>> IN FALL CAMP, IT'S MY FOURTH TIME BEING A HEAD COACH AND HAVING IT BE DAY ONE.

THESE GUYS ARE JUST WAY FURTHER ALONG -- YOU KNOW, THEY JUST UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO AND THE STAFF HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.

>> I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE YOUNG MEN ARE STARTING TO TAKE ON THE IDENTITY OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO, RIGHT?

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

WE WANT TO PLAY WITH US FOR SPEED AND WE WANT TO HAVE DOMINATE CONTACT.

AND YOU SEE ELEMENTS OF IT SHOWING UP ON ALL THREE LEVELS FROM THE D LINE TO THE LINEBACKERS TO THE SECONDARY GUYS.

♪ >> YOU KNOW, I THINK MOST OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THESE DAYS ARE DYING FROM THE DISEASE OF LIKE LOW EXPECTATIONS.

LIKE WE MAKE EXCUSES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

YOUNG PEOPLE WILL RISE AND MEET EXPECTATIONS IF YOU HOLD THEM TO THAT.

>> THEY ATTACK EVERY SINGLE MOMENT, EVERY PLAY, EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK, IT'S ALL THE SAME.

AND THAT'S WHERE I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THE MINDSET TO.

JUST ATTACK EVERYTHING.

WHATEVER'S IN FRONT OF ME, I ATTACK.

>> AND I THINK THEY'RE SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

LIKE, AS I SAID TO THEM, LIKE, ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS EARN THE RIGHT TO WALK INTO MINNESOTA WITH CONFIDENCE.

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

ALSO WELCOME TO THE 124th SEASON OF NEBRASKA CORN HUSKER FOOTBALL.

JOINING ME TONIGHT, OF COURSE, FORMER HUSKERS JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING.

WHAT'S THE FEELING LIKE?

ARE YOU GUYS -- ARE YOU -- I KNOW OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOT PLAYING, BUT WE'RE TWO DAYS AWAY FROM THE START OF A SEASON WITH A NEW COACHING STAFF.

WHAT'S THE FEELING LIKE?

>> I'VE BEEN SAYING IT SINCE RHULE GOT HERE, I THINK -- I'M VERY CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.

LIKE I'M EXCITED -- >> YEAH.

>> BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET MY HOPES UP TOO HIGH BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE'VE -- WE'VE BEEN BURNED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS AND -- BUT THERE'S THINGS TO BE EXCITED ABOUT, BUT THERE'S ALSO THINGS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT TOO -- BUT I THINK THAT'S -- THAT'S A HEALTHY WAY TO LOOK AT IT SO FAR.

>> YEAH, WELL I'M THE EPITOME OF UNHEALTHY.

I AM -- I'M ALL IN.

HE -- HE JUST HITS THE BENCHMARKS OF WHAT I LIKE.

I THINK -- I DON'T JUST LIKE HIM BECAUSE WE THINK ALIKE, I JUST THINK I LIKE HIM BECAUSE HIS PLAN IS CLEAR CUT -- >> MM-HMM.

>> -- I LOVE THE COMMON LANGUAGE.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT HE'S CONSISTENT IN HIS MESSAGE AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT WILL MANIFEST ITSELF IN TERMS OF WINS AND LOSSES.

I JUST KNOW THE CONSISTENCY AND MODEL LEADERSHIP FROM HIS STANDPOINT -- >> MM-HMM.

>> -- IS SO REFRESHING, I'M WILLING TO GET BURNED.

>> WE'LL HAVE MORE TO TALK ABOUT THAT OF COURSE.

WE HAVE A LOT TO GET TO TONIGHT.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

YOU CAN TEXT OR EMAIL US YOUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS AT BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

WE'RE MONITORING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AS WELL, SO SEND YOUR THOUGHTS -- THE "BIG RED WRAP-UP" SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND WE WILL ANSWER AS MANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS AS WE CAN TONIGHT.

ALSO DON'T FORGET TO HEAD OVER TO OUR WEBSITE AND DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THE 2023 NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE POSTER.

YOU CAN PRINT THOSE OFF FOR YOUR HOME OR YOUR OFFICE, KEEP UP TO DATE WHAT'S GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR -- HOPEFULLY WITH A FEW MORE WINS THAN THE LAST FEW YEARS ON THERE AS WELL.

THERE'S ALSO OUR SIDELINE SURVEY.

IT'S BACK AND READY FOR YOUR VOTE AS WELL.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST THIS SEASON?

IS IT THE NEW COACHING STAFF, TRANSFER PORTAL AND ADDITIONS, TONY WHITE'S 3-3-5 DEFENSE, THE YOUNG FRESHMAN TALENT ON THE TEAM, OR SIMPLY JUST THE HOPE OF A WINNING SEASON.

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

DAMON YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT COMMON LANGUAGE -- >> MM-HMM.

>> -- AND, YOU KNOW, I LOVE SAYINGS.

I'M A BIG FAN OF IT.

I -- BEING IN THE MILITARY, EVERYTHING IS A SAYING.

YOU REMEMBER IT BECAUSE OF THE SAYING.

HE SAID, "TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, IT'S ABOUT BEING PHYSICAL."

HE SAID, "THURSDAY IT'S ABOUT BEING INTENTIONAL," AND "FRIDAY'S FAST."

I JUST -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS ABOUT THAT, I JUST LOVE IT!

I LOVE WHEN THEY SAY STUFF LIKE THAT.

HE'S -- AND HE'S GOT LOTS OF THEM.

>> YEAH, HE -- WHEN IT COMES TO -- THE THING THAT I LIKE ABOUT COMMON LANGUAGE IS IT BUILDS AN ACCOUNTABILITY -- >> MM-HMM.

>> -- RIGHT?

BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S GOT NATURAL BENCHMARKS IN THERE BECAUSE IF EVERYBODY KIND OF THINKS THE SAME AND TALKS THE SAME, IT'S EASY TO CORRECT ON THE FLY AND IT'S GOOD FOR EXHORTATION TOO, RIGHT?

IF I WANT TO -- IF I WANT TO TELL YOU, "HEY, GOOD JOB," IT'S IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHAT THAT COMMON LANGUAGE IS AND I JUST THINK IT BUILDS IN DISCIPLINE.

YOU DON'T GET MIXED MESSAGES.

>> MM-HMM.

>> RIGHT?

THE PLAYERS SOUND LIKE THE COACHES.

EACH COACH SOUNDS LIKE THE LAST COACH.

AND IF YOU WANT TO -- IF THERE'S A DESIRED OUTCOME OUT THERE, YOU HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL.

>> YEP.

>> AND SPECIFIC COMMON LANGUAGE MAKES THE OUTCOME INTENTIONAL.

YOU DON'T JUST LUCK INTO THINGS BY HOPING AND WISHING, YOU HAVE TO BE DIRECT AND INTENTIONAL.

AND I LOVE HIS DELIVERY.

>> YEAH, I -- ALL THE SAYINGS AND TERMINOLOGY HE USES, I AGREE, YOU HAVE TO BE DIRECT.

IT NEEDS TO BE INTENTIONAL.

HAS TO BE CLEAR, HAS TO BE CONCISE.

AND I THINK IN THIS DAY AND AGE IT'S SO EASY FOR YOUNG STUDENT ATHLETES TO FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF, RIGHT?

AND ALWAYS LOOK FOR AN EASY WAY OUT.

AND I THINK YOU SAW THAT -- I THINK JUST IN -- IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THE NEBRASKA HARD KNOCKS THAT WE'VE SEEN, THE THREE EPISODES, WHERE HE STOPPED PRACTICING.

HE'S LIKE, "OKAY, HERE'S MY STARTERS."

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SO AND SO GRADUATES?

WHO'S UP?

SO I THINK IT'S IN -- JUST GETTING IT ACROSS TO PEOPLE, IT'S OKAY TO REDSHIRT.

IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN YEAR ONE.

IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE AT -- A STARTING CORNER YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR, OR STARTING LEFT TACKLE.

THERE'S A PROCESS TO IT BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY -- ESPECIALLY NOWADAYS WITH THE TRANSFER PORTAL TO ALWAYS SEE THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT IT'S ALSO -- LOOK, JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT HANDED TO YOU DAY ONE DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN THE SITUATION YOU'RE GOING TO BE.

TRUST IT.

BUILD ON IT.

GO THROUGH SOME STRUGGLES.

GO THROUGH SOME GROWING PAINS.

IT'S GOING TO MAKE YOU BETTER IN THE END AND -- NOT ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE EASY WAY OUT.

AND I THINK THAT'S -- THAT'S WHY I LIKE -- THAT'S -- THAT'S -- THE THINGS I'VE SEEN SO FAR, THAT'S WHAT KIND OF STICKS OUT THE MOST.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE COACHING STAFF?

>> YEAH, SEE, I THINK HE WAS VERY INTENTIONAL IN HOW HE BUILT IT.

>> MM-HMM.

>> YOU KNOW, HIS COACHING -- HE -- HE KIND OF MODELS WHAT I BELIEVE IN MY HEART, COACHES COACH, COORDINATORS, COORDINATORS COACH POSITION COACHES, POSITION COACHES COACH PLAYERS AND FOR HIM, HE'S GOT A STAFF THAT WAS VERY INTENTIONAL.

NOBODY WANTS HIS JOB -- ♪ THEY'RE FIERCELY LOYAL.

THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE EXPECTATION LEVEL IS AND I THINK THEY EMBODY HIS PERSONALITY.

AND EVEN HIS HOLD OVER THE RETAINER -- AND DONNY RAIOLA IS REALLY HIS ALTER EGO, RIGHT?

DONNY IS THE ONE THAT IS VERY DIRECT, LITTLE BRASH, CAN LACK A LITTLE FEEL IF YOU WILL, BUT I THINK THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIMES WHERE COACH RHULE WOULD LIKE TO BE LIKE THAT.

BUT YOU CAN'T SOMETIMES AS A CEO, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SPRINKLE A LITTLE SUGAR TOO WHEN YOU'RE BUSY BEING THE ENFORCER.

SO, I LOVE HOW INTENTIONAL HE WAS IN PUTTING THIS STAFF TOGETHER.

HE'S GOT SOME YOUNG HUNGRY LIONS.

HE'S GOT A SAVVY VET.

HE'S GOT A GO-TO MAN.

AND HE'S GOT A HOLD OVER IN DONNY RAIOLA THAT GIVES HIM A COMMON VOICE, AND A NEW GUY THAT GETS TO BE KIND OF THE MOUTHPIECE WHEN IT'S NOT CUTTING TIME.

>> GEE, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT NEBRASKA WOULD START A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW PLAYERS.

THEY GOT TRANSFER PORTAL GUYS, BUT I SEE IT'S REALLY ONLY FOUR GUYS REALLY IN TERMS OF THE STARTERS.

