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It’s game week, and for Nebraska Football that means getting prepared for the first game of the season against Fresno State this weekend.
Mike Riley is getting ready to head into his second season as Husker head football coach, trying to prove himself this year as a worthwhile hire for the program. Riley and the team have gone through many ups and down since he began coaching last year. From a not-so-ideal record to a win at the Foster Farms Bowl. From the death of a beloved friend and teammate and the DUI arrest of a player and coach to the amount of transfers and new recruits. The journey Riley has been on has been an interesting and difficult one.
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It has already been a memorable season with all of the events that have occurred over the summer, but now it’s time for the best and most important part of the year, getting to see what the team’s got on the field. Riley and the team seem to be ready, according to the press conference on Monday. While everyone is nervous for the game, they all know they have worked incredibly hard and are prepared to play the Bulldogs.
One thing that will be very different and difficult for the team is going out on the field without Sam Foltz. His passing in July hit the team very hard, but they have all come together and tried to use the tragedy as a way to grow closer. However, even though the team was able to bond through the passing of Foltz, it will still be difficult to go out there without him, just as it will be hard for fans to not see him on the field playing his heart out.
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Another obstacle the team will have to overcome at this first gamer is not having wide receiver Brandon Reilly or safety and Captain Nate Gerry. Both of these players were suspended for violating team rules and will not be playing against Fresno State. This is hard due to the fact that both Reilly and Gerry are starters for the team and are two of the most successful players on the team this year.
With the roller coaster of a season that the Huskers have already experienced, it is about time to actually get to see them play a real game. After watching their open practice and hearing Riley and quarterback Tommy Armstrong speak at the Boneyard Bash this weekend, the team appears to be ready to show us what they’ve got.
Just a few short days left till Memorial Stadium will be full of Husker fans and students cheering on our favorite team. Go Big Red!
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