HERE AND THERE
Since the Digest following Nebraska’s victory against Boston College in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl focused on game MVP Rahmir Johnson, here are a couple of other takeaways.
Ty Robinson was among the seniors who opted to play even though he’s a Husker who could be prominent in the NFL Draft. If you’ve watched bowl games to this point, you’re seen teams without key players, who unlike Robinson, opted out.
Miami’s Cam Ward, a Heisman finalist, played the first half of the Hurricanes’ 42-41 loss to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. After breaking the NCAA Division I record for career touchdown passes, he opted out of the second half. He threw for three touchdowns in Miami’s 31-28 first half.
Colorado’s Travis Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner, and Shedeur Sanders, played in the Buffaloes’ 36-14 Alamo Bowl loss to BYU, and didn’t leave the game even though BYU took control early. Credit them for that. They did have huge insurance policies, however. Still, they played.
Anyway, so did Robinson, who had four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, including a sack, a quarterback hurry and a pass break-up. Coach Matt Rhule told Robinson, had he been in a similar situation, “I didn’t think I’d play.” But Robinson, who could’ve half opted for the NFL Draft after last season, did.
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Freshman linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr., who was awarded a Blackshirt before the bowl, weas among the young players who stepped up—as he has all season..
Shavers was second to senior Javin Wright with six tackles, two tackles for loss, including a sack, and a forced fumble. Freshman linebacker Willis McGahee IV had four tackles, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. And freshman wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. caught three passes for 21 yards.
Shavers, McGahee and Barney are from Florida, the Miami area. “Football is different in Miami,” Barney said during a news conference before the bowl. “We just take it a little more seriously. It’s, like, everything to us. It just means more to us.”
They “just wanted to come up here” and try to “turn this program around,” he said.
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Turn it around?
Moving forward, going 6-6 in the regular season will no longer define Nebraska, according the Rhule. The Huskers will move up in his third season, as was the case when he was head coach at Temple and Baylor. His first season at Temple, 2013, the Owls were 2-10, the second 6-6, the third and fourth 10-4. His first season at Baylor, 2017, the Bears were 1-11, the second 7-6, the third 11-3.
You can see a pattern. Nebraska is moving in the same direction: 5-7, 7-6 . . . double-digit wins?
To that end, Rhule has a revamped staff: John Butler, defensive coordinator; Phil Simpson, outside linebackers; Addison Williams, secondary; Terry Bradden, defensive line; Dana Holgorsen, offensive coordinator; Daikiel Shorts Jr., wide receivers; Phil Snow, associate head coach.
Improving on offense is an emphasis, with Holgorsen the man. A season’s experience for Dylan Raiola will be a significant aspect, too, with young receivers.
Raiola’s football intelligence “never ceases to amaze me,” Holgorsen said before the bowl.
Mike Babcock
