THINK OF WILL BOLT.

YOU KNOW, GRITTY MEETS PRETTY.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK THEY HAVE KEPT BATTLING AGAINST MICHIGAN AND I THINK THAT'S ALL YOU CAN ASK FOR.

THE THING THAT CONFUSED ME WAS, WHY DID JIM HARBAUGH DECIDE TO KICK A FIELD GOAL WITH A MINUTE SEVENTEEN LEFT?

WAS HE TRYING TO COVER THE SPREAD?

>> HE DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THAT STUFF.

>> WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

BUT NO, I DID NOT EXPECT A WIN AT MICHIGAN.

BUT I DO THINK IF THE MINDSET IS RIGHT, IF THEY CAN COME OUT OF THAT, IF THERE'S NOT THE DISCOURAGEMENT OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED OF LATE, I STILL THINK THEY'VE GOT A CHANCE IN THESE LAST TWO GAMES.

>> KIND OF HISTORIC IN TERMS OF HOW BAD THE OFFENSE HAS BEEN WITHOUT CASEY THOMPSON.

YOU MENTION NOT SCORING POINTS.

THEY'RE ONLY AVERAGING I THINK 220 YARDS TO A GAME.

IT'S JUST HARD TO WATCH.

>> IT'S TOUGH.

IT'S REALLY HARD JUST TO GET SOMETHING GOING.

WE SAW SOME SUCCESS EARLY IN THAT MINNESOTA GAME.

WHIPPLE'S OFFENSE HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD ON THE FIRST DRIVE, YOU'VE SEEN IT AGAINST OKLAHOMA AND ALSO AGAINST NORTHWESTERN.

WHEN HE'S ABLE TO STAY ON SCRIPT AND FOLLOW A PLAN, THEY'RE PRETTY DARN GOOD.

BUT AS SOON AS SOME DEFENSE MAKES ADJUSTMENTS, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE PLAYING WITH BACKUP QUARTERBACKS, MAN, IT'S HARD.

AND YOU SAW WHEN PURDY GETS HURT.

YOU SEE HERE WHEN LOGAN SMOTHERS COMES IN.

NEBRASKA HAD MOMENTUM GOING THERE ON THAT DRIVE.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE IF THEY GET IN THE END ZONE JUST TO GET SOME MOMENTUM SORT OF MOMENTUM GOING.

BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN SMOTHERS COMES IN, YOU GET THE BOBBLING OF THE SNAPS AND THE SHOTGUN.

THIS THING JUST KIND OF -- IT GETS MESSY.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A GUY, CHUBBA TAKES THE MAJORITY OF THE SNAPS I WOULD GUESS, YOU KNOW.

PROBABLY 60-40 DURING THE WEEK AND THEN LOGAN COMES IN AND IT'S JUST A RELATIONSHIP ISSUE BETWEEN CENTER AND QUARTERBACK, AND JUST THE FEEL OF EVERYTHING, THE CADENCE.

EVERY QUARTERBACK HAS A DIFFERENT CADENCE BACK THERE AND HOW THEY CALL THINGS AND HOW THEY SEE THINGS.

SO IT'S JUST -- CAN'T RUN THE FOOTBALL.

IT'S HARD, MAN.

IT'S HARD TO BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN YOU CAN'T THROW IT, CAN'T RUN IT VERY EFFECTIVELY.

YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE TIME OF POSSESSION AND YOUR DEFENSE IS ON THE FIELD TOO MUCH.

SO IT'S TOUGH.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU BATTLE THOSE ISSUES.

>> WE'LL CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION BUT FIRST WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

AS THE SEASON WINDS DOWN, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS SWIRLING AROUND.

WE WANT TO DO OUR BEST TO HELP ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

START BY CALLING IN TONIGHT TO OUR CALL CENTER.

OUR FRIENDS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA'S COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATIONS ARE HERE MANNING THE PHONES, AWAITING YOUR CALLS.

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

GONNA BE HARD AT WORK TAKING YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.

OUR SPORTS INTERN -- HEY, SAM -- IS ALSO HERE MANAGING THE TEAM.

YOU CAN TEXT OR EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

WE'RE ALSO WATCHING ALL OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.

POST YOUR COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND WE WILL TRY TO GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.

HERE'S THIS WEEK'S ALL NEW SIDELINE SURVEY.

PRETTY SIMPLE.

WILL MICKEY JOSEPH BE NAMED HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT THE END OF THE SEASON?

YES, NO, OR THE ONE THAT IS CERTAINLY MOST POPULAR, NO, BUT I HOPE HE'S STAYS ON THE STAFF.

74% OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

HEAD TO THE WEBSITE AND CAST YOUR VOTE.

LOOKING FOR POSITIVES, DAMON.

THERE'S NO MILES FARMER BACK THERE.

THE GUY YOU EXPECTED TO BE THE BACKUP FOR HIM, PHALEN SANFORD, GETS INJURED.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR NICKEL AND PUT HIM BACK THERE.

I THINK THE SECONDARY PLAYED AS WELL AS ANY PART OF NEBRASKA'S TEAM LAST WEEK.

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE.

THEY DID A GOOD JOB FITTING IN THE RUN GAME.

I THOUGHT THEY WERE OUTSTANDING IN SOME OF THE MAN-TO-MAN COVERAGE CONCEPTS.

YOU CAME OUT OF THAT GAME THINKING THAT MICHIGAN WASN'T AS CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER AT THE QUARTERBACK SPOT AS SOME OTHER TEAMS PLAYED AND A LOT OF THAT WAS DUE TO HOW I FELT NEBRASKA SECONDARY PLAYED.

SO I'M A BIG GIFFORD GUY.

I THINK HE'S BEEN FANTASTIC, AND HIS EVOLUTION HAS BEEN KIND OF AN UPWARD ASCENT.

AND I THINK HE IS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF GUYS THAT NEBRASKA HAS, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT CAN PLAY ON OTHER TEAMS IN THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE.

AND SO WHEN YOU ARE PUT TOGETHER LIKE THAT DEFENSIVELY IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH BATTLE.

BUT I DID FEEL LIKE THE SECONDARY PLAYED WELL RIGHT ALONG WITH ERNEST HAUSMANN.

>> I WAS GONNA SAY, I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT ERNEST HAUSMANN.

THAT'S A KID WHO'S EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD WHO STRUGGLED EARLY IN THE SEASON AND HE JUST STAYED WITH IT AND LOOK AT HOW WELL HE PLAYED.

>> 10 TACKLES WITH SACK.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR POSITIVE, THAT'S DEFINITELY A POSITIVE.

>> HE ALSO HAD A STUFF WHERE HE PUSHED SOMEBODY BACKWARDS.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SEEN THAT THIS YEAR?

NOT A LOT.

>> YEAH, AND IT FITS INTO THE SCENARIO OF INJURIES BECAUSE HENRICH IS GONE.

AND YOU GET A YOUNG GUY THAT STEPPED UP AND I THINK HE SHOWED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT FROM ONE GAME TO THE NEXT.

AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO SHOW IT THEN AGAINST MICHIGAN IN THE BIG HOUSE?

I THOUGHT THAT WAS DEFINITELY A POSITIVE.

>> DAMON, TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT JARRETT SYNEK, THE QUARTERBACK WHO WILL BE THE BACKUP -- WELL, IF CASEY THOMPSON'S OUT, THE QUARTERBACK WHO WILL BE THE BACKUP?

>> YEAH, HE'S A GOOD PLAYER.

I LIKED HIM IN HIGH SCHOOL COMING OUT OF HASTINGS.

HE'S A GOOD ATHLETE.

HE'S GOT A GOOD LIVE ARM.

YOU KNOW IT'S INTERESTING, I WATCHED HIM PRACTICE LAST TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE, JUST PICKING UP MY CREDENTIALS AND I WAS KIND OF WATCHING HIM THROW, AND HE CAN SPIN IT PRETTY WELL.

I KIND OF LIKED HIM.

HE WAS GETTING MORE REPS.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.

SO IT HAD MY ATTENTION, SO THEN I JUST STAYED AND WATCHED.

HE HAS GOOD COMMAND, I THINK, OF THE OFFENSE.

I'M TELLING YOU.

I KNOW IT'S THE WRONG SPORT BECAUSE THAT SCHOOL IS DOWN THERE ON 24th AND DODGE, BUT HE WILL LET IT FLY A LITTLE BIT, TOO.

HE IS NOT AFRAID TO THROW THE BALL AROUND THE YARD AND HE IS A BETTER ATHLETE THAN YOU THINK.

>> AND HE'S A DUAL THREAT GUY.

HE'S GOT LONG HAIR SO WHEN HE RUNS, IT'S FLOWING IN THE WIND.

HE LOOKS GOOD OUT THERE.

>> HE LOOKS LIKE SUNSHINE FROM REMEMBER THE TITANS >> A LITTLE BIT.

A LITTLE BIT.

YEAH.

>> NOT AS TALL BUT DEFINITELY.

>> WE NEED SOME STRONG SIDE RIGHT SIDE.

WE NEED SOME OF THAT GOING ON.

>> SOMETHING TO GET THIS OFFENSE GOING.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE, IF IT COMES DOWN TO IT.

I HOPE IT DOES NOT GET THERE, WHERE THEY ARE AT IN THE SEASON IT IS NICE TO SEE SOMEONE COME IN AND SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEN.

>> YEAH.

