Mike Babcock is in his 47th season covering Nebraska football. Babcock also covered most other Husker sports at some point in his journalism career. Mike earned his undergraduate degree in English from Cal State-Chico and Masters in English (teacher preparation) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Babcock spent seven years teaching English and Introductory Literature at Parkland Community College. Mike wrote sports part-time at the Champaign-Urbana Courier as well as for Lincoln Journal and Star for 17 years for the sports department covering Nebraska as a sports columnist. Babcock then wrote for Huskers Illustrated before Hail Varsity and Hurrdat Sports.
Matt Rhule was extremely complimentary of Nebraska football’s next opponent, North Dakota, during his weekly news conference Monday. No surprise there. The same could be said of the Huskers’ first two opponents, Ohio and Bowling Green, and was beforehand. Still, “I...
With 5 seconds remaining and the ball inside the Huskers' 1-yard line, the No. 2 Nebraska football led Oklahoma State 24-17 in the 1998 Big 12 opener at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium. The Cowboys had the ball. “When the ball’s on the 1-inch line, you’ve got to get...
What to type? The keyboard is intimidating right now. Nebraska football’s 56-7 victory against Bowling Green at Memorial Stadium Saturday night was no surprise. So what insight can be offered here? Maybe Husker defensive back Donovan Jones’ metaphor for the third...
Next up for Nebraska football, Tennessee ... uh, check that, Bowling Green. Tennessee was on the Huskers’ schedule until early 2025, when it was replaced by Bowling Green this season — and Miami (Ohio) next season, also at home. Nebraska wanted an eighth home game in...
Washington came to Lincoln in late September 1998 ranked ninth in the Associated Press poll. That’s right, ninth. The Huskies left 55-7 losers. Granted, Nebraska football had moved to second after three wins and an off-week, during which previously second-ranked...
Three can be better than one. Unless, of course, the one is Emmett Johnson for Nebraska football. His departure for the Kansas City Chiefs left questions about his replacement for Nebraska this season. Based on the play in the Huskers’ 49-21 victory against Ohio...
Nebraska opens Matt Rhule’s fourth season against Ohio at Memorial Stadium Saturday. So let’s start with, uh, Frank Solich. “I don’t think you can talk about a Nebraska-Ohio football game without talking about Coach Solich,” Rhule said Monday. “Coach is a wonderful...
Following Nebraska football's 24-3 victory at California on Sept. 12, 1998, Husker Coach Frank Solich said he knew quarterback Monte Christo, a senior walk-on, could get the job done — as long as he was healthy. Christo had dealt with injuries during his career. He...
Two games. Two first-time starting quarterbacks. That’s how Frank Solich’s time as Nebraska football’s head coach began. Oh yes, and two wins. Redshirt freshman Eric Crouch started the second game of the 1998 season at quarterback because sophomore Bobby Newcombe, the...