1-on-1 with DP – 93.7 The Ticket KNTK - Nebraska vs. Iowa Football Reaction, December 1st, 2025, 11:00 am.
Episode Date: December 1, 2025Recap of Nebraska vs. Iowa Football from this past Friday, along with conversation on how the Cornhuskers fix this 'November problem'.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy... & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Monday morning, boom.
Ah, in your face.
In your face.
We're in your face on a Monday.
Why necessary?
Because it's necessary, I say.
Lots to talk about.
22 degrees, 11.03 in the city.
11.03.
O Street.
Crispy white.
We're having a special, special, special hour.
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visit hamilton tell.com for more info today thank you thank you bach if you would do
give me another service concert would you take the youtube feed and share it with the announcement
that we have a special guest for segment one yeah can can you tag said gentleman uh he is known
to some as as as the as the face of of 937 ticket often the voice of 937 ticket certainly
uh the ATM card holder of 93 7 ticket
He is the bright, shiny face, rarely seen around these parts on air at 11 a.m. in the 11 o'clock hour, but let's bring him in because we have conversations to have. I have questions, kind sir. He is in fact, Jake Sorensen from early break and Beatrice's finest. We appreciate you, Jake. Beatrice might attest that. There's others that could fit that role, but I appreciate that intro.
Who would, who would they claim greater than the?
Well, there's a lot of options out there.
I could go with former NFL players, Xavier Oman, is in that conversation.
Not a bigger name around these parts.
Trevor Mankey, Mike Fox, former Nebraska basketball players.
I mean, I don't know.
I just want to ask questions.
I do not have all the answers.
I probe to get to the right question, kind, sir.
Bob, did you load up our dear friend from WWE?
Yes, ladies.
Because this is the perfect mood that I had.
Locke, if you would, please set the tone for this segment.
What do we want to talk about?
What do you want to talk about?
It's Cody Rhodes, the American nightmare.
He asked the question that every Husker fan has in mind.
What do you want to talk about?
Jake Sorensen, what in the wide, wide world of Husker sports is happening?
Well, more pain and sadness and futility and
anger and all the above because Nebraska cannot get out of their own way and simply just
win a game in November. And no, I'm not counting the UCLA game as a way. It does count.
It was a road. Okay, it does count. I have to count. I'm talking about tough games. Yeah.
The teams that are known as tough that win in November. Iowa DP, Bach listeners, wins in November.
I saw a stat the other day. This is not a contribute to Nebraska, but,
I saw that SMU again from Dallas not a not a tough team warm weather in Dallas
SMU's lost to Cal on Saturday night was their first time in 13 games losing in November
you ever think about SMU is a tough team in Dallas smooth smooth you think about teams in the
Midwest not since tough not since Craig James and Eric Dickerson
the pony express back then sure I'll give it to him they'd won 12 straight games November
money money is what some will say i think nebraska and what now what two and nineteen under matt
rule or two and nineteen in the last five years six years in november it's just it's pitiful and
every year i played the songs of the day was same old situation by motley crew because that's what
i feel that we're in right now it's the same old situation same old ball and chain what is
required is a neo neo must come in and break the matrix we must shut down where's neo at
Where's the, where he's, who is Neo?
Okay, so what is wrong?
What is the thing that if you could just wave the Jake Sorensen magic
fingertips over it to change?
What do you want, what do you think needs to be changed?
Well, I'll say this.
I think last year they had some things right and it still didn't work out in November.
I think they had a good defensive line and all those guys left.
I mean, look at Ty Robinson.
great player gone
Nash Hopmacher good player
gone graduated
those guys both did so I'm understood
Jamari Butler good player transferred
principal umanielanielan transferred out
MJ Sherman you gone like they
all these guys that made a respectable
defensive line left
and I think I had hopes that
Riley Van Popple would be okay I think he was okay
not bad he's okay
Keona Davis was okay
at no point was a defensive line
elite or good enough this year
And I think that all offseason, we all said that.
We knew that saying everybody that was good left.
And if this place takes a step up, you've got to have that unit be the surprise part of the team.
And it was about status quo for what we thought it was.
And that's why you got gashed in the run against Penn State, against Iowa, against all these other teams that gashed you.
And it's like Nebraska just can never have it all right.
It can't get it all right.
What would you change defensively?
Well, I think you only get one thing.
You only get one thing.
And Baccom and I come to you next because I really want to.
See, one thing is a big thing.
A guy could be one player.
It could be one unit.
It could be a formation.
