♪ ♪ >>> THE >>> THE MICKEY JOSEPH ERA AT NEBRASKA STARTED ON A SOUR NOTE AS THEY FELL 49-14.

FOLLOWING THE GAME, THE TEAM ANNOUNCED IT HAD SEPARATED WITH DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR.

AS THE HUSKERS GO INTO THE BYE WEEK, ALL EYES ARE ON WHETHER OR NOT THE TEAM CAN RESPOND TO THESE SHAKE-UPS AND GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

WE'LL BREAK DOWN THE SOONER MATCHUP.

SEAN CAL HAN WILL JOIN US FOR THE LATEST ON BIG RED RECRUITING.

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

♪ ♪ >>> HI, EVERYONE.

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

THE FIRST GAME OF THE MICKEY JOSEPH ERA DOES NOT START OFF LIKE ANYONE WANTS WITH A BIG LOSS TO OKLAHOMA, 49-14.

WE'RE GOING TO BREAK IT ALL DOWN WITH FORMER HUSKERS JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING.

LET'S START OFF.

DID YOU SEE THAT KIND OF GAME COMING?

>> I DIDN'T.

THE WAY IT STARTED OFF?

>> I KNOW OUR SCORES WERE CLOSER THAN THAT.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE RATHER HIGH-SCORING.

I FIGURED NEBRASKA WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STOP THEM BUT I FIGURED OUR OFFENSE WOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP UP A LITTLE BIT.

THIS THING WAS OVER BY HALFWAY THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER.

I DID NOT SEE THAT DRASTIC OF A CHANGE IN MY PREDICTION.

>> YEAH.

I THINK I WENT WITH 34-20 AS A PREDICTION, AND I DIDN'T SEE IT GOING THAT BAD AT ALL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, OKLAHOMA WHOLE -- THE KEY MATCHUP IN THAT DEAL WAS OKLAHOMA'S FRONT FOUR.

>> MM-HMM.

>> VERSUS NEBRASKA'S OFFENSIVE LINE.

AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE GAME WITHIN THE GAME.

I KNOW PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE AND THEY DIDN'T HOLD UP.

BUT I CONSIDER THAT KIND OF A GIVEN.

IT WAS THE FACT THAT NEBRASKA'S OFFENSIVE LINE HAD ZERO ANSWERS FOR WHAT OKLAHOMA WANTED TO DO AND HOW EASILY THEY WERE DOING IT AND HOW FAST OKLAHOMA PLAYED.

I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE A TEAM, AND, JAY, YOU KNOW THIS.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING FIT AND BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT OKLAHOMA WAS DOING WHERE YOU'D GET A 15, 20, 25-YARD PLAY.

THEY'RE SNAPPING IT AGAIN WITH 20 SECONDS TO GO ON THE PLAY CLOCK, AND THEY DID IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THEIR FITNESS WAS PRETTY -- >> YOU'VE GONE AGAINST SOME FAST TEAMS.

THERE WERE SOME FAST TEAMS WHEN -- >> I MEAN THAT WAS -- THEY GO TWO-MINUTE DRILL THE WHOLE TIME.

WE NEVER FACED THAT.

I THINK TEXAS TECH WAS STARTING TO GET THERE.

I THINK MISSOURI WAS KIND OF EVOLVING TO THERE.

WE DIDN'T GET A TON OF THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS PLAYING.

BUT THE TWO-MINUTE, THAT GASES YOU IN A HURRY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE RUSHING THE PASSER CONSTANTLY.

NOW IF YOU MIX SOME RUNS IN THERE, YOU CAN RESERVE A LITTLE BIT OF ENERGY, BUT, MAN, THAT TAKES -- THAT TESTS YOUR DEPTH AND ALSO TESTS YOUR FOCUS ABILITY.

AND ALSO IT FORCES DEFENSE TO GET QUICK WITH THEIR CALLS.

YOU GET A LOT OF REPEAT CALLS.

SO THEY KNOW, HEY, WE'RE GETTING COVER SIX OVER HERE, BOOM.

WHERE IT'S COVER TWO OR WHAT EVER IT MAY BE.

THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE GETTING BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU GOT PLAYERS SCRAMBLING.

YOU GOT THE DCs AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE SIDELINE ARE SCRAMBLING, AND THEN OFFENSE IS RIGHT ON TEMPO.

THEY HAD US PEGGED.

>> SO THE BLAME FALLS TO ERIK CHINANDER.

YOU THINK THAT WAS THE MOVE TO BE MADE?

>> WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED BEHIND THE SCENES, NOT MUCH IS GOING TO CHANGE, I THINK, IN TERMS OF THE BYE WEEK TO THE END OF THE SEASON, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER SEVEN WEEKS FOR COACH CHINANDER, UNLESS COACH JOSEPH AND THAT COACHING STAFF AND THE ADMINISTRATION FELT LIKE HE HAD CHECKED OUT, RIGHT?

I MEAN YOU CAN GET A FRESH SET OF EYES.

YOU CAN GET A LITTLE DIFFERENT DEFENSIVE PERSPECTIVE, BUT I DON'T THINK HE WAS GOING TO BE SO STUBBORN IN TERMS OF WHERE HE WOULDN'T CHANGE PHILOSOPHICALLY.

IT HAD TO BE THAT HE JUST WASN'T ABLE TO REACH THE PLAYERS AT THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE.

AND WITH A BYE WEEK, IT WAS KIND OF A NATURAL BREAK IN ORDER TO TRY A NEW VOICE, MAYBE SO MUCH NOT SCHEMATICALLY BUT INTERNALLY BETWEEN THE SIX INCHES BETWEEN YOUR EARS.

>> WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST, THE WAY THE OFFENSE PLAYED OR THE WAY THE DEFENSE PLAYED?

>> I THINK THE OFFENSE.

WE'VE SEEN SOMEWHAT OF A CONSISTENT PERFORMANCE.

THEY'VE NEVER FACED A DEFENSE LIKE OKLAHOMA.

IT'S VASTLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU'VE SEEN FROM OTHER OKLAHOMA TEAMS.

SO DEFINITELY THE OFFENSE, YOU KNOW.

BENHART STRUGGLED.

THE OFFENSIVE LINE JUST, YOU KNOW, THE TIMING.

YOU HAD THE FIRST DRIVE OUT THERE, AND THEY POP THE PASS OVER TO PALMER AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THINKING THAT THING'S COOKING, LET'S GO.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, EVERYONE SETTLES IN, AND NEBRASKA WAS OUTMATCHED.

AND OFFENSIVELY, SURPRISING DEFENSIVELY, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO STOP ANYONE ALL YEAR.

SO THAT WAS NO SURPRISE TO ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO STRUGGLE AGAINST OKLAHOMA, WHO I THOUGHT WASN'T AS GOOD OF AN OFFENSE.

MAYBE MARE STILL NOT.

MAYBE NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE IS JUST THAT BAD, BUT THEY LOOKED PRETTY GOOD.

>> I THOUGHT NEBRASKA WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET AFTER THE PASSER A LITTLE BIT BETTER JUST BECAUSE OKLAHOMA HAD STRUGGLED I THINK, PROTECTING GABRIEL.

NEBRASKA GOT TO THEM EARLY AND HAD A COUPLE OF TACKLES FOR LOSSES.

I THINK THEY ENDED UP WITH TWO OR THREE SACKS.

GABRIEL WOULD HOLD THE BALL A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK NEBRASKA'S INABILITY TO GIVE THEMSELVES A CHANCE WITH FORMATION RECOGNITION IN TERMS OF STOPPING THE RUN IS JUST A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.

I'M NOT SURE IF IT MATTERS WHO'S PLAYING, WHEN I'M A SAFETY GETTING DOWN INTO THE BOX WITH A RUNNING BACK THAT HAS A TWO-WAY GO.

>> EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AT MEMORIAL STADIUM, ALL THE CHANGES AROUND THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM, I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOUR PHONE CALLS.

THEY'RE ENJOYING SOME VALENTINO'S PIZZA.

OUR SPORTS INTERN SAM IS HERE.

HE'S MANAGING THE ROOM.

IF YOU PREFER TO EMAIL OR TEXT TONIGHT, YOU CAN ALSO DO THAT.

BIG RED@NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.ORG.

WE'RE CHECKING FACEBOOK AND TWITTER FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS SO SEND THEM IN.

OUR SIDELINE SURVEY IS UP AND READY.

ARE YOU SURPRISED AT THE STATE OF NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE?

IT'S EASY.

YES, NO, OR SIMPLY WHAT'S HAPPENING?

HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TO VOTE AND HEAD BACK EACH WEEK FOR A BRAND-NEW SURVEY.

WEEK FOR A BRAND-NEW SURVEY.

>> SHANE IS A GOOD MAN AND A GOOD COACH.

THE NUMBERS DIDN'T ADD UP.

I DIDN'T SEE IT WAS GETTING BETTER FROM WEEK ONE TO WEEK FOUR, SO I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION, THE BEST DECISION FOR THE KIDS BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE BOYS.

I HAD TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THE BOYS.

>> BILL IS BUILT FOR THIS.

HE'S SHARP.

LIKE I SAID, HE'S GOING TO BE DETAILED.

HE'S A REALLY GOOD FOOTBALL COACH, AND HE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.

I UNDERSTAND AND BILL UNDERSTANDS WHAT I WANT.

