Nebraska

Staff Shakeup: Evan Cooper Out At Nebraska

Published

5 months ago

July 7, 2024

Staff Shakeup: Evan Cooper Out At Nebraska

On Friday evening, Matt Rhule’s operation took a huge hit when Nebraska defensive backs coach Evan Cooper decided to retire for personal reasons. What does this sudden departure mean for the Cornhuskers going forward? And what does his new replacement bring to Lincoln? Let’s take a look.

Developer of Talent

In addition to his duties in the secondary, Cooper was known as the primary talent evaluator for the Cornhuskers. On the defensive side of the football, he used his Florida connections to secure the commitments of linebacker Vincent Shavers, as well as edge rusher Willis McGahee IV. Furthermore, the defensive line made a significant jump under his watch. Highly touted prospects Cameron Lenhardt and Princewill Umanieilen brought explosiveness to Terrance Knighton’s defensive line as a freshman. On the offensive side of the ball, he would have similar success finding talent. He fought off the Miami Hurricanes to bring in freshman wideout Jacory Barney Jr. And during the season, Jaylen Lloyd became a big-play wide receiver. Under Garrett McGuire, transfers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor will have ample opportunities to show off. The offense will most likely not be affected. But his departure could affect the defense. Cooper’s leadership provided stability in the secondary. Without it, defensive coordinator Tony White may see a slump in production with his freshman players.

Stability on Defense

In Cooper’s first season as the defensive backs coach for Nebraska, several players in his position room experienced massive jumps in their play. This was evident when safety Omar Brown and cornerback Tommi Hill proved themselves throughout NU’s season after both had virtually unknown careers with the Big Red. As a JUCO safety in Lincoln, DeShon Singleton knew he could get early playing time. In five games with the Cornhuskers, he finished with 19 tackles and one pass breakup. However, he couldn’t continue through 2023. A knee injury on the opening play against Michigan dashed his chance of NU making a bowl game. In that regard, NU’s linebackers delivered in spades. Safety hybrid Issac Gifford nabbed an honorable All-Big-Ten mention at the end of 2023. And Omaha native John Bullock was a solid contributor after struggling in 2021 and 2022. Can they work together to deliver the Huskers their first winning season since 2016?

Read more about Issac Gifford’s decision to return to the Blackshirts in A Wild Week For The Nebraska Football Program

A New Face In Lincoln

On Saturday morning, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the Cornhuskers are set to tab John Butler as their new secondary coach. His arrival in Lincoln will give the Blackshirts’ defense much-needed NFL experience. From 2014 to 2017, Butler served as the secondary coach for the Houston Texans under head coach Bill O’Brien. After he parted ways with the franchise, he joined head coach Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills in the 2018 season. During his time with the secondary, safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer became standout players. Also, cornerback Tre’Davious White would earn two Pro Bowl nods in 2019 and 2020. He had similar success as a college coach. At Minnesota, he would serve as the Gopher’s special teams coordinator and provide additional help with the linebackers. However, he wouldn’t have major success until he arrived in Happy Valley. In his time with the Nittany Lions, he helped coach the team to a 7-5 record. During that time, his defense would have 20 takeaways. Does Butler’s techniques work immediately? Or will an adjustment period have to take place during the season?

Can He Still Recruit?

How will Butler recruit the secondary positions in Lincoln? It’s something that Rhule and the rest of Nebraska’s coaching staff will have to address. The 51-year-old has been out of the college game since the 2013 season. In the decade since Division One football has undergone major change with the addition of the transfer portal and NIL. Can he adapt to this new system by flexing his recruiting muscles nationally? Or will he choose to establish a pipeline in the Philadelphia area? Butler is a Pennsylvania native, and the Huskers have had success in the state. In 2023, Rhule used his connections to bring Rahmir Stewart into the program. Could this happen again with NU’s 2025 recruiting class?

Photo courtesy: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

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Nebraska

How to Watch Nebraska Women’s Basketball vs. North Alabama: Preview, Breakdown, TV Channel

Published

4 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Press Room

How to Watch Nebraska Women’s Basketball vs. North Alabama: Preview, Breakdown, TV Channel

The No. 20 Nebraska women’s basketball team put out a statement in its first road trip of the early 2024-25 season. Behind a school-record 20 three-pointers, the Huskers destroyed South Dakota in a 113-70 thrashing at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls on Saturday.

