Ryan Walters has already given Nebraska fans something to chew on before his return to Memorial Stadium.
The Washington defensive coordinator, who used to lead Purdue’s defense, spoke this week about the atmosphere he expects in Lincoln and made a point of saying he knows what he’s walking into. Asked about the difference between Penn State’s Whiteout games and Nebraska’s Blackout games, Walters took the opportunity to talk up Memorial Stadium - and, in the process, gave Huskers fans a fresh reason to circle the game.
"I've played there as a player. Coached there is a coach," Walters said about Nebraska's Memorial Stadium.
"You know, the fan base is extremely passionate. You know, I think they've had a sellout since like 1962 or something like that.
And so they are, you know, it's hostile. They understand the game.
And it gets really quiet when you make plays there."
That’s the kind of quote Nebraska supporters are likely to treat as a dare.
Walters’ words echo the kind of thing Maryland head coach Mike Locksley said earlier this year before his team came to Lincoln. Locksley offered mostly respectful praise, but added, "Really, it’s a great venue to go play in. But it’s not one of those intimidating ones that gets super loud.”
Nebraska fans responded the way Nebraska fans usually do: they took it personally, and the Huskers beat Maryland 48-23 in a game that felt loud from the start. The athletic department also made sure Locksley’s comment stayed in the conversation, using it as fuel on social media.
Now Walters has offered up his own version, and it would be no surprise if Nebraska’s athletic department does the same thing again. The setup is already there for another loud night, and Walters has handed the fan base a little extra motivation.
His history with Nebraska only sharpens the edge. Walters was part of Purdue teams that got beaten by the Huskers 31-14 and 28-10, results that helped lead to his firing at Purdue. After that, he landed at Washington as defensive coordinator.
He has also been open before about his dislike for Nebraska, and he tied that feeling to his Colorado roots in 2023 ahead of his first Purdue game against the Huskers.
"My history with Nebraska started at a very young age. Obviously grew up a fan at Colorado, my dad playing there, and that was the hated rivalry, right…" Walters said back in 2023, before his first Purdue team faced the Huskers.
"… It's like, man, I really can't stand that color. Don't like that N on the helmet.
And so definitely this has been a big week."
In Other News...
Nebraska Blackout Comes With One Huge Question Husker Fans Can't Ignore
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Washington brings an offense Nebraska has to respect, and the Huskers are also dealing with an injury situation that adds another layer of concern to a game they simply cannot afford to lose. The matchup feels like one of those spots where the margin for error is thin and every hidden-yardage swing matters, which is why the special teams piece looms so large. For Nebraska, the blackout is the backdrop, but the real question is whether the Huskers can handle the kind of game that leaves no room for the kind of mistakes that have lingered too long already. [Read more 🡒]
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Little has stayed in frequent contact with Nebraska and had originally been set to visit for the Washington game, while Flemings brings a different kind of challenge since he is already committed to Penn State. Even so, Nebraska is still expected to get him on campus later in the season, which gives the Huskers a chance to keep pushing in a recruitment that is far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Faces A Familiar Problem In A Game It Can't Waste
A Halloween trip to Memorial Stadium brings Nebraska back to work after the bye week, and the timing feels right for a team trying to settle a few lingering issues before the calendar turns. The Cornhuskers have spent the extra time getting healthier at running back, which could matter against a Washington defense that may have to account for a changing picture at quarterback.
Nebraska, though, is also staring at its own familiar problem: games that get loose late and an offense that has too often gone quiet coming out of halftime. Washingtons quarterback situation is still unsettled, with Demond Williams Jr. and Elijah Brown both in the mix, so the Huskers will have to prepare for more than one look while making sure this one does not slip into the same kind of frustrating script. [Read more 🡒]