Turd Monthly Radio Appearance

[vailhusker]

Alberts salutes Joseph's work, talks 'toughness' as Husker coaching search goes on​

ByBRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON 48 minutes ago

Two months from now Turd Alberts will surely be discussing in-depth on his monthly radio appearance many of the qualities he sees in Nebraska's new permanent football coach.

Of course some around here wondering if interim coach Mickey Joseph can get enough done during his ongoing job interview to perhaps be that man. Alberts wasn't giving away any clues. However, he did give kudos to Joseph for how he's handled his role, going 2-2 since taking the position, but 2-1 since the bye week after an initial tricky first week against Oklahoma.

"I'm really, really proud of our team," Alberts said during the hour-long appearance on the Huskers Radio Network. "Proud of the leadership on our team, proud of the fight ... and really want to salute Mickey Joseph. Really proud of his leadership during a challenge time. I've enjoyed watching our coaching staff stay unified and have a unity of purpose. The players have really bought in and are fighting."

Alberts has carried on in meeting with the head football coach every Sunday, as he did with Scott Frost. He usually meets with Joseph around 1 p.m.

"We talk through areas and challenges. You want to be really careful ... I'm sure that Coach Joseph is getting a lot of recommendations. The reality is I just want to be a resource for him. I want to be supportive and helpful where he thinks. But he's done a great job of leading himself. Just really proud of where he is, and where the rest of our coaches are."


Alberts acknowledge the Huskers are coming on to a challenging part of the schedule, but thinks the bye week came at a very useful for this team.

"Obviously you're not going to be totally healed in two weeks. Lots of bumps and bruises for our team and a great chance to regroup as we go down the stretch run."

Here's a rundown on some of the key topics from Alberts – beyond addressing the metrics that Frost had before him in 2022. Including a talk about toughness as he considers who the next football coach will be.

ALBERTS SAID THE ENTIRE FOOTBALL STAFF IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF CONTINUING TO GRIND​

"These aren't fun transitions. When you really think back to when that decision was made and communicated, there's a real opportunity to do one of two things: either not have good leadership and chaos ensues and there's lots of drama. This staff has not allowed that to happen. And I also think it's a reflection of the young men that Coach Frost recruited, let's be honest. There's a lot of character in our locker room. There's a lot of good leaders who desperately want the same thing. Just been really proud of the football team – the total team ... this is a group that's together that's working very hard to represent our university at a high level."

'ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE US TOUGH AGAIN?​

A fan asked that to Alberts, wondering what he's looking for with Husker football going forward as he makes a big hiring decision.
"I don't want to go into too many details. What am I looking for? I think, first and foremost, this is a program that has always had an identity relative to toughness. This is a program that was about physicality. People talk about, 'Well, you don't have an identity.' There's different types of offenses and defenses. I don't think you have to run the triple option to be a physical football team. I'm not suggesting that. But I do think part of your DNA, part of your culture, is you start with toughness.

"Maybe I'm just an old-fashioned guy ... and I think schemes are important. But we've made football a very complicated sport. But at the end of the day, by and large, the team that is the toughest and most physical is generally going to win the game." While every game has its own factors like turnovers and penalties deciding it, "football is still a gladiator sport," Alberts added. "It's a game that is won, by and large, by the line of scrimmage. Now you can hide some of those deficiencies. But I think you have to make a commitment. There was a very clear standard for a long time of that here, is that we are going to be the most physical team. We were. That's what you bought into.
"And the fact of the matter is there were certain players (back then) that weren't a good fit with that culture. That's OK. I'd rather they not be here. So I'd like to start there."

A FAN PRAISED MICKEY JOSEPH'S EFFORTS TO ALBERTS​

"I totally agree. I think Mickey has done a great job, and done a great job of rallying not only our team, but creating a belief and having an energy. That's part of the reason why, when we made the decision in identifying who that interim coach would be, why Mickey really stood out to me. Because I knew he had that type of personality and I knew people would gravitate towards him. I think that's really important."

HOW ABOUT THE FINALIZATION OF NEXT YEAR'S FOOTBALL SCHEDULE?​

Whatever you see online right now for the 2023 schedule, that's not it for sure. Big Ten officials have still been working some things out, with USC and UCLA expected to join the league in 2024.
Alberts said there are Big Ten meetings in Chicago next week and a final 2023 schedule is soon coming.
"It's close. I would say it's even imminent. We're working through some of the final details of it ... I know it's a really sensitive thing not only for our fans, but a lot of fans. People are scheduling weddings around it and wondering how this is going to work. There will be come changes to what was previously communicated. I think within a week to 10 days we'll have some clarity on that."