LIKE YOU SAID, WE SPENT TIME TOGETHER AT LSU, AND WE TALKED A LOT WHEN WE WAS AT LSU.

HE WAS THE SAFETY COACH.

I WAS THE RECEIVER COACH.

SO WE GOT TO COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER AND GET AFTER EACH OTHER ON THE FIELD.

SOME PEOPLE THINK WE DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER, BUT WE DO.

WE JUST GET AFTER EACH OTHER ON THE FIELD.

>> I CHALLENGE THE KIDS TO GET BETTER THIS WEEK.

SO OUR MOTTO THIS WEEK WAS NEBRASKA VERSUS NEBRASKA.

TO GET READY AND GET BETTER AS AN INDIVIDUAL TEAM AND TO GET THE FUNDAMENTALS CLEANED UP AND GET BETTER IN ALL THREE PHASES OF THE GAME.

>> WE NEEDED THIS BYE WEEK.

WE NEEDED THIS BYE WEEK JUST TO RESET.

THESE KIDS HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO RESET.

THEY HAD TO GO FROM HERE TO HERE AND THEN HERE.

IT WASN'T OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE COMING IN HERE.

IT WAS O.U.

COMING IN HERE.

SO LET'S BE REAL ABOUT IT, OKAY?

SO IT WAS A GOOD BYE WEEK.

>> WE TALKED RIGHT AFTER, WHERE CHINANDER, I THOUGHT THEY'LL GET THAT STRAIGHTENED.

WHY?

>> I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF IT, JUST THE INABILITY TO GET LINED UP.

BUT AS BOTH JAYS WILL BE EVENTUALLY ABLE TO TALK TO, JAY MOORE AND JAY FOREMAN COMING UP, I THINK THE ONE THING PEOPLE FORGET WHEN IT COMES TO COORDINATING A DEFENSE.

COVERAGES HAVE TO MARRY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO TO FIT IN THE RUN GAME.

IF YOU'RE LIGHT IN THE BOX, THEN YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO TIGHTEN UP IN THE SECONDARY F. YOU'RE LOOSE IN THE SECONDARY, THEN MAYBE YOU CAN LOAD THE BOX.

I THINK FOR COACH CHINANDER, HE WAS COMFORTABLE COACHING THAT SHELL LOOK.

HE LIKES TO PLAY SOME PALMS WHICH JUST MEANS AT HOME THAT THEY'RE READING THE NUMBER TWO AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T ALWAYS LEND ITSELF TO REALLY GOOD RUN SUPPORT IN THE BOX FROM THE DEPTH AT WHICH THOSE SAFETIES HAVE TO PLAY.

WHEN YOUR GUYS UP FRONT ARE HOLDING GUYS UP AND KIND OF READING THE NECK AND PLAYING WITH THEIR HANDS, YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY GOOD AT THE SECOND LEVEL FITTING DOWNHILL.

I'D LIKE TO SEE NEBRASKA GET MORE INTO KIND OF THAT HIT IT/SPLIT IT, WHERE THEY ALMOST GAP YOU OUT JUST TO SEE IF THEY CAN'T PLAY A LITTLE FREER AND A LITTLE LOOSER AND GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE TO GET DOWNHILL AS OPPOSED TO BEING SO REACTIONARY.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME NUMBERS.

THIS IS HISTORICALLY BAD RIGHT HERE.

IT GOES BACK TO '07 OR 2017.

YOU SEE ALL THOSE RANKINGS.

130 TEAMS AND NEBRASKA IS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL OF THEM.

IF YOU WERE GOING TO CHANGE ONE THING BASED ON WHAT DAMON SAID AND WHAT YOU'VE SEEN, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IF YOU'RE BILL BUSCH?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM, IF THEY COULD, OVER THE BYE WEEK -- CORRECT ME A LITTLE BIT.

YOU MIGHT NEED TO CHANGE UP YOUR DEFENSIVE FRONT A LITTLE BIT.

>> YEAH.

>> I WOULDN'T MIND TO SEE THEM GO TO AN UNDER FRONT AND GET SOME OF YOUR BETTER PLAYERS.

I THINK YOU CAN PUT HUTMACHER AT THE NOSE.

YOU CAN PUT TY ROBINSON PROBABLY AT THE UNDER FIVE TECHNIQUE.

YOU PUT GARRETT NELSON POTENTIALLY AS THE SAM.

I THINK YOU PUT OCHAUN AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND MAYBE PUT WYNN THERE AS A THREE TECHNIQUE.

THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER GUYS THAT KIND OF FIT THAT.

I THINK YOU COULD STRENGTHEN THAT, AND YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET -- I MEAN MY VIEW OF UNDER DEFENSE IS AGAINST A PRO-STYLE 21, 22 PERSONNEL.

>> IT HELPS YOU AGAINST WEAK SIDE RUN GAME.

>> BUT YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF THAT ANYMORE.

IT'S SPREAD, SO IT'S INTERESTING HOW IT FITS.

NEBRASKA PLAYS IN DIME AND NICKEL LOTS BECAUSE YOU'RE SEEING FOUR, FIVE, WHITEOUT LOOKS.

SO IT'S TOUGH TO GET INTO BASE AND BE THERE.

BUT IF THERE WAS A CHANGE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM SHORE UP THE FRONT.

THAT WILL MAKE YOUR LINEBACKERS A LITTLE BIT, YOUR SECONDARY A LITTLE BETTER.

>> A THINK A LINEMAN ALONE WILL HELP NEBRASKA TREMENDOUSLY.

HEAD UP VERSUS PLANNING.

LET'S SAY A SEVEN TECHNIQUE WHERE YOU GIVE GOOD -- YOU GIVE GOOD SPACING ALONG YOUR D-LINE TO NOT HAVE SUCH SHORT CORNERS, RIGHT?

I THINK A LOT OF IT IS -- IT'S NOT SIMPLY ALIGNMENT, BUT I DO AGREE WITH JAY WHERE I THINK A LOT OF IT IS ABOUT HOW YOUR DEFENSIVE FIRST GETS LINED UP.

>> JUST MAKE IT CLEANER FOR EVERYONE.

>> WE SAW THE VIKINGS AND EAGLES PLAY ON MONDAY NIGHT, AND THE VIKINGS WEREN'T TAKING AWAY ANYTHING.

THEY COULDN'T HANDLE THE RUNNING QUARTERBACK.

THEY COULDN'T HANDLE THE PASS.

THEY GOT TO TAKE SOMETHING AWAY.

YOU GOT TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO STOP THIS.

>> IT'S STOP THE RUN.

MAKE TEAMS ONE DIMENSIONAL.

NEBRASKA HASN'T BEEN DOING THAT.

IF THERE'S ONE AREA, MAKE TEAMS ONE DIMENSIONAL.

SO YOU CAN KNOW WHEN WE BRING OUT OUR NICKEL DEFENSE OR DIME, WE KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RUN THE FOOTBALL.

YOU MIGHT RUN ON THIRD AND LONG OR A DRAW, BUT THEY'VE -- OFFENSE HAVE BEEN DICTATING WHAT OUR DEFENSE DOES.

I MEAN THEY ARE BEHIND THE CHAINS ALL GAME.

IT IS SECOND AND 5, SECOND AND 6, THIRD AND 2, THIRD AND 3.

THAT'S HARD TO CALL THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR.

IT PUTS YOU BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO CALL GAMES WHEN YOU'RE ALWAYS BEHIND THE CHAINS.

>> NEBRASKA STARTED OUT GETTING OFF THE FIELD 1 OUT OF 4.

OKLAHOMA CONVERTED 1 OUT OF 4 THEIR FIRST FOUR THIRD DOWNS.

>> IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT LONG QUARTERBACK RUN, THEY COULD HAVE STOPPED THEM THERE.

>> I THINK THEY CONVERTED THEIR NEXT FIVE OR SIX IN A ROW.

WHEN YOU CAN'T GET OFF THE FIELD, I THINK NEBRASKA EMOTIONALLY, THEIR PSYCHE REALLY FACTORS IN TO HOW THEY LOOK PHYSICALLY.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE TALK A LOT ABOUT THEIR ATHLETICISM OR LACK THEREOF AND STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING AND SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS.

BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF NEBRASKA FELT GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES, RIGHT?

I THINK IT'S HUMAN NATURE TO WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELVES AND WHEN YOU HAVE A NEGATIVE -- WHEN YOU HAVE NEGATIVE SELF-ESTEEM, YOU DON'T TYPICALLY MAXIMIZE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE DAY.

AND I THINK AS 18 TO 22-YEAR-OLDS, YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF THAT.

THEY'RE WAITING TO EXHALE FOR THIS SUPERMAN MOMENT, AND THEY'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE SMALL VICTORIES, COMPETING IN PRACTICE, REALLY BREAKING IT DOWN TO, HEY, WE WON THE DAY OR WE WON THE DRILL BECAUSE I WAS REALLY CONCERNED, YOU GUYS -- AND YOU KNOW THIS ALMOST BETTER THAN ANYBODY BECAUSE I TALK TO YOU ALMOST EVERY DAY.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY, WHEN YOUR COACH IS SPEAKING IT INTO EXISTENCE, WE NEED TO CATCH A BREAK.

WE NEED SOMETHING GOOD TO HAPPEN.

