When Nebraska football fans last saw Ryan Walters, the Huskers were busy stomping his Purdue Boilermakers teams into dust two years in a row. After being fired by Purdue, thanks at least in part to NU beating them 31-14 and 28-10, Walters caught on as the Washington Huskies' defensive coordinator.
One of the things that made Walters stand out from the pack when NU went up against him (other than even less than perfect Nebraska teams could count his squad as auto-wins) is that he wasn't shy about proclaiming his dislike for NU. It didn't work for him then, if he thought it would give his team extra incentive, but he's trying it from a new angle, anyway.
The Washington coordinator spoke about the Nebraska game earlier this week and when he was asked the difference between Penn State's Whiteout games and the Huskers' Blackout games, his answer was as ill-advised as Mike Locksley's was earlier this year.
"I've played there as a player. Coached there is a coach," Walters said about Nebraska's Memorial Stadium. "You know, the fan base is extremely passionate. You know, I think they've had a sellout since like 1962 or something like that. And so they are, you know, it's hostile. They understand the game. And it gets really quiet when you make plays there."
Washington DC Ryan Walters thinks he knows how to turn down the volume at Memorial Stadium.
— Hail Varsity (@HailVarsity) October 29, 2026
Husker fans, consider that a challenge. 👀 pic.twitter.com/uvf76gGKRU
Ryan Walters’ Nebraska football history gives Memorial Stadium comment extra bite
Yes, like the Maryland head coach, Walters comments were mostly complimentary. But there was a slight bite to it. Just that little extra he didn't need to say. And yet he went ahead and said it.
Just ahead of the Huskers' game against Maryland, Locksley was asked about the atmosphere of Memorial Stadium, and like Walters, he said mostly nice things. But he added, "Really, it’s a great venue to go play in. But it’s not one of those intimidating ones that gets super loud.”
The Nebraska faithful took Locksley's comments as a challenge. Those in the stadium watching NU beat down the Terrapins 48-23 said Memorial Stadium was rocking, early and often. That was largely thanks to the Nebraska athletic program pouncing on Locksley's words and making sure everyone knew he'd knocked the fans' dedication through social media posts.
The video of Walters talking about silencing Husker fans seems like something the university will once again jump on and pitch as a challenge to the fanbase at a game where the athletic department is already pulling out all the stops to make it a raucous atmosphere.
Walters' comments could also get a bit more attention because he's gone on the record before as very specifically not liking Nebraska, mainly because he's a former Colorado Buffaloes player.
"My history with Nebraska started at a very young age. Obviously grew up a fan at Colorado, my dad playing there, and that was the hated rivalry, right…" Walters said back in 2023, before his first Purdue team faced the Huskers. "… It's like, man, I really can't stand that color. Don't like that N on the helmet. And so definitely this has been a big week."
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