>> I HOPE THEY CAN GET SOME GOOD REPS AND I HOPE CASEY OBVIOUSLY ABLE TO PLAY AND I HOPE THAT NERVE ISSUE IN HIS THROWING ARM AND HIS FINGERS ARE OKAY.

IT IS ALWAYS AN INTERESTING TIME, WAS IT IN '94 MATT TURMAN THE "K" STATE SITUATION.

WHEN BROOKE AND TOMMY WERE OUT.

>> LP IS NOT THERE THOUGH.

>> THE OFFENSIVE LINE IS NOT THERE EITHER.

THAT PIPELINE IS NOT THERE EITHER SO YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT SO, YEAH.

VERY INTERESTING SITUATION IN THAT QB ROOM.

>> I THINK IT IS INTERESTING JUST TO WATCH THE COACHES POUR INTO THE KIDS.

YOU WALK IN THERE YOU WATCH THEM AND YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS THE RECORD, THAT IS FOR SURE.

JUST HOW THEY GET AFTER IT AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.

YOU THINK A SEASON LIKE THIS GETTING GUYS LIKE OMAR MANNING AND MARCUS WASHINGTON AND SOME OF THESE GUYS TO REALLY, JAVIER MORTON, WHO TALKS MORE THAN ANYBODY OUT THERE AT A PRACTICE.

THESE GUYS ARE ENGAGED AND ENERGIZED.

KOBY BRETZ MAKING THE TRAVEL ROSTER THEY REALLY GETTING A GOOD SOLID LOOK.

SOME OF THE GLASS HALF-FULL KINDS OF THINGS ARE GUYS GETTING OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT WON WITH THEM.

YOU CAN CERTAINLY LOSE WITHOUT THEM.

JUST THE CYCLING IN OF NEW PLAYERS AND A NEW MINDSET HAS BEEN HEALTHY.

>> HE GOES POSITIVE AND I WILL GO NEGATIVE.

WITH SYNEK PLAYING OR BEING THAT SPOT THAT MEANS HE HAS PASSED UP GUYS ON SCHOLARSHIP.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY FOR HEINRICH HAARBERG OR THOSE GUYS?

>> WELL I AM GOING TO SAY IT SPEAKS BETTER FOR SYNEK AND WHAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED, AND THAT'S THE THING.

SOMETIMES WALK ONS DO NOT GET THAT KIND OF CONSIDERATION BUT YOU KNOW THEY CAN DEVELOP INTO.

LOOK AT REIMER.

>> SURE.

>> BE IT THE SAME KIND OF THING.

HE PASSED UP THESE GUYS YOU KNOW.

IS THAT A REFLECTION ON THEM?

NO, I THINK THAT'S MORE OF A REFLECTION ON.

I THINK THAT IS THE WAY IT IS WITH SYNEK.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THING THAT NICKY SAID IS THAT SYNEK IS VERY ATHLETIC AND HE GIVES THEM A DIFFERENT KIND OF QUARTERBACK.

AND IF YOU ARE IN A SITUATION THAT YOU HAVE TO BRING IN A GUY LIKE THAT IT IS BETTER TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE DEFENSE IS ACCUSTOMED TO.

SO SYNEK IS THERE.

I LIKE IT WHEN I PICK UP MY ROSTER AND SEE WHO THIS GUY IS.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHICH WAS THE CASE THERE.

So AGAIN, I COME BACK TO THE SAME POINT THAT I WAS MAKING IS, IT SPEAKS MORE TO HIM.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE DEPTH OF THE QUARTERBACK ROOM?

>> IT IS DIFFERENT.

THE ONE THING SO.

ALONG THOSE LINES I THINK THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS CONTINUITY IN THE STYLE OF THE QUARTERBACKS THAT ARE ON THE ROSTER.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE NEBRASKA, MAYBE MORE THAN ANY THE QUARTERBACKS HAVE SUCH DIFFERENT SKILL SETS WITHIN THE SAME QUARTERBACKING ROOM.

AND I THINK SOME OF THAT IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE MULTIPLE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR'S IN THE LAST HANDFUL OF YEARS AND YOU PLAYED MULTIPLE OFFENSIVE STYLES.

IT SHOULD NOT BE SO DRAMATIC IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU CAN RUN AND WHAT YOU CAN'T RUN WITHIN AN OFFENSE IF YOU'RE PUTTING A QUARTERBACK ROOM TOGETHER CORRECTLY.

>> YOU GOT SENIOR DAY OBVIOUSLY HAPPENING AS WELL.

ALL THOSE EMOTIONS, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE?

>> I REMEMBER MINE LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.

WE PLAYED COLORADO AT HOME.

WE HAD THE BIG 12 ALREADY CLINCHED.

BUT IT WAS EMOTIONAL.

YOU KNOW JUST BEING A NEBRASKA KID THAT'S ALL YOU WANTED TO DO GROWING UP.

FROM THE TIME YOU COULD REMEMBER IS PLAYED NEBRASKA AND YOU HAVE THE GIFT TO DO IT AND ABLE TO PLAY AT A HIGH LEVEL AND ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS, IT WAS.

IT WAS BITTER SWEET.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW AS I AM WALKING OUT WITH YOU KNOW YOUR BEST FRIENDS.

YOU KNOW THAT IS THE LAST TIME YOU ARE GOING TO DO IT HERE.

AND YOU KNOW YOU GOT GOOSEBUMPS.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FEW TEARS COMING DOWN BUT THEN ALL THE SUDDEN YOU HAVE TO SUCK IT UP REAL QUICK BECAUSE YOU GOT TO GO TO WORK.

IT IS A ROLLER COASTER OF EMOTIONS FOR THESE GUYS.

>> SAME WAY?

>> HE IS A LOT MORE NOSTALGIC THAT I AM.

IT IS A BLUR FOR ME.

WE STILL HAD KIND OF WORK LEFT TO DO, WE FELT LIKE.

I DO NOT REALLY REMEMBER JUST ISOLATING THAT MOMENT.

I WAS JUST THINKING, HERE WE GO.

YOU KNOW I AM NOT REALLY GOOD WITH THAT KIND OF STUFF.

I AM NOT A PHOTO GUY.

>> WERE THE PARENTS ON THE FIELD FOR YOU?

DID THEY DO IT THAT WAY?

>> NO.

YOU GIVE YOUR COACH A HUG .

>> YEAH.

>> AND THEY INTRODUCE YOU IN A WEIRD ORDER BECAUSE CAPTAINS GO OUT OF ORDER, AND SO I DO NOT REMEMBER BEING SUPER EMOTIONAL.

BUT WHEN I LOOK BACK, I KIND OF THINK HOW A LOT OF WHAT YOU SEE A 48 IS A LOT OF WHAT I WAS AND WHAT I LEARNED AT THE UNIVERSITY, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT MORE OF IT.

BECAUSE I DID NOT REALIZE AT THE TIME HOW MUCH WOULD GO HAND-IN-HAND WITH MY PERSONALITY.

>> YEAH.

MIKE I AM SURE YOU HAVE WRITTEN MANY SENIOR DAY COLUMNS OR STORIES.

IT IS SO DIFFERENT NOW.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO IS WALKING.

THERE ARE SO MANY GUYS THAT COULD COME BACK NEXT YEAR.

>> AND SOME MAY WALK.

>> SOME COULD WALK TWICE.

EXACTLY.

>> THE THING THAT THIS UNDERSCORES TO ME IS DESPITE WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THIS TEAM HAS STAYED VERY CLOSE.

AND I THINK THAT IS A REFLECTION OF WHAT THE COACHES HAVE DONE AND IT IS A REFLECTION ON THE PLAYERS.

THESE GUYS HAVE STAYED TOGETHER AND GIVEN US THEIR ALL.

THERE IS THAT GRIT PLAY TO THE END KIND OF THING, THAT IS WHAT SENIOR DAY UNDERSCORES I THINK WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM THIS TEAM.

>> I HEARD SOMEONE OR MAYBE I READ IT.

THEY SAID WHAT KIND OF MOTIVATION DO THEY HAVE FOR WISCONSIN OR IOWA, WELL THEY BEAT WISCONSIN SINCE 2014.

RIGHT?

OR 2012.

IOWA SINCE 2014.

THAT IS ENOUGH MOTIVATION.

BUT JUST TO GO OUT AND PLAY ONE MORE TIME IN FRONT OF THE FANS.

>> AND FOR THEIR TEAMMATES.]

FOR EACH OTHER.

ULTIMATELY THAT IS THE IMPORTANT THING IS THEY ARE PLAYING FOR EACH OTHER.

>> WE NOT ME.

>> YEP EXACTLY.

AND I THINK IT IS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT WE SAY, IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE SEEN.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT THE LONGEST CONFERENCE LOSING STREAKS, 16 OKLAHOMA.

AND THERE IS EIGHT AND SEVEN TO WISCONSIN AND IOWA, AND THAT REALLY COULD.

I AM NOT SAYING IT CHANGES EVERYTHING, BUT YOU BE ONE OF THOSE TWO TEAMS.

HECK YOU BEAT BOTH OF THEM, ALL OF A SUDDEN.

EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE A LOSING RECORD IT FEELS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD YEAR.

>> YEAH IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.

IT CHANGES THE DYNAMICS OF RECRUITING IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

LIKE ON A SERIOUS NOTE, I LIKE WHAT MIKE SAID IT IS IMPORTANT.

