♪ >>> THE HUSKERS COULDN'T OVERCOME A SLUGGISH FIRST HALF AND FELL TO PURDUE 43 TO 37.

DESPITE A LATE PUSH FEATURING A RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE BY TREY PALMER, NEBRASKA COULDN'T KEEP THE BOILERMAKERS OFF THE FIELD.

THE TEAM HEADS INTO A BYE WEEK, LOOKING TO REST UP FOR A DIFFICULT FIVE-GAME STRETCH.

WE'LL BREAK DOWN THE PURDUE LOSS AND LOOK AHEAD AS NEBRASKA SEARCHES FOR ANSWERS WITH GUEST SAM MCKEWON FROM THE OMAHA WORLD HERALD.

SEAN CALLAHAN WILL ALSO STOP BY WITH THE LATEST ON BIG RED RECRUITING.

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

♪ >> HI, EVERYONE.

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

WELCOME TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP" ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, AND NEBRASKA COMES REALLY CLOSE TO GETTING THREE IN A ROW BUT FALLS JUST SHORT IN ANOTHER ONE SCORE LOSS.

JOINING US, FORMER HUSKERS JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING.

DID YOU FEEL IT?

DID YOU FEEL LIKE NEBRASKA -- THEY CLOSE WITHIN SIX AFTER THE MISSED EXTRA POINT.

DID YOU THINK THEY'D GET THE BALL BACK AND GO DOWN AND WIN IT?

>> I THOUGHT THAT IF THEY HAD GOT THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THAT WAS WELL WITHIN REACH.

BUT THE DEFENSE, AGAIN, JUST COULDN'T GET THAT NECESSARY STOP THAT THEY NEEDED TO GET.

YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THIS GAME, WHEN YOU GET DOWN 27-10 AND YOU'RE JUST LIKE, "OH BOY."

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION BEFORE.

HOW'S THE NEXT TWO-AND-A-HALF QUARTERS GONNA SHAKE OUT?

AND I WOULD HAVE NEVER HAVE GUESSED THE WAY IT SHOOK OUT.

JUST THE WAY THE OFFENSE CREATED THE BIG PLAYS.

THE DEFENSE GETTING LITTLE STOPS HERE AND THERE OF THOSE 102 PLAYS THAT THEY WERE ON THE FIELD FOR ON SATURDAY.

JUST GETTING THOSE LITTLE STOPS.

BUT AGAIN, IT JUST WASN'T QUITE ENOUGH.

AND IT JUST COMES DOWN TO MISTIMED THROWS, LIKE CASEY THOMPSON.

NEBRASKA HAD PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE CONTROL OF THAT GAME.

MISSING BROWN IN THE BACK OF THE END ZONE THERE.

THAT WAS THERE FOR THE TAKING.

A COUPLE OF MISSED THROWS AND THE INTERCEPTIONS.

THE DEFENSE JUST NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OFF THE FIELD WHEN THEY NEEDED TO.

38 TOTAL FIRST DOWNS -- >> YEAH.

>> -- BY PURDUE?

THAT IS -- I ABOUT DROPPED MY BEER WATCHING THE GAME WHEN I SAW HOW MANY TOTAL FIRST DOWNS THEY GOT IN THE GAME.

SO LOOKING AT IT, I THINK EVEN THOUGH THE LOSS, EVEN THOUGH THE POOR DEFENSIVE PLAY, YOU'RE DOWN 27-10 BUT YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO BATTLE BACK, FIGHT BACK AND STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN THE GAME LATE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A GLASS HALF-FULL MENTALITY YOU CAN TAKE FROM THIS GAME.

>> AS YOU WERE WATCHING, I WAS LISTENING BECAUSE WE ARE SITTING WITH THE NEW COLOR VOICE OF NEBRASKA FOOTBALL ON THE RADIO, DAMON BENNING.

21 IN YOUR HEARTS, 21 ON THE FIELD.

TELL ME THIS, WHEN IT WAS YOUR FIELD, YOU'RE SITTING UP THERE IN THE BOOTH, DID YOU THINK NEBRASKA WOULD GET THE STOP?

>> I DID.

ESPECIALLY WHEN PURDUE TOOK THE TIME OUT TO SET UP THE FOURTH DOWN SITUATION.

I DIDN'T LOVE THEIR FORMATION.

BECAUSE I FELT LIKE NEBRASKA IN THE SECOND HALF HAD KIND OF ADJUSTED TO HOW TO PLAY IT.

AND LO AND BEHOLD, IT WAS THE LEAST ATHLETIC GUY OF THE SKILL GUYS IN AIDAN O'CONNELL, WHO HAD BEEN PINPOINT ACCURATE ALL DAY, FINDS A WAY TO EKE OUT A COUPLE OF YARDS ON THE SCRAMBLE.

IT WAS A DEVASTATING BACK-BREAKER.

BUT LIKE YOU SAID, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR GLASS HALF-FULL, THE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS THEY MADE, BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE WERE REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT.

BUT I FELT LIKE FOR AS POOR AS THE DEFENSE PLAYED, THAT GAME BOIL DOWN TO QUARTERBACK BALL PLACEMENT.

>> YEAH.

ONE GUY WAS REALLY EFFICIENT AND REALLY GOOD.

AND THE OTHER GUY HAD JUST ENOUGH MISHAPS -- >> ABOUT FIVE.

>> -- TO MAKE IT INTERESTING.

AND I FELT LIKE THAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE.

I MEAN, O'CONNELL WAS GOING HASH TO TOP OF THE NUMBERS.

FAR HASH TO TOP OF THE NUMBERS.

THE LITTLE CHOICE ROUTE HE THREW TO CHARLIE JONES ON THAT LAST DRIVE, HE THREW THAT BALL BEFORE HE EVEN MADE HIS IN CUT.

I MEAN, THAT'S HARD TO DO IN THE INTERMEDIATE PASSING GAME.

AND I THOUGHT O'CONNELL WAS FANTASTIC.

>> YEAH, HE WAS.

AND HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS THAT JAY WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

THE EYE-POPPING NUMBERS THAT STAND OUT.

YOU MENTIONED THE 38 FIRST DOWNS WHICH JUMP OUT AT YOU, OF COURSE.

THE TIME POSSESSION WAS CRAZY AS WELL.

BUT 9.2 YARDS PER PLAY FOR NEBRASKA, 6 YARDS FOR PLAY FOR PURDUE.

9.2 IS INCREDIBLE, BY THE WAY.

>> HOW ABOUT THE YARDS PER PASS?

>> AND YARDS PER PASS, 21?

>> YES.

>> 21 YARDS PER PASS.

15 FIRST DOWNS TO, OF COURSE, 38 FIRST DOWNS.

HELD THE BALL FOR 17 MINUTES FOR NEBRASKA, 42 MINUTES FOR PURDUE.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE 101 PLAYS.

THEY NEEDED THE WEEK OFF, DEFINITELY.

SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT, WE NEED YOUR HELP.

REACH OUT AND SHARE YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AND KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.

OUR FRIENDS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA'S COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATIONS, YAY, ARE MANNING OUR PHONE LINES AWAITING YOUR CALLS.

AS THEY WAIT, OF COURSE, THEY'RE ENJOYING SOME VALENTINO'S PIZZA WITH OUR SPORTS INTERN, SAM.

HELLO, SAM.

KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE.

SEND US A TEXT, OR EMAIL BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

OR YOU CAN ALSO REACH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHARE YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.

WE'RE WATCHING FACEBOOK AND TWITTER TONIGHT.

AND MAKE SURE YOU REACH OUT AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION.

HERE ARE THE RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY.

WE ASKED YOU TO RATE THE JOB MICKEY JOSEPH HAS DONE THROUGH THE FIRST THREE GAMES AS HEAD COACH.

53% OF THE PEOPLE SAID EXCELLENT.

46% SAID GOOD.

1% SAID NEUTRAL.

WHO SAYS WE CAN'T HAVE UNANIMOUS?

LOOK AT THAT, ZERO FOR BAD.

NO ONE VOTED BAD.

WAY TO GO, NEBRASKA FANS.

HERE'S THIS WEEKS ALL-NEW SIDELINE SURVEY.

WHICH LINE IS WORSE, OFFENSIVE LINE, THE DEFENSIVE LINE, OR IS IT ALL OF ABOVE?

RIGHT NOW 43% SAY THE OFFENSIVE LINE, 20% SAY DEFENSIVE LINE.

BUT 37% SAY ALL OF THE ABOVE.

HEAD BACK TO THE WEBSITE AND VOTE AHEAD OF EACH WEEK'S BRAND-NEW SURVEY.

LET'S GO TO OUR PLAYER OF THE WEEK, IT'S KIND OF OBVIOUS.

TREY PALMER.

SET A SCHOOL RECORD WITH THE MOST SINGLE-GAME RECEIVING YARDS OF ALL TIME.

7 CATCHES, 237 YARDS.

PLUS HE HAD A 60-YARD RUN.

DB, I KNOW GUYS GET OPEN BECAUSE THEY'RE TALENTED, BUT HE GOT OPEN ON THE SAME KIND OF PLAY EVERY TIME.

>> YEAH, AND THE INTERESTING THING IS IF YOU ARE DOING THE SCOUTING REPORT, HE WEARS OUT THE HASHES.

HE'S A GUY THAT LIKES TO GET VERTICAL BETWEEN A HASH AND THE NUMBERS.

THAT'S WHERE HE REALLY MAKES A LIVING.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF INTERMEDIATE STUFF, AND HE CONTINUES TO GET OPEN.

THE CONCEPTS THEY WERE RUNNING WITH THE LITTLE SCISSORS ACTION, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE BECAUSE IT WAS ALMOST FOOL-PROOF.

IT WAS STEALING AT TIMES.

>> YEAH, CONGRATULATIONS TO TREY PALMER FOR THAT.

I WANNA GO BACK TO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT FOURTH-DOWN PLAY.

HOW SURPRISED WERE YOU?

THEY WERE GETTING EIGHT YARDS A CARRY, AND THEY DECIDED TO THROW THE BALL ON THE FOURTH DOWN AS OPPOSED TO GIVING IT TO MOCKOBEE.

