>>> CHAPTER ONE OF THE MATT RHULE ERA AT NEBRASKA IS IN THE BOOKS ENDING WITH A FIVE AND SEVEN SEASON.

WITH A TRANSFER WIN TO OPENING UP AND COACHES MOVING TO THE 2024 SEASON, IT REALLY IS TIME TO WRAP IT UP AND START WITH CHAPTER TWO.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK AT THE 2023 SEASON WITH STEVEN M. SIPPLE AND MITCH SHERMAN.

SEAN CALLAHAN WILL JOIN US TO TALK RECRUITING AND THE PORTAL.

ALL COMING UP NEXT ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

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

IT WAS QUITE THE BOOK FOR THE 2023 SEASON.

WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO A BUNCH OF THOSE CHAPTERS NOW.

JOINING US, FORMER HUSKERS JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING.

IT WAS A HORROR NOVEL, BUT IT WAS KIND OF A THRILLER, WASN'T IT?

IT HAD A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS.

>> YEAH, THERE DEFINITELY WAS A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS.

IT STARTED OFF UGLY.

THERE'S SOME GOOD THINGS THAT YOU FINISH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON AND GET SOME GOOD THINGS GOING.

YOU GET THREE STRAIGHT WINS.

YOU ARE UNDEFEATED IN OCTOBER AND THEN YOU THINK, YOU KNOW, THE BACK HALF OF THAT SCHEDULE, OH, THIS IS DOABLE.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS DEFINITELY DOABLE.

YOU THOUGHT THE BOOK WOULD BE A NICE EASY ENDING.

AND THEN IT'S LIKE, MAN, THERE WAS ALL SORTS OF CRAZINESS.

AND, YOU KNOW, ALL SORTS OF THINGS HAPPENING.

REALISTICALLY, WE JUST DIDN'T GET DONE.

AND THAT IS JUST THE CRAZY PART BECAUSE IT WAS SO DOABLE.

IT LOOKED VERY REALISTIC IN FRONT OF THEM, TO AT LEAST GET TWO MORE WINS OUT OF THOSE FOUR.

THEY DIDN'T GET ANY.

SO YOU SCRATCH YOUR HEAD A LITTLE BIT, NOW EVEN THOUGH THE SEASON IS A COUPLE OF WEEKS OLD.

>> YEAH, IT'S ALWAYS FUNNY WHEN YOU LOSE AND HOW YOU LOSE.

>> BECAUSE THE EXPECTATIONS ARE SO FLUID THAT THEY CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE SEASON.

WE WERE ON TRACK TO GET TO WHERE MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE.

ALTHOUGH IT LOOKED A LITTLE DIFFERENT THEN YOU HAD A COUPLE OF GAMES YOU GAVE AWAY, AND THEN DISAPPOINTMENT KIND OF SET IN AS THE SEASON PROGRESSED.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN ITS TOTALITY, NEBRASKA IS ON TRACK.

AND I THINK THEY ARE IN A GOOD PLACE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DIRTY 'C' WORD, RIGHT, CULTURALLY.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YEAR ONE IS TO DEFINE HOW YOU ARE GOING TO RUN YOUR PROGRAM AND FOR THAT, I THINK THEY ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

>> ONE TOUGH PART WAS, AT LEAST WITH THE FANBASE, IT KIND OF FELT LIKE A CONTINUATION OF THINGS WE'VE SEEN BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE MISTAKES.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT REALLY WAS A DIFFERENT STORY BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING ON THE FIELD.

>> YEAH YOU CAN, YOU CAN LOOK AT IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU CAN BE AN OPTIMIST OR A PESSIMIST IN THIS SITUATION.

A PESSIMIST IS GOING TO SAY, "HEY, NEBRASKA STILL DOESN'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN CLOSE FOOTBALL GAMES, FOUR LOSSES.

NEBRASKA STILL TURNS THE FOOTBALL OVER.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO BE AN ETERNAL OPTIMIST, THE GLASS, YOU KNOW, HALF FULL, IT'S LIKE, OKAY, THEY HAD ALL OF THESE INJURIES.

A NEW SYSTEM COMES IN HERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE YOUR STARTING QUARTERBACK GETS HURT EARLY IN THE SEASON.

EVEN WITH THE TURNOVERS, THEY FIND WAYS TO WIN.

AND YOU LOOK AT THE NORTHWESTERN GAME, I MEAN, THE WAY THEY STARTED OFF AND THE WAY THE DEFENSE WAS ABLE TO BOUNCE BACK -- TEAMS WITH FIELD GOALS, YOU COULD SAY GOSH, FOR AS BAD AS IT WAS, AT TIMES, NEBRASKA LOOKED LIKE A VERY CONFIDENT FOOTBALL PROGRAM AND A FOOTBALL TEAM.

AND I START THINKING YOU CAN TAKE A LOT TO THE BANK WITH THAT TYPE OF SCENARIO.

>> YEAH, I THINK THE GOOD THING IS IS IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE TWO KEY COMPONENTS IN YEAR ONE, YOU WANT TO LOOK AT YOUR CULTURE THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT AND THEN DEVELOPMENT.

AND YOU'D BE HARD-PRESSED TO MAKE THE CASE THAT ANYBODY WENT BACKWARDS IN TERMS OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

AND FOR ALL THE HANDWRINGING AND CONSTERNATION WE HAD ABOUT QUARTERBACKS AND RUNNING BACKS AND WHOMEVER ELSE, PLAYERS GOT BETTER.

RIGHT, BOTH PURDY AND HAARBERG WERE BETTER THAN THE LAST TIME WE SAW THEM.

THE RUNNING BACK GAME EVOLVED.

ANTHONY GRANT WAS BETTER.

BRYCE BENHART WAS BETTER.

NOUILI WAS BETTER.

SO TOMMY HILL, MARKET STRIDE.

SO WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT GUYS ACTUALLY GETTING BETTER UNDER THE TUTELAGE, THAT'S ANOTHER FEATHER IN THE CAP OF THIS COACHING STAFF.

>> I THINK MATT RHULE NAILED IT WHEN HE SAID YOU CUT OPEN, YOU PUT IT ON THE AUTOPSY TABLE, YOU CUT OPEN THE PROGRAM, IT'S IN A GOOD PLACE.

IT REALLY FEELS LIKE THAT.

>> NO, I DO, AND I THINK -- I KNOW, AS OF RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S DECEMBER 5TH, AND WITH THE TRANSFER PORTAL, YOU'VE SEEN HOW MANY GUYS HAVE ENTERED, NEBRASKA HAS HAD ONE GUY SO FAR, AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS SOMETHING TO IT.

I KNOW A LOT OF TIME LEFT AND THINGS CAN CHANGE, BUT I THINK YOU WOULD BE A LITTLE CONCERNED IF YOU HAD, YOU KNOW, TEN PLUS GUYS THAT SAID, "I'M OUT OF HERE."

SO I THINK INTERNALLY, THEY ARE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS.

I THINK GUYS ARE HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING.

YOU'VE SEEN WITH GUYS LIKE TY ROBINSON COMING BACK, OBVIOUSLY, THEY LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON INSIDE THESE WALLS THAT WE ARE SITTING IN CURRENTLY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S TALKED ABOUT ENOUGH AND REALIZED ENOUGH THAT THE CULTURE IS IN A REALLY GOOD SPOT.

>> EVEN GUYS WHO WANTED TO LEAVE AT ONE POINT NOW, CAN YOU PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO HELP ME BE ABLE TO STAY IS WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW?

>> YEAH, THERE IS TONS OF PROOF OF CONCEPT, RIGHT.

YOU GET A LOOK AT GUYS LIKE JAMAR BUTLER WHO WENT FROM A GUY WHERE YOU ARE THINKING, HE LOOKS GOOD, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU PLAY THE WAY THAT HE LOOKED, RIGHT?

ALL THE WAY IN AND HAD A TREMENDOUS SEASON.

YOU LOOKS AT GUYS LIKE TY ROBINSON WHO GAVE IT SOME CONSIDERABLE THOUGHT ON WHAT THE NEW REGIME WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND WHETHER HE WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ON THE WAY BACK, AS HE STANDS, DIDN'T EVEN NEGOTIATE IT.

I WANT TO BE BACK.

SO WHEN I LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY ARE DEFINITELY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> IT IS A PRERECORDED SHOW, SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE YOUR PHONE CALLS LIKE WE NORMALLY DO.

BUT WE WILL HAVE SOME PEOPLE GETTING IN SOME COMMENTS AND WE'LL TRY TO GET SOME OF THOSE AS WE GO ALONG.

HERE IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THOUGH, ANYTIME YOU WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US, BIGRED@NEBRASKAMEDIA.ORG, OR ON ANY OF OUR "BIG RED WRAP UP" SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

LAST WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SEVEN STRAIGHT SEASONS WITH NO BOWL GAME?

PRETTY EVEN SPREAD BUT 'MAD' SEEMED TO SUM UP THE FEELINGS FOR A LOT OF FOLKS.

THE BEST TAKING 34% OF THE VOTE.

IF YOU DIDN'T VOTE ON LAST WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE NEW ONE WHICH IS ON THE WEBSITE NOW.

IT ASKS "HOW ARE YOU SPENDING THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS WITHOUT HUSKER FOOTBALL?

ARE YOU WATCHING OTHER FOOTBALL GAMES, CHEERING ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM, PREPARING FOR THE HOLIDAYS OR JUST TWIDDLING YOUR THUMBS WAITING AUGUST 31ST, THE FIRST GAME OF THE 2024 SEASON?

PERSONALLY, I'M WATCHING A LOT OF FOOTBALL GAMES.

BUT YEAH, VOLLEYBALL'S AWESOME TOO, THAT'S GREAT.

BEFORE WE GET TO OUR FIRST GUEST, MITCH SHERMAN, WE'LL HEAR WHAT MATT RHULE HAD TO SAY IN HIS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE SEASON.

>> I THINK WE GOT IN THERE, WE COMPETED IN EVERY GAME AND FOUGHT IN BATTLE AND HAD A CHANCE IN EVERY GAME.

IT DIDN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN DOWN THE STRETCH.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S UNLUCKY.

I THINK IT'S LET'S GO BACK TO THE SAME THING FROM A YEAR.

LET'S GET A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN EVERY AREA AND LET'S MAKE CLOSE LOSSES CLOSE WINS.

I ALWAYS WANT TO TAKE CARE AND HONOR THE GUYS THAT ARE HERE FIRST.

IF GUYS DECIDE TO LEAVE, THEN I'M GOING TO GO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY LEFT.

I'M JUST NOT GOING TO TELL THE GUY HERE TO LEAVE SO THAT I CAN GO GET SOMEBODY ELSE.

I WANT TO BE THE GUY THAT I PROMISE ALL THE PARENTS I AM IN RECRUITING.

