‘It definitely gives us confidence’: Huskers talk after first Big Ten win

Nolan Dorn,

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska has received a huge boost of confidence from its first Big Ten win of the season.

With coaching changes and a blowout loss to Oklahoma, it seemed like the team couldn’t catch a break.

Interim head coach Mickey Joseph spoke about the team’s progress and what the win meant to the players during a Monday press conference.

“Just the moment in the locker room and seeing the relief on their faces, we know we can do it,” he said.  “You can always tell somebody that you know they can do it, but if they never do it, they will have doubts.”

Tight end Travis Vokolek agreed with Joseph’s sentiment.

“It definitely gives us confidence,” he said.  “We understand that we have done it once, so now we have to do it for every game, when situations arise, that we have to finish football games.”

After the game, Joseph was awarded the game ball for his first win as head coach.

“I love everything about him.  It was awesome,” Vokolek said.  “We just have to get him a couple of more wins now.”

Joseph said it was a huge accomplishment to be given the ball by Athletic Director Trev Alberts.

“It was a great accomplishment, but it was a great accomplishment for the entire athletic department, entire university and entire state,” he said.  “It felt good that we were able to get the win and people can wake up Sunday morning, go to church and have something to talk about.”

SEE ALSO: Nebraska defeats Indiana in roller-coaster game

PREPARING FOR THE SCARLET KNIGHTS

Nebraska is now working to prepare for a Friday away game against Rutgers, which is 3-2 after a big loss to No. 3 Ohio State.

“It’s good to get back with a short week and a lot of momentum coming off the win on Saturday,” Joseph said.

He mentioned that this week’s schedule is accelerated, as Friday is usually the day the team travels.

The matchup will be the team’s second away game of the season, the first being the season opener in Ireland.

Quarterback Casey Thompson believes the biggest challenge this week will be playing on Friday.

“I think we’ll be fine playing on the road, I love road games,” he said.  “I like wearing the white jerseys and plane rides, so it’s just another game for us, and I think we’ll be fine.”

DEFENSE PLAYS BIG ROLE IN VICTORY

Saturday’s win was helped by a strong showing by the Nebraska defense, which picked up three sacks and one interception.

That game was Bill Busch’s first as defensive coordinator.

Joseph said the game plan was to get the defense lined up and ready for Indiana’s quick snaps.

“When you can get them lined up, now they can recognize what’s going on and recognize formations, that’s the big key,” he said.  “I thought they lined up, and then they played with their hair on fire.”

Freshman defensive back Malcolm Hartzog earned the Big Ten Freshman of the Week award thanks to a scoop and score after a blocked punt.

He is the first Husker to earn the honor since Wan’Dale Robinson in 2019.

SEE ALSO: Husker defensive back Malcolm Hartzog named Big Ten Freshman of the Week

OFFENSE CONTINUES TO ROLL, DESPITE SOME CONTROVERSY

Nebraska’s offense was another bright spot during the Indiana game, as quarterback Casey Thompson threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns.

But in the second quarter, Thompson was replaced with Chubba Purdy, who fumbled the ball in the end zone.

On the next drive, Thompson was put back in.

Joseph said he and Thompson had a conversation Sunday discussing the move.

“If we think he’s struggling, he’s coming out,” he said.  “That’s anybody, that’s the way you have to run your football team.”

Thompson said that he’s a competitor and doesn’t want to be taken out during games.

“We have a lot of conversations on a daily basis in his office and on the sidelines, but he’s hard on me,” he said.  “He’s definitely always hard on me, and I’m hard on myself.”

Thompson won the game with a 71-yard pass to Trey Palmer and a 1-yard run into the end zone.

Thanks to the offensive line, Thompson had a little extra time to make big plays.

“I took a couple hits, but I think we’ve had a pretty clean pocket and I always just try to motivate them and encourage them,” he said.  “Then whenever it’s about to be a big play, I’ll tell them, ‘This is going to be a touchdown if you give me two to three seconds or whatever.’”

To honor the line’s hard work, Thompson said he was gonna treat them to dinner at MoMo Pizzeria.

NEBRASKA IS (SORT OF) ON TOP IN BIG TEN WEST

What would come as a surprise to some Husker fans, Nebraska is now tied for first in the Big Ten West division.

Despite a measly 2-3 record, the Huskers are now tied with Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern, Minnesota and Iowa.

Joseph described the division as the “wild west.”

“Everybody is fighting,” he said.  “The games are coming down to the fourth quarter.  We are going to take one game at a time.”

Joseph reiterated that the team’s focus right now was preparing for Rutgers.

Nebraska hasn’t won its division since the 2012 season, when the team went 10-2 before getting routed by Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game.

SEE ALSO: Kickoff time announced for Nebraska’s away game against Purdue

Categories: Husker Sports, Sports
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Download the Channel 8 News app

Related