>> YEAH.

>> WHEN HE DROPPED BACK TO PASS, I WAS LIKE, YES, THAT WAS GOOD FOR NEBRASKA.

>> IF THERE'S A DING IN BROHM'S ARMOR, I THINK IT'S THAT IN KIND OF A NUTSHELL.

HE KIND OF LOST THE PENN STATE GAME EARLIER IN THE YEAR BY DECIDING TO THROW IT IN CRUNCH TIME WHERE IT SLOWS -- I MEAN, HE DID THAT.

THEY THREW IT ON THAT SECOND DOWN PLAY AND I'M LIKE, WHOA.

INCOMPLETE PASS.

I'M LIKE, OKAY.

>> WITH ONE TIMEOUT IN THE BAG FOR THEM.

>> YES, SO I'M LIKE, OKAY, HE'S GIVING US A SHOT HERE.

A LITTLE SURPRISE, BUT NEBRASKA DID A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH DEFENDING EVERYTHING.

GIFFORD PICKING UP THE GUY.

HE HAD A COUPLE COLLISIONS THERE.

>> HE KNOCKED EVERY GUY DOWN.

>> THEY LET HIM FIGHT.

THAT GAME, IF YOU'VE GOT 23 A COUPLE WEEKS AGO BETWEEN THAT CREW, THIS ONE WAS GONNA LET YOU PLAY.

>> YEAH, NOT TOTALLY SURPRISED BY IT.

BUT, LOOKING AT THAT, HE DOES A GOOD JOB, AND TY ROBINSON HAS TO MAKE THAT PLAY.

AIDAN O'CONNELL IS NOT MICHAEL VICK BACK THERE BY ANY MEANS.

AND I THINK FOR THE RESPECT I HAVE, AND I KNOW I GIVE TY SOME TOUGH LOVE ON THIS SHOW.

A GUY OF THAT CALIBER, I EXPECT HIM TO MAKE THAT PLAY.

HE MAKES THAT PLAY, NEBRASKA PROBABLY GOES ON TO WIN THE FOOTBALL GAME.

YOU DON'T, YOU LOSE AND YOU HEAD INTO BYE WEEK WITH ANOTHER LOSS.

>> I THINK MAYBE IT WAS HIS 65th PLAY OF THE GAME, THOUGH.

TY ROBINSON -- NO ONE'S EXPECTING TY ROBINSON TO PLAY 65 PLAYS.

>> LISTEN, I MEAN, THEY WERE SHOOTING ALL BULLETS.

MOSAI NEWSOM.

I MEAN, THEY WERE EMPTYING THE BARREL ALONG THAT D-LINE SITUATION.

THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP BODIES FRESH.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAY MOCKOBEE RUNS?

YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF GUYS WITH THAT MUCH LIMBS MOVING AT THE SAME TIME.

>> SO IT'S INTERESTING, RIGHT?

ELROY HIRSCH.

>> OKAY, "CRAZYLEGS."

>> THEY CALLED HIM "CRAZYLEGS," RIGHT, FOR US OLD GUYS.

YOU AND I GO BACK AND FORTH JUST BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT OLD GUYS.

>> I THINK MILLAN MADE A COUPLE REFERENCES.

>> HE DOESN'T REALLY GIVE YOU A TON TO HIT.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU, THERE'S ONE THING THAT HE'S GOT THAT HE DOES VERY WELL.

HIS VISION IS FANTASTIC.

HE DOES NOT WASTE A TON OF MOVEMENT.

FOR ALL OF THIS, AND THE CRAZY LEGS, HE IS CONSTANTLY GAINING GROUND.

EVEN ON THOSE CUT BACKS, IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE'S TRYING TO STEP ON THOSE DEFENDER'S TOES.

IT'S LIKE 3-D, HE'S CONSTANTLY COMING AT YOU.

>> WE'D SEEN SOME BETTER TACKLING, ESPECIALLY IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE TWO GAMES BEFORE.

WHAT DID YOU SEE IN TERMS OF THE TACKLES?

>> YEAH, IT WAS -- THEY LACKED.

I DON'T HAVE THE MISSED TACKLES IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I THINK IT WAS CLOSE TO 16 MISSED TACKLES AS A DEFENSE.

>> IT'S THERE AVERAGE HEADING INTO TWO WEEKS AGO.

>> YOU KIND OF HAVE IT TWO WAYS.

YOU HAVE THE MISSED TACKLES BECAUSE GUYS ARE OUT OF PLACE AND THEY'RE KIND OF COMING THERE, OR GUYS WHO ARE IN PLACE AND THEY MISS THE TACKLE.

I THINK A LOT OF THE TIMES, GUYS WERE IN PLACE TO MAKE THE TACKLES.

WHETHER IT ON THE SHORT, INTERMEDIATE PASSING.

SOME OF THE JAILBREAKS, SCREENS.

IN THE RUN GAME, THAT THEY JUST COULDN'T GET MOCKBEE DOWN.

YOU SEE HERE, YOU HAVE A GUY RIGHT THERE TO MAKE THE PLAY.

THIS IS ANOTHER ONE.

THIS IS GETTING UP THE FIELD, YOU GOTTA MAKE THESE PLAYS.

YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE A LINGERING EFFECT, RIGHT?

IT'S HARD.

YOU'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO TACKLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

YOU'D LIKE TO DO SOME THINGS.

BUT AGAIN, NEBRASKA'S KIND OF A BANGED-UP FOOTBALL TEAM RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S HARD TO GET EVERYONE ON THE SAME PAGE AND TRY TO GET EVERYONE TO PLAY -- PRACTICE PHYSICAL WHEN YOU'RE ALSO TRYING TO GET READY TO PLAY TO PERFORM IN A GAME.

I THINK A LOT OF IT DIDN'T HELP THAT RIMERS WAS OUT, AND HENDERSON GETS DINGED UP AS WELL.

>> DO YOU REMEMBER WATCHING A GAME IN WHICH A QUARTERBACK -- THEY ALREADY STRETCH YOU FROM SIDELINE TO SIDELINE HORIZONTALLY -- BUT WOULD GO FROM HASH, FAR HASH, TO TOP OF THE NUMBERS AS OFTEN AS PURDUE DID?

THE TOUCHDOWN PASS.

LOOK AT THE SHORT TOUCHDOWN PASS THAT HE THREW.

THAT BALL WAS PROBABLY 30 YARDS -- 20-SOME YARDS IN THE AIR.

AND IT WAS TO THE FRONT PYLON WHERE ONLY HIS GUY COULD GO GET IT FROM THE FAR HALF.

>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE LAST TOUCHDOWN?

YEAH, THAT WAS GOOD.

>> SO MANY GOOD PLACEMENT THROWS.

I MEAN, LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE THAT BALL COULD GO.

AND FOR AS GOOD AS I FELT LIKE NEWSOM WAS, HE WAS AT THE MERCY OF PINPOINT ACCURACY.

>> AND CHARLIE JONES IS A GOOD ROUTE RUNNER, TOO, ON TOP OF IT WITH DECEPTIVE SPEED.

>> THEY WERE GIVING HIM OPTION ROUTES WITHOUT BRINGING PRESSURE, THAT WAS ALMOST STEALING.

THAT'S WHY I DID LIKE WHEN SITUATIONALLY IN NEBRASKA DID BRING PRESSURE, BECAUSE THEN IT LEAST FORCED O'CONNELL TO CLUTCH.

NOW LISTEN, HE'S FINDING GUYS ON THE BACKSIDES OF BOOTS AND DUMPING DOWN LATE TO GUYS.

>> THE ONE HE THREW THROUGH FARMER'S ARMS, HE'S RUNNING DOWN THE FIELD AND THE WIDE RECEIVER'S ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF HIM.

AND HE THREW IT THROUGH HIM.

>> HOW ABOUT TWICE HOW THEY SHUT OFF THE FRONT SIDE LITTLE BOOT ACTION?

HAD EVERYBODY LOCKED UP TO THE THREE RECEIVER'S SIDE.

HE COMES BACK SIDE TO A LEAKY RECEIVER THAT JUST HOLDS TO THE SIDELINES.

I'M THINKING, HE JUST KNEW WHERE EVERYBODY WAS.

>> HE WAS THROWING THE BALL, AND I HAD NEVER REFERENCED THIS BUT HE'S LIKE DREW BREES.

HE WAS THROWING IT TO THE PLACES WHERE THE WIDE RECEIVER HAD THE BEST CHANCE TO CATCH IT AND CONTINUE TO GO, WHICH YOU DON'T SEE FROM COLLEGE GUYS.

>> AND LIKE DREW BREES, DOES A GOOD JOB GETTING RID OF THE FOOTBALL.

HE DOES NOT HANG ON TO THE BALL.

IT'S THREE SECONDS AND IT'S OUT.

>> 16 TARGETS FOR JONES.

>> SO, THE RUN GAME.

I SPENT ALL SUNDAY MORNING SAYING, "YOU'VE GOTTA RUN IT MORE."

I KNOW, MAYBE YOU'RE NOT HAVING SUCCESS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO INVEST IN IT.

YOU HAVE TO.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RUN GAME IN YOUR OPINION?

WAS IT JUST SIMPLY WHIPPLE GETTING AWAY FROM IT?

>> I THINK IT JUST GOT AWAY FROM THEM.

ONCE THEY HAD TO START TO PLAY CATCH UP AND YOU HAD SUCCESS THROWING THE BALL, IT BECAME FOOLS GOLD.

BECAUSE IT WAS EASY TO DO AND IT WAS THERE FOR THE TAKING, I THINK THEY JUST DID IT.

BUT THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE TO GET BACK TO INTO SOME MORE SITUATIONAL COMPLIMENTARY FOOTBALL.

THE PASSING GAME WAS GONNA BE THERE WHEN YOU WANTED IT TO BE.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS, I DON'T ALWAYS LOVE THE EFFICIENCY THAT NEBRASKA'S BACKS RUN THE BALL WITH.

