[laughs]

I, I will say, I, you know, to, to single one person out of a, a 11-man unit, uh, and coaches and whatever I think is, is silly.

And, um, and I think it's misplaced anger, to be honest with you.

I, I think Caleb Benning is gonna be just fine if he's the guy that's, uh, chosen to be out there, uh, to, to start in Jahmir Conley's place if Conley can't go.

I do think though, fellas, that there's, you know, Sean Callahan and I were talking a little bit earlier before, and, you know, th- they, they've got some pieces if they want to move people around.

You know?

Great

...

Andy, uh, what you've seen to this point with this Nebraska team, given the stakes for this game, given the history against ranked opponents, do you feel like Saturday does have a good opportunity to be different for Nebraska? Do, does Nebraska a- at least impress you in any certain area that you think could possibly play o- on Saturday if it comes to springing an upset?

Well, they're gonna have to stop the run, right? And Nebraska's gonna have to somehow find a way to run the football, and that, and that includes Anthony Colandrea running around.

Um, but man, I tell you, the, Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard, you've heard of them, they're a dynamic duo in the backfield for Indiana.

I mean, when you have two guys on the same roster who's already gone over 200 yards and separately in games, that's saying something.

Combined, they're over 1,000 yards already this season in five games.

And then, oh, you stop the run, well, Josh Hoover's gonna find Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh.

I mean, that's the, that's the quandary you're in.

Hmm.

AK all right let's ask some of the top 25 questions I'm sure you've been yearning for uh yeah what what's more frustrating for you defending your top 25 poll or having people ask you about others top 25 polls that you have no consideration for

Well, probably defending mine, you know, I'm doing my best and let's just say they pay us handsomely as in $0.

so um it is it's actually quite interesting like i was talking to my wife i'm like i'm just getting beat up you know which is fine whatever it's part of the deal but uh and she's like well what what'd you do this week you know because every week is a different fan base that i tick off or whatever and the the part that surprises me the most i think doing this for the first time this year is how many uh Fan bases are so adamant about having a two and a five next to their name or a two and a four.

You know, we're not talking about one through 10, right? We're not talking.

I think everybody agrees.

Like you might have some shuffling between six and seven or whatever, but.

You really, it is startling to see how many people think I should resign, retire, go to hell because I didn't put their team at 25th.

What's the balance between resume and eye test for you?

That's on me.

Yeah, I should enunciate a little better.

Um, two years ago, i- that was a surprise to most, but I think in the long run, people realized how good Indiana was.

I think Nebraska, this team, is deeper.

It's more experienced, and I, I do think they have the leadership now that, um, that can carry them through and go toe-to-toe with a team like Indiana.

At least I think I do.

I think this team does have that.

What do you, like, what's the, what's the balance between resume and eye test for you?

Where's your attention been focused on the most in the last couple weeks?

Well, football, obviously, for one, that's our go-to.

You know, I just think it's such a...

How do I say it? It's definite a...

point of demarcation like this is we are done with the first set like we are like Saturday when I was driving in I'm like really we gotta go through this again like yeah it means something but it's North Dakota but now it really means something you know what I mean and you get that sense from the guys too um when talking to the players and coaches and whatever, and they know that, you know, even Dana was refreshingly candid yesterday, as he always is, about they've had this circled week four, and I think we've all had this circled.

We all were hoping that Nebraska would finish the non-con 3-0, mission accomplished, they did some good things, and now it's time to see how they measure up against the big boys.

So, yeah, I think that takes center stage.

Andy, as you're looking at Michigan State, I don't know how much you kind of like dove into their previous game so far this year, but is there anything about Michigan State specifically outside of, hey, we sort of know what Pat Fitzgerald teams are like? Is there anything about this specific Pat Fitzgerald team that you're like, ah, that worries me a little bit in terms of what they bring to the table?

Where's your attention been focused on the most in the last couple weeks?

Well, football, obviously, for, for one.

That's, that's our go-to.

Um, you know, it, I, I just think it's, it's, it's such a, um, how, how do I say it? It's, it's, um, definite a, a point of demarcation.

Like this is, we are done with the first set.

Like we are...

Like Saturday when we, I was driving in, I'm like, "Really? We gotta go through this again?" Like yeah, it means something, but it's North Dakota.

Is there anything about this specific Pat Fitzgerald team that you're like, "Ah, that, that worries me a little bit," in terms of, of what they bring to the table?

That is interesting.

Um, yeah.

And, and LSU, you know, I, I understand.

Five people voted LSU, uh, number eight.