IF WE GO TO THE PORTAL, I EITHER WANT TO GET SOMEONE IN ANY POSITION, SOMEONE WITH MULTIPLE YEARS THAT I THINK IS ON CALIBER WITH THE GUYS THAT WE HAVE OR SOMEONE WHO'S AN INSTANT IMPACT UPGRADE.

YOU KNOW, LIKE, SOMEONE WHO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

MAKE NO MISTAKE A GOOD QUARTERBACK IN THE PORTAL COST 1 MILLION, 1 MILLION-FIVE -$2 MILLION DOLLARS RIGHT NOW.

SO JUST SO WERE ON THE SAME PAGE.

YOU KNOW I SAID AFTER THE COLORADO GAME YOU KNOW, WE WERE 0-2, I SAID THIS IS KIND OF WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU HIRE ME.

I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY AND NOT TAKE QUICK FIXES.

AND SO, I THINK WE GOT TO 5-7, I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM THAT WE ARE NOT IN A BOWL GAME.

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW SOUL ROCKINGLY DISAPPOINTED I AM FOR OUR GUYS.

BUT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO BELIEVE LIKE WHEN I WAS 6-6 AT TEMPLE IN MY SECOND YEAR, THAT NOT GOING TO A BOWL GAME IGNITED A FIRE WITHIN ME AND THE PLAYERS AND THE NEXT YEAR WE WON TEN GAMES.

I'M NOT MAKING ANY PREDICTIONS ABOUT NEXT YEAR, I'M JUST SAYING WE WILL BE A CONSIDERABLY BETTER FOOTBALL TEAM NEXT YEAR THEN WE ARE THIS YEAR.

>> WELCOME BACK,NOW WE WELCOME IN OUR FIRST GUEST OF THE SHOW, MITCH SHERMAN JOINING US FROM THE ATHELETIC.

WHAT STRUCK YOU THE MOST FROM THOSE FINAL COMMENTS AND FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE THAT MATT RHULE HAD?

>>WELL THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK OF COURSE ABOUT THE CHANGE AND WHAT POSSIBLE CHANGE THERE COULD BE.

AND HE WAS ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE COACHING STAFF, OF COURSE HE IS GOING TO BE ASKED ABOUT THE QUARTERBACKS.

WHICH WAS REALLY THE PREDOMINANT STORY THROUGH MOST OF THE SEASON, OR ALL OF THE SEASON, AND IS WHAT HELD NEBRASKA BACK.

WHEN THEY HAD STABLE QUARTERBACK PLAY THAT IS WHEN THE WINS CAME.

I WAS STRUCK BY THE WAY RHULE CONTINUES TO JUMP TO THE DEFENSE OF HIS PLAYERS.

WHETHER IT'S THE QUARTERBACKS OR JUST EVERYBODY ON HIS ROSTER, AND HOW MUCH HE VALUES THE PLAYERS AND BELIEVES IN WHAT HE IS DOING AND WHAT HE WANTS TO DO MOVING FORWARD .

BUILDING THIS PROGRAM BY RECRUITING TALENT, KEEPING THAT TALENT IN LINCOLN AND DEVELOPING IT.

>>MITCH, YOU LOOK AT WHAT WENT WELL IN YEAR ONE WITH COACH RHULE AND WE CAN HONESTLY DISCUSS HOW WELL THE DEFENSE PERFORMED.

THEY OVERACHIEVED FOR MY EXPECTATIONS THIS YEAR, BUT YOU HERE THE OFF-SEASON RUMBLINGS QUICKLY WITH TONY WHITE, THEM BEING ABLE TO KEEP THEM HERE FOR ANOTHER YEAR, FULL PAY INCREASE, IT SPEAKS VOLUMES WHAT KIND OF FOR WHAT THEY ARE BUILDING IN 2024.

>>YEAH, TONY WHITE IS NOW ONE OF THE HIGHEST-PAID COORDINATORS IN THE BIG TEN.

AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN 18 TEAM BIG TEN.

AND THAT IS NO SMALL FACT.

THAT IS OF SIGNIFICANT IMPORTANCE FOR NEBRASKA HEADING INTO THE 2024 SEASON, WHICH IS A LANDMARK SEASON IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL THAT WE ARE MOVING INTO THIS FUTURE.

SO IF NEBRASKA WERE TO LOSE A COORDINATOR IN THAT SITUATION AND HAVE TO GO INTO YEAR TWO WITH THIS COACHING STAFF AND BE BACK AT SQUARE ONE WITH WHERE IT'S AT ON DEFENSE LEADERSHIP, YOU KNOW THAT IS TAKING A STEP BACK WITH THE GROWTH AND THE PROGRESS THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE.

AND CLEARLY TONY WHITE CAME IN TO LINCOLN AND WAS , HE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

PLAYERS BELIEVED IN HIM.

THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO TEACH.

AND, NOW NEBRASKA IS AT A MAJOR ADVANTAGE ON OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THESE KINDS OF CHANGES AS THE BIG TEN ITSELF UNDERGOES THE HUGE CHANGE, BECAUSE IT HAS THAT FOUNDATION WITH THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR .

>>MITCH YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT OF COACHES OVER THE LAST HANDFUL OF YEARS.

HOW DID YOU GUYS DISCERN IN THE MEDIA BETWEEN CLARITY AND CONSISTENCY OF MESSAGE VERSUS COACHING?

BECAUSE THIS FEELS A LOT DIFFERENT.

>> YEAH, THE THING YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WITH MATT RHULE IS JUST HOW STRONG OF A COMMUNICATOR AND HOW GOOD OF A SPEAKER HE IS.

SO SOMETIMES IT IS EASY TO GET LOST IN UNDERSTANDING THAT.

YOU CAN THINK SOMETHING SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, REAL, TRUE, GENUINE TALK WHEN IT IS MORE COACH SPEAK.

BUT, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF GENUINENESS IN WHAT HE SAYS, AT LEAST THAT IS HOW I PERCEIVE IT.

I AM NOT SKEPTICAL WHEN I LISTEN TO HIM TALK.

I BELIEVE IN THE MESSAGE THAT HE IS PROMOTING.

I THINK THE PEOPLE AROUND THE PROGRAM, AT THIS POINT, THE RECRUITES THAT HE IS TALKING TO, I THINK THEY BELIEVE IN THE MESSAGE HE IS SPREADING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

THE THING IS, I THINK HE MENTIONED CONSISTENCY, THERE IS CONSISTENCY.

IT IS ONE THING IF SOMEONE SOUNDS BELIEVABLE IN SEPTEMBER AND THEN THEY SOUND BELIEVABLE IN DECEMBER, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT MESSAGES.

WITH RHULE, YOU KNOW YEAH, HE'S REACTING TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HAVE COME UP WITH THIS TEAM, BUT ALL OF THE MESSAGES ARE CONSISTENT AND BUILT ON THE SAME FOUNDATION.

>> YOU REFERENCED THAT MESSAGE IN THE BEGINNING, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD WITH THESE GUYS.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO CUT A BUNCH OF PLAYERS, WE'RE BRING IN A BUNCH OF PORTAL GUYS.

IS THAT THE WAY TO DO IT THOUGH?

IS THAT THE BEST WAY GETTING TO DO IT NOWADAYS?

>>I MEAN IT IS AGAINST THE GRAIN .

WE LOOK AROUND COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND YOU SEE THE TRANSFER PORTAL OPEN THIS WEEK AND THERE ARE PLAYERS THAT PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN BETTER POSITIONS THAN NEBRASKA.

PROGRAMS HAVE ONE OR TWO LOSSES THIS SEASON.

AND THERE -- PEOPLE ARE JUMPING OVERBOARD.

IT IS NOT ALWAYS BECAUSE THOSE PLAYERS WANT TO LEAVE .

SOMETIMES THEY ARE GETING SHOWN THE DOOR.

AND YOU HAVE PLAYERS ON DAY THAT ARE ONE OF THE PORTAL BEING OPEN-- I AM SORRY, SCHOOLS THAT LOST UPWARDS 8-10-12 PLAYERS.

NEBRASKA IS ALSO IN A POSITION WITH HIS NUMBERS WERE SOME OF THAT TURNOVER AND SOME OF THAT CHANGE IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME.

RHULE WANTS TO DO THIS IN A WAY WHERE HE IS NOT TELLING PLAYERS THEY HAVE TO LEAVE.

THIS IS WHERE NEBRASKA IS AT.

NEBRASKA HAS TRIED IT THE OTHER WAY WHERE IT HAD MASS TURNOVER OFF-SEASON AFTER OFF-SEASON.

IT IS TAKING THE ROUTE NOW WHERE IT WANTS TO BE STABLE AND BUILD ON THAT KIND OF A SYSTEM.

>> I TOTALLY AGREE IT NEEDS TO COME FROM WITHIN.

YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND GRAB SOME GUYS HERE OR THERE.

A QUARTERBACK, A WIDE RECEIVER, A DEFENSIVE LINEMEN HERE AND THERE, BUT ROSTER MANAGEMENT IS THE KEY GOING FORWARD.

THIS IS THE NEW AGE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL, THE NIL, TRANSFER PORTAL.

WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT IF QUARTERBACK IS THE IMPORTANT POSITION.

IF THAT IS NUMBER ONE WHAT IS YOUR SECOND POSITION THAT THEY NEED TO GO AND FIND A GUY IN THE PORTAL IN EARLY DECEMBER?

>> YOU MENTIONED WIDE RECEIVER.

AND I THINK WITH WHAT NEBRASKA HAS BACK, AND WE WILL FIND OUT ABOUT ISAIAH GARCIA-CASTANEDA.

I THINK HE'S MORE LIKELY TO RETURN THAN MARCUS WASHINGTON.

HE'S PLAYED FIVE YEARS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

I THINK IT WOULD TAKE, MATT RHULE PUT IT AS A COMPLEX WAIVER FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

NOW IT MAY HAPPEN, WE SEE IT WITH PLAYERS, A SIX-YEAR SENIOR IS NOT UNUSUAL, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AGE WHERE PLAYERS HAD A COVID SEASON AND MARCUS PLAYED AT TEXAS IN THE COVID SEASON BUT HE HAS USE FOUR SEASONS OF ELIGIBILITY.

AND GARCIA-CASTANEDA COMING BACK FROM AN INJURY.

IF THOSE GUYS ARE HERE--IF EVEN ONE OF THOSE GUYS IS HERE WE CHECKED THE EXPERIENCE BOX, BEYOND THAT THERE IS NOT EXPERIENCE, NOBODY AT THE WIDE RECEIVER POSITION BEYOND THOSE TWO WHO ARE POTENTIALLY ON THE ROSTER RIGHT NOW HAVE PLAYED MORE THAN ONE SEASON OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

YOU ARE TALKING ALEX BULLOCK AS YOUR NEXT MOST EXPERIENCED GUY.