YOU SUBCONSCIOUSLY DIMINISH THE GRIND.

YOU DON'T EMBRACE THE DAY-TO-DAY BECAUSE YOU ALMOST DIMINISH IT IF YOU'RE JUST WAITING FOR THAT MAGICAL AHA MOMENT.

YOU HAVE TO APPRECIATE THE DAY-TO-DAY SO YOU CAN MAKE IT TO THE BIG PICTURE BECAUSE WE NEVER USED TO TALK ABOUT WINNING OR LOSING.

WE JUST KNEW THAT IF YOU LAID IT ON THE LINE TODAY, TOMORROW, THE NEXT DAY, THE NEXT DAY, IT WOULD GIVE YOU THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SUCCESS.

SO IF YOU'RE SKIPPING THE DETAILS AND NOT TRUSTING THE GRIND, THEN YOU SIT AROUND WAITING FOR THE BIG THING TO HAPPEN.

AND WHEN IT DOESN'T, YOU DON'T APPRECIATE THE DAY-TO-DAY.

>> YOU GUYS TALKED GOALS.

YOU DIDN'T TALK ABOUT WINNING.

IF YOU HIT ALL YOUR GOALS, YOU'RE GOING TO WIN THE GAME.

BILL BUSCH, WHAT DO YOU THINK HE BRINGS IN TERMS OF A NEW MESSAGE?

>> HE'S GOING TO BRING INTENSITY.

HE'S VERY DETAILED.

HE BRINGS THE ENERGY.

VERY DETAIL-MINDED.

HE WAS A SAFETIES COACH AND SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR, AND I DEALT WITH HIM A LITTLE BIT.

I GOT TO SEE HIM.

WE PLAYED IOWA STATE MY SENIOR YEAR AT IOWA STATE, AND I WAS, YOU KNOW, ON FIELD GOAL BLOCK, BUT I WAS THE CONTAIN GUY.

NORMALLY I HAD TO GO PRESS THE END GUY AND SHUFFLE AROUND JUST TO PLAY THE FAKE.

WELL, I GOT A LITTLE LAZY IN MY TECHNIQUE, AND I KEPT -- I WAS JUST BUMPING OUT A LITTLE EARLIER AND A LITTLE EARLIER.

ALL OF A SUDDEN WE PLAYED IOWA STATE AND THEY TRIED TO RUN A FAKE.

LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE TACKLE.

AS A SENIOR, HE RIPPED ME IN MEETINGS.

HE DON'T CARE.

HE JUST WANTS YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND PLAY WELL.

SO NORMALLY LIKE, OH, HE'S A STARTER, HE'S A SENIOR.

I BET HE TOOK IT EASY.

NO.

I CAN APPRECIATE THAT.

HE WANTS THE BEST OF EVERYONE.

HE'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THE I'S ARE DOTTED, THE T'S ARE CROSSED.

IT'S NOT AN EASY SITUATION, BUT FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I HOPE IT WORKS OUT FOR HIM, BUT I KNOW THE EFFORT, THE ENERGY, AND THE DETAILS WILL BE THERE.

>> HE'S A TREMENDOUS COMMUNICATOR, RIGHT?

HE'S ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE IMPRESSION NECESSARILY SOMETIMES -- YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT A LITTLE ALOOF TO HIM.

HE'S KIND OF EDGY.

BUT HIS RECALL IS FANTASTIC, AND THAT MAKES HIS ATTENTION TO DETAIL THAT MUCH MORE PROMINENT.

AND HE CAN TALK TO JUST ABOUT ANYBODY.

I MEAN YOU COULD PUT HIM IN DOWNTOWN OMAHA.

YOU COULD TAKE HIM TO RURAL NEBRASKA.

YOU COULD TAKE HIM TO, YOU KNOW, THE EIGHTH WARD.

HIS ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS PRETTY -- >> SOUNDS LIKE MICKEY A LITTLE BIT.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS HE WOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND ARANDA AT LSU, BUT THERE'S SOME NOTES IN THAT NOTEBOOK THERE HE CAN FALL BACK ON.

>> ARANDA IS SUPER ALOOF AND REAL PHILOSOPHICAL, AND COACH BUSCH WITH HIS ATTENTION TO DETAIL HAD TO BE A NICE COMBINATION.

>> THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN TELL WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FIELD BY WATCHING DAVE ARANDA.

HE HAD ZERO EMOTION.

THEY JUST WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND HE HAD NO EMOTION.

>> ONE OF THE UNIQUE PERSONALITIES.

>> IF YOU HAVE KIDS AT HOME, I SUGGEST COVER THEIR EYES BECAUSE HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GAME AGAINST OKLAHOMA.

NEBRASKA GETS OFFER TO A GREAT START.

HERE'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LOOKED UP GOING INTO THE GAME.

NEBRASKA AVERAGED 3.2 EXPLOSIVE PLAYS.

HOW MANY ON THIS DRIVE?

TWO PASSES AND ONE RUN WITH THE LAST ONE -- WHAT DID YOU SEE HERE WITH TREY PALMER GETTING OPEN?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, D.B.

GOT CAUGHT FLAT FOOTED.

I THINK JAY AND THOSE GUYS LIKE TO CALL IT THAT BANG EIGHT.

IT WAS A LITTLE LONGER ON THE POST.

I THINK HE THOUGHT THE FLOW WAS GOING TO COME QUICKER.

HE LET IT CLEAR AND HAD DAYLIGHT.

>> HERE, THIRD AND 7.

OKLAHOMA HADN'T CONVERTED MORE THAN A THIRD AND SEVEN ALL SEASON LONG.

THEN THEY GET THIS ONE.

WAS IT LOAVES -- I UNDERSTAND SOMEBODY THOUGHT HE WENT OUT OF BOUNDS.

I THINK BUFORD DID.

BUT THE OTHER DEFENSIVE BACK IS LOOKING RIGHT AT IT.

HE CONVERTS IT AND THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING CHANGES, DAMON SAYS.

AFTER THAT IT WAS JUST CONVERSION AFTER CONVERSION.

THERE'S A PASS THERE, AND THEN THE TOUCHDOWN IN THE CORNER, AGAIN BEATING THE SAME DEFENSIVE BACK.

IN THAT SITUATION, WHAT DO YOU SEE HERE?

I WILL CALL THAT A LITTLE SLANT AND GO.

FAROOK IS GOING TO BE THE DEAL.

HE'LL BE THE NEXT GREAT OKLAHOMA WIDE RECEIVER.

>> HERE WE GO AGAIN.

GABRIEL, WHO WASN'T GREAT ALL DAY, BUT HE REALLY WAS GOOD IN THE RED ZONE.

HERE'S A DOUBLE PASS.

THEY PULL IT OUT.

>> THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FORMATION RECOGNITION.

YOU COULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THE ALIGNMENT FROM OKLAHOMA.

SOMETHING UNNATURAL WAS COMING.

>> THEN YOU HAVE THE SITUATION WHERE YOU GET THE SACK.

FOUR SACKS TOTAL ON THE DAY FOR OKLAHOMA.

A LOT OF THOSE SCREENS, THAT'S WHAT OKLAHOMA DOES.

>> THAT PLAY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE OR POSSIBLY A TACKLE FOR LOSS.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER TOUCHDOWN AGAIN.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE RUN GAME AND WHAT NEBRASKA HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO.

ALMOST 1,000 YARDS GIVEN UP IN THE FIRST FOUR GAMES.

5.8 YARDS A CARRY RIGHT NOW FOR NEBRASKA'S OPPONENTS.

THEN YOU GO AND COME OUT AT HALFTIME AND GET A GOOD PLAY.

BUT LIKE NEBRASKA SO OFTEN HAS DONE, THE FUMBLE HAPPENS.

>> YEAH.

YOU CAN SEE OKLAHOMA, THE WAY THAT THEY'RE COACHED, YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TAKEAWAYS AND TURNOVERS.

THIS IS A TAKEAWAY.

THEY CONSTANTLY WERE ATTACKING THE BALL ALL DAY LONG.

NEBRASKA WASN'T SUDDEN ENOUGH AFTER THE CATCH.

>> TREY PALMER, 10 CATCHES, 92 YARDS, AND 1 TOUCHDOWN.

HE'S THE LEADING RECEIVER FOR NEBRASKA.

42-7.

THIS IS WHEN THE CROWD REALLY STARTED LEAVING BY THE TIME THE FOURTH QUARTER STARTED.

THEN PURDY COMES IN AND SHOWS SOME ATHLETICISM.

I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE REALIZE.

HE CAN GET AROUND.

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.

THERE WAS A REASON HE WAS SO HIGHLY RATED AS A DUAL THREAT GUY.

THAT MOVE RIGHT THERE -- YOU GOT TO PUT THE SPIN AWAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOURSELF HURT.

>> PURDY GETS A TOUCHDOWN RIGHT HERE.

TOUCHDOWN THERE, 49-14.

FINAL STATS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEM, LOOK AT ALL THE FIRST DOWNS BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS.

IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE 60 FIRST DOWNS BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS.

NEBRASKA, THEY WIN THE TIME OF POSSESSION.

IT DIDN'T MATTER MUCH IN THIS GAME.

>> IT'S YOUR NUMBER ONE STAT OUTSIDE OF HAVOC PLAYS.