I THINK THEY CAN DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER HELPING OUT AN OFFENSIVE LINE THAT IS STRUGGLING, TO SAY THE LEAST, BY JUST GETTING VERTICAL.

>> WHAT DID YOU SAY, HE GOT NINE YARDS ON A PLAY, HE BUSTS OUTSIDE, HE COULD'VE GOTTEN NINE GOING WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S EXACTLY -- YEAH.

YOU MUST LISTEN TO THE BROADCAST.

>> I LISTEN TO THE GAME.

>> BECAUSE THE HOLE WAS THEIR FRONT SIDE.

AND THIS IS THE THING, IT SEEMS NITPICKY, RIGHT?

WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL?

NINE FOR NINE, HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN NINE ONE WAY, NINE THE OTHER.

BUT -- >> HE DIDN'T WORK HARD TO GET THE OTHER NINE.

>> AND HE PUT HIS WIDE RECEIVER IN HARM'S WAY, ALMOST GOT A HOLDING PENALTY CALLED BECAUSE YOU ARE RUNNING ACROSS THE DEFENDER'S FACE AS OPPOSED TO JUST GETTING DOWNHILL, MAKE HIM SNAP IT AGAIN.

>> I JUST THINK HE HAS -- AND I USE THE PHRASE A LOT, BUT I THINK HE HAS PTSD.

I THINK SO OFTEN HE'S HAD GUYS IN FRONT OF THEM THAT EVEN WHEN THEY'RE NOT THERE, HE'S SEEING IT.

IMMEDIATELY IN HIS MIND, I'VE GOT TO MAKE A MOVE, OPPOSE TO IT.

THE ONE GUY THAT WENT STRAIGHT WAS RAHMIR JOHNSON ON HIS ONE 17-YARD RUN.

IT LOOKED GOOD.

>> HE ABOUT CREASED THAT.

>> YEAH, HE DID.

>> THAT WAS -- >> MAYBE HE SHOULD GET MORE.

>> HOW ABOUT TOMMY HILL AND THE RETURN GAME?

>> YEAH, HE GOT BANGED UP.

>> HE HAD TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE ONE HE ALMOST BROKE WHERE HE WAS SHOE-LACED, HE WAS A LITTLE SLOW GETTING OFF THE GROUND.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE KIND OF HIT HIS HEAD.

I THOUGHT IT WAS OUT OF FRUSTRATION.

AND MAYBE IT WAS THE FRUSTRATION THAT GOT HIM IN TROUBLE, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT WE DIDN'T SEE HIM AFTER THAT.

BUT THERE WERE ABOUT TWO OR THREE OF THOSE.

UNFORTUNATELY, IF YOUR KICK RETURNER IS DOING A GOOD JOB, THAT MEANS YOU'RE SCORING.

BUT REMEMBER, COMING OUT OF FALL CAMP, I THOUGHT HE WAS THE BEST OF THE RETURN GUYS.

>> YEAH, HE'S DEFINITELY EXPLOSIVE.

>> BUT HE DIDN'T FOR WHATEVER REASON WIN THE JOB.

BUT HE IS DANGEROUS.

>> HE'S AN ATHLETIC GUY THAT HAS TO GET ONTO THE FIELD SOME TIME.

MOVE HIM OVER TO WIDE RECEIVER, KICK RETURN'S A PERFECT SPOT.

TIMMY BLEEKRODE, FOUR FOR FOUR.

THAT WAS HIS FIRST MADE FIELD GOAL AGAINST AN FPS TEAM OF THE SEASON.

AND THEN HE WENT FOUR FOR FOUR.

THAT'S PRETTY NICE TO SEE.

>> IT'S A NICE LUXURY TO HAVE.

>> IT IS.

>> AFTER GOING THROUGH THE STRUGGLE THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR WHERE EVEN AN EXTRA POINT WAS QUESTIONABLE AT TIMES.

SO HAVING THAT, I'M GONNA CALL SECURITY BLANKET.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU'D LIKE TO TURN ESPECIALLY WHEN HE MISSED ALANTE BROWN IN THE BACK OF THE END ZONE.

YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET THOSE SIX POINTS THERE.

BUT IT'S NICE TO KNOW, OKAY, WE HAVE A RELIABLE KICKER.

LAST YEAR IF THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, IT WOULD'VE BEEN LIKE, "OH MY GOD, WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SCORE ANY POINTS HERE."

BUT, IT'S SOMETHING TO GRAB ONTO.

AS A DEFENSIVE GUY, I KNOW WHEN YOU HOLD OFFENSE TO THREE POINTS, THAT'S A WIN.

BUT SOMETIMES AS WELL FOR NEBRASKA IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, JUST GETTING THREE POINTS, THAT CAN BOOST SOME CONFIDENCE AS WELL.

YOU AREN'T WALKING AWAY WITH NOTHING OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT?

JUST HAVING THAT GIVE THEM SOME CONFIDENCE AS WELL AND TO MAKING SOME FIELD GOALS.

NEBRASKA, GET ANOTHER STOP, TURN OVER THE BALL.

THAT'S THE SECOND TIME IN TWO WEEKS WHERE THEY HAD A SUDDEN CHANGE.

>> AND THAT'S HUGE.

I THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE JUST ON THAT PROGRESSION.

IT CHANGE THE WHOLE COURSE OF THAT DRIVE.

>> TIME FOR THE HIGHLIGHTS.

IT WAS QUITE THE GAME SATURDAY NIGHT.

ACCURATE EARLY ON, ONE OF THE TWO IOWA TRANSFERS WITH A CATCH OUT OF BOUNDS.

THAT IS INSIDE, JUST INSIDE OF THE SAFETY AS WELL AND THEN THROW FOR THE TOUCHDOWN.

>> FROM HIS VANTAGE POINT, HE'S NOT THAT OPEN.

LOOK AT THAT, THE DEFENDER IS THERE.

PURDUE GOES UP 10-0.

I AM CHEERING THEM ON.

THEY WERE IN GOOD POSITION.

>> THIS IS THE ONE YOU CALL IN THE BUCKET.

>> BEAUTIFUL, GOT IT OUT OF HIS HANDS EARLY.

THEY WENT KIND OF JUMBO.

I LIKE THAT THEY RAN THE BALL INSIDE THE TENT.

JUST SHORT OF THE 50 YARD LINE.

THEY WILL TAKE IT AS IT COMES.

BROUGHT IN A DEFENDER.

WE ARE TIED AT 10-10.

THEN THIS HAPPENED TWICE.

RIGHT TO GET SOMEBODY UNDERNEATH COVERAGE.

THIS IS WHERE A SHORT QUARTERBACK JUST LOST THE VISION.

GREAT JOB BY NEBRASKA, 20-10 STILL IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

17 YARDS.

GOT 31 YARDS ON THAT ONE, SENDING UP THE FIELD GOAL TO HAVE TIME.

CASEY THOMPSON.

SUCH A TOUGH GUY AND COMPETITOR.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS SEVERAL TIMES, NEBRASKA IS ONLY DOWN SEVEN.

THIS IS A NICE RUN EARLY ON.

>> IT WAS REALLY NICE.

HE HAD TO GET SO MUCH DEPTH TO GET TO THAT.

FANTASTIC LAY DESIGN.

>> AFTER THIS MONTH CASEY THOMPSON OVERTHROWS THIS.

THAT COULD'VE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

>> I LIKE THE CONCEPT OF THE PASS RUSH.

27-23.

THAT WHOLE DRIVE KIND OF SURPRISED ME.

JUST THE PRESENCE TO KNOW WHERE THE ROUTE WAS.

O'CONNELL GETTING SET FOR ANOTHER TACKLE.

GUIDING IT TO THE END ZONE, NEBRASKA CAME RIGHT BACK.

WHO DID CASEY THOMPSON GO TO?

OF COURSE, PALMER FOR 72 YARDS FOR THE TOUCHDOWN.

>> IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE'S MOVING FAST, BUT HE IS FAST.

AND CHARLIE JONES MAKES IT LOOK EASY A LOT OF TIMES.

YOU MENTIONED THIS PAST, HOW GOOD IT WAS.

YOU DON'T WANT TO COME BUT YOU HAVE TO TIP YOUR CAP.

64 YARDS, SEVEN CATCHES, 237 YARDS AND TWO TOUCHDOWNS.

THAT'S A NICE MOVE.

AND THEN THEY DIDN'T RUN INSIDE THE TENT, THE DISPARITY IN FINAL POSSESSION AND FIRST DOWN.

TIME TO OPEN UP THE PLAYBOOK AND DIVE DEEP INTO SOME OF THE PLAYS.

ONE DEFENSES, ONE OFFENSE.

VERY INTERESTING CONCEPT THAT PURDUE LIKE TO IMPLEMENT MANY TIMES.

PLAY FIGHT TACKLE, GUARD.

AND THE TIGHT END.

NEBRASKA WILL PUT A LOT OF MAN- TO-MAN SITUATIONS.

WHERE IS HE GOING?

YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR SHOULDERS TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND MAKE THE PLAY.

NUMBER SIX DOES A DECENT JOB OF DISGUISING, IN MY OPINION.

BUT USUALLY IN THESE SITUATIONS, THOSE OPPOSITE.

IN MY MIND, I AM COACHING THE PLAY.

THE GUARD TAKES 99 , AND GO AHEAD AND RUN IT.

AND FUMBLE, ANOTHER HIT ON CASEY THOMPSON.

THE SAFETIES PLAYED REALLY WELL IN TERMS OF TACKLING.

HE PLAYED THROUGH IT.

TWO SAFETIES, TWO GUYS THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT.

NOT TOO BAD.

DIDN'T MISS ANY TACKLES.

IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION.

WHEN YOU GET OUT THERE, THINGS START MOVING.

BUT YOU HAVE TO GET YOURSELF A CHANCE TO RUN THAT PLAY.

NEXT UP, JOINED BY SAM FROM THE OMAHA -- AS WE GO TO BREAK, IMAGES FROM SATURDAY NIGHT.

STAY WITH US.

♪ AS WE GO TO BREAK, IMAGES FROM SATURDAY NIGHT.