ALONG SIDE MALACHI COLEMAN AND JAYLEN LLOYD AND THEN A BUNCH OF FRESHMAN I DO THINK THEY SHOULD HIT THE PORTAL AND FIND SOMEBODY WITH EXPERIENCE.

IF THEY COULD FIND THE NEXT SAMORI TOURE I'M NOT EVEN MENTIONING TREY PALMER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT HE'S OUT THERE READY TO JUMP IN AT NEBRASKA.

THOSE ARE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT GOT HIM HERE WITH MICKEY JOSEPH.

SOMEBODY LIKE SAMORI TOURE IS PROBABLY OUT THERE.

THE TASK IS GOING TO FIND THAT GUY.

QUARTERBACK'S NUMBER ONE HEAD AND SHOULDERS.

>>YEAH IT INTERESTING TOO BECAUSE THOSE TWO THINGS KIND OF GO TOGETHER.

YOU DO NOT WANT TO STYMIE THE GROWTH OF THE YOUNG GUYS.

I THINK THAT DEMETRIUS BELL IS GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD PLAYER.

JAYLEN LLOYD SOME OF THESE YOUNG GUYS HAVE SHOWN FLASHES.

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT THE KIBOSH ON GROWTH, BUT YOU WOULD LIKE A LITTLE LEADERSHIP AND MATURITY IN THAT ROOM.

THAT IS KIND OF WHERE THE MAGIC IS.

>> YEAH, AND -- AND YOU MENTIONED BELL AND THERE ARE OTHER FRESHMEN THAT -- I MEAN THEY'RE HIGH ON JAIDYN DOSS, YOU KNOW, NEBRASKA IS COMFORTABLE ENOUGH WITH THE FRESHMAN CLASS THAT CAME IN AT RECEIVER THIS YEAR THAT THEY TOOK WHO WERE RECEIVERS LIKE BRICE TURNER AND JEREMIAH CHARLES AND MOVE THEM OVER TO THE DEFENSIVE SIDE WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF BODIES IN THAT SECONDARY ROOM TOO, BUT THEY FEEL GREAT ABOUT THE YOUNG RECEIVERS.

IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THE GROWTH DOESN'T COME OVERNIGHT AND IT'S FANTASTIC FOR COLEMAN AND FOR LLOYD THAT THEY GOT THIS YEAR AND EVEN DOSS WITH HIS FOUR GAMES THAT THEY GOT THIS YEAR TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE, BUT THEY COULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING AN OLDER VOICE IN THE ROOM IN ADDITION TO -- TO EVERYONE ON THE OFFENSE BENEFITING FROM THAT.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE RUNNING BACK ROOM?

OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE GUYS COMING BACK FROM INJURY.

EMMETT JOHNSON, GREAT HERE AS A FRESHMAN.

IT -- THERE'S GUYS, THERE'S BODIES, WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT POSITION?

>> YEAH, I THINK THEY HAVE TO TARGET A '24 RECRUIT AND THERE ARE VERY FEW SPOTS LEFT IN THE 2024 CLASS BEFORE DECEMBER 20th, BUT I THINK THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR THEM, IS FINDING A TRUE FRESHMAN RUNNING BACK TO COME IN.

SO IT'S KIND OF SPACED OUT, YOU HAVE THE OLDER GUYS WITH RAHMIR JOHNSON, YOU KNOW, GABE ERVIN IS NOW GETTING UP IN AGE IN HIS CAREER.

HE'S AN UPPERCLASSMAN.

YOU MENTIONED EMMETT, THEY HAVE KWINTEN IVES WHO WAS ABLE TO RED SHIRT THIS YEAR.

SO THERE'S -- THERE'S BODIES THERE, ALTHOUGH TWO OF THOSE PLAYERS ARE COMING BACK FROM SEASON ENDING INJURIES AND ERVIN HAS BEEN HURT MULTIPLE TIMES AND JOHNSON'S HAD -- HAD -- RAHMIR JOHNSON HAS BEEN BANGED UP SEVERAL TIMES IN HIS CAREER, SO THEY NEEDED -- I THINK THEY NEED SOMEBODY ELSE.

THERE ARE PLAYERS, YOU KNOW, IN THE WALK ON THE GROUP I THINK CAN CONTRIBUTE, BUT AS FAR AS A SCHOLARSHIP LIST, THEY NEED SOMEBODY ELSE WHETHER IT IS IN THAT '24 CLASS, WHICH I THINK IS IDEAL, BUT IF NOT, THEN YOU HAVE TO GO FIND SOMEBODY FROM JUNIOR COLLEGE OR THE PORTAL.

>> DO WE KEEP IT -- DO YOU THINK IT STAYS COMPLETELY THE SAME THE WAY IT IS IN TERMS OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE COACHING STAFF?

WE TALK ABOUT TONY WHITE BEING BACK AND OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO STEPS UP AT TIGHT END POSITION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON, DO YOU THINK IT STAYS THE SAME?

>> I REALLY DON'T.

I THINK THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME KIND OF SHUFFLING ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT IS TO BRING IN A CORNERBACKS COACH AND ALLOW MARCUS SATTERFIELD TO FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT HE DOES AND GAME PLANNING AND JUST RUNNING THE OFFENSE.

THAT WAS A LOT FOR HIM THIS YEAR AND IT WASN'T THE EXPECTATION GOING INTO THE OFF SEASON LAST YEAR AFTER MATT RHULE WAS HIRED TO HAVE SATTERFIELD COACH THE QUARTERBACKS AND COORDINATE THE OFFENSE, BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT TURNED OUT AND THERE ALSO WAS NOT THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE TO START THREE QUARTERBACKS AND DEAL WITH INJURIES AND DEAL WITH THESE TURNOVER ISSUES.

SO HE ENDED UP WITH A LOT ON HIS PLATE AND I THINK THAT THEY'LL LOOK AT THAT AND CONSIDER OPTIONS TO AVOID A SITUATION LIKE THAT AGAIN IN '24.

>> THEY ALSO THE SITUATION THAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING WHERE YOU HAD AN ANALYST ALL OF A SUDDEN ASSUME A COACHING SPOT SO YOU WERE KIND OF -- YOU HAVE A SPOT AVAILABLE.

YOU CAN USE IT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU THINK THAT'S IN THE CARDS FOR HOW THEY MANEUVER THAT AND MAYBE AS IT RELATES TO RECRUITING?

>> YEAH, IT'S ON THE TABLE, I THINK.

THERE'S -- THERE'S -- THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS ON THE TABLE ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE.

YOU KNOW, SOME MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO PEOPLE IF AND WHEN IT HAPPENS IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY.

AND THEN THERE'S ALWAYS THE -- THE SPECTER OUT THERE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHANGES OCCUR IN THE NFL AFTER THE NFL REGULAR SEASON.

AND THIS IS A STAFF THAT'S RICH WITH COACHES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE NFL.

OF COURSE BECAUSE MATT RHULE AND SO MANY OF THESE ASSISTANT COACHES CAME FROM THE CAROLINA PANTHERS AND HAVE GOOD REPUTATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY SEE A TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT AFTER -- >> AND THE COACHES CONFERENCE IN JANUARY.

>> RIGHT, YOU MAY SEE -- YEAH, YOU HAVE THAT ON THE COLLEGE SIDE AND THEN THE NFL SEASON ENDS RIGHT AFTER THAT, SOMETIMES DURING THE AFCA CONVENTION AND THERE'S A LOT OF MOVEMENT AROUND THAT TIME IN THE COLLEGE AND PRO RANKS AND I THINK THERE ARE COACHES ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE FOR NEBRASKA WHO IF THEY WANT THEM, HAVE EARNED OPPORTUNITIES AT THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> YEAH.

IS THERE A COUPLE NAMES IN THE PORTAL THAT YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING AT?

I MEAN IT'S 1,100 WENT INTO THE FIRST DAY.

4,000 IN THE PORTAL, BUT -- >> YEAH, LET ME GO THROUGH MY LIST HERE, 1,100, PROBABLY DOWNLOAD ALL OF THEM.

I MEAN THE FOCUS AS I SAID IS ON QUARTERBACKS.

I MEAN, YEAH, WE'LL GET TO THE POINT IN THIS WEEDING OUT PROCESS WHERE WE LOOK AT RECEIVERS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE NEBRASKA LOOKS AT AN OFFENSIVE TACKLE.

JUST ABOUT HAD A COUPLE OF OFFENSIVE TACKLES OUT OF THE PORTAL LAST YEAR THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HUGE FOR THIS TEAM, ALTHOUGH THE OFFENSIVE LINE I THINK WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPROVED GROUPS ON THE WHOLE ROSTER.

I MEAN THEY MAY LOOK AT A LINEBACKER DEPENDING ON WHO WE STILL FIND OUT ABOUT ON -- IF THEY RETURN.

I MEAN I'M LOOKING AT JOHN BULLOCK -- >> SURE.

>> -- HE WALKED ON SENIOR DAY, WE DON'T KNOW YET FOR CERTAIN IF HE'S -- IF HE'S DONE.

IF HE DOES LEAVE, THEN MAYBE THERE'S A LINEBACKER THAT NEBRASKA LOOKS AT IN THE PORTAL, BUT THE QUARTERBACKS ARE THE -- ARE TOP OF MIND AND YOU LOOK AT WILL HOWARD AT KANSAS STATE IS CLEARLY SOMEONE THAT NEBRASKA HAS INTEREST IN.

YOU LOOK AT SAM LEAVITT AT MICHIGAN STATE WHO REDSHIRTED, PLAYED IN FOUR GAMES.

ONE OF THOSE FOUR GAMES, THE ONLY GAME THAT HE PLAYED IN THAT MICHIGAN STATE WON THIS YEAR, HE THREW A TOUCHDOWN PASS IN, WAS AGAINST NEBRASKA.

SO THE COACHES ARE FAMILIAR WITH HIM FROM THAT SETTING.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S AT THE TOP, I THINK AS WE GO THROUGH THIS FIRST WEEK WITH THE PORTAL OPEN, WE ARE GOING TO HEAR MORE NAMES AND WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD MORE NAMES, BUT WE'LL HERE MORE ABOUT WHO NEBRASKA IS GOING TO VISIT AND PERHAPS BRINGING IN ON OFFICIALS RIGHT HERE.

>> MITCH, WE APPRECIATE IT, AND HAVE A GREAT OFF-SEASON.

>> YEAH, THANKS GUYS.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE SHORT BREAK, WE'LL OF COURSE GET SOME MORE IN -- BUT NOW, WE HAVE SOME GREAT PHOTOS FROM HURRDAT SPORTS.

♪ ♪ Upbeat acoustic music ♪ Charlie: I'm Charlie Pickens.

Beverly: I'm Beverly Pickens.