I'M SURPRISED YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO THE FINISHING DRIVE RATE FOR NEBRASKA.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHO WAS GOOD AT IT WAS OKLAHOMA.

OUR PLAYER OF THE GAME AGAINST OKLAHOMA IS TREY PALMER, AN EXPLOSIVE WIDE RECEIVER NOTCHED HIS FIRST TOUCHDOWN AS A HUSKER AGAINST THE SOONERS.

NOW IT'S TIME TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THE PLAYBOOK.

WE JOIN JAY MOORE IN THE HUDDLE.

>> EVERYONE COME BACK AND LOOK AT A COUPLE OF THESE PLAYS THAT WE ALREADY WENT THROUGH.

FIVE MAN LOOK.

THEY EVENTUALLY DROP OFF REIMERS, BRING FOUR AGAINST OKLAHOMA'S FIVE.

IT'S NOT A GREAT SITUATION BUT SOMEONE NEEDS TO WIN, AND THEY DON'T.

I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT MATHIS EARLY ON.

ELITE PASS RUSHER, REAL DEAL.

HE HAS A ONE-ON-ONE SITUATION.

HE NEEDS TO WIN THIS BATTLE OR PUT HIMSELF IN POSITION NOT TO TAKE HIM OUT.

ESSENTIALLY HE HAS A TWO-WAY GO.

HE HAS THIS GUY TURNED.

HE COULD HIT HIM WITH SOMETHING.

BEING A LEFT-HANDED QUARTERBACK, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIM SCRAMBLING AND THROWING OVER HERE.

HE'S A LEFTY.

I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM DO SOMETHING BUT HE TAKES HIMSELF OUT OF THE RUSH, FALLS DOWN.

NEXT, I JUST FIGURE THESE ARE JUST -- I KNOW THE EFFORT.

I'M NOT LACKING HIS EFFORT.

COME ON.

JUST GIVE ME A DIVE OR SOMETHING HERE AT HIS FEET.

THEN THIS ONE.

THIS ISN'T PRACTICE.

DON'T TAG HIM.

JUST DIVE, DO SOMETHING.

TRY TO GET HIM DOWN IN THIS SCENARIO.

BAD ANGLES BY FARMER.

BAD ANGLE HERE BY REIMERS.

HE NEEDS TO BE COMING HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE UNDERESTIMATED WHAT GABRIEL'S SPEED WAS.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THIS.

BAD ANGLE, BAD TACKLE.

WHETHER THEY KNEW HE WAS OUT OF BOUNDS OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT IT'S NOT HOW YOU PLAY FOOTBALL.

WE'VE BEEN SEEING TOO MUCH OF THIS.

LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT PLAY HERE.

THIS IS THE BUBBLE PASS HERE.

DAMON ALREADY ALERTED THIS.

I HAD IT WRITTEN DOWN.

ODD FORMATION INTO THE BOUNDARY.

THAT'S HIGH ALERT.

AS A DEFENSE, YOU KNOW, OKAY, THEY GOT A WEIRD THING INTO THE BOUNDARY.

YOU'D BE THINKING THIS ISN'T RIGHT.

THIS DAY IS WAY OFF THE BALL.

SOMETHING HAS TO BE QUEUED UP, BUT NEBRASKA DOESN'T SEE IT.

THEY'RE ABLE TO SEEK THIS BACK RIGHT OUT OF THE BACKFIELD.

EVERYONE JUST BITES ON THE BUBBLE SCREEN.

RUNNING BACK STEPS UP, AND EASY SIX POINTS FOR THE SOONERS.

>> I REMEMBER BEAU OCCASIONALLY CALLING THESE RANDOM DEFENSIVE TIME-OUTS.

>> YOU'RE DEFINITELY ON HIGH ALERT.

IT'S A UNIQUE FORMATION.

IF YOU HADN'T SEEN IT, I DON'T SEE WHY YOU WOULDN'T BURN A TIME-OUT THERE.

BUT HINDSIGHT IS 20/20.

BUT IT WAS REALLY A WELL CONCEIVED PLAY, ESPECIALLY WITH HOW AND WHERE THEY LEAKED THE BACK OUT.

IT LOOKED A LOT LIKE THEIR RUN GAME.

THE HIDING OF THE NUMBER TWO KIND OF STACKED LIKE THAT SHOULD HAVE PUT YOU ON HIGH, HIGH ALERT.

>> PLUS NEBRASKA WAS EXHAUSTED BY THAT POINT.

NEXT UP ON THE SHOW, WE'LL BE JOINED BY JAY FOREMAN TO ADDRESS THE CHANGES NEEDED ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL.

AS WE GO TO BREAK, MORE IMAGES FROM SATURDAY'S GAME.

STAY WITH US.

WE'RE BACK SOON.

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

ANOTHER FORMER HUSKER JOINING US.

JAY FOREMAN ON THE WRAP-UP.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> I'M DOING GOOD, MAN.

JUST TAKING IT ALL THE WAY IN LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, MAN.

IT'S A UNIQUE TIME TO BE A HUSKER.

I'M A FAN, YOU KNOW, CRITIC I GUESS, BUT IT'S -- IT'S A DIFFERENT TIME.

>> I RAN INTO YOU AND STEVE WARREN YEARS AGO AFTER A REALLY BAD GAME AGAINST OKLAHOMA STATE.

YOU GUYS WERE WALKING AWAY, AND YOU WERE MAD.

>> YEAH.

>> AND I WAS LIKE, YOU ALL RIGHT?

HE'S LIKE, THAT'S NOT BLACK SHIRTS PLAY.

I CAN'T JUSTIFY WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

IT'S GOT TO BE PAINFUL TO WATCH THAT STUFF HAPPEN.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I ERIK CHINANDER, HE'S A GOOD DUDE.

FOR ME, IF I SAY YOU'RE A GOOD DUDE, THAT'S A SEAL OF APPROVAL.

YOU KNOW, HE WORKED AT IT.

WHEN I LOOKED AT IT, WHEN I LOOKED IN HIS EYES, I KNOW HE WANTED IT.

HE WANTED TO BE HERE, AND HE WANTED IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND HE HAD GOOD LEADERSHIP SKILLS BECAUSE I'VE SEEN HIM IN ACTION.

>> MM-HMM.

>> SO THAT'S UNFORTUNATE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I ALWAYS JOKE AROUND AND SAY, MAN, THERE'S NO PLAY THAT A DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR THAT ME AND JAY EVER PLAYED IN THAT SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, OVER COVER SEVEN, ALERT THE DICE, MYSTERY TACKLES, AND RUN THE WRONG WAY.

>> THEY NEVER DRAW THAT UP THAT WAY?

>> OR WHEN HAS THERE EVER BEEN A T.O.

THAT SAYS, HEY, ROB ZASKA, WE'RE GOING TO DO -- >> 42 -- >> BUT DON'T BLOCK THAT DAY.

>> AND LET HIM KILL TOMMI.

SO THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

BUT THE MOST ALARMING THING TO ME IS -- SEE, THE OKLAHOMA GAME IS GOING TO GIVE YOU LIKE -- THAT'S THE HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE YOU GOT OBLITERATED BY 35 POINTS, AND THEY TURNED THE GAS OFF.

>> THEY DID EARLY.

>> AT HALFTIME.

SO THEY COULD HAVE PUT A 70 BURGER ON YOU.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY RESISTANCE.

THE THING THAT WAS MOST ALARMING TO ME, AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COACHING.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHO THE HEAD COACH IS, WHO THE A.D. IS, WHO THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR IS -- IS THE AMOUNT OF LOAFS AND THE LACK OF EFFORT BY SOME GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN OR SUPPOSED TO BE THEIR BELL COWS OR THE GUYS THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW -- LET'S JUST BE HONEST, RIGHT?

WE'RE IN THE CIRCLE OF TRUST.

YOU GOT CAPTAINS OUT THERE LOAFING, ALL RIGHT?

YOU GOT GUYS THAT ARE LOAFING.

THERE'S A BLACK SHIRT.

PUTS YOU TO THE TASK.

DANTE JONES.

THAT'S THE MOST ALARMING THING.

YOU SAW A LITTLE BIT OF IT AGAINST NORTHWESTERN.

BAD ANGLES TO THE BALL.

THAT'S A PRACTICE HABIT.

COACHES CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH, RIGHT?

BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, IF YOU ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF AN N.I.L.

DEAL, LET'S JUST SAY, THEN YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WHEN YOU PLAY FOOTBALL, YOU GOT TO PLAY HARD.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF BILL BUSCH SAYS, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO RUN A 3-3-5.

4-3, 5-2.

YOU CAN RUN A 6-2 STACK MONSTER FROM THAT MOVIE I SAW THIS WEEKEND.

WE BETTER START GETTING SOME OF THOSE MOVES.

IF YOU DON'T PLAY HARD OR YOU DON'T EXECUTE, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN MY OPINION, AND I HOPE BILL BUSCH MAKES IT REAL SIMPLE.

PEEL THAT STINKY ONION BACK AND LET'S GET DOWN TO BASICS.

INSIDE THAT LOCKER ROOM, IT CAN'T BE ANY MORE FUNNY TALKING, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF THIS RIGHT NOW.

