Big Red Wrap-Up: Preseason Special, Including Interview with Nebraska Football Head Coach Matt Rhule

>>> THIS WAS A REALLY, REALLY HARD SUMMER. I ASKED CORY, I DON'T CARE, JUST GIVE ME A TOUGH TEAM. THAT'S ALL I CARE ABOUT. >> COMPETITION IS EVERYTHING IN OUR PROGRAM. YOU COULD GO OUT AND BE A ONE AND WAKE UP NEXT WEEKEND TO BE A THREE IF YOU ARE NOT PERFORMING AT THE STANDARD. >> I LIKE TO HAVE THE MOST COMPETITIVE CAMP I'VE EVER HAD AND WE WILL SEE WHO IS STANDING AT THE END. >> I BELIEVE IN PLAYING HARD, PLAYING TOUGH AND ATTACKING THE FOOTBALL. SO, YOU ARE CONSTANTLY EMPHASIZING THAT IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. >> IT IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO WINNING AND THE SCENARIOS COACH PUTS US IN WILL MAKE US DELETE AT IT BY THE END OF THE YEAR. >> WE ARE HELPING EACH OTHER, WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE TEAM BETTER BEFORE WE PUT OURSELVES FIRST. THAT IS PART OF BEING A QUARTERBACK, YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR TEAM BEFORE YOUR SELF. >> THIS GROUP IS A SPECIAL. NOT ONLY SPECIAL BECAUSE OF THE GUYS THAT CAME IN BUT HOW WE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND HOW WE ARE DEVELOPING A CULTURE OF EXECUTION. THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO WIN GAMES. WE ARE ALL BOUGHT IN. >> I JUST WANT TO WIN GAMES. I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO BE VERY SOLID. WE AREN'T FLINCHING. >> IT IS THIS MINDSET OF WE ARE GOING TO DOMINATE THE THINGS WE CAN CONTROL AND WE HAVE GUYS WHO WORK. THIS TEAM HAS ALL THE INTANGIBLES. >> I EVERYONE, I'M MIKE'L SEVERE. WELCOME TO BIG RED WRAP-UP ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA. YEAR TWO OF THE MATT RHULE ERA BEGINS ON SATURDAY AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT IN THIS BRAND-NEW SET WITH A COUPLE OF GUYS YOU KNOW VERY WELL. FORMER HUSKERS JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING. WELCOME, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SET? >> IT'S REALLY COOL. LOOK AT THIS. >> IS NOT A PANORAMA? >> THIS IS A CRANE CAMERA. >> THAT IS A LITTLE CRANE CAMERA SHOT. >> FIRST TIME BEING HERE, WE ARE BREAKING IT IN NICELY. >> THIS IS A NEW YEAR, A NEW ERA BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT. HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO GO ANYWHERE AND NOT HAVE ANYONE ASK YOU WHAT YOU THINK THE RECORD IS GOING TO BE AND HOW EXCITED YOU ARE? >> I HAVEN'T. IT IS DIFFERENT. EVERY YEAR, I HAVE BEEN AND ETERNAL OPTIMIST BUT THIS YEAR FEELS DIFFERENT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS. YOU CAN LOOK AT MATT RHULE'S SUCCESS AT TEMPLE, BIGLER. THE TALENT THEY BROUGHT IN AND THE TALENT THEY HAVE KEPT. THE GUYS WHO HAVE COME BACK. IT IS AN OLDER TEAM. I HAVE BEEN TO A COUPLE OF PRACTICES IN FALL CAMP AND THE TALENT, THE BODY TYPES THIS TEAM HAS RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVE SUNDAY BODY TYPES. WHAT MAKES ME EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL, OBVIOUSLY THE SCHEDULE SETS UP VERY NICELY FOR THEM. THE OTHER THING I THINK IS I THINK THESE GUYS HAVE BOUGHT INTO THE PROCESS. I THINK THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO. I WAS REMINDED IF YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH THE PROCESS, THE PROCESS WILL LOVE YOU BACK. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL REAP THE REWARDS HERE IN JUST A FEW DAYS IN KICKOFF AGAINST UTAH. >> NOT ONLY ARE YOU A FORMER HUSKERS YOU ARE THE COLOR VOICE ON THE RADIO AND NOW YOUR SON PLAYS FOR THE TEAM. YOU ARE AS COMMITTED AS POSSIBLE. >> MY CHIPS ARE ALL IN NEBRASKA AND I'M EXCITED. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES IT EASY TO GRAVITATE TOWARD COACH MATT RHULE, YOU LISTEN TO HIM TALK FOOTBALL, YOU LISTEN TO HIM TALK ABOUT PRACTICE AND HOW HE ATTACKS THE DAY AND IT IS ALMOST LIKE HE IS TELLING YOU HOW TO BE A BETTER FATHER, HOW TO BE A BETTER EMPLOYEE , HOW TO BE A BETTER SON. HE IS ALL ABOUT MAXIMIZING AND MASTERING IN LIFE. HE JUST APPLIES IT INTO THE GAME OF FOOTBALL. HE IS THE CONSUMMATE TEACHER AND DEFINITELY SOMEBODY THAT I OBVIOUSLY TRUST TO HAVE MY KID WITH. I AM PUMPED. READY TO GO. >> WITH ALL THAT, THERE'S ALSO A FIVE STAR QUARTERBACK MANY THOUGHT WAS THE BEST IN THE 2024 CLASS, DYLAN RAIOLA. IT SEEMS LIKE HE EARNED IT. >> LISTEN, I FULLY EXPECTED WHEN HE STEPPED FOOT ON CAMPUS LAST SPRING THAT HE WAS GOING TO WORK HIMSELF INTO THE NUMBER ONE GUY. THE QUARTERBACK SITUATION WAS NOT VERY SUCCESSFUL LAST YEAR WITH SIMS AND HARBOR GETTING BANGED UP. YOU KNEW IT WAS GOING TO LOOK VASTLY DIFFERENT BUT YOU DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WAS GOING TO SHAKE OUT. DOING ONE THING IN HIGH SCHOOL, BIG FISH, SMALL POND SITUATION. IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU COME TO COLLEGE. I DON'T CARE IF YOUR DAD WAS AN ALL-AMERICAN HERE AND YOUR UNCLE IS BEING LINE COACH AND YOU MIGHT HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER QUARTERBACKS. HE'S DIFFERENT. HE HAS HANDLED IT REALLY WELL. I HAVE BEEN TO A COUPLE OF PRACTICES. HE DOESN'T ACT LIKE HE'S 18. HE HAS A MATURITY OF A GUY WHO HAS BEEN HERE FOR A COUPLE YEARS. HE CARRIES HIMSELF VERY WELL. HE CARRIES HIMSELF AS A LEADER. THE ABILITY IS THERE. THE ABILITY TO THROW THE FOOTBALL, DIFFERENT ARM ANGLES. IT IS PRACTICED SO FAR BUT HE HAS EARNED IT, HE IS LEGIT. I AM EXCITED TO SEE HIM PLAY ON SATURDAY. >> THE CONFIDENT IT'S ANOTHER THING. >> HE HAS THAT. A LITTLE BRAVADO. HE GIVES YOU THE SENSE HE'S GOT IT UNDER CONTROL. SOME CALL IT POISE. HE HAS THAT PIED PIPER TO HIM. WHEREVER HE IS, YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO BE OKAY. THERE IS SOMETHING TO THAT. I AM IMPRESSED ACROSS THE BOARD. I THINK THEY GOT THE QUARTERBACK ROOM RIGHT. I LIKE THE MENTALITY IN THE THAT ROOM. IT IS INCREDIBLY COMPETITIVE, YET THEY CAN CHEER FOR OTHER PEOPLE. WHEN YOU GET THE TEMPERAMENT IN THAT ROOM RIGHT, YOU GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE TO HAVE SOME SUCCESS. >> YOU SAID SOMETHING AS WE WERE DOING ANYTHING ON FRIDAY. IF THERE WAS AN INJURY DURING A GAME, I AM ASSUMING HEINRICH HAARBERG COMES IN. LONG-TERM, COULD USE A IT BEING DANIEL KAELIN? >> I QUIT. HE'S STARTING TO GROW INTO HIS FOOTBALL IQ. PHYSICALLY, HE'S GETTING THERE. HE SPENDS IT REALLY WELL. HE'S REALLY GOOD IN THE RPO GAME. HE GIVES YOU AN ARM THAT YOU ARE NOT NERVOUS WHEN HE GOES IN THE GAME AND HE HAS TO EXECUTE THIS OFFENSE AND THAT ALLOWS YOU TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS WITH HEINRICH HAARBERG. >> YOU HAVE TO GET HIM THERE. HE HAD SEVEN PLAYS OVER 30 YARDS LAST YEAR. YOU HAVE TO GET HEINRICH HAARBERG ON THE FIELD. >> WHETHER IT IS FROM THE TIGHT END ASPECT , LIKE YOU SAW IN THE MINNESOTA GAME LAST YEAR OR A RUN PAST SITUATION OR SHORT YARDAGE, GOAL LINE SITUATION WHERE YOU BRING HIM IN LIKE WE ARE RUNNING QB POWER RIGHT HERE AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO STOP. HE'S A BIG BODY. YOU CAN DO SO MANY THINGS. YOU CAN IMPLEMENT THE OPTION GAME. ADJUSTED TO KEEP DEFENSES, JUST A LITTLE WRINKLE WHERE THEY HAVE TO TAKE 10 MINUTES, 15 MINUTES TO PREPARE FOR IT. YOU HAVE TO UTILIZE ALL HIS TALENTS. HIS ATHLETIC ABILITY IS OFF THE CHARTS. >> MINNESOTA, THE WHOLE TIME THEY'VE HAD THE STAFF, THEY ALWAYS HAVE THE QUARTERBACK THAT CAN RUN DOWN THE FIELD. >> 15 MINUTES DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A HUGE NUMBER BUT DAILY WHEN YOU ARE DOING INSTALL AND PREPARATION AND THEY MAY SHOW A GOAL LINE PACKAGE AND THAT IS ANOTHER 15 MINUTES. IT ENDS UP. ONCE YOU GET STUFF LIKE THAT ON TAPE, QUARTERBACK RUN GAME CHANGES THE WAY YOU CAN DEFEND. THE MINUTE THAT IS ON TAPE, YOU KNOW YOU BETTER GET IN ON THE DRY ERASE BOARD AND FIGURE IT OUT. >> WE HAVE A LOT TO GET TO TONIGHT. