Dead & Company show inspires John Cook’s vision for Volleyball Day in Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – On July 2, Husker head coach John Cook sat among thousands of dead heads in Boulder, Colorado.
It was night two of a three-night stint at Folsom Field – home of the Colorado Buffaloes – for Grateful Dead off-shoot, Dead & Company.
To Husker Nation, Nebraska Volleyball team, Scotty, and Coach Matt and the boys, we have a chance to blow this crowd away!#DreamingBigger pic.twitter.com/zilmEcbCE6
— John Cook (@jcook2) July 3, 2023
Cook said Tuesday that the Dead’s sold-out concert gave him a taste of what Volleyball Day in Nebraska would look like.
“I just thought this would be perfect, just to get the feeling,” he said at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. “My adrenaline, my goosebumps were going through the roof.”
To no surprise, lots of questions about ‘Volleyball Day in Nebraska’ and it is still unbelievable for these three, media and fans alike that Nebraska volleyball gets to play a match in Memorial Stadium. @Channel8ABC pic.twitter.com/bcGKGID7qt
— Lauren Michelson (@LaurenMichelson) August 1, 2023
Volleyball Day in Nebraska, when the Huskers will play in Memorial Stadium in front of over 90,000 fans on Aug. 30, will try and replicate those feelings.
“It’s really hard to imagine for a volleyball match, so we’re gonna have to do some breathing exercises,” Cook said.
Cook was joined by junior libero Lexi Rodriguez and Florida transfer Merritt Beason, both of whom said they’re excited to be a part of the match.
“It’s going to be something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Rodriguez said.
#Huskers in Chicago! Big red representing at B1G Volleyball Media Days🏐‼️ @Channel8ABC pic.twitter.com/Do4msAbE1T
— Lauren Michelson (@LaurenMichelson) August 1, 2023
Volleyball Day in Nebraska will also be important for women’s sports, Rodriguez and Beason agreed.
Beason, an All-SEC team selection last season, said it’s hard to grasp that over 90,000 Husker fans will be watching the match against UNO.
“It’ll be history in the making, and for us to be a part of it and to be able to play in it is really cool,” she said.
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