JEFF SIMS, BEN SCOTT, CHIEF BORDERS, BILLY KEMP IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED.

BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY BROUGHT IN WITH THE NEW GUYS?

>> A LOT OF GOOD -- I MEAN -- VERY INTENTIONAL.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT WORD A LOT SO FAR WITHIN THE FIRST SHOW.

BUT THERE'S A METHOD FOR THE MADNESS.

AND I'VE SEEN THAT SO FAR.

AND IT'S TO INCREASE COMPETITION, INCREASE DEPTH, GET GUYS WITH THE RIGHT MIND SET.

>> YEAH.

>> AND HAVING THE ATTITUDE AND HAVE A SWAGGER ABOUT YOURSELF.

GUYS WHO CAN COMPETE AND COMMUNICATE VERY WELL, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

YOUNG KIDS DON'T LIKE TO COMMUNICATE ANYMORE.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST -- THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HIM.

AND IT'S INTERESTING YOU SAID THAT BECAUSE EVEN NEW STAFF, YOU LIKE TO BRING IN YOUR GUYS, BUT IT SHOWS YOU, THOUGH, THAT THE GUYS THAT WERE HERE AND ARE STILL PLAYING THAT ARE GOING TO GET -- OBVIOUSLY START AND CONTRIBUTE, THAT THE ATTITUDE AND MENTALITY IS RIGHT, EVEN WHAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH THE LAST THREE, FOUR YEARS, IS TO HAVE THAT -- THAT FORTITUDE, THAT INTERNAL FORTITUDE JUST TO BE LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT WAS THAT, THIS IS NOW.

I'M ALL HERE FOR IT.

'CAUSE IF ANYONE'S GOING TO HAVE EXCUSES, IT'S THE FOURTH AND FIFTH YEAR SENIORS, RIGHT?

LIKE, "WHY SHOULD I DO THIS?

I'VE BEEN THROUGH ALL THIS."

LIKE, IF ANYONE SHOULD HAVE EXCUSES OR LOOK FOR AN EASY WAY OUT, THEY SHOULD, BUT THEY DON'T.

AND THEY STUCK WITH IT, AND THEY'VE COMMITTED TO IT.

AND THEY SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THAT.

>> I THINK IT'S SPOT ON.

LIKE NOW, ME AND HAMMER, RIGHT?

YOU LOOK AT A GUY LIKE LUKE RHYMER.

WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY FOR HIM TO KIND OF GET IN HIS FEELS A LITTLE BIT.

YOU KNOW, A 'WHY ME' KIND OF GUY, AND I THINK I KNOW FOR SOME PEOPLE AS A NATURAL SELECTION TO GO TO BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS.

FOR ME, IT WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE BECAUSE HE'S A GUY THAT HAS SUNDAY POTENTIAL, THAT COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO WHAT YOU'RE JUST NOW DESCRIBING IN TERMS OF A WAY OF DOING THINGS AND WHY ME, AND MAYBE GET THE VIOLIN OUT AND WOE IS ME, AND HE'S ALL IN.

AND WHEN YOU GET A GUY LIKE THAT, THAT CAN BE ALL IN AS A HOLDOVER AND MODEL BEHAVIOR FOR NEW GUYS, YOU GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE.

IT'S NOT GUARANTEED BUT YOU GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE.

>> BEFORE WE GET TO SOME OF THE NEWS, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SINGLE DIGIT NUMBERS 'CAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS SPECIAL WITH THE BLACK SHIRTS.

OFFENSIVE FOLKS WERE LIKE, "WELL, WHAT DO WE GET?"

NOW YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO GET A SINGLE DIGIT NUMBER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IT'S COOL.

IT'S A NEW TRADITION, RIGHT?

I LOVE IT BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU'VE SEEN IT.

I MEAN, CLINTON NEWSOME WORE NUMBER 6 ALL LAST YEAR YEAR.

EVEN A DUDE THAT'S -- >> HE HAD TO EARN IT.

>> HE HAD TO EARN IT, YEAH.

HE WAS WEARING 15 IN CAMP.

HE'S GOT THE 6 BACK NOW.

HE'S A NEW MAN.

BUT I THINK IT'S COOL.

IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR, BUT ALSO, I KNOW THEY'RE HAVING SITUATIONAL CAPTAINS.

YOU KNOW, EVERY GAMES COULD BE A DIFFERENT PERSON, BUT ALSO, YOU'RE RECOGNIZING WHO YOUR DOGS ARE ESSENTIALLY.

YOU KNOW, YOUR GUYS, YOUR TEAM LEADERS, I THINK.

AND IT'S JUST -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S A REASON WHY THAT SINGLE DIGIT NUMBER, IT'S NOT BECAUSE, "IT WAS MY HIGH SCHOOL NUMBER.

OH, I WANT TO LOOK COOL OUT THERE."

YOU KNOW, LIKE, THOSE ARE YOUR GUYS.

WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH, THOSE SINGLE DIGIT GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STEP UP AND PROVIDE SOME LEADERSHIP.

>> FOR ME, IT BREEDS OPTIMISM.

I WANTED 3 WHEN I GOT TO COLLEGE.

INSTEAD OF HAVING TO FIGHT TOBY WRIGHT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK MY WAY INTO GETTING THAT NUMBER 3, RIGHT?

MY TEAMMATES MIGHT NOT HAVE VOTED FOR ME, BUT AT LEAST I WOULD'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

I'M ALL FOR IT.

IF THEY LIKE IT, I LOVE IT.

>> THERE'S BEEN SOME NEWS DURING CAMP, OBVIOUSLY.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SOME PLAYERS LEAVING AND STUFF.

BUT NOW ERIC GILBERT GETS ARRESTED ONLY A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE THE GAME.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT AFFECTS THE TEAM AT ALL?

>> YEAH, IT'S SO FRESH OBVIOUSLY, JUST COMING OUT TODAY.

AND IT JUST -- YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION IS.

HE'S OUT WITH A NCAA WAIVER.

BUT THIS BEING HIS THIRD OR FOURTH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS A REASON WHY.

I JUST -- I DON'T KNOW THE YOUNG MAN AT ALL.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DEALING WITH.

BUT IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE YOU SEE A GUY THAT HAS ALL THE TALENT IN THE WORLD.

AND FOR HIM TO HAVE TO DO THAT AND OBVIOUSLY MAKE A VERY POOR DECISION IS TOUGH BECAUSE YOU HOPE HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE, AND I JUST DON'T SEE ANY WAY POSSIBLE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW.

>> YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I'M A BIG BODY LANGUAGE GUY AND I SEE A LOT BETTER THAN I HEAR.

I'M WATCHING COACH RULE TODAY, AND I KNOW HE WAS BRIEFED, BUT YOU COULD TELL THAT THERE'S A BACK STORY THERE, RIGHT?

WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT HAVING HIM GOING THROUGH HIS OWN PERSONAL ISSUES AND HE FELT LIKE HE HAD A SUPPORT STAFF IN PLACE, AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF HURT AND KIND OF HIM TELLING THE STORY.

AND YOU KNOW, FOR COACH RULE, I THINK ULTIMATELY, HE JUST WANTS HIS PLAYERS TO TRUST HIM.

IF THEY TRUST HIM, THEN, I THINK HE THINKS THAT THAT STAFF AND HIS SUPPORT STAFF THAT HE'S SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH GIVE THE YOUNG MEN THEIR BEST CHANCE TO GROW INTO GOOD OLDER MEN.

AND SO, I THINK THAT'S WHAT BUGS HIM PROBABLY THE MOST.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE FOOTBALL ATTRIBUTES.

IT'S -- I THINK HE FIRMLY BELIEVES IF YOU SPEND ENOUGH TIME AROUND ME AND OUR STAFF, YOU WILL BE BETTER FOR IT THAN BEFORE WHEN WE GOT YOU.

>> YEAH.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE TRIES TO EMBODY.

>> BE A BETTER MAN.

SO, THE SCHEDULE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT.

A LONG TIME SINCE NEBRASKA WON THREE STRAIGHT GAMES.

2016 IN FACT.

EARLY ON IN THE SEASON, YOU GOT COLORADO, NORTHERN ILLINOIS, LOUISIANA TECH.

DO YOU FEEL SOMEWHERE THIS YEAR THIS IS THE YEAR TO GET THREE IN A ROW AGAIN?

>> I TELL YOU WHAT, IF THEY GET OFF TO A GOOD START AGAINST MINNESOTA, YES.

I THINK COLORADO'S VERY DOABLE.

AND THEN, OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND LOUISIANA TECH AFTER THAT.

I JUST -- THE MINNESOTA GAME, IT'S ALWAYS TOUGH ON THE ROAD, THURSDAY NIGHT.

BIG TEN OPPONENT.

>> OH, SURE.

>> IT'S -- WINNING IS A HABIT, LOSING IS A HABIT.

AND THIS TEAM, UNFORTUNATELY, HAS HAD LOSING HABITS.

BUT HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THEY DEVELOP BETTER HABITS.

IT'S JUST THIS FIRST ONE, IT'S THE KEY.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE BIG, YOU KNOW, WHAT COULD BE.

>> THEY'LL HAVE A COUPLE SHOTS AT IT.

>> YEAH, THEY HAVE ANOTHER ONE -- [ TALKING OVER EACH OTHER ] >> -- I THINK THEY CAN GET COLORADO, ILLINOIS, LOUISIANA TECH.

I THINK THEY CAN GET ILLINOIS, NORTHWESTERN, PURDUE.

I THINK THEY CANG GET NORTHWESTERN, PURDUE, AND MICHIGAN STATE.

>> YOU THINK THEY CAN GET ILLINOIS?

>> ILLINOIS' GOING TO BE A SHORT REST.

>> I THINK -- LISTEN, I LOVE -- IF ANYBODY LIKES ILLINOIS, IT'S ME, RIGHT?

>> I DO LIKE BIELEMA.

I LOVE BIELEMA.

I LOVE THEIR GAP SCHEME.

I THINK THEY HAVE THE SECOND BEST DEFENSIVE LINE IN THE CONFERENCE, IF NOT TOP FIVE IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY TRAIL ONLY MICHIGAN IN TERMS OF DEPTH AND PRO GUYS.

NO DISRESPECT TO THE GUYS IN COLUMBUS WITH HALL JR. AND TOMMY AMOLA -- >> YEAH.

>> -- WHO I THINK'LL BE FANTASTIC.

BUT I THINK IT'S A TOSS-UP.

AND -- AND GOING TO CHAMPAIGN PRESENTS ITS OWN CHALLENGES.

BUT NOTHING MORE DIFFICULT THAN WHAT THEY'LL SEE GOING TO MINNEAPOLIS AND A PLACE AGAINST A TEAM THAT HAS HAD NEBRASKA'S NUMBER.

