Huskies’ triumph in Lincoln has AD defending coach
LINCOLN, Neb. — Northern Illinois is now 4 for 5 against the Big Ten under coach Rod Carey, so if you were looking for shocked expressions after the Huskies’ 21-17 upset of Nebraska, you had to go to the Cornhuskers’ locker room.
There was a bit of a beenthere, done-that air about what the Huskies pulled off at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Yes, the Huskies returned for a curtain call after the game and lined up to take a picture in front of their remaining fans in the corner of the southwest end zone.
But beating Nebraska isn’t what it used to be. The intimidation factor for visitors to one of college football’s great cathedrals has faded.
“We feel like we can play with anyone, play ball no matter where we’re at, no matter where we go,” said cornerback Shawun Lurry, who returned the first of the Huskies’ two interceptions for touchdowns.
“In the grand scheme of things, it is one game,” Carey said. “We’ve been here before in a situation like this. We’re 2-1, that’s all it means. Are we going to enjoy it for 24 hours? You bet.”
Jordan Huff scored the winning touchdown on a 2-yard run with 8:52 left, and the Huskies of the Mid-American Conference became the first team not in a Power Five conference or a major independent to win in Lincoln since Southern Mississippi knocked off the Cornhuskers in 2004.
Nebraska (1-2) had two chances with the ball after Northern Illinois went ahead. But Mycial Allen broke up a pass on fourthand-7, and quarterback Tanner Lee threw his third interception of the game, allowing the Huskies to go into victory formation with 1:36 left.
Lee has thrown a nationalhigh seven interceptions in three games.
The stunning loss brought athletic director Shawn Eichorst to the postgame interview area, where he assured reporters that he has confidence in head coach Mike Riley. Last week, Nebraska announced it had given Riley a one-year contract extension, through the 2020 season.
“I’m angry, I’m frustrated, I’m disappointed,” Eichorst said. “It’s still early in the season, and we need to find ways to win games like this. I want to continue to show our support, but I also understand there is a lot of frustration out there when you don’t win games like today.
“I want to make sure folks understand we’ve got to get that fixed and we have to get heading in the right direction, and we have the right coach to do it.”
The Huskies took a 14-0 lead into halftime on their interception returns. On Nebraska’s opening possession, Lurry jumped in front of De’Mornay Pierson-El on a bubble screen and ran 87 yards untouched for NIU’s first score.
“They run a lot of bubbles, so something just told me to jump it and I just jumped it,” Lurry said.
Later in the first quarter, Jawuan Johnson caught a floater after Lee got hit by Drequan Brown and returned it 25 yards for a score.
Nebraska was held scoreless in the first half at home for the first time since 2007. In addition to booing, a good number of fans left at halftime.
“We have to prove who we are,” Riley said. “We’ve been, I would say, inconsistent at best.”
“We are going to keep busting our tails,” Nebraska linebacker Luke Gifford said. “There is a sense of urgency, and the standard here has not changed.”
Nebraska opens Big Ten play at home next Saturday against Rutgers.