IOWA CITY, Iowa — So individuals are questioning why the Nebraska captains refused to shake palms on Friday evening earlier than the coin toss at Kinnick Stadium.
Let me attempt to clarify. They don’t like Iowa.
These Nebraska gamers didn’t need to have interaction in an act of excellent sportsmanship within the firm of that opponent. They didn’t care about respecting the sport in a sequence that has included repeated moments of disrespect — of their view — dedicated by the Hawkeyes and directed at Nebraska.
The Huskers should not above a petty gesture. They’re mad. They’ve had sufficient. And it’s disingenuous of the Hawkeyes to behave as in the event that they don’t perceive or that this protest got here out of the blue.
Nebraska selects recreation captains earlier than every kickoff. On Friday, Elliott Brown, Emmett Johnson, MJ Sherman and DeShon Singleton walked to the middle of the sphere. When the Iowa captains moved to shake the Huskers’ palms, a standard gesture, the 4 from Nebraska didn’t transfer.
Ope 😂
— Hawkeye Soccer (@HawkeyeFootball) November 30, 2024
“That was a little bit bizarre,” Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins stated after the 13-10 Iowa victory.
Was it, although?
Perceive that custom on this sequence is for Iowa to tear out the Huskers’ hearts. It occurred once more on Friday. Defensive lineman Max Llewellyn stripped Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola and recovered his fumble with 20 seconds to play earlier than Drew Stevens nailed a 53-yard discipline aim as time expired to beat the Huskers 13-10.
Think about getting kicked within the intestine time and again and watching the bully have a good time in your face. 4 instances now prior to now seven years, Iowa has overwhelmed Nebraska on discipline targets within the remaining seconds.
Final yr in Lincoln, amazingly, Iowa defensive lineman Ethan Hurkett intercepted QB Chubba Purdy within the remaining 20 seconds and the Hawkeyes gained 13-10 on a 38-yard discipline aim by Marshall Meeder as time expired.
In celebration of reclaiming the Freedom Trophy after Nebraska’s lone win since 2014 two years in the past, Iowa gamers waved goodbye to the Huskers and their followers, wishing them, “Merry Christmas,” earlier than Nebraska stayed at house in bowl season for a seventh consecutive yr.
It was painful, second-year Nebraska coach Matt Rhule stated final week.
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In 2019, Iowa kicker Keith Duncan hit a 48-yard walk-off discipline aim at Nebraska, then turned to the house bench, wagged his finger and blew kisses on the Huskers.
On Friday when Nebraska gamers arrived at Kinnick Stadium and moved towards the middle of the sphere to assemble as a workforce in prayer, uniformed law enforcement officials guarded the emblem.
There will probably be no assembly on 50 yd line. Odd how this has develop into a factor. pic.twitter.com/fFnhloycx0
— Damon Benning (@damonbenning) November 29, 2024
Nebraska didn’t play soiled towards Iowa on Friday. It was a clear recreation — except for the Huskers’ particular groups blunders, blown assignments within the second half and the late turnover.
They didn’t head hunt. They didn’t attempt to begin fights or commit private fouls. Widespread in rivalry video games, these actions would have crossed the road of poor sportsmanship.
However a silent protest earlier than the coin toss as a reminder of the motivation in play?
Spare us the insincere audacity.
Higgins and his teammates both selected not to concentrate, or the Hawkeyes knew precisely why Nebraska wished to ship a message that it was finished with getting bullied.
Not one of the Nebraska recreation captains, in defeat, had been made out there to the media.
And drawback is, the technique backfired on the Huskers.
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Nebraska dominated a lot of the sport. It pitched a shutout till late within the third quarter when Iowa may solely kick a discipline aim after it recovered a muffed punt on the Nebraska 4-yard line. The Huskers held Iowa to twenty yards and one first down within the first half — and a paltry 5 first downs within the recreation.
However Kaleb Johnson raced for 72 yards, 44 % of the Hawkeyes’ output, on the primary play of the fourth quarter to even the rating and foretell the inevitable Nebraska collapse.
“Similar to final yr and doubtless years earlier,” Rhule stated. “We discovered a option to lose the sport on the finish.”
Rhule stated he was past disenchanted within the end. He stated he was indignant.
“Credit score to them,” the coach stated. “These guys, they’ve gained for a very long time. They consider. They make the performs all the way in which to the very finish. We’ve bought to catch them.”
The Huskers, at 6-6, misplaced 5 video games this yr by a complete of 29 factors.
In 4, towards Ohio State, UCLA, USC and Iowa, they dedicated turnovers on the finish with plentiful time out there to win and even the rating. And within the fifth, Raiola missed an open receiver ultimately zone that may have put the Huskers forward earlier than Illinois gained in additional time.
Nebraska is ready for the primary time since 2016 to just accept a bowl invitation subsequent weekend. The season isn’t over. But it surely has been outlined by these late-game miscues.
“One recreation doesn’t outline us,” senior defensive lineman Ty Robinson stated.
No. However 5 do.
After final season, when the Huskers misplaced 4 video games by a discipline aim and a fifth in additional time, they created a mantra, “Chasing 3.” Nebraska constructed its offseason routine and motivational base across the bid to get three factors higher.
The irony was thick in chilly Kinnick air on Friday.
“We needed to do what they did,” Rhule stated.
He stated he doesn’t consider in dangerous luck. “We’ve simply bought to get higher.”
Raiola stated he “couldn’t be extra proud” of the progress Nebraska has made since Week 1.
“Shedding this fashion doesn’t do justice to all of the success and the strides that we’ve made as a workforce,” the freshman QB stated.
However progress is measured largely by wins. In opposition to Iowa, Nebraska counts one win prior to now decade.
Its pregame gesture on Friday, whereas not an affront to the game of soccer or something greater than a turnabout towards Iowa, rung hole.
Ultimately, when it at all times issues for Nebraska towards Iowa, the Huskers fell brief once more.
“It ought to most likely trouble individuals for a little bit bit,” Rhule stated.
Relaxation assured, individuals are bothered.
(Picture: Jeffrey Becker / Imagn Photos)
