Dave Rimington just smiled and hung his head at the notion.

The two-time Outland Trophy winner was introduced to the Memorial Stadium faithful Saturday as the greatest center in college football history.

“I just kind of say ‘OK' to that,” he said. “I'm just happy somebody remembers me, remembers my name.”

Rimington was at an NU game for the first time since 2004 — former coach Bill Callahan's first game. Rimington lives in New York City, where he is executive director of the Boomer Esiason Foundation for cystic fibrosis.

Three-year-old triplets and a newborn keep him busy, but the former Husker said it's always nice to get back.

He chatted with old friends and signed more than a few autographs. It was all in a day's work for the greatest center in college football history.

Barking Bo

Maybe Bo Pelini sensed a lack of fire in his team before the game. Or maybe the second-year coach was just more fired up than usual.

Either way, Pelini was not his usual focused self just before kickoff. Pelini, who usually simply turns and gives a couple of taps on helmets before leading his team onto the field, was visibly more emotional than usual before his team ran out.

Pelini barked into the faces of the first group of Huskers, which seemed to give the group a shot in the arm.

In the front row

Call it a dose of Husker support.

NU volleyball players Brooke Delano, Lindsey Licht and Allison McNeal stood behind the Nebraska bench for much of the first half. There was a volleyball match at the NU Coliseum on Saturday, but it wasn't an NU match. BYU, which lost to the Huskers on Friday night, fell to Virginia.

Fifth-ranked Nebraska hosts No. 8 UCLA today at 2 p.m. at the Devaney Center.

Friday night stars

A couple of Omaha-area high school players who had huge Friday nights made unofficial visits.

Elkhorn's Trevor Roach, who rushed for 119 yards in a win over Bellevue East, was on hand, as was Central receiver Ted Lampkin. The Eagle senior returned a punt 77 yards for a score in a win over Grand Island and had a 70-yard touchdown reception, part of a three-catch, 114-yard evening.

No official visitors were in Lincoln for the game.

Others on hand included Prep running back-linebacker prospect Nick Mizaur and Millard South quarterback Bronson Marsh, whose hair was cut into a Mohawk.

Just hold on ...

It was the first major miscue of the season for the Nebraska crowd — a false start, if you will.

About one-third of the red balloons found their way into the sky prematurely in the first quarter.

After NU receiver Curenski Gilleylen caught a 43-yard pass to the Arkansas State 3-yard line, many NU faithful released their balloons, a move normally saved for the first Husker score. The Huskers, however, bailed their fans out by scoring one play later when Zac Lee found fullback Tyler Legate out of the backfield for a touchdown.

Roundup

In remembrance of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, members of the University of Nebraska Police, Lincoln Fire Department, Nebraska ROTC, Nebraska State Patrol and Lancaster County Sheriff's Department presented the colors during the national anthem. … A group of new faces, including walk-ons Ty Kildow (Millard South) and Nick Failla (Millard North), suited up Saturday. … The Husker bowling team was honored during the first half. Members of the team held out their fists, showing off their national championship rings. … Former NU strength and conditioning coach Boyd Epley was honored before kickoff. Tuesday will be the 40th anniversary of his hiring at Nebraska, the first paid strength and conditioning coach in collegiate athletic history.

— Nick Rubek