Charlie: And we live in Kearney, Nebraska.

Beverly: My favorite programs are the nature programs, Finding Your Roots, Antiques Roadshow, but the best are the documentaries.

Charlie: And the British productions are interesting.

PBS, every night it's on at 6:00.

Beverly: We watch it all the time.

Charlie: Yeah, when you watch it as much as we do, it'd be a shame not to make a donation.

♪ >> WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON WITH US.

LLL >> WE'RE GOING TO DO A BIG RED REPORT CARD.

OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH DIFFERENT POSITIONS AND KIND OF GET GRADES ON THEM.

I WANT TO START OFF WITH THE OFFENSE, NOT INCLUDING THE QUARTERBACK.

WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE THE GRADE FOR THE 2023 HUSKER OFFENSE?

>> NOT INCLUDING THE QUARTERBACK?

>> NOT INCLUDING THE QUARTERBACK, SO EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> I AM IN THE THE "B," "B-" RANGE.

I MEAN I LIKE THE -- THE RUNNING BACKS I THOUGHT RAN HARD.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, WHEN YOU GET DOWN PARTICULARLY TO THE FINAL STAGE OF THE SEASON, I THOUGHT EMMETT JOHNSON -- I MEAN HE'S NOT A GREAT RUNNINGBACK, BUT HE RUNS HARD.

FLEEKS RUNS HARD.

>> THAT'S KIND OF BOLD JUST SAYING A MAN'S NOT GREAT.

HE COULD BE, CAN'T HE?

LLL HE COULD BE.

CAN'T HE?

HE COULD BE.

>> WHY MALIGN EMMETT JOHNSON?

>> I AM NOT MALIGNING HIM.

HE'S FINE.

>> HE'S PRETTY GOOD.

>> HE'S FINE.

BUT HE WAS A FOURTH STRING RUNNINGBACK.

THAT'S WHAT HE WAS.

>> YEAH.

>> BEHIND A BUNCH OF VETERANS.

>> BUT AT THE BOTTOM LINE HE WAS FOURTH STRING.

AND YOU KNOW HE IS WHAT HE IS RIGHT NOW.

>> THE OPENING DAY GUY BACK IN SPECIAL TEAMS AS A RETURNER.

>> YEAH.

>> WHO AM I MISSING THEN?

THERE'S THREE, EMMETT JOHNSON, FLEEKS AND WHO WAS THE THIRD ONE?

>> GRANT.

>> GRANT.

YEAH AND HE'S FINE.

HE WAS GOOD.

THEY RAN HARD.

THE RECEIVERS, YOUNG --THEY WERE FINE FOR THEIR YOUTH.

AND THE LINE I THOUGHT TOOK A STEP FORWARD.

I AM IN THE "B" "B-"RANGE ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> YOU GUYS FEEL THAT SAME WAY?

BY THE WAY AT ONE POINT DAMON WAS THE FOURTH STRING RUNNINGBACK AT NEBRASKA.

ENDED UP STARTING A GAME, OKAY.

>> THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT ERA.

>> YEAH IT WAS DIFFERENT, OKAY.

GO AHEAD.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I'M THAT HIGH.

I THINK OVERALL, I THINK IT'S STILL -- IT'S HARD.

BECAUSE HOW DO YOU?

DO YOU GRADE IT KIND OF ON A CURVE?

>> BECAUSE YEAR ONE?

>> YEAR ONE AND INJURIES.

>> INTERESTING.

>> AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

IT'S YOUR ONE AND INJURIES?

>> SO WHEN I THINK WITH THE TURNOVER SITUATION, I WOULD SAY MORE OF A "C" FOR ME.

MAYBE A "C+" YOU KNOW?

TYPE OF AREA.

AND THAT'S FINE, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT "C's" GET DEGREES.

A LOT OF TIMES IT CAN GET THE JOB DONE.

UNFORTUNATELY IT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

>> YOU GUYS HIRE US TO GET "A's."

LLL >> YEAH.

>> "C's" GET DEGREES.

>> YEAH THE QUARTERBACK PLAY IS WHAT HELD THEM BACK.

BUT I THOUGHT FOR ME THE OFFENSIVE LINE WAS VERY MUCH IMPROVED.

BRYCE BENHART PROBABLY ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPROVED ON THIS TEAM.

>> ON THE WHOLE TEAM, YEAH.

>> HOW DO YOU GRADE -- YOU KNOW GUYS LIKE THE YOUNG WIDE RECEIVING CORPS, THEY OBVIOUSLY GET A CHANCE TO MATURE.

BUT YOU LOOK AT THE TIGHTEND ROOM.

GUYS LIKE FIDONE, HE HAD'T PLAYED IN THREE YEARS.

>> YEAH.

AND I KNOW A LOT WAS EXPECTED, BUT A TON OF UPSIDE.

DOES THE CURVE ALLOW FOR MATURATION?

>> YES.

>> OR ARE YOU STAYING JUST KIND OF STAYING IN THE MOMENT?

>> I AM STAYING MOSTLY IN THE MOMENT.

I DIDN'T MENTION THE TIGHT ENDS.

THEY WERE IN THE "B-" "B" RANGE I THOUGHT.

SEE HERE'S THE THING, IT'S A TOUGH -- I WAS REALLY HARD ON THE QUARTERBACKS.

I THOUGHT THE QUARTERBACKS DRAGGED BACK THE WHOLE OPERATION.

>> WE'LL GET TO THAT NEXT.

>> WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY WERE BETTER THAN THEY WERE IN THE SPRING.

>> OKAY.

LLL >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

LLL >> WELL I JUST THINK -- PART OF DEVELOPMENT IS, GOOD TEACHERS MEET STUDENTS RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE AT.

YOU CAN'T FAST FOR THEM TO WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO BE.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE GROWTH.

MAYBE THE BASELINE NEEDS TO BE RAISED.

>> SO OVERALL YOU HAD "B."

YOU SAID "C." DAMON YOU SAID -- >> I GO "C+."

>> LET'S GO TO THE QUARTERBACKS.

'CAUSE THIS OBVIOUSLY A TOUGH PART.

WHAT'S YOUR GRADE?

>> OH, COME ON.

>> PART OF WHAT DAMON SAID IS TRUE.

BECAUSE YOU BRING IN A GUY LIKE PURDY WHO'S PLAYING A LOT BETTER THAN LAST TIME WE SAW HIM.

BUT -- >> I MEAN WE WERE SNICKERING AT AFTER SPRING IF WE ARE BEING HONEST.

RIGHT?

>> I MEAN ARE TALKING INDIVIDUALLY OR AS A GROUP?

>> I THINK AS A GROUP.

>> YEAH I CAN'T GO ABOVE A "D." NEBRASKA LED THE NATION IN TURNOVERS.

WHICH IS EXTREME.

>> 80% WERE FROM THE QUARTERBACKS.

>> 80% FROM THE QUARTERBACKS, THAT'S AN EXTREME STAT.

I MEAN IF YOU WOULD'VE TOLD ME IN AUGUST, STEVE THEY'RE GOING TO LEAD THE COUNTRY IN TURNOVERS.

I WOULD HAVE SAID THAT'S TROUBLE.

>> AND YOU WOULD'VE SAID TWO AND 10 FOR A RECORD PROBABLY TOO.

>> SOMETHING NOT GOOD.

>> I THINK THE WEIRD ABOUT THAT IS, THE INTERCEPTIONS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK THE INABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL WITH FUMBLES IS PROBABLY THE MOST ALARMING, AT LEAST FOR ME.

>> YEAH.

EARLY IN THE SEASON IT REALLY HURT.

I MEAN THROUGHOUT.

>> "D?"

"C?"

>> OH,QUARTERBACK PLAY?

"D." I MEAN THAT'S JUST THE WORST OFFENSIVE OUTPUT SINCE 1968.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> OBVIOUSLY, THE HARD THING IS, YOU BRING IN A GUY.

YOU HITCH YOUR WAGON TO A TRANSFER GUY.

WHO HAD TURNOVER PROBLEMS ALREADY.

YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS.

STILL HAS THEM.

INJURIES.

YOU IMPLEMENT A NEW TYPE OF GAME PLAN WITH HAARBERG.

YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF THAT SITUATION,BECAUSE PURDY'S STILL KIND OF BANGED UP.

BUT I THINK THE MANAGEMENT -- OF THE QUARTERBACK.

BY THE STAFF I WILL PROBABLY GIVE THAT A "B."

BUT OVERALL THE QUARTERBACK PLAY IT'S IN THE "D" CATEGORY.

>> HELD BACK THE OPERATION.

>> IRONY OR CONCEPT THAT THE OFFENSIVE LINE WAS EASILY THE MOST IMPROVED GROUP.

WITH ALL THE -- ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE WITH ALL THE TALK AND HANGWRINGING OF COACH RHULE.

>> PROOF OF CONCEPT.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS LUCK.

I THINK THAT, YEAH IT'S INTERESTING.

I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT YESTERDAY.

YOU DON'T -- THERE'S NO FIRE RAIOLA DISCUSSION ANYMORE.

>> COACH RHULE CALLED IT.

HE SAID IT BEFORE THE SEASON MULTIPLE TIMES.

THIS OFFENSIVE LINE WILL BE GOOD.

IT'S BETTER THAN WHAT YOU THINK HE SAID IT OVER AND OVER.

>> HE SAID THAT ABOUT THE D-LINE TOO.

>> LET'S GO TO DEFENSE.

LET'S START OFF WITH DEFENSE.

WHERE DO YOU GOT IT GRADE WISE?

>> I MEAN, A "B+."

"B" "B+."

>> YOU'RE A HARD GRADER.

>> WELL, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, I MEAN IOWA RAN FOR 163.

>> THEY DID.

THREE BIG RUNS.

>> YEAH BUT THOSE COUNT.

>> SURE.

NO DOUBT.

>> I KNOW PEOPLE SAY SOMETIMES IT WILL SIT, BUT THEY HAD A LONG -- YEAH, THAT COUNTS.

IT'S BIG.

IT WAS A HUGE RUN.

>> IT'S MOSTLY THE TIMING.

DEFINITELY.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

NO LOWER THAN A "B."

I MEAN "B," "B+."

>>DAMON?

>> I AM A "B+" "A-" KIND OF GUY.

WITH THE NUMBER OF GUYS THEY CAN PLAY.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE D-LINE, HOW THE TACKLING IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY, EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE SOME LETDOWN MOMENTS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT FROM THE LEARNING OF A NEW CONCEPT AND WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO AS A TOP 30 UNIT THEY ARE "A-" "B+."

>> AS THE DEFENSE OF GUY ON THE STAFF?

>> IT'S AN "A-."

IF THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE TIMELY STOP IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

THIS IS AN "A+" TYPE OF PERFORMANCE.

