What Garth Brooks and Nebraska football have in common; best chances for upset wins in 2021: Huskers mailbag (2024)

LINCOLN, Neb. — Garth Brooks was born the same year as the Nebraska sellout streak. He reached the height of his fame in the 1990s and retired from recording and performing after the November 2001 release of “Scarecrow,” the country music icon’s final album during his prime.

You know what else happened in November 2001? This far-reaching upset happened.

I’m not sure which Nebraska football legend is most likely to appear on stage with Brooks as part of his Aug. 14 concert in Lincoln, scheduled as the first large-scale live musical performance at Memorial Stadium since Farm Aid III in 1987. But if it’s 2001 Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch, the Huskers are definitely trying to exorcise the demons that have haunted their old house for 20 years.

Regardless, the announcement Wednesday of Brooks’ planned stop in Lincoln as part of his summer stadium tour is big for the city and the Nebraska athletic department. He figures to pack Memorial Stadium and provide a primer for the Huskers’ home opener three weeks later against Fordham.

On to the mailbag questions.

If a Bret Bielema-coached Illinois squad runs for 400-plus yards on the Nebraska defense in August, can I quit as a Husker fan? Are we sure Melvin Gordon is out of eligibility? — Jason J.

I cannot grant you permission to quit on your team. That said, I think you’re safe.

The Illini gouged Nebraska for 285 yards on the ground last year in a 41-23 trouncing of the Huskers in Lincoln. Quarterback Brandon Peters returns to start for a third consecutive season, and Bielema, the new coach in Champaign, is intent on improving Illinois’ play at the line of scrimmage.

He’ll likely get it done, but don’t look for anything close to a finished product on Aug. 28. Nebraska’s defense appears stout up front and equipped to hold its ground against the Illinois run game, despite the performance last year. And Gordon, who broke out under Bielema against Nebraska for 216 yards on nine carries as a Wisconsin redshirt freshman in the 2012 Big Ten Championship Game, is safely stashed with the Denver Broncos. I’m unsure of the status, though, of Montee Ball.

Mitch, I’m hoping Nebraska can pull off some upsets this season. If predicting only the games in which the Huskers are projected as an underdog, what are the most likely upsets? — Regg C.

Right now, I envision the Huskers as an underdog against Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Iowa. Games against Michigan State and Minnesota — possibly Illinois and Northwestern, too — are too close to call this far out. Most likely as upset victories for Nebraska are Michigan and Iowa, in that order.

The Wolverines and Hawkeyes visit Memorial Stadium. Michigan, of course, is trying to rebound from a 2-4 finish last year. Much uncertainty surrounds coach Jim Harbaugh in his seventh season. Michigan has never won in Lincoln, which means next to nothing in October, but the game is situated in a more manageable segment of Nebraska’s schedule than Iowa. The Hawkeyes visit on Black Friday after Nebraska faces Ohio State and Wisconsin. And the Huskers have developed something of a complex against Iowa after losing the past three of six consecutive defeats in the series in the final minutes.

So go ahead and put your eggs in that Michigan basket. If Nebraska manages to win four of its first six games and upsets the Wolverines on Oct. 9, its prospects improve dramatically to exceed expectations in 2021.

An item of note: Nebraska has won two of 15 games straight-up in three years as an underdog under coach Scott Frost.

Mitch, does it seem to you that Frost recruited for the American Athletic Conference with his first three classes at Nebraska, then just in these past two years realized he needed to recruit for the Big Ten? The program finally feels like it’s in Year 2 after being stuck in Year Zero. — Scott S., Windsor, Ontario

It’s a theory with some merit. Frost knew he needed to recruit for the Big Ten, but he may not have grasped exactly how that would look. In Frost’s first class, inked in December 2017 and February 2018, Nebraska took what it could get. That group did include players recruited first by Frost’s staff to UCF. But many of the signees collected Power 5 offers. The same can be said for most of the 2019 and 2020 newcomers.

Starting with the 2020 group, the Huskers targeted bigger players like Omar Manning, Zavier Betts, Blaise Gunnerson and Jordon Riley. The trend continued with the 2021 signees.

Nebraska is a noticeably bigger team today than two years ago when the 2019 class arrived on campus, especially up front on offense and defense and at wide receiver. The added size, no doubt, reflects the coaching staff’s understanding of the physical style needed to win in the Big Ten.

Defensively, the Huskers feel ahead of Year 2. And with a fourth-year starter at quarterback, the offense would be well served to progress past that point early in the fall.