I think there's some people that they're still clung to the notion that, you know, if they win, they can only jump people who lose, you know? And I, I don't really believe that.

I think if you watch the games and you see, um, performances, I think that you gotta take that into consideration.

Just because two teams win doesn't mean they should be in the same slots every week.

Do you think that Nebraska's going to maybe slow down on being at these, not just the outdoor events, obviously, but maybe these national scale road tours and everything else moving forward? Or do you think that they will continue to kind of lead the charge when it comes to some of these premier events?

How do you deal with those teams that win but not by nearly as much as they're expected to?

Well, I think my most dramatic, um, increases and decreases happened with, um, uh, just teams that I, I'm, I'm, I didn't look the way I thought they would look, you know, Oregon.

Yeah, they won.

They did not look good.

And, um, and I watched most of that game and they just, they looked like an, uh, a good team, but you know, you have to, you have to stack up to how good is the other team.

Um, and, I thought Boise was pretty good, but Oregon should take care of business against a team like Boise at home.

And I thought they didn't do that.

Ironically, Georgia did not.

How do you work through all that to try and be as reasonable as possible?

Well, you know, a great question, and I think it's a little bit of a mix of everything.

And I do think if Indiana had an Alabama logo on their helmet or Ohio State, they'd be ranked a little higher, right? But, you know, the way I looked at it was, okay, so I looked at the preseason polls from each conference.

I wanted to make sure that if the preseason polls that were selected either by media or coaches, you know, they've got probably a better handle on um conferences outside where i am at so i really leaned heavily on that and i didn't want to i didn't want to have an outlier that was you know sixth in the preseason sec poll jump over a team that was supposed to rank be ranked third you know what i mean so i took that into account but then i also took into account how they finished last year who they have coming back and uh the potential of what they have moving forward i didn't take the um The legacy or the tradition part of it, that weighed a little less in my mind.

But you know what? You guys know how preseason polls go.

I do.

And after having gone through this process, I think you can just say, you know what? It's a preseason poll.

But as this season of busyness gets really rolling this week, where is your attention?

Mm.

And, 'cause we've talked about them a little bit, just because Penn State has a favorable schedule, and if they do have the parts that I think they do, they're gonna win some games.

So if they're around and they're 7, 8, 8-0, you know, they're gonna be up in the top, you know, seven, top six, top five.

You know? That's one of those things that, one of those programs that you look and you circle and you say, "Keep an eye on Penn State," because that's a, that's a team that can really, really elevate.

And I think Michigan is another one, because they're gonna get tested.

Obviously Michigan's, uh, got a, a, a heck of a schedule, and, um, but I do think they have the talent.

And, and, and now they've got, uh, a, like, like I said, they've got a head coach that, that has been around the block and, and now has, you know, the, the, the, the players to really make the push.

[laughs]

Mm-hmm.

Uh, but I mean, with all the pieces they have in back, I think anything less than a national championship for them, uh, from the outside volleyball world, uh, would be a little bit of a disappointment because of who they have and what they have in terms of, uh, where they're at in their collegiate careers.

So whether they do the five for five, you know, that's kinda up in the air about the, the, the core of this volleyball team, whether or not they come back for the fifth year.

Um, you know, the tomorrow isn't given.

We don't know.

We, we know that legislation changes every day.

So this is the year that really is poised for them to, to, to go all the way.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Uh, but I mean, with all the pieces they have in back, I think anything less than a national championship for them, uh, from the outside volleyball world, uh, would be a little bit of a disappointment because of who they have and what they have in terms of, uh, where they're at in their collegiate careers.

So whether they do the five for five, you know, that's kinda up in the air about the, the, the core of this volleyball team, whether or not they come back for the fifth year.

Um, you know, the tomorrow isn't given.

We don't know.

We, we know that legislation changes every day.

So this is the year that really is poised for them to, to, to go all the way.

Mm-hmm.

Were you surprised at how giddy Schiano and Bielema were in this era of college football? Two kind of old school staunches.

Yeah, a little bit.

Absolutely.

Um, I, I just think that, um, at this point, those old school guys have to make a decision whether they're in it or they're not.

And obviously, it's a new age.

And, um, but those guys seem to really embrace it.

Uh, I, you know, I watched a lot of the Iowa stuff too, and Ferris just keeps plodding along.

Would it be Michigan cracking the top three, Washington cracking the top five, or UCLA cracking the top seven?

Were you surprised at how giddy Schiano and Bielema were in this era of college football? Two kind of old school staunches.