WHEN YOU COMPETE AND YOU ARE MAKING ALL THESE DEPOSITS DURING THE WEEK, THOSE GAMES ARE WHEN YOU GET TO MAKE A WITHDRAWALS.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE GUYS FOCUS ABOUT.

YOU WANT IT TO BE ABOUT COMING BACK TO HANG OUT WITH YOU ONE MORE DAY.

I DON'T WANT TO TURN MY GEAR IN.

NEBRASKA HAS A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING THEY HAVE NOT DONE SINCE 2012 AND THAT IS BEAT WISCONSIN.

RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ME TRAVEL ON THANKSGIVING, I AM GOING TO GET A WIN.

YOU'RE GOING TO MISS CHRISTMAS FOR A BALLGAME YOU BETTER TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

LIKE WHEN I HEAR MIKE SAY THAT, YOU GET REALLY COMPETITIVE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS ABOUT BEING OUT THERE WITH YOUR BROTHERS.

>> IT IS LIKE TAKING OFF THE GEAR.

THAT IS WHY FOOTBALL IS DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

>> MAYBE YOU GO PLAY PICK UP BASKETBALL OR GO HIT THE GOLF BALL OR PLAY TENNIS ONCE YOU ARE DONE PLAYING FOOTBALL YOU ARE DONE.

>> THAT IS ONE SPORT WHERE YOU CAN THROW THE FOOTBALL AROUND BUT YOU NEED 22 GUYS TO PLAY FOOTBALL.

AND YOU NEED SOME EQUIPMENT.

AND A LOT OF EQUIPMENT TO DO IT.

SO WHEN YOU ARE DONE, THERE IS NO ONE SAYING LETS GO GET SOME HELMET AND SHOULDER PADS.

THIGH PADS AND KNEE PADS.

AND CLEATS LET'S GO LACE IT UP.

YOUR CRAZY AS HELL.

>> IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> IT IS A DIFFERENT GAME.

SOME OF THESE GUYS HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLAY AFTERWARDS PROFESSIONALLY AND SOME DON'T.

THAT IS THE REALITY OF IT.

YOU HOPE THESE GUYS SOMEHOW END THIS THING ON A HIGH NOTE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS?

>> I THINK NEBRASKA WILL WIN THE GAME.

BECAUSE I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO BE WRONG AGAIN.

I AM CONSISTENT.

I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC AGAIN BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SAID ABOUT THESE PLAYERS, THEY ARE DUE FOR A BREAK BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN IN A POSITIVE SENSE.

>> WELL THEY ARE DUE.

>> I THINK THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE STUCK TOGETHER IS GOING TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THE GAME.

>> THAT IOS REMARKABLE.

AND THEN WHAT ABOUT IOWA?

SINCE I GOT YOU HERE.

>> WELL I THINK THAT WILL BE REFLECTED IN WHAT HAPPENS AGAINST WISCONSIN.

THE OTHER THING IS, IT IS IN IOWA CITY.

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH WISCONSIN, REALLY KIND OF OUTPLAYED OUTPLAYED IOWA.

>> OUT GAINED THEM.

SACKED THEM SIX TIMES.

LOST BY FOURTEEN.

>> BUT IT WAS IN IOWA CITY AND THE IOWA DEFENSE STEPPED UP.

SO I WILL HOLD OFF ON THAT UNTIL I SEE HOW I FARE ON THE WISCONSIN PREDICTION.

>> THE DEAN OF NEBRASKA JOURNALISM.

RIGHT THERE, MIKE BABCOCK.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE MIKE COMING IN.

NOW IT IS TIME TO HEAR FROM COACH JOSEPH AND THE PLAYERS AS THEY GET READY FOR THE WISCONSIN MATCHUP.

>> WE HAVE 12 PLAYERS THAT WILL WALK ON SENIOR DAY, THAT WILL BE A PART OF SENIOR DAY.

SOME OF THEM WILL BE PLAYING THE LAST GAME IN HUSKER STADIUM.

WE WANT ANYBODY CONSIDERING WALKING THAT'S GOING TO BE ON OUR TEAM NEXT YEAR, WE WANT YOU TO WALK AND HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE OF SENIOR DAY.

COMMEND OUR SENIORS THROUGH A LOT OF TRANSITION, THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE WINS THEY WANTED, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN STAND UP KIDS FOR THIS PROGRAM.

THEY GAVE THEIR ALL FOR THIS PROGRAM.

>> A LOT OF MIXED EMOTIONS.

I'M GOING TO MISS EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS UNIVERSITY.

IT WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'VE GOT TO FOCUS UP BECAUSE WE HAVE A FOOTBALL GAME TO PLAY AND WE WANT TO WIN.

>> IF CASEY CAN'T PLAY AND CHUBBA'S ALREADY GONE, WHO'S YOUR BACKUP TO LOGAN?

>> JARRETT WILL BE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AS A COACH, HE IS THE MOST ATHLETIC ONE.

BECAUSE IF YOU GOTTA GO TO A THIRD GUY YOU WANT THEM TO BE ATHLETIC.

YOU DON'T WANT THEM ALL TO BE THE SAME.

SO HE CAN GIVE YOU THE RUN GAME AND THROW IT A LITTLE BIT.

THAT IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

>> COACH MICK TODAY IN OUR TEAM MEETING PUT UP 2012 ON THE BOARD AND THAT'S THE LAST TIME THAT WE BEAT WISCONSIN.

SO IT WOULD BE A HUGE DEAL.

THEY ARE A GREAT FOOTBALL TEAM.

IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE.

THEY ARE REALLY GOOD ON DEFENSE AND FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL.

SO WE WILL HAVE TO PLAY REALLY WELL.

GUYS WERE EXCITED THIS MORNING.

BACK INTO PRACTICE, THE ENERGY WAS THERE.

THERE IS NO GIVING UP.

WE ARE READY TO ATTACK THIS GAME.

WE CAN'T WAIT FOR SATURDAY.

>> WE ARE GOING TO CONTROL WHAT WE CAN CONTROL.

RIGHT NOW IT IS A TWO GAME SEASON AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WITH THE PLAYERS.

IT'S A TWO GAME SEASON.

NOW THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ON THE SCHEDULE IS WISCONSIN.

CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO THE HUDDLE HERE.

WE ONLY GOT ONE PLAY TO DISSECT TONIGHT SO I'M GONNA TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO BREAK DOWN THE SCHEMATIC OF THINGS.

FIRST OFF I HAVE THIS SWITCH, THIS IS NOT AN EVEN FRONT, THIS IS AN ODD FRONT.

ODD FRONT YOU HAVE THREE DOWN LINEMAN EVEN IF YOU HAVE FOUR DOWN LINEMAN I HAD IT SWITCHED AND IT DID NOT TAKE.

ANYWAYS YOU START OUT OVER HERE WITH TANNER.

NINE TECHNIQUE.

D GOT RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU GOT A FOUR I HERE.

B GOT RESPONSIBILITY.

A ZERO HEAD UP.

HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO GO A SIDE TO THE FIELD.

YOU GOT A FOUR I HERE.

B GAP RESPONSIBILITY NOW, YOU HAVE NELSON HERE THAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON BECAUSE I LOVE THIS PASS RUSH.

THIS IS ONE POINT I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON.

NEBRASKA HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB WITH THE PASS RUSH.

WE BROKE DOWN A TWIST STUNT LAST WEEK.

FIVE TECHNIQUE C GAP RESPONSIBILITY HERE.

AS I RUN HIS THING THOUGH, GARRETT NELSON IS GOING TO RUN WHAT WE CALL STAB CHOP.

HE STABS WITH HIS INSIDE ARM AND THAT FORCES THE TACKLE TO GET HEAVY AND LEAN INTO HIM.

HE WANTS TO KIND OF FEEL THAT HE MIGHT EVEN BE EXPECTING A BULL RUSH.

HE WILL BRING THE TACKLE'S OUTSIDE RIGHT ARM AND THEN HE'S GOING TO CHOP IT DOWN.

STAB.

CHOP.

HE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB.

HE GETS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HIS -- THE TACKLE'S RIGHT ARM GETS BOOM.

BAM, RIGHT THERE.

GETS HIM.

NOW GARRETT DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB OF WHAT WE CALL GETTING SKINNY AND WORKING ON HALF A MAN.

THE TACKLE DOES A GOOD JOB OF LEANING ON HIM, BUT THIS IS A TEACHING TECHNIQUE, HE'S GONNA KEEP REACHING WITH THAT OUTSIDE ARM.

KEEP REACHING.

KEEP REACHING.

IT FORCES YOU TO TURN YOUR HIPS INTO THE QUARTERBACK, HE'S ABLE TO ALMOST KNOCK THE BALL OUT.

BUT HE DOES EVEN A BETTER JOB HERE OF GETTING THE GUY DOWN, GETTING A SACK.

A REALLY GOOD PASS RUSH BY GARRETT NELSON.

THAT'S TEACHING TAPE RIGHT THERE.

HOW TO RUN A SLAP CHOP.

>> A LOT OF GUYS HAVE DEVELOPED, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA'S DEVELOPED MANY GUYS FROM FRESHMAN TO SENIOR YEAR.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NELSON, HOW MUCH HAS HE GOTTEN BETTER?

>> HE HAS GOTTEN A LOT BETTER.

THE EFFORT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, BUT HE'S GOT IT UNDER CONTROL.