SO, THEY'LL HAVE MULTIPLE CRACKS AT IT TO GET THREE IN A ROW.

BUT YOU CAN'T GET THREE WITHOUT GETTING ONE.

>> ONE, EXACTLY.

>> SO, LET'S START THERE.

>> FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE QUARTERBACK ROOM?

I KNOW WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF JEFF SIMS, BUT IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE DEPTH BEHIND HIM.

>> YEAH I DO.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW HE'S GOING TO FIT INTO THE RUN GAME.

THE QB DESIGN IS A MORE RPO SITUATION.

DAMON WILL KNOW FAIRLY BETTER THAN ME, BUT I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT WHOLE PROCESS HAPPEN AND THE COMMITMENT TO THE RUN GAME AND UTILIZING THE FULLBACK AND HOW HE'S ABLE TO UTILIZE THE WEAPONS HE HAS AT TIGHT END.

I KNOW THE WIDE RECEIVER ROOM ISN'T AS INVITING AS LAST YEAR WITHOUT TREY PALMER, BUT THAT ROOM, WITH HAARBERG AND PURDY, THEY'RE OKAY.

BUT IT'S HOW THEY'RE GOING TO UTILIZE HIM IN THE RUN GAME IS GOING TO TELL US LOT.

>> I'M RIGHT THERE WITH JAY.

I'M NOT AS ENAMORED.

I'M PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE SKEPTICAL THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE QUARTERBACK ROOM.

BECAUSE JEFF SIMS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOMEBODY HISTORICALLY HE HASN'T BEEN.

>> SURE.

>> TYPICALLY, THE BEST INDICATOR OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE IS PAST PERFORMANCE.

SO I'M TRUSTING THAT THE STAFF WILL PUT HIM IN BETTER POSITIONS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BECAUSE I THINK THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM HAVE TO BE THE ADULTS, RIGHT?

YOU CAN'T PUT PEOPLE IN COMPROMISING POSITIONS, THIRD AND SEVEN, THIRD AND EIGHT.

OBVIOUS PASSING DOWNS.

I'VE WATCHED A TON OF GEORGIA TECH FILM AND STUDYING HIM.

HE'S NEVER BEEN A GUY WHO RUSHED FOR MORE THAN 4.1, A CARRY A SEASON.

AND MOST OF HIS PLAYS IN ATLANTA CAME OFF SCRAMBLES, NOT DESIGNED RUNS.

SO THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK REPETITION WILL HELP BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO GET ON THE PERIMETER AND DEAL IN THE OPTION GAME, IT'S ABOUT DECISION MAKING.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT RAW TALENT.

GIVE, KEEP, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

I THINK NEBRASKA HAS BEEN SUPER INTENTIONAL WITH THEIR QUARTERBACK PACKAGES, WHETHER IT'S SIMS OR WHETHER IT'S PURDY, WHETHER IT'S A GUY LIKE HAARBERG, WHO CAN DEAL OUT THEIR OWN PERIMETER.

AND HERE'S THE BEAUTIFUL THING.

WITH FULLBACK RUN GAME NOW BACK AS A DIMENSION, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THIS, JAY, IT CHANGES DRAMATICALLY THE WAY THAT YOU CAN PLAY DEFENSE.

WITH A DOWNHILL INSIDE PRESENCE OF A RUN GAME, IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST SPACE AND PACE AND GETTING TO THE EDGES.

DIRECT FLOW IS HARD TO HANDLE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT HOW MOST DEFENSES ARE BUILT.

THEY DON'T LIKE WHEN YOU PLAY 3D IN THEIR KITCHEN.

AND NEBRASKA MAY BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT ARE YOU GOING TO CONTAIN OR SPILL?

>> RIGHT.

>> 100%.

>> AS A DEFENSIVE END, YOU HAVE POWER COMING AT YOU.

YOU HAVE THAT -- ARE YOU EDGING?

WRONG SHOULDERING IT.

>> AND THEY MAY READ YOU.

>> RIGHT.

SO YOU GET THE POWER PASS OFF THAT AS WELL.

IT'S A TRICKY SITUATION FOR THE FRONT SEVEN.

>> TWO WIDE RECEIVERS AND RUNNING BACKS REAL QUICK.

BECAUSE THE WIDE RECEIVER ROOM AS YOU MENTIONED, A LOT OF NAMES THERE, BUT NOT A LOT OF CATCHES OUTSIDE OF A GUY LIKE BILLY KEMP JR. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT GROUP?

>> LITTLE CONCERNED.

BUT MARCUS WASHINGTON HAS SHOWN SOME THINGS.

I KNOW HE'S BANGED UP AND SUPPOSEDLY GOOD TO GO FOR MINNESOTA.

BILLY KEMP AT VIRGINIA DID SOME GREAT THINGS.

LOSING A GUY LIKE TREY PALMER THAT'S GOING TO HURT.

BUT I TELL YOU WHAT -- >> THOSE THE BEST TOO -- >> CORRECT -- AND I'M NOT AS CONCERNED.

I TELL YOU WHAT, I'D BE MORE CONCERNED IF THEY HAD DEPTH ISSUES AT THE O-LINE POSITION.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> IF YOU RUN THE FOOTBALL, YOU CAN GIVE THE QB TIME.

YOU CAN THROW TO ANYONE.

CORNERS CAN'T COVER FOREVER.

YOU CAN GET GUYS OPEN.

YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE THE THROWS YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE FOOTBALL AND PROTECT THE QB TO MAKE THOSE WIDE RECEIVERS AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.

>> ANY OF THE YOUNG GUYS, THE FRESHMEN YOU SEE THAT MAYBE MIGHT JUMP OUT?

>> YEAH, I DON'T REALLY SEE IT.

>> NOT EVEN COLEMAN?

>> I THOUGHT DOS WAS PROBABLY THE MOST READY.

WATCHING JALEN LLOYD HAS BEEN THE MOST AVAILABLE, AND MALACHI COLEMAN MAY BE THE MOST TALENTED.

SO MAYBE IF YOU COULD COMBINE THE THREE.

THE BEST ABILITY IS AVAILABILITY.

I THINK LLOYD AND DOS HAVE SPEARHEADED THAT, BUT WASHINGTON IS MY FAVORITE.

I THINK HE'S A TOUGH GUY, NOT A FAKE TOUGH GUY.

SO GETTING HIM BACK HEALTHY WILL BE KEY.

I LIKE IGC.

AND BULLOCK IS A GUY I'M FAMILIAR WITH.

HE'S PUT IT ON US TIMES IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.

HE'S VERY ATHLETIC.

THERE'S NO SNEAKY TOO IT.

HE'S A TWO HAND WINDMILL DUNKER.

HE CAN HIGH POINT A BALL, AND KEMP IS EXPERIENCED.

HE'S NOT GREAT YARDS PER RECEPTION, BUT HE'S SUPREMELY CONFIDENT.

IT'S ALMOST SCARY.

IT'S ALMOST IRRATIONAL.

>> HE HAS LITTLE GUY CONFIDENCE.

LITTLE GUY TOUGH.

>> HOW CONFIDENT KEMP IS.

THEY'LL NEED SOME OF THAT.

BUT IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE OFFSET BY HOW GOOD THE TIGHT END ROOM CAN BE.

>> 8.9 YARDS A CATCH ALL THE TIME.

WHY GABE ERVIN OVER GRANT?

>> I THINK CONSISTENCY.

I MAY BE ONE OF THOSE INSECURE RUNNING BACKS THAT DOESN'T WANT THE ROOM TO BE AS GOOD AS MINE, BUT I'M NOT AS HIGH ON THE RUNNING BACK ROOM AS SOME IN TERMS OF HIGH-END TALENT.

BUT WHAT I DO LIKE IS THE BOTTOM IS REALLY CLOSE TO THE TOP.

I DON'T KNOW THERE'S A GUY THAT IS LIKE WHAT I WOULD SAY UBER TALENTED LIKE A TEN, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A TWO EITHER.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF SEVENS AND EIGHTS.

ERVIN HAS A LITTLE BIT OF PROVE, DURABILITY, THE ABILITY TO RUN BEHIND HIS PADS.

ANTHONY GRANT HAS TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF THE BALL.

RAHMIR JOHNSON IS THE MOST DEPENDABLE IN MY OPINION.

HE'S A HOME RUN THREAT BUT A LITTLE SMALL IN STATURE.

I'M TELLING YOU, KEEP AN EYE ON EMMETT JOHNSON.

>> OH YEAH!

HE'S THE QUICKEST.

>> HE MAY NOT BE READY TO GO EARLY, BUT I THINK YOU'LL SEE HIM IN THE RETURN GAME.

AND HE'S THE GUY THAT MAY PAY DIVIDENDS LATER ON.

THEY'LL NEED -- IF THEY RUN THE BALL LIKE I THINK THEY WANT TO, THEY'LL NEED ALL FOUR.

AND THEY'RE ALL A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

>> ALL I WANT TO SEE IS LIEBENTRITT PLAY.

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM.

>> YEAH LISTEN -- >> I WANT TO SEE HIM PLAY.

HE KILLS FOLKS.

>> HE'S A REAL ONE.

>> HE'S IS.

HE IS A TOUGH GUY BARRET LIEBENTRITT IS A REAL DUDE.

>> LOVED HIM IN HIGH SCHOOL.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM PLAY HERE.

WE HAVE A LOOK OUT FOR MORE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL, BUT THE DEFENSE WILL BE AN EXPERIENCE, OF COURSE, MAJOR CHANGES.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AND UNDERSTAND FOR YOU HOW THE 3-3-5 DEFENSE WILL BE PLAYED OUT THIS FALL.

♪ >>> THE HUSKER DEFENSE WILL HAVE A WHOLE NEW LOOK THIS SEASON, WITH THE ARRIVAL OF DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TONY WHITE AND HIS 3-3-5 DEFENSE.

SINCE 2017, NEBRASKA HAS RUN SOME VARIATION OF A 3-4 DEFENSE.

3-4 DEFENSE FEATURES THREE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN AND FOUR LINEBACKERS.

WITH THE SWITCH TO THE 3-3-5 DEFENSE, THE NUMBER OF DEFENSIVE LINEMEN REMAINS THE SAME, BUT ONE OF THE LINEBACKERS IS TAKEN AWAY TO ALLOW FIVE DEFENSIVE BACKS TO COVER THE SPREAD.

THE BEST FEATURE OF THIS SCHEME IS ITS ADAPTABILITY WHICH WE SAW IN ACTION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 2023 RED/WHITE SPRING GAME.

ALTHOUGH WHITE'S NEW DEFENSE WAS IN FULL FORCE, HARDLY ANY OF THE PLAYS STARTED WITH A TRADITIONAL 3-3-5 SETUP.