STAY WITH US.

♪ >>> WELCOME BACK.

"BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA TIME."

HERE IS OUR FRIEND NICK, WHO IS LAMENTING ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

"AN OFFENSIVE LINE!

AN OFFENSIVE LINE!

MY KINGDOM FOR AN OFFENSIVE LINE."

RICHARD III, OF COURSE, IF IT WAS SET IN NEBRASKA.

I'D SAY WE ALL YEARN FOR THAT TOO, NICK.

AND THE NEXT UP, 402NATION SEEMS PUZZLED AS TO WHY TREY PALMER WASN'T NAMED THE BIG10 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK.

WHEN YOU COMPARE THE NUMBERS, VERY PUZZLING.

41 TOUCHES FOR 233 YARDS AND A TOUCHDOWN FOR CHASE BROWN.

8 TOUCHES FOR 297 YARDS AND 2 TDs.

THE DIFFERENCE IS, OF COURSE, ILLINOIS WON THE GAME.

WELCOME BACK, "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

PLEASE TO BE JOINED BY SAM MCKEWON FROM THE "OMAHA WORLD HERALD."

WHAT'S UP, SAM?

>> HELLO, SIR.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> HOW YOU DOING, MAN?

>> I'M ALRIGHT.

I'M ALRIGHT, YEAH.

>> BEFORE WE START, I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE MOST CREDIT POSSIBLE.

YOUR POSTGAME, WHERE YOU JUST RATTLE OFF ALL THOSE NUMBERS AND THE WAY IT WAS SHOT WAS -- THAT SHOULD BE WINNING AN AWARD.

I'M TELLING YOU.

>> OKAY.

>> IT WAS REALLY GOOD.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

>> I KNOW YOU HAD SOME NUMBERS ON THE BOARD, BUT YOU WERE NAMING EVERY SINGLE BIG PLAY NEBRASKA HAD.

>> DO YOU NOT SIT NEXT TO HIM DURING A GAME?

>> I HAVE NEVER -- I'VE ONLY SAT NEXT TO SAME ONE TIME BACK IN THE DAY.

>> FOR A ROAD GAME.

>> A ROAD GAME, YEAH.

WISCONSIN.

>> I POKED MY HEAD OUT DURING HALFTIME 'CAUSE WE HAD LIKE 20 MINUTES AND HE IS FURIOUSLY WORKING.

>> YEAH.

>> YES.

>> HE'S GOT A PIN WITH DIFFERENT COLORS TAKING -- >> IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A RESTROOM.

I'M NOT GONNA -- A BIT.

>> NO.

>> NO, NOT SAMMY MAC.

NO WAY.

>> YEAH.

>> I WAS ALMOST BLOWN AWAY BY THE NOISE COMING OUT THE PURDUE JUMBOTRON, TOO.

I MEAN, IT WAS THE STRONGEST AMOUNT OF MUSIC I'VE EVER HEARD.

>> THEY WERE EXCITED TO WIN.

>> THEY WERE.

>> WAS IT JUST ME OR ARE THEY DOING TOO MUCH WITH THAT IN-GAME EXPERIENCE?

>> THEY'RE DOING TOO MUCH, BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING AS MUCH AS RUTGERS.

>> IT'S CRAZY WHAT PURDUE HAS GOING WITH THE IN-GAME -- IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE FOURTH QUARTER AND THEY HAVE 300 PEOPLE ON THE FIELD.

>> REMEMBER THAT THEY SERVE ALCOHOL THERE.

>> THIS IS TRUE.

>> AND THEY HAVE A PARTY DECK.

>> YEAH.

>> THEY DO BOTH.

>> I WISH YOU WOULD'VE BEEN AT RUTGERS.

BEACUASE YOU WOULD'VE THOUGHT PURDUE WAS MINUSCULE BY COMPARISON.

IT WAS JUST VARIATBLE NIGHTCLUB AT RUTGER.

>> I LOVE PURDUE'S -- YEAH, THEY WERE PLAYING A LOT OF MUSIC.

HAD A NIGHTCLUB FEEL TO IT.

>> NOT A NICE NIGHTCLUB EITHER.

>> ANOTHER CLOSE LOSS, BUT NOT LIKE THE OTHERS.

RIGHT?

THIS DID FEEL DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE OTHER GAMES UNDER SCOTT FROST THAT WE SAW OVER THE YEARS.

>> OH, I MEAN, THEY SHOWED A LOT OF FIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS FUN.

MAYBE THEY'RE SHOULDN'T BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT A CLOSE LOSS WHEN YOU SCORE A LOT OF POINTS VERSUS LOSING 13-6, BUT THE FACT THAT THEY SCORED AS MANY POINTS AS THEY DID I THINK IS NOTABLE.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I THINK HUSKERS FANS LIKE OFFENSE.

CASEY THOMPSON'S TOUGH.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE ON DEFENSE, THAT'S JUST GOING TO GET WORSE, 'CAUSE I DON'T THAT NICK HENRICH IS GONNA BE BACK ANY TIME SOON.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WENT INTO THAT GAME THAT WERE KIND OF EXCITING.

PEOPLE WERE FEELING KIND OF -- EVEN THOUGH THEY LOST, PEOPLE ARE FEELING A LITTLE UP.

THERE'RE STILL CONCERNS ABOUT THE TEAM, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE LINES.

BUT ANYTIME A GUY THAT CAN SET A SCHOOL RECORD IN A GAME, PEOPLE FEEL PRETTY GOOD.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT -- AND I WAS KINDS OF JUST MESSING AROUND ON TWITTER TODAY AND PLAYED A VIDEO ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF HAVING POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

>> YEAH.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT COACH JOSEPH HAS BEEN ABLE TO HAVE SUCH A QUICK IMPACT ON NEBRASKA EMOTIONALLY THAT'S INJECTING WHERE THE KIND OF THE BELIEF THAT HAS GOT THEM THROUGH THESE LAST THREE WEEKS?

>> I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED, BUT NOT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK MICKEY -- I UNDERESTIMATED MICKEY.

I THINK THE FAN BASE WAS JUST SO HUNGRY FOR POSITIVE ENERGY.

>> I MEAN, HOW POWERFUL IS THE MIND WHERE THEY'RE JUST HANGING IN NOW.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND SO, THE PLAYERS I THINK BELIEVE IN HIM TOO.

THE THING THAT'S TRUE ABOUT MICKEY, AND I THINK EVERYBODY HERE WOULD AGREE IS HE IS A REAL GUY, HE'S REAL, HE'S TRANSPARENT, HE'S HONEST.

HE'S ABLE TO MAKE A JOKE IN A WAY THAT ISN'T A ONE-LINER OR EQUIP THAT WAS FORCED BUT JUST AS SORT OF NATURAL.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT HE'S A REALIST.

AND SO THE THING THAT I LIKE ABOUT THEM IS THAT HE DOESN'T FEEL BAD ABOUT A BAD BREAK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HE'S LIKE, "I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO DO THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO TRY TO PREPARE THIS TEAM."

I THINK HE WOULD SAY HE HASN'T BEEN PERFECT, NOR WOULD YOU BE IN THE FOURTH GAME AS A HEAD COACH.

BUT I THINK IS REALLY HONEST ABOUT WHEN HE MAKES MISTAKE AND HE'S HONEST ABOUT WHEN THEY DO WELL, TOO.

SO, I THINK PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO THAT ENERGY.

>> YEAH, HE HAD THAT QUOTE TO MATT SCHICK'S INTERVIEW "WATCHING LIFE FORM THE BALCONY OPPOSE TO THE BASEMENT."

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND IT'S SO TRUE.

YOU KNOW PEOPLE THAT ARE CONSTANTLY WORRIED ABOUT ALL THE MISTAKES AND EVERYTHING.

OPPOSED TO THE GUY WHO'S LIKE, "WELL, LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT THING."

YOU KNOW.

LET'S WATCH IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

AND HE -- THAT'S WHAT HE DOES.

>> HE DOES.

>> THE TEAMDOES IT NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE FOLLOWING HIM.

>> I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

AND I THINK HE'S ALSO A GUY THAT AS A POSITION COACH, WHEN YOUR CAREER HAS BEEN AS A POSITION COACH, YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO SPEND WEEK AFTER WEEK WORRYING ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE.

YOU'RE TRYING TO GET YOUR GUYS READY.

AND HE HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PLAYERS.

NOT JUST RECEIVERS, BUT A LOT OF THE PLAYERS WHERE I THINK THEY RESPOND TO HIM.

NOW, OF COURSE, THERE ARE BIG PICTURE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED WITH EVER -- WHOEVER THE HEAD COACH IS GONNA BE.

BUT I THINK, IN THE MOMENT, HE WAS THE RIGHT GUY FOR THAT ROLE.

>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE WEIRD THINGS WE CAN DO IS SPEND ENTIRE HOUR AND CALL IT "O-LINE BIG RED WRAPUP" BECAUSE OF THAT.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU SAW -- ANYTHING OUT THERE THAT COULD CHANGE, MAKE THIS BETTER?

IS THERE A STARTING FIVE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE?

WHAT CAN THEY DO?

>> I'M NOT TERRIBLY ENCOURAGED.

NO, I MEAN I THINK -- AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE, THE DEFENSES THAT THERE ARE ABOUT TO FACE ARE EVEN BETTER THAN THE ONE THEY JUST FACED.

AND SO, WE HAVE TO BE REALLY HONEST ABOUT THAT.

I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT YOU CAN GET FIVE GUYS ON THAT LINE OF SCRIMMAGE WHO COULD JUST KIND OF TAKE A COUPLE OF STEPS TOGETHER AND LEAN ON A DEFENSE A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S NOT THE MOST ATHLETIC GROUP YOU'RE EVER GONNA FIND.

AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO FACE SOME TEAMS THAT REALLY KNOW HOW TO RUSH THE PASSER.

ILLINOIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PASS RUSHING TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY.

SO IS MICHIGAN.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THEY GOT TO PLAY MICHIGAN UP THERE.

AND SO I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHALLENGED IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS.

AND YOU CAN'T SIGN ANYBODY OFF THE WAIVER WIRE.

