Negativity around Nebraska football made spring game tailgaters forget the Kool-Aid

In full disclosure, this falls somewhere in between a rant and a soapbox chat. The things I wanted to learn from Nebraska Football Spring Practice season were: Is the D Line going to be improved? Are the linebackers any better than last year? Is new coach Geep Wade shaping up a better O-line? Is there any hope for an emerging running back? Is Anthony Colandrea worth the hype? And there is the whole “it's WAY too early in the semester” buried in the great Husker Wrestling achievements and Husker Basketball historical run thing, not to mention an 11 am Spring Game debacle. You can probably see where this is going.

NOT a fan of the early thing. Not the spring practice nor the ridiculously early start time. Trying to find any news or insights on Husker Spring Football this year was like trying to find a Twinkie at a fat farm. I'm sure it's somewhere, but the odds of finding it and reaping the reward are slim. Head Coach Matt Rhule said it was "by design" to fly under the radar this year. Is that so you wouldn't be criticized for all your travel to OKC, Houston, or wherever during the 15-practice schedule, rather than focusing on your one true purpose in Lincoln? (I'm not sure that worked out really well for you.)

Spring is the time to BUILD UP the hype. Make lots of Kool-Aid if you will. It was a horrid end to a long Husker football season last year. A season that was supposed to be much improved. Fail. So why not overload the Spring season with a lot of "feel good" so as to catapult fans into an oncoming gauntlet fall season of overmatched football, with a red-ringed smile on their face? There should have been plenty to be excited about, given all the transfers and players acquired through the portal. Instead, news on the team felt more like crickets for the most part.

Nebraska football isn't making many fans drink the Kool-Aid this spring

As for the answers to my questions... I do think EDGE sophomore transfer Jahsear Whittington is worth the price. He even had a "sack" on Colandrea Saturday, so it's possible that Nebraska could finally have that elusive edge rusher. On a scale of thirst-quenching to give me the whole pitcher, I'd say I'm a glass and a half in. Linebackers? I didn't see much, and I didn't learn anything from the Spring Game, and was hoping that high-paid transfer Junior Owen Chambliss was all that and a bag of chips. This group still needs a lot of sugar to be tasty Kool-Aid.

My third and fourth questions go together. This part of the Spring Game was actually thirst-quenching. I think that, even as far back as the bowl game, the Kool-Aid was starting to mix for the O-line. Having a solid O-line, a good coach there, and a cohesive front will elevate a running game. Lots of those ingredients seemed to pour out during the Spring Game. Freshman running back Jamal Rule is going to be worth the price of admission. He had 136 yards on the day and was explosive between the tackles. The breakaway speed was tantamount to a sugar high worthy of 5 Pixie Sticks at once. Yes, there are still the more experienced guys like Isaiah Mozee and Mekhi Nelson, and even Kwinten Ives was praised for reworking his frame. However, it's going to be nearly impossible to replace the stats of Emmett Johnson. Running back by committee, it is. As for the O-line, I'm all in and pitcher deep in that development. Fans probably won't know for sure until the Michigan State game (#4 of the season).

As for my fifth question and the emergence of Anthony Colandrea... I'll need some extra insulin to process all this sugary sweetness. It's refreshing to see someone behind center who isn't afraid to sling it accurately downfield. Another great thing about this transfer is that he's sticking to the play called and has a solid presence in the locker room, according to the few tidbits in the news. That's tasty. A lot of the buzz is about how mobile he is and how he can extend plays. Mission achieved on Saturday. Perhaps the only line I found from the local media on him that made an impression is that he (paraphrased) gives the wide receivers hope that they will still get the ball on a broken play. Hope. It's been a while since that word has been used in the context of Husker football.

In keeping with the Spring Game early start time, this was merely a brunch of Husker football at a time when fans are hungry for an entree and a dessert. If I could have a one-on-one with Matt Rhule, I would implore and even scream at him not to set the game time before 1pm. NO ONE wants to tailgate for early-season games, let alone on a Spring day when the sun needs as much chance as possible to warm the ground. Football fans haven't been able to gather for months, and it used to be a great time to get back together, share some stories, update each other on family news, and make plans for the fall tailgates. Nope. Didn't happen. End of rant.

Spring is a time of nature's rebirth, and hope seems to be the spice of the day. However, moving Husker Spring football and the game before the end of March is like enduring an extra month of daylight saving time. All in all, there was far less information and highlights from the span of the much-welcome 15 extra practices. This all at a time when as much goodwill should have been purchased as there were players on the portal. Next season will be rough. Odds are 5.5 wins on the season. And after a very disappointing end to 2025, I will be interested to see how it plays out. The over/under on the Rhule talk is week 6, mid-October, between the Indiana and Oregon games.

Regardless, I'll be watching, attending, and most of all tailgating with my friends for Husker Football. It's what we do. At least we always win at the tailgates. Even if we are forced to be there well before 11 am. Shout out to the Husker Baseball team, who cracked the top 25, and the softball team in the top 5! Shout-out to Husker Nation for traveling and making March Madness exciting. Props to B&B Printing for making the Bricktown Canal Swim Team shirts! And if you were one of the glorious people who booed Trev Alberts in OKC, swing by my tailgate for a hug and a beverage this year! Enjoy the rest of Spring and as always, GO BIG RED!