HERE'S JAY MOORE TO BREAK DOWN SOME DEFENSIVE PLAYS FROM THE SPRING GAME AND TO TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW THIS DEFENSE WILL WORK IN THE FALL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THREE PLAYS FROM THE SPRING GAME.

THIS ONE COMES TOWARD THE END OF THE GAME.

THE SITUATION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

BUT IN THIS SITUATION, THE OFFENSE NEEDS TO GET IN THE END ZONE AND SCORE POINTS.

SO NEBRASKA, THEY'RE GOING TO BRING THREE MAN RUSH OUT OF THAT THREE MAN FRONT AND DROP EIGHT.

YOU HAVE 11 ON THE FIELD, BRING THREE, HAVE EIGHT IN COVERAGE.

SO NEBRASKA, THE OFFENSE IS BRINGING FOUR MEN DOWN THE FIELD WITH THE BACK OUT LATE.

DOUBLE COVERAGE BY EVERYONE.

A TOUGH THROW FOR THE QUARTERBACK TO MAKE, ESPECIALLY IN A TIGHT RED ZONE SITUATION.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE DROP EIGHT IN THE COVERAGE, REALLY NOWHERE TO GO.

MIDDLE LINEBACKER DOES A GREAT JOB OF MAKING AN INTERCEPTION, AND THAT JUST WRAPS UP THE END OF THE SPRING GAME.

AS WE LOOK INTO THE NEXT PLAY, A VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION.

IT IS FIRST AND TEN.

YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE OFFENSE IS GOING TO THROW OR RUN IT.

SO A LOOK HERE.

WE HAVE SIX GUYS SHOWING UP AROUND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

NEBRASKA HAS FIVE GUYS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE, A BACK IN THERE TO HELP PROTECT.

SO IT'S A SIX ON SIX SITUATION.

BUT AS WE HIT PLAY, THE BACK HEADS OUT INTO THE FLAT, NOW IT'S A SIX ON FIVE SITUATION.

SOMEONE IS COMING FREE OUT OF THE SIX GUYS ON THE DEFENSE.

AS YOU SEE, THE OFFENSIVE LINE DOES A GOOD JOB OF PROTECTING INSIDE OUT.

THE EDGE GUY IS GOING TO COME FREE, BUT ON THE BACK END WHEN YOU'RE BRINGING SIX, YOU HAVE A MAN TO MAN SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE FIVE GUYS ON THE ROUTE.

ON THE BACK END, THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

GETS TO THE QUARTERBACK, MAKES A SACK.

SO THAT'S JUST TWO DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WHERE YOU RUSH THREE AND THEN YOU BRING SIX AND YOU KIND OF CAUSE SOME CHAOS.

SO LAST PLAY, AS WE LOOK HERE, THEY'RE SHOWING SIX GUYS UP FRONT.

BUT IN THIS SITUATION HERE, IT'S THIRD AND LONG.

OBVIOUS PASSING SITUATION.

SO IF THE QUARTERBACK IS SMART IN THIS SITUATION, HE KNOWS MAJORITY OF THESE GUYS ARE PROBABLY DROPPING.

AS WE LOOK, WE HAVE A THREE-MAN RUSH.

WE HAVE THE THREE GUYS DROPPING BACK.

GETTING INTO COVERAGE, HELPING OUT THE BACK END.

THE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN JUST HAS TO DO THE BEST HE CAN TO RUSH THE PASSER.

A THREE ON FIVE SITUATION.

SO THE DB NEEDS TO GET THE PICK THERE.

AGAIN, A BASIC LOOK TO THE 3-3-5 DEFENSE SO FAR IN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE SPRING GAME WITH TONY WHITE.

>> WITH A COMPLETELY NEW STAFF, HUSKER FANS WILL HAVE A LOT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN THE FALL.

AND A LOT OF ATTENTION WILL GO TOWARDS THE EXECUTION OF ITS DEFENSE AND HOW IT PANS OUT IN THE BIG TEN.

>> WE APPRECIATE JAY GIVING US THAT BREAKDOWN.

LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THIS DEFENSE.

WHAT'S THE CONCERN ON YOUR PART OF A MINNESOTA WITH GIANT OFFENSIVE LINE OR AN IOWA TEAM THAT WANTS TO RUN A MICHIGAN, WHEN YOU ARE NOT HUGE UP FRONT, AND YOU HAVE THREE DOWN LINEMEN?

>> OBVIOUSLY, IN THE 3-3-5, THE IDEA IS TO CREATE CHAOS, IS TO CREATE -- YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING WHERE.

AND I LIKE THAT ASPECT, BUT ALSO BEING A GUY THAT KNOWS SITUATIONAL DEFENSIVE FOOTBALL, YOU BETTER KNOW WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AT ALL TIMES.

YOU BETTER BE ABLE TO TRUST THE OTHER TEN GUYS THAT KNOW WHERE THEY NEED TO BE TOO.

YOU HAVE GUYS, OFFENSES IN THIS LEAGUE WHERE THEY'RE DOWNHILL AND THEY'RE PUTTING GUYS IN THE NFL DRAFT PICKS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

YOU BETTER HAVE GUYS WHO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY NEED TO BE EVERY DOWN.

THAT'S THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE, JUST WHEN YOU GET SO MULTIPLE AND YOU HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT LOOKS, WHAT IS YOUR BASE?

WHAT DO YOU GO BACK TO WHEN THINGS KIND OF HIT THE FAN?

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

SO THAT'S MY ONLY REAL CONCERN, JUST THINGS CAN GET TOO OUT OF CONTROL.

OR CAN THEY KIND OF HUNKER DOWN, HITCH THEIR WAGON TO SOMETHING AND SAY THIS IS WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE, AND WE'RE GOING TO PLAY LIKE THIS.

I'M CONCERNED THINGS COULD GET OUT OF CONTROL IN THE 3-3-5.

>> BRIAN URLACHER CAME OUT OF THIS DEFENSE IN NEW MEXICO.

HE WAS A STAR.

WHO'S THE GUY WHO IS GOING TO BE OUR STAR IN THE 3-3-5?

>> THERE'S A COUPLE GOOD CANDIDATES.

I THINK IT'S NOW OR NEVER FOR LUKE REIMER.

HE'LL BE FREED UP TO MAKE SOME PLAYS.

I ALSO LIKE A GUY LIKE CHIEF BORDERS.

THAT JACK POSITION IS LOADED.

I THINK IF JIMARI BUTLER WAS HEALTHY, HE WOULD PROBABLY BE YOUR STARTER.

BUT YOU HAVE GUYS LIKE CHIEF BORDERS, JIMARI BUTLER, MJ SHERMAN.

THAT'S GOOD DEPTH AT THE JACK SPOT.

YOU LOOK AROUND AT THE OTHER SIDE, THAT OPEN SIDE.

I LIKE A GUY TO BE ABLE TO GET DOWN IN THE BOX LIKE GIFFORD.

>> LISTEN, HE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES, PRIMARILY BECAUSE HE BELIEVES HE IS THE MAN.

HE'S VERY SMART.

HE'S A SURE TACKLER.

THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT TONY WHITE ASKS FROM HIS DEFENSE.

AND THEY'RE TWO T WORDS THAT YOU LOVE.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TACKLE AND YOU HAVE TO BE TOUGH.

YOU CAN CHICKEN OR EGG WHICH ONE IS MORE IMPORTANT OR COMES FIRST.

BUT WITH THAT BACK FIVE AND THEIR VERSATILITY TO BE ABLE TO GET DOWN INTO THE BOX WITH SO MANY MAN CONCEPTS THAT THEY PLAY ON DEFENSE, IF THAT BACK FIVE CAN TACKLE, LOOK FOR BULLOCK TO FLOURISH.

>> I THINK ISAAC GIFFORD MIGHT LEAD THEM IN TACKLES.

>> LISTEN, HE'S AN ABSOLUTE FEARLESS MAN.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

NEXT UP ON THE SHOW, WE HAVE AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH FIRST YEAR NEBRASKA HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, MATT RHULE.

BUT FIRST, LET'S HEAR FROM THE PLAYERS, COACHES LEADING UP TO GAME AND CATCH UP WITH SIGHTS FROM HUSKERS FALL PRACTICES.

COURTESY OF HURRDAT SPORTS.

STAY WITH US, WE'RE BACK SOON >> I'M CONFIDENT WE'RE GOING TO PLAY HARD.

I'M CONFIDENT WE'RE GOING TO BE A PHYSICAL TEAM.

I'M CONFIDENT IF THINGS DON'T GO WELL EARLY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PANIC.

I'M CONFIDENT IF THINGS GO WELL EARLY, WE'RE NOTS GOING TO CELEBRATE.

I THINK OUR GUYS UNDERSTAND THIS IS A 60-MINUTE GAME AND A 12-GAME SEASON.

AND I'M CONFIDENT WE'LL HAVE FUN TOGETHER.

>> YEAH, JUST WHAT WE THOUGHT THE 11 THAT WE WERE ANTICIPATING GOING OUT THERE AND STARTING.

YOU KNOW, DIDN'T WANT TO TRY TO GIVE OUT MORE OR LESS.

JUST HEY, 11 GUYS WE ANTICIPATE STARTING IS HANGING UP IN THOSE GUYS' LOCKER, AND KIND OF GO FROM THERE.

>> WE WANT OUR GUYS TO ALWAYS UNDERSTAND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PAST HERE, THAT THERE'S A LEGACY WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM AND A LEGACY WE HAVE TO LEAVE BEYOND US.

SO WHOEVER IS GOING TO STEP UP AND BE A STARTER FOR US ON DEFENSE AND WEAR THE BLACK SHIRT, THEY HAVE TO PLAY TO THAT STANDARD IF THEY WANT TO START FOR US.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO FAIR CATCH ANY KICKOFF RETURNS.

WE DON'T BELIEVE IN IT, I DON'T BELIEVE IN IT.

WE MIGHT LET IT LAND IN THE END ZONE, BUT THE GAME IS MEANT TO BE PLAYED.

SO WE'RE GOING TO PLAY.

>> WE JUST GOT TO BE DISCIPLINED.

THEY LIVE IN THE FIRST, SECOND DOWN KNOWING THEY'RE GOING TO GET THAT THIRD AND SHORT, SO WE JUST HAVE TO BE DISCIPLINED IN WHAT WE DO AND STOP THE RUN AS BEST WE CAN.

>> FIRST GAME IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS GAME, HOW WE PLAY TO THE END OF THE YEAR.

WE WANT TO BE A TEAM THAT GETS BETTER EVERY GAME, EVERY DRIVE.

GETS BETTER THROUGH THE SEASON.

THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT DAY FOR US.

IT'S A GREAT FIRST STEP ON AN AMAZING JOURNEY.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO BIG RED WRAP UP.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO BIG RED WRAP UP.