Yeah, a little bit.

Absolutely.

Um, I, I just think that, um, at this point, those old school guys have to make a decision whether they're in it or they're not.

And obviously, it's a new age.

And, um, but those guys seem to really embrace it.

Uh, I, you know, I watched a lot of the Iowa stuff too, and Ferentz just keeps plodding along.

three?Washington cracking the top five or UCLA cracking the top seven?

Uh, AK, how has the, how's the, how's the series experience been for you so far?

It's been great.

You know, uh, knock on wood, the weather has been next to perfect.

It, you know, uh, normally at this stage we're just, uh, the dog- you're just, you're just drained because of the weather.

You just get out there and it's 90 to 95 degrees, and it's just beating down on you.

The, the weather's been awesome.

The games have been, uh, h- have been good.

Andy, uh, just in that same sense too, just everything you've said about Georgia so far, and especially in last night's game, are you surprised that they never had really a lot of frustration built up or, or anything that kind of shows itself? They, they just remain uber confident, but they're a team that's not playing the same way, like you said earlier, that we've seen them throughout the entirety of the season.

AK, how's the series experience been for you so far?

It's been great.

Knock on wood, the weather has been next to perfect.

Normally at this stage, you're just drained because of the weather.

You just get out there and it's 90 to 95 degrees and it's just beaten down on you.

The weather's been awesome.

The games have been good.

Andy, just in that same sense, too, just everything you've said about Georgia so far, and especially in last night's game, are you surprised that they never had really a lot of frustration built up or anything that kind of shows itself? They just remain uber confident, but they're a team that's not playing the same way, like you said earlier, that we've seen them throughout the entirety of the season.

Kobe

5'9".

Of all the things Kobe heard.

Yeah.

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I can appreciate that.

Well, it's funny because he's the guy.

So I started interning.

This is story time.

I started interning for him my junior year in college.

And I was a mess.

Like, I had so much stuff going on.

If you had to pick an ending, AK, which one was written the more in a way that you thought the book would actually go? Nebraska softball or Nebraska baseball?

It, it happens that way.

Well, you, you kinda learn, and it's part of growing and maturing, is that, like, you kinda figure out priorities and what's, what's really important to you, and is this really what you wanna do.

And you know, I knew at a young age that I wanted to do what we do for a living.

And, uh, and then when he gave me that speech, I was like, "Oh my God." And I look back and I'm like, absolutely, I was a knucklehead.

And I still am at times, but, uh, he had the patience to kinda hang with me.

So...

And you know, s- the, the, the things that you learn from your mentors, it's, it's, it's as much about dealing with people than it is the X's and O's and the nuts and bolts of what you do on a day-to-day, right? I mean, that's the thing I kinda learned from him, which is just a, a life lesson about how you treat people.

Mm.

Mm.

So, uh, Vaughn will be down there.

Uh, Novi at state track and state soccer.

And, uh, and then, you know, oh, baseball already spoke or is speaking in about 45 minutes.

So yeah, I mean, talk about all hands on deck.

This is just a...

And here, this is the other thing.

Yeah.

he could get it in.

He's the best.

He's the best.

Hey, uh, real quick about the Big Ten tournament.

Can somebody a- answer me, why does Nebraska as the two seed get the, uh, the team, the, get the bracket that only plays two games rather than, than the guys who have to play, what, three games? Why is that? Why does the three seed get the, get the, the qualifier that plays three games and not two?

Yeah.

So that's the name of the game.

If the pitching, if they continue pitching the way they are, they're gonna, they're gonna be just fine.

Mm.

So, uh, Vaughn will be down there.

Uh, Noah will be at state track and state soccer.

And, uh, and then, you know, oh, baseball already spoke or is speaking in about 45 minutes.

So yeah, I mean, talk about all hands on deck.

This is just the ...

And here, this is the other thing.

Yeah.

Noah's a

great dude.

Yeah, Noah Sacco, just like you put on your feet, Sacco.

That's what he told me.

So Noah goes out there yesterday, and I said, hey, I know Maurice Purify is doing the triple jump.

Just see if you can catch up to him and see if you can just chat with him about his commitment the whole bit.

The beauty of Noah is he's a Miller North guy, which is great.

Oh, yes, I have.

Noah's a

great dude.

Yeah, Noah Sacco.

Just like you put on your feet, Sacco.

That's what he told me.

So Noah goes out there yesterday and I said, hey, I know Maurice Purify is doing the triple job.

Just see if you can catch up to him and see if you can just chat with him about his commitment the whole bit.

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