Jake, you can only fix one thing at a time.
First thing you're fixed.
Nebraska needs a big, nasty defensive tackle,
a guy to help clog the run.
I mean, that's, I want a lot of things.
But if I'm fixing one thing defensively, I need a big, dude, 3.30.
Beefy.
Beefy. Beefy.
But you get to wave the magic fingers over this thing and to fix one thing defensively.
What do you fix it?
Well, I think he's right.
I think it's the front line.
You at least, you know, needs a space heater up there.
You know, I think the linebackers and the fill-in also has to happen.
You know, so the one thing, if you do one player, I think that would be the case.
but I in general think that you just
you need a program that's instilled
and based on toughness.
There's been so much interest in going to speed
and the perimeter players
and all that sort of stuff.
And that's flashing.
That's fun and they can sell tickets.
But Nebraska, since they left, Frank Solich has decided,
and to credit Bo Pliny when he did kind of get things going,
there was a toughness and element to that team as well,
those teams as well.
Anytime they're chasing offensive wizards,
hasn't worked out. Jake, we were told by this staff at infinitum, early season,
we're going to be tough. We're going to be physical. We're going to be tough. What happened?
Well, I'd ask this. At what point do you say in a press conference, no, we're not very tough. I don't
think you'd say that. So it's lip service to to the fan base for what they want to hear. And maybe
they thought they were tough, but like the film shows all. I think at times they were physical, but
When it mattered, they weren't.
Like, I go back to the, think about this.
Nebraska entered November, their death month every year at six and two.
And they nearly had a statement win to, number one, start a month that hurts them with a strong note.
And number two, end the skid to rank teams.
And I would think, DP, Bach, listeners, historically under Lincoln Riley and historically post Pete Carroll,
USC football has been downright bad in the cold
and not very good going away from Pacific Times Zone
on the road.
I understand what happened that game.
Dylan got hurt up 14 to 6.
That was unfortunate.
But if you are going to be a tough team
that overcomes injuries,
overcomes yourself,
you find a way to win that game.
And you find a way to start the month off 1-0,
stay, you know, probably not in it, but stay in the conversation for the playoff.
Get this monkey off your back of the ranked wins.
And guess what?
You carry that now into the off season again of more, woe is me and more this problem is not fixed.
Like at some point, you have to overcome yourself and get a statement win.
At some point, and Bach and I talked to play.
Bach and I have talked about this, that, that oddly enough.
one of the red flags for me was in the offseason when when the punter became the lead.
It's true.
So when you say that toughness is going to be your culture and your identity,
but your main event, the thing that you're pushing into the,
into the stratosphere is your punter.
Now, what?
Seems like a distraction, doesn't it?
See, now you're cooking in Crisco.
See, because at some point, I think what I want for fans is to look past the hype and the coach speak and everything else and then get to the work, the actual work.
Because Bach, you said, you said a hundred times on air, you're just not good enough.
So, Bach, you're going to ask you, kind, sir.
how would you fix this Husker November problem?
Again, I go back to, I go back to toughness.
I think I'm really looking at Michigan State here.
I mean, I think this is a good jumping off point.
There's going to be more flashy hires maybe than Pat Fitzgerald to Michigan State.
But the longest time ago, I said, you know,
who'd be great at Nebraska, Brett Bilema.
And Illinois jumped on that and it's working out for him.
You know why? Because I have proof. I've seen it. I've seen the, I've seen Pat Fitzgerald and Brett
Beelma win in the Big Ten. And in Pat's case, do more with less and have tough teams come
November. Again, I think you just have to, when Matt Rule came in here, and this is my, I think
has been a problem, not just this season, this season was actually a good example of the Matt Rule
kind of era so far is it's just kind of, and he's the CEO, so he's going to need his coordinators to be good.
You don't have a strength to necessarily rely on.
But it's just kind of what is your identity?
What is your offensive identity?
And when he came in, it was let's start with a fullback in the spring game.
Let's get toughest going.
Let's lead the big ten in rushing.
Okay.
Then you get Dylan or Iola.
All right.
Let's see if we can kind of blend that.
It doesn't work.
Dana Holgerson can save that.
All right, that's not really working midseason.
Let's go to Emmett Johnson.
We can be tough again.
Well, you can't be everything.