Four NU players put up double-digit points, including a team-high 23 from five-star freshman Britt Prince in her second game after returning from injury. She was an outstanding 10-for-13 from the field with four assists. Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Natalie Potts added 22 points with seven rebounds while Alexis Markowski (14), Kendall Moriarity (13) and Kendall Coley (12) also added to the stat sheet.

Nebraska shot over 63% from the field and went 20-for-34 from deep in a performance that will keep the Huskers’ confidence riding high going into Tuesday’s contest at home.

Here’s all you need to know as NU welcomes in North Alabama for a week night matchup.

How to Follow Along

Matchup: No. 20 Nebraska (4-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. North Alabama (2-2, 0-0 Atlantic Sun)

When: Tuesday, November 19

Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE

Time: 7 p.m. CST

Watch: B1G+

Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates

Mar 2, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Texas Tech Lady Raiders head coach Candi Whitaker on the sidelines during a game against the Baylor Bears at Ferrell Center. Baylor won 75-65. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-Imagn Images / Ray Carlin-Imagn Images

North Alabama Scout

Head Coach: Candi Whitaker | 1st Season | 233-224 (.510) Career HC Record | 7 WNBA Draftees, 2x DII NCAA Tournament Appearances | Past head coaching stops at Missouri Western (DII), Texas Tech and UMKC.

2023-2024 Record: 12-18 (8-8 Atlantic Sun, T-6th) | 1x Third Team All-ASUN, 1x ASUN All-Freshman Team | Did not qualify for the postseason.

All-Time Series: First meeting.

Fun Fact: North Alabama head coach Candi Whitaker is no stranger to the Huskers, despite it being the first meeting between the two programs. The starting point guard for Texas Tech during her playing days, Whitaker led the Red Raiders to a pair of victories over Nebraska. In 2001 Tech won 66-50 and followed up with a 99-57 thumping of NU in 2002.

Key Additions: Charity Gallegos, G, Sr. (Cal-State San Marcos) | Jazzy Klinge, F, Jr. (Johnson County CC) | Sarang West, G, Jr. (Allen CC).

Key Departures: Alexis Callins, G, Gr. (Union) | Allie Craig Cruce, F (Eligibility).

Outlook: It’s a new era for North Alabama women’s basketball in just the school’s third season as part Division I and the FCS after coming up from Division II. UNA did not renew the contract of former head coach Missy Tiber, who led the Lions to a 172-147 record over 11 seasons.

Instead, athletic director Josh Looney brought along his hire from Missouri Western Candi Whitaker. Looney hired Whitaker at MWSU in 2019, in which she led the Griffons to an overall record of 100-47 with an Division II Elite Eight Appearance in 2022, 2024 MIAA Regular Season Championship and 2024 MIAA Coach of the Year. Whitaker also brings key experience as a head coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (two postseason appearances) from 2006-12 and Texas Tech–her alma mater– where she averaged just over 10 wins a season.

The Lions are .500 early in Whitaker’s first season, beating UT Martin (66-63) and South Alabama (71-62) while losing to Tennessee Tech (73-64) and a most recent trip to Kansas (81-64).

Only two players averaged double-digit points last season and both Alexis Callins (Union) and Allie Craig Cruce (graduated) are both gone from the roster. However, the Lions returned most of their roster that went 12-18 in 2023-2024. Give credit to Whitaker, who unlocked the abilities of Cameron Jones (10.5 PPG) and Emma Kate Tittle (9.3 PPG) who were the bottom two scorers from last season.

Cal-State San Marcos transfer Charity Gallegas has been leading the way with 11.3 points per game with Clutter (7.8 PPG), Katie Criswell (6.8 PPG) and India Howard (5.8 PPG) all adding help. Transfer forward Jazzy Klinge has also provided four points and two rebounds per game off the bench. She came in from Allen Community College where she was a first-team NJCAA All-American last season.

For a program trying to find its footing in the Division I scene, a hire like Whitaker should spell confidence moving forward. However, it could be a painful couple years before seeing the rewards. A 10th-place voting in the ASUN preseason poll points toward a rough season, and the Huskers will most likely be their second consecutive blowout loss for the Lions.