WE GOT TO HAVE SOME HARD CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I PLAYED, IF THAT QUARTERBACK HAD RAN LIKE THAT AND WE HAD SEEN THAT EFFORT, THERE WOULD SOMEBODY CLOSED-DOOR MEETINGS, AND THERE WOULD BE SOME PEOPLE COMING OUT WITH MORE THAN THEIR FEELINGS HURT.

AND NOT TO GO TO THAT EXTENT, BUT YOU GOT TO START SAYING, I DEPEND ON YOU.

LIKE I DEPEND ON JAY, HE DEPENDS ON ME.

HE NEEDS MY EFFORT MORE THAN ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME LIKE THIS.

>> GOING INTO THIS BYE WEEK, OBVIOUSLY MAKE THE CHANGES.

WHEN YOU WERE IN THE NFL, DID YOU EVER HAVE A DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR FIRED MIDSEASON?

>> I'VE SEEN IT ALL.

>> I'M JUST CURIOUS.

I HAD COACHES FIRED MIDDLE OF SEASON, BUT I NEVER HAD A DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR FIRED.

WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING AT NOW?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, MAYBE LIKE SIMPLIFY SOME THINGS, TRY TO LOOK AND SEE THE THINGS THAT MAY MAYBE HAVE DONE SUCCESSFULLY.

IT MIGHT EVEN BE DO WE HAVE ALL 11 GUYS LINED UP AND EXECUTING AT DEFENSE EVEN IF YOU GET BEAT.

THEY'RE ON SCHOLARSHIP TOO.

START THERE.

LET'S LOOK AT, OKAY, WHAT DOES TY ROBINSON DO WELL?

HAVE HIM DO.

WHAT'S NASH DO WELL?

HAVE HIM DO IT.

WYNN, DREW, OCHAUN, CALEB, THEN START TO CREATE YOUR CONFIDENCE FROM THERE.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT CAN TURN REALLY QUICKLY.

IT REALLY CAN.

YOU SEE THIS.

I ALWAYS GO BACK TO WHEN THE COLTS HAD THE WORST DEFENSE IN THE LEAGUE -- OR I THINK EVER AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

BOB SANDERS CAME BACK.

THEY SIMPLIFIED THE DEFENSE, TONY DUNGY SAID, AND THEY END UP FROM THAT GAME ON BEING ONE OF THE BETTER DEFENSES, SO IT CAN BE DONE.

>> LET ME ASK YOU BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS INTERESTING PUTTING TOGETHER DEFENSES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

FRONTS MATTER, AND COVERAGES HAVE TO BE MARRIED TO DEFENSIVE FRONTS.

WALK ME THROUGH, WALK US THROUGH WHERE YOU THINK NEBRASKA IS DISJOINTED BECAUSE IT LOOKS DISJOINTED.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE FRONTS, YOU'RE RIGHT, IN THE COVERAGE, THEY'RE CRUCIAL BECAUSE YOU CAN'T RUN A LOT OF STUNTS AND HAVE A HIGH RISK, YOU KNOW, COVERAGE IN THE BACK END BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU GET GASHED.

THERE'S ALWAYS A WEAK SPOT IN THE DEFENSE.

>> ALWAYS.

>> YOU ALWAYS TRY TO LIKE GUARD AGAINST THAT.

AND OKLAHOMA DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR DEFENSES.

THEY KNEW THE WEAK SPOT, BUT THEY GUARDED AGAINST IT BASED ON DOWN AND DISTANCE AND THE PERSONNEL THEY WERE FACING.

SO THEY HAVE TO MARRY, AND BECAUSE JUST LIKE THAT PLAY RIGHT THERE, RIGHT?

THE ALLEY PLAYER SEEMED LIKE HE DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO FIT BASED ON WHERE THE LINEBACKER WAS.

WELL, THAT'S BASED ON THE FRONT BECAUSE IF I'M A LINEBACKER AND I KNOW THE FRONT, WHAT POTENTIALLY COULD HAPPEN AGAINST ANY PLAY, I'M GOING TO FILL FASTER SO THEN HIS JOB TO MAKE AN ATTACK ON SPACE AGAINST A, YOU KNOW, WORLD-CLASS ATHLETE, IS INSTEAD OF A GAP LIKE THIS, IT'S REDUCE.

THAT'S HOW YOU TACKLE WELL.

THAT'S WHY WHEN A TWO-WAY GO AGAINST ME, YOU BETTER WIN AS A RUNNING BACK, YOU KNOW?

>> I WOULD BE MAD IF THEY GOT -- IF THEY DIDN'T BEAT THE DEFENDER.

>> RIGHT.

>> A TWO-WAY GO FROM 12 YARDS OFF THE BALL.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE RUNNING BACK SHOULD WIN.

>> UNLESS THE RUNNING BACK DECIDES TO RUN RIGHT INTO THE GUY, WHICH WE SAW A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

>> UNLESS IT'S ME GOING AGAINST THIS CURRENT OKLAHOMA DEFENSE.

WHAT CAN THEY GET DONE IN TWO WEEKS?

>> THEY CAN GET A LOT DONE.

ONE, YOU KNOW, COACH MICKEY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO BASICS AND FUNDAMENTALS.

SO RIGHT THERE, THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT.

AND I TALK TO DAMON ALL THE TIME.

I'M A BIG PROPONENT BECAUSE THIS IS THE ABLE I WAS ABLE TO BE SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFUL.

FOOTWORK FUNDAMENTALS.

YOU START THERE.

YOU CAN'T MAKE A PLAY UNLESS YOU GIVE YOURSELF A 50/50 CHANCE OF HAVING SUCCESS.

SO IT'S ALIGNMENT, ASSIGNMENT, BE AGGRESSIVE, FOOTWORK.

THEN THE LINEBACKERS HAVE TO MARRY EACH OTHER.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE DANCING ON A STRONG TOGETHER.

IF YOU REALLY KIND OF SIMPLIFY THE DEFENSE, YOU'D WANT YOUR CHATTER AND YOUR COMMUNICATION TO GO THROUGH THE ROOF.

IF YOU WATCH THE GAMES, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CHATTER, AND IT'S ALWAYS LATE.

IT'S VERY LATE.

SO EVEN IF YOU'RE GOING AGAINST A TEMPO TEAM -- AND I HEARD YOU GUYS BEFORE WHERE THEY CAN KIND OF KEEP YOU IN LIKE A COUPLE DEFENSES.

WELL, IF YOU PREPARE FOR THAT AND YOU HAVE A GUY THAT REALLY CAN DIVE INTO YOUR DEFENSIVE SYSTEM, YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE FOUR OR FIVE DEFENSES ON THE READY.

THAT'S WHAT THE WRISTBANDS ARE FOR, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT'S WHAT THIS IS FOR.

SO YOU'RE ORCHESTRATING A DEFENSE, SO YOU WANT THOSE GUYS LIKE JAY MOORE LOOKING FORWARD.

SO THEY GOT TO TRUST ME TO DO MY JOB.

SO I THINK IF THEY GET THAT COMMUNICATION GOING, I THINK YOU COULD TURN THE DEFENSE AROUND.

YOU SEE A TACKLING A LOT BETTER.

YOU SEE THEM HAVING MORE FUN.

I ALWAYS LIKED WHEN THE COMMUNICATION WAS THERE BECAUSE THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE KIND OF LEARNING ON THE FLY, AND YOU'RE MAKING PLAYS.

YOU'LL SEE THEM MAKE MORE, YOU KNOW, TURNOVERS, YOU KNOW, MORE EXPLOSIVE HITS.

THEN HOPEFULLY THEIR FOOTBALL ACUMEN OR AWARENESS WILL INCREASE AS WELL.

SO, YOU KNOW, I CAN COMMUNICATE AS AN OUTSIDE LINEBACKER TO A CORNER TO GIVE HIM MORE CONFIDENCE TO MAYBE PLAY A LITTLE BIT CLOSER ON LIKE A THIRD AND SHORT AND TAKE MORE CHANCES.

THEN HE CAN COMMUNICATE TO A BACK GUY TO HAVE HIS BACK, RIGHT?

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW THIS, DAMON, AS A COACH.

IF US THREE ARE PLAYING AND WE DON'T GIVE UP A TOUCHDOWN BUT WE FIGURE IT OUT, YOU'RE COOL WITH IT.

WE'LL GET WITH IT ON MONDAY OR WHENEVER YOU WATCH TAPE.

BUT WHAT YOU DON'T WANT IS TO GET HIT WITH THE SAME PLAY WEEK AFTER WEEK, WEEK AFTER WEEK, AND YOU DON'T FIGURE IT OUT.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING.

JUST GO AND PLAY FOOTBALL.

FIND WHAT MAKES YOU LOVE FOOTBALL.

IF YOU DON'T LOVE FOOTBALL, THEN OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T -- YOU GOT TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO BECAUSE IT WILL SHOW UP ON SATURDAY.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE AN OLD PERSON EVEN THOUGH I AM.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU REALLY CAN'T DO WHEN ANOTHER TEAM IS GOING FAST?

YOU CAN'T CELEBRATE LITTLE PLAYS.

YOU GOT GUYS IN THE SECONDARY CELEBRATING AN INCOMPLETE PASS AND NOT GETTING BACK LINED UP.

OKLAHOMA IS NOT WORRYING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU STOPPED THAT ONE PLAY.

THEY'RE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

THAT NEEDS TO STOP.

IN PRACTICE OR WHATEVER, THEY NEED TO STOP THAT.