IF THIS DEFENSE WASN'T, YOU KNOW -- IF THEY WEREN'T UP TO PERFORMING NEARLY AS WELL -- I MEAN THIS PROBABLY A TWO WIN TEAM.

>> IF THEY GET OFF THE FIELD ON THIRD DOWN YOU CAN PLAY WITH THAT FEW TAKE AWAYS.

>> TOTALLY.

>> OH YEAH, SURE.

>> BUT THE ABILITY TO GET -- IT'S JUST AT TIMES LEAKY.

TACKLING WASN'T GREAT.

THE ABILITY TO MAKE STOPS ON FOURTH AND ONE.

COUPLE TIMES AT WISCONSIN.

BLOCKED FIELD GOALS HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO DECLARE THAT SPECIAL TEAMS OR DEFENSIVE.

THOSE ARE DEFENSIVE GUYS.

THEY'RE MAKING PLAYS.

JUST THAT NORTHWESTERN GAME STILL STICKS OUT TO ME.

ALL THE PLAYS THEY MADE EARLY ON.

AND JUST OVERALL.

ILLINOUS -- YOU CAN SAY THE SAME THING THE ILLINOIS GAME.

JUST THE ABILITY TO QUICK CHANGE.

STEP UP AND HOLD THEM TO THREE OR NO POINTS.

THAT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE.

>> WELL THERE'S A LOT OF THAT.

I MEAN IT IS CLOSE TO AN "A," BUT I CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE, I MEAN YOU JUST GO BACK TO MICHIGAN STATE.

JUST AN OKAY PERFORMANCE, REALLY.

WISCONSIN GAVE THEM A BIG LEAD.

GAVE UP SOME BIG PLAYS LATE.

>> HUGE PLAYS AGAINST MARYLAND.

>> MARYLAND PLAYED -- >> HUGE PLAYS AGAIN MARYLAND, ONE OF THE BEST OFFENSES THEY PLAY.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT ALSO YOU HAD A DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE THAT YOU KNOW -- IT'S SEEN THAT DRIVE AND SO IT'S REALLY TOUGH.

>> AND COVER THREE.

>> YEAH.

>> RIGHT?

LIKE IT'S HARD TO DO.

THAT'S NOT ON PHILOSOPHY.

>> I LIKE THAT DEFENSE THOUGH.

I LIKE THE PERSONNEL.

IT WAS AN INTERESTING DEFENSE TO ME, BECAUSE IT WAS DEVOID OF STARS.

BUT IT'S KIND OF A NO-NAME CREW.

>> YEAH.

NOBODY MADE THE BIG, I MEAN REALLY FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD TEAM.

LET'S GO TO SPECIAL TEAMS.

>> OH, SPOTTY.

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT PART YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT?

KICKOFF COVERAGE WAS GREAT.

THE PUNT RETURN AND KICKOFF RETURN, FIELD GOAL, PUNTING.

>> YEAH, THE OPERATION WAS GOOD.

NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH SPECIAL TEAMS AT ALL.

IT WAS JUST SPOTTY.

IT WAS GOOD AT TIMES, BAD AT TIMES, IN BETWEEN, "C." >> YEAH, I AM A SOLID "C." I AGREE WITH THAT.

SITUATIONALLY THE GRADES FLUCTUATE FROM "A's" TO "F's."

BUT IN ITS TOTALITY OUR PROBABLY GIVE IT A "C." >> THERE WERE SOME "F" GAMES FOR SURE.

>> "F" GAMES FOR SURE GIVEN WISCONSIN WAS NOT VERY GOOD ON THAT SIDE OF THINGS.

I WILL GIVE IT A "C" TOO.

I THINK SURPRISINGLY THEIR SPECIAL TEAMS ALMOST OUTPLAYED IOWA'S SPECIAL TEAMS.

>> THEY DID.

>> COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WHICH IS USUALLY IN IOWA THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WIN SO MANY LOW-SCORING GAMES.

BECAUSE THEIR SPECIAL TEAMS HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC.

BUT I THINK OVERALL YOUNG FRESHMAN KICKER SPOTTY ON THE PUNTING GAME.

BUT THE COVERAGE UNITS WERE REALLY GOOD THIS YEAR.

>> LET'S GO TO COACHING.

WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES.

WE GO "C" WITH SPECIAL TEAMS.

>> I WILL GO "B-" "C+."

I MEAN I ALWAYS LOOK TO SEE IF A COACH, A COACHING STAFF MAXIMIZES.

I THOUGHT IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO AND THEN THEY LOST FOUR STRAIGHT AT THE END OF THE SEASON.

SO TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> MIRACLE WORKERS AT TIMES.

>> AT TIMES, YEAH.

THE INJURIES WERE INCREDIBLE ON OFFENSE.

REMARKABLE.

THEY HAD TO WORK AROUND THOSE.

I THOUGHT THEY DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF THAT.

SO I'D SAY "B-."

>> SO IT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED.

I'LL TRY TO GO QUICK.

TACTICAL VERSUS TECHNICAL, RIGHT?

TACTICALLY I FELT LIKE THEY WERE PRETTY GOOD.

THE EXECUTION LEFT A LITTLE TO BE DESIRED.

SO LET'S SAY LIKE CLOCK MANAGEMENT.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT GETTING THE MOST OUT OF WHAT THEY HAD.

IT'S UNDENIABLE THAT THEY PERFORMED AT A HIGH LEVEL.

NO ALL-CONFERENCE GUYS ON DEFENSE AND WE GIVE THEM A "B."

THREE QUARTERBACKS, FOURTH STRING RUNNINGBACK, AS YOU LIKE TO TELL US.

THE MULTITUDE OF GUYS THAT WERE HURT ON THE OFFENSE.

I THINK WE NEED PERSPECTIVE.

IT'S MINIMUM A "B."

I GIVE COACHING A "B+" AMD OT COULD HAVE BEEN AN "A."

OUTSIDE OF SOME SITUATIONAL MANAGEMENT THINGS.

YOU TALK ABOUT MAXIMIZING PERSONNEL, IT'S A "B."

I AM RIGHT THERE, I THINK I "C+" "B-."

YOU KNOW FOR HOW THE STAFF OPERATED YEAR ONE.

I THINK YOU KNOW, WITH ALL OF THE INJURIES AND THE DEPTH ISSUES, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DEFINTELY HAVE TO CONSIDER.

PERSPECTIVE IS A GREAT WORD LIKE D.B.

SAID.

BUT THE CLOCK MANAGEMENT, RIGHT HERE IN THIS ENDZONE WHERE WE'RE FILMING -- THE PLAY CALL THAT HAPPENED AGAINST MARYLAND.

I STILL CANNOT COME TO GRASP WITH THAT PLAY CALL.

TOTAL DISAGREEMENT WITH IT IN THAT SITUATION.

JUST BECAUSE YOU LEAN ON THE DEFENSE SO MUCH TO MAKE PLAYS.

IT WAS AN EXTRA POINT FOR THREE POINTS ESSENTIALLY.

HE JUST DIDN'T DO IT.

I VENTED AND I'VE BEEN ON MY SOAP BOX -- LLL MULTIPLE SHOWS ALREADY ABOUT THAT PLAY CALL.

BUT I THINK OVERALL I WOULD GIVE IT A "B."

JUST WITH TIME MANAGEMENT AND IF IT'S CLOCK MANAGEMENT AND PLAYCALLING, I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE GO HAND-IN-HAND.

THEY CAN SOMETIMES.

BUT I THINK THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT'S KIND OF HELD THEM BACK FROM NOT BEING WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE FINAL REPORT CARD.

OBVIOUSLY QUARTERBACK OBVIOUSLY HOLDING THEM BACK, BUT IN THE END YOU CAN GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL WITH THAT.

YOU GET OUT.

LLL >> THEY GRADUATED.

>> YOU'RE A MATHEMATICIAN.

WHAT'S THAT AVERAGE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> ONE LAST THING.

BETTER THAN WHAT YOU EXPECTED?

SAME AS WHAT YOU EXPECTED FOR THE SEASON?

>> ALL SUMMER I WAS IN THE 6-6, 7-5 CAMP.

I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THE INJURIES.

BUT I ALSO DIDN'T ANTICIPATE HOW BAD THE BIG 10 WEST WAS.

SO OVERALL GRADE IS GOING TO GET DRAGGED BACK BY THE QUARTERBACKS.

IT IS FRANKLY.

I MEAN -- >> DID IT MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

>> IT DID.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING THAT PEOPLE SAY HOW BAD THE BIG 10 WEST WAS.

NORTHWESTERN EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS.

IOWA WON 10 GAMES.

NOBODY CALLED THAT.

WISCONSIN IS GOING BOWLING AGAIN.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT HOW BAD THE BIG TEN WEST WAS, I KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AESTHETICALLY, BUT THEY SURE DID WIN MORE THAN I THOUGHT THEY WOULD WITH A COUPLE OF THOSE TEAMS.

>> I WAS IN THE 6-6.

JUST LOOKING AT IT, THINGS ARE SO DIFFICULT WHEN YOU ARE TRANSITIONING TO A NEW STAFF.

I WOULD'VE BEEN A PART OF THAT.

YOU STILL DON'T KNOW QUITE WHAT TO EXPECT PHILOSOPHICALLY AND CULTURALLY AND ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT WE WERE SO CLOSE TO BEING REALLY GOOD.

A REALLY REALLY GOOD SEASON IT WAS SO CLOSE.

THAT IS WHY IT IS HARD TO STOMACH IN EARLY DECEMBER.

YOU'RE 5-3, YOU FALL OF THE PRIDE AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

>> WHICH ONE OF THOSE DO YOU THINK WAS THE MOST WINNABLE OF THE LAST FOUR?

>> MARYLAND OR IOWA.

YEAH.

YEAH, THOSE ARE CRUSHING LOSSES.

BEFORE THE MICHIGAN STATE GAME I SAID THERE IS NO WAY THEY WILL LOSE ALL FOUR, NO SHOT.

NO SHOT.

>> WE WERE DOING MATH AFTER PURDUE ON HOW THEY COULD WIN THE WEST.

WE WERE DOING MATH ON WHERE THEY COULD GO ON A NEW YEARS SIX BOWL.

WE WERE DOING MATH TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT.

>> AND THAT WITH ME RESPECTING NEBRASKA.

I THOUGHT THIS IS A GOOD TEAM THEY'LL GET ONE, PROBABLY TWO.

I AM STILL A LITTLE FLOORED THAT THEY DIDN'T GET ONE.

>>I'M KIND OF EXCITED WE ARE IN THIS BUILDING AND I LOOK UP THERE AND THEY ARE TALK 396 SELLOUTS.

FOURTH GAME OF THE SEASON NEXT YEAR IS ILLINOIS.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE 400TH SELL OUT WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO MEAN FOR THE PROGRAM?