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. THE PHONES ARE STANDING BY READY FOR YOUR CALLS. YOU CAN TEXT OR EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG. WE ARE ALSO MONITORING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS. ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE AND DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THE 2024 NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE. I PRINTED OFF FOR THE HOME OR OFFICE, KEEP UP TO DATE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, ALL THE HUSKER FOOTBALL SCORES, HOPEFULLY WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF W'S ON THE POSTER. OUR SIDELINE SURVEY IS BACK AND READY FOR YOUR VOTE TONIGHT. WILL NEBRASKA MAKE IT TO A BOWL GAME? YES, THE DERIVED IS OVER. NO, THE NIGHTMARE CONTINUES. ASK ME AFTER A GAME. THAT IS THE REAL PESSIMISTIC PERSON. MAKE SURE YOU COME BACK EACH WEEK, GO TO THE WEBSITE FOR EACH BRAND-NEW SURVEY. IT TRULY IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THE BOWL GAME IS THE MINIMUM. DAMON BENNING HAS SAID , EIGHT REALLY FEELS LIKE FOUR. COME ON, THE SCHEDULE APPEARED >> THE SCHEDULE LINES UP PERFECTLY. IT HASN'T BEEN A FEW YEARS. WHETHER YOU ARE STARTING IN IRELAND, ON THE ROAD AT MINNESOTA ON A THURSDAY NIGHT, ON THE ROAD AT ILLINOIS, YOU CAN'T EASE YOUR WAY INTO IT. SO MANY YEARS IN THE PAST, THERE IS NO PRESEASON GAME IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL. BACK WHEN I WAS PLAYING, YOU WERE PLAYING, A PACIFIC. YOU OPEN UP THERE OR LOUISIANA TECH OR NICHOLS ESTATE, SOMEPLACE TO GET YOUR FEET WET, GET THE COBWEBS OUT, GET SOME YOUNG PLAYERS SOME REPS. THEY HAVEN'T HAD THAT. THE ABILITY TO GAIN CONFIDENCE AND MOMENTUM, WHETHER IT HAS BEEN A GAME CANCELED THE FIRST YEAR, THE YEARS HAVEN'T GOTTEN STARTED OFF RIGHT. THIS FEELS LIKE A TIME WHERE THEY CAN GRASP MOMENTUM, GAIN CONFIDENCE AND LEARN HOW TO WIN BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T LEARNED HOW TO WIN THE LAST FEW YEARS. >> THE OPPONENT TALENT ASSIGNED, I LIKE THIS STYLE. UTEP, SPREAD, SPACE. 3 X 1, 2 X 2. COLORADO, ONE BACK OFFENSE. 3 X 1, NORTHERN IOWA. THEY WILL SPREAD YOU OUT AS WELL BECAUSE THE STRENGTH OF THEIR TEAM IS THEIR WIDE RECEIVING CORPS. I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE SCHEDULE LINES UP STYLISTICALLY MORE THAN ANYTHING BECAUSE IT ALLOWS YOUR PREPARATION TO KIND OF SETTLED IN. WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. LET'S BUILD ON IT. ESPECIALLY IN YEAR TWO DEFENSIVELY, WE ARE YOU START TO ADD YOUR WRINKLES, YOUR NUANCES. YOU KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS HAVE GAME TAPE AS WELL. >> THEY WOULD SEE ANYONE GO AS FAST AS UTEP. THEY WANT TO HAVE IT SNAPPED IN 16 SECONDS. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OFFENSE BESIDES THE QUARTERBACK. WIDE RECEIVERS, WITH THE TRANSFERS, THE WAY THE FRESHMAN PLAYED LAST YEAR, SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A GOOD POSITION. >> WITH THANKS COMING ONTO THE SCENE, THOSE GUYS ARE, I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU, KEITH WILLIAMS, A FORMER TEAMMATE OF MINE, KEITH, WHO IS THAT? THAT IS ISAIAH NEYOR. HE'S BUILT LIKE JULIO JONES. THEY ARE BIG BODIED RECEIVERS. WIDER RADIUS IS. MALACHI COLEMAN IS THE SAME WAY. LLOYD IS NOT THE BIGGER GUY BUT HE CAN TAKE THE TOP OFF A FENCE AND YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE SPEED. THE STABLE IS A VERY DEEP. IT GOT DEPLETED EARLY LAST YEAR AND OF THE YOUNG GUYS HAD TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN. GETTING ISAIAH NEYOR AND BANKS IN AND YOU THROW IN THE TIGHT END AS WELL, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF WEAPONS 22. >> HE'S PLAYED EVERY OTHER POSITION, NOW HE'S IN THE SLOT, I'M TALKING JANIRAN BONNER. >> JANIRAN BONNER IS STEADY . THE DEPTH CHART HAS COME OUT AND THEY LIST THREE GUYS DEEP AT A POSITION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT IS NOT WHAT IT IS ABOUT. YOU WANT TO BE IN THE TOP SIX OR SEVEN IN TERMS OF PASS CATCHERS. THEY HAVE VERSATILITY. JACORY BARNEY JR., TRADE AND JANIRAN BONNER. THEY HAVE FELLOWS. JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE THREE DEEP DOESN'T MEAN YOU ARE THIRD IN THE GAME. THEY WILL PLAY THE TOP SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE PASS CATCHERS. >> THROW CARTER NELSON. >> CARTER NELSON AS A WIDE RECEIVER AS WELL. LET'S GO TO RUNNING BACK. DAMON BENNING, YOU WERE IN A STABLE . ALL THE YEARS YOU WERE THERE, WE COULD GO FOUR DEEP, GUYS RUNNING FOR A BUNCH OF YARDS. HOW DIFFICULT IS IT AS A RUNNING BACK? >> IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW PRACTICE GOES A. IF THE CARET IS A DANGLED AND IT IS SET, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH. IF IT IS COMPETITIVE DAILY AND YOU ARE REWARDED FOR YOUR WORK OUTPUT, IT IS EASIER TO STAY DIALED IN. WHEN THERE IS LACK OF COMMUNICATION OR YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY HAS A TON OF MERIT ALL THE TIME IN TERMS OF HOW SATURDAY PLACE OUT, IT CAN GET AWAY FROM YOU. THE TWO THINGS ARE COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERY REP COUNTS. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE WAITING FOR A GUY TO SEPARATE. NOW THEY GET TO GAME EXPERIENCE TO ACTUALLY COMPETE. USUALLY IT HAPPENS IN PRACTICE. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE WILLING TO LET THIS PLAY OUT THROUGH GAMES. THAT WILL KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED. IT TAKES A DIFFERENT MENTALITY TO BE READY ON THE SPOT. SOME GUYS ARE RHYTHM GUYS, SOME GUYS ARE FEEL GUYS BEARD IT IS DIFFICULT TO BE READY ON COMING AND. >> AS A DEFENDER, TO HAVE THAT MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF BACKS, IS THAT HARDER? YOU HAVE TO SEE WHO'S BACK THERE SHIFTY GUYS, BIG GUYS BEARD >> IT IS PERSONNEL WERE RECOGNITION, WHAT BACK LIKES TO DO CERTAIN THINGS. I'M GUESSING RAHMIR JOHNSON, HE IS COMING THREE DOWN BACK. FIRST DOWN, SECOND DOWN, HE CAN STEP UP . BUT, OBVIOUSLY RAHMIR JOHNSON IS GOOD OUT OF THE BACKFIELD. EMMETT JOHNSON COULD CATCH IN THE BACKFIELD. DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT DANTE DOWDELL YET. MAYBE YOUR SHORT BACK CAN STAY HEALTHY. FOR DEFENSIVE MINDED GUYS, THERE WAS MAX GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO OFFENSIVELY FROM THE PLAY, FROM A PLAY CALLED STANDPOINT. IF THEY ARE GOING TO MIX IT UP, WHO KNOWS. THEY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO KEEP THE DEFENSE ON THEIR TOES. >> IT IS ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE. THEY HAVE A LOT OF BODIES. >> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT SCHEME THEY SETTLE IN. THEY COULD PLAY SEVEN RIGHT NOW AND THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A MARGIN FOR ERROR. YOU HAVE TO PROTECT YOUR QUARTERBACK. WITH THE RPO GAME AND THE STABLE OF RUNNING BACKS, YOU COULD PLAY THE OFFENSIVE LINE STRIKES. >> YOU'VE GOT SEVEN GUYS AT LEAST HAD COULD BE IN THE FRONT FIVE. WHO DO YOU LIKE? >> YOU HAVE TO PLAY RILEY VAN POPPEL. ELIJAH JEUDY IS RIGHT UP THERE. THERE ARE SOME YOUNG GUYS THAT HAVE PUT THEIR HAT IN THE MIX. IT IS THOSE GUYS THAT YOU SEE RIGHT THERE ON THE SCREEN ARE BIG-TIME. NASH HUTMACHER AND TY ROBINSON, THEY COULD BE GETTING READY FOR AN NFL GAME BUT THEY DECIDED TO COME BACK. >> JIMARI BUTLER DID LEAVE, THEN DECIDED TO STAY. >>'S PERSONALITY MAY BE MY FAVORITE. >> HE HAS ADDED SOME WEIGHT. HIS BODY STIGALL CHANGED FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR. HE IS GOING TO BE TOUGH TO DEAL WITH. OF THOSE THREE GUYS UP FRONT ARE GOING TO CAUSE SOME CHAOS THIS YEAR. I COULD IMAGINE THESE YOUNGER LINEBACKERS TRYING TO CLEAN UP ALL THE MESSES THEY CAUSE. >> WHAT ABOUT A SECONDARY QUESTION >> THEY HAVE SOME VERSATILITY. THEY CROSS TRAIN QUITE A BIT. I AM OBVIOUSLY PRETTY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. YOU HAVE SOME GUYS THAT IF THEY STAY HEALTHY HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE BIG YEARS. MALCOLM SETTLING IN. DESHON SINGLETON IS A SUNDAY GUY. HE'S ELECTRIC. IF HE STAYS HEALTHY, HE HAS THE ABILITY TO IMPACT GAMES. THE GUY I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING, IS HE PREPARED TO HANDLE THE EMOTIONAL LOAD OF BEING THE GUY? TOMMI HILL. CAN -- A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU. CAN YOU HANG IN THERE AND PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT AND DELETE THAT GROUP ON THE BACK AND QUESTIONING >> THE SEASON OPENER JUST DAYS AWAY, THE TEAM AT THE PODIUM, LET'S HEAR WHAT THE PLAYERS AND COACHES HAVE TO SAY IN NEXT WEEK'S A BIG RED REPORT. >> DYLAN IS GOING TO PLAY. HE WILL PLAY, WHEN WE CALLED DROP BACK, HE'S GOING TO GO BACK AND TAKE HIS DROP AND DO HIS PROGRESSION. JUST HOW WE WANT THEM TO PLAY AS A JUNIOR, WE START DAY ONE THAT AWAY. >> HE HAS ATTACKED EVERYTHING SINCE HE STARTED LEARNING THE OFFENSE. HE ATTACKS AND WORKS HARD. HE WORKS INTO THE NIGHT. HE READS EXTRA ON CERTAIN FACETS OF THE GAME. HE IS A YOUNG PRO. HE'S GOING TO GET THE BETTER. HE'S STILL MATURING. HE ATTACKS IT LIKE A PRO. >> IT WAS EMOTIONAL, HONESTLY. THE FIRST THING I DID WAS CALL MY MOM, CALL MY DAD. VERY THANKFUL FOR THEM. I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT TO THEM. >> BUCKLE UP, IT WILL BE A FUN RIDE. >> IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE BUT I FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE. I WOULDN'T PUT A HORSE ON THE RUNNING BACKS IF I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE HAD GUYS WHO COULD MAKE PLAYS. I WOULD LOVE TO LET THAT GUY GO. ALL FOUR OF THOSE GUYS ARE TALENTED. >> THEY ARE ALL DOING REALLY GOOD THINGS. THAT IS ONE POSITION WE ARE STILL UNSETTLED ON THAT AND KICKER. >> WE WON FOUR GAMES IN OVERTIME OR ON THE LAST POSSESSION. THAT IS THE SECRET SAUCE OF WHERE WE HAVE TO GET TO WITH THIS TEAM. SO, THAT IS WHY I AM NOT EASING INTO IT. WE HAVE TO GO LIKE THIS EVERY SINGLE GAME TO GET BETTER AND THAT IS WHY WE WILL START OFF PLAYING THE WAY WE WANT TO PLAY AT THE END OF THE OF THE YEAR, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. IF IT DOESN'T LOOK PERFECT, WE ARE NOT GOING TO FLINCH. WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT WE DO AND TRY TO GET BETTER EVERY GAME SO WHEN WE END THE SEASON, WE WILL HAVE PLAYED OUR BEST GAME ON THE LAST GAME APPEARED >> THE BIG 18. WHO JUMPS OUT THE MOST TO YOU? >> I LIKE OREGON, OBVIOUSLY. I'M TELLING YOU, BECAUSE THEY SELDOM GET THE BENEFIT OF THAT OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS ON THE LIPS OF MANY, KEEP AN EYE ON YOU WENT TO SEE. I REALLY LIKE A BRANCH. HE'S AS ELECTRIC AS ANYBODY IN THE COUNTRY. QUIETLY, UCLA HAS RAN THE BALL DOWN FOLKS TO BROACH THE LAST THREE YEARS. FOSTER WILL RUN THE FOOTBALL. WASHINGTON, GIVEN THE NEW COACHING FOR YOUR, THEY HAVE THE BEST AVAILABLE CANDIDATE. GOOD PEDIGREE. YOU START WITH OREGON, LOOK AT USC AND PROBABLY UCLA AND WASHINGTON. >> IT IS PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT THE SEC PUTS OUT WHEN YOU MENTALLY IS FOUR TEAMS. >> WITHOUT A DOUBT. COACH MATT RHULE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, STATING THIS IS AS INTENSE AS THE NFL. EAST COAST, WEST COAST, SOUTH TEAMS. >> MANAGING TRAVEL, REST. >> MANAGING TRAVEL. YOU TRAVEL THREE TIMES. >> UCLA IS TRAVELING 23,000 MILES. >> YOU ARE LEAVING THE DAY BEFORE THE GAME OR TWO DAYS BEFORE THE GAME. THAT IS WHAT NFL TEAMS DO WHEN THEY ARE DOING THAT KIND OF THING. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE ANY, IF THEY ARE STATING OUT WEST FOR BACK-TO-BACK GAMES OR STAKING OUT EAST. THEY MIGHT HAVE TO STAY OUT THERE FOR THE WEEK, WHO KNOWS. IT IS CRAZY. I AM EXCITED TO SEE IT. IT WILL BE FUN AND I THINK OREGON WILL BE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION AS WELL. >>> MIXED UP ON THE SHOW, AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE HEAD BALL COACH, MATT RHULE. FIRST, SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM HUSKER FALL PRACTICE. TO STAY WITH US, WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK. (piano music) The programs we produce in the Ron Hull Studio have touched the lives of Nebraskans since 1972. Now, it's time to imagine the possibilities. We're not just renovating; we're innovating. Together, let's invest in Nebraska Public Media's future and update the studio so we can create more programs to educate, inspire, & connect. Support the Ron Hull Studio renovation and a legacy that will benefit generations of Nebraskans. Imagine the possibilities. () From late game comebacks and heroics, to notable milestones and records, relive iconic games and unforgettable stories from Nebraska Public Media's High School championship archives. We've teamed up with the NSAA to curate the most memorable games and interviewed coaches, players, and sports writers who all share their memories. Help us celebrate our tradition of championship television on Nebraska High School Classics. Thursday September 12th at 9 pm central on Nebraska Public Media. >>> ALL RIGHT, WELCOME BACK TO BIG RED WRAP-UP ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA. WE ARE JOINED BY THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA IN HIS SECOND YEAR, 28. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, COACH. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. >> I WANT TO TELL YOU A STORY. OR, MY WIFE'S BIRTHDAY, ONE OF THE WAITERS COMES UP AND SAYS I AM SO EXCITED. I HAVE TAKEN OF ALL THE SATURDAY AND THE FRIDAY NIGHT. I SAID THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY YOU ARE LOSING. HE SAID I JUST HAVE TO SEE McCUSKER'S. DO YOU EVER GET SURPRISED BY THE PASSION OF THIS AND IS QUESTIONING >> YES, ALL THE TIME. YOU GET HUMBLED WHEN YOU HEAR HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO SO MANY PEOPLE. IT IS A GREAT REMINDER YOU MIGHT BE OUT HAVING DINNER. WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK TOMORROW. >> I AM SURE YOU DIDN'T DO IT ON PURPOSE. I TALKED TO A LOT OF PLAYERS IN THE SPEECH YOU GAVE THAT WENT VIRAL, POPULAR WITH FORMER PLAYERS. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT WAS YOUR MIND WHEN YOU WERE GIVEN THAT SPEECH AND HOW THE PRACTICE WENT THE REST OF THE WAY? >> THE PRACTICE WAS GREAT AFTER THAT. THAT IS WHAT COACHING IS. COACHING IS JUST BEING A MIRROR. WHEN THINGS ARE GREAT, TELLING THEM TO KEEP GOING. WHEN THINGS ARE NOT GOOD, PUTTING IT IN THE FOREFRONT SO GUYS HAVE A CHANCE TO CORRECT IT. TO ME, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT LIKELY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LOSE. WE DON'T HAVE TO LOSE. WHAT ARE THE THINGS CAUSING US TO LOSE. THERE MIGHT BE THINGS THAT ARE PHYSICAL. FOR US, IT HAS BEEN GETTING TOO BIG MOMENTS AND TRYING TO DO THINGS WE ARE NOT TRAINED TO DO. TRYING TO DO THINGS OUTSIDE OF WHO WE REALLY ARE AND THAT IS TRUST. THE GREAT HUSKER TEAMS TRUSTED THEMSELVES, TRUSTED THEIR TEAMMATES, THEY TRUSTED THE PROCESS. THEY WILL WEAR YOU DOWN AND FIND A WAY TO WIN. THAT DAY, WE WERE DOING THINGS THAT AREN'T US. THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD EVER SINCE. >> IT IS EASY TO DO BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCH AN AMOUNT OF VETERANS ALONG WITH THE YOUNG GROUP AS WELL. IS IT EASY TO DO BECAUSE YOU HAVE THOSE GUYS THAT WILL TALK FOR YOU? >> AS OLDER PLAYERS, THEY ARE USED TO THOSE MOMENTS. THEY ALSO HAVE THE FUN MOMENTS WITH ME. WHEN I DO ALL OF A SUDDEN SNAP INTO THAT MOMENT, THEY LISTEN. THEY HEAR IT, THEY CORRECT IT, AND THEY MOVE ON. THERE IS NOTHING PERSONAL ABOUT IT. IT IS NEVER DIRECTED AT ANYBODY. THERE IS A STANDARD THAT WE WANT TO UPHOLD. IT WAS STARTED WAY BEFORE US AND IT WILL CONTINUE AFTER US. WHEN WE ARE NOT ADHERING TO THE STANDARD, WHETHER IT IS ME, STAFF MEMBERS OR PLAYERS, WE ARE GOING TO CORRECT IT. THE GREAT THING IS WHEN WE HAVE THAT MINDSET, YOU BELIEVE EVERYTHING IS IN YOUR CONTROL. THERE IS NO CURSE, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE WHAT'S WRONG? WE HAVE TO DO THINGS A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT OUR GUYS IN PLACE TO VENT. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT OVER THE YEARS IS CONVINCING THEM THEY CAN WIN. ALL THE CLOSE LOSSES OVER THESE YEARS. HOW DO YOU TAKE GUYS WHO HAVE LOST A BUNCH OF GAMES AND SAY HEY, YOU ARE A WINNER, YOU ARE GOING TO WIN THESE GAMES. >> IT IS MAKING SURE WHEN THINGS DON'T GO RIGHT, LIKE THAT TODAY, OR WHEN THINGS DO GO RIGHT, BRINGING IT BACK TO THE REASON WHY. WHY DID THESE THINGS HAPPEN? WE DIDN'T JUST MUMBLE THE BALL, WE FUMBLED THE BALL BECAUSE WE WEREN'T HOLDING IT PROPERLY. WHEN YOU FEEL NOT POWERLESS, WHEN YOU RECOGNIZE YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CONTROL YOUR DESTINY, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DETERMINE IF WE WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE, THE POWER TO DETERMINE IF WE HIT ALL OUR ASSIGNMENTS, YOU FEEL CONTROL. YOU CAN'T CONTROL EVERYTHING IN FOOTBALL BUT YOU CERTAINLY CAN CONTROL THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN CONTROL. WHETHER THAT IS YOUR EFFORT OR PREPARATION OR TECHNIQUE. JUST GETTING OUR GUYS TO BUY INTO THAT. BUYING INTO THE FACT THAT WE CAN HELP OURSELVES WHEN. ONCE WE START WINNING, I TELL THEM ALL THE TIME WE ARE NOT GOING TO WIN ON 8:31. WE HAVE WON ALL OFF-SEASON, WE HAVE WON CAMP. ON GAME DAY, IT IS THE CELEBRATION OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE. >> ONE OF THE BIG CHANGES IT TROY DANIELS COMING IN AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. HAS HE GOTTEN DONE ON THE THINGS YOU WANTED EARLY ON? >> FIRST OF ALL, I WAS WORKING WITH TRAVIS. LET ME KNOW, WE HAD A WORKING LIST OF THINGS FOR MY EXPERIENCE, OTHER EXPERIENCES THAT WE COULD UPDATE OR DO THINGS WE WERE WORKING ON. WHEN TROY CAME IN, I SAID WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A LIST. I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK HE JUST WALKED IN AND I SAID GET THESE THINGS DONE. TROY IS A TREMENDOUS LEADER AND I AM EXCITED TO FOLLOW HIM. HE IS A TREMENDOUS FRIEND. IT IS ALWAYS GREAT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN THAT POSITION THAT WOULD BE THERE WITH YOU IN THE GOOD TIMES AND OF THE BAT AND YOU ARE GOING TO WRITE THE HIGHS AND LOWS WITH TOGETHER. HE'S GOT GREAT EXPERIENCE AND HE HAS GREAT VISION. HE'S NOT AFRAID TO DO HARD THINGS. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED. FOR US TO GET NEBRASKA ATHLETICS AND NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TO WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE, WE HAVE TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT LIKE COACH OSBORNE WENT. THEY WERE DOING THINGS NO ONE ELSE WAS DOING AT THE TIME. TROY IS NOT AFRAID TO DO THAT. >> YOU WERE THE SAME WAY. LAST YEAR COMMUTED THE HELMET COMMUNICATION. LENA KIFFIN CALLED IT A GAME CHANGER IN THE SPORT DO YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY CHRISTMAS >> NO DOUBT. 100%. IT WILL HELP YOU COACH QUARTERBACKS. IT WILL HELP YOU DEVELOP THEM AS YOU GIVE THEM MORE OPTIONS. IT IS WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING ON SUNDAY SO WHY NOT DO IT ON SATURDAYS? WE LOVE IT. WE WERE PREPARED FOR IT. IT WILL HELP OUR QUARTERBACKS. >> YOU'VE DONE THE SINGLE DIGITS AT OTHER SCHOOLS. HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN IMBALANCE WITH ONE ON OFFENSE AND NINE ON DEFENSE? >> A LOT OF TIMES. TO BE FAIR, RAHMIR JOHNSON COULD HAVE HAD ONE. HE WAS IN THE MIX. WE JUST HAVE A SPECIAL GROUP ON DEFENSE. YOU LOOK AT ON OFFENSE, JAMAAL HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. A LOT OF YOUNGER PLAYERS, GUYS WITH A YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY LEFT. I'M SURE YOU WILL LOOK UP AND WE WILL HAVE FOUR OR FIVE OF THOSE GUYS, JACORY BARNEY JR., THE YOUNG KIDS. THEY WILL BE SINGLE-DIGIT TYPE YOU GUYS. THE GREAT NEWS IS THERE'S 20 GUYS WE COULD HAVE PUT IN THAT POSITION THAT I FEEL GOOD ABOUT. IT IS SCARY THAT OF THOSE 10 GUYS, NINE OF THEM, THIS IS THE LAST SEASON OF FOOTBALL. ONLY MALCOLM COMES BACK. WE WILL HAVE TO DO A GREAT JOB OF DEVELOPING THE REST OF OUR TEAM IN THAT MENTALITY AS WE GO THROUGH THIS SEASON TO PREPARE FOR NEXT SEASON AS WELL. >> IN MANY WAYS, THE OFFENSIVE LINE IMPROVED LAST YEAR. HAVE I ALLOWED WAS TOUGHEST