>> ALL THAT KIND OF GOES INTO IT, RIGHT?

IT'S ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

IT'S WE BEFORE ME.

THE ONLY WAY THIS TEAM -- IN PARTICULAR LET'S TALK ABOUT DEFENSE.

IT'S MY WHEELHOUSE.

THE ONLY WAY THEY'RE GOING TO GET PLAYING SOMEWHAT TO THEIR POTENTIAL IS A "WE" TYPE OF ATTITUDE.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DIG THEMSELVES OUT TOGETHER BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A VON MILLER OR SOMEBODY LIKE THAT WHERE YOU CAN SAY HE'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE-MAKING PLAY.

SO WE HAVE TO DO IT TOGETHER.

ONCE THEY DECIDE TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S EVEN FOR THE DBs AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

THEY GOT TO START CHECKING EACH OTHER.

THAT'S NOT NEBRASKA FOOTBALL.

I MEAN LET'S BE HONEST, RIGHT?

THAT'S NOT THE WAY ANYBODY ENVISIONED THEM PLAYING.

THEY KNOW BETTER.

SO LET'S START ACTING OUR AGE AND START PLAYING THE RIGHT WAY.

THEN IF YOU GET BEAT ON A PLAY, MAKE THEM BEAT YOU TWICE.

THEY BEAT YOU TWICE, MAKE THEM BEAT YOU A THIRD TIME.

FOURTH OR FIFTH TIME, THEN YOU CAN MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO IT.

>> YOU SAID YOUR WHEELHOUSE WAS DEFENSE.

WHAT DID YOU SEE FROM PLAYING AGAINST OKLAHOMA AFTER GOING AGAINST THREE PRETTY POROUS DEFENSES, WHAT DID YOU SEE AGAINST OKLAHOMA?

>> I THINK THE OKLAHOMA DEFENSE IS DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR, AND I KNEW THAT JUST BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, BRETT IS SUPERIOR AS A DEFENSIVE COACH.

SO YOU KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING TO PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS, WHICH WAS INSIDE OF THEIR DEFENSIVE TACKLES AND TRY TO GET OUR OFFENSE IN LINE TO BURP.

BURP, I MEAN PENETRATION, YOU KNOW, THE INITIAL SHOCK.

WHAT WE DIDN'T MATCH IS THEIR PHYSICALITY AND INTENSITY UP FRONT.

THEN WE GOT OUT OF OUR WAY A LITTLE BIT AS FAR AS STICKING WITH THE RUN GAME AND CONTROLLING THE CLOCK.

SHORT AREA PASSING.

WE HAD SOME DROPS, SOME BAD ROUTES, SOME BAD READS.

ONCE YOU SEE THE DEFENSE STRUGGLING AND THE OFFENSE NOT BEING ABLE TO MATCH, WHICH HAS BEEN TOTALLY DIFFERENT THIS WHOLE SEASON, WE NEEDED TO KIND OF GET BACK TO WHAT WE WERE DOING.

ONCE WE GOT OUT OF OUR WAY, WE NEVER SEEMED TO RECOVER.

THEN YOU START TO GET DESPERATE.

THEN YOU START TO MISS THE TIGHT END WIDE OPEN AND TRY TO HIT A POST INTO TWO DEFENDERS.

WELL, IF YOU'RE DOWN 14 POINTS OR 21, THERE'S NO 21-POINT, YOU KNOW, PASS.

YOU GOT TO KIND OF SYSTEMATICALLY GET BACK INTO THE GAME.

IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL, YOU HAVE GUYS THAT HAVE ON PAPER EXPERIENCE, BUT THEY'RE INEXPERIENCED PLAYING TOGETHER.

THAT'S HUGE.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DEFENSE LAST YEAR.

ATHLETICALLY THIS DEFENSE AT SOME SPOTS MIGHT BE BETTER, LET'S BE HONEST.

LIKE OVERALL, RIGHT?

BUT THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING BACK THERE AND HAVING THE SAFETY NIGHT OF TWO GUYS THAT YOU KNEW IF THEY WERE OUT OF POSITION ONCE, YOU WOULD NEVER GET THEM TWICE.

THAT'S WHAT GAVE CHINANDER A TON OF CONFIDENCE OUT THERE, BUT IT GAVE CONFIDENCE FOR THE GUYS THAT NEVER PLAYED BEFORE.

NOW IT'S FLIPPED.

FOR TWO GAMES YOU GOT TO THINK REIMER HAD TO CALL DEFENSES.

THAT'S NOT WHAT HE LIKES TO DO.

DID IT CURTAIL HIS PLAYMAKING ABILITY?

THEN YOU WANT A FRESHMAN THAT JUST WAS IN COLUMBUS LAST YEAR.

THAT'S A BIG STEP.

SO THE CIRCUMSTANCES HASN'T WORKED OUT WELL ON OFFENSE AND DEFENSE, BUT I THINK IF THEY GET BACK TO, YOU KNOW, SOME HARD NOSED FOOTBALL, KIND OF LIKE WHEN WE USED TO HAVE A BYE -- I HATE BYE WEEKS.

25-MINUTE GROUP WORKS.

>> THERE WAS NO REWARD AT THE END OF THE WEEK.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

THERE'S NO GAME, RIGHT?

IT JUST WAS LIKE THIS SUCKS.

>> BUT WHAT THESE GUYS NEED TO DO, I GUESS I COULD ASK YOU GUYS, IS THEY NEED TO -- THEIR WORKWEEK DOESN'T STOP WHENEVER THEIR PRACTICE IS DONE.

SO IF THEY'RE DONE PRACTICING ON THURSDAY, I'M SURE THE COACH HAS GOT TO RECRUIT OR WHATEVER, YOU BETTER BE IN THERE FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY BECAUSE THE ONE THING I WOULD ASK THIS TEAM OR I'D TELL THEM, I WOULD ASK THEM BEFORE THE SEASON WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO SACRIFICE TO BE 9-3 INSTEAD OF 3-9.

I WOULD TELL THEM BY THE WAY YOU GUYS PLAY AS A WHOLE, THAT MEANS ALL -- IT SEEMS LIKE 180 GUYS OUT THERE, YOU GUYS HAVEN'T SACRIFICED ENOUGH.

SACRIFICE ISN'T NECESSARILY YOUR TIME, BUT ARE YOU WILLING TO SACRIFICE TO TAKE ON A BLOCK CONTINUOUSLY FOR DAMON TO MAKE THE PLAY OR JAY, AND THEN I GET ONE TACKLE AND THEY GET TWO?

SACRIFICE IS HUGE BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE THESE GAPS IN THE DEFENSES, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SACRIFICE.

IN OFFENSE AS WELL.

>> THAT'S WHY YOU SAID WE OVER ME.

>> RIGHT.

>> JAY, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> APPRECIATE IT, MAN.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TIME FOR ANOTHER BREAK.

NEXT UP, SEAN CALLAHAN WILL JOIN US.

WE'LL DIVE DEEP INTO THE LATEST UPDATES ON RECRUITING.

FIRST, ANOTHER LOOK AT LAST SATURDAY'S GAME WITH IMAGES FROM HAIL VARSITY.

♪ GAME WITH IMAGES FROM ♪ >>> BE SURE TO VOTE ON THIS WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY.

EASY QUESTION.

ARE YOU SURPRISED AT THE STATE OF NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE?

67% OF THE PEOPLE SAY YES.

22% SAY NO.

AND 11% SAY, WHAT IS HAPPENING?

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

WELCOME BACK TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

TIME TO TALK SOME RECRUITING.

WE HAD A DECOMMIT.

>> CAMERON LENHARDT DECOMMITTED REALLY SHORTLY AFTER THE NEWS OF ERIK CHINANDER WITH HIS FIRING ON SUNDAY.

CAMERON LENHARDT WAS THE LAST GUY TO COMMIT TO NEBRASKA HERE.

IT WAS IN IRELAND ACTUALLY WHEN NEBRASKA WAS GETTING READY TO PLAY THAT GAME OUT THERE.

HE VISITED IN JUNE, ANNOUNCED IN AUGUST.

JUST WANTS TO REOPEN THINGS UP.

HE'S VERY CLOSE TO MIKE DAWSON, AND THE ODDS ARE BOTH THOSE GUYS -- COACH DAWSON KNOWS HE'S NOT GOING TO BE HERE WELL LONG TERM.

LENHARDT IS GOING TO OPEN THINGS UP AND SEE WHAT COMES HIS WAY.

>> ARE YOU EXPECTING THAT TO HAPPEN WITH MORE?

>> THERE'S A GOOD GROUP OF LOCAL GUYS IN THIS CLASS, AND THERE'S A GOOD GROUP OF MICKEY GUYS IN THIS CLASS.

SO I THINK RIGHT THERE, YOU'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHO'S KEPT ON THE STAFF, WHO STAYS AROUND.

BUT YOU HAVE TO ASSUME ALL THE IN-STATE GUYS YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN SHAPE WITH.

IF MICKEY JOSEPH WERE TO BE RETAINED, YOU WOULD LIKE THE CHANCES ON SOME OF THOSE GUYS.

A LOT DEPENDS ON HOW THIS SHAKES OUT WITH THE COACHES AND KIND OF WHO'S HERE IN DECEMBER.

>> YEAH.

OUR IN STATE GUYS, DALE CAITLYN.