THERE'S NO FREE AGENCY IN SEASON.

AND SO THEY GOT TO DO THE VERY BEST THEY CAN TO COME UP WITH SCHEMES.

WHICH I THINK MARK WHIPPLE HAS DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF.

BUT THE CHALLENGE IS THEY'RE NOT DOING A LOT OF RUN BLOCKING.

AND IF YOU CAN'T RUN THE BALL AGAINST THE NEXT FIVE TEAMS THEY'RE GONNA PLAY, CASEY THOMPSON BETTER PACK A LUNCH, WHICH HE WILL.

HE'S A TOUGH GUY.

>> YEAH.

>> SAM, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REFERRED THE ISSUES THAT'S GOING ON WITH OFEENSIVE LINE IS RECRUITING ISSUES.

I HAVE A HARD TIME BUYING THAT.

>> I DO TOO.

>> BENHART, CORCORAN, TEDDY PROCHAZKA -- ALL VERY HIGHLY RECRUITED, HIGHLY RESPECTED KIDS COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

OBVIOUSLY, IF IT'S NOT A RECRUITING, IT HAS TO BE A DEVELOPMENT ISSUE.

CORRECT?

>> OR AN EVALUATION ISSUE.

>> THAT TOO.

>> THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVALUATION.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF HEALTH WITH -- CERTAINLY WITH PROCHAZKA.

I MEAN, HE'S BEEN BANGED UP.

CORCORAN HAS HAD A NUMBER OF INJURIES SINCE HE CAME TO NEBRASKA.

YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY THIS AND MAYBE I'M WRONG ABOUT THIS, I KIND OF LIKE THE BASKETBALL PLAYER IN THE TACKLE ROLE THAN THE WRESTLER.

I THINK JUST BASED ON MOVEMENT SKILLS AND ATHLETICISM -- >> FOOTWORK.

>> -- AND SO BENHART WAS A WRESTLER.

I THINK YOU MIGHT BE BETTER SUITED INSIDE.

AND I, THIS IS AGAIN JUST MY OWN PERSONAL PREFERENCE, I THINK YOU NEED AN ELITE CENTER AND NEBRASKA HAD ONE FOR A COUPLE YEARS.

AND THE GUY THAT'S PLAYING HAS PLAYED EVERY SNAP AND HE'S PLAYED GREAT -- >> MM-HMM.

>> -- BUT HE WOULD ALMOST BE BETTER AS A GUARD.

IT'S LIKE YOU NEED TO FIND A CENTER WHO CAN MOVE THE WAY THEY CAN.

AND SO YEAH, I THINK SOME OF IT IS -- SOME OF IT IS RECRUITING, BUT NOT ALL OF IT.

WE CAN'T SAY THAT GREG AUSTIN DIDN'T RECRUIT BETTER TONY TUIOTI, BECAUSE HE DID.

I MEAN, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE TO TONY, BUT THE REALITY IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT NEBRASKA DEFENSIVE LINE, THE GUYS THAT HE RECRUITED DON'T EVEN REALLY PLAY.

NASH PLAYS A LITTLE BIT.

SOME OF THE OTHER GUYS DON'T PLAY.

THEY HAD TO BRING IN TWO TRANSFERS TO COME IN AND BASICALLY START.

OR BE IN THE STARTING ROTATION.

AND SO, I THINK THEY'VE RECRUITED OKAY, BUT THE DEVELOPMENT HASN'T BEEN GREAT.

AND THEN IT'S WORTH SAYING, THAT I THINK THEY'VE KIND OF RUN ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT OFFENSES IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

I MEAN, THERE WAS WHATEVER SCOTT WAS TRYING TO DO.

THEN THEY WENT TO THE LUBIC PROSTYLE THING LAST YEAR, AND THEN THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT.

IT'S NOT ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.

BUT I THINK MARK WHIPLLE LIKE TO THROW IT DEEP AND HE'S JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT SCHEME AND DONOVAN RAIOLA HAS GOT A DIFFERENT TEACHING STYLE.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT -- LET ME GO BACK TO MICKEY BECAUSE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE -- THERE'S THIS BACK-AND-FORTH ABOUT WHO THE COACH IS GONNA BE AND GIVE MICKEY A CHANCE.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU WERE DESCRIBING HIS PERSONALITY EARLIER AND IS IT JUST ME, OR -- HE'S NOT INDIFFERENT ABOUT WHETHER HE GETS THE JOB OR NOT.

BUT IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE'S NOT GIVING THAT AND THOUGHT.

HE IS BUILT TO SO BE IN THE MOMENT.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THAT'S KIND OF ALSO WHAT MAKES HIM A REALLY GOOD GUY FOR THIS PARTICULAR ROLE RIGHT NOW.

>> EXACTLY.

HE'S GOOD FOR THE MOMENT.

I THINK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHO YOU'RE GOING TO HIRE AS A HEAD COACH, IF MICKEY IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT'S THE BIG LONG-TERM VISION HERE AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE WAY YOU WANT TO RECRUIT AND THE PLAYERS AND THE PLACES WHERE YOU WANT TO RECRUITING IS GONNA BE SUSTAINABLE BASED ON WHETHER THOSE KIDS WANT TO STAY HERE, WHETHE YOU'RE WINNING OR NOT."

SO THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION HE'D HAVE TO ANSWER.

BUT IN THE MOMENT, HE'S PERFECT FOR TRANSFERS BECAUSE HE CAN BE REALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH THEM.

>> AND HE'S THE SAME GUY WHETHER HE'S GETTING THE JOB OR HE ISN'T.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HE ONLY KNOWS ONE WAY TO WORK.

>> AND HE ALSO HAS A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STARTING QUARTERBACK THAN THE PREVIOUS HEAD COACH.

>> OH, WITHOUT QUESTION.

>> SO THAT MEANS SOMETHING.

LIKE, MICKEY JOSEPH AND CASEY THOMPSON ARE MUCH CLOSER.

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO KNOCK SCOTT HERE, BUT CASEY IS VERY CLOSE TO MICKEY.

>> NO QUESTION, YEAH.

>> AND SO I THINK IT ACTUALLY MATTERS AND I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY HELPED CASEY TO PLAY BETTER FOOTBALL BECAUSE I THINK HE'S PLAYING FOR A HEAD COACH AT THIS MOMENT AND NOT JUST FOR A SCHOOL.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO OFFENSIVE LIFE, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU SAID MANY TIMES THAT THE PLAYERS IN THE MIDWEST THE CAN PLAY -- NEBRASKA CAN GET OFFENSIVE LINEMAN FROM THE MIDWEST.

RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> NO NEED TO GO OUT TO CALIFORNIA.

HOW DIFFICULT WOULD IT BE TO BUILD THIS OR WILL IT BE EASY?

BECAUSE THERE IS TALENT IN THE MIDWEST FOR NEBRASKA TO BRING IN.

>> WELL, I THINK OFFENSIVELY YOU CAN -- >> JUST THE LINE, JUST THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

>> YEAH, YOU CAN BUILD IT HERE.

AND THEY TRY.

I MEAN, BENHART IS FROM MINNEAPOLIS, CORCORAN'S FROM, YOU KNOW KANSAS CITY AREA, LAWRENCE.

AND OBVIOUSLY PROCHAZKA AND THOSE OTHERS, THEY'VE GOT IN-STATE LINEMAN COMING NEXT YEAR.

I DON'T THINK BROCK KNUTSON IS GOING ANYWHERE.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO COME.

OBVIOUSLY, MASON GOLDMAN MAYBE HE PLAYS DEFENSE.

MAYBE HE PLAYS OFFENSE.

BUT THEY'VE OFFERED HIM.

AND SO I THINK YES, YOU CAN DEVELOP IT HERE.

THOSE GUYS ARE USUALLY GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE MORE YEARS TO DEVELOP.

AND YOU MAY HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE AND FIND A TACKLE.

IT'S HARD TO FIND HIM IN THE PORTAL, THOUGH.

I MEAN ALABAMA'S GOT ONE FROM VANDERBILT.

BUT THAT GUY WENT TO ALABAMA.

>> IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, MICHIGAN GOT THE CENTER FROM VIRGINIA.

>> YEAH.

>> OFFENSIVE LINEMEN ARE LIKE GOLD IN THE PORTAL.

AND DEFENSIVE LINEMEN ARE LIKE EVEN MORE GOLD.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THE HARDEST PLAYERS AND THE DIFFERENCE MAKERS ON EVERY COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM -- MAYBE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TENNESSEE BECAUSE THEY'RE OUTSCORING EVERYBODY -- BUT, GENERALLY SPEAKING.

THE HARDEST PLAYERS TO RECRUIT ARE THE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, AND THAT'S WITH A GREAT TEAM TO HAVE.

AND NEBRASKA DOESN'T HAVE THEM.

AND THOSE ARE HARD TO RECRUIT.

YOU NEED A GUY WHOSE AN ELITE RECRUITER TO GET A DEFENSIVE LINEMAN WHOSE A FOUR OR A FIVE STAR.

JOHN BLAKE.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU NEED JOHN BLAKE ON YOUR STAFF TO RECRUIT THEM.

WHEN JOHN BLAKE WAS HERE, HE GOT THE BEST DEFENSIVE LINEMEN IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

>> AND NOW IT'S LEGAL TO PAY HIM.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT'S THE POINT.

LIKE WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHO WAS IMPORTANT IN THAT ERA, JOHN BLAKE WAS.

BECAUSE HE GOT NDAMUKONG SUH.

AND HE GOT A GUY THAT CHANGED NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE FOR THREE YEARS.

YOU GOTTA HAVE THOSE GUYS AND THAT'S NOT EASY TO DO.

>> IF YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN OVERNIGHT, HOW ABOUT COMPLEMENTARY PIECES LIKE QUARTERBACKS THAT CAN ACCENTUATE WHAT YOU DO WELL.

OR LET'S SAY THE RUNNING BACK SPOT WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A DOWNHILL GUY OR A ONE -- A HIT IT AND SPLIT IT KIND OF GUY WHERE THEY CAN HELP MASK OR COVER UP OR GO ALONGSIDE HOW YOU WANT TO PLAY ON OFFENSE.

