Nebraska football: Mohamed Barry shows what a change in culture means

The Nebraska football team has talked a lot about changing the culture the last few weeks. Mohamed Barry has shown what the Huskers are trying to get to looks like.

During that embarrassing and disheartening loss to Michigan yesterday, it became quite clear what Nebraska football fans are going to be watching for the rest of the season. Wins are going to be few and far between. What Husker fans need to be watching for are players that aren’t quitting and are fighting for every inch, even when they trail by 46 points.

In short, Cornhusker fans are going to be looking for more performances like Mohamed Barry displayed. They’re going to be looking for more than what he did on the field. It’s what he did on the sidelines and after the game that illustrates what the culture needs to change into.

Barry played himself a game, logging 11 tackles (three for loss) and a sack. But it was how he was getting after his teammates during the game that is going to help change the culture.

10/11 News got a video of the Nebraska linebacker making it quite clear to his fellow Huskers he wasn’t happy with the way they played. You could tell he was also at a loss for why more of his teammates didn’t feel the same.

After the game, Barry wasn’t done making sure his teammates knew he had enough of the way some Huskers were going about their business. He told the Lincoln Journal Star he knew there were some who still hadn’t bought in.

"“Let’s just be truthful: There are some people that want it and some people that don’t. That’s why we’re playing the brand of football we’re playing right now. We’re going to get there and it’s all positive, but I hope that if people have any doubt in us and our team that they make their exit now and we get better from here on out.”"

The second half of the Cornhuskers game against Michigan was in fact, a different story. After being down 39-0, Nebraska was outscored just 17-10 in the final two periods.

Barry wasn’t the only player who played hard from start to finish either. Dicaprio Bootle, who has, by and large, had himself a good season, had four tackles and five pass breakups. Without those passes defended, the game could have gone into “historically bad beat down” status.

Deontai Williams had himself an interception early in the fourth quarter as well. There were others who played hard from start to finish.

There were plenty who didn’t. When the Nebraska football team talks about changing the culture, they are talking about more players following in the footsteps of Mohamed Barry. If we get there, then Scott Frost‘s turnaround can really begin.