NEW YORK — Saturday’s Pinstripe Bowl was the kind of game an offensive lineman could really appreciate as persistent rain and cold temperatures turned the Yankee Stadium field into a wet mess.
Nebraska’s offensive line was up to the task, keeping quarterback Dylan Raiola relatively clean on the day and spearheading an offense that ran for 127 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns.
Junior guard Henry Lutovsky said the performance was the kind of game that many on the roster wanted to put together for the veterans playing their final games as Huskers.
«Just the toughness we tried to have all year – the senior leadership, they wanted it more than anybody,» Lutovsky said. «A guy like Bryce Benhart has never felt what he’s feeling tonight in his six years here. We wanted to send guys like him, Giff, Ty, Nash, out the right way. We just embodied what they’re always been about — toughness.»
As is the case in college football these days, the conversations after the Pinstripe Bowl quickly shifted to what next season will be like for Lutovsky and his teammates.
Nebraska’s offensive line will need to replace Benhart, center Ben Scott and swing lineman Micah Mazzccua. Lutovsky will be among the veterans returning on the offensive line and he said the win over Boston College will be a nice springboard into next year. Lutovsky said whatever paranormal things were weighing on Nebraska during its bowl-less streak are now gone.
«The whole time I’ve been here, I’ve been hearing about this curse that we’ve always had, but this group didn’t believe in that curse — we made it to a bowl game and we won it,» Lutovsky said. «This is great momentum to carry into the offseason and this is something that we can work toward next season and do even better than next year.»
«The curse wasn’t real. There was never any curse. People believed in it, but we didn’t believe in it this year. We have all the momentum. We want to prove that we can be a tough team, can be a good team and more specifically we can be a great offensive line and we have to carry that into training each and every day starting tomorrow.»
Lutovsky started Nebraska’s last 11 games at right guard and will now be a leader on the Husker offensive line. While Lutovsky was talking to the media following Nebraska’s win in New York, Benhart walked by, grabbed his things and headed for the team bus.
Lutovsky said it will be «a little strange» not having Benhart around next season, but said the future is bright for the Husker offensive line. The group seemed like it was having fun, with Benhart swinging a pretend baseball bat after a touchdown while Lutovsky played catcher.
«We have a lot of experience returning and we’re a tight-knit unit, close group,» Lutovsky said. «This team can go as far as we go and I think with a great offensive line we can bring about a great team.»