Steven M. Sipple: Allen detects change in Frost and other takeaways from NU news luncheon
Sep 20, 2021 Updated Sep 21, 2021
Steven M. Sipple and Parker Gabriel give the four most interesting pieces of information after Monday's Husker press conference.
The pizza was warm, the salad crisp, and the conversation lively.
Nebraska held its weekly news luncheon Monday in advance of Saturday night's game against No. 20 Michigan State.
Some nonfood-related takeaways:
1. Shift in Frost: Nebraska junior tight end Austin Allen thinks he detected a subtle shift in his head coach's demeanor last week as the team prepared to play third-ranked Oklahoma.
"You could just tell there was something different with (Scott) Frost," Allen said. "It's kind of carried over (to this week), too."
What was different about the fourth-year Husker head coach?
"It was really that there was no more nice guy," Allen said. "It was he's got to be a mean guy. It's kind of what we need. We need a disciplinary guy."
A team as talent-laden as Oklahoma tends to bring out the best in opponents. If there really was some sort of shift in Frost's demeanor, if he really is operating with a bit of a harder edge, that may help explain it.
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He also may be becoming increasingly tired of coming up short in games.
"You could just tell the details were going to matter that much more that week, and every week, really," Allen said. "It was almost like he was setting an example for us of what he wants a leader on the team to look like. It was really promising to me."
Of course, many Nebraska fans will read this and say, "Why now? Where was this before?"
Which is partly why I asked Frost about Allen's comments. Was the coach really less tolerant of mistakes last week?
Frost chuckled a bit before saying, "Maybe. We're not very tolerant of them any time."
Good answer.
"I'm just going to continue to harp on the guys that if we play with speed and precision, we've got enough talent to be in every game that we play," said Frost, who's 14-22 at NU. "This league's tough. We're going to have eight (more) conference games. I think five of the eight are ranked right now. I don't think there's a team that we can't play with and aren't going to have a chance against.
"But if you don't play well, any of them can beat you. That's kind of where we are, and that's kind of where the league is. So, mistakes get you beat. They've gotten us beat too often.
"We need to keep being intolerant."
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost (right) leads the Huskers onto the field to take on Oklahoma on Sept. 18 in Norman, Oklahoma.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
2. Pregame jawing: The atmosphere was intense Saturday at Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma.
Heck, it was intense at 8 a.m. walking to the stadium. You could feel it. It's hard to explain.
During warmups — about 30 minutes before kickoff — Nebraska and Oklahoma players near midfield jawed back and forth. It was definitely an intense scene. There was a lot of barking and woofing. There was some finger-pointing.
Allen isn't a big fan of such moments.
"I think that's the softest thing in football — jabbering and talking," he said. "You have to speak with your play on the field."
Allen, one of four Nebraska team captains, shoved a handful of teammates away from the fray. He clearly thought the situation could detract from his teammates' focus.
"Just go play football, that's what I told everybody," Allen said. "I said, 'They can do all the talking they want, we've got to take care of us.' That starts with being the smarter football team. It would have been stupid of us to get a penalty at that moment."
Sounds like excellent leadership to me.
3. Fine line: Based on what I heard from several Nebraska players Saturday and Monday, there's no question in my mind that the Huskers are a confident team.
Frost said they believed wholeheartedly they would beat Oklahoma even though they were three-touchdown underdogs. Many players came away feeling they should've won. But this is where you get to a fine-line conversation. I mean, it's good that Nebraska players are taking positives away from the game. But they shouldn't feel too good about the result, right?
Make no mistake, Husker senior safety Deontai Williams walks on the correct side of that line.
"We're tired of being so close," he said. "That takes a toll on you, when you're tired of being so close. We want to win. We get tired of handing out moral victories and stuff like that."
That's what you want to hear from competitive athletes.
"Nine out of 10 times, we should've beaten them," he said of the Sooners.
Again, Nebraska is a confident team. But if it keeps losing close games, even against ranked teams, confidence obviously will wane and frustration will mount. Bottom line, this program could really use a big win. Saturday night's game would qualify in that regard.
Steven M. Sipple and Parker Gabriel deliver the latest Two-Minute Drill on Monday at Memorial Stadium.
4. Perfect answer: Someone pointed out to Nebraska junior Adrian Martinez that he's the first quarterback in school history to have four 1,000-yard passing seasons. Does he ever reflect on all he's accomplished statistically at NU?
"There's a lot to do right now," he said. "There'll be a time for reflection, and I'll have that time, for sure. But right now it's all about doing, it's all about executing. There's a lot more I want to accomplish, you know?
"Stats are cool, but at the end of the day, it's about winning. So we've got to do that."
Perfect. Just perfect.