WE'RE JOINED BY THE 31ST HEAD FOOTBALL COACH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, MATT RHULE.

COACH WE APPRICIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME.

>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU.

>> YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS A LOT, AND AS WE'RE TAPING IT, YOU'RE ABOUT TEN DAYS AWAY FROM THE GAME.

HAS CAMP GONE LIKE YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD, HOW YOU PLANNED, HOW'S IT BEEN?

>> IT'S BEEN GREAT.

IT'S PROBABLY GONE BETTER THAN I THOUGHT.

YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING FROM MOVING INTO THE DORMS TO SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES.

WE HAD A LOT OF FUN.

AND IT'S BEEN GOOD FOR ME TO SEE, WE HAVE BEEN REALLY PHYSICAL.

PRACTICED REALLY HARD, YET WE'RE COMING OUT REALLY HEALTHY.

IT SHOWS THEY DID A GREAT JOB IN THE SUMMER WITH COREY AND THE STRENGTH STAFF.

>> HOW HAS THAT BALANCE BEEN?

YOU STARTED LONG ENOUGH AGO THAT YOU COULD HIT EVERY DAY ALMOST.

HOW THAT'S BEEN WORKING AROUND THE NCAA RULES?

>> IT'S TOUGH.

THEY HAVE CHANGED THEM SINCE I WAS LAST HERE.

YOU CAN ONLY BE IN FULL PADS EIGHT TIMES BEFORE THE FIRST GAME.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN IT.

I THINK IT'S WRONG.

I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO REALLY CALLOUS YOUR BODY.

BUT THEY LET YOU HAVE HELMETS AND SHOULDER PADS AND OUR GUYS DO A GREAT JOB OF BEING PHYSICAL WHILE STILL STAYING OFF THE GROUND.

SO I HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH OUR GUYS.

THEY REALLY BELIEVE IN PRACTICE.

THEY BELIEVE IN OUR MESSAGE IS SIMPLE.

YOU'RE TRYING TO MASTER YOUR CRAFT, THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS PRACTICE.

THEY HAVE REALLY TAKEN TO IT, AND AS A RESULT, BECAUSE EVERYONE IS GOING AT THE SAME SPEED, WE COME OUT PRETTY HEALTHY.

>> OBVIOUSLY, THE CLOSE LOSSES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS SOMETHING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT A LOT.

IS THERE A SECRET SAUCE THAT YOU'VE DISCOVERED OVER YOUR YEARS FOR WINNING THOSE ONE-SCORE GAMES?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU HAVE TO FIRST LEARN HOW TO WIN.

I THINK REALL AT FIRST, YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW NOT TO LOSE.

ELIMINATE LOSING FOOTBALL.

THEN YOU START PLAYING GOOD FOOTBALL AND LEARN HOW TO WIN.

EVENTUALLY THERE'S A THIRD STAGE OF PLAYING CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL.

THOSE GAMES COME DOWN TO THE TWO-MINUTE DRIVE OR A LAST PLAY OR A GREAT SACK TO END THE GAME.

SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE LEARNING HOW TO ELIMINATE LOSING FOOTBALL AND HOW TO PLAY REALLY GOOD FOOTBALL.

AND I BELIEVE IT COMES DOWN -- IT'S EVERYTHING.

IT'S THE WAY WE TRAVEL, BEING ON TIME TO STUDY HALL, BEING HYDRATED.

ALL THE LITTLE THINGS THAT DON'T SEEM IMPORTANT REALLY ARE.

SO THE GUYS HAVE BOUGHT INTO THEM, EVEN WHEN THEY HAVEN'T UNDERSTOOD IT, THEY BOUGHT FOR TO IT.

I SEE US MAKING HUGE STRIDES.

I HOPE IT HAPPENS THIS YEAR.

I HOPE THIS IS THE YEAR WE HAVE A LEAD AND FINISH THE GAME.

I HOPE THIS IS THE YEAR THAT MAYBE WE'RE BEHIND AND COME BACK AND WIN.

BUT IT WILL DEFINITELY HAPPEN.

>> YOU'RE A NO STONE UNTURNED KIND OF GUY.

I COULD TELL.

EVEN WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PRACTICE FIELD, YOU WAIT A FEW DAYS FOR IT TO SETTLE, IS THAT BASES ON YOUR YEARS OF COACHING OR COACHES YOU HAD THAT YOU WORKED FOR THAT YOU'RE SO INTO THE DETAILS.

>>DR.

SUSAN ELZA WHO'S OUR CHIEF OF STAFF TOLD ME, YOU'RE THE MOST PARTICULAR GUY I HAVE EVER MET IN MY LIFE.

I SAID I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A COMPLIMENT, BUT I THINK, IF WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING A CERTAIN WAY, WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO IT THAT WAY.

AND I WANT TO BE INTENTIONAL.

I WANT OUR STAFF TO BE INTENTIONAL.

WE THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING.

WE DON'T WANT TO JUST FLY BY THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS.

SO I THINK I LEARNED A LOT OF THAT FROM JOE PATERNO.

COACH WAS VERY MUCH THAT WAY.

HE WOULD STAND UP IN FRONT OF US AND YEAR, WHATEVER IT WAS, 1995, 1994, 1996, AND HE WOULD BE READING OFF PRACTICE SCHEDULES FROM 1982, SIX MINUTES OF THIS, FIVE -- BUT HE WAS SO INTENTIONAL.

YOU RECOGNIZE THERE WAS A PURPOSE TO IT.

I WORKED FOR TOM COUGHLIN, WHO WAS AS PARTICULAR AND STRICT AND I SAW FROM BOTH THOSE MEN, BOTH HALL OF FAMERS, SAY SOMETHING, PLAN IT OUT, AND THEN DO IT, AND BE UNWAVERING.

I'M TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING AS BEST I CAN.

>> YOU WERE ONLY ON THE JOB ABOUT A MONTH WHEN YOU GOT JEFF SIMS OUT OF THE PORTAL.

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT HIM THAT YOU SAW ON AT GEORGIA TECH OR TALKING TO HIM.

WHAT DID YOU SEE?

>> WELL YOU KNOW I'VE WATCHED JEFF FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

HEAD COACH AT GEORGIA TECH WAS A GREAT FRIEND OF MINE.

SO I WATCHED A LOT OF GAMES.

I THINK HE HAS ELITE POTENTIAL.

HE'S GOT A TON OF TALENT.

AND I LIKE WHO HE IS AS A PERSON.

WHEN THE HEAD COACH AT GEORGIA TECH WAS FIRED ABOUT THE SAME TIME I WAS OUT, SO WE TALKED A LOT.

HE REALLY BELIEVED IN JEFF.

GETTING TO KNOW JEFF AND TALKING TO HIM, YOU CAN SEE THE PERSONALITY, YOU COULD SEE THE TRAITS, YOU COULD SEE ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE HIM A GREAT LEADER.

AND WE WERE LUCKY THAT HE CHOSE US.

HE HAD A LOT OF OPTIONS, BUT HE CHOSE TO COME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, AND I'M GRATEFUL HE DID.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD PLAYER.

>> OUT OF ALL THE THINGS COMING OUT OF CAMP, WIDE-RECIEVER INJURIES AND OBVIOUSLY LOSING A BODY AS WELL, HOW IS THAT COMING ABOUT AND IS THERE A NUMBER YOU WANT TO HAVE, WHERE YOU CAN SAY I HAVE FIVE GUYS I CAN COUNT ON OR SIX GUYS I CAN COUNT ON?

>>WELL I ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE FIVE RECEIVERS THAT CAN ALL GO IN THE GAME WITHOUT A DROPOFF.

AND OBVIOUSLY, LOSING XAVIER WAS DIFFICULT, IT WAS TOUGH.

A, FOR US, AND B, FOR HIM.

LOSING MARCUS WASHINGTON EARLY WITH AN INJURY, YOU KNOW, HE'S PLAYED A LOT OF FOOTBALL.

WHENEVER HE GETS BACK, I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT MARCUS GETTING HIS LEGS UNDERNEATH HIM.

HE'S PLAYED A LOT OF FOOTBALL, HE HAD A REALLY GOOD SUMMER, HAD A REALLY GOOD CAMP UNTIL HE GOT HURT.

AND IN THE COUPLE DAYS HE DID PRACTICE-— HE'S VET, HE'LL BE BACK.

IF WE CAN GET TO FIVE GUYS, THEN GREAT.

I THINK WHAT WE DO HAVE IS A BUNCH OF FRESHMEN THAT ARE REALLY TALENTED.

AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO PLAY FRESHMEN.

IN THE RECRUITING PROCESS, I TELL THEM ALL YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO PLAY.

WE'RE WORKING OVERTIME TO GET THEM READY TO GO.

I LIKE THAT ROOM.

WE HAVE COMPETITORS, TOUGH GUYS, WE HAVE GUYS WHO CAN GET OPEN.

WE'LL JUST BRING THE FRESHMAN ALONG WITH THEM.

>> YOU MENTIONED FRESHMEN AND ALSO MENTIONED THAT YOU NEED VETERANS TO WIN IN THE BIG TEN.

IS THERE A POSITION THAT YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE PLAYING A FRESHMAN?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON.

YOU KNOW, I STARTED A FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK AT TEMPLE MY FIRST YEAR, I STARTED A FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK AT BAYLOR.

AFTER GAME FOUR, I PUT BOTH OF THEM IN AND THEY STARTED EVERY GAME FOR ME UNTIL I LEFT.

THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK PROBABLY I DON'T REALLY WANT TO PLAY A TON OF FRESHMEN OFFENSIVE LINEMEN.

>> FOR SURE.

>> IN THE BACK END, THE ATHLETIC POSITIONS, THE RUNNING POSITIONS.

WHEN YOU'RE A FRESHMAN, YOUR BODY MIGHT NOT BE AS BUILT UP, BUT AT RECEIVER, RUNNING BACK, AT DB, IF YOU CAN RUN YOU CAN RUN.

WE WERE FORTUNATE THOUGH THAT A LOT OF GUYS CAME MIDYEAR.

SO LIKE CAM LENHARDT, PRINCEWILL THOSE GUYS ARE GOING TO PLAY, THEY'RE READY TO PLAY.

THEY DID OUT MAT DRILL, THEY DID OUR OFFSEASON.

THEY'RE ALMOST LIKE SOPHOMORES EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ACTUALLY ONLY FRESHMEN.

>> WE THINK AS FOOTBALL FANS WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING ON AN OFFENSIVE LINE AND I KNOW WE DON'T.

TELL ME WHAT YOU SAW FROM THESE GUYS, A LOT RETURNING, THAT YOU SAY THIS OFFENSIVE LINE WILL BE BETTER OR GOOD, WILL SERVE LIKE YOU WANT IT TO BE.

>> I THINK OUR OFFENSIVE LINE IS GOING TO PLAY WELL.