WAYS. HOW MUCH WAS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE AND HOW MUCH WAS THAT ON THE PROBLEMS WE HAD AT QUARTERBACK? >> ON OFFENSE, ANYTIME THINGS AREN'T WHAT YOU WANT, IT IS A MIXTURE OF EVERYTHING. IT REALLY IS. I THOUGHT OUR OFFENSIVE LINE PLAYED WELL ENOUGH TO WIN MOST OF LAST YEAR. WHEN YOU ARE STRUGGLING TO THROW THE BALL, YOU REALLY PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE BECAUSE YOU ARE ONLY THROWING IT WHEN YOU HAVE TO AND THEY ARE COMING. WHEN YOU GO TO RUN THE FOOTBALL, PEOPLE ARE BRINGING PRESSURE. WITH DYLAN AND DANNY COMING IN, WITH THE WEAPONS WE HAVE ADDED ON THE OUTSIDE, YOU CAN CALL A RUN PLAY AND IF THEY COME PRESSURE YOU, YOU CAN HITS OUT THERE AND THAT GUY MIGHT TAKE IT 60. IT IS A MODERN-DAY OPTION FOOTBALL. RUN-PASS OPTION. WE CAN DO ALL THOSE THINGS NOW. THAT ALLOWS OUR OFFENSIVE LINE TO BE AGGRESSIVE. I LIKE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, IT IS GOING TO BE A GOOD GROUP. >> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE TACKLE SPOT WITH TEDDY GOING DOWN, DO YOU HAVE A DEPTH? >> ANYTIME YOU LOSE A STARTING LEFT TACKLE, IT IS DEVASTATING. WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE ANOTHER STARTING LEFT TACKLE JUST COMING BACK FROM INJURY. THAT WAS A BLOW. THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE YOUNGER PLAYERS WE REALLY TRUST. WE HAVE GUNNAR GOTTULA . TO TAKE A POET IS COMING ON AS A TRANSFER. WE HAVE GUYS LIKE HENRY LUTOVSKY AND MICAH MAZZCUA WHO CAN GO OUT IF YOU NEED THEM TO. WE TRUST TURNER, WE TRUST THE GUYS BEHIND HIM AND WE WILL HAVE TO DO A GOOD JOB OF GETTING THEM COMFORTABLE. >> YOU HAVE KNOWN MIKE UP FOR YEARS. WHEN HE CAME TO THE PROGRAM, MAYBE HE WASN'T COMPLETELY DIALED IN. HOW HAS HE GONE AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING FROM HIM? >> WE WANT THE SAME THING FROM MICAH THAT WE WANT FROM EVERYONE ELSE AND THAT IS GROWTH. EVEN EVERY DAY, WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS PROGRESS. IT IS A CHANGE. HE PLAYED FOUR YEARS AT ANOTHER PLACE, OTHER PLACES WHERE THEY HAD DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS. OUR EXPECTATION LEVEL HERE IS A WE TREAT THE FIELD OF THE SAME AS WE TREAT THE LOCKER ROOM AS THE SAME WAY WE TREAT THE CLASSROOM. I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT THOSE PLACES BUT THERE'S HIGH EXPECTATIONS HERE. HE IS MEETING THEM AND DOING A GOOD JOB AND HE LOVES FOOTBALL, HE LOVES PLAYING PHYSICAL FOOTBALL. WE WILL RIDER THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE SEASON TOGETHER. AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE'S A GOOD PERSON. >> IT IS THE ONE TIME YOU SAY SOMEONE IS NASTY AND IT IS A TRUE COMPLIMENT. WITH A SECONDARY COACH COMING ON, YOU HAVE A STAFF THAT IS COMING TOGETHER AND NEW GUY COMES IN, HOW DO YOU FEEL? >> BECAUSE JOHN IS A VETERAN, HE APPROACHED THINGS THE RIGHT WAY. HE HAS SO MUCH EXPERIENCE, HE CAME IN AND LEARNED. HE JUST LEARNED THE WHAT. WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO? YOU THE HOW AND TRIED TO APPLY IT TO HOW DO I TEACH AT THIS? BECAUSE HE CAME IN SO HUMBLE, AS YOU GET INTO WEEK TWO, WEEK THREE, HE AND TONY WORKING TOGETHER. TONY IS SO GREAT AT THIS. ADDING IN TWEAKS HE DID AT BUFFALO, HOUSTON, PENN STATE, ELEVATING WHAT WE DO SCHEMATICALLY. HE IS GETTING THE BEST OUT OF HIS PLAYERS, WHICH IS WHAT ALL GREAT COACHES DO. WE HAD A GREAT SECONDARY COACH BEFORE. WE ADDED A GREAT SECONDARY COACH. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GOOD PLAYERS BACK THERE THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM JOHN'S KNOWLEDGE. >> HOW MUCH PRACTICE CHANGED? HOW MUCH HAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG GUYS CHANGED BECAUSE EXTRA COACHES CAN WORK ON THE FIELD WITH THEM? >> IT IS NIGHT AND DAY. YOU CAN GO ON THE SCOUT TEAM NOW AND HAVE SOMEONE THAT COATED YOUR POSITION OUT THERE. WHAT YOU WANT IS YOU WANT GUYS TO BE DELIBERATE, BE INTENTIONAL. EVEN THOUGH I'M BEING THE UTEP CORNER, I WILL UTILIZE GREAT TECHNIQUE. I'M NOT JUST GOING TO MAIL IT IN. WE HAVE GOOD PLAYERS AND THEY ARE PLANNING AND DEVELOPING BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY GUYS WATCHING THE TAPE WITH THEM AND COACHING THEM. I THINK IT IS A GAME CHANGING, GAME CHANGING DECISION IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL THAT ALLOWS US TO COACH GUYS BETTER. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT RAHMIR JOHNSON CAN BE AS A WIDE RECEIVER AND HOPEFULLY AS A RETURNER. THAT IS ME SENDING THAT. >> I THINK THAT THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR JACORY BARNEY JR.. HE'S DYNAMIC, HE'S EXPLOSIVE. HE'S COURAGEOUS. HE JUST HAS TO GO AND DO IT IN COLLEGE. I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE ANY MOVEMENT THAT IS TOO BIG FOR HIM. HE WOULD GO OUT AND PLAY AND YOU WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON SPECIAL TEAMS, HE WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OFFENSE AND I THINK IT IS ALWAYS GREAT WHEN YOU CAN BRING A YOUNG PLAYER IN WHO LOVES TO PRACTICE. NOT EVERYONE HAS THAT. THEY MIGHT BE A REALLY GOOD TALENT, YOUNG PLAYER, THEY DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT PRACTICE MEANS AT THIS LEVEL. JACORY BARNEY JR., I HAVE TO SLOW HIM DOWN . HE LOVES THE GAME AND IT SHOWS WITH THE WAY HE PLAYS. >> WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY AND EJ AS WELL, ARE YOU GOING WITH THE HOT HAND? DO YOU LIKE HAVING THE WORKHORSE? IF IT WAS GOING TO GO PERFECT, HOW DO YOU LIKE IT WORKS RUNNING BACK DISTRIBUTION? >> WE LIKE THE ALL-PURPOSE WORKHORSE BACK, YOU LIKE TO HAVE A SECOND PERSON THAT COMPLIMENTS THEM AND A THIRD DOWN BACK OR SOMEONE WHO CAN HAVE SOME JOBS. WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE A BUNCH OF GUYS THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR THAT ROLE. MAYBE EARLY IN THE SEASON WE PLAY MORE GUYS THAN MAYBE WE ARE NORMALLY USED TO. MAYBE WE STILL HAVE SOME TIME TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS. EVERY TIME WE SORT OF TRY TO CLASSIFY THEM, THOSE GUYS BATTLED BACK AND THEY ALL WANT TO PLAY AND THEY ALL BRING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE TABLE. EMMETT JOHNSON CAN RUN BETWEEN THE TACKLES OUTSIDE CAN ALSO PROTECT THE BALL. GABE ERVIN JR. IS A GREAT DOWNHILL BACK. DANTE DOWDELL IS A POWERFUL MAN. CLINTON HAS LONG SPEED. AND WORRIES IS A COMPACTED BANK THAT CAN MAKE YARDS. WE LEARNED LAST YEAR YOU NEED DEPTH. I'M NOT GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. WHO IS THAT GUY RIGHT NOW? WE STILL DON'T KNOW. >> PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CALIFORNIA GUYS, TEXAS GUYS. GIVE ME A PHILLY GUY. >> THERE'S NO DOUBT. GIVE ME A PHILLY GUY ANY DAY. >> HOW MUCH IMPACT DO YOU THINK YOU WILL HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO THE $22 MILLION GOING TO FOOTBALL AND HOW MUCH YOU ASK FOR, HOW MUCH IMPACT WILL HEAD- COACHING HAVE QUESTIONED >> NINE. A LOT OF THAT, THAT WILL BE DECIDED REALLY BETWEEN THE