I GOT A CHANCE TO WATCH HIM AND I THOUGHT HE WAS REALLY TENTATIVE.

I SAW HIM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AGAINST WESTSIDE.

HE'S GOTTEN BETTER.

HE'S MORE COMFORTABLE IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME THROWING THE BALL.

>> HE'S GOTTEN A LOT OF REPS ALL THE WAY BACK TO HIS FRESHMAN YEAR.

YOU SAW TIME IN THE VARSITY FOR A VERY GOOD BELLEVUE WEST TEAM.

PLAYED JV VARSITY LAST YEAR, SPLIT THE STARTING JOB.

THIS YEAR HE IS THE OUTRIGHT STARTER.

HAS SEVERAL POWER FIVE OFFERS.

NEBRASKA OFFERED HIM WAY BACK WHEN, BUT THERE WAS KIND OF SOME QUESTION.

WAS IT A TRUE, COMMITTABLE STANDING OFFER?

HE WAS AT THE GAME, THOUGH, ON SATURDAY.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD SIGN FOR NEBRASKA THAT HE WAS THERE, THAT MAYBE HE IS BACK IN PLAY.

BUT YOU GOT VANDERBILT ON HIM AND MINNESOTA AND A NUMBER OF OTHER REGIONAL TEAMS THAT ARE ON HIM HARD.

I THINK DECEMBER, JANUARY, THIS GUY WILL GET A LOT MORE ACTIVITY.

A LOT WILL DEPEND ON WHERE HE FALLS ON BOARDS.

A LOT OF HIS OFFERS, ARE THEY COMMITTABLE?

I THINK THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY USUALLY TAKE ONE QUARTERBACK, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THEIR NAME AT LEAST IN THE RUNNING.

BUT I THINK BY JANUARY, WE'LL REALLY KIND OF KNOW WHERE HE STANDS.

>> WHAT HE'S GOT TO DO IS WHEN THE GAME GETS TOUGH LATE, HE'S GOT TO BE THE GUY THAT STEPS UP AND BE THE LEADER.

THEY FUMBLED THE BALL 11 TIMES LAST WEEK AGAINST CARNEY.

>> BUT AGAIN THEN AGAINST CREIGHTON PREP, HE MADE A GREAT THROW LATE.

HE'S GOT THE TOOLS.

>> MICKEY MENTIONED IT TODAY.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON THE ROAD.

THEY'RE NOT SABOTAGING.

THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP THESE GUYS.

WHERE ARE THEY HEADED.

>> NEBRASKA HAS TWO BYE WEEKS, ONE HERE AND ANOTHER ONE COMING UP THREE WEEKS LATER AFTER THEY PLAY INDIANA.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF COACHES OUT LOCALLY.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE KANSAS CITY, PIERCE, NEBRASKA.

THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND SEE THE COMMITS THEY HAVEN'T SEEN YET.

THAT'S THE PRIORITY.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY WENT OUT TO CHAMBERS, NEBRASKA, TO WATCH CARTER NELSON AND AINSWORTH PLAY AN EIGHT-MAN GAME.

HE'S A 2024 PROSPECT TIGHT END THAT'S GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION.

THEN MICKEY JOSEPH WILL GO DOWN TO LOUISIANA FOR A COUPLE DAYS, DOWN TO MONROE ON FRIDAY AND NEW ORLEANS AS WELL.

SO MICKEY WILL MAKE HIS WAY DOWN TO HIS NECK OF THE WOODS.

>> WE APPRECIATE IT.

TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AROUND THE BIG TEN.

HOOSIERS WON IN OVERTIME IN A GAME THEY REALLY SHOULD HAVE LOST.

WESTERN KENTUCKY, 33-30.

PENN STATE TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS.

41-12 OVER AUBURN.

IOWA SHUT OUT NEVADA 27-0 DURING A MARATHON GAME THAT HAD THREE DIFFERENT WEATHER DELAYS.

IF YOU STAYED UP TO WATCH THAT, CONGRATULATIONS.

WE HAVE A WINNER IN OUR GAME DAY PHOTO CONTEST.

MICHELLE KENTIFIED SNAPPED THIS PHOTO DURING THE PREGAME FESTIVITIES WITH FOX'S BIG NOON KICKOFF.

LARRY THE CABLE GUY.

THANKS FOR SHARING, MICHELLE.

REMEMBER TO SEND US YOUR BEST GAME DAY PHOTO EACH WEEK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN GREAT PRIZES.

GET TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS.

BEFORE WE DO THAT, I ASKED YOU OVER THERE, YOU EXPECT IF MICKEY'S NOT AROUND, THAT WE COULD HAVE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DECOMMITS?

>> I'M MORE INTERESTED IN, LIKE, ROSTER MOVEMENT BECAUSE I THINK RECRUITING YOUR OWN ROSTER MIGHT BE AS IMPORTANT AS RECRUITING HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS.

GUYS LIKE TREY PALMER, MARCUS WASHINGTON.

A LOT DEPENDS ON WHO THE HIRE IS AND HOW THIS SHAKES OUT.

BUT RECRUITING YOUR OWN 85 RIGHT NOW IS GOING TO BE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS TRYING TO SIGN 15 HIGH SCHOOL GUYS.

THEN FIGURING OUT THE TRANSFER, IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE OPENING DAY OF DEER HUNTING SEASON.

PEOPLE OUT EVERYWHERE TRYING TO FIND PLAYERS.

>> THIS IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS BUT I KNOW FANS LOOK AT IT.

THEY SAW PURDY GO OUT THERE AND LOOK OKAY.

THEY SAW CASEY THOMPSON STRUGGLE A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS THERE AT QUARTERBACK?

>> I THINK COMPETITION WILL REIGN SUPREME.

YOU CONTINUE TO TRY TO GET BOTH GUYS THEIR REPS, THEIR LOOKS, AND SEE WHAT WORKS.

NEBRASKA'S GOT TO EXPLORE OPTIONS OFFENSIVELY IN TERMS OF THEIR PLAN OF ATTACK, THE GROUND GAME, GETTING MORE ATHLETIC.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE.

CASEY THOMPSON HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS LEADER AND SAID ALL THE RIGHT THINGS FOR NEBRASKA.

BUT I THINK IF THEY WANT TO BREED A CULTURE OF COMPETITIVENESS, THEN EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ON THE TABLE.

>> IT'S GOT TO BE THAT WAY, I'M ASSUMING, IN DEFENSE TOO, RIGHT?

EVERY OPTION'S -- >> EVERY SPOT'S UP FOR GRABS, EVERY SINGLE ONE.

THEY BETTER FIND GUYS WHO WANT TO COMPETE, WHO WANT TO WIN, AND JUST HAVE A LITTLE NASTINESS ABOUT THEM.

THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER WORDS THAT COME TO MY HEAD THAT THEY NEED TO PLAY LIKE, BUT I CAN'T SAY IT RIGHT NOW.

TAKE SOME PRIDE IN WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU OPERATE THINGS, YOU KNOW?

YOU'RE NOT ONLY DOING IT FOR THE "N" ON YOUR HELMET BUT THE NAME ON YOUR BACK NEEDS SOMETHING.

HAVE SOME PRIDE IN HOW YOU OPERATE AND JUST HAVE THAT SICK FEELING LIKE WHEN YOU GET BEAT, YOU KNOW.

YOU JUST GOT TO BE ABLE TO -- THAT MAKES YOU SO ANGRY, YOU NEVER WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO TRY TO FIND.

THEY DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF GUYS ARE OUT THERE I -- PLAYING LIKE THEY'RE JUST HAPPY TO BE ON THE TEAM.

THEY'RE NOT PLAYING MAD THAT THEY GOT THEIR HEADS KICKED IN WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT.

INTERESTING TO SEE WHO'S GOING TO STEP UP AND BRING THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THERE RIGHT AWAY AGAINST INDIANA BUT SOMEONE STEP UP AND SEE IF THEY CAN FIND THAT AND DIG IT OUT.

>> INDIANA IS SOLD OUT, CORRECT?

THEN THEY GO ON THE ROAD FOR TWO WEEKS.

THEN THERE'S ANOTHER HOME GAME.

IS IT PURDUE?

>> NO, THEY'RE AT PURDUE.

>> I KNOW INDIANA IS SOLD OUT.

>> YOU GOT ILLINOIS.

>> ILLINOIS.

>> THERE'S OPPONENT TICKETS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY FACTOR THAT IN BECAUSE OPPONENTS WILL RETURN SEATS TOO AND THERE USED TO ALWAYS BE GRAY AREA WITH THE SELLOUT STREAK ON THOSE OPPONENT SEATS, HOW THAT WAS COUNTED BECAUSE THOSE WERE CONTRACTED TO THE OPPONENT AND THEY RETURNED THEM MAYBE A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE THE GAME.

DO THOSE ALL BECOME RED CARPET SEATS?

IT'S HARD TO SAY.

BUT, YEAH -- >> THIS IS FOR DAMON.

MATT FROM FACEBOOK SAYS BEING THE FATHER OF AN N.U.

RECRUIT AND A HIGH SCHOOL COACH, WHAT ADVISE WOULD YOU GIVE TO RECRUITS THAT ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS?

>> I THINK BE PATIENT AND KEEP ALL YOUR OPTIONS OPEN IN TERMS OF WHAT NEBRASKA'S CAPABLE OF DOING.

