1-on-1 with DP – 93.7 The Ticket KNTK - One-On-One with DP: November 4th, 3pm - Abdul Muhammad (Former Husker)

Episode Date: November 4, 2021

One-On-One with DP: November 4th, 3pm - Abdul Muhammad (Former Husker)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It's time to go one-on-one with DP. Coming at you live from the Coppull Chevrolet GMC Studios, here is your host, Derek Pearson, presented by Beatrice Bakery, on 93-7 The Ticket and The Ticket FM.com. 19 yards. I just love to watch this kid play. I think there are some kids who just will themselves the greatness. And Abdul-Mahman did that.

I watch them against Oklahoma. every single time the Nebraska had to come up with a big play. It was that guy right there. Abdul-Mohamed making the play. He's got the bullet in his backside, destroyed his liver last year. He just keeps making play.

Let's bring her, man. It's been too long. Let's bring him out. Let's go one-on-one with a great one. Let's bring in Abdul-Mohmahmah. Abdul-Mahman, how you doing, brother? Where you been? I'm doing great, man.

Just living in life, coaching. and getting some things in place for the younger football players in the state, trying to help the big red out. It seems to me like there are a lot of former Huskers who are in the area and who have eyes on what's going on. It is your program, too. So if I were to ask you to give a state of the union, what's the state of the program?

where is it staying in your mind as one of the Huskers who deserve to speak on it? I tell you what, man. We haven't been able to get the victories, but as far as competing, especially in the games where we were playing the really good teams, those guys are out there really competing. I've been very proud of the product that I'm seeing as far as competing-wise against these major college teams. Michigan State, Michigan, you know, those teams.

And so I think that, you know, we headed in directions, but the record doesn't show it. But I think that this team is definitely better than teams of the past. Let me ask you this. What can be done to fix the things that ailed this program? And I tell you what, the thing that's just mind-bombole understand. every fourth quarter, right? Every fourth quarter.

We're about to do something that just going to give the other team an advantage and the field of victory for their opponent. And so I know one of the things we used to do, man, we used to run about on Wednesdays about 10 plays. You know, with Coach I was going, and it was just, you know, major play. They would change down the distance. And we would just go out of it.

wars against ones, right? And just tough times. It just seemed like in the tough times in the fourth quarter of the close games, we just can't seem to make the plays we need to make to win the game. Coach, if it's you, do you go to plays that you have had success with in those moments, right? Or do you go to the thing that you're holding in your back pocket? What do you coach from? It just depends.

It's like cold and all. offense, man, it's a flow of the game. You know, you kind of get a flow of what's going on, how people are lying on when you call this, what the defensive coaches are doing when you line up this way. And so it's a, man, it's a process. And so you kind of go with what you know. You know what I mean?

There's been times, man, like in a Michigan game, we just caught fire. And Scott was just calling the right plays. Like we just caught fire out that third quarter. We just came out real hot. And it seems like there's times in games we do that. Just come out and we're calling the right plays at the right time. But then I don't know what happened in the fourth quarter.

How does the conversation go in the locker room after any one of these games, where you feel like, look, you put yourself in a position. to have a chance to win the game, which is what you strive for, but then you're not making plays. If Scott Frost says, hey, Abduemahan, I'm going to give you the locker room after a game, what are those conversations like between players? Man, that's tough because I'm not, you know, I'm not in that predicament that they are. I don't go through the daily practices with them, so I don't know the mood and the

culture there. But one of the things, man, you've got to have guys. that your leader step up guys that you know sometimes man your leaders dp ain't the guys that's doing all the talking you know a lot of the leaders man when i when i played at nebraska man were guys that did the walking you know not just quiet but the guy just steady out there putting work in right you know and that's that was but a model you know every now on then like we had an instance in the orange goal we just you know one of our best blocker we receivers just was not having a good game blocking.