SCHOOL, BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND PROBABLY BETWEEN THE ATTORNEYS ON CAMPUS BETWEEN TROY AND HIS VISION. IT IS SO MUCH FURTHER AHEAD THAN US. FOR ME, I'M WAITING TO SEE HOW IT ALL FALLS OUT. TO ME, ALL THAT I EVER CARE ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE THIS IS WHAT ARE OUR COMPETITORS GETTING? ARE WE GETTING THE SAME? I DON'T WANT A DOLLAR MORE BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT A DOLLAR LESS. KEEP THE PLAYING FIELD AS EQUAL AS POSSIBLE. GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TALENT AND LET US TRY TO COACH IT. I THINK TORI DOES, THAT IS ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS. I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE THINGS. I KNOW HE'S ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF THAT. >> WAS THERE ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT WON DYLAN THE JOB FOR WHICH IT IS OVERALL PERFORMANCE? >> DYLAN HAD A GREAT CAMP. THE THING THAT SOLIDIFIED IT FOR HIM WAS AS HE CONTINUED TO WORK ON HIS FEET AND HIS DROPS IN THE POCKET, THINGS COMES NATURALLY TO HIM. YOU HAVE TO REGIMENT YOUR SELF AND YOU HAVE TO THROW UNTYING. WHEN YOU HAVE A GUY AS TALENTED AS HE IS WHO'S WILLING TO WORK ON THESE THINGS THAT MIGHT EVEN SEEM INNOCUOUS, WHY ARE WE WORRYING ABOUT THIS? HE WORKS AT IT. WE HAVE A CHANCE AT A SPECIAL PLAYER. >> THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT THE WAY STEPH CURRY SHOT THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE IMITATING HIM. YOU HAVE PATRICK MAHOMES THROWING OFF BALANCE. IS THAT A CONCERN WHEN YOU SEE GUYS COME IN AND TRY TO BE PATRICK MAHOMES? >> LET ME SAY THIS. IF I COULD HAVE PATRICK MAHOMES. WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO GET GUYS TO DO IS YOU WANT TO HAVE ALL THESE THINGS IN THEIR TOOL BAG IS SO THEY CAN PULL THEM OUT BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT ALL THE TIME. DYLAN HAS FOUND A GREAT BALANCE AND NOW HE HAS TO PAY. THERE MAY BE SOME GAMES THAT THAT IS TOO FAR. IT IS A JOURNEY. I LOOK FORWARD TO WALKING THE JOURNEY WITH HIM. IT IS JUST A GUY THAT IS REALLY BLESSED AND HAS A LOT OF TALENT BUT IS ALSO LEARNING HOW TO DISCIPLINE THAT TALENT >> WE ALL KNOW HOW TOUGH THIS CONFERENCE IS AND WILL BE. WHEN YOU LOOK AHEAD TO SCHEDULING, DO YOU THINK THE MODEL OF HAVING ONE FOUR TEAM AND A COUPLE OF G5 WOULD BE THE STANDARD? >> I THINK IF I THINK WHEN THEY ADDED IN USC, UCLA, OREGON AND WASHINGTON AND WE ARE PLAYING NINE CONFERENCE GAMES AND THE ACC AND SEC ARE PLAYING EIGHT, YOU BETTER NOT PLAY A NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE. THAT MAKES THINGS REALLY HARD FOR YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL. WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IS IF EVERYONE IN THE BIG TEN IS DOING IT, WE WILL DO IT. IF THEY ARE NOT DOING IT, WHY WOULD WE DO IT? I KNOW SOMETIMES THAT IS HARD TO HEAR OUT THERE BUT THAT IS THE TRUTH. I OWE IT TO EVERYONE TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH. WE WANT TO GO DOWN THE GAUNTLET OF THE BIG TEN AND THERE WILL BE USE YEARS WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO TO PENN STATE AND MICHIGAN. IT WILL GET A LOT HARDER SCHEDULING IN THE BIG TEN. WHAT USED TO BE A GREAT SEASON WILL BE A DIFFERENT NUMBER NOWADAYS. SOLD 11-1, 10-2 WILL NOW BE A 4- 1-3. AS WE GO TO THOSE MEETINGS, THEY RECOGNIZE THAT AND SPEAK ON IT. I THINK NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULING IS SOMETHING EVERY TEAM IN THE BIG TEN IS LOOKING AT. >> WE WILL LEARN A LOT. WHEN I PICKED THESE 12 TEAMS OR 11, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY VALUE THE NONCONFERENCE. >> THERE'S NO DOUBT. IF THEY GO TO 14 TEAMS, THAT WOULD CHANGE THINGS AS WELL. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THINGS TALKED ABOUT AND A LOT OF MODELS THAT COULD HAPPEN. I GIVE MY OPINION BUT I STAND BACK KNOWING THAT IS WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT HAVING TROY. HE'S IN THOSE MEETINGS AND HE WILL MAKE GREAT DECISIONS. >> RAPIDFIRE. THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE OF BEING ON THE WEST SIDE? >> EARLY IN THE YEAR, IT WILL BE THE, IT WILL BE THE SON. BEING A BE A LITTLE COLDER. ALSO, PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE US SIGNAL. A >> IF YOU WERE IN CHARGE AND COULD SET THE NUMBER OF HOW MANY ON A ROSTER, IN 2024 GOING FORWARD, WHAT WOULD THE OPTIMAL NUMBER BE? >> I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE 105 BUT ALSO HAVE A TAXI SQUAD, A JV TEAM THAT COULD PLAY. HOW GREAT WOULD IT BE IF WE HAVE NEBRASKA JV PLATING ON WEST A JV? THAT WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR YOUNG PLAYERS, KEEP THE WALK ON PROGRAM AND TO GIVE GUYS A CHANCE TO EARN THEIR WAY UP. >> GO BACK TO WHEN WE HAD THE FRESHMAN TEAM BEFORE. THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. IS THERE ONE ITEM AMONG THEM WHOLE GROUP OF FAMILY THAT IS AGREED ON FOR DINNER? SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS, EVERYONE LOVES THAT AT MY HOUSE. IS THERE ONE THING FOR YOU GUYS? >> MY WHOLE FAMILY IS GLUTEN- FREE. THE WHOLE FAMILY. JULIE, BRIAN, VIVIAN, ALL GLUTEN-FREE. JULIE MAKES THIS CHICKEN DISH, HER MOM MADE IT, SHE MAKES IT IT IS FANTASTIC, IT'S CREAMY CHICKEN. I WOULD SAY THAT. INDIAN FOOD AS WELL. IF I WANT EVERYONE TO BE HAPPY, I WILL BRING INDIAN FOOD DOWNTOWN AND NO ONE COMPLAINED. >> THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD INDIAN FOOD IN NEBRASKA. IF YOU PICK WANT TO PLAY, EA, COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2025 OR BILL MUST 94? >> GIVE ME AUBURN 83 AND LET ME HAVE BO JACKSON RUN FOR TOUCHDOWNS, 100%. >> WAS 79 USC, THAT SECONDARY, I HAD CHARLES WHITE. IT WAS A GOOD TEAM. >> BEST ADVICE THAT YOU'VE USED AS A COACH? >> TO HOLD THE BEST PLAYERS THE MOST ACCOUNTABLE. THAT WAS THE GIFT OF COACH PATERNO. HE DIDN'T TREAT THE DAWKINS TERRIBLE. HE HELD THE BEST PLAYERS THE MOST ACCOUNTABLE. WHEN YOU HAVE THAT TYPE OF AN ORGANIZATION, EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY SAYS NO ONE IS UNTOUCHABLE, WE ALL HAVE A STANDARD. I LEARNED THAT FROM JOE. NOT MANY COACHES ARE WILLING TO DO THAT. >> IF YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE TO PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN IN 94 IN THE INDIANA GAME, DID YOU THINK YOU WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP? I MAKE THE ARGUMENT EVERY DAY. >> I THINK THAT HURT US. WE PUT THAT IN SUCH A CREDIT TO WHO JOEY IS THAT HE WAS GOING TO PLAY THOSE TWO, HE'S GOING TO PUT THE MATT RHULE IN THE GAME. THE INDIANA GAME, THAT WAS 36- SOMETHING. THEN THEY CAME BACK. THERE IS A LOT OF MERIT TO THAT. >> YOU OFTEN HAVE A REALLY FRESH CUT. WHERE DID YOU FIND YOUR BARBER AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO GET THE FRESH CUT GOING INTO A GAME QUESTION >> I HAVE TWO BARBERS IN LINCOLN, YOU HAVE MY MAN KB. HE'S ALL RAZOR CUTS AND HE TAKES CARE OF ME BUT AS I GET OLDER AND BALD ON TOP, I HAVE ANOTHER GUY NAMED MITCHELL THAT CUTS MY HAIR SCISSOR