HE UNDERSTANDS.

IT IS A CONTROLLED CHAOS OUT THERE, THAT'S HOW YOU HAVE TO PLAY DEFENSIVELY.

HE'S DONE THAT.

HE HAS EMBRACED THAT.

HE'S A GUY THAT, REALLY WHEN HE WAS PLAYING YOU HAD A HARD TIME RELYING ON HIM BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE A LOT OF BUSTS BECAUSE HE WAS JUST HAIR ON FIRE, REALLY WAS NOT THINKING.

I THINK THE GUY HAS DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB OF UNDERSTANDING THE GAME MORE, SLOWING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

THAT JUST COMES WITH MATURITY.

THE PASS RUSH MOVES HAVE DEVELOPED EVEN MORE.

THAT'S TEACHING TAPE RIGHT THERE.

HOW TO RUN A SLAP CHOP.

SO GOOD JOB BY HIM AND COACH DAWSON ON DEVELOPING ALL THOSE THINGS.

>> GOTTEN BETTER AGAINST THE RUN TOO.

>> HM-MM.

>> ESPECIALLY ON THE BACKSIDE.

>> HIS RESPONSIBILITIES.

>> JUST BEING A LOT MORE DISCIPLINED.

STAYING AT HOME, PLAYING CUTBACK.

HE USED TO GET GASSED WITH THOSE CUTBACKS.

BECAUSE HE WOULD GET SO VERTICAL.

>> AND SLOWING YOURSELF DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

>> HE HAS GOTTEN MUCH BETTER AGAINST THE RUN.

>> IT'S COACHING AND DEVELOPMENT.

>> COMING UP NEXT ON THE SHOW, WE WILL DIVE STRAIGHT INTO THE HIGHLIGHTS AND FEATURE A STORY ABOUT GIVING BACK ON THE FIELD.

AS WE GO TO THE BREAK, IMAGES FROM SATURDAY'S GAME COURTESY OF HAIL VARSITY.

STAY WITH US WE'RE BACK SOON.

♪ >>> WELCOME BACK TO THE WRAP UP.

TIME TO DIVE INTO HIGHLIGHTS FROM SATURDAY'S GAME.

WASN'T A WHOLE OF LOT OF HIGHLIGHTS, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE MICHIGAN'S.

BUT WE'LL TAKE A LOOM AT THEM ANYWAY.

McCARTHY CAME OUT PLAYING PRETTY WELL EARLY.

WE MENTIONED HOW GOOD THE SECONDARY WAS IN THE DAY.

BUT HERE'S A NICE THROW TO RONNY BELL.

>> RIGHT?

>> FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS.

>> FOR WHO THE BELL TOLLS.

25 YARDS FOR A FIRST DOWN.

ONE OF THE FEW TIMES THAT BUFORD WAS BEAT ALL DAY.

YOU WERE MENTIONING, DAMON, THEY ALL LOOK ALIKE.

EDWARDS IS A LITTLE MORE ATHLETIC BUT MOST OF THEM ALL LOOK ALIKE -- >> HE IS -- HE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE, HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCELERATION.

BUT THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE GUYS MISS AND BE PATIENT.

GOSH, IT WAS CARBON COPIES.

>> YEAH, CORMAN'S GOT TO DRIVE YOU CRAZY CAUSE HE'S JUST SO PHYSICAL AT HIS SIZE.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> HERE'S MCCARTHY AGAIN DOWN THE FIELD.

ANOTHER GOOD THROW IN THE SEAM.

BIG PASS THERE FOR 28 YARDS FOR ANOTHER FIRST DOWN.

>> IT WAS A GREAT CONCEPT.

>> YOU LOOK AT WHAT NEBRASKA'S DOING, THAT'S ONE OF THE PLACES THEY'VE GOTTEN BEATEN THIS YEAR.

BUT NOT AS MUCH ON THE OUTSIDE.

STUFF OUTSIDE THE NUMBERS NOT SO MUCH.

TOUCHDOWN PASS, THEY GO UP 14-0.

AGAIN RONNIE BELL FOR A TOUCHDOWN THERE, ONE OF THE BETTER ATHLETES ON THE FIELD.

PURDY KIND OF GOT HOT THOUGH.

STARTED FEELING IT WITH HIS LEGS.

>> HERE'S THE DRIVE RIGHT BEFORE HE GETS HURT.

WE ALLUDED TO THIS EARLIER, HE'S GETTING A FEEL FOR IT.

MAKES SOME NICE COMPLETIONS, STEPPING UP IN THE POCKET FINALLY.

I THINK THAT WAS HARPED ON HIM A LOT THIS WEEK.

BUT JUST MAKING THE HIGH PERCENTAGE THROWS -- AND THAT WAS A BUSINESS DECISION RIGHT THERE.

[ LAUGHTER ] GOING VERTICAL LIKE THAT.

>> WHAT HE DID WITH HIS HELMET RIGHT THERE -- I AM GLAD HE WENT TO THE BLUE TENT AND CAME BACK AFTER PLAYING.

TWO 13 YARD PLAYS IN A ROW.

THEN YOU HAVE PURDY RUNNING.

D.B.

YOU'RE A BASEBALL PLAYER, JUDGE THIS SLIDE.

>> YEAH IT WAS, IT'S POOR AT BEST.

>> YOU GOT TO DO ONE OR THE OTHER, RIGHT?

TAKE THE HIT OF SLIDE.

>> EXACTLY AND HE GOT HIT IN NO MAN'S LAND AND ULTIMATELY ENDED UP GETTING CAUGHT.

>> BENT HIS ANKLE BACK RIGHT THERE.

HIT LOW SNAPS MOST OF THE GAME, BUT YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT LOGAN SMOTHERS COMING IN NOT USE TO THE LOW SNAP.

IT HAPPENS.

NEBRASKA HAS TO SETTLE FOR THE FIELD GOAL.

BY THE WAY HERE'S SOMETHING WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT -- BLEEKRODE HASN'T MISSED IN A LONG TIME.

>> YEAH -- >> SIX IN A ROW?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> IF HE MISSES ON SATURDAY, I AM GOING -- >> MY FAULT?

>> YEAH IT'S YOUR FAULT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> HE'S BEEN VERY CONSISTENT.

>> THIS IS MICKEY, DID THAT GO IN?

'‘CAUSE IT BARELY GOT OVER.

14-13, JUST PHYSICAL, NEVER GETS STOPPED FOR ONE YARD.

IT'S ALWAYS FOUR OR SEVEN.

JUST THE WAY HE RUNS, MAN.

>> LOW TO THE GROUND AND HE'S CONSTANTLY FALLING FORWARD.

>> ANOTHER FIELD GOAL HERE.

NEBRASKA GET'S THE STOP.

>> BIZARRE DRIVE.

>> IT WAS.

>> BIZARRE DRIVE.

I MEAN THEY DIDN'T CALL TIME OUTS WITH THEM.

DECLINING THE PENALTY.

IT WAS WEIRD.

>> IT WAS A VERY STRANGE GAME OVERALL.

AGAIN 30 SECONDS PER PLAY.

ONE OF THE SLOWEST IN THE COUNTRY THIS PAST WEEKEND.

>> THIS IS THE LAST TIME YOU'VE SEEN AN INSERT AND TWO PULLERS ON ONE RUN PLAY.

THAT IS GOOD OLD FASHION STUDENT BODY, RIGHT?

>> YOU KNOW WHERE YOU SEE IT?

THE '9ers WHEN HE -- WHEN HARBAUGH WAS THE COACH FOR THEM.

>> YEP.

>> McCARTHY RUNS IN FOR A TOUCHDOWN 24-3.

THEN McCARTHY WAS ANOTHER NICE PASS DOWN THE FIELD.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

HE'S GOOD ENOUGH TO GET THEM THERE, TO THE FINAL FOUR.

BUT I DON'T KNOW, THAT PLAY IS CRAZY.

WITH THE FUMBLE, BALL GOES OUT OF BOUNDS, THEY MISSED THE CALL.

THEY JUST DID.

>> I WOULD AGREE REAL TIME, I THOUGHT IT WAS ON THE INLINE, BUT I MEAN IT'S 24-3 AND AT THAT POINT.

NEBRASKA MAYBE GETS THE BALL BACK, AND THEY DIDN'T SCORE AGAIN, BUT HOW ABOUT THAT EFFORT RIGHT THERE?

>> THAT'S LIKE HOCKEY.

THE SLIDE STOP IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT HE DID THAT.

THEN HE LOSES IT GOING INTO THE ENDZONE, IT ROLLS TO THE BACK.

THAT GOES DOWN BY THE WAY AS A PASSING TOUCHDOWN.

EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE THE FUMBLE.

>> THAT'S WHY YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT STATS.

>> I KNOW MAN, A PASSING TOUCHDOWN, WHAT HAPPEN?

>> BETTER ANGLE BACK THERE.

>> THAT'S THE ANGLE.

>> IT JUST WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

>> YEAH I THOUGHT THAT WAS ENOUGH.

MOODY GETS A FIELD GOAL.

AGAIN WE TALKED ABOUT IT, THE LINE WASN'T AROUND 30, MAYBE 29,28.

34-31, WHATEVER THE NUMBER WAS YOU GET THE COVER.

FINAL STATS IN THE GAME -- AND ITS LIKE YOU EXPECT IT.

MICHIGAN HELD THE BALL AS DAMON SAID FOR MOST OF THE GAME.