THERE ARE STILL SOME TICKETS LEFT FOR HUSKER FOOTBALL GAMES – BUT NOT MANY​

There were some recent reports that a donor had come in and bought all the remaining tickets for this year's home games. That's not quite right.
"We did have an interested donor that did purchase tickets but it was really for the Vet Tix Program, as well as the Red Carpet Experience," Alberts said. "So we've been doing that all along. We have interested donors who really have a passion of supporting young people and those from marginalized communities who ordinarily might not have an opportunity to experience Husker football. But we do have Husker tickets available."
Not many. There are about 200 to 300 tickets left for each of the remaining games. "So I'm confident that we are going to be sold out but there are tickets available."

ALBERTS REALLY FEELS FOR INJURED CO-CAPTAIN NICK HENRICH​

Henrich left the field on crutches and it looked like an injury that would have him out a while. It sounded that way in how Alberts spoke too.
"I feel terrible for Nick. I love that young man. I tell you what, a really, really smart football player. A physical football player. Our defense is going to miss Nick. Hopefully we can get Luke (Reimer) back. Not sure where he is. That's part of what happens in football in the Big Ten. It's a very physical league and it's never going to be easy. But this is a great opportunity. We've seen young men when we needed them. Malcolm (Hartzog) out there at corner. Love to see little No. 13 running around making plays. You worry about Nick. I talked to him a little bit. He said, 'Still have a great chance to lead, I'm still a captain and I'm still going to do my part.' That's the type of young man he is."

THE GO BIG FACILITY IS ON SCHEDULE​

Alberts believes the Huskers are still on schedule to get football moved in there next summer.
"There are some timelines that are really necessary there. And if people get a chance to come by the stadium, and just come over on the East side, you can really see it taking it shape. I mean, it is a massive project."
Alberts reiterated how much it will impact all student-athletes, not just football.
"This is going to be a facility that I truly believe that we're going to have the premier development facility in college athletics. That's what our donors have brought. Obviously it's going to come down to people, and that's going to be really important. But for a physical component – based on where it's located, the size, the capability, the technology in it – we're going to have an opportunity to really develop at a high level."

ALBERTS LOVES TREY PALMER'S WORK LIKE EVERYONE​

Alberts said he likes to watch body language, and can see how uncomfortable it can be for corners against Palmer.
Prior to Mickey Joseph being named interim coach, when the coach was working primarily with the receivers, he told Alberts he was confident that Palmer was going to be a big advantage in the Big Ten.
"I think people really miscalculate his speed. I don't know if it's his gait or what, but right now they're having a difficult time covering him ... and he's been a great teammate," Alberts said.

ALBERTS IS PLEASED WITH HOOPS TICKET SALES​

Alberts said Husker men's basketball has sold 11,500 season tickets, as well as 274 six-game packages. "So that's a lot of support."
The ranked women's team has sold 3,200 season tickets, as well as 162 five-game packages.
There are still some 300-level tickets available for men's basketball that Alberts said have a great value for families.

A CALLER SAID HE HOPES THE SAME STANDARD IS APPLIED TO HOOPS IN EVALUATING COACHES​

"I'm really looking forward to seeing our men's basketball team," Alberts answered. "Fred Hoiberg has done a lot of really good things this offseason. I like the approach. I like the changing approach toward a focus on toughness and defensive play, and rebounding and sharing the basketball ... I tell our coaches all the time, I watch our fans and have the great privilege years ago of playing here, and our fans don't demand you win every game. They really don't. It's more about how you operate and how you play, and do you play together? Do you have the effort? Do you have the energy? And I'm sure we want to win more than we lose. But at the end of the day it's about having teams that represent the values of Nebraskans. It's toughness. It's respecting everybody, but fearing nobody – those basic core fundamentals that I think Nebraskans identify with.
"And it's incumbent on us, and me as a leader, to make sure our coaches our creating cultures and programs that reflect what is important to our fan base. I'm excited about seeing where men's basketball goes this year."

SPEAKING OF, HOW ABOUT THAT HUSKER VOLLEYBALL TEAM?​

"Let's not take for granted what John Cook and that volleyball team are doing. ...We just kind of take for granted that here's this team and they just have all this talent. The amount of work, focus, passion, dedication, that that coaching staff and that team puts in to making sure that they have the type of volleyball team that our fans are proud of is pretty remarkable."
He said he loves sitting by the opposing bench and seeing reactions of coaches and players at the enormity of volleyball here and knowing most of them have never seen an environment like that.
"But just like we did when we kind of took for granted 60-3 (in football) a few years ago, let's really enjoy all this. We're not guaranteed volleyball success in the immediate future or the long-term future. So let's just really appreciate these young ladies for what they stand for as people, the type of athletes they are. They're the best of the best."