Nebraska Football Tailgate Talk: Badgers, bowling or bawling?

Nebraska football plays its final home gameon Saturday afternoon at 2:30, as it takes on the Wisconsin Badgers, with the game televised on the Big Ten network. I was told the forecast will be chilly for the tailgate hosts while they set up (35ish) but warming up to 50 degrees by kickoff. Thanks KETV Sean Everson! Bring your layers because it will be dark by the time you leave Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. When I wrote this the Huskers were favored by 2.5 points. Will the Huskers be ballin' out enough to go bowling, or left bawling after Wisconsin leaves town?

It's also Senior Day and around 30 young men will participate. Most notably gone from next year will be the studs like Ty Robinson, Nash Hutmacher, John Bullock, Ben Scott, Rahmir Johnson, Javin Wright, MJ Sherman, Deshon Singleton and Brian Buschini. Recent transfers Maurice Mazzccua, Isaiah Neyor and Jamal Banks are also on that senior list along with Tommi Hill, Bryce Benhart, Isaac Gifford and Isaiah Garcia Castenada. If you know me by now, you can read between the lines. I spoke with a former player about the emotions on Senior Day and he said they are bittersweet. You know it's the end, or it's the beginning.

Last week's game in LA had my stomach in more knots than gas station sushi. There were some bright spots like Husker Wide Receiver Janiron Bonner and Defensive Back Ceyair Wright having themselves a day. Emmett Johnson was also gaining ground in the run game with 10 carries and 55 yards. He was in on 48 snaps Saturday. This was partly due to Rahmir and Dowdell being a little banged up, but it was working! Wide receiver Jahmal Banks actually blocked on the perimeter, and it paid off. However, some lackadaisical play in the secondary (along with horrific officiating -- rinse and repeat) made it impossible for the Huskers to come out on top.

As for the offense, it seemed like new OC Dana Holgerson's play calling had a rhythm to it. I loved the Heinrich Haarberg play but why limit them? The ball was also coming out of QB Dylan Raiola's hands faster with quicker intermediate passes. And WOW is Dana Holgerson fun at a press conference! I could hear his "Mike Leach speak" loud and clear. He puts it right out there. Good on ya! I'm gonna like this new guy.

Admittedly the offense didn't score enought points but it felt like it was the defense that failed us. I'm not great at math but was the guy who's 5' 8" really the best choice to defend the other guy who was 6' 6"? Statements at the press conference by Dana Holgerson this week like "that was a veteran secondary that didn't play very well....You have to play the defense that was called" have Husker Nation scratching their heads in amazement as well. Hopefully DC Coach Tony White has these "communication" issues solved on Saturday.

Wisconsin is coming off a nail biter against Oregon 16-13. The Badgers were 1-12 in 3rd down efficiency. Please keep that up. I'm also hoping they still have an emotional hangover when they roll into town. Their head coach Luke Fickell was hired two years ago at the same time as Coach Rhule. Fickell is 12-11 after inheriting a good program. Rhule is 10-12 after inheriting lots of problems. Both are feeling the pressure to win this game. Another similarity between the programs is that Fickell also relieved his OC Phil Longo of his duties on Monday (actually fired him) and was sketchy about actually naming the guy who will be calling plays. He settled on tight ends coach Nate Letton who has never had that responsibility. Awkward much? It would be nice for this to be an advantage for Big Red.

Wisconsin's running back to shut down is senior Tawee Walker. He was 20 carries for 97 yards last week (4.9 yd ave Mr. Satterfield). He's fed the ball by QB Baedyn Locke who was 12/28 with 96 yards passing against Oregon, with 1 TD and 1 INT. Selfishly I hope the change in new OC shakes him up and he has a horrible day. A pick six wouldn't make me sad either.

Nebraska Football looking for that elusive sixth win

Huskers will need to get on Wisconsin early to really have a chance in my humble opinion. Not only is there the pressure to become bowl eligible on the last real opportunity but they need to put the Senior Day emotions in their pocket and play inspired for a change instead of making "business decisions" which lead to touchdowns. Big Red will need to defend the run like they used to before the Indiana game. Wiscy uses that run game to set up their deep shots down the field and we all know how that worked out for the Cornhuskers these last few games.

It just sucks to lose to Wisconsin. It's time to win dang it. You want some perspective? The last time the Huskers beat Wisconsin our quarterback was in first grade. Ouch. A bowl game might even save some coaches their jobs. I hope it doesn't save all of them. I hope Dana Holgerson continues to make strong moves to solve the problems he's already identified with the offense. The other nugget from our new OC on Tuesday was that he was going to insert a new face to the field as well. My guess is reciever #29 Quinn Clark. Wouldn't be disappointed if it was #29 Carter Nelson (who has already made some appearances). While you're at it, give Jalen Lloyd more touches too.

My inspiration for this week is a cocktail that would leave you with the same warm and fuzzy feeling as that of a Husker bowl game in Arizona I spent some time in the cocktail lab and the recipe I came up with involves 2 shots of Caramel Vodka (I said "warm"), 2 shots of Apricot juice (the fuzzy), 2 shots of Squirt for fizz and fill the rest of the glass with Apple Cider (hot or cold), I'll also have plenty of Hot Chocolate and Peppermint Schnapps for that warming old school feel of Husker victories. Pack your hand heaters, dress in layers, and create that hostile home environment for that team I love to hate.

Send me your photos @Kelian_NE, and I'll try to share them next week as the Nebraska football team has a short week on a black Friday with a 6:30pm start time. Until then, GO BIG RED!