FOR A GOOD 35 MINUTES.

412 YARDS AND 264 YARDS RUSHING.

TO NEBRASKA'S 75.

FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL IS SLIM.

SOME LOOK TO FINDING ADVICE AND TRAINING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL ORGANIZED SPORTS TO GET THEM PREPARED MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.

AN UNLIKELY DUO IS HOPING TO HELP THAT NEXT GENERATION OF ATHLETE, FOCUSED ON SERVING UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUNG PLAYERS AND SETTING THEM UP FOR SUCCESS.

>> THERE IT IS, LOOK AT THAT.

>> I'VE LIVED A PRETTY FULL LIFE FOR BEING 40.

MOST OF THE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO FOOTBALL.

THE RELATIONSHIPS IT'S ALLOWED ME TO CREATE.

THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE MET.

THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE FELL INTO MY LAP.

SOME OF THE WISDOM THAT IT'S GIVEN ME.

SOME OF THE TOUGHNESS THAT IT'S GIVEN ME.

>> TOUCHDOWN NOTRE DAME.

>> MIKE GOOLSBY WAS A HIGH SCHOOL ALL AMERICAN, A NOTRE DAME CAPTAIN AND INSIDE LINEBACKER.

AND HE HAD A BRIEF STINT IN THE NFL WITH THE DALLAS COWBOYS AND ST. LOUIS RAMS.

YOUR PROGRESSION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE TO THE NFL, AND THERE'S SOME WASTED TIME THERE, '‘CAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO GET CAUGHT UP, AS A FAR AS THE FOOTBALL STUFF.

TECHNIQUE, KEYS ALL THOSE THINGS.

I WAS LIKE MAN, IF I COULD A PREVENT A KID HAVING TO WASTE THAT TIME AND RAMP UP HIS DEVELOPMENT I WANT TO DO THAT.

>> MY FIRST TIME TRAINING WITH HIM, I ACTUALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A COVERED TWO OR COVERED THREE OR ANY OF THAT FOOTBALL STUFF WAS.

>> I'D SAY THE BIGGEST THE THING THAT HE FIRST HELPED ME WITH WAS MY STANCE.

BECAUSE AS A D-LINEMAN YOUR STANCE AND YOUR GET OFF MEANS EVERYTHING.

IF YOUR EXPLOSIVE OFF THE BALL THAT'S ABOUT 50% OF YOUR GAME RIGHT THERE.

IT WAS REALLY BORN OUT OF, AS I LIKE TO SAY, WHEN I WAS DONE WITH FOOTBALL OR WHEN FOOTBALL WAS DONE WITH ME -- IT LEFT A HUGE VOID.

AND FRANKLY I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

SO I JUST STARTED TRAINING KIDS.

KIND OF A GIVE BACK AND SELFISHLY FOR ME IT WAS REALLY CATHARTIC.

KIND OF HELPED ME MOVE ON PAST FOOTBALL AS A PLAYER.

>> SOMETIMES IT TAKES MORE TO GET NOTICED BY A COLLEGE COACH, SO MIKE WORKS WITH HIS ATHLETES ON THINGS LIKE BUILDING A HIGH LIGHT REEL, PREPARING FOR CAMPS AND NAVIGATING THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.

THE TRAINING IS EFFECTIVE.

AND MIKE SAYS THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S ALL ONE ON ONE.

SO YOU CAN REALLY TAKE YOUR TIME AND BE VERY PARTICULAR IN TERMS OF YOUR TRAINING.

THEN BEYOND THAT, YOU CAN BUILD A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KID.

AND THAT'S REALLY THE FUN PART.

TAKE A KID -- WE DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER, BUT TRUST ME.

THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN.

AND I DON'T THINK I COULD DO THAT, IF IT WASN'T DONE ON A ONE ON ONE BASIS.

>> AVANTE DICKERSON WAS THE FIRST ATHLETE THAT MIKE WORKED WITH.

A SOPHOMORE AT OMAHA WESTSIDE.

AVANTE ALREADY HAD A LOT OF NATURAL ABILITY.

>> DALY INTO THE ENDZONE AND PICKED OFF BY DICKERSON.

[ CHEERS ] >> WELL I THINK IT WAS NERVOUSNESS FOR THE FIRST COUPLE PLAYS.

BUT ONCE YOU GET ROLLING, I JUST LOVE THE FEELING.

I LOVE BEING OUT THERE, THAT'S THE THING.

ALL THOSE FANS.

>> YOU CAN JUST TELL BEING AROUND THE GAME, THIS KID'S GOT SOMETHING.

CAME TO ME AS A WIDE RECEIVER, SWITCHED HIM OVER TO CORNER AND IT WORKED OUT FOR HIM.

>> I MEAN HE PLAYED AT THE NEXT LEVEL, SO WHATEVER HE SAYS, YOU CAN JUST TAKE IT AND JUST LEARN FROM HIM AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I DID.

>> AVANTE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS ON THE FIELD.

EVEN WHEN THINGS WEREN'T SO EASY AT HOME.

>> I GREW UP IN NORTH OMAHA, REALLY ROUGH.

ROUGH NIGHTS, BULLETS WOULD COME THROUGH THE HOUSE.

MY HOUSE'S BEEN ROBBED PLENTY OF TIMES.

♪ >> MAN, LIKE GREAT KID, I SEE SO MUCH OF MYSELF IN HIM WHEN IT COMES TO HIS BACKGROUND AND BEGINNINGS.

NOT HAVING THE OPTIONS THAT A LOT OF OTHER KIDS HAVE THE OPTION TO GET.

>> KEN FOX HAS VOLUNTEERED WITH YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS IN NORTH OMAHA FOR OVER A DECADE.

IN 2015 HE COFOUNDED THE BLACK POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

A NONPROFIT FOCUSES ON BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW I AM POLICE OFFICER.

I AM HERE TO SERVE AND PROTECT, BUT IF IT WASN'T FOR SPORTS, IF I DIDN'T PLAY FOOTBALL, IF I DIDN'T GO TO COLLEGE TO PLAY FOOTBALL, I'D PROBABLY BE ROBBING YOU.

BECAUSE OF THE BACKGROUND AND THE PEOPLE THAT RAISED ME.

AND THE CULTURE THAT WAS AROUND ME.

>> KEN'S ORGANIZATION OFFERS FREE SPORTS TO OMAHA YOUTH.

PRIMARILY FOR KIDS FROM PLACES WHERE VIOLENCE HITS HARD.

THAT'S HOW HE KNOWS AVANTE.

COACHING HIM IN LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL.

THEIR RELATIONSHIP GREW FROM THERE.

>> MY FATHER WASN'T IN MY LIFE.

HOW HE'S SUPPOSE TO BE.

BUT KEN REALLY STEPPED UP AND REALLY PLAYED THAT ROLE.

WE'RE PRETTY MUCH FAMILY.

I LOVE HIM TO DEATH.

>> THAT'S MY GOAL AND THAT'S WHAT I FOCUS ON DOING FOR AVANTE.

IT'S JUST GIVING HIM OPPORTUNITIES AND GIVING HIM SOMEONE TO TALK TO AND HANG OUT WITH.

>> AVANTE'S INTERESTS EVOLVED TO FOOTBALL AND WHEN AVANTE SAID HE WAS WORKING WITH A TRAINER, KEN WAS SKEPTICAL.

AND HE WANTED TO KNOW MORE.

BUT THEN HE GOT TO KNOW MIKE AND HIS WORK.

AND AFTER AVANTE GOT A SCHOLARSHIP TO PLAY FOOTBALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, THE TWO BEGAN THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY COULD HELP OTHER KIDS.

>> NOT EVERYBODY GOING TO END UP BEING THE NUMBER ONE PLAYER IN THE STATE, BUT MY MISSION FOR KIDS IS TO GET THEIR SCHOOL PAID FOR.

TO GET COLLEGE PAID FOR.

WHATEVER LEVEL POSSIBLE.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I TOLD HIM.

I DON'T CARE IF YOU MAKE D-1 ATHLETES.

IF I CAN TAKE A KID FORM NORTH OR SOUTH OMAHA THAT IS DISADVANTAGED AND THEY TO GO TO AN N.A.

HIGH SCHOOL, THAT IS A WIN FOR ME.

THAT'S THE SAME WIN AS IF THEY GO TO ALABAMA, TO ME, PERSONALLY.

>> IT SHOULDN'T BE AN INSTANCE WHERE, IF A FAMILY CAN'T AFFORD TRAINING OR THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DRIVE "X," "Y," OR "Z," THAT SHOULDN'T BE A LIMITING FACTOR BEHIND THAT KID PURSING THEIR GOAL.

THIS KID MIGHT HAVE SOME ABILITY.

THIS KID'S GOT SOME PROMISE.

THIS KID'S JUST A GREAT KID.

YOU KNOW, HE DESERVES TO HAVE A SHOT TO WORK WITH SOMEBODY.

YOU KNOW, JAMISON KEMP WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE KIDS.

>> FOOTBALL IS KIND OF LIKE A THERAPY FOR ME.

YOU CAN REALLY GO OUT ON THE FIELD AND JUST LET IT ALL OUT.

♪ >> JAMISON KEMP, AN OMAHA CENTRAL DEFENSIVE TACKLE, WANTS TO BECOME AN ECONOMIST AND A CEO OF A "FORTUNE" 500 COMPANY, BUT AFTER A STANDOUT CAREER AS A COLLEGIATE AND PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER.