I can’t remember a two- or three-year period where Nebraska has seen so many players transfer. Is it because of the ease of using the transfer portal, which is relatively new? Are other teams around the Big Ten and nationally seeing the same numbers, or is this a referendum on Frost and his players? — Scott, Omaha

We wring our hands as Huskers enter the transfer portal. But when I looked at who Nebraska has landed at several positions, the added talent has caused some of the players to transfer. Oklahoma under Lincoln Riley looks like the transfer portal kings. Is there an opportunity in all of this for Nebraska and Frost? — Matt W.

Nebraska endured a tough stretch from December 2019, a year after the start of the transfer portal era, through January 2021 as Luke McCaffrey and Wan’Dale Robinson left.

Since December 2019, 25 Nebraska players on scholarship have entered the transfer portal.

Just like there’s no single reason for the departures, there’s no universal fix. But the Huskers must address their issues in the wake of Luke McCaffrey’s transfer. https://t.co/mD6hs7SNeL

— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) January 27, 2021

Other programs lost a high number of players, but Nebraska sat near the top of the Big Ten. And with few exceptions, the schools that limited their losses won more games — probably because they developed talent more efficiently.

The ease to enter the portal is to blame, yes, along with relaxed (and now largely eliminated) rules that required players to sit out one season after a transfer. The trend started a decade ago with graduate transfers and spread to undergrads. In general, it’s not a referendum on Frost or any coaching staff impacted; it’s just the way college football works in these times.

Where there’s adversity and risk, there’s always opportunity. The Nebraska men’s basketball program, though it’s yet to turn the formula into winning ways, embraces the transfer culture. Assistant coach Matt Abdelmassih specializes in finding fits from the portal.

In football, the importance of capitalizing on transfers won’t soon overshadow recruiting. But look for schools to increasingly dedicate resources and staff to focus on portal acquisitions and retention. One of the most enlightening interview sessions of the spring at Nebraska featured offensive line coach Greg Austin as he talked about the balance between coaching his players effectively and retaining them.

Nebraska replaced Ron Brown with Marcus Castro-Walker this year as director of player development in a reshaped job that should help address problems on or off the field before players resort to the portal. Former Nebraska linebacker Jay Foreman is assisting with player development.

With transfers opening up a few scholarships, do you see the staff using them on more transfers or giving them to walk-ons in the program? And if walk-ons, are the scholarships more likely to go to a senior, so they’re free the next year? — Brent G.

It’s not as easy as simply handing scholarships from players who transfer out to those who transfer in. The recent entries into the portal of receivers Demariyon Houston and Jamie Nance do not open scholarships for Nebraska to use on transfers this offseason. Only 25 “initial counters” are allowed each year to go on scholarship in August. The Huskers sit at 23, including transfers Samori Toure, Chris Kolarevic and Markese Stepp.

So while the new departures leave Nebraska at 80 players who count toward the 85-scholarship limit, it can add just two through the portal. The other three spots, in addition to any scholarships that open because of more departures, would likely go to walk-ons in the fall. And there are plenty of strong candidates, including receivers Oliver Martin and Levi Falck, offensive linemen Nouredin Nouili and Ezra Miller and All-Big Ten kicker Connor Culp.

Usually, scholarships go to the older walk-ons. But in the case of high-performing young players like linebacker Luke Reimer and offensive lineman Trent Hixson, the Huskers award multi-year scholarships to walk-ons.

Hi Mitch. Do you have any insight on the ultimate impact of the Oklahoma fiasco? It seems that Nebraska only makes national headlines when it does something stupid. Where does this fall? — Bennett R.

Check back in September. How the incident will be remembered depends on the Huskers’ performance in Norman on Sept. 18. If Nebraska upsets OU in the season that marks the 50-year anniversary of the Game of the Century, progress generated will far outweigh Nebraska’s spring gaffe. Even if Frost’s team stays close in defeat, I think it negates the PR mess.

But if the Huskers fail to show up (not literally) against the Sooners, it only magnifies and extends the fiasco.

Oh, so that’s why Nebraska tried to cancel?

Nebraska might have been better off admitting defeat and just playing two FCS teams this year.

The takeaway: Play well against the Sooners.

Does it seem like Nebraska has real competition and decent depth at every position? It’s been a long time since that happened. — John F.

Every position? There’s not great depth at quarterback or cornerback. Injuries to tight end Thomas Fidone and linebacker Will Honas this spring damaged Nebraska’s depth at tight end and inside linebacker.