>> WELL IT MEANS A LOT, AND IT MEANS MORE AND MORE TO ME BECAUSE THESE FANS HAVE STICKED WITH THIS PROGRAM.

THEY MEAN A LOT TO ME.

THEY DO THE ONES THAT STICK WITH IT ARE REALLY THE TRUE FANS.

BECAUSE IT IS NOT EASY.

THIS SEASON WASN'T EASY, THE RECENT SEASONS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT.

SO THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO ME.

AND ACTUALLY MEANS MORE AND MORE EVERY YEAR TO ME.

>> DO YOU THINK THEY BRING IN A QUARTERBACK THAT MAYBE LIKE FCS LEVEL OR DO THEY BRING IN SOMEONE WHO WAS A POWER FIVE QUARTERBACK WHO DO YOU THINK THEY END UP BRINGING IN?

>> I MEAN WE ARE REPORTING SAM LEAVITT.

THEY'VE TALKED TO SAM LEAVITT, SATTERFIELD WAS WITH SAM LEAVITT THE MICHIGAN STATE QUARTERBACK LAST NIGHT OR YESTERDAY IN LASNSING.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO IT LOOKS LIKE THEYRE GOING TO SEE A KID FROM BAYLOR.

I DON'T KNOW WHO IT ULTIMATELY WILL BE.

I KNOW THEY ARE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE THEY'RE NOT JUST A COUPLE.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT GUYS.

I LIKE LEAVITT A LOT.

HE HAS FOUR YEARS OF ELIGABILITY HE'S A YOUNG GUY.

HE IS ATHLETIC.

HE IS COCKY.

I THINK HE'D WOULD LIKE THIS PLACE.

I THINK HE CAN HANDLE IT.

HE CAN THROW.

I LIKE HIS ESCAPABILITY A LOT.

HE'S A DUDE, HE IS A CONFIDENT GUY.

>> WE APPRECIATE IT.

HAVE A GREAT OFF-SEASON.

>> GOD BLESS YOU.

>> WE TURN NOW TO A STORY ABOUT A FAMILY IN NORTH PLATTE WHO HAS TURNED THEIR LOVE FOR THE GAME OF FOOTBALL INTO A THRIVING HAT BUSINESS.

CHECK IT OUT!

>> THIS UNIQUE BALLCAP WITH A LEATHER PATCH MADE FROM A GAME USE FOOTBALL CAN BE FOUND ALL OVER NORTH PLATTE.

IN AN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SHOP, IN THE HIGH SCHOOL STORE, AND ON THE HEADS OF RESIDENTS ALL AROUND TOWN.

ALTHOUGH MADE IN THE CITY LIMITS, THE BUSINESS NAME HYDE PARK APPAREL STARTED ITS JOURNEY BACK IN TEXAS WITH A CHILDHOOD PASSION FOR THE SPORT.

>> I WAS AT HOME IN TEXAS AT MY FOLKS HOUSE OVER THANKSGIVING AND KIND OF HAD THE IDEA WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH OUR OLD GARAGE AND SEEING SOME REALLY DUSTY OLD FOOTBALLS THAT HADN'T AND PLAYED WITH FOR A LONG TIME.

THAT KIND OF SPARKED THE IDEA OF WHAT IT THEY DIDN'T JUST COLLECT DUST IN THE GARAGE?

WHAT IF YOU COULD REPURPOSE THEM INTO SOMETHING?

>> HONESTLY I THINK HE WAS PLAYING IT OFF LIKE I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A GOOD IDEA, BUT WHAT IF WE TOOK GAME USED FOOTBALLS AND CUT UP THE LEATHER AND MADE PATCH HATS OUT THOUGHT OF THEM?

I REMEMBER LOOKING AT MY FRIENDS AND BEING LIKE THAT IS ACTUALLY A REALLY COOL IDEA.

>> THE FIRST PROTOTYPE IF YOU WILL WAS THIS OLD RUBBERY NASTY FOOTBALL.

THAT I THOUGHT IF I CUT SOMETHING OUT BY HAND AND SLAPPED IT ON A HAT WOULD THAT EVEN LOOK COOL?

SO ME BEING A TRUE TEXAN I CUT OUT THE SHAPE OF TEXAS.

I THOUGHT THAT IT REALLY LOOKS COOL.

EVEN MY OTHER FREIDNS FROM GEOGIA, AND MY WIFE FROM NEBRASKA EVEN THOUGH THEYRE NOT FROM TEXAS THEY THOUGHT THE TEXAS PATCH LOOKED COOL.

THE FIRST ONE MADE THE CUT, IF YOU WILL.

WE DECIDED FROM THERE WHAT IF WE MADE MORE?

>> AS THE DESIGN EXPANDED SO DID THE BUSINESS.

AFTER LONG DAYS AT THE OFFICE THEY WERE SUPPORTING HYDE PARK APPAREL LATE INTO THE NIGHT.

THEN IN 2020 THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AFFECTED JOSH'S 9-5 IN GEORGIA.

THE SPERLE'S DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO MOVE THEIR FAMILY AND BUSINESS BACK TO KAITLYN'S HOMETOWN, NORTH PLATTE.

THE COMMUNITY WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND THE FAMILY BUSINESS, HELPING HYDE PARK GROW EVEN MORE.

>> THEY REACHED OUT TO ME OVER FACEBOOK FOR THE CHANCE TO PUT THEIR HATS IN OUR SCHOOL STORE, UNKNOWING THAT I ALSO RUN A SMALL BUSINESS HERE THE SELLS CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES.

I KIND OF WORK WITH HIM TO GET NOT ONLY OUR HIGH SCHOOLS OR ABORT, BUT ALSO OUR STORE AND PEOPLE LOVED THEM.

>> THEY HAVE REALLY RALLIED BEHIND US WHICH HAS BEEN GREAT.

THAT IS THE NEBRASKA SPIRIT BEHIND THE GOOD OLD PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SUPPORT LOCAL.

>> I WAS IN SMALL BUSINESS BANKING HERE IN NORTH PLATT.

MOST NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS FROM 9:00-MIDNIGHT ID BE CUTTING LEATHER PATCHES AND ATTACHING HATS.

I HAD A NUMBER OF FOLKS IN MY CORNER TO SAY WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE THE BIG LEAP?

SO WHILE I DID ENJOY BANKING, IT IS LIKE I AM NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER.

IF I WANT TO FOLLOW MY DREAMS AND DO AN ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURE, THERE IS NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.

SO I TOOK THE LEAP AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED BACK.

>> I THOUGHT WHEN HE QUIT HIS JOB THAT I WAS GOING TO SAY PUT WITH MY FULL-TIME POSITION WHERE I WAS FOR A WHILE.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T JUST BOTH JUMP SHIP.

WELL THEY GREW FAST ENOUGH WHERE IT WAS KIND OF IN MY MIND HE NEEDS HELP.

WE MET WORKING TOGETHER.

WE KNOW THE PROS AND CONS AND WE HAVE WALK THROUGH THE ROLLER COASTER IT CAN BE, BUT IT'S BEEN A GOOD THING.

I ENJOY WORKING WITH HIM.

>> WITH BOTH JOSH AND CAITLIN WORKING THE BUSINESS FULL-TIME FROM HOME THEIR DAUGHTERS GET TO BE A PART OF HYDE PARK.

THE LOVE FOR FOOTBALL THAT STARTED IN JOSH'S CHILDHOOD NOW GETS TO BE SHARE FIRSTHAND WITH KIDS OF HIS OWN.

>> PART OF THE REASON WE TOOK THE JOB WAS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO PUT OUR FAMILY FIRST.

WITH FOOTBALL BEING TIED TO THAT, IT IS REALLY COOL.

>> OUR SIX YEAR OLD JOY I MEAN SHE CAN PLAY A PART WHERE SHE LOVES TO PUT OUR STICKERS ON OUR HATS TO MARK OUR BRAND.

SHE LIKES TO TAKE PRIDE IN PUTTING IT ON THE RIGHT WAY EVERY TIME.

OUR THREE YEAR OLD I DON'T KNOW IF SHE KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON A LOT OF TIMES I HOPE SHE THINKS IT IS NEAT THAT DADDY IS FOLLOWING HIS DREAMS AND OWNING A FAMILY BUSINESS AND TRYING TO KIND OF CONTROL OUR OWN DESTINY.

IF YOU PUT IN THE HARD WORK HOPEFULLY THAT WILL PAY OFF.

>> REALLY AWESOME LEARNING ABOUT THE HATS , EVEN BETTER TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH THE SPERLE FAMILY.

THAT WAS REALLY COOL.

LET'S HEAD OVER NOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA PROGRAM.

>>HI EVERYONE NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA IS NEBRASKA'S HOME FOR SPORTS AND BIG RED WRAP UP IS ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WHY.

DURING OUR FALL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE RIGHT NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO GIVE BACK FOR WHAT YOU'VE RECEIVED FROM BIG RED WRAP UP THIS YEAR.

THOSE WHO SUPPORT WITH FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAKE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS HAPPEN.

THANK YOU FOR BECOMING A MEMBER OR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

YOU CAN DO THAT BY CALLING 1-800-989-8236 OR GOING ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM ONE OF THESE GREAT THANK YOU GIFTS WHEN YOU DONATE.

WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DONATION OF $25 PER MONTH AS A SUSTAINED STAR MEMBER , WE WOULD LOVE TO THANK YOU WITH A NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBORNE.

COACH OSBORNE LED THE HUSKERS AS HEAD COACH FOR 25 SEASONS WINNING THREE NATIONAL TITLES.

OSBORNE'S LEGACY EXTENDS BEYOND THE GAME, BUT FOOTBALL IS WHERE HE BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN NEBRASKA.

WHEN YOU MAKE A DONATION OF FIVE DOLLARS PER MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER WE WOULD LOVE TO THANK YOU WITH THE CLEAR TOTE BAG.

IT HAS A ZIPPER TOP AND MEETS STADIUM GUIDELINES FOR THAT CLEAR BAG POLICY AND HAS A NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA LOGO.

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DONATION RIGHT NOW AT 800-989-8236 OR GO ONLINE NEBRASKPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

YOUR SUPPORT OF QUALITY PROGRAMMING ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA ALSO GIVES YOU ACCESS TO AN INCREDIBLE MEMBERS ONLY LIBRARY.

THE PBS PASSPORT, MEMBERS HAVE LOVED THIS MEMBER BENEFIT.

PROGRAMS WITH PBS PASSPORT INCLUDE MASTERPIECE, NATURE AND NOVA AND SO MANY MORE .

YOU WILL ALSO FIND MANY LOCALLY PRODUCED PROGRAMS.

MAKE YOUR DONATION OF AT LEAST FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH OR MORE AND YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THIS MEMBER BENEFIT PBS PASSPORT.