HE WAS ANOTHER ONE OF FOX'S LITTLE LEAGUERS.

>> JAMISON HAD TO WORK EXTRA HARD TO GET WHAT HE HAS GOTTEN IN LIFE.

AND HE'S BEEN EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

>> AFTER WORKING WITH MIKE, JAMISON SHOWCASED HIS SKILLS TO COACHES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AT A SUMMER CAMP.

HE WALKED WAY WITH THREE DIVISION I OFFERS.

>> BUT ALL I KNOW IS WE GOT IN THE CAR.

FAMILY, DAD YELLING, SCREAMING, MOM CRYING.

IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING FEELING.

>> HE WAS LIKE, "COACH, I GOT GREAT NEWS.

I GOT THESE THREE OFFERS."

AND I WAS JUST LIKE, "PRAISE GOD, MAN."

I GET EMOTIONAL TALKING ABOUT IT.

THAT'S CRAZY.

BUT I WAS JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE DESERVES IT.

YOU PREP THEM FOR IT.

YOU PREP THEM FOR IT.

AND THE MOMENT COMES AND YOU KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK.

AND, LIKE, THAT'S SO COOL TO ME.

I MEAN, IT'S SO FULFILLING.

THERE IT IS.

THAT'S IT.

THE CORE ISSUE IS THAT THERE ARE KIDS THAT WOULDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PURSUE HIGHER LEVEL OF TRAINING THAT SHOULDN'T GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.

THAT'S GONNA BE MY FOCUS, HELPING KIDS THAT ARE COMMITTED THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES OTHERWISE, AND THEY SHOULDN'T GET SHORTCHANGED IN THAT PROCESS.

>> HELPING YOUNG ATHLETES ACHIEVE THEIR GREAT DREAMS AND CREATING MENTORS IN THE PROCESS.

>> LET'S TRY AND PIECE IT UP.

PEAK, AND THEN THROW OFF.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> I HAVE A SERVANT HEART, AND SO I BELIEVE THAT GIVING BACK IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PUT HERE ON THIS EARTH TO DO.

SEE KIDS THAT ARE LIKE YOU, AND THEN SUPPORT THEM LIKE YOU GOT SUPPORTED.

SO I ABSOLUTELY HAVE BROUGHT THEM IN AND MADE THEM MENTORS TO YOUNGER KIDS.

>> FOR ME, I WANT TO HAVE YOUNG ATHLETES LOOK AT ME AND SEE, LIKE, "OH, HE'S DOING THAT.

I WANT TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS."

>> THERE IT IS.

GOOD.

GOOD JOB, JAMIS.

GOOD JOB.

>> THANKFULLY I HAD GREAT PARENTS AND GREAT FRIENDS WHO WERE THERE FOR ME.

I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS IN BAD SITUATIONS WHO MIGHT NEED A POSITIVE FIGURE IN THEIR LIFE TO REALLY COME AND JUST UPLIFT THEM AND KEEP THEM ON RIGHT TRACK.

SO I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE VOLUNTEERING AND GIVING BACK IS JUST A BIG, IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT I DO.

>> 'CAUSE THE NEXT JAMISON KEMP, THE NEXT AVANTE DICKERSON, THEY'RE OUT THERE.

STAY SQUARE.

THAT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.

THAT'S A NICE ROUTE.

THAT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.

>> ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE STORIES ABOUT YOUNG KIDS SUCCEEDING.

AND GREAT TO SEE AVANTE IN THAT OREGON GREEN.

>> YEAH, SMALL WORLD.

>> RIGHT?

IT'S -- MIKE AND I GOT OFF TO KIND OF A SLOW START.

YOU KNOW, HE'S AT WESTSIDE, JUST TRAINING A COUPLE OF KIDS.

AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT HE WAS IN IT FOR THE KIDS.

>> SURE.

>> AND NOT FOR THE ACCOLADES.

AND SO HE AND I WENT BACK AND FORTH ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE FINALLY TALKED.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, HE'S AT WESTSIDE A TON, USING A LOT OF WESTSIDE GEAR.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF OUR COACHES WERE LIKE, "HEY, WHAT IS THIS GUY DOING?"

EH, HE'S A GOOD GUY, AND HE'S FOR KIDS.

AND I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY THAT IS WHAT WON EVERYONE OVER.

HE IS FOR KIDS.

AND SO -- >> THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.

>> IT'S KIND OF FUNNY HOW THINGS COME FULL CIRCLE.

>> WE HAVE A WINNER ON GAME DAY PHOTO CONTEST.

AARON KELLY TWEETED THIS PHOTO TO US, SAYING THAT, "EVEN IN FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE, THEY BLEED RED."

HUSKER RED, OF COURSE.

THANKS FOR THE PHOTO, AARON.

DON'T FORGET TO SEND US YOUR VERY BEST GAME DAY PHOTO EACH WEEK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN GREAT PRICES ON THE SHOW.

NEXT UP, SEAN CALLAHAN IS HERE.

WE WILL SET UP AND TALK ABOUT THE TALENTED GROUP PLAYING IN NEXT WEEK'S NSA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.

BUT FIRST, ANOTHER LOOK FROM SATURDAY COURTESY OF HAIL VARSITY.

BACK IN TWO.

♪ ♪ ♪ >>> BE SURE TO VOTE ON THIS WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY.

WILL MICKEY JOSEPH BE NAMED HEAD FOOTBALL COACH BY THE END OF THE SEASON?

SAY "YES," 18%.

"NO," SAY 9%.

BUT 73% SAY CHOICE NUMBER 3 -- "NO, BUT I HOPE HE STAYS ON THE STAFF."

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND CAST YOUR VOTE.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

MIKE'L SEVERE WITH SEAN CALLAHAN.

VISITORS FROM THE LAST GAME, WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, VISITORS COMING IN THIS GAME.

NO VISITORS AT MICHIGAN.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT YOU LOOK AT THIS WEEK MOVING FORWARD, REALLY THE ONLY NOTABLE NAME COMING IN FROM OUT OF STATE THAT WE KNOW OF TODAY IS ARNOLD "DUDA" BARNES, THE RUNNING BACK FROM NEW ORLEANS.

>> YEAH.

>> HE WILL BE COMING IN FOR ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL VISIT FOR THE GAME ON SATURDAY.

WE'LL GET A DEBTOR IDEA, KIND OF, BY THURSDAY WHAT THAT GROUP IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.

BUT I DON'T EXPECT MICKEY JOSEPH TO MOVE ANY MAJOR CHIPS AS FAR AS BRINGING IN OFFICIAL VISITORS JUST BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY.

NEBRASKA HAS ABOUT 30 OFFICIAL VISITS LEFT THEY CAN RIGHT NOW FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CYCLE.

THE OTHER NOTABLE THING IS EVERYBODY THAT'S COME IN ONCE FOR AND OFFICIAL VISIT, THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO MAKE ANOTHER OFFICIAL VISIT TO NEBRASKA WHETHER THEY'RE A COMMIT OR NOT BECAUSE OF THE COACHING CHANGE.

SO IT WILL BE SOMETHING TO WATCH AS THE NEW COACH OR HOW THINGS SHAKE OUT.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE GUYS WILL COME AGAIN AND KIND OF HAVE A NEW VISIT.

>> MORE THAN 300 TOTAL YARDS IN THE PLAYOFF GAME.

THEY ENDED UP LOSING.

BUT HE HAD A HECK OF A GAME WITH 275 YARDS RUSHING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE TALENT THAT'S GONNE BE IN THESE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.

>> YEAH, A LOT OF TALENT.

YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK FIRST HERE.

OBVIOUSLY THE CLASS "D" GAMES WILL KICK THINGS OFF IN THE MORNING.

BUT YOU'VE GOT GRETNA, WESTSIDE IN CLASS "A," PART TWO FROM A YEAR AGO.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MORE ANTICIPATED FINALS THAT WE'VE HAD IN A NUMBER OF YEARS.

>> MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST CROWD.

>> AND IT'S WARMING UP.

THE FORECASTS FOR THAT ARE GETTING WARMER.

I AM SEEING 50s NOW ON MONDAY.

SO WE SHOULD HAVE A GREAT CROWD FOR THAT GAME.

LET'S RUN THROUGH SOME OF THE NOTABLE PROSPECTS IN THIS GAME, OR ALL THE GAMES.

IN CLASS C-2, OR C-1 -- EXCUSE ME -- CARLOS COLLAZO, THE NEPHEW OF FORMER HUSKER ANDREW RODRIGUEZ.

>> OH, WOW.

>> A RUNNING BACK THAT'S GONNA GO FOR ANOTHER 2,000 YARD YEAR.

PROBABLY MORE OF A DIVISION II TYPE GUY, BUT HAS HAD AN OUTSTANDING CAREER.

JAKE GARCIA AT OMAHA GROSS, HE HAS HAD NOW 3 CONSECUTIVE 1,000 YARD SEASONS.

THE COUGARS, THE SMALLEST SCHOOL IN CLASS "B."

IN FACT, THEY COULD'VE PLAYED C-1.

OPTED UP.

THEY ARE UNDEFEATED.

AND THEY WILL SQUARE OFF AGAINST BENNINGTON.

YOU'VE GOT TREY BIRD.

YOU LOOK AT HIS NUMBERS -- >> TALENTED BENNINGTON TEAM.

