Riley Embraces History, Incomparable Caring

Huskers Are Back in Black

Presser: NU Kicks Off Riley Era

Randy York’s N-Sider

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Last week, after lunch at Nebraska’s Training Table, I happened to be a few steps from Mike Riley as we headed toward Memorial Stadium’s second-level concourse. I asked Nebraska’s first-year head coach if he noticed the framed photographs of UNL’s Deans on the wall outside the office of Dennis Leblanc, Nebraska’s longtime senior associate athletic director for Academics.

“I saw them hanging those photos two weeks ago,” Riley said.

“Only in Nebraska,” I said. “Who came up with that?”

“Shawn did,” Riley said, referring to Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst. “What a great idea…everyone you recruit walks by that office and when they do, they’ll know the name of the dean of their college.”

A few steps later, Riley stops. “One thing I’ve learned since the first day I was here,” Riley said. “Everybody in college athletics is always asking what they can do to help student-athletes. Nebraska’s already doing everything they can to help student-athletes. Others talk about it. Nebraska lives it every day.”

In General, Nebraska Football Fans Care in a Lot of Ways

Consider Riley’s wisdom as a preamble to a question that was asked Monday at Nebraska’s weekly press conference on Memorial Stadium’s sixth floor. The question was basically this: How much emphasis is put on Nebraska’s program and is it comparable to anywhere he’s ever been?

“It might not be comparable to anywhere, I don’t know,” Riley said, drawing a few laughs. “It’s exceedingly good. I always say that the one thing I’ve noted about Nebraska, in general, is that people care and they care in a lot of different ways…one of the ways is obvious…the interest in the program and the kids in the program…the history of the program, all of that…people care about it…they’re interested in it…you really don’t want it the other way.

“I would say this is at the highest level, and that’s a good thing,” Riley said. “We, in this business, understand expectations. Everywhere I’ve been, everybody has wanted to win all the games and all that part of it, but it’s actually fun and exciting to be around so much interest, so much caring, such great pride in the place, great pride in the University, great pride in the football program and all the sports programs.

“There’s a special pride taken in here and everything. I always say how it’s cared for physically, how people take care of it and how clean and neat it always is. It’s always the best foot forward at Nebraska and that’s really a privilege to be a part of.”

Mike Riley: ‘We’ll Be Very, Very Proud to Enter the Stadium’

Nebraska does it the right way, and Riley wants his team to launch the season the right way when BYU visits Lincoln Saturday afternoon. “It’s an exciting time, a great time, that beautiful time of the year to kick off the college football season. We’ll be very, very proud to enter the stadium with the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the first time.”

Riley answered every question asked, and here’s the speed read, Cliff’s Notes style: The Huskers have studied hard, worked hard and established an identity, on and off the field. Nebraska has a great weapon in the punting game with Sam Foltz and a  consistent kicker in Drew Brown. The offense will be balanced. The Huskers are wary of BYU’s punter who’s been a star on a rugby team and can kick a football with both feet. Nebraska’s also on the right track blending its offensive scheme.

Being at a new place creates added emotion, and Riley has appreciated “very much” how they’ve worked and kept their team intact. “I think we’ve grown as a team through a hard time for them,” he said. “I appreciate all that work that’s gone into it.”

True Freshmen Morgan, Young (No. 5 Above) Eager for Prime Time

Stanley Morgan Jr., a true freshman from New Orleans, is in a three-way battle with Brandon Reilly and Lane Hovey at one wide receiver position. “Stanley will roll in there,” Riley said. “We do not activate true freshmen thinking they’re going to watch the game. If we’re not going to redshirt a guy, he’s going to be playing. Stanley has proven that he can make plays, so he’ll be in the game.”

Dedrick Young, another true freshman from Peoria, Ariz., will start at linebacker Saturday. “That’s very rare for us,” Riley said. “We’ve not redshirted linebackers in the past, but played them, most of the time as a back-up and full-time on special teams. I don’t think we’ve ever started a true freshman. This guy had the benefit of being here in the spring, which right now, appears to be a great thing for him. He’s very smart. He soaks it all in. He’s very consistent. He’s graded out extremely well in all the practices and all the scrimmages we had. I think he’s ready to play.”

Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. is “way ahead of those first days,” Riley said, pointing out how Armstrong has learned the language and understands the communication. In terms of progression, “he knows what to do with the football,” Riley said. “He’s way ahead of where we started. I’m very pleased with him. He’s a very, very engaged football player that really cares about this team and this program.”

Just like everyone else in Nebraska, and for Riley, that’s a good thing. Husker fans across the country and around the world want to know what’s going on because they care. For Riley, it’s a smart thing to praise caring, to promote caring and to promise to answer with the same kind of pride as the one who’s asking the question.

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