Hitting on an array of subjects before Nebraska takes on Wisconsin Saturday night as part of a major weekend in Husker athletics.
Some Mashing as a busy weekend in Husker athletics kicks off – including an NCAA Tourney match, a trip to the Pentagon (not that one), and a game in Madison that could make the turkey taste better. Let’s kick it.
Yeah, Nebraska might have to pay that man Tony White even more.
Would you hear one Husker fan cry about that? Doubt it. Because the Husker defensive coordinator has done a masterful job in Year 1. Bring the whole staff into that discussion of handing out kudos.
Terrance Knighton has been developing dudes – it’s easy to forget back in August some even wondered how Nash Hutmacher would do in a main role. Rob Dvoracek is closely connected with his bunch, by all accounts, and Omar Brown said Evan Cooper has presides over a tight-knit secondary too.
From what we’ve heard, everyone has a voice in that room. It seems one of White’s top qualities, one some don’t possess, is how he listens.
The mentality White has established in that defense can be seen in a snapshot answer he gave Tuesday.
«There are no tough setbacks. We just say those are chances we get to play. When that ball is kicked off, you got 60 minutes to go play. So they work all year and they work all week. They take all these reps during the week. They get hit and all this stuff. Lift all these weights. They’ve got 50, 60, 70 plays in a game that they’re going to get a chance to play, right? Of those 50, 60, 70 plays, we rotate guys. So you’re talking about 35 to 40 chances you get to go out there and lay it on the line.
«So the defense plays their best ball when they get a chance to go play. The cool thing is when you watch them run out when those things happen. It’s just like we said, ‘Hey, we get to go play.’ That’s the neat thing about it. That’s the attitude we’re talking about.»
Remember, too, he said they wouldn’t jump up and down about any run defensive stats or anything until the season’s over.
Big Saturday night ahead to punch the clock.
Notable quotables from this week include tight end Thomas Fidone sharing his appreciation for Matt Rhule saying to put the rough stuff from last week on him.