IF NEBRASKA IS ON YOUR RADAR, YOU KNOW, I'D JUST REMIND MY OWN KID ALL THE TIME, IT'S NOT ABOUT ANY ONE PARTICULAR PERSON.

IT'S ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY, AND THE UNIVERSITY HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD SEE YOURSELF BEING A PART OF FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

AND WITH ALL THE MOVEMENT AND COMINGS AND GOINGS WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH COACHING STAFFS, IT'S DANGEROUS TO BE COMMITTED TO ONE PERSON OR TO ONE THING.

IT HAS TO BE IN ITS TOTALITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYTHING IS FAIR GAME, AND IT'S ON THE TABLE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST NEBRASKA PERSONALLY SPEAKING, YOU KNOW, IMMEDIATELY AFTER COACH FROST'S DISMISSAL, WE GET THE 13 OR 14 HANDWRITTEN LETTERS.

THEY ALL CAME AT THE SAME TIME.

YOU KNOW, COACH JOSEPH REACHING OUT.

HE WAS A BIG COACH CHINANDER GUY, THOUGH.

SO THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING.

HE AND I HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT.

BUT WE'LL JUST SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS DAMON ALWAYS SAYS, IT'S NOT THE UNIVERSITY OF TOM OZ BURN.

IT'S NOT THE UNIVERSITY OF SCOTT FROST.

IT'S THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

YOU GOT TO PLAY FOR THAT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

IF HE DIDN'T BRING IT UP, I WAS GOING TO ASK HIM.

AS A PLAYER, WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT?

THE COACHES RECRUITING OR THE UNIVERSITY?

IT'S INTERESTING.

YOU SEE PEOPLE THAT COMMIT AND THEY LEAVE BECAUSE THEIR COACH LEFT.

I GET SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

YOU MIGHT HAVE, YOU KNOW, A REAL CONNECTION.

BUT, MAN, I MEAN THIS IS -- OBVIOUSLY I'M BIASED.

I BELIEVE DAMON IS TOO.

>> AS I AM.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO SINCE I WAS LIKE 3 YEARS OLD IS PLAY FOOTBALL AT UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

I HAD OTHER OFFERS AND AS SOON AS NEBRASKA COMMITTED OR OFFERED ME THE SCHOLARSHIP, I COMMITTED THAT NEXT DAY.

I MEAN I COULD HAVE WENT TO OTHER PLACES, TOOK OTHER VISITS, AND IT WAS DONE.

I WAS GOING NOWHERE ELSE.

IT'S HARD TO SEE WHAT, YOU KNOW, KIDS ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW OBVIOUSLY, BUT I'M A BIG -- YOU GOT TO COMMIT TO THAT UNIVERSITY FIRST JUST BECAUSE YOU GET CAUGHT UP IN WHO'S COACHING OR WHATNOT -- >> HOW ABOUT MICKEY ECHOING THAT SENTIMENT, WHICH WAS MAYBE THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THING HE SAID TODAY BECAUSE PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE IT ABOUT HIM, THE INDIVIDUAL, AND HE STILL DEFLECTED AND MADE IT ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT'S WHERE THE ULTIMATE STAYING POWER IS.

>> KIND OF CONTINUING THIS, SCOTT SAYS COACHES ARE GOING OUT TO RECRUIT.

WHAT DO YOU TELL THE RECRUITS TO PERSUADE THEM TO COME WHEN ALL THIS IS HAPPENING?

>> I THINK YOU KEEP DIALOGUE GOING.

YOU KEEP CONVERSATION GOING.

YOU KEEP A PRESENCE.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU SELL THE BRAND OF NEBRASKA.

YOU'RE THERE TO SELL NEBRASKA.

YOU'RE NOT THERE TO SELL YOURSELF AS THESE GUYS SAID.

I THINK THE MAIN THING IS TO KEEP A PRESENCE.

WHO KNOWS?

I MEAN THERE COULD VERY WELL BE TWO OR THREE OF THESE GUYS RETAINED.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT DIRECTION THIS IS ALL GOING TO GO AND ALL THESE GUYS HAVE TO LOOK AT IT LIKE THAT.

THOSE GUYS ARE TRYING TO SHOW THEY STILL WANT TO BE AT NEBRASKA REGARDLESS, AND THEY'RE WORKING HARD AT IT.

>> WE STILL HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH ABOUT RAHMIR JOHNSON.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE DEAL IS AT RUNNING BACK POSITION?

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN UNFOLD, ESPECIALLY GIVEN HOW FALL CAMP WENT AND SPRING BALL WHERE HE WAS DOING MULTIPLE ROLES.

HE HAD BEEN A HIGH CHARACTER GUY AND A REALLY GOOD TEAM MADE FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES AND HAD SHOWED A TON OF VERSATILITY.

>> DO YOU THINK THEY'LL CONTINUE TO DO THE RED CARPET THING WITH -- IF THEY DON'T SELL OUT, THEY'LL JUST GIVE THE TICKETS AWAY OR LET IT DIE?

>> THEY'RE NOT GIVING THEM AWAY.

SOMEONE IS STILL PAYING FOR THEM AND THEY'RE GETTING A TAX WRITE-OFF.

>> THEN THEY'RE DONATING THEM.

>> DR. CHATTERS HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THAT PROGRAM.

I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THAT IN IRELAND.

JUST THINK ABOUT HOW MANY YOUNG KIDS IN OMAHA OR OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE -- >> YEAH.

>> IT USED TO BE $10, $20, $30 TO GO TO A NEBRASKA GAME.

IT'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT NOW, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING EVERYBODY CAN DO.

I THINK TO GET YOUNG KIDS IN THERE, NOT TO PLAY FOOTBALL BUT JUST TO GO TO SCHOOL AT LINCOLN AND SAY, I WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE HERE AND BE A PART OF THIS SCHOOL SOMEDAY.

I THINK THAT PROGRAM, JUST THE IDEA OF IT AND THE BRANDING OF IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST IDEAS WE'VE SEEN IN A WHILE.

>> DR. CHATTERS IS ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS AT THE UNIVERSITY.

HE'S FANTASTIC.

>> BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT MORE KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL THERE FOR ACADEMICS.

ON FACEBOOK, IF YOU DO BRING A DIFFERENT COACH IN, YOU CAN'T ASK THEM TO KEEP MICKEY.

YOU GOT TO LET THE GUY MAKE HIS DECISIONS.

>> I WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT ONE.

>> YOU CAN?

YOU CAN MAKE IT A STIPULATION IF DAVE ARANDA, SAY THIS GUY'S GOT TO SAY?

>> I THINK IN THAT HIRING PROCESS, YOU MAKE THAT KNOWN UPON TAKING THE JOB THAT, HEY, THIS IS A GUY THAT I THINK WOULD BE A GOOD FIT ON YOUR STAFF.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD ASCERTAIN.

>> WELL TO SALVAGE THE ROSTER TOO.

>> TURNER GILL IN '02, WE SAW THAT.

>> BRIAN APPLE WHITE STAYING, SOMETHING LIKE IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT.

>> I THINK THAT WILL DEFINITELY BE ON THE TABLE.

>> TO DO THAT?

THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

>> BURNING QUESTIONS.

YOU WANT TO GO FIRST.

>> I'LL GO FIRST.

HEADING INTO NEXT WEEK, WHAT'S THE DEFENSE GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

WHAT CHANGES ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE SYSTEMATICALLY?

>> MINE'S EASY.

NEW FACES OR NEW PLACES FOR THIS TEAM?

WHO CAN WIN A JOB, AND WHO'S AN INCUMBENT?

>> MICKEY JOSEPH TODAY ADMITTED THAT THEY NEED TO SLOW IT DOWN ON OFFENSE AND SLOW THE TEMPO DONE.

WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE AND WILL MARK WHIPPLE BE ON BOARD WITH THAT?

HE DOESN'T STRIKE ME AS A SLOW IT DOWN TYPE OF COACH.

HE TRIED TO GO 14 POSSESSIONS AGAINST OKLAHOMA LAST WEEK.

>> MY QUESTION IS WHAT DO YOU DO AT QUARTERBACK?

PURDY SHOWED SOME STUFF.

CASEY THOMPSON, HE'S PLAYED WELL BUT THERE'S BEEN SOME TIMES HE'S HAD SOME PROBLEMS.

DO YOU DECIDE EARLY AGAINST INDIANA IF THERE'S A PROBLEM OR DO YOU START PURDY IF HE WINS THE BATTLE IN PRACTICE?

A FRIEND OF THE SHOW, STEVE SIPLE.

WE KNOW THERE'S NO FOOTBALL GAME THIS WEEKEND BUT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA HAS YOUR SPORTS FIX COVERED.

ON SATURDAY NIGHT, THE SECOND RANKED NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL TEAM WELCOMES OHIO STATE.

7:00 P.M. CENTRAL TIME.

ON SUNDAY, CREIGHTON WELCOMES IN VILLANOVA FOR THE BIG EAST SHOWDOWN.

CATCH THAT MATCHUP AT 1:00 P.M. CENTRAL ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SPORTS FOR NEBRASKA'S HOME FOR VOLLEYBALL.

OUR THANKS TO SEAN CALLAHAN, JAY FOREMAN, AND FOR OUR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CALL CENTER FOR TONIGHT.

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