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.
11-5-24 ONLY THREE-FOURTHS OF A LOSS Nebraska hadn’t lost to Oklahoma State since 1961, the second game of the series, when the Cowboys came to Memorial Stadium for the Big Eight opener in 1984. The first meeting was also a loss. But the Huskers had defeated Oklahoma...
If you’re looking for insight into Nebraska football’s 27-20 loss to UCLA, you’re not likely to find it here. The truth is, you might not be interested in reading further. The reason? Because it seems like “Here we go again,” to quote any number of those among the...
10-31-24 UNDERCOVER WORK First, before looking briefly at the big picture Saturday’s game against UCLA, consider defensive coordinator Tony White’s praise for senior JACK linebacker MJ Sherman Tuesday. “He sets a great example, being an older guy,” said White....
MJ Sherman offered an accurate metaphor regarding Nebraska’s mindset following Saturday’s 21-17 loss to Ohio State in Columbus. The Huskers need to “keep chopping at that tree,” the JACK linebacker said. “One day it’s going to fall.” Coach Matt Rhule was more...
10-22-24 FIRST, AND ONLY With 10:53 remaining in the third quarter, Ohio State’s Carlos Hyde scored his second touchdown from 1 yard out—the first had come early in the second quarter on a 63-yard run—to give the Buckeyes at 27-6 lead over No. 14 Nebraska, much to...
How about the title of the Charley Pride song "Heartaches by the Number"? The numbers that mattered were 56-7, the final score of Nebraska’s loss at Indiana Saturday. If you didn’t watch at least some of it, you might be scratching your head right now. Seriously,...
10-17-24 ON THE ROAD AGAIN Nebraska faces its biggest challenge yet when it plays 6-0 and AP No. 16 Indiana in Bloomington. Early in the week the Huskers were about a touchdown underdogs. Statistics support that. Indiana ranks second nationally in scoring offense,...
10-15-24 THANKS FOR COMING For Indiana’s visit to Memorial Stadium in late September 1975, the title of an Alice Cooper album might have been appropriate: Welcome to My Nightmare. That’s what the afternoon must have felt like for the Hoosiers. Much to the delight of...
SACK FACT REWIND Matt Rhule mentioned during Monday’s news conference having had the defensive line at his house two weeks ago, and “my kids love him, and my dogs love him.” “Him” is sophomore James Williams, No. 90 on the field. “He’s just got that heart, and...