Nebraska Football Tailgate Talk: Michigan State is no gimme

Nebraska football is on the road to Michigan State on Saturday for — Are you sitting down? — a NIGHT GAME!!! FOX has the game at 6 pm local time. Do you even remember how to tailgate for a night game? It’s been a while but it will be good practice for when Northwestern rolls into town the following week for a 6:30 Homecoming kickoff.

I was thrilled that Nebraska was in it right up until the very end at Oklahoma. This Huskers may just be figuring things out sooner rather than later. Yes, there were two penalties to start the game. Yes, Connor Culp is still missing CRITICAL kicks. And yes, there were missed opportunities with the turnover. However, Big Red was right there in it with the No. 3 ranked team. That is progress folks!

It wasn’t well known but there was some early jawing back and forth between the Sooners and the Huskers pre-game. I heard that UNL Athletic Director Trev Alberts was down on the field too. He might have even been spotted chewing some referee butt after the “dust-up.” Well done, Trev. I love an AD who’s not afraid to get in there and get after it!

The Huskers defense stood out last week and outside linebacker Garrett Nelson was at the podium Monday. In case you missed his sparkling and refreshing personality, here it is. He’s truly a gem! A kid that wants to play smash-mouth football and win games. GBR!

What you need to know about Sparty – they are solid this year. The green people like to cause eye distractions with lots of pre-snap movement too. They have just as good a defense as OU, and their running back, Kenneth Walker III has some Heisman buzz about him.

He makes you miss and Huskers linebackers like JoJo Domann and Luke Reimer will need to be dialed in because as Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander indicated, it will take more than one hat to bring him down. For more on their win last week over Miami, click here.

I am looking forward to seeing Husker Tight Ends Travis Vokolek and Austin Allen combine for some more great plays. How about Omar Manning with that touchdown! He’s been on the Nebraska milk carton for two years now but that last quarter score was his coming out party.

Now there are finally other options for Adrian Martinez to hit. I still expect Wide Receiver Somari Toure and Zavier Betts to get theirs. Martinez also had a good game!

The bad news is that freshman Huskers running back, Gabe Ervin Jr. is out for the rest of the year with a knee injury suffered in Oklahoma.  Some good news: You will see more of Ethan Piper and Trent Nixon switching off at the O-line, left guard position.

Just like lots of options on offense, lots of options on the menu for that home game. Burgers or brats on the grill, chips and dips, meat and cheese trays, take your pick.

I was inspired this week by the Spartan cocktail. It’s green which is usually not very appealing but it’s a combination of orange juice and blue curacao that give it that color. I’ll work it into a jello shot with one package of lime jello. Heat one cup of orange juice and mix with the jello. Add in 1/2 cup of vodka and 1/4 cup of blue curacao. Pour into jello shot cups and enjoy!

Settle in for a battle Saturday. Huskers need to have things fall their way, mostly the kicks but that will come. This will get you primed for the late game for homecoming next week. Get your tailgate menu planned and hit me up with a recipe or tailgate photos @kelian_NE. Looking to finish drives. GO BIG RED!