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Nebraska Football
Pre-Illinois
Monday, Aug. 23, 2021
Press Conference Video
On Cam Jurgens and NIL
“I hope so. I’m glad that (Cam Jurgens) got to profit off it a little bit. I enjoy the hat. I enjoy the shirt and the stuff the guys are doing around the team. Any chance I get to support them, I’ll do that.”
On being the first three-time captain
“It is almost hard to believe with such a storied program like Nebraska to be able to call myself the first third-time captain is pretty special and something I’m very proud of but my works not done. There is a lot to be done during the season and a lot I need to do as a captain. Just incredibly proud and honored.”
On the importance of starting strong
“It’s incredibly important, especially because in years past I think we have not necessarily started right out of the gates like we needed to. That is an emphasis for us. You need to be ready to go first drive of the game first quarter and it is a Big Ten opponent.”
On the quarterbacks
“It didn’t start during camp. It started all the way back in the spring. Those guys have attacked it and Logan (Smothers) I forget that he is still just a young guy. He did not get a spring. He came early and had two practices so this has been huge for him. It has been huge for Heinrich (Haarberg) and obviously (Matt) Masker a veteran guy who’s been there and seen it. It is really fun to be a part of this group and I think they are coming around the way we want them to.”
On Logan Smothers
“He has just gotten a lot more reps. He has made a lot of improvements. I think that has come along with the reps and he has started to make quicker decisions. Understanding the playbook is a process and it feels like he is really getting a grip on that right now.”
On the nerves going into the opener
“I am not that old of a guy. Yeah I’m excited to play football and last year we were running out there and there was about 10 people in the stands and this year it is going be full. I am living out my dream. Plain and simple. This is what I wanted to do when I was a kid. I wanted to come to a big-time school and play big-time football in these types of atmospheres and be the starting quarterback. I’ve got nerves the butterflies. I am pumped. Part of that too knowing what you are doing, it does not go away. You are excited to be out there.”
On having a slogan as a captain
“It’s hard. I don’t necessarily want to go with one slogan. There has been a couple things that I’ve stuck to personally that I will try and pass on to other guys. Something I heard from Coach Ruud was stacking days. It kind of goes with the day by day and the get better mantra but it’s really stuck with me and I think it’s resonated with a lot of the other guys on the team. It’s just about coming out each day stack a day get better at something or some area on the field that is going to make me a better player and us a better team.”
On the offensive mindset
“I wouldn’t say a mindset change. I am really excited about the stuff we are doing though. I am not going to give anything away.”
On Athletic Brand & Marketing (ABM)
“Thanks for the question. I’m pumped about ABM. I think it is going to be huge not only for Nebraska football but Nebraska Athletics and student-athletes being able to maximize their potential and do everything they can to get everything out of their name image and likeness. Super fired up that a guy like Gerrod Lambrecht is the head of that company. A guy who understands Nebraska and is super passionate about Nebraska. I think it has all the potential in the world to be something that will help Nebraska Athletics on the national landscape.”
On his partnership with ABM
“It is a non-exclusive type of partnership. They are not here to hinder us in any way so for me personally if I wanted to do that. They are here to help. I obviously have a lot of responsibilities during the season football, school. I cannot really be negotiating my deals all over town and I am not the only one so it will help a lot of people that way.”
On the Week 0
“It is sweet. I love that we have a week 0 game and I know the guys are pumped and even more it is a Big Ten West opponent. Everything is on the line and I could not be more excited.”
On the offensive identity
“They were smart disciplined. Adrian did not turnover the ball. Not even one time. In all seriousness though we are going to be a hard-nosed team and I am excited to get out there and prove that. We will be a team that is disciplined that is not going to shoot ourselves in the foot and do the things that we are supposed to do and what coach wants us to do.”
On preparing for Illinois
“It is always pretty difficult going into week 0 and week 1 with a team that has not played a real game. We are not even a hundred percent sure what they are going to show up in but yes there is personnel things you can evaluate and there is also where that coach may have coached the previous season and mixing those two elements and formulating a game plan from that.”
On the running back growth
“Well I am proud of that group. They have really competed and we are going to see a squad of guys that when they get their chance there going to be going a 110 percent. We have got a lot of guys in there that I think are going to do some really good things this year and we will see. I am pumped for those guys to prove themselves on the field because that is what it will come down to.”
On Austin Allen
“He has truly stepped into that role. I think he sort of started understanding. It is a combination. My coach always says leaderships is performance performance is leadership and Austin is one of the best players on this team. I think understanding that and understanding the influence he has on this team he really started developing that in the winter spring and the summer as well. At camp he really stepped to the plate.”
NU Athletic Communications