MAKE THAT DONATION AT WWW.NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG OR GIVE US A CALL AT 800-989-8236.

WHEN YOU ARE THERE YOU CAN ALSO SELECT A THANK YOU GIFT WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DONATION WITH THAT DONATION OF $25 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER THAT'S $300 WITH A ONE-TIME GIFT AND WE CAN THANK YOU WITH A NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBORNE.

TOM OSBORNE LED THE HUSKERS TO THREE NATIONAL TITLES DURING HIS 25 YEAR CAREER .

IF YOU MAKE YOUR DONATION OF FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER THAT IS $60 WITH A ONE-TIME GIFT, WILL THANK YOU WITH A CLEAR TOTE BAG.

IT HAS A NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA LOGO AND MEETS THE CLEAR BAG POLICY AND MANY STADIUMS.

MAKE THAT DONATION RIGHT NOW.

800-989-8236 OR GO ONLINE NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORD/DONATE.

YOU CAN BE A PART OF THE NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SPORTS PARTNERS CLUB.

YOU WILL BE SUPPORTING THE COVERAGE OF HUSKERS SPORTS AND HIGH SCHOOL ACTION LIKE THE RECENT VOLLEYBALL AND FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS FOR NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

AND WHEN YOU SUPPORT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, YOU ARE SUPPORTING THESE PROGRAMS.

MAKE YOUR DONATION RIGHT NOW.

800-989-8236 AND THANK YOU.

>> I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE SEAN CALLAHAN OF HUSKERSILLUSTRATED.COM.

HE IS WITH US TO BEGIN OUR LONG AND COMPREHENSIVE LOOK THIS SEASON AT HUSKER RECRUITING.

SEAN, IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

>> THANKS VERY MUCH KEVIN.

>> WHO ARE THE TOP FIVE NEBRASKA IS LOOKING AT?

>> REALLY THE BIG-NAME GAME RIGHT NOW IS MARLON LUCKY.

HE'S OUT OF CALIFORNIA.

HE'S A FIVE-STAR RUNNING BACK.

THE NUMBER ONE PLAYER IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, NUMBER THREE RUNNING BACK -- >> WE APPRECIATE IAN FOR JOINING US WITH THE PROGRAM.

AND THEN, WHO WAS THAT GUY?

20 YEARS AGO.

LOOK AT THAT GUY.

>> THAT WAS AWESOME.

>> HIGHER PITCHED VOICE, A LOT MORE HAIR.

>> AND A LOT MORE HAIR, YEAH.

HOW ABOUT KEVIN IN SHORTS?

>> SO THAT WAS MY DEMO.

>> OH, OKAY, OKAY.

>> I HAD TO COME IN FOR AN AUDITION TO SEE IF I CAN HANDLE LIVE TV.

>> SURE.

>> IT WAS A SUMMER TIME DEMO AND IT'S LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO PRETEND TO DO A SHOW.

SO LET'S DO A SHOW.

>> THAT IS AWESOME.

AND MARLON LUCKY WAS A PART OF IT.

THAT'S GREAT TOO.

>> LET'S GET INTO SOME RECRUITING.

WE ARE TAPING THIS ON TUESDAY MORNING.

THINGS ARE CHANGING BY THE MINUTE BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATES FOR US?

>> WELL, THE COACHES ON THE ROAD RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BIGGEST THING YESTERDAY, MARCUS SATTERFIELD WAS IN EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN, TO MEET WITH QUARTERBACK WILL EVITT, OUT THERE THIS WEEK.

SAM LEAVITT, EXCUSE ME.

THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SHAPING THE BAYLOR QUARTERBACK TODAY AS WE SPEAK.

THEY'RE TALKING TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT QUARTERBACK RIGHT NOW, KIND OF TRYING TO MOVE THE PIECES.

I THINK WHAT YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR RIGHT NOW IS, WILL THERE BE A VISITOR IN LINCOLN THIS WEEKEND OR EVEN THE NEXT WEEKEND?

WILL THERE BE A QUARTERBACK VISITOR THAT MAKES THEIR WAY TO CAMPUS THIS WEEKEND?

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD SIGN THAT THAT'S THE GUY THEIR ZONING IN ON.

AND AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT MORE ELEMENTS INVOLVED WITH NIL AND OTHER FACTORS THAT KIND OF HAVE TO BE IRONED OUT AS THEY TRY TO FIND ONE OF THESE BIG-NAME QUARTERBACKS.

>> THAT'S HOW THEY WANTED TO COMMIT SOME 2024 -- CJ SIMON OUT OF OKLAHOMA CITY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH CJ SIMON FROM MOORE HIGH SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA CITY, HE IS A 2025 WIDE RECEIVER.

HE COMMITTED TO THE HUSKERS ON SATURDAY, WHICH IS A PLEASANT SURPRISE.

HE WAS HERE EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR A HOME GAME ON SEPTEMBER 16.

AND NEBRASKA HAD OFFERED HIM.

HE HAD TEXAS TECH AND KANSAS, OKLAHOMA STATE, A NUMBER OF OTHER REGIONAL BIG 12 SCHOOLS IN HIS FINAL GROUP.

HAD A BIG YEAR WITH OVER 50 CATCHES, OVER 800 YARDS RECEIVING.

COMMITTED ON SATURDAY.

REALLY LIKES GARRETT McGUIRE.

LIKES THE PROGRAM HERE.

IT WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE TO GET A 2025, ESPECIALLY AN OUT-OF-STATER LIKE THAT THIS EARLY.

>> I SAW HIM AT THE TOP 250 IN KANSAS CITY.

COMPETED AGAINST HIM.

HE'S ULTRA QUICK.

THE FILM MAY NOT DO IT JUSTICE, BUT HIS ABILITY TO GET OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

>> YOU SAW THAT WITH SPEED, JAYLEN LLOYD, MALACHAI COLEMAN, WHAT THAT CAN DO.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PROFILE OF GUYS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO BRING IN.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN COACH, BUT YOU CAN'T COACH SPEED.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE KIDS FROM MILLARD SOUTH.

I KNOW, AMARION JACKSON, I SEEN HIM -- THERE'S THE BIG DEBATE, WHO'S THE BEST WIDE RECEIVER IN THE STATE THIS YEAR.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE TWO GUYS?

>> YEAH, I THINK -- YOU LOOK AT MILLARD SOUTH, THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE FINALS, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE FELT LIKE THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN SECOND BEST TEAM ALL YEAR TO WESTSIDE.

THEY HAVE A GREAT SOPHOMORE CLASS.

AMARION JACKSON, THE WIDE RECEIVER, A DYNAMIC PLAYMAKER.

I THINK YOU CAN MAKE A CASE HE MIGHT'VE BEEN THE BEST RECEIVER IN THE STATE THIS YEAR.

AND I'LL LET THE GUY NEXT TO ME GIVE HIS OPINION ON THAT.

BUT ONE OF, IF NOT THE BEST ONE OF THE BEST, ESPECIALLY FOR HIS AGE.

I'LL BE REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT TYPE OF RECRUITING ATTENTION HE'LL RECEIVE IN JANUARY.

HE'LL GET SOME IN DECEMBER BUT, WILL THERE BE COACHES THAT KIND OF FLY BY MILLARD SOUTH TO GET AN EARLY LOOK AT HIM.

JETT THOMALLA, THE QUARTERBACK THERE AS WELL IS ANOTHER TALENTED YOUNG PROSPECT IN THE STATE TO KEEP AN EYE ON AT MILLARD SOUTH WHO HAD A REALLY GOOD SEASON.

JUST FELL SHORT OF LINCOLN HERE BY ONE GAME.

>> AMARION JACKSON'S REALLY GOOD POTENTIAL THERE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, HE CAN HIGH POINT A BALL.

PRETTY GOOD ROUTE RUNNER AND I LIKE HIM BECAUSE HE'S COMPETITIVE, RIGHT?

A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHAT HE ISN'T.

HE BELIEVES FULLY IN WHAT HE IS.

HE IS A HIGHLY, HIGHLY COMPETITIVE KID.

>> CONFIDENT KID AS WELL.

LET'S CHECK IN ON OUR SIDELINE SURVEY.

HOW ARE YOU SPENDING THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS WITHOUT HUSKER FOOTBALL?

49% OF THE PEOPLE SAY, CHEERING ON THE VOLLEYBALL TEAM.

26, WATCHING OTHER COLLEGE BALL GAMES.

TWIDDLING THUMBS.

AND THEN LAST, PREPARING FOR -- WHO'S GOING TO BE PREPARING FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

SHOULDN'T WE BE DOING THAT BY RIGHT NOW?

I THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.

PREPARING FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

TRANSFER WINDOW OBVIOUSLY OPENING UP.

A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THAT.

IN TERMS OF HOW YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SEE NEBRASKA ONLY LOSING ONE PLAYER SO FAR?

>> YEAH, 1,100 GUYS WENT INTO THE TRANSFER PORTAL ON THE OPENING DAY ALONE NEBRASKA HAD JUST ONE.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> QUITE AN ANOMALY.

AND I THINK MATT RHULE PREPARED US FOR THAT LAST WEEK WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE CULTURE AND THE PROGRAM AND WHAT'S GOING ON.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A FEW MORE THAT GO IN, NATURALLY.

BUT I THINK THAT TELLS YOU KIND OF WHAT HE'S BUILDING.

THE CULTURE THEY'VE BUILT, THE STRUCTURE THEY HAVE BUILT WITH THEIR ROSTER.

THE NIL SITUATION WITH THE ENTIRE ROSTER.

GUYS LIKE THINGS IN LINCOLN RIGHT NOW AND THEY LIKE WHERE IT'S HEADING WITH MATT RHULE.

SO WE'LL SEE WHERE IT ALL GOES.

BUT YOU HAVE A 30 DAY WINDOW HERE MICHAEL, AND THEN THERE'S A 15 DAY WINDOW IN THE SPRING.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO WINDOWS THAT GUYS CAN OPT INTO THE TRANSFER PORTAL AND KIND OF DECIDE THINGS.

>> AND THERE'S SO MUCH COMING WITH NIL.

WE TALKED BEFORE THE SHOW ABOUT HOW EVENTUALLY YOU GOT TO THINK THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF THIS.

>> YEAH, I THINK THE NEWS CAME OUT THIS MORNING THAT THE NCAA IS SETTING UP A SITUATION TO WHERE THE UNIVERSITIES ARE ABLE TO SET UP A TRUST AND THEN HANDLE NIL DIRECTLY FROM THE UNIVERSITY.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE YOUR COLLECTIVES AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU'D CALL A TRUST FUND OR A TRUST ACCOUNT THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT HOW YOUR DOLLARS ARE GOING TO CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND OBVIOUSLY ATHLETES.

SO THINGS ARE EVOLVING.