>> DO YOU WANT A MOBILE QUARTERBACK?

DO YOU WANT A RUNNING QUARTERBACK?

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT.

I WANT FLORIDA VS. LSU PLAY WHILE WE WERE FLIPPING BACK AND FOURTH AND EVERY TIME A PLAY THEY DIDN'T MAKE ON THIRD DOWN, FLORIDA'S QUARTERBACK MADE IT, LSU'S QUARTERBACK MADE IT.

>> THAT'S FAIR.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST PLAYS OF THE GAME WAS CASEY THOMPSON, ONE , GOING FOR 31 AND THEN THAT LITTLE THING HE RAN FOR SIX YARDS THE FIRST TIME ON THRID DOWN.

YOU GOTTA HAVE IT.

>> I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU.

I WOULD SAY THAT THERE ARE A FEW TEAMS THAT GET AWAY WITH NOT DOING, AND THEY'RE THE BEST TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WELL, THAT WOULD BE ALABAMA BUT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THEY SAW HENDON HOOKER?

>> YEAH.

>> AND, ALTHOUGH I DISAGREE BECAUSE BENNETT IS ATHLETIC.

>> HE IS, HE CAN -- .

>> HE GETS KNOCKED BUT HE CAN DO WHATEVER HE NEEDS TO DO TO MOVE THAT OFFENSE.

>> BRYCE YOUNG HAS 100 YARDS RUSHING THIS YEAR.

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, HE'S MOBILE ENOUGH.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANYMORE TIME FOR A PEYTON MANNING TYPE IN COLLEGE.

>> YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EXIST ANYMORE.

>> I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

SO YOU'RE EITHER GOING TO HAVE TO RECRUIT A -- AND MAYBE TREV WAS THAT GUY TWO YEARS FROM NOW.

NEXT YEAR.

BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE.

ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A RUNNING QUARTERBACK, OR A MOBILE QUARTERBACK.

AND THEN, AS IT RELATES TO RUNNING BACK -- WELL I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL IT'D HELP TO HAVE HIM HEALTHY.

>> YEAH.

>> THEY TALKED ABOUT HAVING SEVEN GUYS IN THE SPRING.

>> YEAH.

>> WE'RE BASICALLY DOWN TO TWO.

AND ONE OF THEM, ANTHONY GRANT, HAS TAKEN MORE SNAPS THIS YEAR THAN ANY NEBRASKA RUNNING BACK SINCE AMEER ABDULLAH.

>> WOW.

>> 67%.

AND THEY MIGHT RUN HIM INTO THE GROUND.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF SNAPS WAS WHEN YOU WERE THERE.

AND THERE WAS LIKE 19 ALL-AMERICAN RUNNING BACKS.

BUT 67% IS REALLY HIGH.

>> THERE'S ONLY ONE YEAR GREATER THAN THAT THAT I KNOW FROM MY REACH, WAS '04.

AND THAT WAS COREY CHAVOUS.

THAT WAS IT.

EVERYBODY ELSE WAS ALWAYS SHARED.

AND YOU HAD QUARTERBACK RUN TOO, THAT TOOK FROM IT.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT.

>> AMMER ABULLAH WAS ON THE FIELD A LOT THAT 2014 SEASON AND, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I THINK IT KIND OF AFFECTED WHAT HE DID GOING INTO HIS PRO CAREER BECAUSE HE RAN SO MUCH IN HIS LAST TWO YEARS AT NEBRASKA.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN TRUST THAT ANTHONY GRANT IS GOING TO BE ON THE FIELD THAT MUCH IN THE LAST FIVE GAMES.

YOU HAVE TO GET -- YOU'VE GOT TO GET HIM SOME HELP.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU SEE A LITTLE MORE SMOTHERS IMPLEMENTED IN THIS?

OR IS THAT TOO RADICALLY DIFFERENT THAT WHAT WHIPPLE WANTS TO DO?

OR IS THAT KIND OF A SCOTT FROST-ING, TOO, AS WELL THAT HE LIKE TO IMPLEMENT.

I WOULD LIKE -- BECAUSE IN MY PERSONAL OPINION I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM IMPLEMENTED "“A"”, TO GET THE DEFENSE PREPARED FOR THAT.

YOU COULD PUT IT ON TAPE.

WHILE I THINK WE ONLY SAW -- YOU KNOW I THINK WE ONLY SAW IN NORTHWESTERN AND THEN THEIR FLORIDA GAME.

>> YEAH.

>> AND WE SAW VERY SUCCESSFUL, RIGHT?

WHEN YOUR OFFENSIVE LINE STRUGGLES JUST TO GET SOMETHING GOING WITHIN THAT -- MAKING THAT PLUS ONE RUN GAME.

YOU KNOW, AND DB YOU CAN CHIME IN AS WELL.

>> OR TWO BACKS IN THE BACKFIELD.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

>> I'M EITHER TWO BACKS IN THE BACKFIELD OR QUARTERBACK RUN GAME BECAUSE I THINK, I'VE SAID THIS 2,000 TIMES, YOU HAVE TO BE EXCEPTIONAL UPFRONT TO RUN THE BALL OUT A SHOTGUN HANDOFF RUN GAME WITHOUT A QUARTERBACK RUNNING THROUGH IT.

>> AND THEY'RE NOT.

THEY'RE NOT EXCEPTIONAL UPFRONT.

YEAH IF IT WERE ME, I WOULD HAVE MY 85 SCHOLARSHIPS THAT I HAVE, OR WHATEVER THEY CALL IT NOW NIL.

I'D WANT TO HAVE A WILD CAT QUARTERBACK WHO CAN ALSO THROW A LITTLE BIT.

MINNESOTA HAS ONE, RIGHT.

>> THEY DO.

ALWAYS HAVE ONE.

>> I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME BUT, JUST HAVE A GUY.

WHETHER IT'S A TIGHT END OR WHATEVER THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU CAN PUT IN THE GAME.

WHO CAN GIVE THE DEFENSE A DIFFERENT LOOK.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I THINK SMOTHERS IS THAT PLAYER.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S MARK WHIPPLE'S PREFERENCE.

I THINK WHIPPLE IS PRO-STYLE COORDINATOR.

AND WANTS TO THROW THE FOOTBALL AND WILL DO IT EXCATLY HOW HE WANTS TO DO IT.

I DON'T THINK MICKEY IS GETTING IN THE WAY THERE.

I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO COME IN AND SAY "“LET'S DO THIS"”.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO LET WHIPPLE DO WHAT HE DOES.

>> SAM, WE APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S GREAT.

>> HEY THANK YOU.

>> GOOD SEEING YOU, MAN.

NEXT UP ON THE WRAP-UP, SEAN CALLAHAN WILL JOIN US TO TALK MORE RECRUITING.

BUT FIRST, MORE SCENES FROM A DISAPPOINTING SATURDAY NIGHT.

COURESTY OF HAIL VARSITY.

BACK IN TWO.

♪ ♪ >>> BE SURE TO VOTE ON THIS WEEKS SIDELINE SURVEY.

WHICH LINE IS IN WORSE SHAPE?

RIGHT NOW, 46% SAY OFFENSIVE LINE.

36% SAY ALL OF THE ABOVE.

18% SAY DEFENSIVE LINE.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT OUR WRAP-UP WEBSITE TO CAST YOUR VOTE.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

MIKE'L SEVERE, SEAN CALLAHAN TO TALK RECRUITING.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> WELL IT'S -- .

>> YOU GOT A BYE WEEK.

>> IT'S A BYE WEEK SO YOU'RE GOING HAVE COACHES OUT ON THE ROAD THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, AND REALLY MAXIMIZE THAT.

I'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE IN SEASON RECRUITING BY THE STAFF.

KIND OF SPEARHEADED BY VINCE GINTA BUT MICKEY JOSEPH HAS RUN THIS RECRUITING OPERATION AS WELL AS WE'VE SEEN IN SEASON, YOU KNOW, IN THE FIVE YEARS OF THIS SCOTT FROST ERA.

SO THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.

NEW IN STATE OFFER WAS JUST MADE LAST WEEK.

IT'S ANOTHER IN STATE POWER FIVE GUY.

MASON GOLDMAN FROM GRETNA.

MASON WAS A KEY PART OF THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RUN FOR GRETNA THIS PAST YEAR.

6'4, 6'5, 230.

ACTUALLY GRETNA -- ELKHORN SOUTH.

PLAYS WITH ZANE FLORES.

>> YUP.

A STUD PLAYER.

AND ACTUALLY I THINK HE'S 6'6.

BUT REALLY GOT MAVERICK NOONAN'S VITALS THERE STILL FROM LAST WEEK.

MASON GOLDMAN, GREAT SIZE.

THE QUESTION IS IS HE AN "“O"” LINEMAN OR A "“D"” LINEMAN?

I THINK, RIGHT NOW, NEBRASKA IS LOOKING AT AN "“O"” LINEMAN.

>> THEY NEED "“O"” LINEMEN.

>> HE'S PICKED UP A LOT OF OFFERS AS OF LATE.

HE'S GOT KANSAS, HE'S GOT ARIZONA STATE.

YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF BIG POWER FIVE OFFERS HAVE COME IN IN NEBRASKA NOW.

HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE SOME TRIPS BEFORE HE MAKES HIS DECISION.

VERY HIGH IN NEBRASKA.

HE'S BEEN TO LINCOLN FOR MULTIPLE GAMES THIS YEAR.

>> WHAT ABOUT WILLIAM WATSON?

>> YEAH, WILLIAM WATSON.

SO THERE'S TWO COMMITS NEBRASKA HAS NOT SEEN YET IN PERSON.

WILLIAM WATSON, THE QUARTERBACK FROM MASSACHUSETTS.

AND THEN BARRY JACKSON, THE RECIEVER IN ATLANTA.

MIKE CASSANO WILL GO ON THE ROAD UP TO MASSACHUSETTS THIS WEEK TO SPEND THE DAY AT WILLIAM WATSON'S HIGH SCHOOL.

