2024 is the beginning of many new things for the Nebraska football program. One of those is hope.
After eight years of missing the postseason, the Huskers look like they are finally shoo-ins to at least go to a bowl. After watching the way Dylan Raiola played in his first game, some think they might go to the playoffs, though that’s still a long shot.
The Blackshirts have a new celebration (courtesy of @CoachTVJ). ☠️
— Matt Sottile (@MSottileTV) September 1, 2024
With the way Tony White's defense played today, we may see a lot more of it this season. @KETV pic.twitter.com/8WrjqeLyTh
A new Nebraska football swagger comes along with that hope for a return to winning ways. That was evidenced in the Huskers’ 40-7 win over UTEP. And along with the swagger came a new defensive celebration.
Yes, throwing the bones was still there. But so was a new dance that Ty Robinson and others were spotted doing after the Blackshirts pulled off impressive plays. After the game, Robinson explained that the new dance was courtesy of Troy Vincent.
Nebraska football defense finds new way to celebrate
“Yeah, it's just some dance we made during fall camp to celebrate takeaways,” Robinson told the media after the game. “Turnovers, whatever it may be. So it's kind of a motivation to go out there and take the ball away. So it was awesome to see Malcolm get one and Rahmir as well.”
Make no mistake, the dance itself, which you can see above, is not headline-worthy on its own. It’s what that dance, and the fact they were able to do it in the very first, represents.
Not only have the Huskers lost … a lot over the last decade, but the program has become rather moribund. There hasn’t been much fun in Lincoln, and there has been no joy in Mudville.
The week before the game, head coach Matt Rhule said he just wanted his team to “play well.” They very much did that. Yes, it was against a lesser opponent, but anyone who has watched this program since 2016 knows taking on a lesser team didn’t always mean an easy win—or even a win at all.
If the Nebraska football team is legitimately back. If they’re ready to become a program, other schools dread playing again, and they need that swagger back. That’s why the new dance is a welcomed sight.