• Photo Showcase: South Dakota State at Nebraska (fans)
• Photo Showcase: South Dakota State at Nebraska (game action)
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This time they didn't wear red
LINCOLN — Dan and Debra Kage have always worn red to Memorial Stadium.
Longtime Husker fans and one-time Lincoln residents, they had season tickets and sat in the same section for years.
On Saturday it was all blue and yellow for the Kage family.
The parents of South Dakota State redshirt freshman lineman Josh Kage, a Papillion-La Vista graduate, sat in section 21, row 5 and watched their son take the field with his team at Memorial Stadium — albeit for a team other than the Huskers.
Still, “It's awesome,” Debra said. “Just awesome.”
The shortest road trip of the season for the two has been planned for quite some time. Josh, an All-Nebraska lineman, state wrestling runner-up at heavyweight, and multiple track medalist in the throws, did not play against NU but is listed as a backup and has played this season.
“This tops all of (the honors),” Dan Kage said. “Ever since he was 6 or 7, playing midget football, he wanted to play here. It may not be for the home team, but it's still pretty cool.”
Dan's parents, lifelong residents of Lincoln, were in attendance to see their grandson. It was the first game they saw inside Memorial Stadium.
“I think any parent would tell you the same,” Debra said. “It doesn't get much better than this.”
Go Big ... Rabbits?
Sure, it was during a stoppage in play.
But the sounds coming from two corners of Memorial Stadium during parts of the first half were clear.
“Let's go Rabbits.”
South Dakota State was well-represented in Lincoln on Saturday. Jackrabbit colors filled both the southwest and northeast corners of the stadium. Patches of blue and yellow popped up in other places as well.
“It's our Super Bowl,” SDSU fan Jackson Nesbitt said.
‘That's awesome'
The first official visits of the season brought to Lincoln two prospects already committed to other schools.
Four-star tight end A.C. Leonard, a Florida pledge, and Rice commit Givens Price were on hand to see Nebraska take on South Dakota State.
They got the grand tour, heading into the Husker locker room with NU commits Daniel Davie, Zach Sterup and Ryne Reeves just before the Tunnel Walk.
If the reaction of Price's mother was any indication, consider the trip an eye-opener. Following the introduction of starting lineups on the stadium video boards, she turned to those around her and said, “That's awesome.”
Leonard and Price hold offers from Nebraska. Leonard, who has been committed to Florida for nearly a year now, is planning an official visit to defending national champion Alabama next weekend. He also holds offers from Louisville, Miami and Tennessee.
Nebraska's next home game, an Oct. 16 date with Texas, is expected to be the major recruiting weekend for NU.
No wheelies, guys
There's a new member of Nebraska's Scooter Gang.
Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Jesse Coffey was the latest injured Husker getting around on a motorized scooter. Coffey, out with a leg injury, joined Mike Smith and Sean Fisher as NU players stuck on the scooters.
Former crew member Will Compton has left the group. The sophomore linebacker is now walking with a boot on his right foot.
Coaching candor
The frustrations Saturday were evident early and often.
NU defensive coordinator Carl Pelini and offensive line coach Barney Cotton both had vocal outbursts during the first half.
Following a goal-line stand in the first quarter, Pelini got the starters together and voiced his displeasure with how they were playing. A camera man got too close to the discussion, and Pelini quickly asked him to leave.
Cotton's anger spilled over late in the second quarter. After an NU three-and-out gave South Dakota State the ball back with 5:34 to go in the half, Cotton ripped into his unit for something he reminded them had been discussed numerous times in meetings.
“That's not good enough,” he screamed, loudly enough for those about 10 rows up to hear. “I want to see somebody play fast. I want to see somebody make the right call and block somebody.”
This 'n that
Nebraska fans got a familiar face — or voice — as the sideline reporter for the pay-per-view telecast Saturday. Former Nebraska radio play-by-play man Jim Rose did the honors. Rose was the voice of the Huskers for six years. ... Junior safety Jim Ebke was one of four captains for Saturday's game. Ebke spent one season at South Dakota State before transferring and walking on at Nebraska. Ricky Henry, Cameron Meredith and Brandon Kinnie were the other captains. ... Saying that the pregame flyover was mistimed is a bit of an understatement. Four jets blazed over the stadium during the middle of the national anthem in a routine that is meant for the song's conclusion.
— Nick Rubek
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&149; Video: Highlights from the NU-SDSU game:
&149; Video: Bo Pelini after the NU-SDSU game:
• Video: Taylor Martinez after the NU-SDSU game:
Video: Rex Burkhead after the NU-SDSU game:
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