‘So much potential’: Husker fans cheer on Harper Murray amid mental health struggle

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – An article published by ESPN on Tuesday gives readers a backstory to Husker volleyball star Harper Murray’s controversies and her struggle with mental illness.

Husker fans expressed support for Murray and predicted that she will bounce back.

“She recognized it, she discussed it with her teammates and even with fans, and she’s been so open about the whole situation, which makes her such a good role model,” Ashlee Mitchell said.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska volleyball’s Harper Murray: ‘I am eager to move forward with my life’

Last spring, Murray was charged with a DUI and shoplifting.

She is in a diversion program for the shoplifting charge and was sentenced to 9 months’ probation for the DUI.

In the ESPN article, Murray says that she’s not glad it happened but that without her legal troubles, she might not have gotten the help she needed.

“I think part of my healing process is learning to love volleyball again, and I think that will come when I learn how to love myself more, too,” she said.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska volleyball’s Harper Murray pleads no contest to DUI

A recent ESPN documentary called “No Place Like Nebraska” focuses on the highs and lows of the last Husker volleyball season.

The co-director, Jen Karson-Strauss, said Murray wanted to sit down to talk about what happened.

She said Murray, her family and the coaching staff understood that it needed to be talked about.

Murray “really embraced it and felt like this was important not just for Husker volleyball, but really how it relates to mental health,” Karson-Strauss said.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska volleyball’s Harper Murray charged in theft at Lincoln Scheels

Some Husker fans said what happened was a wake-up call for Murray.

Josh Steffensmeier, a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said Murray now understands the pressure of being a public figure.

“She now knows her impact, and I think she can definitely take that and make something out of it and like build off that,” he said. “I think she has so much potential to be a good leader and grow on the team.”

SEE ALSO: Nebraska volleyball’s Harper Murray cited in ring theft at Lincoln Scheels

Another student said he thinks Murray should have received a harsher punishment.

“I personally think there maybe should’ve been more consequence for her,” Max Matras said. “I feel like they kind of let her off too easy.”

But he thinks Murray has overcome the worst already.