THEY FUNCTION AS A GROUP, WORK AS A GROUP.

WE HAVE A COMMITMENT, THE WAY WE TRY TO RUN THE PROGRAM IS WE DO A LOT OF GOOD ON GOOD, ONES ON ONES.

AND THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF THAT IS, WHEN YOU GET TO THE GAME, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD TO PASS PROTECT AGAINST TY ROBINSON ALL WEEK, ZONE BLOCK A NASH HUTMACHER ALL WEEK, YOU HOPE WHEN YOU GET TO THE GAME, YOU'RE PREPARED.

YOU'RE HOPING THAT OUR GUYS ON DEFENSE ARE BETTER THAN THE GUYS YOU'RE PLAYING AGAINST OR THE SAME LEVEL.

I LIKE WHERE OUR GROUP IS AT.

THEYRE TOUGH, THEY'RE PHYSICAL.

WE TOOK THE KNEE BRACES OFF, WE KIND OF CHANGED A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF THE WAY WE TRAIN THEM.

DONNY IS IN YEAR TWO WITH THEM.

I THINK DONNY IS AS GOOD OF AN O-LINE COACH AS I HAVE BEEN AROUND.

SO IM EXCITED FOR THE GUYS.

AND THEN THE SYSTEM THAT SATT HAS, WE DON'T WANT TO BE FLASHY.

MARCUS ISN'T TRYING TO SET ANY RECORDS FOR YARDAGE.

WE WANT TO WIN GAMES.

SO WE'LL PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS AND I THINK AS THE YEAR GOES ON WE'LL ADAPT A LITTLE BIT, WHEN WE PLAY SOME GAMES.

SEE WHAT WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT AND THEN STICK WITH IT.

>> DO YOU HAVE A PHILOSOPHY IN TERMS OF ROTATING AT ALL OFFENSIVE LINE?

DO YOU PICK FIVE GUYS AND THEY GO THE WHOLE GAME?

OR DO TRY BRING HEAVIER GUYS IN AND WORK THEM IN?

>> WE LOVE TO HAVE SEVEN GUYS WHO CAN GO IN THE GAME.

IF WE CAN PLAY ALL SEVEN, THAT'S GREAT.

IT GIVES GUYS A CHANCE ESPECIALLY EARLY IN THE YEAR TO GET THEIR FEET UNDERNEATH THEM.

LETS YOU PLAY GUYS THAT ARE FRESH, AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME WHEN A GUY GETS BANGED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR WHICH USUALLY HAPPENS, SOMEONE IS NOT GOING IN AT CRUNCH TIME FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SO WE LOVE TO PLAY SEVEN GUYS.

BUT THEY ALL HAVE TO BE ABOVE THE LINE.

THEY ALL HAVE TO BE GOOD ENOUGH.

I THINK WE HAVE SIX OR SEVEN, EIGHT GUYS WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT GOING INTO THE GAME AND PLAYING.

SO WE'RE RIGHT THERE.

I THINK YOU COULD SEE US ROTATE SOME.

A LOT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEXT TEN DAYS THAT WILL MAKE SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS EASIER TO MAKE.

>> I HAVE A REAL APPRECIATION FOR THE 3-3-5.

CAUSE I WAS WORKING IN NEW MEXICO, ROCKY LONG WAS THERE, BRONCO MENDENHALL WAS THERE, WE HAD A CHANCE TO WATCH PRACTICE.

THE CONCERN FANS HAVE, THOUGH, IS THE BIG TEN.

BIG OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, GOING TO TRY TO RUN THE BALL DOWN YOUR THROAT.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT IN THE 3-3-5?

>> YOU KNOW, WE WERE LAST IN THE LEAGUE IN RUN DEFENSE LAST YEAR, PLAYING A DIFFERENT DEFENSE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY THE SCHEME.

I THINK IT'S HOW YOU DO THINGS.

I'LL ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT.

WE WERE A TOP 25 DEFENSE AT TEMPLE 3 OF 4 YEARS AND WE PLAYED A 4-4-3.

WE WENT TO BAYLOR, WE SWITCHED TO A THREE-DOWN FRONT LIKE THIS.

WE WERE ONE OF THE TOP DEFENSES IN THE NATION OUR LAST YEAR.

WENT TO THE NFL, WE WENT TO MORE OF A FIVE-DOWN APPROACH.

I DON'T THIRK IT'S AS MUCH TO ME ABOUT WHAT WE DO, IT'S HOW WE DO IT.

CAN WE GET OFF BLOCKS?

CAN WE TACKLE, DO WE RUN TO THE BALL, AFFECT THE QUARTERBACK, PUNCH THE BALL OUT?

I LOVE THE VERSATILITY OF TONY'S SCHEME.

IT'S FUN.

IT'S AGGRESSIVE.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO BLOCK.

I'M NOT AN OFFENSIVE HEAD COACH, NOT A DEFENSIVE HEAD COACH.

I'M KIND OF RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE.

SEEING IT FROM AN OFFENSIVE PERSPECTIVE, HOW HARD IT IS TO DEAL WITH, I THINK IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

YEAH, TEAMS ARE GOING TO LINE UP AND TRY TO BULLY US, KNOCK US OFF THE BALL, AND I SAY THAT SINCERELY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.

WE CAN'T BE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AND BE LAST IN THE BIG TEN IN TERMS OF RUSH DEFENSE.

WE HAVE TO BE NEAR THE TOP.

I DON'T CARE, WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO THAT, WE'LL DO.

>>YEAH, IN TERMS OF GETTING AFTER THE PASSER, HOW DOES A 3-3-5 HELP WITH THAT?

YOU NOTICE THAT THERE'S FIVE GUYS IN THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, ANY COULD BE COMING AT ANY TIME.

HOW DOES THAT HELP YOU GET TO THE PASSER?

>>YEAH, I THINK WHEN YOU GO TO AN ODD FRONT, WHEN YOU'RE IN THREE-DOWN OR FOUR-DOWN, THE OFFENSE HAS TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

YOU BASICALLY HAVE THREE KNOWN RUSHERS AND NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHO IS THE FOURTH, WHO IS THE FIFTH.

WHEN YOU'RE A FOUR-DOWN TEAM WHICH I HAVE BEEN MANY YEARS.

HEY, HERES THE FOUR GUYS.

YOU HAVE TO BLOCK THESE FOUR, SO THROUGH DISGUISE, THROUGH MULTIPLE LOOKS, WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE MISMATCHES, WERE TRYING TO CREATE CONFUSION.

WE'RE ALWAYS HOPING MAYBE THEY WILL TURN A GUY LOOSE OR WE CAN GET ONE OF OUR BEST RUSHERS ON THE RUNNING BACK OR ONE OF THE WORSE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN.

TO ME, IT'S KIND OF A CHESS MATCH.

THE GREAT THING IS TONY IS NOT INVENTING THIS DEFENSE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

HE'S BEEN CALLING IT, RUNNING IT.

HE KNOWS HOW TO ADJUST IT.

I HAD A LOT OF FUN WATCHING HIM SO FAR.

>> I'M MOSTLY INTRIGUED BY FINISHING DRIVE RATE.

IT'S MY FAVORITE ANALYITIC.

IT REALLY TELLS YOU WHO IS GOING TO WIN GAMES AND IT'S BASED ON RED ZONE OFFENSE RIGHT?

CAN YOU GIVE US A PHILOSOPHY ON COACHING RED ZONE OFFENSE.

>>YEAH YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO SCORE A TOUCHDOWN ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME WE'RE IN THE RED ZONE.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO.

WE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO RED ZONE SCORING PERCENTAGE.

FOR US IT'S ALL ABOUT RED ZONE TOUCHDOWNS.

WE THINK ON DEFENSE, A FIELD GOAL IS A TAKEAWAY, A TURNOVER.

IF THEY KICK A FIELD GOAL, WE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO.

ON OFFENSE, WE'LL TAKE FIELD GOALS BUT WE'RE NOT EXCITED ABOUT THEM, UNTIL THE FOURTH QUARTER WHEN IT MATTERS.

I THINK EVERY GAME IS DIFFERENT.

SOME GAMES YOU'RE TRYING TO COLLECT POINTS ON OFEENSE, SOME GAMES YOU'RE GOING FOR IT ON FOURTH DOWN.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE EACH GAME BASED ON WHAT YOU THINK THE OUTCOME IS GOING TO BE, A BIT DIFFERENTLY, BUT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE BALL IN THE RED ZONE.

IT'S ONE THING TO RUN THE BALL UP THE FIELD.

THAT'S GREAT.

BUT JOW TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE BALL WHEN IT COUNTS IN THE RED ZONE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE RED ZONE THREATS.

GUYS WHO CAN CREATE ONE ON ONE WITH WHO CAN WIN, AND I THINK THE QUARTERBACK RUNNING THE BALL IN THE RED ZONE IS A REALLY KEY FACTOR.

ONE THING TO RUN THEM UP THE FIELD.

THAT'S GREAT.

BUT YOU GET DOWN THERE, POINTS MATTER.

AND RUNNING THE QUARTERBACK CAN REALLY HELP YOU.

>> I HAVE TWO SONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD LEAVE ONE BEHIND.

EVEN WITH THEIR GRAND-PARENTS.

HOW YOU DEALING WITH FIRST BEING AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY AND NOW HAVING YOUR SON FINISH HIS SENIOR YEAR AWAY FROM YOU?

>>YEAH, THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.

MY WIFE AND DAUGHTERS GOT HERE LAST MONDAY.

AND I HAVE A TRADITION EVERY YEAR WHENEVER MY DAUGHTERS SHOW UP FROM CAMP, I GIVE EVERYONE OFF THE REST OF THE DAY.

SO THE GUYS WERE PRETTY FIRED UP.

WE MOVED INTO OUR HOUSE.

REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THEM HERE.

THAT BALANCE, I LOVE THEM, OBVIOUSLY, SO HAVING THEM HERE IS GREAT AFTER A LONG TIME APART.

AND THEN, YEAH, BRYANT WAS HERE FOR TWO WEEKS IN THE DORMS.

ONE OF THOSE GUYS PRANKING THE COACHES.

IT WAS REALLY COOL.

I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO OUR PLAYERS THE WAY THEY TOOK HIM IN AS ONE OF THEIR OWN.

IT'S WHAT MAKES THIS GROUP SPECIAL.

SO I HATE HE WON'T BE AROUND.

I HATE HE WON'T BE AT THE FIRST GAME.

HE HASN'T MISSED A LOT OF GAMES OVER THE YEARS.

I'M PROUD OF HIM.

AS I TOLD HIM YOU'RE A MAN NOW.

GO DO YOUR OWN LAUNDRY.

