Embracing Nebraska Tradition, Riley Looks Ahead

Randy York N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

At least an hour before Thursday night’s Big Red Bash at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, Nebraska Head Coach Mike Rileyand his football assistants spent 75 minutes meeting more than 40 Husker football letterwinners at an N-Club event in the facility’s volleyball suites.

Nebraska’s second-year head coach spent 25 minutes addressing the Husker letterwinners before sharing his thoughts for more than 500 fans attending the free event inside The Devaney. “The threads of Nebraska run far and wide,” Riley told the crowd. “It’s not hard to go anywhere in the country and not be known by the ‘N’ and the history that goes with it. That’s pretty special.”

Riley said his staff studied the history of Nebraska recruiting and “tried to get a picture of what’s made this place kick through the years.” He also acknowledged the overall makeup of Nebraska’s national championship teams in 1994, ’95 and ’97, concluding that a core of Nebraska native players and other recruits from a 500-mile radius of Lincoln became the glue for teams that also featured contributors “from coast to coast.”

Carlstrom: If There's a Throwback to Tom Osborne, It Might Be Mike Riley

Nebraska’s letterwinners liked what they heard and couldn’t help but compare Riley’s strategic beliefs and thoughts to the character and wisdom of Tom Osborne, the Huskers’ Hall-of-Fame coach who played a primary role in all five of Nebraska’s national championship seasons.

“If there’s a throwback to Tom Osborne, I think we have one with Coach Riley,” said Tom Carlstrom, a Polk, Neb., offensive guard who lettered in 1980 and ’81. “Coach Riley is so sincere. I told him that I’m his No. 1 fan since he came to Lincoln. I think he’s a great fit here, and the more I hear him, the more I feel that way. There’s nothing flashy, just sincere. Our bowl game against UCLA brought back such fond memories, and I told Coach Riley that. Nebraska football represents this state and this university. Coach Riley understands that and he accepts that.”

Terry Connealy on 'Very Humble' Riley: What You See is What You Get

Terry Connealy (No. 99 above in Nebraska's 1995 Orange Bowl win over Miami), is a Hyannis, Neb., native, co-captain and All-America defensive tackle on Nebraska’s 1994 national championship team. Heunderstands Riley’s comparative demeanor. “Coach Riley is very humble,” Connealy said. “What he says, he means. You can tell very quickly that he’s not going to try and impress you by being more than he is. My impression of Coach Riley is what you see is what you get.”

Mike “Red” Beran, an offensive guard from Ord, Neb., on Nebraska’s 1970 and ’71 national title teams coached by Bob Devaney, is equally enamored with Riley’s style.  “During fall practice last year, I had the pleasure of presenting Coach Riley with an Earth shirt,” Beran told me. “He was quite familiar with Bill “Earthquake” Enyart, who was a fullback at Oregon State and made the College Football Hall of Fame, and he became familiar with our own Jim Carstens, a fullback on our 1970 and ’71 national championship teams.

Oregon State Had Its Earthquake and Nebraska Has One of Its Own

“We called Jim Carstens ‘Earth’ and Coach Riley enjoyed getting an honorary shirt of our version of Earthquake,” Beran said. “Coach Riley is a great man. He’s very personable and knows a lot of college football history, plus a lot of Nebraska football history. He was even on the Alabama team that we beat in 1971 and has a lot of respect for this program.”

Mitch Krenk, a Husker and NFL tight end from Nebraska City, Neb. (1981-82), enjoyed hearing Coach Riley estimate as many as 130 players on emerging Husker teams. “As a former walk-on myself, I liked hearing him talk about how important walk-ons are to a football program like Nebraska,” Krenk said.

“Coach Riley’s demeanor definitely reminds you of Coach Osborne,” Krenk added.  “There are a lot of similarities. Coach Riley is very soft-spoken and always talking about character. That’s déjà vu, right there. I mean, that’s Coach Osborne, talking about doing things the right way. And they both care deeply about what their players do beyond football. Every player that I know is rooting for Coach Riley.”

Three Current Husker Football Student-Athletes Share Their Thoughts

Freedom Akinmoladun, (pictured above right), is a sophomore defensive end from Grandview, Mo. He chose Nebraska because of its football tradition and its tradition of going out into the community and helping others. "My mom always told me to give back to the community because when you give, you always receive more than you give," he said. "I’m excited about 2016 and the new opportunities that will be open to me both on the field and off the field. We have some great teammates coming back and some great teammates coming in. Off the field, I’m looking forward to helping more people and having fun while I do.” 

Mohamed "MoMo" Barry, a redshirt freshman linebacker from Grayson High School in metropolitan Atlanta, said:“When I got here, I focused on education. Nebraska settled me down and made me more comfortable about competing academically. I learned how competition can apply to school just like it applies to football. I worked hard and had a 3.4 (GPA) in my first semester here. I proved I could do it and want to continue to achieve.”

Derrion Grim, a freshman wide receiver from McNair High School in Stockton, Calif., enjoys having access to Nebraska's incredible facilities. "I never have to go back to my dorm room because we have a players’ lounge," he said. "I come in here knowing the emphasis is on academics first. I’ve learned a lot in my first month here. I know how to prioritize. I was talking to a former Oregon State football player who knew and played for Coach Riley. He told me that he will help me become the best football player I can and become a better man. I’m looking forward to college football and learning what goes with it.”

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