>> HE HAS PUT UP MASSIVE EFFICIENCY NUMBERS AS A PASSER.

AND THEY'VE GOT THE DEPTH.

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT GROSS, THEY'VE GOT THE GREAT SENIOR CLASS LED BY GARCIA AND THAT OFFENSIVE LINE.

BENNINGTON HAS A LOT OF GUYS THAT JUST PLAY ONE WAY, NOT A LOT OF TWO-WAY PLAYERS.

>> RIGHT.

>> VERY GOOD RECEIVERS.

THAT'S GONNA BE A GREAT GAME TO WATCH.

THEN BENJAMIN BRAHMER, WHAT'S NOTABLE ABOUT HIM, FROM PIERCE, ANOTHER 1,000 YARD SEASON.

BUT HE HAS VISITED IOWA STATE.

HE IS LOOKING AT THE CYCLONES.

HE'S JUST MAKING SURE.

HE'S GOT HIS OPTIONS OUT THERE BECAUSE OF THE COACHING CHANGE.

>> SURE.

>> SO THAT IS SOMETHING TO WATCH WITH BENJAMIN BRAHMER FROM PIERCE.

BECAUSE HE IS ALSO LOOKING NOW AT IOWA STATE.

AND KADE PIPER FROM NORFOLK CATHOLIC, WE SAW HIM A YEAR AGO AGAINST FREMONT BERGAN IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

HE WAS A RECENT COMMIT TO NORTH DAKOTA STATE, FLIPPED AND WENT TO IOWA AS A SCHOLARSHIP OFFENSIVE LINE COMMIT.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THOSE CLASSIC TWO, THREE YEAR DEVELOP GUYS, AND IOWA HAS MADE A MOVE ON KADE PIPER.

HE GOES ABOUT 6'4", 240, 250, KINDA BUILT LIKE ETHAN PIPER, THE CURRENT HUSKER THAT ALSO CAME OUR OF NORFOLK CATHOLIC.

>> LET'S GO OVER TO CLASS "A" AND LOOK AT WESTSIDE FIRST.

>> YEAH, YOU LOOK AT CLASS "A," YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF GUYS FOR WESTSIDE.

TWO OF THEM ON THE RIGHT TRANSFERS.

BUT ANTHONY REZAC MAY BE THE BEST FULL THREAT GUY IN THE STATE, 1,000 YARD RUSHER, NEARLY 2,000 THROUGH THE YEAR PASSING.

JUST AN OUTSTANDING ATHLETE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE HE PROJECTS AT THE NEXT LEVEL AS ATHLETE.

>> SURE.

>> HE CAN PLAY A NUMBER OF SPOTS.

THEN THE MAN ON THE SET'S SON, CALEB BENNING, ONE OF THE TOP PROSPECTS FOR 2024 IN NEBRASKA.

HE HAS MISSED THE LAST NINE GAMES WITH INJURY.

EXPECTED TO RETURN ON TUESDAY NIGHT FOR THAT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

>> NICE.

>> THEN CHRISTIAN JONES, FOLLOWED PAUL LIMONGI FROM OMAHA BURKE.

HE'S A 2025, BUT HE HAS SEVERAL POWER FIVE OFFERS.

NEARLY ALL OF THE BIG TEN WEST HAS OFFERED HIM.

THEN JAYLEN LLOYD, THE SON OF FORMER HUSKER GREAT, ALL-AMERICA TRACK ATHLETE DAHLIA INGRAM, WHO WON THE 100, THE LONG JUMP, THE TRIPLE JUMP, GOT 4th IN THE 200.

HE IS A TRANSFER FROM CENTRAL TO WESTSIDE, AND HE WILL BE A GUY TO WATCH AS WELL.

AND WILL HE BE A TRACK GUY OR FOOTBALL GUY AT THE NEXT LEVEL WILL BE THE OTHER QUESTION.

>> CHECK OUT GRETNA NOW.

>> AND THEN LOOKING OVER NOW AT GRETNA, YOU'VE GOT ZANE FLORES, ARGUABLE ONE OF THE BETTER QUARTERBACKS THAT WE'VE SEEN COME FROM THE STATE OF NEBRASKA IN A LONG TIME.

KORVER DEMMA, A HUSKER WALK-ON LINEBACKER THERE IN THE MIDDLE.

AND THEN MASON GOLDMAN WHO HAS SEVERAL POWER FIVE OFFERS, NEBRASKA BEING ONE OF THEM.

>> YEAH, HE IS IN-STATE AS WELL.

ABOUT 6'6", 220 OR SO?.

>> OH, NO, NO, NO, 6'6", 280.

>> 280?

>> YEAH.

>> OH, WOW.

I MEANT 260.

I'M SORRY.

>> HE GOES 280.

YOU LOOK AT MASON GOLDMAN.

HE CAN PLAY "O" LINE.

HE CAN PLAY "D" LINE.

HE'S GOT KANSAS.

HE'S GOT ARIZONA STATE.

HE'S HOT A NUMBER OF POWER FIVES.

NEBRASKA IS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THOSE.

HE GREW UP A HUSKER FAN.

I THINK IF HE HAD A BETTER IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON IN LINCOLN, HE WOULD PROBABLY BE A HUSKER RIGHT NOW.

BUT HE WANTS TO EVALUATE THINGS, LOOK THINGS OVER AND SEE KIND OF HOW THE COACHING THINGS COME THROUGH.

BUT YEAH.

MASON GOLDMAN HAS A GREAT FRAME.

CAN PLAY A LOT OF POSITIONS, AND HE WILL ANCHOR THINGS UP FRONT FOR THAT GRETNA DRAGON OFFENSIVE LINE.

>> YOU GOT A PICK IN THAT GAME REAL QUICK?

>> SOMEBODY ASKED ME THIS WEEK, AND I'M ON THE BROADCAST.

SO THERE'S A RULE WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BROADCAST -- >> SURE, YEAH.

>> YOU CAN'T PREDICT THE GAME.

>> PLUS DAMON'S BEHIND YOU.

>> AND DAMON'S BEHIND ME.

THAT WAS MY OTHER -- BUT I WILL SAY I THINK TALENT WISE, WESTSIDE'S GOT THE EDGE.

>> SURE.

>> TOGETHERNESS, TEAMWISE, GRETNA.

I MEAN, A LOT OF THOSE KIDS GREW UP TOGETHER PLAYING BALL SINCE THEY WERE 7, 8-YEAR-OLD KIDS.

IT'S GONNA BE AN OUTSTANDING FOOTBALL GAME.

>> LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

>> YOU TRIED TO GET ME.

>> I TRIED TO GET YOU.

DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY FOR ALL-DAY COVERAGE OF THE 2022 NSA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WE'RE GONNA CROWN SIX CHAMPIONS OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY, STARTING AT 10:00 A.M.

BOTH DAYS.

YOU CAN FIND THEM, OF COURSE, ON THE NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND STREAMING ON OUR WEBSITE AND APP.

TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AROUND THE BIG TEN.

PENN STATE BLANKED MARYLAND 30-0.

THE BOILERMAKERS ROLLED OVER NUMBER 21 ILLINOIS 31-24.

LEAVING THE BIG TEN WEST WIDE OPEN.

AND IOWA BADGERED WISCONSIN TO A VICTORY.

24-10.

ALRIGHT, LET'S DIVE INTO ANOTHER ONE OF THE COACHING CANDIDATES FOR NEBRASKA.

THIS WEEK WE LOOK AT JEFF MONKEN.

THE HEAD COACH AT ARMY.

A GUY WHO'S BEEN A HEAD COACH AT TWO DIFFERENT STOPS AND WON AT BOTH OF THEM.

HE'S ALSO THE FIRST ARMY COACH, BELIEVE THIS OR NOT, TO TAKE ARMY TO THREE CONSECUTIVE BOWL GAMES.

THINK ABOUT HOW GOOD THEY'VE BEEN AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

THREE CONSECUTIVE BOWL GAMES -- AND OF COURSE WON CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN.

AS WELL A REALLY GOOD COACH.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT KIND OF OFFENSE WOULD HE RUN IF HE MOVED UP TO A LEVEL LIKE NEBRASKA?

>> YEAH, I'M NOT SURE.

I'D HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF TRIPLER OPTION COMPONENT TO IT EVEN IF THIS ISN'T GROUND AND POUND.

>> YEAH.

>> IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, RUNNING THE FOOTBALL.

BUT, I TELL YOU WHAT, YOU WANT DISCIPLINE, YOU WANT STRUCTURE, AND YOU WANT A STYLE OF PLAY?

HE'LL CHECK ALL THREE OF THOSE BOXES.

>> YEAH, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HIM BEFORE BUT IF YOU WANT OFFENSIVE LINE PLAY TOO.

I MEAN, THIS IS A GUY WHO CAN CERTAINLY GIVE YOU THAT.

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE PROSPECTS WE KIND OF MENTIONED LAST WEEK ON THIS SHOW.

IT'S KIND OF CREPT UP THERE AND I'M LIKING MORE AND MORE.

I KNOW HE DOESN'T HAVE THE CACHE OR THE SEXINESS OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

BUT I LIKE WHAT THE MAN'S ABOUT.

WHAT HE'S ABLE TO DO WITH LESS AT ARMY.