GO LEARN WHAT IT TAKES TO LIVE ON YOUR OWN AND JULIE AND I HAVE TO TRUST WE DID THE RIGHT THINGS OVER THE YEARS, AND I HATE I'M NOT WITH HIM, BUT I APPRECIATE AND I LOVE HIM FOR THE FACT HE LET ME COME DO THIS.

>> GIVE YOU A COUPLE RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS.

>> RUNSA OR CHILLI AND CINNAMON ROLLS IF YOU HAD TO PICK ONE?

>>CHILI AND CINNAMON ROLLS.

SORRY THAT WAS A TOUGH ONE.

>> T-BONE, RIB EYE, NEW YORK STRIP, OR A DIFFERENT CUT, DOES IT MATTER?

>> NEW YORK STRIP EVERY TIME.

CONTROVERSIAL, BUT YES TRUE.

>> AN ITALIAN ONE, RIGHT?

WE HAVE A LOT OF ITALIAN STEAKHOUSES IN OMAHA FOR THAT.

AND THEN TWO CHOICES, RARE OR MEDIUM RARE?

>> I'LL SAY THIS PROBABLY RARE, BUT I ALWAYS SAY AS THE CHEF DECIDES.

IF THE CHEF THINKS IT SHOULD BE MEDIUM RARE, I BELIEVE CHEFS ARE ARTISTS.

SO I LET THEM DO THEIR THING.

>> WE SAW YOU GO TO SMACK DOWN AND A KENNY CHESNEY CONCERT.

WHICH ONE?

IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ONE, GOING TO BIG WRESTLING OR GOING TO KENNY CHESNEY?

>>I LOVE THEM BOTH BUT I'D GO WITH KENNY CHESNEY.

NO ONE PERFORMS LIKE HE PERFORMS.

>>THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT TO ME AS I GREW UP A PENN STATE FAN.

SO '86 OR '94, BETTER TEAM?

>>WOW, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

MAN, '86 OBVIOUSLY WAS MY FAVORITE TEAM BECAUSE I WAS YOUNG AND DIE HARD PENN STATE.

THEY HAD SHANE CONLIN, GIFTOPOLOUS, TREY BAURER BUT YEAH, I WOULD SAY '86.

>> I ALWAYS LOOK BACK, WE HAVE AN ARGUMENT HERE AT '94 BECAUSE OF NEBRASKA AND PENN STATE.

SO YEAH, THAT'S MY FAVORITE TEAM AS WELL.

COACH, WE APPRICIATE YOU, GOOD LUCK THIS SEASON.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.

WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE BIG RED WRAP-UP.

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

"” I'M MIKE'L SEVERE JOINED BY SEAN CALLAHAN.

TIME TO TALK SOME '‘CRUITING.

THIS IS A BIG OLD CLASS FOR 2024.

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK -- DOING THE SHOW NOW 20 YEARS WITH YOU GUYS, MIKE'L.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER SEEN THIS MANY COMMITS THIS EARLY FOR NEBRASKA.

HUSKERS WITH 24.

>> WOW.

>> AND IT CAME IN WAVES.

THERE WAS A COUPLE EARLY GUYS, A COUPLE SPRING GUYS, THEN A BOATLOAD OF GUYS OVER THE SUMMER BETWEEN THE OFFICIAL VISITS AND THE CAMPS.

YOU LOOK AT CARTER NELSON, OBVIOUSLY THE TOP PLAYER IN NEBRASKA.

DANIEL KAELIN, WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO, JUST A DEEP LIST.

REALLY LIKE KEWAN LACY.

>> WILLIS McGAHEE.

I WATCHED SOME OF HIS TAPE.

HE CAN PLAY.

>> AND HE'S SOLID.

KEELAN SMITH OUT OF KANSAS CITY, THE SON OF WILL SMITH.

EVAN TAYLOR, YOU SEE THE NAME THERE, HE WAS HURT THIS WEEK, OUT FOR THE SEASON.

THAT'S NOTABLE RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN JUST SOME REALLY GOOD CAMP OFFERS.

DONOVAN JONES.

REX GUTHRIE, THAT'S A GUY OUT OF COLORADO THEY FEEL LIKE IS A STEAL IN THIS CLASS.

QUINN CLARK, SON OF OMAHA BRYAN PRODUCT KEN CLARK.

>> OH.

>> HUSKER RUNNING BACK, SO.

IT'S A REALLY -- KAMDYN KOCH, SON OF SAM KOCH, FORMER HUSKER PUNTER.

SO, AT THIS POINT WITH 24 GUYS, I MEAN -- >> HOW OLD ARE YOU FEELING?

SAM KOCH'S GOT A KID.

>> WELL I WAS THERE IN '05.

HE WAS CARRYING THAT KID.

AND I WAS LIKE, "“I SAW YOU WALKING ACROSS THE STREET WITH YOUR DAD.

"” >> LET'S TALK ABOUT CONOR BOOTH, THE NEWEST COMMIT.

>> YEAH, THE NEWEST COMMIT, CONOR BOOTH, WAHOO NEUMANN.

2 SPORT GUY.

HE CAN PLAY BASEBALL FOR NEBRASKA, FOOTBALL.

>> HE'S GOING TO STICK TO FOOTBALL THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> STICK TO FOOTBALL WITH THE DOOR OPEN TO MAYBE DO BASEBALL IF HE WANTS.

AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO AT THIS LEVEL.

BUT CONOR BOOTH COMING IN AS A RUNNING BACK TYPE ATHLETE.

CAME TO CAMP, RAN VERY WELL.

AND MATT RHULE SENT A LOT OF MESSAGES.

IF YOU COME TO CAMP, YOU WORK OUT, YOU RUN WELL, YOU DO WELL, YOU'LL GET AN OFFER.

AND HE WAS ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT WE SAW GET AN OFFER.

>> LET'S GO TO THE PHONE, THE STARTING QUARTERBACK, OF COURSE, FOR BELLEVUE WEST, DANIEL KAELIN JOINING US HERE.

DANIEL, HOW YOU FEELING?

>> Reporter: I'M DOING GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING?

>> WE'RE DOING WELL.

I KNOW YOU WANT TO WIN THEM ALL.

TOUGH GAME LAST WEEK FOR YOU GUYS.

HOW ARE YOU KIND OF BOUNCING BACK FROM THAT IN PRACTICE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, YOU SAID IT.

OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS A TOUGH ONE, BUT YOU CAN ONLY MOVE ON TO THE NEXT GAME AND THE NEXT DAY.

SO, THE FOCUS FOR US THIS WEEK IS JUST, LIKE YOU SAID, FOCUS THIS WEEK IN PRACTICE, MAKE SURE WE'RE STACKING DAYS ON DAYS AND EVEN GETTING A LITTLE EXTRA WORK IN WITH THE RECEIVERS ON THE SIDE JUST TO START GETTING THAT CHEMISTRY GOING.

>> YEAH, DANIEL, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT YOU GUYS JUST KIND OF HONE IN AND FOCUS?

JUST ALL THE ATTENTION AND ALL THE HEADLINES YOU GUYS GOT THIS SUMMER, PROBABLY A LOT OF PRESSURE AS A TEAM TO KIND OF LIVE UP TO THAT.

BUT, AFTER A GAME LIKE LAST WEEK, HOW DO YOU GUYS KIND OF BOUNCE BACK AND JUST PLAY FOOTBALL?

>> YEAH, I THINK, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S JUST PLAYING FOOTBALL.

WE CAN'T LET THE OUTSIDE NOISE AFFECT US.

AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, OUR FOCUS THIS WEEK IS TO MAKE SURE WE JUST KEEP STACKING GOOD DAYS ON GOOD DAYS.

AND WE BELIEVE OVER TIME THAT'S GOING TO DEFINITELY PAY OFF FOR US.

>> DANIEL KAELIN JOINING US.

DANIEL, PERSONALLY, DO YOU FEEL THE PRESSURE OF BEING A TEAM THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT A LOT DURING THE OFF-SEASON, OF COURSE, BEING A NEBRASKA COMMIT?

>> I THINK PRESSURE COMES WITH IT.

BUT I JUST THINK OVERALL, IT'S SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO INVITE.

AND THE PRESSURE'S ONLY GOING TO GROW MORE AND MORE AS TIME GOES ON.

SO I THINK THERE'S TIMES WHERE I FEEL IT, BUT I DEFINITELY CAN'T LET IT AFFECT ME.

AND WE HAVE GUYS ON OUR TEAM THAT ALSO HAVE SOME PRESSURE ON THEM.

BUT, LIKE I SAID, WE JUST GOT TO KEEP OUR HEAD DOWN, KEEP WORKING.

AND WE KNOW WE HAVE THE TALENT.

WE JUST GOT TO START GETTING THINGS TOGETHER.

>> DANIEL, NEBRASKA WILL OPEN THE SEASON THURSDAY NIGHT AGAINST MINNESOTA.

WILL YOU AND YOUR GUYS GET TOGETHER AND WATCH MATT RHULE AND THE HUSKERS IN GAME ONE?

>> YEAH, WE'LL HAVE TEAM DINNER THURSDAY.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'LL LOOK LIKE, OF NECESSARIY WHO I'LL WATCH IT WITH.

BUT DEFINITELY WILL BE TUNED IN, SUPER EXCITED TO KIND OF JUST SEE HOW THE TEAM STARTS THE SEASON.

A LOT OF INTEREST IN THAT GAME, OF COURSE, WITH THE NEW STAFF IN.

SO, EXCITED TO WATCH.

MIGHT NOT STAY UP FOR THE WHOLE GAME '‘CAUSE I GOT TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP BEFORE TAKING ON BURKE FRIDAY, BUT I'M DEFINITELY EXCITED FOR THAT ONE.

>> DANIEL, WE APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD LUCK THIS WEEK AND THE REST OF THE SEASON.

>> YUP.

THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK IN STATE TYSON TERRY, A GUY WHO I SAW AS A FRESHMAN.

I THOUGHT HE WAS A GROWN MAN.

HE'S A BIG FELLOW.

>> YEAH, YOU LOOK AT TYSON TERRY, HE'S GOT A CHANCE TO BE THE ONLY FOUR-TIME HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION IN CLASS A HISTORY.

WON IT AS A FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE.

JUST A JUNIOR, BUT JUST A GROWN MAN WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIM AT 6'4", 275.

THE PHYSICALITY HE PLAYS WITH, THE EDGE HE PLAYS WITH, THE TERRY FAMILY VERY WELL KNOWN IN NORTH OMAHA.

THEY'RE GUYS YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A SCUFFLE WITH, '‘CAUSE EVERY ONE OF THEM'S TOUGH, AND TYSON'S THE SAME WAY.

AND ALSO A GREAT STUDENT IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT HAS BEEN STARTING AT NORTH HIGH AT THE CLASS A LEVEL FOR A VERY GOOD PROGRAM SINCE FRESHMAN YEAR.

