Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Welcome to the Carriker Chronicles, the people show.
00:11 Checking the pulse of Husker Nation brought to you by DPS Construction, your local concrete
00:16 experts.
00:17 Check them out at dpsconstruction.net.
00:19 Let's get today's special guest.
00:22 I have a former Super Bowl champion, 10 year NFL veteran, first team All-Big Ten performer,
00:27 Nebraska's 6th all-time leading rusher with 3,329 career rushing yards.
00:33 Also, two-time first team academic All-American and honestly, one of the most popular Huskers
00:38 that I've ever had the chance to meet, Mr. Rex Burkhead.
00:41 How you doing, my friend?
00:42 I'm doing great, man.
00:43 I appreciate you having me on.
00:46 Absolutely.
00:47 And I put out a highlight tape earlier this year, the largest, on my YouTube channel,
00:51 cheap plug, go check it out.
00:52 You're probably watching it right here, right now in this video anyways.
00:55 But the largest comeback in school history, 2011 Ohio State.
01:00 So I wanted to ask you, because you had one of the key plays in that game along with LeVante
01:05 Strip, but let's go to this moment in time.
01:08 It's Memorial Stadium, you're down 21 points, 27-6, halfway through the third quarter.
01:14 What was going through your mind at that point in the game?
01:16 Yeah, just to keep pushing forward.
01:19 You know, we went into halftime, it was not a good feeling at all.
01:23 We weren't happy.
01:24 The fans weren't happy either.
01:26 And we were just kind of looking at each other in the locker room during halftime like, man,
01:30 you know, we can still do this.
01:31 We're not out of it.
01:32 We know what we have.
01:33 We know what we could do.
01:35 And so at that moment, you started feeling the momentum switch.
01:40 You know, of course, you have LeVante's great strip.
01:42 And we started getting things going offensively as well.
01:45 And we're like, man, a few more series here, put in the end zone.
01:49 You know, we're going to be right in the position we want to be in.
01:51 So just an unbelievable night.
01:54 You know, we had some rain pouring at the time.
01:56 We were doing a lot of no huddle there in the second half.
01:59 So guys were winded, I'm not going to lie.
02:02 But you know, we had a great mentality.
02:05 You know, a lot of tough guys who were just going to push through that and keep going
02:08 forward.
02:09 And we did.
02:10 Now you guys were able to come back and win that game 34-27.
02:14 Okay.
02:15 And you mentioned some of the fans weren't thrilled.
02:18 And we're not going to dive into all the comments that were made, okay.
02:22 But Bo Pelini, yeah, was obviously frustrated a little bit after the game with some of the
02:26 fans who left the game early.
02:27 Now Husker fans are the best in the country, we all know that.
02:30 Okay, but I'm curious.
02:31 Because I remember I was in D.C. when this happened and I had a thought and I had a reaction,
02:35 which was how did this stuff get leaked.
02:37 But I'm curious, what was the locker room's reaction when Bo's comments were leaked after
02:42 the game publicly?
02:43 You know, actually, I want to say it happened later on, the leak.
02:50 Because I was in the NFL and so I remember getting a text from some guys about it when
02:58 I was in the locker room before a game in the NFL.
03:01 And so yeah, those comments came out later on.
03:05 And I know Bo, we all loved him as players.
03:12 He would do anything for us.
03:13 I know he was pretty emotional at the time.
03:17 Passion just came off a big win.
03:19 Understand, he probably maybe would take some of his comments back, I don't know.
03:24 But yeah, just a fired up situation.
03:28 But like I said, I loved playing for Bo.
03:30 He was a great coach.
03:32 And just, yeah.
03:33 Yeah, Bo is definitely a passionate guy.
03:37 He wears his heart on his sleeve.
03:38 You never had to wonder what he was thinking.
03:40 And actually, when Scott Frost became the coach here, my first conversation with him,
03:45 he actually brought up that leak and how concerned he was about things being kept private and
03:49 in-house.
03:50 So that was something that people were aware of inside the facility.
03:54 Because my reaction when I heard was, "How'd this get leaked?"
03:56 There are things that are said, you know, in a locker room setting, as you know, Rex,
04:00 they need to be kept private.
04:02 But we'll kind of move on to another topic.
04:05 And this is one that I love chatting with you about every time you come on the show.
04:09 How'd you get to know Jack Hoffman and the Team Jack Foundation?
04:14 Because you do a lot of awesome stuff with Team Jack.
04:17 Yeah, no, I appreciate it.
04:19 Yeah, so kind of that Ohio State game that we were just discussing was a big moment for
04:23 Team Jack.
04:24 Jack and his family were there in the press box, and so they ended up getting a shout-out
04:29 on ESPN and recovered a little bit there.
04:32 So it's a pretty cool, inspirational moment for them.
04:37 But yeah, Jack and I, we met my junior year, that same 2011 season at the stadium, gave
04:44 him a tour, had some lunch with him that day.
04:47 And we just kept in touch.
04:48 And Coach Pelini was, you know, grateful enough to invite them out to some practices and then,
04:54 you know, out to some games as well.