BUT ANOTHER THING, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WITH NIL KIDS AREN'T ASKING FOR MONEY JUST TO TAKE A VISIT.

>> I'M HEARING KIDS ARE REQUIRING $5000-$10,000 JUST TO SET FOOT ON CAMPUS FOR A VISIT.

THAT JUST IS A CRAZY SITUATION FOR ME TO COMPREHEND AT TIMES.

>> LET ME KNOW RIGHT AWAY WHO I WOULD WANT ON MY CAMPUS.

>> RIGHT.

>> I'M NOT SURE YOU CAN WIN LIKE THAT IF THAT'S A PREREQUISITE.

>> WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE LEAVE WHO HAVE STARTING POSITIONS AT SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOOD SCHOOLS AND A BIG REASON IS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN GET MORE MONEY SOMEPLACE ELSE.

THAT'S A REAL CHANGE IN EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

>> YEAH, DILLON GABRIEL, OKLAHOMA.

KYLE McCORD WINS 11 GAMES AT OHIO STATE AND HE GOES IN THE PORTAL AS AN 11 GAME WINNER.

BUT A LOT OF IT WAS, I THINK, OHIO STATE JUST SAID THERE'S NO GUARANTEE YOU'RE THE GUY NEXT YEAR.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL RIGHT, TIME TO RENEGOTIATE.

HIT THE PORTAL AND GO.

I DO THINK THIS CYCLE, AS WE GET ANOTHER YEAR DOWN THE ROAD, IT'S JUST GOTTEN WILDER AND WILDER.

TWO YEARS AGO IT WAS JUST STARTING.

AND EACH YEAR SINCE THEN NIL HAS JUST GOTTEN WILDER EACH OFF-SEASON.

>> YEAH, IT IS KIND OF COOL, LOOKING AT 2024 REAL QUICK BEFORE WE GET IN IT.

WE MENTIONED THE FOURTH GAME OF THE SEASON, MAYBE THE 400th SELL OUT.

BUT IN GENERAL, THE SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE A SCHEDULE WHERE NEBRASKA CAN GET OFF TO A FAST START, KIND OF LIKE 2016, SECOND YEAR OF A COACHING STAFF TOO.

>> YEAH, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE FOR NEBRASKA -- THE COLORADO SITUATION, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN BOULDER.

BUT YOU HAVE TO LIKE THAT FIRST SIX, FIRST SEVEN GAMES TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT YOUR TEAM AND WHAT CAN YOU GET OUT OF THAT VERSE SEVEN GAMES?

WHAT IS THAT?

WHAT IS THE REALISTIC LINE?

I MEAN, CAN YOU GET FIVE OR SIX WINS OUT OF THAT.

I THINK IF YOU'RE AN OPTIMISTIC FAN ABOUT NEBRASKA, YOU'RE LIKE, YEAH, IF WE PUT THIS TEAM TOGETHER WITH A QUARTERBACK AND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE IS STABILIZED LIKE WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE, THEY CAN GET OFF TO A GREAT START BEFORE THEY GO ON TO THAT GAUNTLET OF OHIO STATE, UCLA, USC, WISCONSIN.

AND WHAT'S IOWA GOING TO LOOK LIKE BY THAT TIME NEXT YEAR?

>> ONE THE INTERESTING THINGS IS, YOU KNOW, YOU BRING IN OREGON, WASHINGTON, UCLA -- USC, UCLA.

ALL NEW QUARTERBACKS FOR ALL OF THOSE PROGRAMS TOO.

>> YEAH, AND IT WILL BE A DRAMATIC SHIFT.

I WAS REALLY LOOKING TO SEE WHO WAS ON THE ROAD IN NOVEMBER.

UCLA HAS TO COME HERE.

IT'S JUST DIFFERENT.

THIS IS NOT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

IT'S NOVEMBER.

AND NEBRASKA WILL BE BUILT FOR THE LONG HAUL BECAUSE THEY ARE GOOD UP-FRONT.

NOW UCLA HAS TRIED TO MAKE STRIDES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT THERE WILL BE SOME TRANSITIONING THAT THOSE SCHOOLS WILL HAVE TO DO.

>> THERE'S A CHANCE, THE NATIONAL CHAMPS COMING IN.

>> YOU GET A TEAM LIKE WASHINGTON AND OREGON, THEY ARE ALREADY BUILT FOR THE PHYSICALITY.

>> AND THIS USC SITUATION.

OBVIOUSLY, WHAT'S CALEB'S WILLIAMS SITUATION HEADED INTO 2024.

WHAT IS -- IT'S TIME TO HIRE A DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR.

SO JUST THAT AND JUST ADAPTING TO BIG TEN FOOTBALL.

IT'S NICE TO PLAY OUT IN L.A.

IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER WHERE THERE IS NO WIND AND 75 DEGREES.

BUT THEY ARE COMING IN HERE WHERE IT'S 35 DEGREES.

THE WIND IS BLOWING, YOU KNOW.

THAT TAKES SOME ADAPTING TO AND GETTING USED TO.

>> AND DAN LANEY LIKES TO RUN THE BALL TOO.

>> I DON'T NECESSARILY WORRY ABOUT OREGON'S PHYSICALITY.

WE'LL SEE IF HE STAYS AT OREGON.

>> SURE.

>> HE COULD BE ON THE MOVE AS COULD A COUPLE OF THOSE GUYS.

BUT WASHINGTON AND OREGON AND LEAST RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY UNDER KALEN DaBOER, THOSE GUYS ARE BUILT UP FRONT AND THEY PLAY THAT WAY.

I KNOW WASHINGTON IS DYNAMIC OUTSIDE THE NUMBERS.

BUT THEIR O-LINE, D-LINE, MUCH MORE PHYSICAL THAN I THINK PEOPLE THOUGHT.

>> HOW DOES IT OPEN UP NEBRASKA -- AND I KNOW THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN A WEST COAST -- SINCE THE LATE '60s EARLY '70s THEY WERE ABLE TO GO INTO CALIFORNIA.

BUT HOW DO YOU THINK THIS OPENS UP AND CHANGES A LITTLE BIT BEING ABLE TO RECRUIT WEST.

>> YES AND NOW.

THEY'VE ALWAYS, LIKE YOU SAID, GONE OUT TO CALIFORNIA.

BUT YOU LOOK AT THIS CYCLE ALONE.

THERE REALLY ISN'T ANYBODY.

THE AREAS ARE TEXAS AND FLORIDA AND THEN THE NORTHEAST WHERE MATT RHULE HAS, KIND OF THOSE PHILADELPHIA, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK CONNECTIONS.

SOWE HAVEN'T SEEN THE WEST COAST INFLUENCE ON THERE.

NOW, ARE THEY NOT GOING TO RECRUIT -- THEY'LL STILL GO OUT THERE BUT I THINK IT'S GOT TO MAKE SENSE.

>> IT WOULD FIT TO GO OUT THERE EVEN MORE KNOWING THAT THOSE PLAYERS -- THEIR PARENTS ARE GOING TO GET TO SEE THEM COME IN AND PLAY.

>> AND KIND OF LIKE THE OLD BIG 12 DAYS, YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL A TEXAS KID, YOU'LL BE DOWN HERE AT LEAST ONE OR TWO GAMES A YEAR AND THAT ALWAYS PLAYED A FACTOR.

BECAUSE FAMILIES ARE LIKE, ALL RIGHT, WE'LL HAVE A COUPLE GAMES DOWN HERE AND WE CAN MAKE THE 500 MILE DRIVE TO LINCOLN.

>> YEAH, YOU GROW LIKING USC.

KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT EVENTUALLY SEEING THEM HERE IN MEMORIAL STADIUM?

>> YEAH, IT'S ONE OF THE MANY THINGS I GOT FROM MY FATHER.

JUST WATCHING THEM ON TELEVISION WITH THE WHITE HORSE.

I AM EXCITED.

I LIKE, KIND OF -- HOPE THEY GET TO THE POD SYSTEM WITH THE FOUR TEAMS IN THE NOW DEFUNCT PAC-12.

BUT IT SHOULD BE PRETTY COOL.

I'M ALL FOR HELMET GAMES AND THERE WILL BE FEW OF THOSE.

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

LET'S GET TO BURNING QUESTIONS.

WE'LL START WITH YOU SEAN.

>> WHO'S THE QUARTERBACK?

WHAT WILL THE QUARTERBACK SITUATION BE FOR NEBRASKA IN 2024?

WHAT WILL THAT PORTAL QUARTERBACK -- WHO WILL IT BE AS WE KIND OF WRAP UP THIS 2023 CALENDAR?

>> IF WINNING WAS IN THE PSYCHE FOR CLOSE GAMES, WILL A NEW YEAR BRING A NEW MIND-SET WITH A MUCH YOUNGER TEAM UNDER YEAR TWO OF COACH RHULE?

>> I THINK IT'S THE FOCUS ON THIS OFF-SEASON STILL ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL.

SEAN'S ALREADY ALLUDED TO THE QUARTERBACK SITUATION.

DO THEY MAKE A TWEAK TO THE OFFENSIVE STAFF AT ALL?

JUST TO IMPROVE THAT.

ALEIEVE SOME DUTIES FROM SATTERFIELD JUST SO THIS OFFENSE CAN KIND OF GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

>> RIGHT THERE WITH JAY AS WELL.

I MEAN, HONESTLY IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER, YOU'LL HAVE SOME POSITIONS OPENING UP IN THE NFL.

MAYBE A GOT NAMED AFTER A REALLY GOOD BEEF PRODUCT, MAYBE HE ENDS UP GOING TO THE LEAGUE.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

SO I PERSONALLY THINK, AND THE QUESTION IS WHAT WILL THIS COACHING STAFF LOOK LIKE, AND WHAT WILL THE DUTIES LOOK LIKE WHEN WE START NEXT SEASON?

OBVIOUSLY THE SEASON IS OVER AND "BIG RED WRAP-UP" IS OVER FOR THE SEASON BUT THERE IS PLENTY MORE SPORTS CONTENT COMING YOUR WAY ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA STARTING WITH NEBRASKA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WHEN THEY WELCOME IN THE SOUTHERN JAGUARS TO PBA.

THAT GAME WILL START AT NOON ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 AND CAN BE WATCHED ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

THEN WE'LL SEE YOU BACK FOR "BIG RED WRAP-UP" IN FEBRUARY FOR OUR RECRUITING SPECIAL.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8.

WE WANT TO THANK MITCH SHERMAN, STEVEN SIPPLE, IAN VOSBURG AND THE ENTIRE CREW, OF COURSE.

DAMON AND JAY AND SEAN FOR THE WHOLE SEASON LONG.

IT WAS OUTSTANDING AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY FOR TUNING IN AS WELL.

AND OF COURSE WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE "BIG RED WRAP-UP" NEXT SEASON.

♪ ♪ ♪