CUT. I MIGHT GET SHAPED UP AND A LONGER CUT BY MITCHELL. >> SECOND TO LAST ONE. WE'VE BEEN WATCHING CALEB BENNING PLANES. AT THIS POINT AS A FRESHMAN ON CAMPUS, BETTER THAN HIS DAD WAS? >> I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THAT. THERE'S REALLY NO DOUBT THAT CALEB IS THE BETTER ATHLETE. IT JUST TOO VERSATILE. NOT A ONE TRICK PONY. DAMON BENNING WAS GREAT BUT CALEB IS A BETTER. >> LAST THING. LOOKING AHEAD TO THIS SEASON, WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL SEASON? I KNOW YOU ARE ASKING THAT A LOT BUT WHEN IT IS ALL OVER, WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? >> WE HAVE TO GO TO A BOWL GAME . WE HAVE TO PLAY WELL IN FRONT OF THE FENCE. WE HAVE TO TURN AROUND OF A TURNOVER BATTLE. WE HAVE TO GET IN CLOSE GAMES AND WIN THEM TO GET OFF OF THAT CONVERSATION. YOU LOVE TO COME INTO NOVEMBER RELEVANT. LAST YEAR, EVEN IN THE DIVISIONS, PEOPLE MIGHT NOT REMEMBER BUT COMING DOWN THE STRETCH, WE WIN THIS GAME, WE PLAY IOWA FOR THE WEST. IT DIDN'T WORK OUT GREAT, WE WERE RELEVANT. I WANT TO BE RELEVANT. I WANT TO COME DOWN THE STRETCH FIGHTING TO GO TO THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME OR FIGHTING TO GET INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF. THAT, TO ME, IS WHAT A GREAT SEASON IS, WHERE YOU ARE NOT JUST COMING EARLY IN THE SEASON, YOU ARE COMING IN OCTOBER AND COMING IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE YOU KNOW THOSE GAMES >>> WELCOME BACK TO BIG RED WRAP-UP. WE ARE JOINED BY SHAWN KELLEY AND TALK RECRUITING. JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT NEBRASKA WAS FILLED UP, THEY ADDED SOMEONE ELSE BE >> THE RECRUITING CALENDAR NEVER STOPS. TODAY, NEBRASKA AS A SURPRISE EDITION. A TIGHT END AT LSU ORIGINALLY FROM ST. LOUIS. HE PLAYS CREIGHTON PREP IN A GAME THIS WEEKEND COMING UP. MAC MARKWAY PLAYED AT ELLIS YOU AS A TRUE FRESHMAN, WITH A RESERVED SEAT AND PLAYED IN EVERY GAME THIS PAST SEASON. HIS HIGH SCHOOL PASS WAS INTERESTING. HE WAS HURT AS A JUNIOR AND A SENIOR. LIMITED EVALUATION. HE EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS AS A FRESHMAN. DIDN'T LIKE WHERE THINGS WERE AT. DID GO IN THE PORTAL. THE PORTAL IS NOT OPEN BUT LEFT LSU AND ENROLLED IN CLASSES AT NEBRASKA THIS WEEK. IT IS UNKNOWN ABOUT ELIGIBILITY AND IF THERE IS A WAY HE COULD PLAY THIS YEAR. IF NOT, HE'S GOT A RED SHIRT YEAR AND WE WILL HEAR MORE FROM MATT RHULE ON THIS. THAT SAID BECAUSE NEBRASKA IS NOW A TIGHT AND DRIVEN OFFENSE, THEY WANTED HIM HERE. >> NO DOUBT. WE'VE SEEN THAT. WITH THESE POSITION LIST FOOTBALL PLAYERS AS MATT RHULE LIKES TO SAY. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE 2025 CLASS. WHO JUMPS OUT AT YOU? >> YOU GO DOWN THE LIST, SEVERAL GUYS. THERE'S A GUY FROM NORTH DAKOTA. HE'S A DOMINANT PLAYER ON FILM. OBVIOUSLY OUT OF KANSAS CITY, MOSEH. HE HAD BEEN KNOWN AS A PROSPECT FOR A WHILE . YOU GO DOWN THE LINE, THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. JABARI PARKER OUT OF ST. LOUIS. WE HAVE SEEN NEBRASKA MAKE A RESURGENCE IN THE CITY AND ST. LOUIS. WITH KEITH WILLIAMS HEADING UP THE ST. LOUIS EFFORTS NEBRASKA IS AS POSITIONED AS WELL AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN A NUMBER OF YEARS >> LET'S GO TO TJ LATEEF. YOU HAVE TO GET A QUARTERBACK EVERY YEAR. >> IT IS AN EXTREMELY TOUGH JOB WHEN YOU HAVE A GUY WHO HAS THE JOB FOR THREE YEARS. THEY HAD NAMES ON THE RADAR WINS RAIOLA COMMITTED. TJ LATEEF BECAME THE TOP PROSPECT. THE GOT HIM ON CAMPUS FOR ME. HE PLAYS FOR ONE OF THE TOP HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS ON THE WEST COAST . HE SEES GREAT COMPETITION. HE IS A DEVELOPMENTAL GUY WITH A STRONG ARM. >> HIS FORM IS AS GOOD AS ANY HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE. I WATCHED HIS SOPHOMORE TAPE, HE HAS BEEN PUT BEFORE HIM. >> THIS IS THE GUY YOU WANT. I GUY WHO CAN DEVELOP AND HAS THE TOOLS. HE IS SEEING ELITE COMPETITION EVERY WEEK. >> LET'S TALK IN-STATE, CHRISTIAN JONES. HE CAN DO PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING. >> THE TOP AVAILABLE PLAYER RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA, CHRISTIAN JONES PLANES TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT SOMETIME HERE IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS HE LETS A FEW MORE THINGS PLAY OUT. OKLAHOMA, NEBRASKA, POSSIBLY MIAMI. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO ELSE COULD GET INVOLVED IN THE PICTURE. HE DID TAKE AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO AUBURN EARLIER AS WELL. 6 FOOT TWO, 215. HAS PLAYED ON THE PERIMETER AND EDGE BUT PROJECTS MORE AS A TRUE INSIDE LINEBACKER. FOR NEBRASKA, HE'S A PRIORITY. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IS A POSITION OF NEED IN THIS RECRUITING CLASS. YOU LOOK AT JOHN BULLOCK MOVING ON, JAELYN WRIGHT MOVING ON. THEY NEED A QUALITY GUY IN CHRISTIAN JONES. HE HAS TO BE ONE OF THE TOP 20, 25 NAMES LEFT FOR NEBRASKA. >> THANKS, JOHN, WE APPRECIATE IT. >>> BE SURE TO VOTE IN THIS WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY. WILL NEBRASKA MAKE A BOWL GAME THE SEASON? CURRENTLY, 84% SAY YES. 11% WANT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER GAME ONE. 5% SAY NO, NIGHTMARE CONTINUES. OUR GAME DAY PHOTO CONTEST IS BACK. WE WANT TO SEE HOW YOU SPENT WORKING DAY. SENT THE BEST IN THE PICTURES FOR CHANCES TO WIN PRIZES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AND TO SEE YOUR PHOTO ON THAT WEEKS OR SO. THE SEASON KICKING OFF ON SATURDAY. LOTS OF PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN YOUR GAME DAY BEST. >> THIS IS NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL CLASSICS. >> ONE WAS CORPORATE >> GET READY TO RELIVE ICONIC GAMES, NAILBITING FINISHES AND UNFORGETTABLE STORIES FROM NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA'S CHAMPIONSHIP ARCHIVE. FROM LATE GAME COMEBACKS AND AEROBICS TO THE TABLE MILESTONES AND RECORDS, EACH GAME IS PRESENTED IN CONDENSED FORMAT DILATING THE GAMEPLAY ACROSS THE CONTINENT. NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA TEAMED WITH THE NEBRASKA SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION, SPORTSWRITERS AND DIRECTORS, TO CURATE AN EXTENSIVE LIST REPRESENTING THE RICH TAPESTRY OF NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. FROM THAT LIST, THIS WORK GROUP USED A SERIES OF METRICS TO SCORE EACH MATCHUP THAT WOULD HELP SET THE STAGE FOR WHAT IS PRESENT IN THIS NEW SERIES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON DIVERSITY AND REPRESENTATION FROM ACROSS THE STATE. THE GAMES AREN'T ALL THAT IS FEATURED IN THE NEW SERIES. WE HAVE BEEN CONTEMPORARY INTERVIEWS THAT GIVE ANALYSIS AND PERSPECTIVES TO THE TITLE GAMES ARE FEATURED ACROSS OUR FIRST SEASON. >> YOU HAD NEVER IN YOUR CAREER HAD GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY AT A GAME-WINNER? >> NO. >> THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME? >> COULDN'T COME AT A BETTER TIME. >> TRISTAN ALVANO . GOT IT. WOW. WHAT A FINISH. >> JOIN US