04:57 You know, he became like another player on the team.
04:59 And just an awesome family.
05:02 Pleasure knowing them for many years now.
05:05 And being a part of the Team Jack Foundation that's raised over $10 million now for pediatric
05:10 brain cancer.
05:12 So pretty unbelievable what they've done, the cause, and just a pleasure knowing them.
05:18 That's pretty awesome.
05:19 And go find their website, ladies and gentlemen.
05:21 It's very easy to find.
05:22 Show that foundation some love and support.
05:25 Now real quick, if you aren't aware just yet, I want to let everyone know, CarrikerChronicles.com,
05:31 the website is officially live.
05:33 Go check it out.
05:35 If you missed any of my previous shows, you can go check them out there.
05:38 Doing a Big Ten show with my co-host Jeff Tern, where the H is silent.
05:41 Also 93.7 The Ticket, you can check it out there.
05:44 I referenced the highlight tape earlier.
05:45 I put out eight throughout this summer.
05:48 They're all up on the website.
05:49 There's a merchandise store.
05:51 Also we got Carriker's crew, which includes Ashley Spitznoggle's art.
05:55 You got John Johnson of Korn Nation, who is not boring, quite entertaining.
05:59 You got Connor Hayden of Korn Crate, who's built a monster of a YouTube channel.
06:03 Go check out the website.
06:05 Tons of stuff to see.
06:06 But I want to get back to one of the most important plays in the history of Husker football.
06:13 Here it is.
06:14 It's 4th and 1 from the Nebraska 32-yard line.
06:18 It's April of 2013, a high-pressure situation and Bo Pelini calls timeout.
06:23 The play call is a handoff to Jack Hoffman to the right.
06:26 The result, a 69-yard touchdown run and Memorial Stadium erupts.
06:32 How awesome was that moment?
06:34 To be there for that moment with Jack Hoffman in the middle of Memorial Stadium, Rex?
06:39 Yeah, it was unbelievable.
06:41 Not a dry eye in the stands or on the field.
06:46 Just seeing him out there, the team coming together, the reaction of everyone.
06:50 It was definitely a special moment, something I'll never forget.
06:56 Just seeing Jack, a boy who's grown up in the state of Nebraska, being able to have
07:01 the opportunity to go out there and Memorial Stadium and score a touchdown was pretty awesome.
07:08 I think that just shows the character of the players on our team, the coaches who put that
07:14 together, who called me the night before asking what I think.
07:17 I was like, "Yeah, absolutely.
07:18 He would love to do that, I'm sure."
07:20 So yeah, it was a special moment.
07:23 Of course, he won the SP for Moment of the Year.
07:27 And so just great to be a part of.
07:30 And I do want to just real quickly say rest in peace to Jack's dad, Andy Hoffman, who
07:35 unfortunately passed away from cancer recently.
07:38 And continue thoughts and prayers to the Hoffman family and the Team Jack Foundation as well.
07:46 Now I had the pleasure of interviewing Andy two different times over the years.
07:50 One thing he loved and Jack loved was Husker football.
07:54 So if you're cool with chatting a little bit of modern day Husker football, Rex, we'll
07:58 move on to that.
07:59 How does that sound?
08:00 Yeah, sounds good to me.
08:02 Alright, Nebraska used to be known for running the ball, smash mouth football.
08:07 So Rex, in your opinion, now the fullback is back.
08:10 I don't know how you feel that plays into this, and blocking tight ends are back.
08:15 But to you, what's the biggest key to the Huskers effectively running the football again?
08:20 Yeah, you know, it all starts up front.
08:24 And so it's going to be those big boys up front getting after it.
08:28 They set the tone, whether that's in the running game or him winning wherever we have to pass
08:33 the ball as well.
08:34 So yeah, for me, it all starts up front with those guys.
08:38 And you let the guys in the back follow.
08:41 So yeah, I know I'm excited for him.
08:43 I got to talk to Coach Matt Ruhle a little bit.
08:47 He came to our Team Jack gala in February.
08:50 I think he was recruiting all day at a basketball game before he came to our gala for a few
08:55 hours.
08:56 So he sat right behind me and got to talk to him.
08:59 And then I think he had to leave and go recruit some more.
09:02 So I know he's working his tail off.
09:03 He's working hard.
09:04 He had talked to me about how he was getting down to my home state, my home area, in the
09:11 Dallas area to recruit some guys.
09:13 So I know they're trying to get the right guys in there.
09:16 So I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do.
09:20 For me, I love having a balanced offense.
09:22 You want to give the fullback a couple carries, they definitely-- I love seeing the guys
09:26 balance.
09:27 I love seeing that.
09:28 But in run game, pass game, if you have balance, and like I said, it all starts up front.
09:32 Now Nebraska has the potential for a three-headed running back monster.
09:37 Gabe Irvin's already gotten a bunch of love throughout the offseason.
09:41 Anthony Grant, our leading rusher from a year ago, the top Juco player in the entire country
09:45 when he joined the Husker football program.
09:48 And a guy who gets overlooked, a speed demon, is Ramiro Johnson, who just a couple of years
09:52 ago when he was thrust into the starting spot, looked really, really well.