But on the whole, the depth is better than at any time in the Frost years, especially on the offensive and defensive lines, and probably as good as at any time since 2014. Defensively, the Huskers are aided by the return of five sixth-year seniors, though Honas could miss significant time in the fall.

It stands to help the Huskers most late in the season at the line of scrimmage, a great time and place to see improvement.

Mitch, love the work you do. What’s your read on the running backs situation? It seems even less settled now than pre-spring, because of the injuries. In my opinion, if the coaches feel good about four to five guys, it means we don’t have one who’s stood out. And that’s really concerning. — Wilhelm S.

It’s on track to getting more settled. True freshman Gabe Ervin emerged as close to a sure thing to play a key role in the fall, which means he’ll fit into the top three at the position. I think Sevion Morrison, if healthy, will find a spot in that group, too. Marvin Scott III also looked solid, and the second-year running back sounded in his media session after the Red-White game like he’s committed to making a difference.

Right now, Ronald Thompkins, who’s had a long list of injury problems, and Rahmir Johnson appear on the outside. Stepp, rehabbing from spring surgery, could still emerge as the starter if he’s healthy in August. And then there’s Jaquez Yant, who’s probably just a change-of-pace back or a goal-line option. But if he continues to improve, there’s a place for him in Nebraska’s downhill game.

Your reasons for concern are warranted because of the inexperience and unanswered questions. But Nebraska has options — good options, it seems, in the backfield.

Any insight on whether Nebraska self-scouts or uses analytics to aid in its game-planning? — Lynn C.

The Huskers self-scout in the winter and spring when not occupied with practice. It’s an important phase of their offseason plan. A year ago, before the cancellation of spring practice, coaches talked of the added emphasis on self-scouting in the winter of 2020. Then the pandemic left coaches with little of their normal work to do for months, so more of it occurred. They should know a lot about their own team by now.

Analytics continue to play a role in preparation. Their impact is not something I’ve heard referenced often, but Nebraska employs seven analysts, one quality control coach and two graduate assistants. Within that bunch, they’re looking at data and trying to put it to work.

Which team are you projecting to win the Big Ten divisions? — Brian J.

Ohio State and Wisconsin.

What are your early predictions for Nebraska leaders in the following categories: receptions, carries, tackles and sacks. — Brian, Boise, Idaho

Receptions: Toure in a tight race over Martin. Carries: Stepp over Ervin. Tackles: JoJo Domann, with Kolarevic and Reimer not far behind. Sacks: Ben Stille, though I was tempted to go with Ty Robinson.

Why is women’s bowling at Nebraska so good? — James N.

Credit to longtime former coach Bill Straub, who retired in August 2019. He’s the Nick Saban of bowling. The Huskers won another national championship this year under Paul Klempa. From the makeup of the roster, Nebraska recruits the best bowlers from all over the country and Latin America. That’s all I know.

Mitch, is the Big Ten going to back in-person, full-scale media days this year? What about other major conferences? Do you look forward to conference media days? — Scott S.

To be determined on media days this summer. The Big Ten values its Kickoff Luncheon, so the league will seek a way to make that work in July. But it has acted more cautiously than the SEC, Big 12 and other conferences since last summer. So I’m more confident that other leagues will hold full-scale events than I am with the Big Ten.

I look forward to talking to players, coaches, administrators and league officials at media days. It can be a lot to wade through in a short stretch, and sometimes the comments feel canned in that convention-center environment. But yes, it’s a good way to kick-start football season. I missed it more than I had expected in 2020.

Do you think name, image and likeness will greatly help Nebraska? It would seem that the fan support far outpaces on-field production? — Seth P.

While the regulations remain to be determined, yes, it’s safe to say that nationally uniform NIL legislation, likely to be introduced this summer, will favor a program like Nebraska. Much of the revenue stands to be earned in the digital space, which widens the reach of student-athletes and levels the playing field for schools in lower-population states.

Nebraska fans are loud and proud online. Their allegiances in many cases are to the Huskers first instead of professional teams. College athletes in Lincoln are in position to benefit, and the school is acting aggressively to provide them with NIL resources.

Hey Mitch. Love your work. If you were selecting a Nebraska dream team made up of position groups from each decade, what would be your choices? — Alex B.

Give me every position group from the ’90s. And Garth Brooks to introduce them.

(Photo of Scott Frost courtesy of Nebraska Athletics)