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 87,453 at Memorial Stadium Saturday, a number in need of context. That’s how many were officially there for kickoff, which was delayed a bit because the preceding game on the Big Ten Network, Northwestern-Purdue, went to overtime. At halftime, some folks left and by the fourth quarter more had.
For example, high in the southeast corner, primarily students, was pretty much cleared out. But folks in other sections were leaving, too, not in large numbers, but still.
The departures were probably frustration based on the belief: “Here we go again.”
“If I was in the stands, I’d be frustrated,” Coach Matt Rhule said.
Frustration was such there was a smattering of boos when the first half ended, even though the Huskers trailed only 13-7. It was the numbers around the six-point deficit. Nebraska got off to a slow start, managing only 71 yards of offense and three first downs in the first 30 minutes. The Huskers ran 20 plays to UCLA’s 38, numbers that changed dramatically in the second half.
And if not for an unsportsmanlike penalty against the Bruins on an unsuccessful fourth-and-10 at the Nebraska 25-yard line, the Huskers’ first-half touchdown drive would’ve been wiped away.
In fact, Nebraska’s other two touchdown drives, in the second half, included unsportsmanlike penalties against UCLA, including another on fourth down at the Bruin 3-yard line. Three plays later, Dante Dowdell dived into the end zone from 1 yard out to cut the lead to seven.
John Hohl missed the extra-point kick. It was that kind of game.
Oh yes, two plays before that unsportsmanlike penalty, Dylan Raiola suffered what Rhule said was a back injury, after carrying the ball 6 yards to the UCLA 2-yard line. Raiola returned a play later but because of the injury fell down trying to leave the field.
If Raiola is unable to play at USC after an off-week, Heinrich Haarberg, who finished the game, will have Daniel Kaelin and Jalyn Gramstad as back-ups, Rhule said. Kaelin is a freshman who can play in four games and retain his redshirt. Gramstad is a senior transfer from Northwestern College, the 2023 NAIA Player of the Year.
The mention of four games would require bowl eligibility, which the Huskers would have to win at least once more to secure. They were in the same position last season, 5-3 after eight games, only to lose their final four. Saturday’s loss was their third in a row, with three remaining.
So if you’re not among those thinking this, you can see where the “here we go again” comes from. It’s becoming redundant, but Nebraska football hasn’t been to a bowl since 2016.
The Huskers won’t be thinking that way during the off-week, according to senior defensive tackle Ty Robinson. “We make sure that doesn’t happen, that ‘here we go again’ mentality,” he said. “I know I’m not going to stand for it.”
He came back for this season instead of declaring for the NFL Draft, Robinson said, “to win; that’s the reason I came back. If I start hearing that around, then I’m just going to nip it right in the butt. The other guys will as well. I know how bad us older guys want to go out there and win … It really stings, it really hurts, and I know the team, we’re disappointed.”
“If I know one thing about this team, we’ll come back,” said senior defensive back Luke Gifford
“Now you get to find out who’s willing to step up for the challenge,” Robinson said.
No “here we go again” allowed.