And, you know, he started getting down on himself, man, and I had to get on them. You know, and I'm usually not the guy to get on somebody. But I had to get on him, man, and he turned around. That's in Coach Brown's book that he wrote a while back. But that was one of the only times I had to step up because I was usually the guy. I'm going to go show it on the field, and I want you to follow. So you've got to have more guys do that. You know, we're good to have your rock, rock guys,

but it's always better to have guys that are walking a walk. We need those guys 100% of the time. Yeah, I'm talking to Abdul-Mohamed, one of the Husker great receivers, played with those championship teams and under the legendary Tom Osborne. How would Coach Osborne handle friction? So let's say there's friction.

There's a thing that's keeping you from being the high caliber team that he thought you should be and you thought he should be. How would he engage? What would he say? One of the things he did early on, man, is just continue, especially my first two years where we were losing one or two games, losing the bowl games. It was just being able to keep guys motivated and seeing the long picture, right?

So the long picture for this team is not. National Championship, of course. It don't look like it's a bowl game. But just getting better, you know, guys, the majority of guys will be back. So how do we get better to where next year we can overcome and start winning these games? Coach I was one of the best at that.

You know, our first two years didn't go like you thought. We had the talent, but we lost some close games. But that junior senior year, you know, turned around what we started winning. in those close games. Coach, you've had to help build a new program at Benson. What's been the biggest hill to climb for you guys? Man, it's tough because, like I said, we hadn't won a game

at four years. You know, you've got a lot of haters out there, you know, talking down on the program, and, man, I just love it. I told Coach Mackie, when I accepted that job, that, man, I want to be one of the most hated coaches, high school, in the state. And now I'm going to work my way towards that. There's a lot of guys doing that now because, you know, we've got the junior program that's doing really well, guys are maturing.

Most of those guys would be at Benson with us. And so, man, I'm looking so forward to what we have going on at Benson, but also doing some things with the university. where some of these guys are looking at the university. And so, there's some things behind the scenes, BP, I'm going to let you know about, man. I've got to get you a wall. But it seems like they're ready to do some things.

I'm here for you, brother. You've been here for me. I'm here for you. All you got to do is text, you know, I'll posse up and show. That's important to me. And I appreciate you even considering me for something you're going to do. from the defensive side of the ball, and you've got your hands in this thing.

So you understand, one, as an offensive player, how you would attack defenses. And you also know the things that are difficult, things that make it difficult for an offensive player. So what are those things from a receiver standpoint? Because Ohio State's going to come in here, loaded with receivers. What can be done to agitate, irritate,

and just frustrate great receivers? Well, a quick little back story, D.P. One of my really good friends who's a big-time Husker fan, but now Ohio State Panca's son-Nand-A. Yeah. He's Uli Oliva, Chris Olavi's dad. Right? And so he's a star receiver over there at Ohio State.

But I know as a receiver, one of the things that, in just football, period, it's hitting people. You know, you put your hands on people, hitting people, being aggressive. You know, I know BBs, nor receivers like that. You know, when we were blocking all the time, the cornerbacks hated that. You know, about third or fourth quarter,

when we was up 40 and 50 points, you know, they would be begging us to stop cut blocking and blocking. Right. You know, you're up 40. Why are you still blocking? So they hated that kind of stuff. And so for receivers is the same thing.

getting my hands on them after catches being physical to the tackle just being mean-spirited, you know? And that's one of the things that receivers hate is guys that come out and play tough.

When you look at this year's version of the Huskers, is there a physical toughness? Especially on the office side. I think defensively everybody would say this team is physically tough defensively. They'll pop you to come up and bang it. But is offense.