09:56 Now you yourself, during your playing time, there were guys, other running backs on the
10:00 roster named Beroi Hulu, Amir Abdullah, that you were competing for play time with.
10:05 So what would your recommendation be, or how do these running backs separate themselves
10:10 on the field in an effort to try to get more play time?
10:13 Yeah, you know, it really comes down to how much work you want to put in.
10:17 And that's competing every single day.
10:20 And not only putting the work out on the field, but in the film room as well.
10:24 And making sure you're staying on top of that, because I know a big jump for guys from high
10:31 school to college is that pass protection area.
10:35 In high school, you may have one pass protection, go block on the edge, and that's it as a running
10:40 back.
10:41 But once you get to college, you've got a few more.
10:43 And so you've really got to be prepared when you get out there on the field that it's not
10:47 happening fast for you.
10:48 It's happening in slow motion, and those coaches have to have that trust and confidence in
10:52 you to put you out there.
10:53 And so that would be my advice.
10:56 You know, learn as quick as possible.
10:58 That way the game slows down for you when you go out there on the field.
11:03 And also, you know, be able to show it every single day.
11:05 Anybody can show it one day, but it's that consistency and effort to do it every single
11:11 day, you know, especially during training camp, that gives you the trust of the coaches
11:16 and your teammates out there on the field.
11:18 Alright man, I'm going to put you on the spot.
11:20 You ready for it?
11:21 Go ahead.
11:22 Alright, Nebraska's first two games are Minnesota and Colorado.
11:27 By chance, if Nebraska comes out 2-0, man, it's going to be bananas in a phenomenal way.
11:32 And Husker Nation, if we come out 0-2, I'm just not going to talk about that.
11:36 But yeah, let's not talk about that.
11:39 But in your opinion, you're a football guy, a Husker guy, what will Nebraska's record
11:45 be after their first two games?
11:47 Just those two games, Minnesota and Colorado.
11:49 What do you think?
11:50 Oh man, you just got to say 2-0.
11:51 You got to have that confidence.
11:52 There you go.
11:53 You know, you got to root for the squad here.
11:56 And you know, I'm excited.
11:58 Like I said, I think Matt Ruhle, he's going to do a good job.
12:02 You know, I've heard good things.
12:03 And you know, he has that NFL experience and also has turned other, you know, two college
12:07 programs around.
12:08 So, just looking forward to see what he can do.
12:12 You know, I'm excited about the guys he's brought in and the guys who have been there
12:15 in the past.
12:16 Seeing them step out there and get after it, get physical and show us what Nebraska football
12:21 is all about.
12:22 Alright, my last question for you, and I actually thought about this.
12:25 So I always come with a bunch of questions for every interview.
12:27 And I thought about this at the end.
12:28 Alright, Taylor Martinez.
12:31 What was it like playing with him?
12:32 Because he was a freshman when he started your main year with him.
12:36 What was it like playing with Taylor?
12:38 He was known as T-Magic that year.
12:40 And then, unfortunately, he got the injury bug a little bit later on in his career.
12:45 Just how good could he have been had he not gotten injured later on in his career?
12:50 Yeah, I was actually talking to Taylor the other day just congratulating him on the Hall
12:54 of Fame.
12:55 Him and Spencer Long, very well deserved.
12:58 T-Magic was unbelievable.
12:59 You know, probably one of the fastest players I've ever played with.
13:04 You know, 0-30 acceleration was just off the charts.
13:09 And he could see one little hole and just be gone down the field in the next second.
13:15 So he was awesome.
13:17 You know, he grew a lot as a quarterback, as a leader as well for us throughout his
13:21 time in Nebraska.
13:24 Just some of the most electrifying plays I've ever seen.
13:27 You know, even though it was a bad game for us, the 2012 Big Ten Championship game.
13:33 You know, he's hobbling around on her ankle foot, whatever he had going.
13:37 And just made one of the most unbelievable scrambles and runs for a touchdown at quarterback
13:41 I've probably ever seen out there on the field.
13:45 So he was unbelievable to watch.
13:48 You know, like you had mentioned, some of the injuries, you know, kind of stunk to see.
13:53 But I just think about the good times we had out there on the field and got to enjoy with
13:57 them.
13:58 Alright, I want to thank you for joining me, Rex.
14:01 I always look forward to our conversations.
14:03 I appreciate your time.
14:04 And Husker fans, do me a favor, comment below.
14:07 Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.
14:09 Have you enjoyed the past eight interviews over the last month of August?
14:12 If you missed any of them, go back and check it out.
14:15 What do you think Nebraska's record will be after the first two games?
14:19 And man, Taylor was fun to watch.
14:21 You know, what could have happened, you know, had he stayed healthy?
14:25 Because he was dynamic and had an explosive first one, two, three, four, twenty steps.
14:29 Alright, let me know in the comments below and until next time, Husker Nation.
14:32 Oh, and tune in next week, preview and prediction for the Minnesota game.
14:36 Go Big Red, and always remember to THROW THE BONES!