WHEN HE'S DEALING WITH GUYS WHO PLAY FOOTBALL, AND FOOTBALL IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

THEY'RE AT SCHOOL TO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND FOOTBALL IS A SECONDARY THING.

AND THEY'RE SO MUCH OTHER THINGS WITH THEIR SCHEDULES.

AND WHAT HE'S ABLE TO GET OUT OF THEM IS VERY VERY IMPRESSIVE.

OFFENSIVE LINE-WISE, DEVELOPING THAT WHOLE FRONT FIVE THERE INTO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

WHETHER IT'S OPTION FOOTBALL.

BUT WHAT HE HAS, SYSTEMATICALLY, I THINK WOULD WORK VERY VERY WELL IN THE BIG TEN GOING FORWARD.

>> MATT RHULE RUMORS, OBVIOUSLY, EVERYWHERE.

>> NO YEAH, IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN HOT AND HEAVY WITH MATT RHULE THIS WEEK.

HE'S KIND OF THE FLAVOR OF THE WEEK.

BUT IT'S LEGITIMATE.

I THINK MATT RHULE IS AN OBVIOUS CANDIDATE FOR A LOT OF REASONS BASED ON THIS AVAILABILITY.

BASED ON HE KIND OF COMES ON WITH A $40 MILLION COUPON IN TERMS OF GETTING HIM.

BECAUSE OF WHAT THE CAROLINA PANTHERS HAVE TO PAY HIM OUT.

BUT WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS WHAT DOES HE WANT?

YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HEARD MATT RHULE COME OUT AND SAY "I WANT TO GET INTO COACHING."

RICK NEUHEISEL WAS ON HIS RADIO SHOW FRIDAY AND SAID HE THINKS HE'LL SIT THE YEAR OUT.

BUT THEN YOU HEAR OTHER THINGS THAT HE WAS IN LINCOLN OVER THE WEEKEND.

WHICH IF YOU KNOW -- HE WAS AT SUPER SAVER APPARENTLY.

>> I SAW SOME PICTURES, YEAH.

IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE HIM BUT, I MEAN.

THOUGHTS ON MATT RHULE?

>> LISTEN, YOU GOT A GUY THAT HAS BEEN A PART OF PROGRAM BUILDING AND REBUILDING.

>> YES.

>> SO HE HAS THAT FAMILIARITY.

AND, LISTEN, HE'S A PROFESSIONAL SO HE'LL KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE MEDIA WELL AND HE UNDERSTANDS HOW TO DO THINGS HIS WAY.

WHICH I THINK IS KIND OF A LOW-KEY TRAIT THAT A COACH NEEDS WHO WANTS TO COACH HERE.

YOU HAVE TO BE VERY -- YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME RESOLVE AND SOME CONVICTION OF HOW YOU DO YOUR JOB.

>> YEAH, AND HE WENT TO TEXAS AND HIRED TEXAS GUYS TO HELP HIM OUT.

OVERALL RECRUITING, HAS IT BEEN HARMED?

IS IT GOING THE SAME?

WHAT'S YOUR OVERALL FEELING?

>> WELL THE PIECE THIS LAST WEEK, I MEAN, THAT WAS KIND OF A BIG BLOW.

I MEAN YOU THINK ABOUT A GUY FROM PIERCE, NEBRASKA.

YOU'RE LIKE, "ALRIGHT, THIS GUY'S GOING TO BE A HUSKER NO MATTER WHAT."

SO, THEY'VE DONE A FAIRLY GOOD JOB, THOUGH I THINK, IN GENERAL, OF HOLDING THE LINE.

BUT WHAT'S THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE IF, SAY, MICKEY JOSEPH'S GONE AND SOME OF THESE ASSISTANTS THAT HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS.

WILL THE NEW COACH, THE NEW STAFF BE ABLE TO KIND OF RE-LIGHT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

THEY GET THAT OTHER OFFICIAL VISIT TOO.

AND DECEMBER 22nd IS THE FIRST SIGNING DAY.

SO THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY, YOU WOULD HOPE FOR, ALL THESE COMMITS TO TO GET BACK TO LINCOLN AND MEET THE NEW COACH AND KIND OF GET AN IDEA OF THINGS.

TIM ON FACEBOOK, DAMON ASKED ABOUT HARBURGH.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN FROM HIM IN PRACTICE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HIS GAME OVERALL?

>> YEAH, SO I THINK THE THING WITH HARBURGH ISN'T REALLY ABOUT HIS TALENT.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN LIKE THE STUDENT THAT'S RAISING YOUR HAND OR MAYBE THE GUY THAT WANTS TO GO OUT ON THE DATE AND YOU'RE RAISING YOUR HAND LIKE, "HEY, I'M HERE, I'M HERE."

AND EVERYBODY'S KIND OF LOOKING AROUND FOR THE NEXT DEAL, SO.

I THINK, FOR HIM, THE DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY HAS BEEN SELF-BELIEF AND KIND OF STAYING THE COURSE WHEN MAYBE YOU DON'T FEEL AS COVETED AS SOME OTHER GUYS IN THE ROOM.

>> WHO DO YOU WANT TO COME BACK?

THERE'S A LOT OF THESE GUYS WHO COULD COME BACK, OBVIOUSLY.

COULD BE TREY PALMER, COULD BE ONE OF THEM.

CASEY THOMPSON COULD BE ONE OF THEM.

>> YEAH, IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET TREY BACK.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE JUST THESE LAST COUPLE GAMES, NOT PUTTING UP THE STATS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD AFFECT BUT I THINK NFL SCOUTS ARE LISTENING OFF A QUARTERBACK.

>> RIGHT.

>> I STILL THINK HE PROBABLY, HE GOES TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

HE'S A GOOD ONE.

MAN, I TELL YOU WHAT.

HAVING GARRETT NELSON, YOU TALK ABOUT POTENTIALLY NOT WALKING.

HAVING HIM COME BACK.

I THINK HE'S IMPROVED A TON.

I'D LOVE TO HAVE HIM BACK.

HIS ENERGY, HIS GRIT.

>> HE'D BE 24-YEAR-OLD.

YUP.

BE A GROWN MAN.

>> GET YOUR MASTERS.

SO THERE'S A HANDFUL, BUT I THINK THOSE TWO WOULD BE MY TOP TWO OFFENSIVE DEFENSIVELY.

>> ALRIGHT, LET'S GO TO BURNING QUESTIONS.

GO AHEAD SEAN.

>> WHAT WILL THAT QUARTERBACK POSITION LOOK LIKE FOR NEBRASKA ON SATURDAY?

WILL WE SEE CASEY THOMPSON?

IF NOT, WHAT WILL LOGAN SMOTHERS LOOK LIKE IN THAT TYPE OF SITUATION?

AND FINALLY, WILL IT GET INTO JARRETT SYNEK?

WILL THEY HAVE TO PLAY THE WALK ON FROM HASTINGS?

>> YEAH, CAN YOU DO IT ONE MORE TIME?

AND THAT IS, CAN YOU GET UP FOR ANOTHER PHYSICAL GROUND AND POUND TEAM IN ANOTHER TOP FLIGHT CALIBER RUNNING BACK WHERE YOU, AS A DEFENSE, GIVE YOUR OFFENSE A CHANCE TO WIN A FOOTBALL GAME?

>> IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE SAME WISCONSIN WE KIND OF SAW ALL YEAR.

YOU KNOW, GRAHAM MERTZ STRUGGLING, BRAELON ALLEN STRUGGLING, OFFENSIVE LINE STRUGGLING.

OR IS JIM LEONHARD ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING TO GET THIS TEAM GOING THE LAST COUPLE GAMES AND GET INTO A BOWL GAME?

>> CAN YOU GET 20 PLUS TOUCHES FOR ANTHONY GRANT?

THAT'S REALLY BEEN THE DIFFERENCE IN NEBRASKA STAYING IN GAMES AND LOOKING REALLY GOOD IN GAMES, AS WELL.

THAT'S A QUESTION I KNOW, DAMON, YOU THINK ABOUT.

GETTING HIM TOUCHES, RIGHT.

>> EXACTLY, HE'S GOT TO BE A 20-25 TOUCH GUY.

I DON'T CARE IF IT'S 20 RUN, FOUR RECEPTIONS.

19 RUNS, SIX RECEPTIONS.

HE NEEDS TO BE IN THAT LOW 20 MARK.

>> AND THAT'S HOW HE GET'S GOING TOO.

HE GET'S ALL GREASED UP AND RUNS PRETTY WELL.

DON'T FORGET TO HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE AND CLICK ON "THE PREDICTION" JAY, DAMON, AND I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT ON SATURDAY.

OF COURSE, THE HUSKER'S RETURN HOME FOR SENIOR DAY AND THEY WELCOME IN THE WISCONSIN BADGERS TO MEMORIAL STADIUM.

KICKOFF IS SCHEDULED FOR BRIGHT AND EARLY.

11:00 AM CENTRAL, BUT IT'S ON BIG ESPN.

BECAUSE OF NSA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS, WE'LL BE BACK TO BREAKDOWN THE GAME AGAINST THE BADGERS NEXT WEDNESDAY EVENING AT 7:00 PM CENTRAL.

WITH OUR GUEST BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON FROM 24/7 SPORTS.

ALRIGHT, THANKS TO MIKE BABCOCK FOR JOINING US, SEAN CALLAHAN, OF COURSE OUR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CALL CENTER FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

FOR JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING, I'M MIKE'L SEVERE, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

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