And I don't, I just don't know if there's a central focus.
toward what is our strength build a strength and preferably in the Midwest when you're losing
November games in the cold that strength should be strength and so I mean that's I've been
I've been saying that for years I'll continue saying it and again you know for the most part
they've gone I think and I and I think Daniel Hogerson is you know a wonderful offensive
mind has been for years um I mean we usually say this about guys could you know
forgot more about football than I could in his case it's like times 10
right but i just don't know if without with without the offensive line the in place to get it
done um that you can run that system here especially when it when it gets cold as opposed to
understanding you're a midwestern football program now what so you got to build the base in my mind
you got to build the toughness the the lines that sort of stuff and work outside i think so far for
these Husker coaches staffs, you know, again, since Pellini, it's kind of been,
let's get the athletes in here. And then we'll see kind of, we'll put together an
offensive line, you know, we'll see where it goes. Through all of this, Jake,
it, it, a question was asked of me from somebody outside the market. And this is a
whole thing caliber player in his time. And he asked a simple question. Are the Huskers talented
it's a good question i mean i i'd say kudos to a couple parts i mean emma johnson was
outstanding this year uh you can't we just can't say enough about how how incredible his leap was
he almost left this off season he came back you know via you know via nil and that worked out well
certainly did not win the doke walker war which is another story in itself and didn't make top
three but should be all be 10 first team running back um and and should be you know someone that
you know, would have draft status.
I'm sure he's going to come back or not,
but are they talented enough?
Well, this is the problem about that conversation,
DP, and this is all.
We got to pause because just
Nick's, Nick's, Nick's being
a frantic, frantic machine.
Okay.
Jake.
We might have breaking news pull-up on that.
Yeah.
Do you have the mindset effect?
It might be a pull-up from our show.
Yeah, it is, you know, and
as this happens
I
oh here it is
that's the breaking news center
yeah please
there we go
you have to go back to your 1920's voice
breaking news
Lincoln Nebraska
1118 a.m.
John Butler
fire
fired by the Nebraska Husker football program.
Jake, you want to get a source on that?
I'm seeing that per on three at this point and others football scoops on top of it.
So several people reporting this.
I guess the reaction would be, are you surprised?
I don't think I am.
I mean, what I just said a little bit ago, Nebraska had a chance in November to over
overcome these woes and prove that they could be a physical tough team. They melted
down against Penn State, who by the way, by the way, gave up 36 points to Rutgers and
535 yards just two days ago. They gave them great tape. And then Iowa, who all we ever do
Nebraska is make fun of their offense and all they do is beat Nebraska. They beat you 10 of 11 years.
they put up 40 on you so what was it going to go this way before they you know got ambushed the last two
games maybe not but guess what that's what happened jake why do you think i invited you on this
second this is going to happen he wanted me to go he had intel he told me he got 20 minutes
Here's, Bach, here's what's funny.
Here's what's funny.
There are no surprises in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Because there are too many people who want to share the story before it's a story.
There are too many people who talk before it's time to talk.
And I knew, is it one, I didn't want to be, I didn't want to be.
The one that broke the news.
I didn't want to, I didn't want to, listen, but that's why, literally why I asked what changes
you would make defensively because they're being happening some changes are but is this a good
change i think you could argue with i i'm i'm fascinated by the whole of it because the offense has
scored what how much of the offense has been bad to me he lost 10 against penn state they scored
16 against against ios six against minnesota but i got a stab for a buck and d p i just i saw this
per Sam McKeown World Herald was doing a write-up on Nebraska's woes the last two weeks.
This is not great for either Nebraska's offense or defense.
Did you know that Penn State and Iowa, this is per Sam McEwen.
Penn State and Iowa made 10 combined trips inside Nebraska's 20-yard line,
the red zone, and scored nine touchdowns.
Nebraska had nine trips over the two games and scored just two touchdowns in the red zone.
well so bad offense but horrendous defense allowing all those touchdowns in the red zone it's bad football
yeah the jay sorens and jake buck of and dp one-on-one uh of course the news uh that john butler
uh has been fired as defensive coordinator uh university nebraska huskers football and it opens a lot
of doors and have there's a lot of questions in play and hey welcome to monday in lincoln nebraska
the Monday after Black Friday,
which could officially be identified as Black Monday
for quite a few folks,
because quite frankly,
this is not the end of whatever is happening.
And I don't know if people recognize this.
I was talking to Harrison the other day,
that we keep identifying this as year three, Matt Rule.
It's not year three of Matt Rule,
because it's not his third year
with the same coaches and the same players.
We had a new coordinator
offensively defensive and special team.
New year.
Previous year, new.
Previous year, no.
We haven't had the same staff
or the same coordinators at the University of Nebraska.