>> YEAH, PRETTY COOL.

SEAN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

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

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST THIS SEASON?

YOU SEE THE QUESTION'S THERE.

NEW COACHING STAFF, TRANSFER PORTAL ADDITIONS, 3-3-5 DEFENSE, FRESHMEN TALENT OR A POSSIBLE WINNING RECORD?

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

ALSO OUR GAME DAY PHOTO CONTEST IS BACK THIS YEAR.

WE WANT TO SEE HOW YOU SPEND YOUR GAME DAYS.

SEND US YOUR BEST GAME DAY PICS FOR CHANCES TO WIN GREAT PRIZES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, AND TO SEE YOUR PHOTO ON THAT WEEK'S SHOW.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE WILLING TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO MINNESOTA THIS WEEK.

SO BE SURE TO SHARE YOUR PHOTOS WITH US.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM, OF COURSE.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK SOME MINNESOTA.

WE WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER BEFORE THE SHOW STARTED.

THEY GOT SOME YOUNG RUNNING BACKS, A TRANSFER RUNNING BACK, BUT THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD AT WIDE RECEIVER ALONG WITH THE QUARTERBACK RETURNING FROM LAST YEAR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MINNESOTA?

>> YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE DYNAMIC OUTSIDE THE NUMBERS.

WHEN AUTMAN-BELL IS PROBABLY YOUR THIRD OR FOURTH OPTION OUTSIDE THE NUMBERS, YOU'VE ACQUIRED YOURSELF QUITE A BIT OF DEPTH AT THE WIDE RECEIVER SPOT.

AND I'M KIND OF HOPING AS A NEBRASKA FAN THAT THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN IDENTITY CRISIS, RIGHT?

WITH THE YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED BACKS AND THREE NEW OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, YOUR THREE BEST PLAYERS, AGAIN, BELONG OUTSIDE THE NUMBERS AND YOUR BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER IN TOTAL IS YOUR QUARTERBACK.

SO I HOPE THAT THEY THROW THE BALL A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THEY NORMALLY WOULD, AND THEY TAKE SOME TIME GETTING ACCUSTOMED TO IT.

WHETHER IT'S BREVYN SPANN-FORD, OR JACKSON JR., OR A HOST OF GUYS THAT THEY'VE GOT.

I JUST THINK IT PLAYS TO NEBRASKA'S STRENGTHS.

AND ANYTHING BEATS GROUND AND POUND, AT LEAST EARLY ON IN THE SEASON FOR ME.

>> YEAH, THEY GOT FIVE NEW GUYS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN THE STARTING LINEUP FOR THE MOST PART AS THEIR SKILL POSITIONS.

THIS IS A TEAM WHERE THE SAME GUYS WERE ON FOREVER, RIGHT?

MO IBRAHIM WAS THE GUY FOREVER, MORGAN WAS THE GUY FOREVER.

NOW THEY HAVE ALL THESE NEW GUYS.

SO NEBRASKA'S GOT TO OBVIOUSLY GET READY FOR THEM AS WELL.

>>YEAH AND I THINK, YOU LOOK BACK IN HISTORY, PJ FLECK AND THIS OFFENSE, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

THEY WANT TO OWN TIME OF POSSESSION, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE FOOTBALL.

BUT LIKE, AS DAMON SAID, THAT MIGHT NOT BE THEIR STRENGTH ANYMORE.

YOU GOT TO PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS.

YOU GOT TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE YOUR TEAM THE MOST SUCCESSFUL.

ARE THEY ABLE TO RUN THE FOOTBALL?

YOU HOPE.

I'M SPEAKING FROM MINNESOTA'S PERSPECTIVE, YOU HOPE, BUT HECK, WHAT IF YOU CAN'T?

THEN YOU GOT TO RELY ON THOSE WIDE RECEIVERS.

YOU GOT TO RELY ON THE ATHLETICISM OF YOUR QB.

YOU GOT TO RUN YOUR QB MORE IN SOME DESIGN RUN GAMES.

YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT A WHOLE LOT WITH TANNER MORGAN.

HE WAS MORE OF A POCKET GUY.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

AND JUST HISTORICALLY, MINNESOTA'S STRUGGLED REALLY ON THE SEASON.

THEY'VE BEEN UPSET AGAINST SOME LESSER OPPONENTS.

AND I KNOW IT'S JUST GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE JUST WHO MINNESOTA IS.

YOU'D LIKE TO THINK MINNESOTA AND PJ FLECK KNOW WHO THEY ARE IN GAME ONE.

BUT AS WE JUST ALLUDED TO, I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE QUITE YET JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE MO IBRAHIM BACK THERE, YOU GOT NEW FACES ON OFFENSIVE LINE.

THE DEFENSE IS VASTLY DIFFERENT AS WELL AHEAD OF THIS YEAR, TOO.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FUN TO SEE EARLY ON KIND OF THE CAT AND MOUSE WITH NEBRASKA.

OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T EVEN KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

BUT MINNESOTA MAY NOT OBVIOUSLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK LIKE EITHER.

>> KIND OF A SELLOUT, RIGHT?

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A GOLD OUT, SOLD OUT, BUT NOT QUITE SURE ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF RED IN THE STADIUM.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT.

EVERY TIME NEBRASKA'S PLAYED AT MINNESOTA, THERE'S BEEN 15,000 NEBRASKA FANS THERE.

BUT, YOU KIND OF QUESTION, ARE THEY KIND OF SLOWLY RELEASING TICKETS ON THE SECONDARY MARKET?

'‘CAUSE, TO CONTROL THE PRICES.

STUDENTS MOVE IN THIS WEEK.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY MUCH FULL.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE'LL SEE WHAT -- BUT THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND RELEASE OF TICKETS '‘CAUSE THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE STILL TO BUY.

THE PRICES HAVE STARTED TO COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEY'RE CALLING IT A, QUOTE, SELLOUT.

AND COLORADO'S DOING THE SAME THING.

THEY CALLED IT A SELLOUT PRETTY QUICK.

BUT YOU SEE A LOT OF TICKETS HITTING THE SECONDARY MARKET.

>> REAL QUICK, FLECK TALKED ABOUT SEEING GHOSTS IN TERMS OF THAT 3-3-5, NOT KNOW WHERE GUYS ARE COMING FROM.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, SO YOU HAVE TO GO TO YOUR BASE RULES, RIGHT?

'‘CAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF PRE-SNAP MOVEMENT.

AND SO, LISTEN, YOU GO BACK TO BASICS.

EVEN/ODD, COVERED/UNCOVERED, RIGHT?

AND BEING ABLE TO JUST DO YOUR FUNDAMENTALS.

WHEN HE SAYS SEEING GHOSTS, DON'T INVENT THINGS THAT AREN'T THERE.

WHAT ARE MY BASE RULES?

WHAT ARE MY KEY READS?

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S HOPING HIS TEAM CAN PULL OFF.

>> LAST THING BEFORE WE GET TO BURNING QUESTIONS.

YOU LOOK AT THIS DEFENSE AND HOW GOOD THEY WERE LAST YEAR.

DO YOU THINK THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN NEBRASKA, OR DO YOU THINK NEBRASKA WILL HAVE SUCCESS?

>> NO, I THINK NEBRASKA WILL HAVE SUCCESS.

I DO.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES.

AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

I TRULY DO.

THERE'S ENOUGH TALENT ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS BALL THAT I THINK NEBRASKA IS GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO BURNING QUESTIONS.

WHO'S SUPPOSED TO GO FIRST?

I'M NOT SURE.

I'M NOT GOING FIRST, I KNOW THAT.

HOW ABOUT SEAN?

WANT SEAN TO GO FIRST?

I THINK SEAN SHOULD GO FIRST WITH BURNING QUESTIONS, THAT'S WHAT I THINK.

LET'S GO WITH SEAN.

>> ALL RIGHT, MY BURNING QUESTION.

WILL WE SEE A PUSH FROM THIS OFFENSIVE LINE?

WILL WE SEE THAT PUSH EARLY, JUST THE IMPROVEMENTS?

WHAT WILL THIS LINE LOOK LIKE HERE IN A SEASON OPENER?

>> CAN NEBRASKA GET THIS TO A FOUR QUARTER GAME WHERE IT'S ONE POSSESSION?

IT'S ALL COACH RHULE HAS TALKED ABOUT.

I THINK, IN AN IDEAL SITUATION, A DREAM SCENARIO WOULD BE FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS FOUR-MINUTE OFFENSE.

THEY'VE WORKED IT LIKE CRAZY ALL OFFSEASON.

THEY EXPECT THIS TO BE A FOUR-QUARTER FIGHT.

CAN THEY GET THIS TO A ONE-POSSESSION GAME IN THE FOURTH QUARTER?

>> YEAH, BEING A DEFENSIVE MINDED GUY, I'M ACTUALLY INTERESTED TO SEE HOW JEFF SIMS FITS IN THE QB RUN GAME.

I WANT TO SEE HOW THEY UTILIZE HIM.

>> SMART.

SMART MAN.

>> BE LIKE IOWA.

PJ FLECK HASN'T BEATEN IOWA IN SIX TRIES.

YOU KNOW WHY?

BECAUSE SPECIAL TEAMS IS GOOD, THEY DON'T TURN THE BALL OVER AND THEY WIN CLOSE GAMES.

BE LIKE IOWA.

CAN THEY DO THAT, NEBRASKA WINS.

DON'T FORGET TO HEAD OVER TO OUR WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGES AND CLICK ON A PREDICTION.

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

NEBRASKA KICKS OFF THE 2023 SEASON WITH THE WEEK ONE MATCHUP AGAINST MINNESOTA.

CATCH KICKOFF 7:00 P.M. CENTRAL ON FOX.

NEXT TUESDAY, WE BACK IN GAME BREAKDOWN MODE TO RECAP WITH OUR SPECIAL GUEST KEVIN KUGLER.

WHAT?

FOOTBALL ISN'T THE ONLY SPORT YOU'LL SEE COVERED ON NEBRASKA, EITHER.

NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, OF COURSE, WILL HAVE, TOMORROW, TUNE IN TO COVERAGE OF VOLLEYBALL DAY IN NEBRASKA, AS WE BROADCAST THE FIRST MATCH BETWEEN UNK AND WAYNE STATE AT 4:30.

THEN CHECK OUT THE REBROADCAST OF NEBRASKA VERSUS OMAHA, THAT VOLLEYBALL MATCH, FRIDAY AT 8:00 P.M. CENTRAL.

OUR THANKS OF COURSE, TO SEAN CALLAHAN, DANIEL KAELIN, AND NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SPORTS INTERN, AND HANNAH OF COURSE AS WELL FOR HELPING US OUT AS PRODUCER.

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

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

"” ♪ ♪ MICHAEL.

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