AND, I BELIEVE, A GAME THAT NIGHT AS WELL.

SO, THEY WILL BE OUT THERE.

NOW THE STORY, WATSON DID VISIT VIRGINIA TECH THIS PAST WEEKEND FOR THEIR GAME AGAINST MIAMI.

SO THAT DID RAISE SOME ALARM BELLS.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

IS HE LOOKING AT VIRGINIA TECH?

I THINK IT'S A KID THAT'S JUST DOING HIS DUE DILIGENCE.

>> SURE.

>> HE DOESN'T KNOW WHO THE HEAD COACH IS GOING TO BE AT NEBRASKA.

DOESN'T KNOW WHO THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR IS GOING TO BE FOR NEXT YEAR.

MARK WHIPPLE IS WHY HE CAME TO NEBRASKA, COMMITTED TO NEBRASKA.

MARK WHIPPLE HAS KNOWN HIM SINCE HE WAS A SEVENTH GRADER.

AND I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS FACTORED.

BUT THEY STILL VERY MUCH CONSIDER HIM A COMMIT AND THE STAFF WILL BE OUT HIS WAY HERE THIS WEEKEND.

WHAT ABOUT BENI NGOYI WHO IS OUR IN STATE?

YEAH MOVING ON, OUR IN STATE GUY FOR THIS WEEK.

LINCOLN HIGH'S BENI NGOYI.

THE FIRST POWER FIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER TO COME OUT OF LINCOLN HIGH IN A NUMBER OF YEARS, A CERTAIN TERMS OF SCHOLARSHIP.

COMMITTED TO IOWA STATE.

HAD A OFFER FROM NEBRASKA BUT IT WAS KIND OF A NON-COMMITTABLE OFFER AT THAT TIME.

BECAUSE THEY HAD OTHER RECEIVERS ON THE BOARD.

BENI COULD PLAY RECEIVER THOUGH, TOO AND I THINK THAT WAS THE DEBATE.

LIKE LOOK, THIS KID LITERALLY HAS LIKE A 40 INCH VERTICAL AND RUN 4'5.

HE'S A PREMIERE ATHLETE.

CAN YOU JUST MAKE ROOM FOR HIM OR YOU HOLD TRUE TO YOUR NUMBERS ON THE BOARD.

I THINK THERE IS A GREAT DEBATE ABOUT THAT AND IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME, AT SOME POINT, IF NEBRASKA MADE A PUSH ON HIM.

BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE.

WHAT THE ATTRITION IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE ON THIS ROSTER.

AND BENI NGOYI RIGHT NOW, A VERY VERY GOOD LOOKING ATHLETE IN THE CITY OF LINCOLN.

THERE HAVEN'T BEEN VERY MANY ATHLETES LIKE HIM TO COME OUT OF LINCOLN AND THE GUY WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT NEXT IS ONE OF THE OTHER ONES LIKE THAT.

>> YOU COULD GROW INTO AN OUTSIDE LINEBACKER AT THAT SIZE.

MALACHI COLEMAN MAKING HIS DECISION ON SATURDAY.

>> AND THEN FINLLAY, YEAH, MALACHI COLEMAN I MENTIONED NOT A LOT OF ATHLETES LIKE BENI -- MALACHI COLEMAN IS ATHLETICALLY ONE OF THE BEST ATHLETES WE'VE SEEN COME OUT OF LINCOLN IN A LONG TIME.

HE'S VERIFIED TEN FOURS IN THE HUNDRED.

YOU KNOW, 38-40 INCH TYPE VERTICAL.

CAN DUNK THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF BASKETBALL.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND CAN CATCH A FOOTBALL, RUSH A PASSER, BLOCK A PUNT.

HE MAKES IT ALL LOOK EASY.

NOW HE'S BEEN BOTHERED BY A LOT OF INJURIES THIS YEAR.

>> SURE.

>> SO WE HAVEN'T REALLY GOTTEN A GOOD SNAPSHOT OF MALACHI COLEMAN AS A SENIOR.

HIS JUNIOR YEAR GOT OFFERS FROM EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTRY.

AND HE'LL MAKE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT SATURDAY NIGHT AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL.

LINCOLN EAST HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I THINK NEBRASKA'S PROBABLY -- I'D BE SHOCKED IF IT'S NOT NEBRASKA.

>> RIGHT.

>> HE'S BEEN TO ALL FOUR HOME GAMES.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THIS YEAR AS A VISITOR.

HE HAS NOT BEEN TO ANY OTHER GAMES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT WE KNOW OF.

SO SHOULD BE GOOD NEWS HOPEFULLY FOR NEBRASKA ON SATURDAY.

>> WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO IT, THANKS SEAN.

TIME TO GET A QUICK LOOK AROUND THE BIG TEN.

ILLINOIS HAS FIVE STRAIGHT WINS.

HUGE WIN, DOMINATING WIN OVER MINNESOTA.

26-14 BUT THEY HAD 460 SOME YARDS.

MICHIGAN RAN ALL OVER PENN STATE IN THE BIG HOUSE, SECOND HALF.

41-17.

AND SPARTY EDGED OUT WISCONSIN IN DOUBLE OVERTIME, 34-28.

EACH WEEK WE'VE BEEN TAKING A DEEP DIVE INTO COACHING CANDIDATES FOR NEBRASKA.

THIS WEEK, IT'S HUSKERS INTERIM HEAD COACH, MICKEY JOSEPH.

LOT OF REASONS, WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT WHAT HE'S DONE WITH THE TEAM AND HIS ENTHUSIASM, HIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

DAMON, WHAT'S THE NUMBER ONE QUALITY IF YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT FOR MICKEY TO BE THE NEXT HEAD COACH.

>> THE PLAYERS BELIEVE IN HIM.

JUST, THEY'RE BUYING WHAT HE'S SELLING BECAUSE HE'S AUTHENTIC AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF OTHER COACHES THAT BASICALLY WILL -- YOU KNOW IN A GUNFIGHT WITH A COUPLE OF KNIVES WITH BASED ON THE INJURIES AND HE GET'S THEM TO COMPETE AND BELIEVE.

AND I'M TELLING YOU GUYS THAT'S 80% OF IT.

>> HOW MUCH, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, YOU GUYS WERE COMMITTED TO THINKING BO PELINI SHOULD'VE BEEN THE HEAD COACH IF IT'S AN 0-3 BALL GAME.

THEY WENT THE OTHER DIRECTION.

HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT FOR YOU GUYS TO ADJUST WHEN THE GUY YOU WANTED TO BE THE HEAD COACH WASN'T?

>> 'CAUSE CALLAHAN CAME UP -- NOT YOU.

BUT -- >> IT WAS A LITTLE TOUGH.

BUT WHAT HELPED ME WAS A GUY LIKE JOHN BLAKE COMING IN.

'CAUSE HE WAS SUCH A GREAT PERSON TO BE AROUND, A GREAT COACH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> YEAH, SUCH A STRONG PERSONALITY.

AND YOU WANTED TO PLAY BALL FOR A MAN LIKE THAT.

>> GOTCHA.

>> SO THAT HELPED.

BUT BILL, YOU KNOW, HE JUST LOST THE SUPER BOWL A FEW YEARS PRIOR.

SO WE KNEW ABOUT BILL.

AND LISTEN.

THAT WAS OUR ONLY -- THAT WAS OUR CHOICE.

IT WASN'T LIKE, "WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GONNA DO?"

>> -- WASN'T AROUND BACK THEN.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH, YOU WERE STUCK.

AND I WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE ANYWAYS.

SO YOU HAD TO MAKE THE BEST OF THE SITUATION BY HAVING COACH -- BRINGING IN THE RIGHT ASSISTANTS KIND OF HELPED THAT SITUATION.

>> GIVE ME THE PROS FOR MICKEY.

>> YEAH, I THINK THE CONNECTION HE HAS WITH HIS PLAYERS.

YOU KNOW, MICKEY WAS AT THE TEAM HOTEL, OBVIOUSLY, THIS WEEK.

WE WERE AT THE HOTEL FOR RUTGERS.

AND YOU COULD JUST SEE HIM.

WHEN HE'S AROUND THE GUYS AND THAT SETTING, JUST THE CONNECTION THAT THE PLAYERS IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO HIM AND THE WAY THEY RESPOND TO HIM AND TALK TO HIM.

HE'S NEVER BEEN A HEAD COACH BEFORE, AT LEAST AT THE POWER FIVE, DIVISION I LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION -- AND THAT HE'S GETTING A NINE- GAME AUDITION TO PROVE THAT.

SO THESE NEXT FEW YEARS WILL REALLY WRITE THE SCRIPT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

AND IF THEY CAN PULL OFF A WIN AGAINST ILLINOIS AND MINNESOTA AT HOME, WHICH ARE GAMES THEY COULD WIN, I THINK IT COULD TURN PRETTY QUICK FOR MICKEY JOSEPH.

>> SO WE WERE EASTERN TIME, OBVIOUSLY, IN WEST LAFAYETTE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO GO DOWN TO THE WORKOUT ROOM.

MICKEY IS ALREADY ON THE TREADMILL.

>> MM.

>> IT'S FULL.

IT'S MOSTLY NEBRASKA PEOPLE WORKING OUT.

HE'S ON THE PHONE.

WE GET A QUICK WORKOUT.

I GO WALK.

WE COME BACK.

IT'S 8:30 FOR BREAKFAST.

IT DIDN'T OPEN UNTIL 8:00 BEFORE THE PLAYERS COULD COME DOWN.

HE MUST HAVE MADE 10 OR 12 CALLS.

>> I BET.

>> HE'S JUST RATTLING OFF PHONE CALL AFTER PHONE CALL, INSTANT ENERGY.

HE IS SUCH A GOOD WORKER.

I THINK IT'S UNDERSTATED.

'CAUSE I THINK WE'D ALL AGREE NEBRASKA'S HEAD COACHING -- YOU HAVE TO BE A GRINDER.

>> YEAH.

>> IT JUST GOES WITH SUCCESS HERE.

AND HE WORKS HIS TAIL OFF.