IN OUR LOVE LETTER TO NEBRASKA ECOSPORTS HISTORY ON YOUTUBE EACH SUNDAY THIS FALL. THESE ARE NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL CLASSICS. >> EACH SUNDAY STARTING SEPTEMBER 1 ON YOUTUBE. THAT WILL BE A FUN THING TO WATCH. LET'S GET TO UTEP RIGHTS ME OF LOUISIANA TECH LAST YEAR. YOU HAD ONE GUY TO STOP AND LET WITH SMOKE HARRIS. THIS TIME, IT IS CAM THOMAS. THEY WILL SPIT YOU OUT AND GO FAST. >> THE PIECE IS SOMETHING NEBRASKA IS GOING TO HAVE TO NEGOTIATE. YOU HAVE TO GET GUYS TO THE GROUND. THAT IS SOMETHING YOU LOOK AT IN THE OPENER. GET GUYS TO THE GROUND. THAT IS WHERE A VETERAN DEFENSE CAN HELP. I DON'T THINK UTEP CAN LINE UP IN FORMATIONS NEBRASKA WON'T BE FROM THERE WITH. >> THEY ARE 147th RANKED IN THE SAG RATE. IT IS THE FIRST GAME, YOU COULD MAKE MISTAKES. >> WITHOUT A DOUBT. NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PLAYED LAST YEAR, THE DEFENSE IS OLD. NOT OLD IN A BAD WAY BY ANY MEANS. A LOT OF GUYS HAVE PLAYED A LOT OF SNAPS. BETWEEN GIFFORD AND NASH HUTMACHER, BULLOCK, GUYS HAVE PLAYED QUALITY FOOTBALL. AS IS, YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED A GAME IN SOME TIME AND SPRING BALL IS ONE THING, SPRING GAME IS ONE THING. AND YOU START PLAYING A TEAM IN A DIFFERENT COLOR UNIFORM WHEN YOU'RE THINKING GOES QUICKER. YOU GET A LITTLE TIRED. YOUR CONDITIONING IS NOT QUITE WEIRD YOU THINK IT NEEDS TO BE. YOU HAVE TO LEARN AND ADJUST AND I THINK THEY WILL DO THAT AND I THINK, AS DAMON BENNING SAID, THEY WANT TO GET YOU IN SPACE. THEY WANT TO HURRY YOU UP. YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR COMMUNICATION OUT, GET GUYS ON THE GROUND AND RINSE AND REPEAT. >> I REMEMBER THE MINNESOTA GAME, THEY PLAYED IS ONLY GUYS ON DEFENSE. DO YOU EXPECT THE SAME THING? >> NEBRASKA HAS THE DEPTH TO PLAY A LOT OF GUYS. THE STARTING 11, THE 12th GUY , IT IS ABOUT AS ESTABLISHED AS A STARTING GROUP ON THE DEFENSE AS WE'VE SEEN IN NEBRASKA IN TERMS OF THE PATTERNS AND WHAT THEY RETURNED. YOU KNOW, YOU JUST WONDER WHAT WILL UTEP BRING. 11 TRANSFERS FOLLOWING SCOTTY WALTON FROM AUSTIN, ONE AT RUNNING BACK MOMENT AT QUARTERBACK. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE PLAYERS THAT CAME OVER WITH WALDEN ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE FOOTBALL. >> SKYLER LOCKER IS THE QUARTERBACK WHO HAD A GREAT SCHOOL CAREER. HE HAD 108 TOUCHDOWNS. >> THEY ARE STILL GOING TO BE GOOD. HE DID NOT LEAVE THEM IN A BAD SPACE. >> WHO IS THE BREAKOUT PLAYER FROM NEBRASKA? >> FOR ME, IT IS JOHN BULLOCK. >> THE MAN HAS NO NECK. >> HE IS OVERLOOKED. HE'S A TREMENDOUS ATHLETE. YEAR TWO, ONE OF THE GREATEST TEACHERS ON STAFF. IF BULLOCK STAYS HEALTHY, HE WILL HAVE AN INCREDIBLE YEAR. >> A DAMIEN ON FACEBOOK SAYS HE WILL HAVE THE PREDICTION LATER, DO YOU FEEL IT IS GOING TO BE A BLOWOUT? >> IT WILL BE UNCOMFORTABLE EARLY. I THINK OFFENSIVELY, JUST A YOUNG QUARTERBACK. IT IS THE TIMING. IT IS THE FIRST GAME. YOU HAVE TO FEEL THINGS OUT. DEFENSE, THEY HAVE TO ADJUST TO THE TEMPLE OF THE OFFENSE AND THE ADJUSTMENTS WITHIN THE GAME. IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE EARLY BUT THE SECOND HALF, LISTEN, NEBRASKA IS A BETTER FOOTBALL TEAM. THEY WILL FLEX THEIR MUSCLES AND IT WILL BE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE. THE LINE WILL BE VERY CLOSE. >> NEBRASKA HAS NEVER HAD A THING ON THE SIDELINE LIKE A LOT OF OTHER TEAMS. DAN IN LINCOLN WANTS TO KNOW DO YOU THINK THE NEBRASKA PLAYERS WILL USE THE BLACK SHIRT SHIELD AFTER THEY GET A TURNOVER? >> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. WAS THAT A FAN? >> IT WAS A FAN PROP. >> THEY ARE GOING TO BE ON THE NEW WEST SIDELINE. THERE WILL BE ENOUGH GOING ON DOWN THERE WITH THE IPADS AND ALL THE OTHER TECHNOLOGY. THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING. 14 FORCED TURNOVERS AS A DEFENSE, THAT HAS TO BE AN AREA OF EMPHASIS. >> HELP SLIPPING THE FIELD? ESPECIALLY AT A 2:30 GAME. >> IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY DID THAT WITH A PUNT RETURN. I WANT TO SEE THE PUNT RETURN GAME GET GOING. I THINK IT IS HUGE. >> YOU THINK ABOUT SECURITY, DID YOU THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE TOWARD? >> WE WILL SEE. IT NEEDS TO GET FIXED. 31 TURNOVERS LED TO THE NATION AND THAT HAS TO GET FIXED. THAT STARTS FROM THE TOP. THE YOUNG QUARTERBACK, RUNNING BACKS, WIDE RECEIVERS. OFFENSIVE LINE. EVERYONE HAS TO BE ON POINT. IT HAS TO GET CLEANED UP YOU LOOK AT LAST YEAR, HOW DIFFERENT THAT SEASON WOULD HAVE BEEN IF THEY HAD 10 LESS TURNOVERS. IT HAS TO GET FIXED. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. THE EMPHASIS AT PRACTICE IS OFF THE CHARTS ON BOTH SIDES AS WELL. DEFENSIVELY. >> GET THE BALLS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND AND CATCH BALLS THAT HIT YOUR HANDS. >> THEY ARE ON IT. IT IS, THE HORSE IS DEAD ON IT BUT IT NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED BECAUSE IT IS, IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR SUCH A LONG TIME FROM THIS PROGRAM. >> WHO IS THE MOST VALUABLE ASSISTANT? >> IS TOUGH. THAT IS TOUGH. I THINK COACH BUTLER IS CLOSE TO BRILLIANT. I AM A HUGE DVORACEK FAN. I'M GOING TO GO WITH GLENN THOMAS. HE HAS BEEN HUGE. HE IS A SET UP TO BE THE CREATIVE MIND. I WILL GO WITH COACH THOMAS. >> BURNING QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD, JOHN. >> CAN NEBRASKA RUN THE FOOTBALL SITUATIONALLY. CAN THEY GET FOUR OR 5 YARDS ON FIRST DOWN? CAN THEY CONVERT THE THIRD AND ONE, FOURTH AND ONE AND BE EFFICIENT AS A RUNNING OFFENSE? >> CAN NEBRASKA DO SIMPLE WELL. BLOCK, TACKLE, TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL? >> I AM INTERESTED TO SEE. MATT RHULE SAID THE RAINS ARE OFF RAIOLA. ARE THEY GOING TO EXPAND THE FIELD OR IS IT EASE HIM INTO THINGS? I WANT TO SEE HOW THEY HANDLE THE YOUNG QUARTERBACK. >> CAN NEBRASKA BE CLEAN? VERY FEW TURNOVERS, VERY FEW PENALTIES. CAN NEBRASKA AVOID TURNOVERS AND PENALTIES AND TO BE CLEAN ON SATURDAY QUESTION >> DON'T FORGET TO HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, CLICK ON THE PREDICTION. JAY MOORE, DAMON BENNING AND I WILL TELL YOU WHAT TO EXPECT ON SATURDAY AS NEBRASKA KICKS OFF THE SEASON AT HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS AGAINST UTEP. CATCH THE GAME ON BIG FOX. PICKUP SCHEDULED AT 2:30 CENTRAL. NEXT TUESDAY, WE WILL BE BACK IN BREAK DOWNLOAD RECAPPING THE GAME WITH NO SPECIAL GUEST, MATT GIBSON. ON FRIDAY NIGHT, COLLEGE FOOTBALL RETURNS TO NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AS THE NUMBER TWO RANKED NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL TEAM TAKES ON TEXAS CORPUS CHRISTI. YOU CAN TO THE HUSKERS FIRST HOME GAME AT 7:00 PM CENTRAL RIGHT HERE ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA. OUR THANKS TO SHAWN KELLEY AND FOR JOINING US. OF COURSE, COACH MATT RHULE FOR TAKING HIS TIME TO CHAT. FOR JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING, I AM MIKE'L SEVERE. WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON BIG RED WRAP-UP.