Reverence flows at Big Red Buzz

NEBRASKA CITY – Five days after an exhilarating win over Colorado,  fans at the Big Red Buzz at Valentino’s Restaurant in Nebraska City gave Husker Radio Network Analyst Damon Benning a rush of questions about the electric game-day atmosphere and handling the hard knocks of Husker nation.

The questions came fast. How is voice of the Huskers Greg Sharpe? What about wide receiver Malachi Coleman? Tristan Alvano? Tight end transfer Mac Markway?

Benning described Sharpe’s professionalism through his battle with cancer and his former Westside kicker’s struggle on the field. Coleman is likely to redshirt and Nebraska had just announced that Markway suffered a knee injury.

Back to the jubilance of the Colorado game with a multiple-choice question. What stat do you like best?

1. Zero turnovers by Nebraska
2. Six sacks by six different players
3. 16 yards total rushing by the Buffaloes (Benning’s pick)

Benning picked No. 3 and said Colorado probably has questions too.

Benning: “Colorado had to be the only people in that building that didn’t know what was coming. To this day they are like, ‘what happened?’”

Benning answers, Coach Matt Rhule happened.

Benning: “He thinks better and more of Nebraska than almost anybody in this room. The level of reverence he has for this place is incredible.
There is a part of him that is so confident that he has to make it come to fruition, right? … His reverence for the state and its people is not coach speak.
What you saw from those guys embracing the moment was everything they believe in their coach. There is no lip service.

... You let a team that thinks they are pretty good, believe they are pretty good and that’s where you saw the avalanche happen.”

He had a question of his own for Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. kickoff with Northern Iowa.

Benning: “I don’t know how Northern Iowa is going to score.”

 

Nebraska 41, Northern Iowa 3