MORE: Nebraska Volleyball Setter Claims Fourth Weekly Big Ten Conference Honor

MORE: Carriker Chronicles: Dawson Merritt on Choosing Nebraska Over Alabama & More

MORE: Huskers Have Two Chances for Win No. 6

MORE: Nebraska Volleyball Remains at No. 2 in Latest AVCA Rankings

MORE: What Will it Take for Nebraska Football to Turn the Corner?

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

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Nebraska Volleyball Setter Claims Fourth Weekly Big Ten Conference Honor

Published

12 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Press Room

Nebraska Volleyball Setter Claims Fourth Weekly Big Ten Conference Honor

Bergen Reilly’s stellar sophomore season continues to add more accolades.

The Nebraska volleyball setter claimed the Big Ten Conference’s Setter of the Week honor on Monday as the conference awarded weekly honors. It is the ninth time this season a Husker has been honored, and the fourth time for Reilly in 2024.

The sophomore led No. 2 Nebraska to wins over No. 16 Minnesota and Indiana with over ten assists per set and nearly four digs per set in the wins last week. In the four-set over the Golden Gophers Thursday, Reilly had 40 assists and a career-high 20 digs with six kills. She became the first Husker setter to record at least 40 assists, 20 digs, and five kills in a match in the rally scoring era.

Bergen Reilly goes out of bounds to keep the ball alive. / Amarillo Mullen

Reilly then capped the weekend in a dominant Saturday sweep of Indiana, adding 35 assists with seven digs. She aided the Nebraska offense to a .324 hitting percentage, and totaled 75 assists, 27 digs, eight kills, seven blocks, and one ace over the two matches.

Reilly joins her own company for the fourth time this season as the Huskers’ Setter of the Week honoree, claiming the award for the first time in November. She last won the award on Oct. 14, and had previously claimed the honor on Sept. 2 and Sept. 16.

Reilly’s fourth award keeps her ahead of Penn State freshman setter Izzy Starck, who has claimed the conference’s honor three times this season. Nebraska has had four players claim conference honors, as Reilly, middle blockers Andi Jackson and Rebekah Allick, and libero Lexi Rodriguez have all earned a weekly award this year.

Lexi Rodriguez passes the ball in the first set.

Lexi Rodriguez (black) passes the ball in the first set. / Amarillo Mullen

Allick has won two defensive players of the week honors, while Rodriguez has earned two. Jackson, a fellow sophomore, claimed defensive player of the week honors on Oct. 28. Reilly’s Nov. 18 honor marks the eighth Big Ten Setter of the Week honor of her career, as the South Dakota native won four weekly honors in 2023.

Nebraska (26-1, 16-0 B1G) continues to lead the Big Ten regular season race with key wins over the top teams in the conference, including No. 7 Wisconsin, No. 8 Purdue, No. 13 Oregon, No. 16 Minnesota, No. 21 USC, and RV Washington. The No. 2 Huskers head to Iowa on Wednesday for a match in Iowa City, then return to Lincoln Saturday night for a home rematch against the Badgers.

MORE: Carriker Chronicles: Dawson Merritt on Choosing Nebraska Over Alabama & More

MORE: Huskers Have Two Chances for Win No. 6

MORE: Nebraska Volleyball Remains at No. 2 in Latest AVCA Rankings

MORE: What Will it Take for Nebraska Football to Turn the Corner?

MORE: Big Ten Jumps Into Latest College Basketball Top 25, 5 Conference Teams Ranked

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

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Nebraska

Larry the Gable Guy bringing comedy tour to nine Nebraska communities

Published

19 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Press Room

Larry the Gable Guy bringing comedy tour to nine Nebraska communities

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Nebraska’s own Larry the Cable Guy is gearing up for a road trip, bringing his comedy to nine communities across the state.

“Larry’s Nebraska Road Trip” featuring special guest Nick Hoff kicks off early next year with stops planned in Kearney, Wahoo, Central City, Pawnee City, Falls City, Norfolk, York, Scottsbluff and Chadron. The comedian said he’s excited to perform at intimate venues that bring him closer to the communities that have supported him over the years.

“I’ve spent a lot of time traveling the United States, but there’s nothing like sharing some laughs with folks in small towns across Nebraska,” Larry the Gable Guy said. “These people have been my biggest supporters, and I can’t wait to put on a great show and give back to the places that shaped me.”

The tour will feature fresh material, and Larry is pledging proceeds from each show to benefit local charities in each town.