Photos and videos: Oklahoma holds off Nebraska 50 years after the Game of the Century
Courtney Britt (center), mother of Nebraska football player Cam Taylor-Britt waves to the team buses along with his sister Danielle Taylor (right) on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Former Nebraska football player David Bryan, a member of the 1986 team, shows off his Big Eight and Sugar Bowl rings Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Arriving nearly two hours before the start of the game, (from left to right) Dave Radenslaben, Brandon Badberg and Ben Jafari survey the scene Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Allan Johnson (second right) and Colby Parsons (right), both of Edmond, Okla., attend their first Oklahoma together in 25 years on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska tight end Austin Allen (11) checks out the field before the game against Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Sporting a "Beat Nebraska" cap, former Oklahoma football head coach Barry Switzer (right) makes an entrance to shoot off the RUF/NEKS ceremonial shotgun before making a television appearance on Fox on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt checks out the field after the Huskers arrived before the game against Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska cheerleaders Logan Larsen (bottom) and Haiden Loop cheer on the northside of the stadium Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) is chased down by Nebraska's JoJo Domann in the second quarter Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost and the Huskers wait for Oklahoma to take to the field before making their entrance Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) is chased down by Nebraska's JoJo Domann (13) in the second quarter Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska's Quinton Newsome (left) drags down Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) in the second quarter Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma's D. J. Graham (9) pulls in a one-handed interception on a pass intended for Nebraska wide receiver Levi Falck (88) in the fourth quarter as Sooners teammate Delarrin Turner-Yell (32) defends on the play near the goal line Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska running back Jaquez Yant (0) displays the 50th anniversary of the Game of the Century sticker on his helmet as he walks off the field after the Huskers' loss to Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska kicker Connor Culp (33) reacts as he misses his second field goal attempt during the third quarter against Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma's Pat Fields (10) returns a blocked extra point for two points in the second half as Nebraska coach Scott Frost (left) looks on Sept. 18 in Norman, Okla.
A concerned-looking Markese Stepp (30) watches as the training staff tends to the injured Gabe Ervin Jr. (22) in the second half against Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla. Ervin did not return to the game.
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) lunges forward for a first down against Oklahoma's Jaden Davis (4) and Pat Fields (10) in the third quarter as Husker head coach Scott Frost looks on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (top center) and the Husker offensive line go against the Oklahoma D-line in the third quarter Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost walks off the field after the Huskers lost 23-16 to Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) gets picked up by teammate Turner Corcoran after a second-half sack as Oklahoma's Brian Asamoah (24) celebrates in the background on Sept. 18 in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska wide receiver Zavier Betts (15) pulls in a first-down pass from quarterback Adrian Martinez as he's defended by Oklahoma's D. J. Graham (9) in the fourth quarter Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma's Mario Williams (4) breaks out of the grasp of Nebraska's Braxton Clark (11) in the second half Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska's Braxton Clark (11) breaks up a pass intended for Oklahoma's Mario WIlliams (4) in the second half Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Pulled by two white ponies named Boomer and Sooner, the Sooner Schooner makes an appearance after an Oklahoma touchdown in the second half against Nebraska on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska wide receiver Omar Manning (left) celebrates his second-half touchdown against Oklahoma with teammates Samori Toure (3) and Travis Vokolek on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska coach Scott Frost (center) and offensive line coach Greg Austin (left) have a word with head linesman John Wiercinski after Husker center Cam Jurgens (51) was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct in the second half against Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska offensive line coach Greg Austin (left) has a word with an (unseen) official after Husker center Cam Jurgens (51) was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct in the second half against Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma's Marvin Mims (17) catches a first-down pass from QB Spencer Rattler who caught a pass from WR Mario Williams in the second half against Nebraska on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma's Mario WIlliams (4) passes the ball back to Sooner quarterback Spencer Rattler, who then throws it to Marvin Mims for a first-down reception in the second half on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Under pressure from Nebraska's JoJo Domann (13), Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler throws to Marvin Mims on a trick play for a first down in the second half Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma.
Nebraska running back Rahmir Johnson rushes the ball against Oklahoma in the second half Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin (22) gets upended by Oklahoma's Pat Fields in the third quarter Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska tight end Travis Vokolek pulls in an Adrian Marinez pass for a first down against Oklahoma in the second half Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma's Pat Fields (right) and teammates celebrate after he returned a blocked Huskers extra point for a two-point conversion in the second half on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler scrambles for yardage against Nebraska in the second half Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks (26) scores in front of Nebraska's Garrett Nelson (44) in the second half Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska receiver Omar Manning is all smiles after catching an Adrian Martinez pass for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin (22) gets upended by Oklahoma's Pat Fields in the third quarter Saturday in Norman, Okla. Ervin would get injured later in the game and would not return to the field.
Nebraska tight end Travis Vokolek runs after catching a pass for a first down against Oklahoma on Sept. 18 in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska tight end Travis Vokolek (83) hauls in a pass for a first down against Oklahoma in the second half Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez scrambles to avoid Oklahoma's Jaden Davis (left) and Pat Fields in the second half Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) scrambles to avoid the tackle of Oklahoma's Isaiah Thomas in the second half last week in Norman, Oklahoma.
Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin is attended to by the Husker training staff after an injury in the second half against Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez takes off on a run in the second half against Oklahoma on Sept. 18 in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska linebacker JoJo Domann (13) gets pumped up after a Husker defensive stop in the second half against Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers stream onto the field to take on Oklahoma in the 50th Anniversary of the Game of the Century on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska's Deontai Williams (bottom) sends Oklahoma's Michael Woods flying with a first-quarter hit on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Nebraska wide receiver Omar Manning (5) stiff-arms Oklahoma's Brian Asamoah on a first-quarter reception on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
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