Our receivers, I mean, these are bigger guys than you were, but they're not half the blockers that you were. So what is it? What can be said to today's receiver group? Because, look, if they block on Saturday, a lot of things go much easier than not. That is true. One of the things I found out, too,

is that a lot of, with these new offenses in this running, shooting, this passing oriented offense, and this man-to-man-man-bubber run, a lot of coaches are instructing receivers to run DBs off. Well, at some point that guy is going to turn around and know it's a run, right? And so I'm a big component of the reverse way, man. Getting, getting blocked, making a physical game wearing down because people do get more down. So I don't know what they're teaching the receivers.

I'm wide at Nebraska right now. I don't know if they runoff guys or block down guys. But I know Coach Brown is still down there. I know what he would prefer. If I asked you this, were you ever in a huddle where the guy who had been the most active offensive? Let's take to running back, let's say it to quarterback. Is there ever a time where you're in the huddle and you recognize that your dude is done like he's worn out? What do you do?

Wow, that's a good one, man. I've never been in the huddle. and that has happened. So I don't know, I don't know, but coaches would have to recognize that. But more importantly, I would say players, you know, that player, you know, if you're tired and you feel like you need a break, man. It's important that you let your coach know you need a break, man. It's not like you're not going back in.

And so you will definitely be going back in the game. And so you might need to take a break, depending on the circumstances, though. It's a fourth and one we need it. then you're the guy man you gotta soak it up and you're gonna suck it up well yeah because and we and the word does use this trust

like you trust the guy behind you and next man up yeah but if you're if you're the guy guy right if you're the guy that sometimes you feel the burden of that I look I've got I gotta stay in here and even you know 80% of me is better than the dudes that's behind me that's right um

but is that really is that good or is that just necessary. And I think it depends, man, on the position, you know, because those guys in the trenches, man, they're going at it every play. That's the only position on the football field where you're going to get hit and you're going to be able to hit somebody every play within those trenches. So some of those guys do get kind of tiring them more down.

You might need to break here and there and need to come out. But everywhere else, man, you kind of got to suck it up. and get it done. I couldn't imagine myself on a big play on the office back in the day and I'm coming out, coming out the game. You know, I was just at the Michigan game, D.P. Crazy story. They was honoring Brooke Barrettor, so with mom and family was there. And so after they honored her, I come up to her, introduce myself.

You know, what's funny? Muhammad, I was just asking Coach Brown earlier, whatever happened to the guy that was catching all my son's passes. And I said, that's me. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It would like to, you know, see her again and talk with her, man.

It was a good moment for me. Here's the thing, though. You are so legit amongst the players who carry the most respect in the program, you're pretty high on the list because of the work ethic. And then your heart. your heart is what they speak about. How does it happen, right, that players get missed on, guys who are maybe undersized or you could be an inch too short or you could be 10 pounds too light or whatever it is.

And we haven't figured out how to measure heart yet. And that's problematic. And I think there's some players being missed because of it. And that's always going to be the case, you know. I talk all the time about now you know a guy asked me a couple years back you know the size limits and what everybody

looking forward do I think you know I would have been recruiting like I was but yes man it's this new age where they want you a certain size and more that ability to be there also with the size that's hard to do

you know it's hard to find a guy 6364 that can move like Barry Sanders, right? A guy just can't, you know, you're not going to, a guy that can do that. So there are, there still is a place for guys like that. Now and then you're going to see them pop up, you know, in all these teams to where a guy might not be the size that everybody was looking for, but he's just making plays.

Yeah. Yeah. My heart breaks for some of these young folks who are out here trying to get it done and can't get a break. I think that the university in Nebraska has an opportunity to reroute and redirect where the program is with better selection of players, of people. Forget about the player part of it, but the people, because there are dudes who are willing to go out there. and if they needed, you know, proverbially to run through the wall, those dudes would do it and then look back at you and say, what's next?

I think there's room for more of those people in the program in order for you to practice better, to have better competition at practice. And I, it's not that complicated because you would be the shining light. I would simply say, listen, you know, you'd give the eye test to the athletes that was on those teams, you were on. They wouldn't pick you first. No.

