IOWA CITY, Iowa — So persons are questioning why the Nebraska captains refused to shake palms on Friday night time earlier than the coin toss at Kinnick Stadium.
Let me attempt to clarify. They don’t like Iowa.
These Nebraska gamers didn’t wish 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 sport 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 conventional gesture, the 4 from Nebraska didn’t transfer.
Ope
— Hawkeye Soccer (@HawkeyeFootball) November 30, 2024
“That was a 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 area objective as time expired to beat the Huskers 13-10.
Think about getting kicked within the intestine time and again and watching the bully have fun in your face. 4 instances now up to now seven years, Iowa has crushed Nebraska on area targets within the closing seconds.
Final 12 months in Lincoln, amazingly, Iowa defensive lineman Ethan Hurkett intercepted QB Chubba Purdy within the closing 20 seconds and the Hawkeyes received 13-10 on a 38-yard area objective 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 dwelling in bowl season for a seventh consecutive 12 months.
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 area objective 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 group in prayer, uniformed law enforcement officials guarded the emblem.
There might 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 sport — 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. Frequent 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 needed to ship a message that it was achieved with getting bullied.
Not one of the Nebraska sport captains, in defeat, had been made out there to the media.
And downside 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 might solely kick a area objective 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 sport.
However Kaleb Johnson raced for 72 yards, 44 p.c 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 12 months and possibly years earlier,” Rhule stated. “We discovered a technique to lose the sport on the finish.”
Rhule stated he was past disillusioned within the end. He stated he was offended.
“Credit score to them,” the coach stated. “These guys, they’ve received for a very long time. They consider. They make the performs all the way in which to the very finish. We’ve received to catch them.”
The Huskers, at 6-6, misplaced 5 video games this 12 months 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 will have put the Huskers forward earlier than Illinois received in time beyond regulation.
Nebraska is ready for the primary time since 2016 to simply accept a bowl invitation subsequent weekend. The season just isn’t over. Nevertheless it has been outlined by these late-game miscues.
“One sport 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 area objective and a fifth in time beyond regulation, 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 received to get higher.”
Raiola stated he “couldn’t be extra proud” of the progress Nebraska has made since Week 1.
“Dropping this fashion doesn’t do justice to all of the success and the strides that we’ve made as a group,” the freshman QB stated.
However progress is measured largely by wins. In opposition to Iowa, Nebraska counts one win up 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 all the time issues for Nebraska towards Iowa, the Huskers fell quick once more.
“It ought to most likely trouble individuals for a bit bit,” Rhule stated.
Relaxation assured, persons are bothered.
(Picture: Jeffrey Becker / Imagn Photos)