Nebraska is a special place. Third-year coach Mike Riley knows that.
He recruits there, honed in on a 500-mile radius around the state. The passionate fan base and lofty expectations will never change for a program entering its seventh season in the Big Ten. Riley doesn't need affirmation of that.
"We are America's team here," Riley said on a Big Ten teleconference Wednesday before taking the next question. "I'm more confirmed every day about the fact that this is a great place. It's a great place for young people in general, not just our student-athletes. I think that the atmosphere, environment as a city, as a campus, university is really special and I appreciate that."
That place appreciates football more than everything, and where the Huskers will finish in the Big Ten West is always the biggest question. That will be asked before, during and after Saturday's spring game at Memorial Stadium.
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Nebraska reached the nine-win mark in Riley's second season and played in a few big games that determined the division race. But the Huskers didn't win those games. Nebraska is 31-18 in conference play since joining the Big Ten in 2011, including a 4-9 record against ranked teams. It's a program still looking for that first definitive statement against the rest of the Big Ten. That comes in the form of a championship. Nebraska piled those up in the Big Eight and Big 12. It was almost a birthright.
Can they reclaim that in 2017? The answer lies in more two big questions.
Nebraska's quarterback competition is the first. Redshirt freshman Patrick O'Brien and Tulane transfer Tanner Lee opened spring practice with a coin flip. The winner will replace four-year starter Tommy Armstrong. Last season, Huskers quarterbacks combined for 18 TDs and nine interceptions, but that came with a 50.4 completion percentage.
Riley split the reps in spring practice and "kept it clean." The Lincoln Journal Star reported Riley expects to name a starter shortly after spring practice is completed. That competition, however, added something extra to those practices.
"We've been through it a few times in our life, the one thing it does it kind of keeps an edge if that is necessary for some guys," Riley said. "They always have an edge. There is an edge that you need to keep day to day and it provides opportunity."
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The second big question lies in the transition to a 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, who won the Broyles Award in the same position in 2012 while leading Notre Dame to the BCS championship game. The "Blackshirts" have yet to be feared in Big Ten play, especially over the last two seasons.
Nebraska is 2-7 when they allow 30 points or more under Riley, including losses in three of their last five games against Ohio State, Iowa and Tennessee last season. The Buckeyes essentially ended the Huskers' playoff hopes with a 62-3 blowout in Columbus to open the November schedule.
Riley said everyone will notice the structural changes. Alex Davis, for example, is a standup linebacker now instead of a hand-on-the-ground rusher. That's not all.
"With newness comes a natural energy change probably and people are again whether or not they are comfortable are competing for a spot with a new group of coaches," Riley said. "That's there. Coach Diaco personally brings a special energy to practice. He's a great teacher and does it enthusiastically and that's noticeable."
Those are the keys to the Big Ten West title hopes. Defending division champion Wisconsin will be the prohibitive favorite. The schedule features a nonconference trip to Oregon and cross-over games against Ohio State and at Penn State. That won't be easy, but winning those kinds of games is what made Nebraska a special program.
With Riley, it's time to find that special place again.