No. Right? So how do we get over that hump of fear? You know what's crazy. With that being said, they wouldn't, but a lot of my teammates would. You know, because we know the importance that some people play to winning those championships.

I see it a lot defensively, but you have to remember during those days we were like that on both sides of the ball. Yeah. You know, we coming into the game, you know, hoping you want a confrontation. Wishing. You know what I mean?

Yeah, right. Right, right. This is Cedric Entertainment, I wish. Right. That's right. I wish. I wish. Yeah.

We want a confrontation today. Right. Well, so here's the question. question, and the point of interest for me, would you get recruited by Nebraska today? They recruited to Rondale, some other, you know, spillman, without a doubt. And when they turned on that high school tape, man, just not myself, but our high school team, man, we just, we just trying to smack people, man. We don't have to ball.

We block it. You know, that was already in the winning. was already winning. Yeah. You know, as I told you before, man, and it just so happened that in my recruit class, we had like seven state champions, you know, winning was just in us.

It was going to get done. But how does that bridge get crossed here? Because that would lead me to ask if the new recruits are all coming in with championship rings and full letterman jackets was what my coach used to say. There's leather jackets full. Like, this dude's done a lot of work. already. I'm not sure that talent alone is the same as talent that already knows how to win because

winning is the most difficult thing. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. And if you watch, so I've got this NFHS network football games, right? So you can almost watch any high school football game on repeat or demand. So I'm watching a lot of the top teams in every state. and it just seems to me that out of all the top teams offensively and defensively I see about 10 guys that can play Division 1 football

but not all 10 who probably have Division 1 scholarships but there's at least 10 on each of those teams that can play D1 football from what I see the way they play football that number is remarkable

and I would ask that in the space that we're in whether you're talking about Omaha and Lincoln, is there enough talent, and we're talking about a large number, is there enough talent in the state to be a constant feeder to get Nebraska back to where it's supposed to be?

Without a doubt, because you're still going to have guys from other states when it comes to Nebraska. So we had the best mix of kids, you know, during that time, California, Florida, Texas, Nebraska. It was special. You know, we had the best. Coach I was born,

got the best of the best in Nebraska that comes to Nebraska. And there's still guys like that. They'll be coming up pretty soon. And that's one of the ones of the things that, you know, I'm working on with the university. But there's some things about to happen. And now I have some skin in the game to where, you know,

I can talk a little different to recruits. It's necessary. It'll certainly be helpful. But I'll say for all the former Huskers who are willing to go out and put their reputation, their voice to adding more talent to this Husker program, it's necessary, but it's good. So for you to voice that listen, I'm willing to put my voice on this thing. It's a step forward. Bravo to that.

Bravo to that. Yeah. I would say this, though. I'm curious. What are your thoughts on Saturday in Ohio State? What do you think happens on Saturday? Man, I'll be there for one. Okay, okay.

I'll be there. But I'm thinking that. The Husk is going to come out and play some football. The same way they've done against, you know, these other teams, but they haven't faced a balanced offense like this one. this one is a little different to run into passing it is a totally different

offense than we've seen all year with playmakers all over the field especially offensively so we definitely have to put up some points offensively in order for us to even be in the game we can't do that

it's going to be a long day in making yeah that's that's it Listen, 27, you are a joy. It's a pleasure always have conversations with you. You are greatly appreciated. Text me before you get to town on Lincoln on Saturday, right? So at least we can press palms. All right.

Appreciate you, too, brother. That's Abdul-Mahmet, former Husker receiver at luck, man. If that dude tells you he's putting voice to getting more recruits in the program, I'll take that. I'll take that. That's meaningful. Let's toward the break. More one-on-one, 402, 464-5-6-85.

Fire up the text. Fire up the questions. We'll get to them. Give me a what's up, DP. Download our app by searching 93.7, the ticket in your app store. You're listening to One-on-One-one with DP on 937 the ticket in the ticketfm.com.