There's time for style points and coaching searches - just enjoy the win
Be happy, you deserved it.
Yes, you.
It doesn’t matter if you started watching Husker football 45 days or 45 years ago.
You deserve to feel joy after enduring what this program has been through.
The players, the coaches, and yet another sold-out crowd sure were on Saturday night once the three-hour-and-38-minute penalty-marred marathon mercifully ended with Nebraska on top of Indiana 35-21.
Be happy.
Be happy for new faces unexpectedly making big plays. Malcolm Hartzog, who was an afterthought 2022 recruit perhaps more known for his return ability than his cornerback skills, started his first game at CB as a true freshman and scored a touchdown on a blocked punt return.
Be happy for new faces living up to early expectations. Trey Palmer and Anthony Grant, neither of whom were here for the 2021 season, contributed 68% of Nebraska’s offensive yardage. Grant churned out 136 rushing yards on 32 carries. Palmer caught eight of his nine targets for 157 yards and the eventual game-winning touchdown. The two were responsible for four of NU’s six explosive plays.
Be happy for the captain. Garrett Nelson, who has most vocally described the emotional roller-coaster of Husker football under former head coach Scott Frost, was all smiles after the game. Nelson sacked Hoosier QB Connor Bazelak twice.
Be happy for the toughness of a starting quarterback who wouldn’t quit. Casey Thompson, who at times held the ball too long and missed some throws, played through a 3 quarter shoulder injury and struck the game’s fatal blow with a beautiful 71-yard TD bomb to Palmer early in the 4 quarter.
Be happy for the boys up front. Perhaps no other position group has been more maligned that the offensive line. That was before backups were forced into action here in game five via suspension, injury, ejection, or flat-out poor play. Four of the five who provided the clean pocket on that Thompson pass – Brant Banks, Ethan Piper, Henry Lutovsky, and Hunter Anthony – did not start the opener in Ireland but they finished the job against Indiana.
Be happy for Luke Reimer, who hit a receiver so hard over the middle that the ball popped loose for him to intercept it, all while hitting him so cleanly that not even this ref show could call him for targeting. He broke up two other passes and tied for the team lead with five tackles.
Be happy for the Special Teams Coach turned Defensive Coordinator. Bill Busch had just two weeks to put his stamp on the Blackshirts. The results were impressive, including a scoreless second half and seven 3-and-outs. The Pender native greeted several family members on the field once the clock hit zeroes.
Be happy about the officiating crew…
…or not. (Seriously, 23 total penalties?!)
Be happy about an interim head coach doing everything possible to get his players a win. Mickey Joseph was as animated as a Husker head coach has been since Bo Pelini, but in a good way. He tussled with the refs. He chewed out an important player who ejected himself from the game. His passion and energy is clearly infectious. Ask any player what they felt in getting him his first win and they’ll tell you how much they enjoy playing for him.
Athletic Director Trev Alberts awarded Joseph the game ball in the locker room, and the team let the former Husker QB feel the love.
Be happy for the guy in charge of the search for a permanent head coach. Alberts has a tough decision to make a couple months from now, one that will define his tenure. Tonight was not about that. Tonight was about being on the sidelines with this team, high-fiving the guys who have been dealing with all the stress of the staff changes while still being expected to perform on the field. They earned a win, a Big Ten win at that.
I once refused to feel good about my team winning a game because it was more competitive than I thought it should have been. I learned my lesson: it’s hard enough to win, no need to make myself miserable because it wasn’t pretty.
Worry about style points another day.
Set aside the expectations you have for this program for a few days.
Bask in the glow of a conference win, something Nebraska hadn’t earned for 364 days. It’s been since October of 2017 since they won after a bye week.
There’s plenty of time for the details.
Nebraska football won, and these days, such an event is scarce.
Be happy. We all deserve it.