So to say that this is year three, no.
So now guess what?
Whatever next year is going to be,
it's going to be a new Husker,
version of football, no matter what.
And Husker fans, I want you to start to wrap your brain around this,
identifying what you want the culture and identity of Nebraska football to be.
And then, and if you don't identify that, Bach will live with this.
That if you don't identify what you want it to be,
you can't decide whether you're going to support it or not.
You can't hold anybody accountable if you don't know what it is.
So Jake, Sorenton, first.
What do you want defensively?
What do you?
I understand that we need it.
We need a beefcake in the middle.
Yeah.
But I don't think, remember, we had two.
We had two last year and it still wasn't good enough.
Right?
So what do we want?
Well, I ask you a question on this is because we talk about how right now when you
hire a head coach, it's almost important.
You look at Signetti at Indiana.
He brought a bunch of guys from James Madison.
Now, I would ask you, can a coordinator bring a bunch of players?
And would that happen?
Because if you're Matt Rule, you want guys that might come with you that can be difference makers.
And it's no guarantee they follow a coordinator versus a head coach to a school.
But we just saw Tony White had guys follow him to Florida State.
Now, it didn't go well.
They went five and seven.
Their defense fell apart last part of the year.
But the guys that we thought were important, some of those guys left.
Several guys.
So if you're going for a standing defensive coordinator somewhere,
I would say, you know,
I want somebody that can bring some talent with him.
Now, again,
I know it's unlikely to get a 330 pound defense line.
I get that,
but somebody that can bring a couple of dudes
that have some experience and are solid players.
That's a lot to ask for,
but I don't think it's crazy.
What say you?
I can't get over what's going on.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, you can't.
Well, you can't.
You're a lifer, bro.
I am incredibly frustrated because take a step back outside of these last two weeks and look what's happened here.
John Butler was hired on a staff partially to replace Tony White.
Might have even scared Tony White away or at least chased him away.
Then you have John Butler run Tony White's defense with to what you said.
earlier, a defense that we knew did not have the front lines based on what they did in the
offseason. It was going to be a long. Leftovers is the words you're looking for. They didn't have
the same pieces to it. And now all the blame gets thrown on John Butler. Here we go again. No continuity.
A new defensive coordinator. And now take a step back again. Now that this is final and how many
coordinator hires have we had under Matt rule and how many coordinator hires have been good under
Matt rule. And I said it before we got this news. Matt rules.
CEO. He's not a specializing in any position or anything. He is going to rely heavily on his
coordinators. Fuck, get the breaking news again. Oh, my goodness. This is not a pressure
way. No, no. Don't freak out. Breaking news. 1126, Lincoln, Nebraska. Bob Chesney,
five year to you UCLA
UCLA
Bob Chesney to UCLA
for those who don't know Bob Chesney
the head coach of James Madison who's got a chance
at the playoffs. Look at my
mighty dukes of James Madison
from the tiny burb of Harrison Bird
just wrecking college football
and hey that means there's a way
that means there's a way
Kurtzeghetti
Tiny James Madison
that 13 players from James Madison
and a coach that nobody wanted
changing college football
across the masses.
Well done,
James.
I hope that he's,
we have a happy tear as I saying.
I did this.
I did this.
I wrecked it.
I wrecked it all.
I wrecked it all.
Here's the thing.
And text line,
we'll get to your text.
But here's the thing.
When you ask,
okay,
who's next?
If there's a name
that pops in your mind,
Nebraska is probably not going to get them.
If there's a defensive coordinator that,
think about that of all the programs in the country
that need a defensive coordinator,
where does Nebraska rank on the list
of where you would want to be
in a solid foundational position,
why would anybody that immediately comes to your mind?
Why would they choose Lincoln,
Nebraska. Why would they do that?
Yeah, you can get lucky and you can get one, right?
Because you got Tony White, right?
You got your guys.
Yeah.
But in this day and age, I keep saying this.
The adults in the room have to figure out who they are.
So the people in their charge can figure out who they are.
We watch this with Kiffin.
We watch this with LSU and Ole Miss that, listen, they, no, they were not
loyal. It was not about loyalty. It was about money. And Nebraska's now in the business.
Now you got to figure out who you are. And if you don't figure out who you are, you stay on the
merry ground. You have to stop. We live on the merry ground. DP. We can't help. You have to stop it.
You have to stop it. But this is why you should be on the stream to see Jake Bocker with in this
very moment. It is just, it is heartbreak. We will go to break more one-on-one.