>> THIS WAS THE DEBATE THAT WAS KIND OF HAPPENING AROUND THE CITY.

CAN -- AND I KNOW TREV DOESN'T CARE ABOUT WINING THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

BUT CAN HE WIN THE PRESS CONFERENCE IF HE PICKS SOMEBODY OTHER MICKEY RIGHT NOW?

'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE FAN BASE HAS REALLY MOVED TO WANTING MICKEY TO BE THE HEAD COACH.

>> IT'S TOUGH.

>> THAT'S REALLY HARD, YEAH.

>> IT'S GONNA BE TOUGH.

>> IT'S GOTTA BE A BIG NAME, RIGHT?

>> LIKE, WHAT IF HE'S GOT -- I'M JUST GONNA THROW A HYPOTHETICAL.

LIKE, WHAT IF LUKE FICKELL WAS ON THE HOOK, OR SOMEONE LIKE THAT?

I'D SAY YOU'D WIN THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

SO.

>> THERE'S SEVERAL BIG NAMES THAT -- >> WHAT IF MARK STOOPS ALL OF A SUDDEN WAS ON THE HOOK?

I MEAN, BUT YOU JUST DON'T, LIKE, WHAT DIRECTION TREV IS GOING WITH THAT "A" GROUP OF CANDIDATES.

AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT "A" GROUP LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.

>> RIGHT.

>> I THINK HE'S THE MAN IN THE POWER CHAIR THOUGH, COACH JOESPH, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WAS SORT OF A RIGHT TO REFUSAL FOR ANOTHER COACHING CANDIDATE IF THAT WORKS OUT AND HE WANTS TO STAY.

>> RIGHT.

>> I THINK MICKEY'S BLESSING OR HIS ENDORSEMENT OR WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT THE NEXT POTENTIAL COACH IN THE UNIVERSITY -- >> RIGHT.

>> -- WOULD ACTUALLY GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING THE FAN BASE WITH WHATEVER HAPPENED, AS LONG AS COACH JOHNSON WAS PART OF IT.

HE -- MICKEY HAS A LOT OF STROKE RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK HE UNDERSTANDS THAT.

>> MOST CRITICAL TO KEEP THE CLASS TOGETHER, MICKEY, APPLEWHITE -- IS THAT IT?

>> BUSCH?

>> AND BUSCH.

>> I MEAN, I THINK THOSE GUYS -- I MEAN, THE IN-STATE GUYS ARE GOING TO STAY.

YOU KNOW, JAIDYN DOSS IS A VERY GOOD RECEIVER AT KANSAS CITY.

THAT'S BILL BUSCH'S GUY.

>> MM-HM.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE A RUNNING BACK YET.

THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW BUT A LOT OF THE GUYS -- >> THIS GUY THEY OFFERED -- THAT'S NICE TAPE.

>> COACH APPLEWHITE MIGHT BE THEIR BEST COACH.

I'M JUST GONNA THROW THAT OUT THERE.

HE'S FANTASTIC.

>> STILL GETTING PRODUCTION WITH EVEN THROUGH THE ROOM'S -- >> WELL, AND APPLEWHITE, IF HE CAN -- YOU KNOW, IF AJ ALLEN -- >> HE'S UNBELIEVABLE.

>> -- AND AJ GRANT COME BACK ANOTHER YEAR BECAUSE APPLEWHITE STAYS, THAT'S PRETTY SOLID RIGHT THERE.

>> HE CAN FLAT OUT COACH.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND WITH ALL THE STUFF THAT BILL BUSCH HAS DONE, YOU ALMOST KIND OF OWE HIM A LITTLE BIT FOR TAKING OVER THE SPECIAL TEAMS, TAKING OVER DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR.

I MEAN, YOU WANT TO REWARD HIM A LITTLE BIT NEXT YEAR, WHOEVER IT IS.

>> YEAH, AND SAY IF MICKEY WAS THE HEAD COACH AND BILL'S NOT HIS DEFENSE COORD, MAYBE MICKEY'S BROTHER, VANCE JOSEPH, WOULD COME AND WORK WITH MICKEY 'CAUSE THEY COULD PAY HIM OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

>> IT WOULD BE SOME SORT OF DISCOUNT THOUGH.

>> YEAH.

>> 'CAUSE VANCE IS -- >> WHAT'S HE MAKING IN ARIZONA?

>> ALMOST ALL COORDINATORS MAKE OVER A MILLION AND A HALF IN THE NFL.

>> YEAH, HE'S GETTING PAID PRETTY WELL.

>> YEAH, ALMOST ALL OF THEM DO.

SO YOU'D HAVE TO GIVE HIM, LIKE, 2 MILLION MAYBE.

WHICH HAS BEEN DONE, RIGHT?

ARANDA GOT 2 MILLION.

>> MICKEY CAN GIVE HIM SOME OF HIS MONEY THEN.

>> WHAT DID BO GET WHEN HE WENT TO LSU?

HE GOT ALMOST CLOSE TO 2 MILLION AS WELL.

>> HE BECAME THE HIGHEST PAID FOR THAT.

>> WHEN HE WAS THE -- FOR THAT ONE YEAR OR WHATEVER UNTIL HE GOT FIRED AFTER THE COVID YEAR.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THE WAY ARIZONA IS PLAYING, YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> IT'S A STRANGE SITUATION.

BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA COMPARE THEM, NEBRASKA, AUBURN, ARIZONA STATE, COLLEGE JOBS THAT ARE OPEN, IS THE BEST, SECOND BEST, WHAT DO YOU THINK IN TERMS OF JOBS?

AND I'VE ALREADY GIVEN IT TO LEONARD, AND THAT'S PROBABLY WRONG.

I SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT.

>> YEAH.

YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT THOUGH.

>> AUBURN IS NOT OPEN YET.

>> WELL, IT WILL BE OPEN.

>> BUT IN TERMS OF MONEY AND RESOURCES, NEBRASKA IS THE BEST JOB RIGHT NOW OPEN.

YEAH.

>> IN AUBURN, YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL OF THE BOOSTERS AND ALL THE ISSUES THEY'VE HAD BEFORE.

AND ARIZONA STATE IS GETTING READY TO GET PUNISHED PROBABLY.

>> WE THOUGHT NEBRASKA MESSAGE BOARDS AND TALK RADIO WAS BAD.

IT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO THE AUBURN -- >> IT'S MUCH WORSE IN AUBURN.

>> -- AUBURN STUFF.

>> YEAH, ON DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

GIVE ME YOUR PREDICTION.

LAST FIVE, WHAT'S THE RECORD?

[ SIGHS ] IT WASN'T THAT HARD OF A QUESTION.

>> I'M GOING TO SAY TO 2-3.

I THINK THEY CAN GET TWO OUR OF THESE LAST FIVE.

>> I'M GOING 2-3.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> LIKE, 3-2.

>> YEAH, I'M GOING TO A BOWL GAME.

>> WOW, 3-2.

>> 3-2.

>> SO ILLINOIS, MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN.

'CAUSE I THINK THOSE ARE THE THREE BEST CHANCES.

>> NOT IOWA.

>> I THINK IOWA IS GONNA FIGURE OUT A WAY BY THE END OF THE SEASON.

WE ALL KNOW THIS.

TO ALL OF A SUDDEN -- >> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT.

IT'S NOT MICHIGAN.

>> NO, IT'S NOT MICHIGAN.

>> I THINK THEY STRUGGLE NEXT WEEK OR IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

[ TALKING OVER EACH OTHER ] >> WISCONSIN'S SECOND HALF AGAINST MICHIGAN STATE WAS HORRIBLE.

>> IF IT WASN'T -- >> ILLINOIS I THINK THEY'RE GONNA STRUGGLE.

>> IF IT WASN'T THE STRANGLEHOLD IOWA HAS OVER NEBRASKA PSYCHOLOGICALLY - - >> THAT'S WHAT I WORRY ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

>> ILLINOIS' RUN SCHEME IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN IOWA'S.

THAT GAP SCHEME WILL DEAL NEBRASKA FITS.

>> THEY'RE THE MOST BALANCED TEAM IN THE BIG TEN, BY THE WAY, AND ALSO GIVING THE FEWEST AMOUNT OF POINTS.

>> I MEAN, YOU KNOW, GAP SCHEME IS TOUGH.

>> BURNING QUESTIONS?

GO AHEAD, SEAN.

>> MY BURNING QUESTION IS, CAN MICKEY JOSEPH GET THIS TEAM THROUGH THIS BRUTAL MEAT GRINDER OF A FIVE-GAME STRETCH?

WE THOUGHT THE LAST THREE WEEKS WERE CHALLENGING.

IT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO FACE THESE FINAL FIVE.

>> HOW HEALTHY WILL THEY BE?

IF THEIR HEALTH IMPROVES, HE'LL HAVE THEM BELIEVING THEY CAN BEAT JUST ABOUT ANYBODY.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, WITH THE HEALTH -- AND HE ONLY HAS A BYE WEEK.

THERE'S STILL GOT TO BE A TOUGHNESS, A PHYSICALITY INTRODUCED AND ADDRESSED WITH THIS TEAM.

BUT DEALING WITH THE HEALTH ISSUES, THAT'S TOUGH TO DO COMING OUT OF THIS BYE WEEK AND GET READY FOR ILLINOIS.

>> DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT GETTING HEALTHY IS THE BIG THING.

102 PLAYS, COMING OFF OF THAT, THEY HAVE TO GET HEALTHY.

AT LEAST REIMER HAS GOT TO BE BACK.

AND A HEALTHY VOKOLEK WOULD BE GREAT AS WELL.

EVEN THOUGH THE HUSKERS GET A BYE WEEK, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE RESTING.

NEXT WEEK WE'RE BACK TO COVER THE BYE WEEK AND WHAT NEBRASKA MAY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WITH GUEST NICK BAHE, FOX COLOR ANALYST, AND AMY JUST FROM "THE LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR," FORMER WORKER DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS.

OUR THANKS TO SEAN CALLAHAN, SAM McKEWON, AND OUR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CALL CENTER FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

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

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

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